Interview: Billy Bob Thorton of the Boxmasters

By CHRIS GRAY

Billy Bob Thornton (center), flanked by the Boxmasters’ touring lineup.

“Billy’s reaching for the phone.” With that, Boxmasters guitarist/bassist J.D. Andrew hands off to his drummer/lead singer Billy Bob Thornton, who won the hearts of miscreants everywhere as Willie, the booze-swilling, expletive-spewing St. Nick in 2003’s Bad Santa. In Boxmasters originals like “I’ll Give You a Ring,” “Shit List” and “I’m Watching the Game,” Thornton’s characters have a lot of Willie in them, but on the phone, the Hot Springs, Arkansas native, 52, is a perfect Southern gentleman.

Billy Bob Thornton: Hello Chris. How are things going?

Chris Gray: Fine. I’m putting together a thing about Todd Rundgren for our Web site.

BBT: Oh wow, that’s cool. I love Todd Rundgren. One of his songs I remember from when I was growing up – you know how you associate a song with a girl or a time in your life?

CG: Uh-huh.

BBT: This rich girl split up with me one time, and “Hello It’s Me” was on the radio. I’ll never forget that – I think about her every time.

Todd Rundgren, “Hello, It’s Me”

More after the jump.