Coming across Rick Monroe and The Hitmen’s touching “Our Love” video recently, I had to immediately stop and watch. A hopeless romantic who appreciates non-cheesy love songs and a gravitation to bands with intimate connections to their fans, it checked all boxes. An admirer of country rock and outlaw country who’s intensely descriptive songs emotionally reference current and long-lost loves, alcohol metaphors, firearms and bad boy edge with a heart of gold, this fit just what I didn’t know I needed.

I caught up with accomplished bandleader Rick Monroe and talented bassist Alan Beeler recently to chat about topics like funny stage moments wearing lederhosen, hypothetical teen dream fests with Linkin Park, George Strait and Iron Maiden, unforgettable fan experiences, the loss of Grateful Dead’s Bobby Weir, WTF moments with former Soviet President Gorbachev, Lemmy Kilmister and Jim Florentine and their 2026 plans. Check out the interview soundclips below and get tix to catch the Hitmen live soon HERE!