“They auditioned for me while I was remixing a Cheap Trick single in Atlanta. Talk about blowing me away - I was really impressed with their three-guitar lineup. These guys did that whole Southern rock chops thing so well. They reminded me of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who I tried to sign.

“Danny Joe Brown was a fantastic vocal presence, a big guy with a big voice. And Duane Roland, the second guitarist in the band, had a very unique style, just honey smooth. His solos are so identifiable on the records.

“Without question, Molly Hatchet were the most ‘street’ band I ever signed. They made Motley Crue look like upscale, suburban prep school boys. It’s funny, though: You’d think that these Southern guys who were known for hard living and getting in bar fights and clearing rooms would use big Marshall stacks. Nope. They used Dwarf amps in the studio, these little things. We got a killer sound with them, too.

“The guitar thing was all worked out. They got in the studio and did all of their choreographed parts. It was really something. I didn’t think that the song Flirtin’ With Disaster would get on the radio, but I was thrilled when it did.

“Dave Hlubek was another guitar player in the band, and he was pretty much the leader, too. Right after the audition, when I told the guys they were great and I wanted to sign them, he shook my hand and said, ‘Mr Werman, all I want is my front teeth.’ That’s when I noticed he didn’t have any. From this record, he got his teeth... and a whole lot more.”