As I attended a country festival in Uptown Waterloo, on June 21, 2009 I was introduced to a band named Dry County as they performed on stage. Their eye catching (real) wardrobe and the no bullsh&t lyrics caught my attention and I was hooked.

The rough voice of vocalist Jeff Gallagher makes the music feel more rock/metal than country. Being a HUGE metal fan, I was quite interested in getting to know them and how they fell into the genre, country metal. In my world, I don't think there is anything better than that! I also asked Jeff if he would be interested in coming out to our Ride for Progeria photo shoot for the cover of the August 2009 magazine, he showed up and what a day!
- Amanda Lynn Mayhew, Editor

ALM: So, how did you fall into the genre country metal?
JG: I guess the whole country metal thing (or power country, as we like to call ourselves) came about when a former radio personality was quoted as saying we were AC/DC meets Alabama. A hard edge sound with redneck vocals.

ALM: As I was watching you guys perform, a mutual friend informed me that you, Jeff, are a 3 time cancer survivor.. can you talk about that?
JG: In the early morning hours of Aug 30th, 1998, I was rushed to the hospital complaining of massive chest pains, and severe breathing problems. Being only 21 years old, a heavy smoker, and one to endulge in countless nights of partying with alcohol and other substances (legal and otherwise), I figured this was just my bodys’ way of telling me it was time to slow down and take care of myself... the reality was devastating.  I was diagnosed with stage 4 (terminal) non-hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer so malignant that I was told I wouldn't live 12 weeks. Worse yet, it didn't appear there was much of anything they could do for me, until a Lymphoma specialist suggested a highly dangerous, and extremely experimental, new form of treatment involving a stem cell transplant, and such high doses of chemotherapy, (multiple times daily), that it was more likely for the treatment to kill me first. With a brand new son at home, and a stubborn mind full of piss and vinegar, I reluctantly agreed.

My first few weeks were probably the scariest and the hardest on me, as everytime I was prepped for a minor surgery, something would go horribly wrong. I suffered a collapsed lung in a biopsy, which scared me so much I almost stopped treatments before it even started. After countless hours of family, friends and doctors assuring me it was a freak accident, I agreed to continue only to suffer from a cardiac arrest during another (a no risk/minor proceedure) when they were putting a hickman into my heart. (which is a tube for the chemotherapy to be administered to me). When I recovered 3 days later, I thought 2 near death experiences in 3 weeks was enough, and if something was gonna kill me, that something would be me. I started having friends bring in large amounts of alcohol to the hospital, and I hid it everywhere. Under the mattress, drawers, flower pots, anywhere I could find, and when the staff would take it, I'd go as far as walking to the local pub in nothing but a hospital gown through snow pulling an I.V pole all the way. It was around this time I started performing again too. The guys would tell the staff they were just taking me out for a smoke (yes that's right, I smoked through the whole damn thing, and still do), but then would have a change of clothes for me in the van and we'd leave for weekends at a time so I could do what I love. I'd come back to the hospital a few days later because being around people always made me seriously ill, having no immune system, I would end up back in ICU, with the band never really knowing if they would get me back to the hospital in time to save my life. That was how the first year of treatment went for me. The more defiant I was, the sicker I got, and the more I wanted to live.........but on MY terms.

Over the next 2 years, the cancer would go away (briefly) only to come back worse and worse, but there was a difference in the eyes of family and friends and even the staff at the hospital. They started looking at me as if I was immortal, and when my son finally got to visit me and called me his superman, the Hillbilly Superman tag was born. The problem now was my body was used to the damage, and could take it, but I was falling apart mentally and emotionally.

I can't remember exactly when it happened, but somewhere along the line I felt I was fighting a losing battle and more for other people than for me and I started to fade rapidly. Then in my final breakdown moment during my stem cell transplant, I shut off the machines, called my dad and said, “I want to go home”. With a fear in his eyes in which he did his best not to show, and although I'm sure he felt I should stay in the hospital, he knew I'd had enough and brought me home, never to return.

It was at this point in my life I discovered alternative remedies from a rather eccentric woman name Rose Marie Mart who even though we are no longer close, I credit for saving my life (well, her and Jack Daniels). She would bring boxes and boxes of these liquids that smelled and tasted like feet soaked in either good cheese or bad meat, in which I was to take religiously, she also introduced me to my accupunturist Dr. Ling (who I still use). And also in this time I somehow made peace with God, which taught me that God does answer all prayers, but sometimes the answer will be no.

It has been more than 10 years since that whole journey began and in those 10+ years I've beaten cancer 3 times, but my body (now in my 30's) continues to suffer. Many of the side effects of treatments have given me chronic back and knee issues. I still get bone and joint pain on a regular basis, and because of all the alcohol consumption over the years I've destroyed my pancreas, but I guess it's a small price to pay to watch my son grow up, continue to do what I love to do and to have done it the only way I know.........DRY!

ALM: Have you changed your lifestyle or diet at all to prevent future health problems?
JG: The only major change is, I still do acupunture, and avoid processed food as much as possible but in my line of work it's tough.

ALM: Do you have a personal message for people out there that may think life is over because of a certain diagnosis?
JG: My message is I believe the mind can cure almost anything, and stay busy. I believe as long as you have something you have to do EVERYDAY, whether it be keeping a promise, or going for beers with the boys, stay busy.

ALM: Do you think beating this has made you stronger? Almost feeling immortal?
JG: I don't know how much stronger it has made me, because don't know if I could watch someone I care about go through what I did, but I think it has made me a better person, as I don't really sweat the small things in life anymore, and I am very hardcore when it comes to family and friends.

ALM: Is there anyone else in your band that suffers from health issues?
JG: LOL, my guys mental issues may come into question at times but, no, they all appear in good health.

ALM: Your music is pretty kick a$$ to me, where do you come up with your ideas and lyrics?
JG: Every Dry County song comes from something that has personally affected me. They write themselves, I'm just putting rhymes to one of my crazy experiences

ALM: What is your favorite Dry County song, and why?
JG: My personal favorite would be "Waitin On Hank", because I got to let it all out there. Didn't pull any punches, spoke what I felt was 100% truth, pissed off a lot of people mind you, but ...........that's who I am.

ALM: Where can we find Dry County merchandise? (cd's, shirts, etc)
JG: Dry County is currently trying to cut a deal with Walmart to carry our brand of merchandise, but until then C.D Baby, iTunes, and of course any Dry County show.