After pay dirt Todd Hoffman from Gold Rush is starting a rock band

“When I’m done gold mining, I’m starting a rock band,” Todd Hoffman from Gold Rush tells us. And, he’s not kidding. The star of Discovery Channel’s most successful series, Gold Rush — which airs on Discovery Fridays at 9pm ET— isn’t seeking big-time celebrity status, though, he just loves music. He actually hates even being considered a celebrity. Hoffman’s more about faith, family and living life to the fullest. He took some time to answer our “7 Questions” from his home in Sandy, Ore. Here’s what he had to say:

Todd Hoffman from Gold Rush1. You’re at a magazine rack and can pick three magazines or subjects to read. What are they?
A lot of people don’t know this but I actually was a high-tech guy back in the dot-com boom, so I would take Wired. Some type of high-tech magazine. I’d also take a chopper magazine, as I’m building choppers. And of course I’d take a gun or firearm magazine for the latest things that are coming out because I don’t like guns. I frickin’ love guns!

2. If your TV carried just three shows or networks, what would they be?
I like watching Bear Grylls with the kids. I liked Orange County Choppers. I like watching The Walking Dead. I don’t have a lot of time to watch a lot of stuff. I’m just working and spending time with the kids. My daughter is 6, my sons are 12 and 14. I think my 14-year-old son is going to enter the TV world. I’m not pushing my kids into TV. But there are opportunities and he is real charismatic. We have a mission to try and represent our faith and family, so that is a chance for him to work on the same things that I try and do. Not so much to go and try and get rich — I’m not trying to teach my kids to go for money. We have a short period of time that we are on this Earth and we try to make a difference. We are trying to represent our faith.

3. What are three things you have to have in your fridge or pantry?
The Atkins [diet] has low-carb peanut butter cups, there’s one. Number two, a really good high-quality hamburger. Number three is a Diet Coke. You got to remember, though, I’m a survivalist — I have tons of freeze-dried food.

4. How much thought do you put into that beard of yours?
My beard just kinds of grows. I just try and keep as much tangles and knots and Cheerios out of it. I don’t put a lot of thought into it, no.

5.What movie can you watch over and over again?
I can watch two movies over and over again — 300 and Gladiator.

6. What’s been your strangest fan encounter?
I’m probably one of the only TV celebrities — I use the word celebrity but it’s bullshit so I don’t like that word …
How about personality?
Yes, TV personality. I’m one of the few guys who you can get on the Internet and go on one of my social medias and you can contact me and talk to me.

7. You love music, so what would be the ideal concert lineup if you could pick four bands or artists?
I’d have Led Zeppelin. I’d have the Scorpions. And this is going to sound like a weird one. I’d have The Cure there and Peter Gabriel. Those four bands would be my ultimate four-band concert. When I’m done gold mining, I’m starting a rock band. I’m going all the way to the top.
Are you for real?
Yeah. I’m starting a rock band. But until I figure that out, I got a lot more gold mining to do. Hopefully I’m a better rocker. I’m a lead singer — I sing. Won a few karaoke concerts. That’s kind of a dream of mine — it’s been a bucket-list item since I was a kid.

Image: Credit: Discovery Channel