By BEN RAYNER --

Hugh Dillon's reputation for surliness is well documented.

The lead singer for Kingston's Headstones has, in fact, fashioned a career out of scowling, spitting into crowds and writing dark, antisocial rock songs about fun topics like death, drug abuse and self-hatred -- a career he drew on for his ferocious star turn in Bruce McDonald's Hard Core Logo earlier this year.

But it's a fairly jolly Dillon calling from the Toronto studio where the Headstones -- at Barrymore's tonight -- are recording their third album, Smile and Wave.

"It's more like `Smile and wave when you really wanna say f--- off,'" he explains, clearing up any rumors that the next record will be a happy one. Still, Dillon says he's very pleased with it so far.

"We've been at this a long time," he says. "If you don't get better, something else is taking over your life -- you're riding on your reputation, or your drug and alcohol problem is getting worse or whatever."

Dillon may soon step infront of the cameras again as "some psychotic doctor" in McDonald's next feature.

But for now, he and the Headstones are focussing on finishing the new record -- due in March -- and playing a few dates here and there.

The band just returned from a well-received, albeit exhausting, two-week "vacation tour" of Mexico.

"There's beer on the menus for breakfast," says Dillon. "You come back in worse shape than when you left."