Q&A SESSION | ERIC GALES Crowns, kings and princes are like something from a fairy story or maybe Game Of Thrones. Well I suppose in many ways the rebirth of Eric Gales is a fairytale with what looks increasingly like a happy ending. Considered a child prodigy when he burst onto the scene in the early 90’s and standing out by playing a right handed guitar upside down, although not naturally left handed. A throwback to being taught by his left-handed brother. by Steve Yourglivch
Although he always achieved a level of success something seemed to hold him back from the super star status his talent warranted. He increasingly developed a drug habit that eventually lead to him being charged with drug and firearm offences. Re-arrested whilst on probation ended up with Eric being given a three year imprisonment sentence. The rebirth of him as a person and performer since those dark days has been spectacular. Now clean and sober for five years plus the creative juices have been in full flow. Previous record Bookends was a revelation and with the help of co-producers Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith new release Crown promises to continue the journey. I caught up with a weary Eric via zoom in his tour bus early in the morning after a late show the night before but the man described by Joe Bonamassa as the best blues guitarist on the planet was charming and ready to talk to Blues Matters. Eric, thanks for making the time to zoom today, I know you’re in the middle of a pretty strenuous schedule right now. No problem man, I am pretty tired right now, we’re right in the middle of stuff. I know you’ve just got back from playing in Brazil and now you’re part of the Allman Family Revival tour. Apart from being tiring are you having fun? Oh yeah man, it’s been great, amazing, awesome. Words cannot describe it. We spoke together when Bookends came out. I thought that was an amazing album that I 58
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Images: Laura Carbone
thought was going to be Grammy nominated. I really don’t understand why that didn’t happen but now we have the new release ‘Crown’. In my mind Bookends drew a line across what had gone before, and it was a new beginning. Crown takes that another step forward, do you agree with that? Yeah, that’s exactly what the aim was and I think we hit the mark this time for sure. Lots of the tracks are reflective and seem very personal. I’m thinking in particular about I Found Her, My Own Best Friend and You Don’t Know The Blues. They are kinda autobiographical about your life. Yes they are. That’s the best I can write about, you know things I’ve been through. I don’t know how to write about stuff I ain’t been through right. It’s pretty self-explanatory if you listen to the lyrics and I think the listener will then be able to relate to things in their own life then. But yes, almost everything I write about are things I’ve been through in my life. Are you happy with how the album has turned out? Especially working with Joe and Josh Smith in the studio. I’m pleased, very pleased. We all came together as friends and worked together for a common goal which was to make the best Eric Gales record possible and I think it happened.
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