I don't dictate the solos and I don't dictate the vocal harmonies.
I don't think I'd want a revival. I'm not doing a tribute to myself.
There've been periods where I had to convince the audience or win them over.
It's not about retro or modern, it's about this note or that note, which sounds better?
There's some pictures of me playing hollow bodies, but I never last long. I always come back to the acoustic.
I haven't been drinking for years now. Something's got to give. I don't mind that I'm a guy that's stopped drinking, though this interview is making me mighty thirsty.
And it really is a good feeling to get up there and make that sound. I'm not stuck in a time warp, because I can use as many of the old songs as I want to, just the favorites.
I guess my idea of a good audience is one that's quiet and listens, but also that's alive: they respond, they're getting the jokes, they're with me. And that' s been happening.
About 10 years ago, I took some vocal lessons. I'll bet that helped. I got a tape of exercises that the girl gave me, which I don't do anymore, but they were good. And I don't smoke.
I was always looking to record, but how much I actually pursued it was another thing. The major labels weren't that interested in me, and the smaller labels didn't have any money to do anything.