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Joe Bonamassa Forum → General Topics → A Healthy Discomfort: Kevin Shirley Interview
Here's a great interview by Kevin Shirley on the new Blues Of Desperation album.
http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/197735/9
I found the story about the recording of Happier Times enlightening.
The first time my wife heard that song, she said "That may be the saddest song I've ever heard". I agree and now I understand why.
What's up with the "Glenn Hughes" comment?
What's up with the "Glenn Hughes" comment?
obviously goes back to the BCC "cat fight"
I would have thought to keep the door closed on that issue, they would have edited out that name to keep the peace 
Me too. I was less surprised by the comment itself, and more surprised that it wasn't edited out. Probably no big deal at this point either way.
I like his comment about how people will say "I don't listen to the blues." I've learned to alway tell people that Joe plays blues rock in order to get their interest. And then I go on to say if you like Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Clapton and SRV, then you will love Joe.
Really great interview, thanks for sharing!
I like his comment about how people will say "I don't listen to the blues." I've learned to alway tell people that Joe plays blues rock in order to get their interest. And then I go on to say if you like Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Clapton and SRV, then you will love Joe.
So true leanne.This is very true and can even take that back to the 70's
When rock ruled the music world.If you said hey listen to this blues album,people would brush it off as they think of blues as downer music.I have to admit that I was more into blues back in the day that I ever knew.As a lot of classic rock is blues based music.
warning contentious point of discussion ahead.....
Does nobody else think this interview bordering on pretentious in places? Kevin Shirley is a great producer of what he does but he is no Tony Visconti, George Martin or Brian Eno; producers who really took risk with a artists who did the same, and by doing so took music off in a new direction. I stress that I am not knocking Joe, KS’s work or the brilliant new album, but to pretend it is something it was never meant to be is a bit “emperors new clothes”? I recognise a naked man when I see him.
.... I wonder if this opinion could create interesting conversation or will I be damned for daring to question things?
I can't fault him for being a little proud of his contributions. Perhaps a bit of gloat at the suits in A&R for taking a nobody and helping make him a somebody with global clout in a genre that still is looked down on. He's in demand now with more and more artists looking for some of that magic from the Cave.
Rick
Hi Ian.Better to have something to discuss here or life can get boring!
You may be connecting dots that do not exist in comparing KS to those others.
I give him credit for trying to do different things with Joe.
One can certainly debate as to the net affect of the whole process.
I do see see a difference in this new Album.Not sure if KS is claiming the extent of groundbreaking territory so to speak.
Also I suppose in his line of work you have to have that mindset of being able to take things to a higher level with artists.
points well made Rick and Gary, - I do not disagree with you and like you do also give him credit for pushing things in a (slightly) different direction...... But I do wonder what would happen if Joe had a different producer? 
He changes the band around regularly to keep things fresh.... all just food for thought (and debate).
I think the relationship is a good one. We can surmise what would be different but it is what it is.
KS has said he likes to push Joe outside of his comfort zone and it seems to be working. I really like the one take approach. Each release is a bit further down the road from the last and there's been a wide variety of musical output. I'd like to know whose idea the coming tribute tour was.
Rick
I suspect that the brand “Joe Bonamassa” is a trio, not only in creative input but also financial/business so any move to something different is not going to happen. Looking in from the outside I see it as all very controlled unlike (say) the Warren Haynes “brand” that moves between genres, constantly playing with different artists, recording different versions of the same song with different singers (the Shout album) and all together more relaxed jam feeling to live work. Warren is very much the driving force behind his own music, whereas I am not sure that Joe is, - I emphasise this is not criticism, it is observation.
As I said earlier i think the new album great, just don’t see it as anything radically different.
Regarding the tribute tour, - it is brave in one sense because it puts Joe in a comparison position straight away with living legends. But in another sense it is not brave because it is doing songs that somebody else has already worked into a legendary status. However (and this may tell you something about where I am coming from), I have not bought a ticket, I would rather see Joe play his own stuff, not saying that he cannot do a great cover, Just Got Paid is better played by Joe, (and BFG is a legend) - but the idea just did not fill me with enthusiasm.
- I recognise the problem could be me with my need to always look for something new in music, - can’t stand still!
I did read or hear in one of the numerous interviews lately that KS said he asked Joe if he wanted to try using a different producer to shake things up and I guess Joe shot it down.So that was reason for KS trying to shake things up with the 2 drummer thing
I think KS has done a great job with Joe and can't know (can anyone?) if trying a different producer would make a change for the better of even for only one album just to see it?I suppose that will be an ongoing question as time goes on with KS doing all the solo works.The longer it goes on the more people might ask if a change for change sake would be something to try.
But with the track record so far it's easy to say if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Well controversy or not I was pleased with most of the interview but surprised by Kevin Shirley's arrogance towards someone who dared to suggest less compression in Joe's sound on KS Facebook page. Frankly I agree with the 'less compression' thing. After I read KS comment on that I thought, yup, time to go with a new producer. Once 'you go thinkin' you all that', maybe it's time for a change. Joe is a great player. He is not the next Eric Clapton as KS suggested, he's Joe Bonamassa, why the comparison? EC is EC and Joe is Joe. Anyhow the insights were cool. Sure didn't raise my opinion of KS though.
J&R Ventures has not hesitated to replace popular band members, to keep things fresh, will they be reticent when it comes to a producer? I have no quarrel with anything that KS has done to this point. Joe has become more popular than ever with Kevin. I think many of the buttons he has pushed, have been great. For me, Tour De Force has been his shining moment. This last album is, to me a mix of what Kevin has been pushing and some of Joe's early successes. Maybe the best of both worlds. The fact that Kevin seems to some to be a little pretentious, good for him. He has earned it. I want a guy in my corner that has confidence in what he does. So, again to me, it comes down to what's next? They have covered a lot of ground with Kevin. Does he still have something up his sleeve? Joe has conquered the arena his is in. No one does it as good as Joe. I'm happy with that. I'll buy everything Joe puts out. But, I guess the question is, is Joe happy with that? Does he want to risk everything and do something new and different, utilizing his unique talents? As a fan, do I really want Joe trying something completely new? It could be the greatest thing ever, or it could be...I guess we will just have to stay tuned and have fun discussions like this. In the mean time, I love everyone on this sight. Only Joe could bring a group like this together. I'm proud to be a small part of the group.
I would have to say that Joe's work in RCFP is way outside his "comfort zone" and personally, RCFP is some of the best stuff Joe has done...I will buy it all and listen to it all because it is all so extremely good it doesn't make any sense to me to try to classify one as better than another...sit back and enjoy....
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