(Nightwatcher) Nightwatcher's House Of Rock has issued an interview with hard rocking blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, in which he discusses his new album,The Ballad Of John Henry, working with producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Dream Theater), his upcoming show at London's Royal Albert Hall, the chances of him being featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, and much more. The following is an excerpt from the interview: This is the ninth album you've had out, five of which have reached #1 on Billboard's Blues Charts, all have been in the Top 10, you've been on the cover of all the major guitar magazines, but a magazine like Rolling Stone hasn't given you a single mention throughout your career....
JB : Nor do I need them to. (Laughs) These people, radio people come to the gigs, and they try to play Colonel Tom Parker with me. They'll say, "Well, I can do this with you." I'll tell them, "I don't need this, my friend. Do you see an empty seat in this place? No. Okay fine". Do I have a chip on my shoulder about what I have to do to get a mention in Rolling Stone? Yeah, maybe. But at the end of the day, do I play bigger venues than some of the people who are consistently mentioned in Rolling Stone? Yes. Do I take a pay cut to be in Rolling Stone?
NHOR : Any opinion on why there hasn't been a single mention of you in Rolling Stone Magazine your entire career? They have these supposedly hip indie bands in there who sell maybe a few thousand albums, yet someone who is at the top of the charts doesn't rate a mention....
JB : Well, because I don't wear the right sneakers, I don't use the word "punk" in my music, and I like to play performing arts centers where creepy old people like to come, not Pabst Blue Ribbon sipping scenesters. (Laughs) People think that's the music business. They'll go, "Oh, well, we played Spaceland, there were 200 people, but they were the right people." Well, if those people paid $200 a ticket, then we'd actually make some money. But no, they paid $8.00, which means after the club takes their cut, we've made $500 tonight. Oh, that's fantastic. You can't pay your band with that. You can live in your van. That's stupid. There never has been a mention of me in Rolling Stone, nor will there be. We've never been on national television, nor will we be. Which, to be honest with you, I'm fine with that. - Read the full interview
