 |
|
|
Back to the Band Got Byrd If You Want It
But Byrd is by far no newcomer to the scene. His limited edition solo live CD, “Tough Room...This World” has gathered praise from Billboard Magazine and Music Insider alike. And with a new CD in the works, this man had plenty to talk about in a recent online interview. Could you
perhaps start off by explaining to the Jukes fans who may not
know the situation, how you became a Juke? Before my set Johnny asked if I wanted to do a song together. We agreed on Sam Cooke’s “Soothe Me” and I told him I do it in the key of “A.” Sure enough, halfway through my set Johnny jumps up on stage and I start the tune. Everything’s peachy until he pulls out his harp and starts blowin’ on the break. Unfortunately it slipped my mind that I tune my guitar down a half step and I’m actually in A Flat. Oops!! Southside shoots me a look (a middle finger may also have been involved in the incident) which I’ve now become quite familiar with. We had a good laugh and eventually crawled from the wreckage to finish the song to “thunderous” applause. (O.K… so I tend to exaggerate) The next day Bill, Southside’s manager, calls and says Johnny had fun last night and would I be interested in bein’ a part time Juke. He gave me the lowdown on Bobby’s future misadventures with Bon Jovi and how the Jukes will be short six strings.I quickly consulted with my consigliere (That would be my wife, Carol) and agreed to keep Bobby’s seat warm until he gets tossed ...I mean returns! How has
it been working with the band so far? There’s
quite a library of songs you had to learn.... The first show I did without Bobby to lean on, I said to Johnny backstage…”You know the old expression.. ‘If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage?’” He just looked at me and laughed! That night I realized I could either spend the entire show trying to connect the dots or just surrender to the fact that Johnny will inevitably call out songs that are: A) Not on the
list or Well I decided to have a grand old time and not worry about a damn thing! What is
your favorite Jukes song to play at the moment? It seems
evident by watching you that you have adapted nicely to playing
with the Jukes and are enjoying yourself onstage. When it’s a full band, me and Muddy are on the same side sharing a mic, so the poor guy spends a lot of time trying to untangle himself from my cable. He’s been incredibly helpful to me on stage, giving me cues and chords when I occasionally get hopelessly lost. And then there’s Southside who prowls the stage like a little kid looking to get into trouble. I love it when he’s hunched over with harp and vintage mic in hand sounding like he’s trying to contact Junior Wells on the other side! He can definitely send the Jukes sound into some greasy territory which is where I’m the happiest. I like the guy because he wants it to be fun and he wants it to be real, warts and all. That feeling’s good to be around onstage. That’s rock and roll! Now if only the SOB would stop grabbing my ass! Many
people also remember you as an original member of Joan Jett and
the Blackhearts. I know Joan and Johnny go way back, but did you
ever play on the same bill as the Jukes when you were a
Blackheart? I know
Joan Jett’s music is quite different in style than that of the
Asbury Jukes. But are there any similarities or differences you
have noticed on stage as far as their approaches? What were
your musical influences growing up? I see you wearing Keith
Richards shirts on stage on occasion... It’s pretty simple…A 10 yr. old Byrd watching The Stones on Ed Sullivan. I was like...wow! How long has this been going on? Screaming girls, I felt the twinge from the music and best of all, Ed looked horrified. I was sold! The great thing about a variety show like Sullivan was he had on all kinds of music. I saw Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Brother Ray, The Temps, Four Tops, Marvin Gaye etc. Even at that age, I was moved! As far as Rock and Roll bands and my teenage years, I was raised on a steady diet of The Who, Rod and The Faces, Humble Pie (Steve Marriott became a good friend later on. His voice still raises the hair on my arms…I miss the little bastard.) Zep, Bowie, Mott The Hoople, Edgar Winter’s ‘White Trash and Free.’ I’m sure I’m leaving out something but these were my main obsessions. Guitar influences, I would have to say Keith of course, Albert King, Paul Kossoff (Free), Albert Collins, Jeff Beck, Steve Cropper, Chuck Berry, Leslie West, Clapton (Bluesbreakers-Cream-Derek and the Dominos), Jimmy Page and Johnny Winter. By reading articles on these artists I learned about John Lee Hooker, Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bobby Womack, T-Bone Walker, Etta James, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Reed, Elmore James. I could go on forever. Basically everyone that’s on my iPod. Is there
someone that you maybe have always idolized, that you’ve had the
pleasure of playing with on stage? I also got to tour with Ian Hunter. I gotta tell you that when I played the opening riff to “All The Young Dudes” on stage in London I got a little choked up. Imagine…I’d sit in my room as a kid listening to that song over and over with these big ass head phones I had that came with my “Lafayette Stereo System” and here I was, 20 years or so later, standing next to the man playing Mick Ronson’s guitar bits. Not bad for a kid from the Bronx! I’ve played “Mississippi Queen” with my friend Leslie West, shared a Marshall amp with Jimmy Page in front of almost a million people and even got to play “Walkin’the Dog” with Rufus Thomas. I’ve got a hundred moments like that. I would love to play “Maggie May” with Rod the Mod. That was a big song for me as a kid. Rod are you listening? Believe me, it ain’t too shabby playing “I Don’t Want To Go Home “ with you know who! It’s
obvious that you are well qualified for the job, but how do you
feel about the big shoes you have been given to fill with the
Jukes? Bobby Bandiera has long been amongst the fans’ favorites. How does
it feel to be a part of a band that has been around almost 30
years? What
other bands are you involved in? Then I have this cool band with Liberty Devitto (Billy Joel’s drummer) called NYC Hit Squad. Besides me and Lib there is a revolving cast of pirates like Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple), Hugh McDonald (Bon Jovi) or Will Lee (Letterman Band), Christine Ohlman (Saturday Night Live Band), Richie Cannata (Billy Joel sax player), even Mr. Kazee makes an occasional appearance. This band is strictly for fun and we only cover cool Rock and Roll and Soul songs. (See my influences above) You have a
CD of your own out at the moment, right? I’ve also been working on my first solo studio CD for about 3 years now. I have 6 tracks totally finished. I’m doing it with Steve Earle produce,r Ray Kennedy. It’s Rock and Roll with a big helping of soul mixed in. Strong melodies and cool guitars. I even have Wayne Jackson from the Memphis Horns on a track. I love what it sounds like so far and I’m achin’ to finish, but between my schedule and Rays it’s been tough. The studio is in Nashville; I’m in NYC. By hook or by crook this baby will be completed. My meter’s not running. It will be done when it’s supposed to be done! I’m just hoping by the time I’m finished, this kind of music will be popular again. LOL Mean time I’ll be putting out an EP of the 6 songs called “Long Story Short.” I’m working on the cover as we speak. You will be able to buy it on my site www.rickybyrd.com as well as at any live shows I’m involved in. I believe you’ll also be able to get it on Southside’s site if he’s still talking to me after this interview. My site also has a pretty cool photo gallery of my checkered past and my questionable present. As you can see I do like to talk, so I’m always babbling on there about one thing or another. WelI, I can see out of the corner of my eye that the Yankee game is about to start. That’s it, I’m done! Back to the Band Eddie Manion | Joey Stann | Chris Anderson | Muddy Shews | Jeff Kazee | Mark Pender | Bob Bandiera | Southside Johnny | Joe Bellia | Ricky Byrd
|
|
From Joan Jett to the Jukes, and
many places in between! That’s one way to describe the newest
addition to the Asbury Jukes, guitarist Ricky Byrd. A true rock
and roller to the bone, and an all around nice guy, Ricky Byrd
has quite a history, not to mention some awfully big shoes to
fill. For anyone who may still be confused, Byrd has been asked
to fill in for Bobby Bandiera, while our beloved prankster goes
off to tour with Bon Jovi on his “Have a Nice Day” tour.