Prior even to regulate some details about the interview, it was obvious by the few things we said that Gary Lucas lost a friend first of all and then an artistic genius, like everyone else felt for him... The death of Captain Beefheart was (unfortunately... ) an occasion for a chat with one of the MAJOR musicians of all time. Therefore it is not truly meaningful to say more about him as an introduction here. The history of music speaks for us... The route of Gary Lucas is full of collaborations and sounds that few people managed to make, in the beautiful ride called life... I thank him for his time from my heart...
DA: Thank you very much for your time Gary. So, first of all very sad news... Captain Beefheart RIP. How do you feel really Gary? Was one of a kind for sure..
GL: I am really shattered by Don's death--I thought he would outlive us all. He was a total force of nature like the sun, the wind and the rain.
DA: Tell me some details about Captains 'private' face (if I may say) you know, I am talking for the everyday person of course, not just the artist or the public icon.GL: He claimed to be related to the Duchess of Windsor (Ann Simpson) and Sir Richard Halliburton the explorer, whom they named the luggage for! He loved the poetry of Philip Larkin and Dylan Thomas, the writings and paintings of the English modernist Wyndham Lewis, and his favourite horror film was "The Honeymoon Killers" (1969, d. Leonard Kastle) which he told me: "Yeah, that film is just about the way it is."
He was one of the most intelligent and artistic people I have ever met, I never met anyone like him in over 40 years in the music business.
DA: And what about The Captain Beefheart Project of yours? So interesting really! Any comment Gary? Any memories?
GL: Well it was total ecstasy playing his music for me, I learned so much from him, which I applied in Fast 'N' Bulbous, The Captain Beefheart Project which I co-led with Philip Johnston.
DA: Workin with Lou Reed, John Cale, Iggy Pop, Bryan Ferry, Patti Smith, Dr John, Nick Cave. Amazing! So many collaborations for only one lifetime (laughs!)... Can you share with us some of your memories Gary?
GL: I think each and every one of these artists is a unique voice and talent and they all of them have very strong personalities. I was honoured to work with them all.
DA: Can you tell me about 'Mojo pin'? One of my fav songs ever Gary. Jeff Buckley was such a strong and fantastic musician. Or a poet maybe... Do you think so?GL: Yes Jeff Buckley was the most talented young musician I have ever worked with an amazing collaborator for me we had quite a telepathy between us-. "Mojo Pin" began as my own guitar instrumental "And You Will", which I gave to Jeff in summer '91 and which he added lyric and a melody to. That is how all the dozen or so songs we co-write came together--they all began as my guitar instrumental pieces which Jeff totally respected and left intact, embellishing my harmonic and motival guitar template with fantastic and poetic melodies and lyrics.
DA: Are you working on a NEW project really Gary?
GL: Yes quite a few--I have a brand new Gods and Monsters album due out through Sony/Red in May next year titled "The Ordeal of Civility" which features my avant-rock supergroup featuring Ernie Brooks on bass (Modern Lovers), Billy Ficca on drums (Television) Jason Candler on alto sax (Hungry March Band) and Joe Hendel on keyboards and trombone, produced by Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads).
DA: How do you feel really Gary looking back? Early years, you know... Do you ever really think of yourself (still) as a young kid who walks into the magical world of music? After so many roads, you know...
GL: Yes I feel like a kid at heart, always...playing and composing music keeps me young!
DA: Some of your fav records for 2010,or artists maybe?
GL: Paolo Conte "Nelson", Enrique Morente "Pablo de Malaga"
DA: And closing the interview.. Any chance for an Athens gig?
GL: Yes I hope so, I would love to pay there!!
Thank you very much!
Dimitris
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