http://www.dailyrepublic.com/articles/2005/06/24/entertainment_top_stories/ent02.txt
Bluesy hard rocker--The musical journey isn't over yet for Pat Travers
FAIRFIELD - Three decades in music and a stash full of
vinyls have finally saddled musician Pat Travers to a confident place.
The Toronto, Canada, native, known for his bluesy hard rock hits "Boom Boom (Out
Go the Lights)" and "Snortin' Whiskey," feels good about the space he's in,
considering the guitarist and singer has been at this for years.
His career blossomed in the '70s, when he left home and headed straight for
London. Soon after, he signed a recording deal with Polydor and released his
first album, "Pat Travers," demonstrating his scorching guitar abilities to the
world.
His music continued into the '80s and '90s, with his releases "Radio Active,"
"Just a Touch" and "Hot Shot."
And the guitar maverick is at it again. He recently released a new CD entitled
"PT=mc2" and is performing with the Doors, or D21C as they're also known, with
founding members of the group Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger.
While barbecuing some steak and salmon in the back yard of
his house in Orlando, Fla., Travers talks about his life, upcoming projects,
some memorable moments.
What are you up to nowadays?
I released a new CD and I'm very excited about that. The label is Reality and
they're doing a lot of PR, putting a lot of push into it. I tour with the Doors
and it's allowing me to play in nice places. I watched the band Saturday night
and it was really good, it's sort of seeing a better version of Jim (Morrison).
The crowd loves it. I'm not sure if they're coming here, but it would be a shame
if it didn't happen.
Actually, everything is going my way.
Then you should knock on wood.
Yeah, I'm feeling very confident right now. I have a really strong CD, I'm
feeling good, looking good and playing good.
How did you and the Doors happen to get together?
These things just happen. I recorded an album with (drummer) Carmine Appice and
in the course of doing that, I was introduced to Tom Victorino, that's Italian
for victoria. He's a manager for the Doors, and he put us together and we hit it
off.
He then called and asked if I wanted to do 30-40 dates with the Doors and then
said he'd like to be my manager. I told him I'd think about it.
Did you really want to think about it?
(Laughs). I was pretty sure I wanted to do it. I hadn't had a manager since 1984
and I'm 51. It's like, what do I need a manager for? But Tom is a very dynamic
and creative individual. He's great and gives me ideas. So far, so good. The
fact that he manages the Doors and allowed me to get on this tour, well, I'm
happy.
How would you describe your music? Blues, rock, what?
It's so difficult. I'm bluesy and I have bluesy bones. All my blues influences
came from the English bands. I played guitar when I was 12 in 1966 and listened
to Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Cream. But I also listened to a lot of soul music,
like James Brown, Otis Redding and I like Deep Purple.
You know, the first album I got was from the Doors from my brother? It's very
difficult. It's very difficult. If you hear the new CD it has kind of a few
different types of things on it.
If I just did what Ted Nugent does and play one thing, or AC/DC, then maybe I
would have faired better. I can't come up with a category.
What's the story behind "Snortin' Whiskey?"
Pretty simple. I had Pat Thrall from the Bay Area in my band and we would
rehearse every day and what not. But 2 p.m. came and went, then 4:30 p.m. the
big studio door got kicked open and he came in with an arm around a woman. He
had a nautical date. I asked what he was doing, he said he was snortin' whiskey
and drinking cocaine. That sounded like a tune to me. I wrote the song in five
minutes and gave him half the writer's credit. And that's in the movie
"Sideways." It's a very memorable part. A very lewd and lascivious part of the
movie.
Is there a moment in your career that stands out to you?
That would be when we played a show for Bill Graham at the Oakland Coliseum in
1978. There were 65,000 people, Van Halen opened the show, there was AC/DC, my
band, Foreigner and then Aerosmith closed. I don't think you could ever have a
show like that again.
Was there ever a moment you got tired of being a musician?
No, I don't think so. I can do this until I die and I think I'm getting better
at it. I was telling someone who's also in a band, that it's like sex, even when
it's not that great, it's still pretty good.
I read you have a rebellious lifestyle. Is that true?
I don't think so at all. I think I'm a pretty normal guy.
What do you want to be remembered as?
That's a hard question. A decent fellow. I worked hard. I don't know. (Slight
yell). Ugh, I just burned my hand fighting with the salmon. Maybe I'll do a
cookbook.
Do you get uncomfortable talking about yourself?
I don't know. I like to let the music do the talking.
Who is Pat Travers?
Ah, he's a complicated individual. I don't know. I like to read, I like music,
I'm energetic, sensitive, aggressive.
Describe your musical journey.
Incomplete. I'm not done yet. I'm so fortunate that I got to perform with and
become friends with the people who were my teachers in the '60s. I always felt
like I was one of the boys, that I would do something. And that's not an ego
thing, I just felt I understood it.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Looking forward to coming out and playing on the 30th, and hoping people will
have a chance to listen to the CD.
Reach Andrea Garcia at 427-6935 or
agarcia@dailyrepublic.net.
Preview
Pat Travers presented by Pepper Belly's Comedy & Variety Theatre
9 p.m. Thursday
Fairfield Civic Center, 1000 Kentucky St., Fairfield
$25 general admission, 21 and over only, two-item minimum. Full bar and food
menu available.
return to Ida's LA Woman Confidential home page
for more Doors news and reviews