John Hiatt - interview

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House Of Blues interview on AOL

Thursday, September 7, 2000, AOL chat session

AOLiveMC1 : Welcome to America Online, John Hiatt.

HOBJHIATT : Hi, it's terrific to be here. This is my first online chat experience.

AOLiveMC1 : Ready to take some questions John?

HOBJHIATT : You bet.

AOLiveMC1 : Here's our first question. Question : John, when was it that you decided you wanted to be a musician?

HOBJHIATT : I was 11 years old. I heard Stevie Wonder for the first time, and he was billed as the 12 year old genius, so I figured I had about a year to catch up.

Question : How does it feel to do quality work your entire career and have someone as insipid as Hootie and The Blowfish do a watered down version of your style and make a mint?

HOBJHIATT : I certainly wouldn't take anything away from Hootie's success, they certainly deserve it. and I think they've really opened some doors for music that doesn't necessarily have a trendy "look" to go along with it. In fact, we will be joining Hootie and the Blowfish for the month of July opening their shows in the South, Northeast and Midwest. I'm really looking forward to it.

Question : Hiya John. Are you touring at the moment? And where?

HOBJHIATT : We're playing right here at the House of Blues Los Angeles in about 3 hours... and we'll be finishing a tour that started January 3rd with dates in San Fran, Seattle, Portland, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Bellingham, Washington. Me and the Nashville Queens are tired ponies and we'll be heading back to the barn April 15 for about a month of rest. And then, back on the trail.

Question : Stolen Moments is always in the cd carousel. Thoughts on that album?

HOBJHIATT : Musically, I was fishing around a little. I had never worked with a rotating group of studio musicians before, always a set band, and so it was a lot of fun to hear the different interpretations of the music. Lyrically, as always, it was pretty much just where I was at at the time, which was pretty enthralled with love, family life, and my incredible good fortune at having found them. It was great to work with Glyn Johns. I would love to do it again. Though I think both of us work better in a small combo setting. Slow Turning, for example.

Question : What is your favorite instrument to compose on?

HOBJHIATT :I write almost everything on a 1947 Gibson LG2, which I've had for about 8 years. I just found out this year that the LG stands for Lady Gibson, so I'm writing on a girlie guitar. I guess that makes me a girlie man, but she speaks to me like no other, and I know she's got plenty of songs left in her.

OnlineHost : HOUSE OF BLUES (keyword: HOB) is chatting with : JOHN HIATT right here, right now! Stick around : 'till the end of the chat for your chance to : win 10 autographed CD's! Visit other great : artists at HOUSE OF BLUES (keyword: HOB) : after the chat, and watch for video and : audio clips of John's performance which : happens later tonight!

Question : When you write, do you sit down and get to it or wait for inspiration?

HOBJHIATT : The last 3 years, I've written mainly on the road in hotel rooms, backstage, in the back lounge of the bus, etc... It seems to come from the simple pleasure of sitting down, breaking out the LG2, and banging away. I get caught up in music itself it seems when I'm out on tour, and it gets to a point where I can't stop making it.

Question : good evening John..I really respect your work,, do you have many songs written but not recorded?

HOBJHIATT : Probably hundreds, and one of these days, I intend to go back and record some of these forgotten tunes. My problem is I always like my new stuff the best, and I'm usually more anxious to get it out.

Question : Who, apart from Hootie, are you listening to these days?

HOBJHIATT : Woo lordy!!! I like all kinds 'a stuff. Let's see... Garbage, Ron Sexsmith, I've been listening to a lot of old Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings lately. Also I have to have a Willie Dixon fix every few days, just to keep my correct size on the map of things.

Question : John, are you planning on coming to Atlanta anytime soon?

HOBJHIATT : We were just there... HOBJHIATT : before Christmas I think. The Hootie dates include Atlanta, I believe.

Question : John, when will you be in San Fran, my friends and I will be there in June, would love to see you perform!

HOBJHIATT : We are playing the Fillmore this Friday, so I guess you're gonna miss us this trip. But our plan is to tour right through Christmas of this year, so I'm sure we'll be back in the Bay area before the end of the year.

Question : John, Would you think about putting out an album of just you and your guitar?

HOBJHIATT : I think about doing that with each release. My favorite bus album last tour was World Gone Wrong by Bob Dylan. Someday I'll screw up the courage to be that naked on record. Of course I still love touring solo, as well as with a band, in fact I plan to do some solo touring this summer, as well as dates with the Nashville Queens (my bandmates).

Question : Do you prefer studio or live performances?

HOBJHIATT : It's like dogs and horses. I like 'em both. Different reasons. I look at recording sort of like photography, and I look at live performance as transformation. One is keeping track of and one is letting go of.

Question : John, did you change guitarists from "Perfectly" to the most recent CD? And we like the mando a lot!

HOBJHIATT : He'll love that. (as if his head isn't big enough already) I'm speaking of Dave Immergluck, the Berkeley Wizard. He plays not only great mandolin and electric guitar, but pedal steel and a peculiar instrument called a strum stick. Mike Ward was the guitarist on Perfectly Good. He has his own band now called Tiny Buddy, and also was recently heard with the Wallflowers, one of Bob Dylan's boys' band.

Question : John were you upset that your set was cut so short at the Newport Folk Festival this summer

HOBJHIATT : I wasn't particularly upset, but I was tickled when people started chanting "Hiatt, Hiatt, Hiatt". This went on for about 5 minutes, after I left the stage, and it pretty much made my week.

Question : John, what projects do you have in the works?

HOBJHIATT : I've been writing like the hell hounds are on my trail during this tour. I'm up to 18 songs, and me and the Queens have been ducking into various studios across this fair land, and commiting them to tape, so the next album may be recorded on the road, as well as written.

Question : What type does your music qualify as (country, alternative, things like that)

HOBJHIATT : That's a tough call for me. I sort of do what I do. Maybe it's easiest to describe it as music you can't get from anyone else but me.

Question : John, how do you feel about so many of your songs being turned into hits by other artists?

HOBJHIATT : Very flattering, of course, and financially it's kept us going. It's an aspect of my funny little career that I least expected, and in a way am most proud of. I am particularly pleased with the diversity of artists that have chosen to interpret my songs. I'd love to get them all in a room together.

Question : Some times when listening to you r music I find that they have to do with lost loves hazy bars, drinks and women breaking hearts. Is that the feel that you're looking to send to peolple??

HOBJHIATT : Well, it's a feel I'm familiar with, being a recovering alcoholic and addict, with 11 years clean... Well, you know like they say "You take away the drink and the drug, you still got the alcoholic and the addict."

Question : Does John have any plans to come to Boston soon?

HOBJHIATT : We were there back in November at the Orpheum, and again with Bob Seger about a month ago at the Fleet Center. Boston's always been good to us, and I'm sure we'll be back there before the end of the year.

Question : WHERE EXACTLY are you musical roots and are the Stones one of those?

HOBJHIATT : I started in with Elvis, then Stevie Wonder, Mitch Ryder, on to the Stones, the Beatles, then I discovered Bob Dylan when I was about 15 and a year later, Mississippi John Hurt. Throw in James Brown, and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, for good measure and that pretty much covers me from age 12 to 16 or so.

AOLiveMC1 : We have time for one more question before we award the CDs.

Question : Any single person inspire "Rock Back Billy"?

HOBJHIATT : Cool. I think Rock Back Billy is a composite of all the hard working musicians I've known and certainly a bit autobigraphical as well. It's the idea that we are the types who simply have to make this music. We almost don't have a choice.

OnlineHost : Here are the winners of John Hiatt's CDs.

OnlineHost : If you're a winner, send your name and address to HOBNuMedia.

OnlineHost : SKL63, Rno94, DrVanHalen, FERALP, KD1GA

OnlineHost : Katarn123, JayH123, NF123, LSpano9793, MBodayle.

AOLiveMC1 : Any closing comments John?

HOBJHIATT : I really enjoyed our chat. And I appreciate Marty being able to type about as fast as I think. It works better than my mouth. Thanks to you all and we'll see you on the broad highway.