| 1. What are you currently up
to? |
I'm touring
with Night Ranger here in the states, and when I'm home, I'm in the studio
finishing the soundtrack for a movie. You can see all about everything at
www.JeffWatson.com.
|
| 2. Who were your
influences? |
I've had so
many that it would be unfair to single one out. Guitar wise, I guess Ritchie
Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Johnnie Winter, Ronnie Montrose, Shuggie Otis, and
Michael Shenker were my big influences. |
| 3. Which band would you like to
see reform? |
Deep Purple
with Blackmore, David Coverdale, and Glenn Hughes. |
| 4. Would you ever consider any
UK solo dates at all? Your solo CD's have been released in the UK and there
is a sizeable fan base over here, with festivals of melodic rock artists/bands
like the Gods & Z Rock. |
I'd love to
come back to England. With Night Ranger or not, I'll look at any offers you
may hear about for shows in your country. |
| 5. Are Night Ranger planning a
new studio album this year? I loved the last album, 'Seven' and the band
have to be one of my all time favourite bands. |
Thank you very
much. We have no immediate plans for an album, but are always entertaining
new ideas. |
Photo:
http://www.jeffwatson.com
6. I see you are actively involved
in campaigning on various environmental issues. Do you think people in authority
take more notice of what you have to say as you are a known musician or
not? |
I sometimes
think that being a "rock musician" actually dilutes the impact. I believe
this is due to the long held negative stereotypes attributed to some old
rock stars outdated lifestyles and outlooks. I'm sure I've been thought of
as just another dumb blond guitarist in the past. Most people have more than
just one interest and one dimension. |
| 7. Who would you like to work with
in the future (or would have liked to in regards to dead rock
stars)? |
It changes daily
as I hear or am reminded of some of the great artists among
us. |
| 8. What do you think about the
state of rock music at the moment? It seems classic rock/ 'hair' band music
is big news again but only as a touring vehicle (e.g., all the classic rock
bands touring the US - Styx, REO, Scorpions, Poison - but no new albums in
many band's cases)? |
Radio is the
problem. Without guaranteed airplay, no label is going to put up money to
do an album. Radio now plays what they're told by some tone deaf pinstripe
CEO running 150 stations, being paid payola by the label, instead of the
human program directors that used to play what they thought people would
actually like to hear. Also, now that our audience has gotten older, they
are less likely to go out and buy new music. They come to the shows to relive
their past, and to hear the songs that touched them at their most memorable
youthful moments. It's a tough situation to remedy. I guess Internet CD sales
are one way of reaching ones audience, but there is still the absence of
radio play. |
| 9. What was the last thing you
read? |
I subscribe
to and read, The Washington Spectator, Foreign Affairs Magazine, The Wilson
Quarterly, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Marin Independent Journal.
I do two crosswords a day, (the Premier and the New York Times) and the last
fiction I read was Pattersons "The First To Die." |
| 10. Message for your
fans... |
Thanks for all
the years of loyalty, patience and appreciation. It's important for everyone
out there to know how important they all are to those of us writing songs
for them. Music is nothing without someone to hear it. All the
best. |
