{"id":14309,"date":"2015-01-26T01:00:47","date_gmt":"2015-01-26T06:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southeastofheaven.com\/?p=14309"},"modified":"2015-02-08T16:07:46","modified_gmt":"2015-02-08T21:07:46","slug":"content-needed-blowin-wind-with-black-star-riders-damon-johnson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.southeastofheaven.com\/?p=14309","title":{"rendered":"Blowin\u2019 Wind with Black Star Riders\u2019 Damon Johnson: \u201cScott Gorham wanted to tour and write new music and it just wouldn\u2019t have been right to do that as Thin Lizzy. He knew that and he was confident in all of us as band to do this.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"\u201cI ask the same old question and get the same reply. It forever seems I’ll chase that dream until the day I die.\u201d \u2013 \u201cThe Road\u201d by Brother Cane<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Damon Johnson is a guy who I\u2019ve been following in one form or another since 1993. In 1993, a buddy of mine was listening to a CD by a band called Brother Cane and what I heard was a harder edged Black Crowes full of fire, grit, and just good ol\u2019 southern songwriting. I became a fan instantly and followed the band until 1998 when the band disbanded. From there I watched Damon release a duo of stellar solo albums, take the guitar slot with the legendary Alice Cooper, then alongside Scott Gorham to resurrect Thin Lizzy, and then finally with Black Star Riders where he currently resides.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I recently had the chance to talk with Damon Johnson for the first time and as corny as it sounds it was like talking to an old friend. We talked about his love of the Brainfart (seriously!), connecting with Jason Isbell about Iron Maiden, how he becomes Bon Scott whenever he hears \u201cHighway to Hell\u201d, and his undying love and passion for the music he makes. This was without a doubt in my top 5 favorite interviews and I\u2019m so excited to share this one. So kick back, get a cold one, and get to know the great Damon Johnson.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Damon, thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy day to do this!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don, it\u2019s all good man. I want you to know something, Don. I\u2019ve come aware of the Brainfart in the last couple of years and I\u2019m a fan, brother. If I\u2019m not mistaken, didn\u2019t Black Star Riders make your list of best shows last year?<\/p>\n

================================================<\/p>\n

Black Star Riders was indeed one of the best shows I saw last year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don, that\u2019s really flattering brother. We are so grateful for cats like you. We need you now more than ever because really, all we\u2019ve got are people like you talking about us and spreading the word. We really appreciate all the accolades from you. That means a lot.<\/p>\n

================================================<\/p>\n

Damon, that right there is why I love doing what I do and hearing that makes it all worthwhile.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of the day, Don, regardless of the changes in the music business or increases and decreases or whatever, you, me, and the guys are still getting do what we love and at the end of the day, that\u2019s what matters the most. Well done my friend. You kick ass [laughs].<\/p>\n

================================================<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been a fan of yours since hearing the first Brother Cane album back in \u201993. Looking back on it all, is this where you thought you would be at this point?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would\u2019ve never been able to see myself where I am right now; certainly not even 10 years ago. I kind of figured that when Brother Cane wrapped up that, from an artist stand point, I was pretty much done. I just felt like that was my shot. I had the big record label, we had the tour support, we were on the road, had radio airplay but we just never reached critical mass. We not only hoped it would but we needed it to in order to continue doing it full time. I kind of became just a journeyman\/sideman and continued my songwriting and writing songs for other people. Honestly, if you would\u2019ve told me, \u201cDude, in your late 40\u2019s you\u2019ll join Thin Lizzy and then it\u2019s going to morph into a new and you and the singer are going to write the bulk of the material and it\u2019s going to be badass\u201d I would\u2019ve said, \u201cNo way.\u201d [laughs]<\/p>\n

================================================<\/p>\n

Man, talk about exceeding all of the expectations you ever had and some you didn\u2019t even know you had!<\/strong><\/p>\n

[laughs] Totally. I didn\u2019t even really become a songwriter until I formed Brother Cane. I had been a guitar player since I was a teenager but didn\u2019t really start writing songs until my mind 20\u2019s. My love of songwriting has grown so much over the last couple of decades so to find myself in this situation where I have such an incredible partner in Ricky Warwick who loves to write as much as I do and who also has two decades of experience as a songwriter, it\u2019s a formidable team. Then you put the guys all together on stage and in the studio. Man, just to have their support of the songs that we\u2019re bringing to the table is awesome. To have fucking Scott Gorham go, \u201cGosh, that\u2019s bad ass. Let\u2019s track that song.\u201d C\u2019mon man, how does that happen? [laughs]<\/p>\n