Adam Kennedy talks with blues legend Walter Trout about his latest album and imminent North East return.
When it comes to blues artists, Walter Trout is at the top of the league. The legendary US guitarist has been a regular visitor to the North East for many years. And shortly will be making a welcome return to the Glasshouse in Gateshead.
So far this year, Walter Trout has been touring the US in support of his chart-topping blues album Broken. The artist has been happy with how things have been going so far this year, although it hasn’t always been easy in his homeland. “It's only taken 50 years, but I'm doing great in my own country now,” he says. “It's been a long haul, but it's going wonderful for me over there, which is nice,”
Walter recalls the early days of his life on the road. “The first few years of my career, I would go to Europe. And I remember, years ago, going to Switzerland and doing a show in front of 100,000 people, where it was me, the Neville brothers, Elton John, and Page and Plant,” he says. “And then we flew home to California, and I played down at the Corner Bar the next night. And people are going, why weren't you here last night? And I go, well, I was playing with Elton John and Jimmy Page, and they just go - yeah, sure. So, it's good to finally get a little recognition in the USA.”
Even five months after its release, Walter's recent single Talking to Myself was still in the Top 5 of the singles charts in the Netherlands. “I had this idea that I wanted to do something that would be in the mould of a song that you might hear on the radio back in the 60s. Maybe something by Paul Revere and the Raiders or somebody like that,” he says. “The lyrics are my response to social media. I think people go on there and scream and yell and rant about stuff. And nobody cares. I mean, you're just talking to yourself. So, it was kind of tongue in cheek.”
Beth Hart was moved by the song so much so that she gave Walter a beautiful compliment. “She called me the next day. I'll never forget what she said. She said, Walter, when I'm near the end of my life, and I look back on my career, I will think about what we did yesterday as one of the highlights of my life.”
The blues world lost one of the greats this year by way of John Mayall. An artist who was a bandmate, a mentor and a father figure to Walter Trout. "I could talk about John for hours and hours because he was like a musical father to me,” said Walter. “He was much more than a musical mentor. He was a dear, dear friend.”
Walter recalls his last encounter with Mayall. “He was very close to the end of his life. And he was not doing well. But I played in Los Angeles with my band. And John's kids brought him to my show. And he stayed for the whole show. And then he came into the dressing room and hung out with us. And we all sat around and talked. And that was the last time I saw him,” said Walter. “I loved him like a father. And it's still hard to talk about.”
Walter Trout’s health troubles are well documented. This year marks the 10th anniversary of his life-saving liver transplant. Recently the artist returned to the hospital in Omaha to visit the medical team that treated him during that time, as well as performing a show in the area. "We played the gig and a bunch of the nurses and my surgeon, the guy who performed the surgery on me was standing right in the front row,” said Walter.
Returning to the hospital was an emotional experience for the artist. “The next day, we went back to the hospital, and we met with the whole staff. And we went to the liver ward and kind of went through the ward. And there were a couple of patients that I was able to talk to and say, look, don't give up hope. Here I am 10 years later. 10 years ago, I was where you are. So just don't give up hope. It's the most important thing. And that was a really emotional onslaught. And when we left there, it took me a couple of days to kind of get back to normal. I was shaken up by it,” said Walter.
Walter Trout will shortly return to the UK for a run of headline dates. “I'm very excited to get back there,” he says. “That country has supported my music. I've been bringing my band to the UK now for 34 years, and they still come out to hear my band. And they still play me on the radio and buy my music. And it means the world to me. They've been there for me the whole time. And I treasure that. I treasure the people of your country.”
With 31 albums to his name, how will Walter approach the setlist for his upcoming show? “Well, we do a lot of songs off the new album. I also do a tribute to John Mayall. I do Say Goodbye to the Blues, but I tell a couple of stories about my time with John. And I do a tribute to him and it's always very emotional for me. And then I still do the ending song where I let all my musicians have their own place and I turn them loose,” explains Walter.
Beyond his upcoming UK tour, Walter Trout is already thinking about the next studio release. “After the UK, I go home for a couple of weeks and then I come back, and I do a month in Europe. Then in January, I go back to the States and my wife, and I are going to write a new album. And hopefully, in February I'll be recording album number 32,” he concludes.
Walter Trout will perform at the Glasshouse in Gateshead on Friday 18th October. Support at the show comes from Laura Evans. For ticket information and further details please visit: https://theglasshouseicm.org/
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