John Waite
Rock and Country

From Western Mail Magazine Germany, August 2006,
Article and photos by Angie Linas
(Translation by waite4you!!!Petra)

Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 30. Open air, in front of approx. 3.000 fans at Journal Pavillon John Waite played his hits, such as "Missing You", "Isn´t It Time", "When I See You Smile" and "Change". After his gigantic show I had the chance to talk to him backstage, about his musical past and his upcoming projects, for instance the rerecorded album "Downtown - Journey of a Heart", which includes all his super hits as a solo artist, as well as the Babys and the Bad English eras.

"This CD is going to be released in Europe on July 7. It´s almost a 'Greatest Hits' CD but I also added some new songs like 'St. Patrick's Day', and 'Highway 61', a Bob Dylan cover. And I re-recorded 'Missing You' with
Alison Krauss."

So how did that come about? "During the last 12 years I spent much time in Nashville to write music and record it there", admits the 51year old rocker, "my musical roots are folk, blues and country. At that time the Brit era was pretty much touched by 'country' and my mother is a huge fan for country music therefore I was pretty much influenced by this kind of music as a child. Hank Williams is to me a Jimi Hendrix.

One day my manager Linda and I were talking for 3 years about singing a duet and  I am thinking about this for 15 years. I was listening to the new Alison Krauss CD when Linda was asking me about who is my favourite (female) singer, and spontaneously I said, 'Alison Krauss!'. Linda called her up and Alison agreed."

As a teenager Alison Krauss listened to Def Leppard and Foreigner. She loves rock music. "The time in the studio with her was great. Alison is exactly what you think she is - cute, witty, generous and a fantastic producer. Ever since we´re good friends and we are talking for hours on the phone."

Speaking of friends! Chris Cagle is another friend of John. "Chris and I share mutual friends, and I even jammed with him on stage when he played at Hollywood's House of Blues."

Further country mates are Brooks & Dunn. In 1999 they covered "Missing You" on their album "Tight Rope"... "Yeah, I was really surprised about that. Maybe there is a slight country touch in this song, at least it is very American", the readheaded rocker says. "When I wrote the lyrics I had the same pictures in my mind that come across when I listen to Glen Campbell´s "Witchita Lineman" - distance, highways and telephones. However, Brooks & Dunn changed the chorus of 'Missing You'. When I bumped into Kix (Brooks) one day he said it was a mistake to change this part but in my opinion it brought up something new. What is the sense of copying an original? When I wrote songs in Nashville people expected straight rock music but usually my ideas are different."

How would John Waite describe himself? "Well I´m John Waite. Whatever that means - rock, country... Am I a blues or ballad singer? I still think about this."
One fact is for sure: John´s music is still played on  radio stations worldwide, even after twenty, thirty years. "...and this means everything to me. That is something that I always wanted -

Being a part of the music business as long as I can. I never wanted to be an overnight success. I just played a benefit concert for a radio station in Arizona where six of my songs are in rotation."

John Waite is currently touring. "A few weeks ago we played the Holland Arrow Rock Festival in front of 10.000", so the in England, Lancaster born songwriter. "When I saw the crowd behind the curtain I couldn´t believe it. The place was packed. All the fans were singing the lyrcis during the encore. We just left the plane, still jetlagged but when we saw the audience and felt their energy, all fatigue was gone. It was unbelievable."

At the tender age of eight, John Waite saw The Beatles the very first on British television performing "Love Me Do". "I remember this very well. I was thinking, 'They´re from the Northwestern part of England. So am I. And what they can do, I can do as well.' If you put these thoughts into an eight-year-old brian there is no question what might happen."

In 1976, John founded his first band 'The Babys' in London at the age of 21. One year later their first hit with, "Isn´t It Time" in America and England. "I was very shy at that time and it was hard for me to be in the limelight. They told me to be their lead singer although I didn´t want to. Meanwhile I have no stage fright anymore. Being onstage became my job. My band is great, and we have a lot of fun."

How was it for you when you were on tour with Beatle Ringo Starr and his 'All Starr Band' a few years ago? "It was incredible, most of the time even unrealistic. Playing with Ringo was one of the biggest honours that you can get as a musician. At ten I was a huge fan of him. You look at him and you think, 'Jesus Christ, that´s Ringo!'. And in the next moment he´s asking you for the way to the rest room. I laughed then. Ringo is a very
down-to-earth guy."

What does John Waite´s think about the music of today? "I think today´s music has lost its roots. Meanwhile many bands only want to be in the charts. Back then it was different. Let´s take Bob Dylan, for instance. He has blues and country roots, and you can hear that. Nowadays bands turn out to be 'fashion' thing.  I don´t get it. You watch MTV or VH1 and you wonder, 'What happened?'. This is why I love Nashville.

Half of the people in the music industry that lived in Los Angeles moved to Nashville now."
Every now and then John visits "Music City". His current home is California, Santa Monica. "Santa Monica is like a small Great Britain to me. There are lots of bars and restaurants that remind me in my hometown in Britain. I even happened to meet Neil Schon recently. Plenty of times I visit my parents and friends in England and everywhere I go I´m wearing a piece of England inside of me. That´s who I am - a British guy."

Who likes country as well as rock music. Back in 1997 John Waite recorded a 'Country touched' album titled "When You Were Mine", which includes the song Bluebird Café. This song describes a female singer, working as a waitress t who wants to succeed in "Music City" Nashville. The song is an inspiration for every songwriter to make his dream come true.
"I was at the ACM Awards in 2005, and in 2007 I hope to be nominated with Alison Krauss at all award shows, and we will win", John jokes at the end of our conversation.

By the way, John Waite and his band perform at the Ahoy in Rotterdam/Holland on October 6th, and possibly play some gigs in Germany.

More info on his official website www.johnwaiteonline.com