Interview: Eric Gales

By Martine Ehrenclou

A true guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter and blues rocker, Eric Gales has arrived with his new album, Crown, out January 28 and produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. Crown is an exhilarating journey by Gales, a compelling album of blues, rock, jazz and funk with his masterful guitar, warm vocals and emotional songs. He shares personal reflections on racism, his hopes for unification and his past struggle to gain sobriety. Crown is an album that is as moving as it is brilliant and features Eric’s individual experiences and hope for a positive change.

The Memphis-born guitarist spearheaded a revitalization of the blues with rock swagger. He was a child prodigy at the age of 16 when he released his debut, The Eric Gales Band on Elektra Records. After recording a second album for Elektra, he and his three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros Left Hand Brand, recorded for the House Of Blues label in 1996. More acclaimed releases followed and in 2017 Eric signed with Mascot Label Group, releasing two albums, Middle of the Road (2018), and The Bookends (2019). Eric Gales is known as both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist.

More than five years sober, Eric Gales has solidified his place among the top greatest guitarists in the world.

While Gales and his wife were in South America, we chatted about his new album Crown. I asked him about working with Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. Gales said, “I admire them both. I’m highly inspired by both of them. They are some of the most deadliest, scariest guitar players alive and to have them be a part of producing my record was the ultimate find for me.”

Eric and Joe have a history together, originally meeting in the 1990s, both teenagers who were hailed as torchbearers of the blues and guitar wunderkinds. The pair went on to very different lives and careers, but Eric’s full potential was hampered by his substance abuse issues. In 2019, Joe invited Eric to play with him onstage at a blues cruise performance, which led to continued friendship and professional collaborations.

About writing the songs for Crown Eric said, “It was just time for the elevation of some things that I needed to talk about that I personally experienced. In the midst of 30 years that I had been getting high, there had been some negative names said to me, but because I was so focused on being high, it went over my head and I never addressed it. But now that I’m over five and a half years clean with no haze or fog, I can talk about things with no regret.”

When asked about what it was like to record his new album with Bonamassa and Smith, Eric said, “Here is a black guy and a white guy that came together to make this record and we all came together, black, white, woman, man and everything in between. We put down on paper what was in our hearts.”

Gales described the emotional journey with the record. “The writing for this record began the day after George Floyd was murdered. It caused a lot  fury in me and the first day was me coming in the studio and just unleashing and venting.”

He explained that Joe and Josh stood with him on everything he shared about George Floyd, also condemning the violence and racism, agreeing that it was appalling and had been going on for far too long.

Eric shared, “Joe had his phone recording and he said, ‘Man just keep talking because this is the material we are going to use for the majority of the record.’”

“It was so deep,” Eric said. “Everybody had such an emotional journey with this record—Keb’ Mo’, James House, Tom Hambridge, Joe and Josh, my wife LaDonna and myself. We didn’t want to make just a guitar record because you have Josh, Joe and Eric Gales. It was more than that. This is a statement record.”

One of the most powerful and moving songs about racism is “Too Close To The Fire.” Eric fuels palpable anguish into a song that beckons people to understand what it’s like to be in his shoes, walking down the street with ‘the heat’ on his trail because of the color of his skin. With a reference to Mississippi in 1964, this song has tremendous impact, wrapped in blues/rock sinewy riffs and Hendrix-esque rock balladry. I asked him about the song.

Eric explained, “Too Close To The Fire” is a remnant of actual events that happened with me in a twofold sense. For 30 years I lived in addiction and everything that came to addiction. I actually lived in the fire by my own hand, I’m not blaming anybody else. And on the other hand, there was a couple of times that I had been stopped by the cops where what happened to George Floyd could have happened to me.”

I mentioned another song on Crown that was incredibly moving and about his personal experience with racism, “The Storm.”

Eric recounted an experience that inspired writing the song.“During the time of the pandemic and George Floyd, it made people who had already been thinking about this, stand up and be more vocal. There was somebody on social media who told me that I was being too vocal and basically to shut up and play.” Referring to the person who had insulted him, he said, “Do you think that just because I play guitar and you like what I do that it means I don’t have a voice to speak on things I see happening in the world?”

“You’re a human being,” I said.

“Yes, I’m a human being, man, and there’s people in the world that give me a pass because I play music or they like some element of what I do or how I play guitar,” Gales shared. “But if I walk past you on the street and you didn’t know that about me and I asked you what time it is, would you answer me? Ask yourself that question and if you don’t think you would answer me, then you are exactly who I’m talking about in this song ‘The Storm’.”

Emotion grew in his voice, fueled by anger and hurt. “Here is a very cut and dry way of putting it—allow me the opportunity to make you hate me before you automatically decide to hate me.”

I interjected, “Because of your skin color.”

“Yes. Do not dislike me because you don’t like the color of my skin.” He paused and exhaled. “I’m speaking on this because there’s people in the world that feel that way.”

I said, “I know. It’s hideous.”

Listening to “The Storm” you can’t help but be emotionally affected by Gales’ personal truth conveyed by his passionate vocals and guitar playing. It’s an all-senses experience and you can’t turn away. His personal experience is direct, authentic, and deeply moving. Listening to a personal story about racism is very different than just reading about racism in general. Put that to great music and you have influence.

Adding more, Eric said, “If you listen, you’ll understand why we as black people are fearful. My wife is afraid that I may not come back home when I leave sometimes.”

I was speechless. I asked Eric about his song and video for “I Want My Crown” featuring Joe Bonamassa. The video is playful and fun, capturing the two of them engaging in a six-string battle for the guitar crown. And the guitar solos by these consummate pros are electrifying.

Eric revealed that the video came to him while sleeping. “I had a dream, for real, that I had this challenge with my friend in a wrestling ring. It’s never been about competition. There’s no winner between me and Joe. The winner is the fan, the listener. That’s the intention of the song. Proving myself to anybody is over with now. Because I’m the only person that I have to get over when I look in the mirror. I’m five and a half years clean.”

I asked Eric to tell me about his sobriety and how that changed his life.

Eric grew quiet, almost in reverence. There was a moment of silence. He said quietly, “It’s everything. If I hadn’t decided to be clean, then nothing else would be possible. I wouldn’t even be on this phone, having this interview with you. Everything would be obsolete. That was the spirit that sparked everything. My wife and a few other people were very supportive in helping me see the light. And I can’t be more grateful.” He took a second and said, “I can’t be more grateful for the fact that I have some people in my corner like that.”

I asked, “Is your song “My Own Best Friend” about learning to be sober and how to take better care of yourself?”

“Absolutely,” Eric said. “That’s exactly what it’s about. Me and my wife listen to that song and cheer up and we’re very, very thankful. The lyrics mean the world to me. Hopefully people around the world can gather meaning from it.”

Watch “I Want My Crown”

 
Eric Gales website