I KICKED off yet another UK tour last Saturday night in Llandudno, Wales, with famed American blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa.
Joe recently picked up the coveted gong at the Classic Rock Awards in London for Best Breakthrough Artist.
I was invited to the ceremony, too, and it was some trip being surrounded by all those famous guitar rockers.
Slash! Ronnie Wood! Pete Townshend! Brian May! Jimmy Page!
Joe is absolutely storming the blues world at the moment.
He started playing guitar with BB King when he was 12 and is now recruiting fresh fans across the globe.
After the UK shows he plays all over Europe.
We played a blinding set of tracks from my newly-recorded blues album, Merchants And Thieves.
I recorded the album live in a studio in Brighton which gives it quite a distinct sound.
Records these days are assembled bit by bit on the computer and hardly ever recorded live.
But my blues album happened without me realising or even planning it.
After my wee stint covering for Joe, who lost his voice playing blues and jazz festivals in Europe over the summer, I was truly inspired.
I bought my first Fender Telecaster, immersed myself in swampy bluegrass and Americana, and drank some Jack Daniels.
The result was Merchants And Thieves.
As an album that just happened organically, songs began to write themselves, riffs and lyrics appeared from beyond the great mystical musical ether and found their own way into the rhythm.
My band – Randall, Scott, Lindsey, Jake and Craig – – are all accomplished musicians in their own right.
And on this album they truly dug from the soul and took to the project with verve and gusto.
I had also earmarked the month of February to record another album of songs I’ve already written.
But it seems that perhaps I may not need to jump the gun and set up shop in the studio quite as fast as I’d intended.
The blues album has taken on a life of its own and is currently selling roughly 100 a night on this tour.
I never made it with the clear intention of it being a hit record – however, it appears to be slowly becoming a hit with the punters. The great thing about this is I have absolutely no clue whatsoever as to what’s around the corner, I’m being guided simply by the music and the fans.
There’s no communal meeting in a boardroom to methodically plan out the next 12 months of my life, no fashion show parade up and down the halls of A&R to decide which outfit suits me best. I’m happy to leave my pending future in the hands of the gods of Rock ’n’ Roll!
It keeps life interesting and gives me great songwriting material.
So I want to say thank you to all the individuals who bought the album so far – you’re what keeps the wheels turning and right now, I’m very happy with where I’m travelling to.