Esteemed guitar man, and an originator of the rock n roll ‘twang’, New York-born Duane Eddy scored his first chart single in 1958 with ‘Moovin N Groovin’, an instrumental piece co-written with DJ Lee Hazlewood, the opening riff of which was later emulated by The Beach Boys on ‘Surfin USA’.
With a distinct sound (he once recorded in an industrial water storage tank to enhance the reverb), over the next four decades he toured and recorded prolifically, working with the likes of Phil Everley, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and George Harrison along the way. Festooned with accolades, not least Guitar Player Magazine’s ‘Legend Award’ and Nashville, Tennessee’s honourary ‘Titan Of Twang’ title, Eddy was officially inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994, and has been cited as a major influence by all kinds of guitarists, including Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks’ Dave Davies and Mark Knopfler.
After receiving a standing ovation at a sold out comeback show at the Royal Albert Hall last year, Eddy was compelled to make a new album, and roped in admirer Richard Hawley to help. Co-written with Hawley and members of his travelling live band, that LP ‘Road Trip’ was made across eleven days in a Sheffield-based studio. Since the album was released through Mad Monkey Records a few weeks ago, the time seemed ripe for Duane to take a brief retrospective look at the album, and his career as a whole, via our Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I started out playing guitar when I was five years old, and seldom put it down, teaching myself by playing along with songs on the radio. I began working as a musician in country bands in Arizona when I was fifteen years old, and I made my first record when I was nineteen.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
I met Richard Hawley a year ago at the Mojo Honours awards evening. We talked briefly about working together, and within a few months time we were in the studio in Sheffield recording this new album. As for the inspiration, it’s the same as for anyone in this business… we do it for the love of creating new music, and getting it out where the people can hear it.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
The creative process is fickle. Sometimes the idea comes all at once, then again it can take hours or even days. With ‘Road Trip’, once the song idea was nailed down, we made a demo. We dissected it, analysed it, made improvements or left it alone. Then we got really serious, put our heads down, and recorded the basic track. Over my long career I have created tracks every which way possible, from having the entire concept and arrangement myself to working with a producer and arranger. In this instance Richard Hawley and Colin Elliot are the producers, and the band members Shez Sheridan, Jon Trier, Dean Beresford, and Ron Dziubla all contributed during the sessions, recording live just like the early days of rock n roll.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
When I was young, Hank Williams, Chet Atkins, and Louis Armstrong made an indelible impression on me because they had such an individual style and approach to their music. I realised, early on, that I had to have my own style and sound, and do it with it authority and emotion.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I don’t think there is anything that I could tell them, I think it would be up to them to tell me.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
Obviously, I hope that ‘Road Trip’ is successful, enough so that we’ll be able to do more projects. I’d like to see people in the business recognise the diversity of Richard Hawley and Colin Elliot’s producing abilities. As for the future, Richard and I are already coming up with ideas for the next album.
MORE>> www.duane-eddy.com
Sections: Q&A D | Tags: Duane Eddy
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