Interview: Brian Setzer

Here’s an interview with rockabilly legend, and ex-Stray Cat, Brian Setzer that I bagged one sunny day in a hotel at George Square in Glasgow. Brian had just released his awesome Rockabilly Riot album and he was happy to talk. It isn’t easy to get an interview with Brian, so enjoy this chat with the great man…

Ed: Daft question Brian, but do you ever get tired of playing rockabilly music?
Brian: “You know, people ask me, ‘Aren’t you sick of playing Rock This Town?’ I always say, actually… I’m not! I would ask the poor guy who’s digging a trench at the side of the road, how does he like his job. You know, I feel very lucky to be doing this. I have the greatest job in the world.”

Ed: Why didn’t you record the album in Memphis?
Brian: “I thought Memphis would be the logical place to record the album, but Sun Studios is kind of like a tourist destination these days- not really a recording studio. I thought that the next best place to go to would be Nashville. Recording in Tennessee made a huge difference to the record because I really felt that that was the birthplace of rockabilly music. It all worked out for the best cos it really did have a great vibe there. I mean we picked up the phone and got the Jordannaires, Elvis’ backing singers.”

Ed: Did Nashville make you feel welcome?
Brian: “When you’re recording in a big city, everything’s rushed, everything’s harried. Next door you’ve got some huge rock star and the studio doesn’t really have time for you. Recording in Nashville was different. That town just rolled out the red carpet for me. The folks there were very welcoming.”

Ed: On Rockabilly Riot you pay tribute to original rockers like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. That’s a more primitive style than you’re known for. Did you have to go back to basics?
Brian: “That was the one concern I had, I wanted to play with a little more restraint. It’s not virtuoso guitar, this is rockabilly. I didn’t want to stray too far from the originals but I still wanted to let myself come through there. That’s what comes after playing for 20 years… you learn and you hopefully improve. I listen back to some of the early Stray Cat’s stuff and man, there’s some really good stuff in there."