Did you write a lot
of songs before entering in the studio for this new album "Hittin'
the note" ?
Derek : Yes, we had many ideas and there were no problems for
us to get all the material we needed for this album.
Warren : It's been a team work, many songs were co-written,
some of them by Gregg and myself, others with our bass player, Oteil.
"Instrumental Illness" is an example of this collaboration. In fact,
there was a really great atmosphere between all of us. Most of the
work is on this album but there's still a few ideas left for the moment....
Derek : But they're nor that far, they're floating around (laughs).
So we won't have to wait nine more years to get back an other album
?
Warren : I hope not... (laughs)
Derek : If it has to be in nine years, I guess it won't be
with this lineup (laughs).
It seems you found the perfect alchemy between the two of us. What
did you learn from each other ?
Warren : In fact we know each other for such a long tile, twelve
years I believe...
Derek : Yes I think so...
Warren : The first time we met was in '89, 1990 more exactly,
so it's been 13 years. We were used to play with each other, not in
the same band, each one had his band, but we often jammed together
on stage, so we got a real good idea of how we could play together.
When we entered the studio, things rooled perfectly.
Warren, your return with the Allman Brothers came kinf od naturally
and naturally, there had to be a studio album ?
Warren : Yes, Allen passed away back in 2000 and Gregg called
me a few months later to invite me on stage with them. Then, everything
happened the perfect way and pretty fast after the Beacon Theater,
two years ago. To our own surprise, the music was there and I believe
each one of ous thought there was such a long time we hadn't come
with a new studio album that we kind of felt it was the perfect time.
You know, when I came back, I realized the music was great and the
atmosphere in the band was great. Wh just had to write new songs.
You recorded two covers,"Woman across the river" form Freddy King
and "Heart Of stone" from the Rolling Stones, why did you choose those
two songs ?
Warren : we were used to play the Freddy King song on stage.
We first didn't think of getting it on tape but it's a good song and
the crowd loves this one. This song is perfect for Gregg's voice.
For the Rolling stones's one, we tried it back in 1995 but it wasn't
good at all...
Derek : We set upon this song (laughs)
Warren : Yes I believe we tried it for at least thirty times
but we couldn't get something good with it. But for this new album,
I really wanted to give a second chance to this song and we succeded,
I guess. I've always thought this cut was great, the singing is great
and Derek's slide parts are fabulous.
Derek : I think it's one of the songs I like the most.
You recorded some performances at the Beacon Theater for a new
dvd I guess.
Derek : In fact, we recorded two nights and I think the dvd
is scheduled for next year, I'm not sure.
Warren : I believe they'ld like to release it for Christmas
time.
Regarding new releases, did you, Warren, think of having a new
volume, the third, of the "deep end" for Gov't Mule ?
Warren : I don't think so. Many people ask me this question
but what we're gonna do is recording a line album which we're gonna
call "the deepest end" and it will close the chapter. There should
be twelve guest bass players or so. We 're gonna record during the
jazz festival down in New Orleans. There's still so many bass players
we'ld to play with but we have to finish this adventure...
Derek : It could be an endless adventure.
Warren : Yes, "The Deep End Volume 12 "… (laughs)
Are you gonna come and play in France ?
Derek : Tomorrow ! (laughs). We'ld really like to come.
Warren : Yes I think we can lake it with our own band, Gov't
Mule or the Derek Trucks band, but not now because of war.
Derek : Yes because of all that mess... (laughs)
Warren : But with the Allman Brothers we could make it as we
only came twice, in the 70's and in the 90's.
Derek : I'ld also really like to go and play in Japon. We've
been asked for so many times and even if it's only for food, I love
it (laughs)
Warren : Yes and in France, I believe food is not that bad
either (laughs).
Derek : Yes that's true.
Warren : Well, as we now work with Sanctuary Records, a european
label, i believe there'll be more opportunities that there were in
the past.
You recently released "American University 12/13/70", only available
at your shows and on the website, when are you gonna release a new
album ?
Derek : I believe the next time will come out in a couple of
weeks or so. By the way, it's a good thing the band could get back
the tapes from Washington, they smoked at that show.
Warren : Yes, there are great things and I know there are still
some tapes which should be interesting. In fact, everything recorded
back then was kind of magic.
Which musicians didn't you play with and you'ld like to ?
Derek : There are hundreds of them even if I had the chance
to play with legends such as BB King but there really are a lot of
musicians I'ld to play with. I think it's also the case for Warren.
Warren : Yes, it's always a great pleasure to play with these
people when we think we played with Bob Dylan for example. How old
were you when you got to play with him ? fourteen or so ?
Derek : I believe I was eleven or twelve. That was a great
experience.
Warren : We played with so many great acts such as John Lee
Hooker but there are still many of them I'ld like to play with. Each
time I'm in Chicago, I try to get someone new every night. But we
also got the opportunity of being invited to work on somebody else's
album. There are occasions you can't refuse laughs).
Do you listen to a lot of music or not ?
Warren : There's always music around.
Derek : This is somethin we need as our music is based on improvisation,
we don't always play the same thing on the same songs every night.
So we can get new ideas.
Warren : You don't evolve if you don't listen to new music.
For example, it takes me one hour to come back home after playing
the "Beacon Theater", and I listen a jazz radio in my car. Sometimes,
I hear something and I say to myself "I'm gonna try this tomorrow".
You're gonna play thirteen shows this year et the "Beacon Theater".
Don't you think you could have played more shows ?
Derek : May be but I think thirteen is enough, it's quite a
lot. As far as I'm concerned, I could play more but I think we'll
only play eight of them next year.
Warren : Yes New York is a physical town and it asks a lot
of energy.
Regarding the production of the new album, Warren, you worked with
Michael Barbiero. Is he a member of the family ?
Warren : Let's say he's a member of the family and also a member
of the Gov't Mule's one. Derek also knew him and we worked perfectly
with him for the Allman Brothers Band. He's such a great human being
and a great engineer. And you know, a good producer has to be a chameleon,
he has to be able to adapt to every situation.
Derek : He found our sound and his work was remarquable. It
was a pleasure to work with him, we learned a lot.
Are there musical styles you'ld like to incorporate in the Allman
Brothers's music ?
Warren : We already incorporate many styles. May be abit more
of classic jazz or some oriental sounds as Derek does with his own
band but who knwos...
Derek : I din't think it is necessary. The band has its own
sound, there is a lot of freedom in the Allman Brothers. So there
are some limits. If not, it wouldn't be the Allman Brothers anymore.
But we got many ideas for the new album and we'll see what happens.
Warren : Anyway, the sound of the Allman Brothers has always
been based on the blues for the last thirty five years. It's always
been the guiding line, except in the 80's and the band had to split.
We've worked this "ABB trademark" for so many years that we're gonne
keep it for a while.
Would you like to say something to your french fans ?
Derek : Il'd really like to come and play in France, whether
with my band or xith the Allman Brothers Band. Even if we're havind
tough times, with the music, we can unify, even with the french. You
know, I din't need these "freedom toasts", I'ld have "french toasts".
All these are kiddings (laughs).
Warren : Yes we'ld really like to come. Many musicians are
not for this war as it doesn't go with being a musician and the sharing
concept of the music. I try to understand the reasins of this war
but it's kind of difficult (laughs).