Post by classic rock revival on Apr 26, 2011 17:40:28 GMT -6
This is an interview I did with Country Joe in 2004.
Jim: Why did Country Joe & The Fish break up in 1971?
Joe: From my point of view, there were only two members left of what I considered the original band. Barry Melton and myself. We no longer were even able to play the good psychedlic songs like Section 43, Masked Maurader, Porpoise Mouth, Grace. We relied on the easy rocking tunes and jams. It was boring. Barry never wanted to reaherse.
Jim: "The Country Joe Band", features some former members of "Country Joe & The Fish". What's the difference in the two bands?
Joe: Just the absence of Barry Melton on guitar.
Jim: I heard Barry Melton had an injunction against you, barring you from using the "Fish Cheer". I know that's not true. How did that ugly rumour get started?
Joe: Well, someone started that rumor as a joke I guess. But Barry is in my opinion over the top on this he is The Fish thing and him and I are the only "origional" members of Country Joe and The fish.
Jim: How long have you been touring as the "Country Joe Band", and how many dates do you do per year?
Joe: We just started this year. We played gigs for about six months in US and UK and there were about 35 in all. I do not know how many we will play. It is going to be a sometimes thing but we hope a regular thing. I am doing solo shows again and will also do shows with the band.
Jim: Is there a DVD of your current live show available, or any plans to release one anytime soon?
Joe: An English company recorded a Country Joe Band show in Portsmouth England and plans to release it early next year...2005.
Jim: You have a new CD single, "Cakewalk To Baghdad". Have you considered sending President Bush a copy?
Joe: I do not kid myself that he would ever open any mail from me. But it will be part of the arsinal of anti Iraq anti Bush music that is out and will continue to come out. That fact cannot escape him.
Jim: San Francisco in the mid to late 60's was a hotbed of great bands. A lot of great music came out of that town during that period. Do you have any fond memories of that era you can share with us?
Joe: It was great to play along with two other bands at most of the shows. Lots of times each band would play two sets and there were light shows. It was very nice to hear lots of good music. In the Avalon Family Dog shows there was just one dressing room so we got to be close to each other without star trips.
Jim: In 1970, the Fish played "The Bath Blues Festival", in Somerset, England. A lot of great bands played this festival, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, John Mayall, and countless others. Did you enjoy playing this festival and how would you compare it to playing at Woodstock?
Joe: I played that festival as a solo act. It was very similar in that it rained and there was lots of mud and lots of acts. Unlike Woodstock I did not see lots of acts at Bath so I cannot say anything about the music. I also was not there for very long where as Woodstock I was there for all three days.
Jim: Your currently working on your autobiography. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Joe: I will write a little each day for about a year and see what I come up with. It will be vignettes from my musical career and my life and my interactions with people that are known to the public and historical events. I will post bits on my web site from time to time. I also have a large archive of posters and photos from my career and hope to include them in the final publication.
Jim: While I support our troops, I don't support the war in Iraq. I see it as Vietnam all over again. I also fear the draft will be reinstated. What are your comments on this issue?
Joe: The troops are spread very thin now. The national guard strengths are down in the USA and if it comes to domestic violence as in large demostrations against the war and such we will be hard pressed for man power to inforce law and order. Not too mention if the war in Iraq really heats up and we invade another country too.
Jim: North Korea claims to have nuclear weapons, Iran claims their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. If you were President, how would you deal with this situation?
Joe: I would reach out to other leaders at home and abroad to get a consensus of opinion ......I do not think Bush will do this.
Jim: Joe, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?
Joe: Thanks for your support and I hope to continue to entertain in an intelligent and thoughtful way.
© classic rock revival. all rights reserved.
Jim: Why did Country Joe & The Fish break up in 1971?
Joe: From my point of view, there were only two members left of what I considered the original band. Barry Melton and myself. We no longer were even able to play the good psychedlic songs like Section 43, Masked Maurader, Porpoise Mouth, Grace. We relied on the easy rocking tunes and jams. It was boring. Barry never wanted to reaherse.
Jim: "The Country Joe Band", features some former members of "Country Joe & The Fish". What's the difference in the two bands?
Joe: Just the absence of Barry Melton on guitar.
Jim: I heard Barry Melton had an injunction against you, barring you from using the "Fish Cheer". I know that's not true. How did that ugly rumour get started?
Joe: Well, someone started that rumor as a joke I guess. But Barry is in my opinion over the top on this he is The Fish thing and him and I are the only "origional" members of Country Joe and The fish.
Jim: How long have you been touring as the "Country Joe Band", and how many dates do you do per year?
Joe: We just started this year. We played gigs for about six months in US and UK and there were about 35 in all. I do not know how many we will play. It is going to be a sometimes thing but we hope a regular thing. I am doing solo shows again and will also do shows with the band.
Jim: Is there a DVD of your current live show available, or any plans to release one anytime soon?
Joe: An English company recorded a Country Joe Band show in Portsmouth England and plans to release it early next year...2005.
Jim: You have a new CD single, "Cakewalk To Baghdad". Have you considered sending President Bush a copy?
Joe: I do not kid myself that he would ever open any mail from me. But it will be part of the arsinal of anti Iraq anti Bush music that is out and will continue to come out. That fact cannot escape him.
Jim: San Francisco in the mid to late 60's was a hotbed of great bands. A lot of great music came out of that town during that period. Do you have any fond memories of that era you can share with us?
Joe: It was great to play along with two other bands at most of the shows. Lots of times each band would play two sets and there were light shows. It was very nice to hear lots of good music. In the Avalon Family Dog shows there was just one dressing room so we got to be close to each other without star trips.
Jim: In 1970, the Fish played "The Bath Blues Festival", in Somerset, England. A lot of great bands played this festival, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Steppenwolf, Canned Heat, John Mayall, and countless others. Did you enjoy playing this festival and how would you compare it to playing at Woodstock?
Joe: I played that festival as a solo act. It was very similar in that it rained and there was lots of mud and lots of acts. Unlike Woodstock I did not see lots of acts at Bath so I cannot say anything about the music. I also was not there for very long where as Woodstock I was there for all three days.
Jim: Your currently working on your autobiography. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Joe: I will write a little each day for about a year and see what I come up with. It will be vignettes from my musical career and my life and my interactions with people that are known to the public and historical events. I will post bits on my web site from time to time. I also have a large archive of posters and photos from my career and hope to include them in the final publication.
Jim: While I support our troops, I don't support the war in Iraq. I see it as Vietnam all over again. I also fear the draft will be reinstated. What are your comments on this issue?
Joe: The troops are spread very thin now. The national guard strengths are down in the USA and if it comes to domestic violence as in large demostrations against the war and such we will be hard pressed for man power to inforce law and order. Not too mention if the war in Iraq really heats up and we invade another country too.
Jim: North Korea claims to have nuclear weapons, Iran claims their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. If you were President, how would you deal with this situation?
Joe: I would reach out to other leaders at home and abroad to get a consensus of opinion ......I do not think Bush will do this.
Jim: Joe, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?
Joe: Thanks for your support and I hope to continue to entertain in an intelligent and thoughtful way.
© classic rock revival. all rights reserved.