Post by classic rock revival on Apr 23, 2011 17:02:36 GMT -6
This is an interview I did with Eric Bloom in 2003.
Jim: You have a new website, ericbloom.net , how did that come about?
Eric: eb.net debuted Halloween night 2002 and now approaching 20,000 hits since. It was a coordinated effort between myself and Miles Kevin Baron, the webmaster. I decided to have it look like my main interests which are fantasy and science fiction. The artwork comes from my favorite fantasy artist , Michael Whelan. It features BOC news and some BOC-related things like my guitars, tshirts, etc. which I thought might be of some interest to fans.
Jim: BOC's last two CD's. "Heaven Forbid" and "Curse Ot The Hidden Mirror", are both excellent releases. Are the fans responding to your newer songs as well as they do your classic's at shows?
Eric: I understand fans prefer the 'classic stuff'. I'm a fan of many bands and I prefer their classic stuff over the new tunes. However, we do get a decent reaction to the newer material and get asked to play it. When albums are new, we might play 3-4 tunes in a set...now that they are a couple years old, we might play one or two total. We are currently playing "C U in Black" from Heaven Forbid which goes over very well.
Jim: Are you currently doing "Shooting Shark", or "Harvester Of Eyes", in your live shows?
Eric: The answer is yes to both tunes...we don't play them nightly since the set is always different. We tend to play Harvester fairly often since alot of folks like it. We recently (this past year) re-learned Shark and while different from regular BOC-fare, I like playing it and the audience seems to like it.
Jim: You have a new live CD & DVD, "A Long Days Night". Can you tell us how it came about?
Eric: We recorded the live dvd /cd at the Navy Pier in Chicago summer of 2002. The title comes from the June 21 date, the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It's our only live performance on dvd. It's a one-take concert, not many nights combined. It's completely live. I believe it's still selling quite well.
Jim: What is your favorite guitar and what equipment do you use on stage & in the studio?
Eric: I don't think I have a favorite, but I wish I had back my 20th Anniversary Les Paul which I liked very much. It was stolen years ago by an ex-crew member, tho I can't prove it. Anyone sees someone playing a black les paul with boc logo insert and all silver hardware ( it was gold originally) please let me know. It might have tape over the logo. BOC uses Crate amps for guitar.
Jim: What have been some highlights in your career with BOC?
Eric: Lots and hard to think of any in particular, tho my second gig in the band, actually the Soft White Underbelly (early BOC) show at Fillmore East (July 3, 1969) has to be special to me since I used to go there as a fan.
Jim: What artists do you enjoy listening to?
Eric: I can always listen to a Who album, Byrds, Hendrix, Cream, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Joe Williams, Al DiMeola..currently Disturbed, Outkast.
Jim: Have you ever considered an acoustic CD/DVD, along the lines of MTV's Unplugged?
Eric: I have been trying to agitate for an unplugged tour/club run for a long time.
Jim: Have you ever considered hosting a fan fair (like the country artists in Nashville do)?
Eric: I don't have much knowledge on this kind of event. I am open to learning about it.
Jim: For the next few questions I'd like to get your opinion of the following artists. We'll start with Led Zeppelin.
Eric: I was certainly into the first four albums and BOC covered a couple Zep tunes in our club days. I met Bonham a couple of times way back and he was pleasant enough, tho I never met the other guys.
Jim: Deep Purple.
Eric: Deep Purple Has to be the premier 'hard rock' band of all time. I don't think of them as 'metal'. I think Gillian is one of the best rock singers of all-time. Combined with Blackmore it makes as good a combo as Page, Plant or Tyler, Perry or any other. I've hung out with Roger Glover a bit in the past and he's seems to be a great guy.
Jim: Steppenwolf.
Eric: Steppenwolf, We play with them several times a year. A very solid band and nice guys. I saw them several times in the late 60's at Fillmore East with the original line-up. Some great classic rock tunes like 'Born, Magic Carpet Ride, the Monster, Pusher Man'.
Jim: Uriah Heep.
Eric: Uriah Heep, Just finished touring with them last week, all over Germany. I've toured with these guys from the earliest days and count them as personal friends. Mick Box is as good as anyone and a fine fellow. So is Lee Kerslake.
Jim: Mott The Hoople.
Eric: Mott the hoople, We did a press party (can't remember what year...70's sometime)...in LA....boc and mott the hoople. CBS made a sticker that said " I have a "heart" on for BOC and Mott the Hoople" . It was packed. We pulled up in a limo and couldn't get in....to our own party. Ian Hunter is a good friend and we wrote "Goin' Thru the Motions" together in my basement.
Jim: Kiss.
Eric: Kiss, Their first show was opening for us on a 4-act bill. BOC, Iggy
Pop, Teenage Lust and Kiss.
Jim: Do you feel like you've reached all of your musicial goals, or is there something different you'd like to do?
Eric: When I joined BOC (1969...SWU, actually), I just wanted to make a
living playing music. Considering it's 34 years later, I guess I've gotten there.
Jim: I ask this question to almost everyone I interview. If you were a concert promoter putting togehter a rock festival with B.O.C. headlining, what other 4 bands would you include on the bill?
Eric: If BOC was the headliner, 4 bands. here's a 4 act bill.....Uriah Heep, Narareth, Foghat...in no particular order. This would be such a party for us, 'cause all these bands are our best friends in the biz.
Jim: Eric, thank you very much for doing this interview. Is there anything you'd lke to say to your fans?
Eric: Glad to commune with all folks in cyberland...
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