The legendary bluesman Walter Trout is getting ready to return to the UK for an extensive tour in support of his latest studio album Battle Scars.
Lyrically and historically the blues has often depicted tales of personal woes and bluesman Walter Trout has certainly experienced his share of woes in recent years. Having been diagnosed with life-threatening liver failure and Hepatitis C in 2013 Walter Trout underwent surgery in May 2014 which resulted in a successful transplant.
A rejuvenated man Walter Trout is on fire right now and at the peak of his game following the release of two incredible albums; Alive in Amsterdam and Battle Scars which both reached the top of the Blues Charts marking the return of one of the most formidable bluesmen of our time.
Walter Trout is about to return to the UK in May for a run of shows and National Rock Review recently asked the man himself what are his “Top 5 Songs For The Road”, and he was more than happy to share with us his thoughts.
1. The Beatles – You Can’t Do That
It’s really almost anything by them. Sometimes if I ever get discouraged with the Music Business or I get tired on the road and I need some inspiration, all I’ve got to do is listen to the Beatles and I realize why I went into this in the first place. It’s hard to explain but I hear them and I go “Okay yeah I realize why I did this and why I will continue to do this”. Seeing them on Ed Sullivan in 1964 was life changing. And you’ll hear that from a lot of people. You’ll hear that from a lot of guys from my generation. When they turned up and played on Ed Sullivan, almost 80 million people watch that show which is almost half the country and most musicians of my generation will say that night changed their life.
2. The Rolling Stone – I’m Jumping Jack Flash
I love the Stones, that’s my favourite song by them. It kind of puts me in the frame of mind, like when that song ends I’m ready to rock!
3. Blind Willie Johnson – Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground
That song is the essence of the blues. You wont find a song a more that’s more the essence of the blues. It’s spiritually deep and it’s almost disturbing and upsetting and it’s so heavy. As a matter of fact NASA put a capsule out in space and they put a recording on there, incase Aliens could find it, of different music and different things from humanity and they actually put that song on there along with Mozart and Beethoven and stuff like that. That song is on there, it’s travelling through space on a capsule!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DB7C7BgxEWw
4. Jackson Browne – Running on Empty
When I moved to California and I was flat broke, didn’t have a gig and nowhere really to stay, I was sleeping on my friends couch, that song really spoke to me because I was running on empty. That song really inspired me to not give up and to drive back to New Jersey. When I got out here I didn’t really know anybody, I didn’t have a gig or a place to live and that song meant a lot to me. When I hear it on the radio I still break down and weep because it brings those days back.
5. Little Richard – Good Golly Miss Molly
This to me is the greatest rock and roll record of all time, ever. Not much more really needs to be said, it’s fantastic!
Walter Trout will be returning to the UK on the 1st May where he will be back in the North East of England at the Whitley Bay Playhouse. Support at all shows with come from the Trout Brothers Band. Tickets for all shows are on sale now, for further details visit Walter’s website/social media.
Walter Trout UK Dates:
Mon 1 May – Playhouse, Whitley Bay
Weds 3 May – O2 ABC, Glasgow
Thurs 4 May – City Hall, Sheffield
Fri 5 May – Engine Shed, Lincoln
Sat 6 May – Parr Hall, Warrington
Tues 9 May – Waterfront, Norwich
Weds 10 May – Assembly, Leamington
Walter Trout
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