Graham Bonnet Band

Graham Bonnet

Photo by Jack Lue

A Day Out At The NAMM Show with GRAHAM BONNET

Interview by Ken Morton - Photos by Jack Lue

The Graham Bonnet Band were the very special guest signings at The Highwire Daze Booth at The NAMM Show this year. Set up entirely by Giancarlo Floridia of Faithsedge, the participants in the signing included Graham Bonnet, Beth Ami Heavenstone and Conrado Pesinato of The Graham Bonnet Band, Pete Fry of FarCry and Jaded Past, Seann Nicols of Delete After Death, Jesse Blaze Snider, as well as Giancarlo and his daughter Faith Floridia (actress/model). 200 NAMM Show attendees would eventually go through the line - a lot more than what was expected! In this interview with the legedary Graham Bonnet, we discuss The NAMM Show signing, his band’s brand new album Day Out In Nowhere, the 40 Year Anniversary of his particpation on the Michael Schenker Group album Assault Attack, and more!

Let’s talk about the new Graham Bonnet Band album Day Out In Nowhere.

It’s really been interesting to see the reviews done on our new album. It’s been like wall-to-wall praise from everybody. Every interview I’ve done – every review I’ve seen – has been amazing! We could do no wrong. All the tracks were reviewed which most people don’t do – they listen to two or three and then say something about those tracks – but every track! I read a review yesterday and it was just incredible! It’s like each track tells this story – and that’s what I’ve always tried to do – to tell a story that’s true or has happened to somebody else. A lot of these things have happened to me – these events. I’m not one of these guys that writes about the sword in the stone and dungeons and dragons which you probably know. I’m anti-that – and I think people find it interesting that my lyrics are sort of interesting and tell a story.

What was it like going back to The NAMM Show and what were some of the highlights?

It was totally different from the way it used to be. For one thing, it wasn’t very crowded. Usually when you go there, there’s like millions of people milling along the rows and all that kind of thing. But it was very, very quiet. But we did an autograph signing thing which was surprisingly well attended I must say. Because I always remembered doing signings before, years ago, and there’d be like two people there going “Who are you? Who are you?” And you’d have to explain who the hell you are when you’re in a line with a bunch of people who are probably better well known that you. But we got a good attendance. It was great! I mean that was the highlight of the day. We hung out with sort of our friends there. But it’s not quite the same. A lot of the products – the vendors that were there – Fender wasn’t there for one thing – or Gibson. It was all very quiet. It changed a lot. But I’m glad to say that my favorite guitar the Hofner – the Hofner stand was there, and I went over and talked to them, and they were very pleased to see me.

And that was our booth – the Highwire Daze booth – were the signing took place. So, thank you so much for doing that.

It was a pleasure. As I said, I was just surprised at how many people were there!

Is there any overall story or concept behind that title Day Out In Nowhere?

Well that song – again, I’m like a reporter – like some guy that’s writing for a newspaper. It’s something that happened to me. When we were in the van, we were travelling in Russia. We were on our way to Saint Petersburg or something – I don’t know what city it was. But we can’t be over there now, can we? Things have changed big time! But we were on our way to a city, and we were driving through farmland – I’m looking out the window and seeing all the horses and the cows and sheep and whatever. And then suddenly all that livestock was gone – there was nothing there. And I thought “that’s very strange.” No animals and we were driving through farmland. And I looked up and I thought “where are all the birds?” There were no birds in the sky either. And I thought “that’s strange!” And another thing I noticed there was no roadkill – the road was completely clean. Always when you drive, somewhere along the way you’ll see a dead deer or something or a fox or whatever it may be. But there was absolutely nothing at all! And I thought “This is very, very weird.” And I said to the other guys in the band, “Do you notice something strange about where we are at right now?” And they said, “No, what do you mean?” And I said “Look at the sky. Do you see a bird?” And they looked up and said “No.” And I said “Do you see anything in the field – horses or cows? Do you hear anything? Do you hear any dogs barking?” “No.” I think

The Graham Bonnet Band signing at The NAMM Show

Left to Right: Graham Bonnet, Beth Ami Heavenstone, Conrado Pesinato, Jesse Blaze Snider, Giancarlo Floridia, Pete Fry, Seann Nicols, Faith Floridia

– people tell me the reason could be was the farmers kind of poisoned the land or there was some kind of electricity within the soil itself to keep away the predators – to keep away the people eating the crops and the foxes. I heard that. But this went on for like ten miles of nothing! So, it was a Day Out In Nowhere. And I said to the guys in the van “We’re coming up to a city in a minute. You watch. Look at the sky. I bet you see birds.” And for sure, we did. The sky was alive with birds. There were cows and sheep, and everything was normal. But this other space we drove through – it was like nothing at all. And that’s where that story comes from – that’s Day Out In Nowhere.

Let’s talk about a few of the other songs from Day Out In Nowhere. Tell me about Imposter and the inspiration behind that one.

It’s about me looking in the mirror and saying, “Wait a minute! That’s not me, is it?” When you get older, you think “Oh my god!” When you’re not looking in the mirror – when you’re walking around, you feel like your old self. You are your old self – nothing’s really changed internally. But when you look in the mirror, you go “oh fuck! Is that really me?” So, Imposter is, “who are you? You’re not me!” I’m basically saying to the mirror “Wait a minute! That’s not me! This mirror’s lying to me. There’s something wrong with it. It’s cracked. Something’s wrong with this reflection!” I have let my hair grow gray now, and I realize how old I am – and I’m not ashamed of it. My hair is falling out – whatever. I’m 74 and I’m glad to be doing what I’m doing. But I think everybody has that feeling – they don’t want to grow old and everybody’s having plastic surgery left, right and center. And when they see themselves in the mirror, they want to have a bit more plastic surgery. I noticed the first thing with me is when I looked at my hands. I noticed that my hands looked like my dad’s hands – they have the age spots on them – which happens! And I thought looking in the mirror, I now see my dad. I see my father and his brothers – they’re all very alike looking. I’ve got the same hair style as them too. They were very handsome people of course. My dad was a very handsome man, I must say. I have to say that, because I look like him now. So, it’s basically about that – about growing old and thinking that is not me – I don’t look like that in reality. But you look in the mirror again – you have a photograph taken – whatever – and you say, “yeah, that is me!” And that’s what it’s about.

12 Steps To Heaven – tell me a little about that song.

Well, that’s about being in AA basically. I’m kind of flick-

ing through the AA book, and I don’t understand a damn thing. I’m looking at that – and it’s got 12 steps on how to become a clean, wonderful person. And I don’t get it! I don’t get it at all! I can’t understand it. I don’t quite see how this helps me or any other people. Other people have had the same problem. I’m doing this AA meeting every day and I don’t feel any different. What am I gaining from this? And that’s basically what it’s about. Misunderstanding these rules that are there for the alcoholic, which I am. And I say at one point, “I don’t want to take these steps again. I want to get there but I don’t want to do this over.” And that’s kind of what it’s about – very simple.

And we’ll go with one more song. Brave New World – tell me about that. Are we living in a Brave New World?

That’s a little bit of a funny one. But it’s about this girl that comes in one day – she’s got this plastic/leather suit all the way up to her head. It zips up the middle. She says “Let’s try something different” to her boyfriend or husband or whatever. That’s basically what it’s about – being sexually involved in different ways to have sex – with a rubber suit. And he’s kind of shocked by it, like “What?” And she’s “C’mon, let’s try this. It’s a new world for you. You’ll enjoy it!”

I wanted to mention Assault Attack because it’s the 40-year anniversary of that album this year. What goes through your mind knowing that album came out 40 years ago and what do you think of it now in retrospect?

I look at photographs from that time and think, “Jesus Christ, I was so handsome!” (Laughs) It’s so weird to think that it was 40 years ago – the years have gone by so fast. The numbers are mounting so quickly. And I see that all the time from other bands. When I hear those tracks, I’m very proud of it. I think we did a fantastic job. Michael, I think played his ass off on that. It’s some of the best guitar playing he’s done, I think. His arrangements were fantastic – and we had Martin Birch produce it. It was absolutely wonderful. Ted McKenna was drumming – Chris Glen playing bass – we had a couple of different keyboard players. But that was such a great time. We had a great time together with ups and downs and abouts. But that album Assault Attack – a lot of people have said to me that that’s the best Michael Schenker album ever. And I believe them because that’s the way I am. I like to believe things like that. But it’s a great compliment when you hear it from so many different people of so many different age groups. I get kids like 18 years old saying “I love that Assault Attack album Michael Schenker did.” I’m proud of that and always will be.

What was it like revisiting those songs again at the Michael Schenker Fest shows?

Oh yeah, to do that again for real. It was a very nice thing. I don’t know if you know, but the first gig I did with Michael Schenker turned into a disaster – and I was fired on the spot. Well, you know the story – I don’t have to tell it again. (Laughs) I think I got through half a song or something and just ran away cause all kinds of stuff was wrong, I was out of it, I was completely shitfaced – and I just had to get out of there. And I was taken to the station and got on a train back to London. But now I remember when we did the song Assault Attack (with Michael Schenker Fest) – looking across at Michael and I was nodding my head going “We did it!” And Michael “Yes Graham, we’re on, we’re together now!” Because we weren’t back then. When we did those three or four songs I did from that album, it was such a pleasure, and I was so happy that he and I had come back together. I love the guy and I love the way he plays – like a lot of people do. He’s an amazing guitar player and you always know it’s him. You could spot him from all the other guitar players in the world. There’s something about him. He’s very dramatic, I think. He’s the best – I love him.

Do you have any messages for your Graham Bonnet Band fans who are reading this right now?

I’d let them know to look out for all of our new albums and listen for us always – give this band some support. We’d like to play in America more than we do, and we need a bigger fan base here, I think. We’re okay in Europe. Anybody who likes Rainbow, Alcatrazz, Impellitteri – if you like that kind of music – the band’s I’ve worked with – you’ll like this even better I think, because we’ve come up with something special with the Graham Bonnet Band. I’m very proud of this album Day Out In Nowhere – very proud…