Gli America tornano a Milano: intervista
Written by davide on April 4, 2011
Lunedì 11 aprile gli America, storico gruppo formato da Jerry Buckley e Dewey Bunnell, festeggeranno i loro primi quarant’anni di successi al teatro Smeraldo di Milano,
occasione imperdibile per riascoltare nuovi e vecchi brani, a partire da veri e propri classici quali “A horse with no name”, “Sister golden hair”, “Survival” e “You can do magic”.
In occasione del concerto, Marco Ciapparelli ha potuto rivolgere qualche domanda a Dewey Bunnell.
Marco: America, 40 years of music: what do you see if you have a look back (if you do)?
Dewey Bunnell: I have spent my entire adult life in this business and have many wonderful memories; as I look back I see how the industry has evolved during my generation from the folk music of the Kingston Trio and the rock & roll of Elvis through to the era of Lady Gaga, hip hop and Justin Beiber; as with most art forms, music has no boundaries and it continues to amaze and inspire my life.
Marco: The name of the group is America but you come from England and you moved your early steps in music in London: how do you met the West Coast sound?
Dewey Bunnell: We formed the group in London during the late 60’s while we were still in school, playing mostly the top songs of the day; after we graduated from school in 1969 we began writing our own original songs and were able to record our first album in London; we had always been interested in the singer-sonwriters of the 60’s and particularly groups associated with the West Coast Sound like Buffalo Springfield and the Byrds, as well as the Beach Boys; so when we returned to California and took David Geffen as our manager we became known as a “West Coast” band.
Marco: In all these years you played with great musicians and worked with Producers (with the capitol P): did you find immediately a good feeling with all of them?
Dewey Bunnell: We have always had the great oppurtunity to work with artists we respect and admire; of course, we have a wonderful relationship with Sir George Martin who produced 7 of our albums, but we have also been able to share the stage with many of our favorite artists over the years and have fond memories of shows including Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, Everly Brothers, Cat Stevens, David Crosby, Stephen Stills & Graham Nash, Joe Cocker, The Who, Elton John, James Taylor, Pink Floyd…and many more over 40 years.
Marco: Even if you play hundreds of concerts all over the world it was hard for you in the last years to find a record label, and the charts almost ignore you: what’s your idea about it?
Dewey Bunnell: The recording industry has changed dramatically in the last decade with the internet playing a major role; we continue to write and record music but the era of the “record label” has taken on a different meaning for us; all artists must adapt to this change.
Marco: Your last studio album is dated 1998 (even if “Here and now” from 2007 was partially a studio album): when will we see a new one? How it will be?
Dewey Bunnell: Currently we are on a label called e1 Records and will be releasing a new cd called “Back pages” on June 28, 2011…in addition to our own recent 40th anniversary “Hits” album released as a digital download and sold at concerts.
Marco: Can you describe how’s your work togheter?
Dewey Bunnell: We enjoy a very good relationship together as friends and musical partners after so many years; Gerry Beckley and I have always been able to create music together that we are proud to release to the public, and with our band everyone has a wonderful time performing the songs live.
Marco: I’m a great fan of you, my favorite period is the early 80’s, when your sound was more “rock”, with guitars and orchestra: will I hear again that sound?
Dewey Bunnell: Our show incorporates songs from most all of our albums over the decades, so all our most popular songs will be featured as well as some surprises.
Marco: How do you see the music market today?
Dewey Bunnell: It is a different world in many ways for all of us, and that includes the music market; the digital world of the internet has changed many aspects of music marketing, but the essential elements of writing and performing songs stay the same; so, as always, I see great music out there as well as music that is not always my style; but the main thing is that music still inspires us and adds a unique element to our daily lives that we will always seek.
