Armed with quite possibly the best blues album you’ll hear in 2017, eric gales reveals the amazing story behind his powerful music…
There’s a track on the new Eric Gales album that opens with a confessional: “I’ve been through some difficult things, I’ve seen the best and worst of humankind, I’ve done some things I shouldn’t have, trying to free the limits of my mind.”
It’s a brutally honest and poignantly heartfelt confession from the Memphis blues virtuoso ,who shot to fame in the mid-90s, only to spiral into a cocaine addiction that landed him behind bars on several occasions. In 2009, some footage surfaced of the guitarist being interviewed and performing as a prisoner of the Shelby County Correction Center – a man incarcerated, battling his demons, yet still able to play better than any of us in our wildest dreams. He was once a child prodigy – just like Joe Bonamassa – but instead of headlining the world’s most revered venues, the cruel twists of fate would have him become inmate 199070. Now having turned his life around, Gales has inked a new deal with Mascot and recorded Middle Of The Road – the album that should define his career – the first to truly capture the magic at the tips of his fingers. Here the guitarist talks TG through his incredible life story, tools of the trade and the most unlikely of comebacks…
What was going through your mind as you wrote these new songs?
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
POSITIVE GRID SPARK 2
The sequel to the world's most popular smart guitar amp is here
JACKSON PRO PLUS XT SOLOIST SLAT HT6 BARITONE
We get low with this fast-playing, all-black modern metal machine
GUILD POLARA DELUXE
A’70s staple gets a bit of are-jig, o4 years after it was introduced
NEURAL DSP NANO CORTEX
Neural DSP's second pedal might be the ultimate compact all-in-one rig
EPIPHONE JIMI HENDRIX LOVE DROPS FLYING V
Prepare to kiss the sky with Epiphone's latest 'Inspired By...' model
JIMMY PAGE
\"I was using what was really meaty!\"
EDDIE VAN HALEN
“You either capture the vibe or you don't!”
MYTH BUSTERS: THE CABLE DESTRUCTION TEST
Need to know whether gear is worth your cash? Who you gonna call...
JOHN FRUSCIANTE'S LETTER FROM AMERICA
Our July 2006 issue featured none other than John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the cover, with a line of text promising discussion of meditation, drugs, Hendrix and some chat about the band’s then-latest album, Stadium Arcadium.
CHALLENGE CHARLIE
Ata time when TC's staff were getting, frankly, rather silly, one man stood up to take on the daftest of all our challenges...
