By his own estimation, guitarist Steve Howe has been in 10 bands, the most famous of which, Yes, in ’69, started without him. His debut on the band’s third record, in 1971, though, was the one that catapulted Yes into the stratosphere. For the next 49 years, Howe, in whatever project drew his attention, has been one of the most significant, unerring, thrilling, complex and entertainingly satisfying lead guitarists in all of progressive rock.
Now comes his 13th solo album, Love Is (BMG Records), his first in nine years. It’s not the progressive jazz-rock fusion instrumental blockbuster that he’s totally capable. It’s mellow. It’s melodic. And he sings lead on five of the 10 songs.
It was an honor to finally speak with him and, as a lifelong fan, this longtime music journalist just had to gush a bit.
GOLDMINE: This new album is very melodic. You’ve written some melodies that stick in your brain long after the music stops. Was it your intention to write so melodically?
STEVE HOWE: No, not at all. My intention was simply to get some very good material together in building a solid album. There was never any particular focus on melody, though. Maybe it’s just me liking that style more in my own solo work when I write. It delights me that you think that.
GM: You also have some very profound lyrical themes as well on this album in an environmental sense. I love the quote from (naturalist) Alexander Humboldt where he warns over 200 years ago about destroying the planet. Boy, was he right!
Bu hikaye GOLDMINE dergisinin September 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye GOLDMINE dergisinin September 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
THE GRAND POOBAH!
SINCE THEIR INCARNATION in the early 1970s, the band Poobah have recorded over a dozen albums with various lineups, while openi ng for some of rock and roll’s biggest names.
THE MAKING OF PEARL
JANIS JOPLIN IN 1970: A NEW B AND AND THE MAKING OF HER CLASSIC ALBUM, PEARL.
There Must Have Been Something in the Water
If The Beatles never happened, if the British invasion never occurred, then music fans around the world would more than likely never have been exposed to some of the finest white blues singers that the U.K. produced between 1964 and 1970.
The SAGA Continues
SAGA WERE NOT THE ONLY band to make an album during the pandemic — far from it.
Ten Years After MORE THAN 50 YEARS LATER
DRUMMER RIC LEE TALKS TO GOLDMINE ABOUT A TEN YEARS AFTER DELUXE EDITION OF THE A STING IN THE TALE ALBUM AND HIS RECENTLY RELEASED MEMOIR, FROM HEADSTOCKS TO WOODSTOCK.
SUZI QUATRO IS BACK!
WITH A NEW ALBUM, THE DEVIL IN ME, THIS PIONEERING FEMALE ROCKER REMAINS AS DRIVEN AND DETERMINED AS EVER
RE-SHAKE & RE-MAKE
WITH THE RERELEASE OF THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, SHAKE YOUR MONEY MAKER, THE BLACK CROWES FLY HIGH BY REFLECTING ON THEIR ROOTS.
LOVE FOR PEARL
2021 will be a big year for fans of Janis Joplin. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is curating a special exhibit devoted to her that is scheduled to open in May.
Q&A WITH JANIS' SIBLINGS, LAURA AND MICHAEL JOPLIN
Q&A WITH JANIS’ SIBLINGS, LAURA AND MICHAEL JOPLIN
CHERISHING CITY TO CITY A timeless classic by GERRY RAFFERTY
It’s early 1978 and the new single by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, “Baker Street,” is blasting out on the airwaves on my small transistor radio.