Q&A Scene: Eric Gales

The album is called Middle Of The Road. Why did you choose this title?

I chose this title because it is a very good relative figure to state where I am at this point in my life and how I feel that my life is. My life has been really curvy, so now I’m centered directly right in the middle of the road.

Do you have special technique playing the guitar?

Well, I learnt to play left handed, upside-down and backwards. It’s just the way I’ve always played. Later on in life people told me that it was a really unique style, and were like ‘wow, that’s amazing’, but I had no idea about it.

To me it was just regular playing and some say that it attributes to my unique style and approach to playing. It is what it is, you know what I mean? I’m very proud of the unorthodox way that was presented for me to pick it up. It wasn’t placed in my hands that way, it’s just what was comfortable for me.

What is special about this album compared to your previous albums?

I am very proud of all of my albums that I’ve put out, but on this one I seem to be a whole lot more focused. The song content, the lyric content, the song structure – everything just came well into play and wound up being wonderful.

I think this is to date one of the best albums that I’ve ever put out, and I think the world will agree when they hear it.

When you look back. What are the highlights of your career so far?

A lot of things. A lot of things. Some of them I don’t remember, some I do. Connecting with my godfather Carlos Santana. That’s one for sure. Meeting my wonderful wife that I have now that’s 100% behind me. The team that I have and just pushing forward. Just having a lot of positivity around me. For me right now, that’s the positive that I can think of at the moment.

Where did you get inspiration for this album?

Man, just living … just living … just living.

Who has influenced you musically?

Well my brothers Eugene and Emanuel were a big influence on me. My big brother Eugene hit me onto guys like Hendrix of course, Stevie Ray, Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Clapton and Jeff Beck. All of those cats he introduced me to, so I took a liking to them all.

Is there anything you would like to say as a conclusion?

All I wanna’ say is that I hope everybody gets a chance to listen to this record, cause I’m very proud of it.

What’s Your Scene?

My lovely wife LaDonna.

Middle Of The Road out now on Mascot Label Group / Provogue.

Eric Gales grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of them who learned to play the guitar upside down and left handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric’s brother Eugene Gales played bass in the Eric Gales Band and his brother Little Jimmy King had a thriving career as a blues artist before his untimely death. Eric released his first record at Age 16 for Elektra records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll named Eric as “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros. “Left Hand Brand” which was recorded for the House of Blues label in 1996.

Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton, looking on with interest as Eric took his God-given talent and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. The new Millennium presented new opportunities for Eric and he was signed to a deal with Nightbird Records which was affiliated with the Hendrix family and distributed through MCA/Universal. Under this deal, Eric recorded the critically acclaimed record “That’s What I Am” in 2001 and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. In 2006 Eric recorded the critically acclaimed CD “Crystal Vision” for Blues Bureau and set the stage for his incredible Blues Bureau follow-up, “The Psychedelic Underground.” in 2007. Eric followed sharply in 2008 with “The Story of my Life” and in 2010 hit a new stride altogether with the incredibly successful album “Relentless”. That album combined with his latest studio album “Transformation” released in 2011 set the stage for his upcoming Double Live Album/DVD due in October of 2012.
As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix but Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Eric Johnson. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.”

For more information, go to http://www.ericgalesband.com/