Nice!

From BluesRockReview.com

Joe Bonamassa reflects on opening for ‘the Greatest Rock and Roll Band Ever’
August 4, 2024
Interview by Meghan Roos

What exactly goes through an artist’s mind when they get the call to open for The Rolling Stones?

In Joe Bonamassa’s case, he first felt confusion. “I go, ‘Did they run out of people?’” Bonamassa recalled during a recent interview with Blues Rock Review. “Because those calls don’t happen for me.”

The blues chart-topper was preparing for a performance in Paris at the time his manager approached him about the opportunity back in April. The Rolling Stones invited several guest musicians to open for them as part of their 2024 tour in support of Hackney Diamonds, the band’s first collection of original material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. The Stones wanted Bonamassa to open for them on May 15 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash.
“Just to be asked to do that was crazy,” Bonamassa reflected. Once he had been reassured that the invitation was real, his answer was immediate. “I’m like, ‘Sure, let’s do it. Of course.’”

Bonamassa and his band have played for huge crowds before—as many as 60,000 or 70,000 people at various music festivals in Europe, or nearly double the 35,000 to 40,000 that Bonamassa estimates he played for at Lumen Field. But that opening slot for the Stones was an entirely different experience. It started on a positive note, with the Stones’ longtime sound mixer, Dave Natale, giving Bonamassa’s team “a really open lane” with the sound system. The show that followed was electric.

“We sounded really good,” Bonamassa said. “We got two standing ovations, and we killed it. And that’s how I rate the show: We killed it.”

The Stones’ audience was a solid fit for the blues music Bonamassa brought to the stage. A quick glimpse at his social media numbers after the concert further confirmed the match. “I got 10,000 new Instagram followers in 45 minutes of that show,” Bonamassa said. “We killed it.”
Even with the strength of his own performance, Bonamassa was blown away by the one that followed.

“Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Steve Jordan, Darryl Jones, Chuck Leavell, Bernard Fowler and company come out,” Bonamassa remembered, “and Keith goes into ‘Start Me Up,’ and with two chords—remember now, we killed it—and within two chords, they killed us.”

Watching the rock ‘n’ roll icons bring their magic to the stage was a special experience for Bonamassa. “You don’t realize how effing good those guys are until you see them live,” he said. “The songs are insane, iconic. But they are good. They are better than good. They are the greatest rock and roll band ever.”

The energy that the band’s three core members—Jagger and Richards, who are in their early 80s, and Ronnie Wood, who is 77—brought to the stage also left an impression. “Mick is a freak of nature,” Bonamassa said. “He’s 80 years old, running around. He’s probably running five miles up there, 10 miles. Keith sounds the same. Ronnie sounds the same. It’s just an amazing thing.”

In the couple of months that have followed the Seattle show, Bonamassa has kept busy with his own projects. He released V, a new album with Black Country Communion, in mid-June and followed shortly thereafter with his own Live at the Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra. The new live album earned him his record-setting 28th No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

But as Bonamassa pointed out, sharing a bill with one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time is an experience that doesn’t come along every day.

“I was just honored to be in their orbit for an afternoon,” Bonamassa said. “That was such a great show.”



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2024-08-05 03:27 by Sighunt.

Class act as always. Love the guy!

Awesome.

It's great to see someone acknowledge the actual aspect of respect instead of just blowing a horn about it.

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GasLightStreet
Awesome.

It's great to see someone acknowledge the actual aspect of respect instead of just blowing a horn about it.

I agree. A class act!!!

..and a chap with a guitar collection to rival Keith's

Maybe not so big...but perhaps more select in content.

I don't know his music, but I do enjoy his opinions and insights on blues-music and guitars. He's clearly very talented.

Joe & his band were very good in Seattle. Great opener for the Stones.

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crholmstrom
Joe & his band were very good in Seattle. Great opener for the Stones.

You guys were lucky. Would there be any other acts that challenged him for best opener this tour?

I enjoyed his story of first contact through playing the gig.

~"Love is Strong"~

Joe is on my bucket list of artists I have yet to see. I missed him the last time he came around close to where I live as I had other commitments. Although I am not overly familiar with all his stuff, as a fledging (lol) guitarist myself, I've seen several videos of his live stuff (along with some guitar tutorials he's done) and this guy's playing and technique knocks me out!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-08-05 16:51 by Sighunt.

Nice sentiments. Still doesn’t change my opinion that Joe overplays, substituting flash for subtlety. Thought his show was decent, but not extraordinary. The Stones were flat that night, the least inspired show I’ve ever seen them play.

That was a good read!..Thanks for sharing

I saw Joe a few weeks ago, he and his band were great. He puts on a good show.

Like most folks on IORR I would think, I am in awe of the Stones and just about anything having to do with the band and its personnel. Which is why I always get a special kick out of reading the stories of performers who are asked to open for them. Whether it is a household name, an unknown local musician, or someone in between, the openers always talk about the experience as being a highlight of their lives, let alone their careers. They sound as excited as any giddy fan might be to meet them.

They also talk about how well they are treated by the Stones...everything about the experience is top-shelf. To hear accomplished, successful musicians gush about their opening experiences reminds me of the exalted level that the Stones live and work upon. Who else can garner that kind of awe and admiration from musicians who themselves may have enjoyed successful careers and large fan bases?

I also remember reading many years ago about how seriously the Stones take their opening acts. Many other insecure bands might be careful not to choose anyone who might please the crowd too much, or show them up, or potentially blow them off the stage. But the Stones never came from that place of insecurity. They were generous with their opening opportunities, were looking out for the enjoyment of their own fans, and never shied away from a good challenge.

Fabulous player, appears to be a really nice down to earth guy, a guitar and amp collection to drool over, but I find his music to be very bland ballroom blues. And if you play his records, his constant totally over the top lead guitar playing just drives me crazy.

Mathijs

I get that.

I think it's because his great reverence for all his heroes has made his work just a bit too derivative, with little real originality.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-08-06 11:01 by Spud.

I enjoyed his set in Seattle a lot. A great artist.

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Mathijs
Fabulous player, appears to be a really nice down to earth guy, a guitar and amp collection to drool over, but I find his music to be very bland ballroom blues. And if you play his records, his constant totally over the top lead guitar playing just drives me crazy.

Mathijs

I agree. I preferred players like Jeff Beck .

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Mathijs
Fabulous player, appears to be a really nice down to earth guy, a guitar and amp collection to drool over, but I find his music to be very bland ballroom blues. And if you play his records, his constant totally over the top lead guitar playing just drives me crazy.

Mathijs

I like him better in Black Country Communion. More edge and stuff that suit the song there. Maybe Glen Hughes had a say in that

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TheflyingDutchman

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Mathijs
Fabulous player, appears to be a really nice down to earth guy, a guitar and amp collection to drool over, but I find his music to be very bland ballroom blues. And if you play his records, his constant totally over the top lead guitar playing just drives me crazy.

Mathijs

I agree. I preferred players like Jeff Beck .

Players like Jeff Beck

There ain't no players like Jeff Beck.

Not everybody's cup of tea... but a complete one off and a true guitar genius, with complete mastery of his instrument.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-08-08 14:23 by Spud.

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Spud

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TheflyingDutchman

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Mathijs
Fabulous player, appears to be a really nice down to earth guy, a guitar and amp collection to drool over, but I find his music to be very bland ballroom blues. And if you play his records, his constant totally over the top lead guitar playing just drives me crazy.

Mathijs

I agree. I preferred players like Jeff Beck .

Players like Jeff Beck


There ain't no players like Jeff Beck.

Not everybody's cup of tea... but a complete one off and a true guitar genius, with complete mastery of his instrument.

I know.