ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 17, 2013
By Steve Newton
Last Wednesday I got the chance to cross American pop-rock singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw’s name off my bucket list of interviews I’ve wanted to do.
On his way to L.A. from New York City the guy who wrote “Someday, Someway” and “Something’s Gonna Happen” pulled over to the side of the road “in Pennsylania somewhere” and called me up for a nice 25-minute chat in advance of his show at the Vancouver Fan Club on February 28.
How cool is that?
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation–for me, anyway–came when I asked if he’d ever run into my rock idol from the ’70s, former Mott the Hoople leader Ian Hunter, in his travels. I read in Crenshaw’s current bio that on his latest EP he’d worked with longtime Hunter guitarist-cowriter Andy York, and knowing that Hunter lived not far from the Big Apple, in Connecticut, threw the question out there.
“I’ve met Ian through Andy, actually,” replied Crenshaw, “and been over to some functions at Ian’s house where he and his wife Trudy kind of invite people over. They’re great hosts, really cool people. Ian’s… you know, I’m really glad to know him. He’s really sharp; a smart guy. He’s seen a lot of the world, seen a lot of life. I like being around people like him.
“The other thing,” Crenshaw added, “was when I was at Ian’s house once I met Dennis Dunaway from Alice Cooper, so I was able to tell him how much I loved that band. You really can’t beat some of that stuff, like ‘No More Mr. Nice Guy’.”
Holy crap! Hanging out with the guy who played bass on “School’s Out” at a house owned by the guy who sang “All the Way From Memphis”. Talk about ’70s-rock overload!
Anyway, for those who weren’t around in the ’70s, don’t care about stuff like that, and want to hear new music, here’s a clip of Crenshaw’s latest single, “I Don’t See You Laughing Now.” I think it’s killer:
For more from Crenshaw about his new music–and touring with the Bottle Rockets and Dave Alvin–see my feature story here.
To hear the full 24-minute audio of my interview with Marshall Crenshaw subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 600 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Roy Buchanan, 1988
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joe Satriani, 1990
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, 1998
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
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