As the co-founder of the legendary group America and a successful solo artist in his own right, Gerry Beckley is entering his seventh decade in the music business. He is also about to release his 10th solo outing next week, titled simply Gerry Beckley, and has decided to retire from the road, though he’ll remain a member of America.
“The only thing changing is that I’m not going to be getting on a plane every other day anymore,” he says.
“So, I’m still staying busy, especially with my solo work, and working on a documentary on America and a variety of other lovely things.”
His new album, recorded during breaks between America’s busy touring schedule, allowed Beckley time to go through material he had set away for a rainy day.
“I reviewed some material that I never quite nailed a few years ago and went back in and redid them,” he says.
“I’ve always loved working in the studio, as I’m always working on stuff.
“And there’s always new stuff coming.
“Since I’ve delivered this album, I’m 40 tracks into new stuff, so I’m nowhere near done.”
His group, America, is part of a collective of artists from the 1970s and 1980s who are now labelled heritage acts and of for whom the demand for live shows from the public is at an all-time high.
“You’ll find that the reason why a lot of the ageing rockers are out on the road is that they have every right to do it,” he says.
“They’ve devoted their whole lives to doing it.
“And if you ask someone like Ringo Starr or guys like him, who are really getting up there in age, they will just honestly tell you, ‘this is just what I do’.
“It is also about the kind of dynamic in getting out there and clearly putting on a great show.
“In the case of Ringo, who goes out every year, he has an incredible band, so you’re going to see a fantastic show.
“You’re not going to see a, ‘oh you should have caught them 40 years ago’ kind of event.”
While bands of a similar vintage have seen their inner band relationships implode, Beckley’s relationship with his musical partner-in-crime in America, Dewey Bunnell, remains as strong as ever and forms a special bond that has kept the band together through the decades.
“The secret to a good partnership is a good partner, and I have the greatest partner,” he says.
“We have been able to lean on each other to support each other.
“And believe me, it has been very much a 50-50 thing.
“We each have had our ups and downs, and fortunately, whatever the few downs have been, they have not coincided where both of us didn’t have the ability to lean on the other.
“So, it’s just been a gift.”
For further info on Gerry Beckley, go to www.gerrybeckley.com
Music news
At her recent UK show, Taylor Swift announced that her record-breaking Eras World Tour will end in December this year.
Last week saw all four original members of R.E.M. reunite for a one-off performance of their classic hit, Losing My Religion, at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony in New York.
The Police guitar legend Andy Summers will be in Australia in September for a handful of ‘An Evening with Andy Summers’ shows.
Punk-rockers The Offspring are set to release their 11th studio album, Supercharged, on on October 11.
Irish post-rockers God Is An Astronaut have also announced a new album, Embers, which will hit stores on September 6.
Music streaming giant Spotify has revealed plans to launch a premium high-fidelity tier for audiophile users later this year, though it will come at a cost of an extra $5 per month.
Book review – Under A Rock by Chris Stein
Under A Rock is the new memoir by Chris Stein, guitarist and co-founder of New York pop-rockers Blondie. What I found quite interesting in reading this memoir was that, having previously read Debbie Harry’s memoir Face Off, much of Stein’s recollections on many events he documents in his memoir align perfectly with Harry’s observations in her book. This strikingly affirms the depth of Stein’s and Harry’s relationship, both in and out of the band, and how the pair were the primary movers that have kept the band together through thick and thin.
What also makes this book a little different to the usual memoir is the way Stein weaves the many characters he has met along the way on his musical path into his story trajectory. Their inclusion demonstrates how each and every one left a lasting impression on Stein. He also gives a vivid account of the burgeoning New York mid-70s music scene and the city’s less glamorous underbelly, all helping the reader come to a better understanding of all the elements that shaped the band and their music.
When it comes to Blondie, the group’s earlier recordings are given more attention than the group’s later years, which are skirted over too quickly, but they don’t distract from keeping you engaged in the story. With all the trials and tribulations Stein endured, taking Blondie to worldwide fame and its aftermath, it’s amazing that he’s managed to come out of it unscathed and triumphant. His openness is to be applauded when detailing his struggles with addiction, financial woes, illness, and the dog-eat-dog world of the music business — a captivating must-read.
This week’s global music charts
US Billboard Hot 100: At No.1 is I Had Some Help by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen
UK Official Top 100 Singles: At No.1 is Houdini by Eminem
Australia ARIA Top 50 singles: At No.1 is also Houdini by Eminem
Fun fact
In a 2012 study conducted by Sheffield Hallam University, in the UK, it was found that participants who cycled in time to music required seven per cent less oxygen to do the same work as cyclists who did not synchronise their movements with background music. Music seemed to function as a metronome, helping the cyclists maintain a steady pace and thus decreasing the amount of energy expenditure.
Joe Matera is a local singer-songwriter, recording artist, guitarist and music journalist providing readers with all the latest music news.