2023-07-28 19:01:58
“I’m a moonlighting man,” says Lou ‘Blue’ Marini (Charleston, South Carolina, 1945), a veteran saxophonist, arranger, composer, and original member of the Blues Brothers Band. In full tour of Italy, in addition to recording his own albums, he is a musician requested by luminaries such as Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Lou Reed, Frank Zappa, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, The Band, Steely Dan and the Buddy Rich big band, among others.
With recent casualties such as that of the founding guitarist Steve Cropper, the historic band that preserves the tradition of soul and rhythm and blues continues on its divine mission more than four decades after its birth and is the main claim of the Bilbao Blues Festival. Tonight (10:30 p.m.) they perform for free at El Arenal in Bilbao. In their “fiery and vibrant” concert they will combine versions of classics and some original songs from their latest album, ‘The Last Shade of Blue before Black’ (2017).
–He has been performing with the Blues Brothers around here for more than 30 years. He even had a signed photograph exhibited in one of the best-known bars in Bilbao for many years.
Yes, in The Globe. The owners of the bar, Luis Fernando and Mónica, are great friends. They recently sold the bar, so my picture is gone, but I came back last September, the last time James Taylor played in Bilbao. My wife and I had a nice dinner with his drummer Steve (Gadd) and his wife. I think we’ll stop by for something to eat this time too. Returning to Bilbao is always a pleasure.
–This time the other founding member of the Blues Brothers and referential soul guitarist, Steve Cropper, will be missed. Have any problem?
Yes, and it’s a shame not to have him because we miss him. Before the pandemic, he suffered some stomach problems that advise him not to travel, since if he has an attack, he must be hospitalized. He had to leave us suddenly the last time we came to Europe. I had to react on the fly. I called Francisco Simón (Red House guitarist and accompanist for Duncan Dhu, Antonio Flores, Miguel Ríos…) and I told him: are you busy for the next two weeks? Do you want to be part of the Blues Brothers Band? Since then he has been our guitarist and he is doing a fantastic job.
La Blues Brothers Band con John Belushi y Dan Aykroyd interpreta ‘Soul Man’ en el ‘Saturday Night Live’ en 1978.
–A musician can become a permanent member of a group the least expected day. You are a good example. He was going to be a member of a band for a television show, and more than four decades later, he still plays with the Blues Brothers.
-That’s how it is. He had good references from playing with Blood Sweet & Tears with (trumpeter) Tom Malone. Dan (Aykroyd) called me to join a band he had for a skit on the ‘Saturday Night Live’ show. It was going to be a three-minute song, but it was such a success that it lasted eight years, making television history.
–The later film by John Landis, ‘Rogues at full speed’, is today a classic, but the reviews in its day were terrible, right?
–Yes, in the first weeks the film did not work at the box office as expected and the criticism was harsh. But the disappointment passed us quickly when we saw that all the concerts were full. Over the years we have realized that it is a film that people do not get tired of seeing.
–Two years later they had to face the tragic accidental death by overdose of John Belushi. Did they come to think that it was the end of the band and their divine mission?
–It was a tremendous blow that forced us to stop for five or six years, we thought it was the end of the story, of course. But Donna (Dixon) the wife of Dan Aykroyd, the famous actress, invited us to Canada to surprise her on her 40th birthday. She had everything set up in her garage and we started playing James Bond. Playing together was a beautiful experience and made us tour Italy again. We were very successful and the following summer we toured Europe for five weeks. We haven’t stopped since. In Japan we have already played 22 times.
Lou Marini at the 2011 Vitoria jazz festival. Jesús Andrade
–They were born as a comic band paying homage to soul and blues classics, but they have ended up being a widely imitated group. How do you deal with that paradox?
–This is life, the owners of the name allow copies to circulate. It sounds paradoxical, but it’s great to be able to continue playing, sounding good and being a great influence on people all over the world. That they imitate us so much encourages us and encourages us to continue forward.
–What does it bring you as a musician to be playing, above all, versions of classics with the Blues Brothers Band? Aren’t his other projects or playing for luminaries like James Taylor more motivating you?
–With James or other great musicians I have accompanied we travel first class and everything is calmer and more controlled. With the Blues Brothers Band, on the other hand, things are more complicated and laborious, but also intense and vibrant. Let’s go twelve guys stuck in a bus for many kilometers. It’s a bit of an adventure. But the reaction of the people is so enthusiastic that it makes it all worthwhile. More than forty years later, it’s still fun to play in this band. That’s why no one wants to get off.
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