What A Hoot – Eric Bazilian signs on for Strawbs 50th, a conversation with Aaron Badgely
Dave Cousins shared a little bit of an exchange he had with Eric Bazilian. When Eric agreed to participate in Strawbs 50th Anniversary Celebration, Eric wrote, to Dave, “My heart goes all a-flutter looking at this document, seeing my name amongst all of yours.”
This is high praise indeed, from an artist such as Eric Bazilian. You will recognize Eric’s name as he is the frontman for The Hooters. He has been their vocalist, guitarist, and multi instrumentalist since they formed in 1980. By 1985, they were scoring hits such as “All You Zombies”, “Day By Day”, “Where Do The Children Go”, and of course “And We Danced”. He has also carved out quite a successful solo career in addition to several successful and critically acclaimed albums. He also writes or co-writes for and with other artists such as Joan Osborne (“One Of Us”), Robbie Williams (“Old Before I Die”) and Midge Ure (“Fallen Angel”) to name just three. He is also a huge Strawbs fan.
Recently, I had the chance to ask him some questions about Strawbs.
How did you first hear Strawbs?
I saw the Grave New World album cover in a record store and had to take it home. I’ve only seen them once, in Philadelphia at the Chestnut Cabaret, in July 1985.
How did Strawbs influence your music?
The Strawbs fueled the interest I already had in British folk rock and made it more electric.
Incredibly, we are celebrating 50 years of Strawbs. In terms of rock music, that is a healthy milestone. You are coming up to 40 with The Hooters. Can you tell me, given your experience with The Hooters and as a solo artist, what such a milestone would mean?
It’s amazing how the years slip away. At some point, as an artist, you become amazed and grateful that you’ve managed to hang on for so long, and that there is still an audience who appreciates what you’ve been doing.
You are coming to the 50th Celebration, what are you most looking forward to?
The opportunity to play songs that have been a part of my DNA for so long with the original artists! The challenge for me will be to bring the best of my artistry and what I do while being true to the original.
Like Dave Cousins, you balance a solo career with being in The Hooters. How do you balance both careers?
The careers balance themselves. With The Hooters, we’ve got only so much opportunity to tour fruitfully, as Germany is by far our biggest live audience.
What one song would you most want to play with Strawbs?
I have never played with the band, though I did get to play “Benedictus” and “Lay Down” with Dave Cosuins at Wesley Stace’s Cabinet Of Wonders in New York.
What is your favourite Strawbs album? Why is it your favourite?
Definitely Grave New World... the quirkiness, the use of the Mellotron and dulcimer, they make it by far the most interesting album for me.
