We've never been to Japan or Australia, so we want to do a tour of those countries. I've got a little sister who lives out in Australia who I haven't seen in ages, so I'd like to see her. There aren't many of the family left any more, so that would be a good thing. Anyway she's so proud of her big brother.
Nina (his wife) and I can make a trip to Japan into our second Honeymoon. I've wanted to go out there before but the idea of the travel was just too much.
Yeah I just saw Arlo Guthrie in concert and he talked about his recent tour out to Australia. He said the trip was brutal. Fifteen hours stuck in a little cabin breathing bad air.
Oh shit and I thought you were about to tell me it wasn't that bad.(Laughs) It doesn't matter. You know there are people there who want to see us, so I figure we owe it to them to come over and do our music for them (Author's note: I've since learnt that it's an Australian record company, Raven, that's been responsible for re-releasing a lot of Willy's older material, with all sorts of bonus features.)
I've also been working on a book. It's about all the people I've known who are no longer around, the ones that didn't make it for one reason or another. It's going to be funny, but it's also going to be dark at the same time. These were all friends of mine and they were great people, but well things happened. So I want to write about them, and tell their stories.
That reminds me about something else, you know I look at pictures of you now and they're so different from ones 20 years ago. You don't look as angry, more at peace.
I'm more comfortable in my own skin now than I have ever been. So that could be it.
Whatever it is, it hasn't diminished your passion. Where does that come from?
My passion comes from my music, which is an expression of the passion I feel from making music. There's this feeling you get of absolute silence when you know that the crowd are listening, and that silence is louder than anything else I've ever heard in my life. Those are my moments of absolute bliss. I feel sorry for people who can't feel those moments of euphoria. But in order to feel passion you have to be passionate about something in the first place. For me that's music.
Thanks Willy, this has been great
Article comments
1 - Elvira Black
Terrific piece, Richard! Willy sounds like an incredible guy.
2 - BJ Drwenski
Great article Richard....it was just what a Montana woman starving for more Willy info needed!
3 - Sue Few
Just read your interview with Willy - great! I interviewed him at the beginning of this year, on the telephone, and I had to stop the interview early on for a moment because I FORGOT in was an interview, I felt as tho I was talking to an old friend...Willy understood, "You are..." which made me feel more comfortable and able to continue. He is smart, generous and kind & fun! - had so many interesting things to talk about - mainly his music and what he wants to do next. Your interview brought out the best in him.....thank you!
Sue Few