For more than 20 years, Warren Haynes has been one of rock 'n' roll's most prominent figures. He's been a member of the Allman Brothers Band, the Dead, Phil Lesh and Friends, and Gov't Mule. His contemporaries call him the hardest working man in the music business,"" and last year he was named the 23rd greatest guitar player of all time by Rolling Stone. Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule will make a stop tonight in Madison at the Barrymore Theatre, and The Daily Cardinal had the opportunity to speak with this living legend.
The Daily Cardinal: Do you find it difficult to switch between Gov't Mule, the Allman Brothers Band, the Dead and your own solo projects?
Warren Haynes: On the contrary I find it to be very refreshing, as an example there have been nights where Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers Band performed together. Mule would play 90 minutes, and I would take a break, and then the Allman Brothers Band would play for two-and-a-half hours. There were a couple of shows with Gov't Mule, Phil Lesh and Friends and the Allman Brothers Band, and I would play all three shows. I had always told people that if I was going play that long, I would rather do it in two or three different bands than in the same band because you get fresh energy, inspiration and ideas from each situation.
DC: Is there anyone out there with whom you still want to collaborate?
WH: Well I still haven't played with B.B. King yet. He was always a hero of mine, and I had the opportunity one time when I first joined the Allman Brothers Band, but I was just too shy and didn't jump at the chance. But I've been very lucky to play with so many people that I grew up listening to.
DC: Let's move on to Gov't Mule. On the new album High and Mighty, the title track contains lyrics that some could interpret as having a political base. Did you write the song thinking of someone in particular?
WH: That song is a composite character, and most of the interpretations seem to be political, but it's not about one particular person. I've always said it's kind of a ""if the shoe fits"" sort of song, and if you think it's about you, it might be. There is plenty of ""high and mighty-em"" going around so you know you don't have to look too far to find that character.
DC: You've played at every Bonnaroo Music Festival except this past year, guested with Dave Matthews Band in 2003 during their free show in Central Park in front of about 100,000 people and that same year performed solo at Bonnaroo to about 60,000 people. What do you prefer more: these large shows in front of tens of thousands of people or the small clubs that Gov't Mule started off playing?
WH: Well my favorite audience is somewhere in-between around 1500 and 3000 people, because you get kind of the best of both worlds. You get the intimate connection with the audience, and you also get that collective energy from the audience. When you play in front of a huge crowd like Woodstock '94 when I played with the Allman Brothers Band, Bonnaroo, and Central Park with Dave Matthews, there is this huge ball of energy that you can't get any other way but at that time.
""Interview conducted by Brien Barrett
