Eric Gales was heralded as a child prodigy. When as a 16-year-old he released his debut album with The Eric Gales Band on Elektra Records they heralded a second coming of Jimi Hendrix.
And in a sense it was. Growing up in a religious household, his brothers used to blast out Jimi, Cream, Muddy Waters, Albert King, John Lee Hooker and Stevie Ray. All the while his mother was at church and little 4-year-old Eric got his grounding in blues, hard rock and psychedelia.
Twenty-five years on, after a career in an industry that can push many a person over the edge, Gales has found peace. It’s reflected in his latest release Middle of the Road.
‘It’s a representation of where I am right now,’ says Gales, ‘middle of the road and focused. I have fallen off the side of the road and I can tell you it’s not much fun. Being in the right mental and emotional place is exactly where I need to be. I now find myself surrounded with proper people who truly care about me.’
He’s a prodigy who grew into a guitar genius, and Gales still recalls the epiphany of his first guitar.
‘The moment I touched a guitar I knew what I wanted to be famous!’ he laughs.
But it took hard work.
‘I just stayed with my craft. Every day I was inspired by music, so it was not difficult for me to embrace it. It was a simple thing to do, once I became wrapped up in music – everything else transpired – I have always had a deep passion for music.’
Of course his key influence was Jimi Hendrix.
‘It was amazing listening to him. I thought wow!’
Naturally right-handed, Eric learned his distinctive left-handed upside-down playing from his older brother Eugene, his ‘mentor’, and Little Jimmy King, who was later adopted as Albert King’s godson.
Talking about the accolades he has received from some of the biggest names in the business, Gale humbly says, ‘It’s absolutely great. I’m grateful to see the recognition for the work that God has allowed me to continue to progress with. It’s beautiful to see the recognition to be finally coming and in the proper way, unlike times where I was engaged in heavy addiction, where it wasn’t such good publicity, but to see it changed around is a great turn of events.’
Gales is looking forward to playing Bluesfest this year, and he says:
‘I will be bringing my own band, so expect a lot of excitement and a lot of intensity because it’s going to be one hell of a show! We can’t wait to be a part of this festival; we anxiously await to getting over there!’
Eric Gales plays Bluesfest this Easter.
For tickets and lineup info go to bluesfest.com.au.
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