Exclusive Interview with Linda Gail Lewis
In former years, Linda Gail Lewis was probably best known as the highly gifted duettist and musical collaborator on umpteen recordings by elder brother Jerry Lee and the incendiary Irish singer, Van Morrison. That was years ago and this rockinʼ red- haired momma from Ferriday, Louisiana became a legend in her own lifetime. Rockabilly Hall of Famer, Linda Gail tours incessantly, rocking the world with her roll- a-boogie keyboard style and powerhouse vocals from Paris to Pensacola. She has dragged the Lewis legacy, kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century but with it’s integrity firmly intact. She even finds the time to bang the ivories and rip it up with Brother Jerry here and there. Linda Gail Lewis has perpetuated her rich inheritance and added considerable kudos to the dynasty she evolved from.
“The Sticks” manage to have a few words with her a couple of days after she arrived from her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia to start her first ever UK Theatre tour with the show ”Rockin on Heavens Door”
Do you like touring the UK?
I love the UK in fact my husband and I for 3 years had a house in Wales
Have you found it difficult living and working in the shadow of your brother?
No not at all as I was nearly 40 years of age when I first took to the stage to sing also the name has open doors for me that may have stayed closed otherwise
Have you a new album out any time soon?
Yes I released a new album called “You & Me & Sweet Rock ”N” Roll “ last year in the states and will soon be available here
Is there anyone you would like to work /sing with?
I so enjoy performing with my brother
Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?
No just like to continue working
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Well my brother was unwell before a concert in the states and I was asked to stand in for him which was a great honour
What has been the low point?
The low point for me is the end of every tour as I get home and recharge my batteries and then I want to get straight back on the road again
What would you like to be remembered for?
For being a nice person and treating people right
And finally what’s your favourite song?
It’s got to be “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On “
After a sell out tour of Holland and Belgium late in 2011, Rockin' on Heavens Door reunites with the Queen of Rock n Roll, Linda Gail Lewis, the sister of the world famous Jerry Lee Lewis for a special series of shows in the UK.
With the music of Buddy Holly (Billy Geragthy), Chuck Berry (Earl Jackson) Elvis Presley (Michael King) along with the blistering rocking piano of Linda Gail Lewis, the Bass talents of Pete Pritchard and the John Healy Band this promises to be an unforgettable evening of feelgood music which will have you dancing in the aisles.
You can catch Linda in Rockin’ on Heavens Door on:
Friday 24th February
The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage
Box Office 01438 894 947
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HIGH WYCOMBE WASHING MACHINE REPAIR MAN TERRY CLEANS UP AS
THE UK’S No1 MEAT LOAF IN THEY WILL
Nearly 20 years ago Terry Nash plied his trade as a washing machine repair man, fixing broken appliances in High Wycombe and the surrounding area for
Today he’s busy cleaning up as a renowned stage show performer – his live concert show recognised as the UK’s number one Meat Loaf revue.
Appearing with his own live band, Terry’s powder keg performance features in the hit touring concert show They Will Rock You. It’s a production that combines the music of Queen and Meat Loaf and is coming to the Swan Theatre on Friday, March 2.
Terry’s life as a humble repair man was put on fast spin in 1996 when he appeared on TV’s Stars in Their Eyes.
“I’d been working for
It’s the norm for performers to say that when their big break came they couldn’t wait to leave their nine-to-five behind them, but not Terry.
“I have to say it was a most memorable chapter of my life,” he says, a huge grin spreading across his face.
“The Confessions books and movies form part of British entertainment folklore. You may think they paint a highly imaginative picture of the relationship between tradesmen and bored housewives, but what you see in those films. . . it’s all true!”
Terry says he’ll enjoy a private chuckle to himself as he drives by some of the houses on his way to the High Wycombe show.Since appearing on Stars in Their Eyes, Terry has forged a living performing as rock icon Meat Loaf.
He says he now takes it as a compliment when likened to the man who took Bat Out of Hell to the top of the charts. As a teenager it was a very different story.
“Believe it or not, when I was 19 I was pretty fit – I had a 32in waist,” says Terry. “I used to like to think I looked like Simon le Bon.
“People were always bugging me saying I looked like Meat Loaf. When they couldn’t remember his name they’d say, ‘you know, that fat American singer’.
“Many’s the time I ended up in a scrap with a total stranger.”
And later in life, as Terry embarked on a career as a singer, there was no escaping the comparisons.
“Stars in Their Eyes was the X Factor of the time,” he says. “I sent the show demo tapes of me as Elvis and also Dean Martin, but it was a picture of me dressed as Meat Loaf that caught the producer’s eye.
“When I appeared on national TV dressed in the trademark frilly white shirt and waistcoat there must have been a few people pointing at the screen in disbelief saying ‘that’s the so-and-so who whacked me for saying he looked like that fat American singer’.”
Still smiling at the thought, Terry says he hopes there are no “victims” of his wrath looking for revenge among the audience for They Will Rock You at the Wycombe Swan.
“I’m making it sound like it’s all come easy but it’s one thing looking like Meat Loaf, another performing like him.”
Terry has an honours degree in performing arts and has spent years perfecting his live concert show.
“The costumes, the music, every note, every nuance has to be perfect to maintain the illusion,” he says.
“The show features two female backing singers, a completely live band and even the Meat Loaf motorbike – complete with registration number M1 OAF – plus a retrospective section within the set. “Our intention is to rock the audience till they drop.”
The Sun newspaper describes Terry as “. . . the dead spit of Meat Loaf”.
Show producer Michael Taylor says: “It’s definitely going to be a case of ‘follow that’ for top-of-the-bill Queen B.
“Fortunately Queen B are equally authentic and energetic. They recreate the fun, musicianship and showmanship of Freddie Mercury and Queen’s legendary live performances.”
Queen B have performed before Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Richard Branson and, just like Queen, the band have performed at Wembley Stadium. . . twice.
