BOB BELAND – California Dreamin’ and Rockin’
1. How did you start playing music?
I started learning the drums in high school band back in 1968 and taught myself how to play guitar shortly after that.
2. What are your memories from the Californian music scene during the early 1970s?
Hugely influential to me. From A.M. radio playing the L.A. bands like the Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds, Spirit, Love, the Doors, ect. later on with the whole L.A. country rock community that my brother’s band Swampwater was a part of with Linda Ronstadt, Arlo Guthrie, the Flying Burrito Bros ect.. I was a big Poco fan too. I loved all the music from that era from British Invasion to American acts like the Lovin’ Spoonful, Beau Brummels and lots and lots of singer songwriters like Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Jimmy Webb.
3. What is the concept behind your 8th album called “Happy Camper”?
The basic theme of my album “Happy Camper” was a look back at my time in California where I’ve lived since 1967. I am originally from Chicago,IL.
4. Could you please give us information about the other musicians who participate on the album?
Sure. Bassist Bob Gross is a veteran musician whom I’ve known since the Troubadour Hoot nights in 1974. Bob’s worked with Delaney Bramlett, Albert King, Bob Weir and a slew of other artists. Bassist Richard d’Andrea is a former bandmate in the Furys and has worked with the Motels, the Know and other L.A. bands. He currently has a new single out called “I Don’t Need Your Love” under the name of Raw Terra. Bassist Marty Korth and keyboardist Greg Embrey are also from the Furys. Violinist Paula Kuhr is from the MESTO Multi Ethnic Star Orchestra and Canadian steel guitarist Smokey Fennell is a veteran pedal steel player who can be heard on David Gray’s hit song “Babylon” and platinum selling album “White Ladder.”
5. Do you have any plans to perform live the album?
Not at this present time.
6. What do you remember from being a member of The Furys?
It was a good chapter in time for me as I focused primarily on lead guitar playing and not songwriting as I had done in the past. I knew the Furys from my time in Bates Motel a band I was a part of in back in 1977-79. Bates Motel became the back up band for Sparks which I was not invited to be a part. A few months after I left them I secured a 2 year solo stint with MCA publishing releasing my first solo single “Stealing Cars” in 1980 and “the Bob Beland e.p.” In 1981. Both were produced by Stephen Hague from Jules & the Polar Bears and included most of that band on those recordings. After two years @ MCA I was dropped and I looking for something a little less demanding while I licked my wounds. LOL!
7. Why did you leave the band?
After four years with them and never getting out of the local club scene I missed writing and recording my own stuff so I left.
8. How did you join the Skin Trade in 1989?
The Furys last bassist was Glen Laughlin who was also in the Dickies. Glen had his own band called Skin Trade and asked me to join them after the Furys. I joined for a short time and recorded with them and in fact Glen recently told me that those recordings will be released sometime this year as a part of Glen’s first solo project.
9. Please let us know about your collaboration with 10cc legend Kevin Godley.
In 2017 was encouraged by my long time publicist William James @ Glass Onyon to submit some music to Kevin Godley who is also a long time client of Willam’s. Ten months after I sent the music I received an email from Kevin asking if I was the guy who sent the music to him? I emphatically said yes as I had been an ardent admirer of Kevin’s music ever since the start of his career and we agreed to collaborate. The song was finished quickly but it took three years for the album to be released in 2021 and the song went through some radical changes along the way. I was delighted at both the final version and the whole album “Muscle Memory” which I think is terrific. I have my own instrumental version of our collaboration called, “Rocky Up!(love theme from “the Bang Bang Theory”)” that can be found on my 2018 album “Welcome.”
10. What about your next plans?
I am currently trying to present an album project idea to a major recording act. It contains mainly my songs along with a few compositions from Ray Davies, a 1970’s progressive rock band called the Flock and fiddle/guitarist Gib Gilbeau from my brother’s 1970’s band Swampwater. I also have a full album written and ready to go that I’m hoping to start recording soon.
Information:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/belandbob/?hl=en
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/bbeland
