Kinky Friedman is an American original. The cigar-smoking, self-proclaimed “Jewish cowboy” has done it all – he’s toured with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue and been onstage at the Grand Ole Opry. He’s hobnobbed with John Belushi and Willie Nelson. Then, when his music career waned, he became a novelist, penning numerous mystery novels and non-fiction books.
He also ran for governor of Texas (garnering a whopping 1/2 million votes) and is an advocate for animal rights. Truthfully, there’s so many layers to the man who’s real first name is Richard. Author Mary Lou Sullivan tries to uncover things in Everything’s Bigger in Texas – the Life & Times of Kinky Friedman from Backbeat Books.
Sullivan talks about the similarities and differences between Friedman and her other biography subject, the late Johnny Winter. Plus, she reveals some of the obstacles she had to overcome to complete the book and get the real story of a man shrouded in myth.
Edgar Winter wrote one of the greatest instrumentals in all of rock in “Frankenstein.” He’s back out on the road as part of the Classic Rock n’ Blues Tour, which also features his brother, Johnny Winter, along with Rick Derringer, Leslie West of Mountain, and Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown. Icon Fetch sits down with the multi-talented younger brother to find out why he never picked up the guitar (but did pick up just about everything else). He also tells us the great story behind “Frankenstein.”
Johnny Winter is one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Yet, so little is known about him. Finally, his story can be told. In Raisin’ Cain: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter, author Mary Lou Sullivan reminds us that Winter was a major figure in the rock n’ roll of the late Sixties and early Seventies. But, through drug addiction and misguided managerial decisions, his star faded. Sullivan spent countless hours interviewing the enigmatic guitarist. She also tracked down family members, and former musicians and girlfriends to help paint a complete picture of the legendary Texas bluesman. Icon Fetch talks with Mary Lou Sullivan about writing her labor of love.
JUST ADDED: As a bonus, we talk briefly to the man himself, Johnny Winter, on the way to a recent gig in New Hampshire. Winter, a man of few words, does tip us off to the possibility of a new Johnny Winter record in 2011.
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