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Country music superstar tells Greta how he became a 'Guitar Man' in revealing interview about new book
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Pat -- -- nice to be here thanks and great new book thanks I'm you know it's called -- of a player but.
You know I thought I was -- -- Along thank you.
It really is it's meant -- sort of inspire them -- but it you know it's it was husband Amy you thank all the people that have you know been so important to.
Career yeah I did and I and I didn't set out really knowing what this would be it was the idea of the co writer who's in little -- right there David Wild.
He he's a great writer who had this idea for this book for me.
Okay.
And ended up as it started out I realize what it is and it's this it's almost like.
Saying thank you to everybody you've got -- here as well as.
It's meant to sort of say.
This is how you do it if if you're you're anything like me at all there's there's a way -- -- don't feel.
Like I was destined necessarily to be successful I feel like it took a lot of hard work some lessons in there.
You know I think I beat the -- me.
Lab -- say sir that argument either side of the many parts I like about it but IE EE can't -- You -- -- know your grandfather I mean I think everybody reading it would like to know your grandfather.
Yeah and and they would they would all like and I think he he is the type of guy that was sort of an outspoken funny.
Opinionated but charming with a twinkle in his old guy who love music and best friend -- and he you.
Probably is the reason I have anything in this life because of that first Christmas it was beginning attack yet.
And I -- I saying there's the way the book starts it's like I have my fingers crossed that I was gonna get a millennium falcon -- Battlestar Galactica it's going.
Life would have no meaning as it.
Truthfully.
I had no idea that answered every question -- -- -- have.
And I think that would get -- difficulties in life was waiting an entry it wasn't.
-- -- -- -- -- -- I went to spoke for the rich up ahead but I attendee of the part we -- when it was your grandfather dying yeah.
Without even knowing your grandfather is they have read and say -- you feel the loss and in that hospital -- this -- rough.
It is some I've never talked about before and this is the place to do it you know he he died of cancer and pancreatic cancer which has been unlocked and that that disease and and he was on morphine at the end and and he would look at me when I went to visit because he had told my parents -- and -- like this before he went sort of that morphing.
And -- the last of my son he -- topic which was really weird.
And you know.
It was really therapeutic directed -- his.
That's of the -- put out of my mind that -- really thought about the good memories and then realized.
Sort of as he left this world.
Maybe some of of what he was going through but I think he left this world also knowing the path that he started -- maybe not that it would be.
Sort of ultra successful with -- I would always be guitar player he was happy just with that.
-- -- so -- -- the attack while on Sundays not no no idea between the most days you are heavy and they had it's it's extraordinarily to what one what is so good at this.
I don't know I don't feel like I have more ability or anything than than somebody else's house and don't filling -- better than a lot of people there's a lot of better players than me but I think I'm unique and and is a guitar player that's really is people saying he's better.
Eddie Van Halen or Steve -- it's sort of like well we like better because honestly at some point it's -- opinion and and so few unique that's the key as a guitar player and that's where you know -- -- -- BB king who plays that he is essential and very few notes.
Can destroy.
Someone like -- I've played pagan destroying -- one.
And but I think anything that I've got as far as going for me it would be.
That I can think -- -- -- of some of these situations guitar lines.
Is it isn't -- Practice desire.
Natural ability.
Inspiration -- talk a lot about your guitar teacher.
Angle ankle was huge in your life -- let me.
We there's there's some reason why -- You're doing what you're doing in the rest of us are just sitting their wishing we could.
I guess so I mean I think that.
I was lucky that I had a guy in my grandfather and -- and then -- it was a friend his and it being my mentor to some degree.
Those guys were not gonna let me.
Go to the wrong path when it whereas for for my grandfather he gives me this guitar -- -- and play it because he does but I kind of -- And -- eight years old and you plan.
You're playing baseball and that's a lot more fun summer day in sitting in the house and trying to learn.
Something like it's something difficult on this instrument is most -- play at first sounds awful it sounds like.
-- it's twinkle twinkle little star -- -- time as opposed to Stewart and Paterson can really play and and so I had these guys though that that I can look to that were so good at this and loved it with all of my grandfather with all his being.
That's all he wanted to do every day in his spare time -- sit in that chair -- And I and he said if you do this you never living room you'll never revealed.
If you want to do this is it'll always be there and waited almost -- -- They talk in the book about their early -- you're a young guy in high school and you've got this older -- that that they.
They seem much older at time when women in them probably younger and I am now but they seemed older three video -- -- we did we imagine that's quite a site.
It is it's hysterical we have a lot of video from that.
-- I was I was.
Eleven years old when he first played her first gate and they were in their fifties.
And she's.
My friends they were on the -- us because -- together a hundred dollars per game you know for something like -- -- Christmas party and my friends come and see Niles.
-- because they can understand why does this to eleven you'll want to play things like the old jazz classic shared -- or birth of the blues as opposed to it.
You know hot for teacher.
You know and it was.
It was an interesting thing for me -- -- up that way and I say in the book I was saved by Garth Brooks and came along right as I -- high school and everybody's like.
That -- sings country of that he could play.
And units in a party and ran acoustic guitar on.
And cool.
Thanks to our very -- there and -- -- If you you also in the book about this from being mentioned -- became Clinton's went to Vegas and play with them yet -- -- good times -- -- we get down -- Flam man okay how much how -- that.
It's one of those I've got had a few experiences like this where.
I'm really sort of I'm drawn to some of these older.
Legendary people.
I don't know what it has -- become best friends and Jimmy Dickens who was one of my heroes in life and my grandfather I think it all comes back to the grandpa thing.
I love and respect these guys that.
That really pave the way.
And I ask questions of who you know really doesn't it that's what I'm saying that that the book is it's called diary of a player -- -- and then and I really as a multi and we does that tell you start that's -- you end -- But it really it -- it's a thank you all -- that's what I noticed.
It is it is dance that would be me and you know you sit -- -- hear their stories of -- just dirty jokes and things that you just never thought -- experience and and I still can't believe I -- to do that and -- -- to be around some of these these guys that royalty.
My uncle Jimmy Dickens because this is a guy is another I talk about how I don't feel like I had every advantage that necessarily but I got through and this is a guy -- -- The runt of the litter he was.
He's four foot nine.
He.
You know way.
He had no reason to be one of the biggest stars in country music.
And he took all of these things that people would say are reasons why you're gonna have a difficult time with this and made them his total stick.
-- he takes nothing too serious he is absolutely had the best outlook on life.
My favorite saying is if you're gonna laugh about -- -- and we'll start now he lives that way.
Just nothing gets him -- he's really amazing and I just I hope I can be more like -- is that as negative to his age.
We also get the sense and I don't mean just to save the day -- a really nice guy -- -- -- even we had its homeland OK Johnny -- I got -- -- admits it's written that way even the way that when you when you let rested your wife and -- and how -- you met your wife yet but you are looking for a you know someone who was -- doing Coke and swearing in and out all night party you're looking for very different -- cents a description and I found that actually.
Absolutely although she does have a Coke problem we're we're.
I'm sure she'll love that federal -- -- -- -- yet to have -- -- -- -- -- probably get home yeah yeah I'm getting.
Now she.
That's a really that's that's a long story and it I love being in the same -- -- in the book you know yeah yeah and terrible thing that.
-- somehow got the I didn't ask her out essentially without even asking around -- -- and video which is every male singers trick you know it's like hey.
But that you think -- done that actress who thinks she can does that -- You then there and then you have only so remember what disarm the movie.
When we have quick synopsis is I went to the movie.
The first movie on a date.
That and it have been long term relationship that ended badly with being the big break up and I encountered -- them to -- trying to write about it.
Long story short went to see the sequel by myself thinking maybe she'd go in and meet me there she didn't show on the -- that the one they broke up the one that ended badly right.
-- -- father of the bride part two.
And -- can -- -- wrote a song about it called part two which was the title kind of second album and got the idea.
That I think the girl on the screen is who -- meant to be with I don't know why I got that idea and a I didn't know anything about him at the time.
Made a phone call and the next thing I know I -- on the phone.
And I said certainly we wanna be and music video because I would still.
A lot you lot of you have -- I -- a lot but that was Smart enough to -- at that point.
I think -- -- -- life you tell the truth to that point and we'd be sitting here talking about how I went on -- -- -- once or something that you know and and -- anyway I think that was that had of all the things in the book that I talk about maybe not necessarily being just destiny that was best.
The the guitar playing in the and stardom thing was work but somehow I got.
I had divine intervention there but that's a pretty wild story to me it's really wide and it's in better detail in there that you know -- an -- I hadn't.
Been there for that I would believe if I hadn't seen the way that.
She was at a place in her life she wasn't dating anybody she was looking for the right guy -- even -- -- for and for that.
That should find the right guy and and I call about a little less than me and the owner manager and called her think -- all want it was a video.
Said union.
She called.
Call her she said you're going to be one -- she agreed to even talked to do Nvidia.
Because it's a strange went -- to she had told ironically like a couple weeks earlier she had a meeting meeting whether agent.
And they say genuine -- and I'd love to do music media missing from.
And also my column you know it's just weird -- weird.
And you and -- what instruments to have -- -- people are surprised and really realize that we're going to have to wedding you can imagine when you're the.
The lead actress and father of the bride be pressured to have your own wedding be.
Anywhere near that magical isn't meant so we thought let's just throw out the window and I hate weddings I gotta be honest I hate them.
I've sung at so -- where Iowa where it was and where it was a nightmare for me.
Grown up that I just don't like I don't like the pressure on it I feel like it's a situation where -- is just too much pressure.
And I said let's do this the -- is different and we came up the idea to invite everybody.
Sort of to -- than -- -- since congress -- dinner afterwards had fifty or so people you know that.
And and told everybody else we're just gonna have -- private ceremony.
And when there at the rehearsal or what she's she's coming in the Alan I'm up there and then waiting corners -- spit -- -- out.
-- she'll stand here you'll stand here -- -- to project -- officers wearing her wedding dress.
And our preachers went around and plain -- went back behind thing came back out and -- And we turnarounds and surprises is the way and -- even stood up when she locked -- now because they just didn't expect this so laid back and it was the way to do.
I don't play for us and Detroit MIS and you didn't -- -- look at onstage.
Not anymore so much really never -- I was.
I -- I was nervous at the White House.
Nice when I played the eastern obviously I was also singing -- -- I never sung before a toughness that connected to it.
But and singing a song called welcome feature which is sort of about.
-- racial progress especially you know -- -- That was nerve racking because I didn't even really know that song that one -- these sing it for the most powerful man world but.
Then.
Most of the time now if I know what I'm dinner ready I'm OK today I don't know I'm doing so.
We'll save an act is it.
Work -- you -- when you -- -- -- is it like this is really fun.
I don't really fun and it looks -- -- on.
It's really funny you gotta come to a concert some time because what we did do is is a full blown I mean it's bells and whistles and lasers and explosions and video and as -- hold that we sort of it's no holds barred.
Put on show at all costs and and really love that you can imagine why you walk out they're excited to kind of present this to people that in this economy -- -- you know.
The fact that they spent fifty -- -- whatever it might cost per ticket.
I can't wait to go out there and I'd say I hope you walk away feel like this was more than you expected.
I think those are the people are so successful performers who wants to really have fun to an imminent.
Yeah it's not it's not a job I hope so yeah I mean it if you can't have fun with this is huge I don't.
And we need him do you have a problem because it's just the absolute best technically okay let's about a bright attacked.
I did like -- reluctantly in making reluctantly.
Yet I'm so out of practice and I'm talking too much in writing and in -- player -- my last night.
-- why this thing last night.
-- -- -- -- -- -- They're really really cool.
Thing when he when he was working on stuff he was the -- to think he was -- actually use it to Yankee doodle.
Which were up north right now.
And he took -- And they combined that's -- -- -- -- the played the same time I learned it when I was younger and then allow this month.
Almost but.
It's the type of thing where you sit down and figure out these great things you can do.
Good thing there.
And there's no limits to this instrument.
Do -- music -- here climb into.
I don't really read I used to in college a little bit when I was starting -- suggest.
Tells -- It's all sort of -- here.
But that fabulous book and -- -- tan gray area we're combining.
That's -- given.
-- my -- had been -- -- -- but people aren't I don't I don't enjoy this -- a lot I hope so thanks for.
It's a kind of and out the back now will any time at -- -- -- -- concert there we're gonna have the -- thank -- and that's not that I get you to.
