Willie Nile

Interview with Willie Nile !

The Great Yellow Light is filled with passionate guitar-driven, melodic songs, a mix of anthemic

rockers and sensitive ballads with a subtle socio-political message throughout. Willie was joined

in the studio by his core band Jimi Bones – electric & acoustic guitars, backing vocals, Johnny Pisano – bass, backing vocals and Jon Weber – drums, providing soaring lead vocals, electric guitar and piano himself. Besides Earle, special guests include Irish music icon Paul Brady on vocals, The Hooters’ Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian on keys and strings respectively, Black 47 members Larry Kirwan, Fred Parcells, and Chris Byrne and legendary sidemen Waddy Wachtel and David Mansfield.

Nile’s love for life and music has powered his 45-year recording career. The Buffalo, NY native made his way to New York City in the early 1970s. After establishing himself as a popular presence on the downtown club scene, Willie attained national recognition through his widely acclaimed first three major-label albums — Willie Nile, Golden Down and Places I Have Never Been. Next, he then embarked on the indie route with a long series of well-received album releases including Beautiful Wreck of the World, Streets of New York, House of a Thousand Guitars, The Innocent Ones, American Ride, World War Willie, New York At Night, Children of Paradise, The Day The Earth Stood Still, the acoustic If I Was a River, and the covers collection Positively Bob: Willie Nile Sings Bob Dylan. Working on his own terms has allowed Willie to expand his audience to encompass much of the planet. He’s toured North America and overseas regularly building a sizeable and devoted following for his incendiary live performances. His loyal fan base includes such admirers as Bruce Springsteen, with whom he’s guested onstage on multiple occasions, and Pete Townshend, who personally requested him as the opening act on the Who’s historic 1980 U.S. tour. The list of avowed Nile fans also includes Bono, Lou Reed, Ian Hunter, Graham Parker, Jim Jarmusch, Little Steven, and Lucinda Williams, who once remarked, “Willie Nile is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I’d be opening up for him instead of him for me.” Appropriately, an Austrian filmmaker is currently making a documentary film about Willie, with new footage shot in Italy, England and America.

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