13 QUESTION METHOD: JACKIE GREENE


Dubbed “The Prince of Americana” by the New York Times, Jackie Greene is a skilled multi-instrumentalist steeped in country, blues, jazz, rock and folk traditions, defying easy categorization. His fifth album, Giving up the Ghost, cements him firmly in the modern music scene, effortlessly triggering echoes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Gram Parsons, Elvis Costello and Paul Westerberg without sacrificing an authentic voice of his own.

1. Which was the first record you bought with your own money?
Mother Hips — Shootout.

2. Which was the last record you bought with your own money?
Los Lobos — The Town and The City. I had it before, but it got stuck in the CD player in my car.

3. What was the first solo you learned from a record — and can you still play it?
"Fade to Black" — Metallica. Hell yes.

4. Which recording of your own (or as a sideman) are you most proud of, and why?
Usually whatever the most recent one is. I grow out of my own recordings very quickly.

5. What's the difference between playing live and playing in a studio?
Beer intake, mostly.

6. What's the difference between a good gig and a bad gig?
The catering.

7. What's the difference between a good guitar and a bad guitar?
A good guitar eventually gets stolen or broken. A bad guitar always seems to be there when you need it most. I prefer bad guitars, generally — although I have plenty of good ones that haven't broke yet.

8. You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach the two differently?
I would like to say no, but I don't think that's true. I can't pretend to be Jimi Hendrix on an acoustic guitar. It looks very odd.

9. Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or electric?
Either way. My electric picking is just as sloppy as my acoustic strumming. I'm kind of a sloppy guy. You should see my bathroom.

10. Do you sound like yourself on other people's guitars?
God, I hope not!

11. Which living artist would you like to collaborate with, and why?
Tom Waits, David Hidalgo, Neil Young, Madonna.

12. Which dead artist (music, or other arts) would you like to have collaborated with, and why?
Elvis. He's dead, isn't he?

13. What's your latest project about?
Still trying to figure that one out....