By Mike Monkey & Vee
 
 
 

I don’t know about you but when I was 16, I had trouble making macaroni and cheese. In fact, I still do and
I’m 32 but I won’t bore you with my lack of culinary skills. The point I’m trying to make is that at this
tender age most people aren't fulfilling their dreams, let alone scorching a path from which later
standards will be set. But that’s just what one Jonny Lang is doing.

Lang (whose real name is Jon Langseth) has already ventured through the some of the hallowed hallways of
the music business. "He's a young star and gettin' better all the time" proclaims B.B. King, and seems to
be on his way to creating a very sound foundation for his art to thrive upon. Obviously A&M records
thinks so, as they signed the young prodigy to a four-record deal that's already reaping early rewards.

On the heels of his very successful debut release "Lie To Me", (which already has gone gold) we caught up
with this shooting star backstage at the Strand Theater in Providence R.I. It was one of the many dates
he was doing with Blues Traveler. He is also scheduled to back up the Rolling Stones for a few shows
in December. You would think all this success and attention would bloat anyone’s head. What we
found was quite the contrary. Here’s what he had to say.

KRAVE: How long have you been playing guitar?

J.L.: I’ve been playing for about 4 years. I actually played the sax in like the school band but I really started
laying the guitar when I was 13. I always knew I wanted to sing though.

KRAVE: 4 years doesn’t seem very long. You must have practiced 24 hrs a day?

J.L.: No man, playing with these guys who just kicked my ass made me better.

KRAVE: So you were in the atmosphere of other good musicians when you were starting out?

J.L.: Yeah, well when I moved to Minneapolis is when I started really figuring out that I sucked compared
to everyone else. I used to go jam on Monday nights at this place called called Bunkers with a band
named "Dr Mambo's Combo", that included the Bass player I have now and Prince’s old drummer
Michael Bland. He is the best drummer in the world. I know you always say there’s no best musician
but he is. He’s so powerful. We were playing some funky Sly tune and Michael and Doug just were
kicking my ass. They put me in a blender and turned me upside down and I didn’t know what I was
doing.

KRAVE: We know you cite Albert Collins and B.B. King as major influences but was there anyone
contemporarily in the last 4 yrs who inspired you?

J.L.: Perhaps indirectly, I mean everything you listen to you can’t help but absorb some of it. But probably I
would say Nirvana. They were very powerful. Stevie Wonder is probably my biggest influence in
general.

KRAVE: You got a chance to play with B.B. King as well as back him up on his tour recently. What was
that like to play with one of your heroes?

J.L.: Oh Man, my life could end now and I would be happy cause I got to jam with B.B. It was unbelievable.

KRAVE: How about your influences vocally? Is there anyone that you emulated your style after?

J.L.: No I don’t think I really sound like anyone. I mean if there’s anyone I am influenced by it would have
to be Stevie Wonder. I guess he rubs off the most on me, I mean I don’t sound anything like him and I
couldn’t hold a candle to Stevie, but if there’s any influence it would come from him.

KRAVE: Where are you as far as school is concerned I mean it must be tough with being on the road?

J.L.: Well I’ll be graduating when I go back so I think I’m ahead of schedule. We’ll see. (laughs)

KRAVE: Have you been writing on the road for the next disc?

J.L.: Yeah, I’ve been writing and also with the band. What we’ll do is go in pre-production a couple of
weeks before and lay the tracks down. There will be less covers on this one.

Krave: Have you always played a Telecaster?

J.L.: Yeah, well actually I started on a Strat' but then I heard Albert Collins and I had to get a Tele'.

KRAVE: Does it bother you that people make such a big deal over your age?

J.L.: It doesn’t bother me but I guess I’d rather be measured as an artist and my age doesn’t have anything
to do with that.

KRAVE: You also did "Late Night with David Letterman" What was that experience like?

J.L.: It was great. I really didn’t get a chance to meet him though, he kinda just said "good job" and then
took off but it was really cool to do.

KRAVE: Well, thanks a lot Jonny , we really appreciate you taking the time to chat with us.

J.L.: No problem guys. Are you sticking around for the show?

KRAVE: Absolutely!