Buddy Magazine Reveals Secrets from Rocky’s Past!
Check out the April edition of Buddy Magazine for an in-depth, deep dive interview by Andrew Daly. Thank you for the awesome interview and putting me on the cover! Keep reading below to learn more secrets from my past and check out Buddy Magazine’s website HERE for more great interviews and music reviews.
At the age of 69, it goes without saying that Rocky Athas, a player who has played alongside the likes of John Mayall, Buddy Miles, Glenn Hughes, and more, has been around the block a time or two.
He came of age in Texas in the ’70s, a period that boasted the likes of Eric Johnson and Rocky’s close childhood friend Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others, leading to Buddy Magazine to induct Athas in the inaugural Buddy Texas Tornado class of 1978, when he was just a young pup aged 23. To this, Athas says, “It was an honor then, as it is now to this day. Being the youngest in a group that included such successful artists as Jimmie Vaughan and Billy Gibbons raised my profile and raised expectations of myself.”
He continues, “It has been part of my resume forever, and I am often asked about it. In other parts of the world, Texas seems to have a certain mystic when it comes to guitar players in part, possibly because of that ranking. Thank you, Buddy Magazine. You rock!” [Ed. Thanks Rocky.]
While Buddy Magazine noticed Rocky’s talent very early on, top players from around the world also recognized his talent, and incorporated his style and phrasing into their own playing. And the result had a major impact – in this Guitar World article from 2023, Queen’s Brian May explains how he lifted a few tapping licks from Athas, creating the solo for “It’s Late” that became the primary inspiration for Eddie Van Halen’s two-handed tapping technique.
Accolades aside, Athas has a record to promote in Livin’ My Best Life, which is due out on March 10, 2024. Even after all these years, the veteran gunslinger has still got it. The chops that made him a mainstay amongst the greats are all over the thing, so be sure to grab Livin’ My Best Life when it drops.
As for how he feels about his new record, Athas smiles from ear to ear when asked. “Of course, after an album is released, I always hear things in my head that I would have done differently that tend to stick in my mind and drive me crazy,” he admits. “But I love writing and recording music more than anything, and I believe that my new album, Livin’ My Best Life, is my favorite at this point because it’s on the top of my mind.”
What inspired you to pick up the guitar?
I would love to tell you an interesting, original story, but I, like an entire generation, was mesmerized by the iconic Beatles performance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Luckily, my brother, Nick, already played guitar and was willing to start teaching me, and the very next day, I asked my mother if I could start growing my hair out.
Walter Trout & Rocky Athas jamming together.
A wonderful side note about my mom: she was a hairdresser at The Adolphus Hotel in downtown Dallas, so the idea of long hair didn’t freak her out. She knew she could just cut it off if she didn’t like it! True story.
Tell me about your first guitar and what songs you learned on it.
My very first guitar was a Kingston three-pickup “pawn shop special” electric guitar. My parents realized very early on how important guitar was becoming to me. So much so that they memorialized my budding musical interests with a giant 8×10 Sears portrait of me with my Beatles haircut and my Kingston, which I still have, and my wife laughs at. “House of the Rising Sun” was the first song I learned to play, which I also saw on The Ed Sullivan Show when The Animals were on.
As I got better at guitar, my mom bought me my first “real” guitar, a Gibson ES-330, but only if I promised to mow the yard and keep the garage clean without being told. Failure to keep my word would mean forfeiture of the guitar to her. I couldn’t deal with losing the guitar, so needless to say, our home never violated code compliance.
Bluesville
Growing up in Texas, what did the music scene around you look like?
Two words. Loud and talented. Any night of the week, there were always great bands to go see because there was such an abundance of venues for live music, like Mother Blues, Sneaky Pete’s, Savvy’s, The Palladium, and Cardi’s. They all brought in national acts and were packed. It was a blast!
What shops did you like to frequent when looking for guitars and gear?
Even though I lived in Oak Cliff, Arnold and Morgan Music in Garland was the place to go in the ’70s and 80’s because they always had great used gear. I even had the chance to purchase Freddie King’s guitar from them, but I was young and thought it was “too” used because Freddie played with a metal thumbpick that nearly rubbed a hole completely through it! I didn’t understand the value of the guitar or the concept of “vintage” guitars…yet.
Lightning
Did any Texas players influence you much? Did you meet them?
That question requires a two-part answer. First, I was influenced by all the good players I grew up jamming with, like Jimmy Wallace, because we were all friends in the same neighborhood. We were more like brothers; everything was a giant open book between us. Remember the days before YouTube?
If you wanted to learn something, you had to actually play the record over and over and over again until you figured it out, much to the irritation of our parents. If one of us figured out something off Axis Bold as Love, we would show each other how we thought it was played. Whether we learned it correctly or not is another question.
Mick Taylor and Rocky in London.
As far as professional players, Freddie King was the man! I got to see him countless times in person. When I was 18, I went to see Jeff Beck at The Majestic Theater in Dallas with original Lightning bassist John Rybiski. While we were standing in line, this guy, who was “football big,” walked up holding a guitar, shook my hand, and asked if this was the line for Jeff Beck and if he could “cut” in line.
Of course, I knew it was Freddie because he was a regular fixture at Mother Blues and holding his signature 345 Gibson guitar! Not only was his playing phenomenal, but he was one of the nicest guys in the world. He emanated joy on stage through his playing and his smile. He seemed to love making music, which left an impression on me. Music made me that happy, too. It’s one of the reasons that we recorded Palace of The King for the new album, Livin’ My Best Life.
John Mayall and Rocky.
What’s your wildest Texas music scene story?
The wildest gig story happened while we were on stage in Austin, Texas, and a guy was dancing super crazy right in front of the band. All of a sudden, he fell straight down, legs buckling beneath him. The promoter asked us to take a break, and they called medics; the guy had died right there on the spot in front of us! The ambulance took him away, and then the promoter said, “Ok, guys, can you go ahead and start it up again?”
Needless to say, this felt pretty weird, witnessing death and all, but the promoter insisted. Can you imagine that? The last thing any of us wanted to do was rock the house, but after we finished the first song of the next set, a guy stood up, hoisting a beer, yelling, “My brother just died on this floor, so let’s all have a beer. I am buying it to celebrate my brother’s life!” That has stayed with me to this day.
You just can’t make this stuff up. Truth really is stranger than fiction, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to bizarre and crazy events in the life of a working musician. Next time, ask me about the gig at the topless bar.
Tell me about joining Black Oak Arkansas. How did you get the gig? Was there an audition?
No audition. I opened for Black Oak Arkansas in Paris, Texas, and about a week later, Jim Dandy called me directly and asked if I would like to join Black Oak. He basically poached me from my own band; I said yes, and on the road, I went.
What was it like working with Buddy Miles on Bluesberries? What did your rig look like then?
Buddy was a friend long before we recorded the Bluesberries album with Double Trouble. I remember playing football in a huge field next to a hotel if you can imagine that, with all the guys, including Buddy, when we were staying in Houston for a gig. Lots of friendships were forged on the road in situations like that.
Buddy Miles and Rocky Athas
Anyway, I was fascinated with the great stories he told about his days with Jimi Hendrix and Band of Gypsies, and I loved his voice and his playing. He always had a groove and some soul. I never got tired of playing with him, and during that time, I used a Fender Twin and Lab L5 for the album.
You’re one of many guitarists to work with John Mayall. What’s the secret to locking in with him?
I really don’t know. This was another situation where, just like when Jim Dandy called, John called me out of the blue and asked me to join him: no middleman, no handlers, no audition. I actually thought the phone call was a prank from one of my friends, and I didn’t take him seriously. That ended up being a tad awkward for a moment, but everything ultimately worked out.
He said he remembered seeing me play years before and heard my album, Miracle, on the radio in the UK. He liked what he heard, so he bought it and then called me. When I went to California to meet him and record Tough, I asked him how he wanted me to play, and I’ll never forget what he said. He said, “Just be yourself. That’s why I hired you. I want you to be you.” I loved it, cranked it up, and got down to business.
Of your solo records, which means the most to you, and why?
That is a very tricky question because all of them seem monumental at the time of creation. I am so focused on the creative process that I have no clue what the next album will be. All my energy goes into the “now,” if you know what I mean.
Without Rocky Athas playing at Mother Blues in the 70s, Eddie Van Halen’s two-handed tapping technique (and this solo) may have never happened. Check out the Guitar World link above for more of this story.
You’ve covered classic tracks like “White Room” and “The Wind Cries Mary.” How do you approach that impossible task?
I approached the classics in much the same way I did as a kid, only better. I wanted to record the songs that shaped my playing and conjured up great memories. We just tried to be as honest and true to the original versions as possible. Walter and I have an entire album’s worth of material that we recorded just for fun, songs that we loved growing up, like stuff from Mountain, Creedence, the Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, etc. Maybe one day we’ll put it out. Great songs are always great songs.
What guitars, amps, and pedals have most shaped your tone? Are there any you’d never part with?
The Ibanez Tube Screamer TS-9 and TS-10 are my favorite pedals, along with a vintage Vox Wah. I used Lab Series-L5 amps and a Fender Twin for as long as I can remember. I still love the Lab-Series L-5s. They were discontinued in 1981, so any time I have the chance to buy an original L5, I buy it. So, I guess the answer is that the Labs aren’t going anywhere.
Thin Lizzy performing “Rocky,” written for Athas. Phil Lynott and the band were fans of Rocky’s, and went to see him perform often at Mother Blue’s in Dallas when they were in town.
What’s next for you?
Since the world of music is now all about being an independent artist, there is never a shortage of things to do or learn. Gone are the days of just showing up to a gig that someone else booked and playing guitar. Now, I have a complete e-commerce website, www.RockyAthas.com, and social media channels that need content. It’s a whole different kind of fun to connect with someone who loves your music when they reach out to me through the website, Facebook, or YouTube.
So, as the life of a musician is always evolving and moving forward, I wrote about those feelings on the new album, Livin’ My Best Life. I am so proud of the guys, Walter Watson, Jared Watson, and Rocky II, for their performances. After being on the road together, we couldn’t be any tighter, and it shows through on the record. We have a unique bond since I have my son, Rocky II, on bass, and Walter has his son, Jared, on guitar.
We are truly a family affair and enjoy playing together, and the crowds see that and seem to be into it, too. Not to sound cheesy, but it really feels like I am Livin’ My Best Life, and I couldn’t be in a better band than I am right now. I took my time with this album and now, I’m hoping the world will enjoy it and that everybody plays it loud listening to my message.