“Rock ‘n’ roll is not lazy. It’s got to be fearsome and aggressive”: John Fogerty on the importance of playing guitar with “energy and fire”
John Fogerty has opened up on the importance of playing rock ‘n’ roll guitar with fire and a fearsome energy.
Fogerty secured the US and worldwide rights to his Creedence Clearwater Revival catalogue after more than 50 years back in 2023, and in August this year, he’s due to release a new album filled with re-recorded versions of CCR classics titled Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years.
READ MORE: “I hope we did Rory right”: Joe Bonamassa reflects on “emotional” Rory Gallagher tribute gigs
The album arrives off the back of his Glastonbury comeback, too – at the end of June, Fogerty marked his first appearance at the festival in 18 years, joined by a band featuring his two sons.
Speaking to Uncut for its new print edition, Fogerty discusses the Legacy project, and explains why bringing ‘fire’ to his rocking Glasto set felt paramount: “This project was a secret for a while,” he says of the forthcoming album.
“We were trying to keep it under the radar until we could announce it in an official way, so that it didn’t just trickle out by rumour. And I was very much lobbying for this record to be called ‘Taylor’s Version’ [a nod to Taylor Swift].
“I just thought it was kind of funny, because she re-recorded her earlier albums and I certainly had similar reasons for doing that. And there’s an added joyfulness to all of this since I got my publishing back a few years ago. Being free and emotionally secure enough to do this record is a sign that my re-engagement with my own music was complete.”
With the interview having taken place prior to his Glastonbury appearance, he goes on to add, “I want to play a great rock ‘n’ roll set. I have a wonderful band that includes my two sons, Shane and Tyler. We’ve been playing together for some time now and we all really enjoy it. Rock ‘n’ roll is not lazy. It’s got to be fearsome and aggressive, full of energy and fire. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years will be released on 22 August 2025 via Concord. You can find out more via the John Fogerty website.
The post “Rock ‘n’ roll is not lazy. It’s got to be fearsome and aggressive”: John Fogerty on the importance of playing guitar with “energy and fire” appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
