A collection of ’70s cover songs, think of “It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll” as Michael Des Barres’ musical autobiography, the soundtrack of his youth and the songs that shaped him. A glorious assemblage of some of the best releases of a bygone, glam-suffused rock era, Des Barres’ album is a love letter to the greats of the time – David Bowie, Roxy Music, Velvet Underground, Iggy and the Stooges, Slade, Sweet, Mott the Hoople, and plenty more. It harkens back to the days when guitar, bass, vox, and drums could, and did, say it all. Des Barres’ takes on these songs gives them a warm, personal vibe, and the album is an a exuberant listen from start to finish. We sat down recently with Des Barres to discuss the new album in all of its rock ‘n’ roll glory.
Hi, Michael! You have a terrific new album out in October called “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll.” How did these songs come together and what broad strokes can you tell us about the collection?
I wanted to go back to the simplicity of rock and roll, a band that merely has a guitar player, a bass player, a drummer, a singer, and perhaps tambourine. The reason for this is because today’s music is essentially made with machines. Rock and roll is a synonym for making love. I would imagine making love to a machine would be uncomfortable.
One of the songs on your new album, “Love Is The Drug,” is really great and stood out to me. What can you tell us about this song? What inspired you to cover it and what does the song mean to you?
Intellectualized simplicity, created by the terrific lyricist Bryan Ferry. I found it both sexy and smart.
What was it like recording this album overall? What was the vibe in the studio overall, and how did this song, in particular, come together?
It was easy to record this album. Rock and roll is a wavelength; plug in and play with a smile on your face, imagining that you are 18 years old again. It’s the joy of recreating the simplicity of rock and roll, where we all knew the songs backwards and forwards. Therefore, there was a naive delight in paying homage to this music. Love is the best drug I ever took.
What do you hope this album conveys to those who listen to it?
Joy.
If you look back over your career, you probably feel like quite a different artist now than when you began for a number of reasons – life experience, industry experience, studio and performing experience all factoring into that. Do different things inspire you now? Where do you tend to get your biggest inspiration from these days?
Thinking is overrated. Staying in the moment is delicious.
Songwriting and recording can be a really personal endeavor, yet when you release a song or an album or an EP, you share the music with so many people. How does this make you feel, and is it ever difficult to share songs widely like that? What kind of feedback do you get from fans who have connected with the music or had a song impact them in a deep and meaningful way?
It creates a rock and roll tribe. That’s a very good question. I don’t think of the outcome. I think of the income of passion and love. The interpretation of these songs both from the musicians and the audience is all the same. I don’t consider it a performance. I consider it a collaboration, and the audience is part of that – they start to dance again. After all, rock and roll’s heart beats below the waist.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen for you this year?
I made this album because I wanted to. The thrill of it has obviously been felt by those who have heard it. Their response is the most exciting thing this year.
Got any tour plans? Where can fans see you on the road?
I want to take this album on the road, but it will not be a conventional performance. I want to be asked terrific questions, like I’m being asked right here, by the audience. So it becomes an interactive evening with music, conversation, and sweat!
