Interviewed by Denys (Site Founder/Senior Staff Writer) Myglobalmind Webzine
Myglobalmind: Hey Jimi thanks for taking the time and giving an oppurtunity to catch up with you?
Jimi: Great to be here.
Myglobalmind: Let’s start off by taking a step into the past, even though you are consider by many in the industry and fans of Rock to be one of the best vocalists around, I know you have stated before that you never wanted to make a career out of music? It just sorta worked out that way?
Jimi: Its not that I didn’t want to, its just that I never planned it. As a matter of fact I never planned anything as a career. I was too busy playing with my band to think about it. I guess you’d call it sub conscience on the job training.
The first band I was in consisted of 5 guys from middle school, 4 of which were on the school football team … the Sherwood Archers ! Ha! We loved playing sports but couldn’t wait to get to band practice. Each of us had already learned how to get through a song without fumbling around before we ever formed a band. So from the first song we played together we actually sounded pretty good. It was a magic excitement that grabbed hold of us and still holds on.
Myglobalmind: Was singing something that you have always loved?
Jimi: Oh yeah…..
Myglobalmind: When was that time that you discovered the possibilities and that maybe one day it would lead you down a path of stardom?
Jimi: I really never gave much thought to being a (star) but with the band Target I was pretty sure that success was reachable.
Myglobalmind: I know your are a native of Mississippi but grew up in Memphis, what we’re some of your influences growing up, especially in the delta area down here in the south, was the blues a major influence?
Jimi: I didn’t realize it at the time but …yes …When I heard a re-cut version of an old blues song called Houndog by a fellow Mississippi/Memphian … I was hooked. Blues/Rock
Myglobalmind: The range in styles that you have covered since you’re early music career has alternated between metal with Cobra, and of course AOR/Melodic Rock with Survivor.This style is not as commercially dominating breed of music as much as it used to be even though is great and full of arena anthems, but it does have a huge following still in places all over Europe and the world. Why do you think that is?
Jimi: People need change and they have been given plenty of that in the past ten years or so. Grunge, Hip-Hop and Country was everywhere. People who liked melodic rock pretty much had to listen to country music, which today isn’t really country. Its more of a mixture of country and melodic rock and I think people are starting to remember that they had forgotten how good this rock stuff is and are starting to follow it again.
Myglobalmind: I know you still love to perform the classics from the Survivor days, tracks like “Burning Heart”, “Is This Love” , “I Can’t Hold Back” and “Eye Of The Tiger” of course. Does it ever get old of performing the same songs over time?
Jimi: These songs are always fun to play because the excitement of the crowd makes its fun….. like it’s the first time every time. As long as people are excited about hearing it .. I’ll be excited about playing it.
Myglobalmind: You have been a busy man on the road this year touring back and forth between Europe and USA, how do you stay in top notch shape with your voice when touring so much?
Jimi: I think the answer is in the question. Like any other part of your body, if you want it to be strong you have to use it. I really don’t do anything else special to keep it in shape other than the all important – vocal warm up before a show.
Myglobalmind: The release of “Crossroads Moment” in 2008 was a big comeback for you as a solo artist, what we’re you trying to accomplish with that record and is there another Jimi Jamison solo album lurking for the future?
Jimi: I just wanted to get back in the studio, record some songs and see what happened. Hopefully it might entice more fans to come to the shows.
Myglobalmind: You gave the songs that we’re left of the Crossroads sessions for Melodicrock.com, a great resource for the scene in general. The consequence release of Jimi Jamison and Jim Peterik – Extra Moments was released soon after that. How did this come about?
Jimi: We’ve always tried do what we can to keep important info sights like Melodicrock.com up and running. We had an online meeting of the minds with our friend Andrew McNiece and came up with the idea to release and sell the left over songs from Crossroads Moment and donate the proceeds to the cause.
Myglobalmind: Where was that “IT” moment where you first came into the music business that you said to yourself “Hey I Made It”?
Jimi: Ha!! I was singing with the band Target and we had just finished our first record for A&M Records. It was our first time in LA and we were driving down Sunset Blvd, looking at billboards and movie stars, making a hundred bucks a week and thinking…. “We made It”
Myglobalmind: I know that recently you went to Iraq and got a chance to perform for the troops, how great and moving was that for you on a personal level?
Jimi: I will never forget that trip. As grueling, hot and hard as it was … I would do it again in a second. It reminded me and humbled me… made me laugh and made me cry… and made me realize that life is precious and we are lucky to have a taste of it.
Myglobalmind: Any famous venues that still leave an impact on your career, any special places that you have performed that are still memorable?
Photo by Sheryl Robinson of SherylRobPhotos.com
Jimi: I felt dizzy at a show once. Does that count?
Seriously, it would have to be The Mid South Coliseum in my hometown opening for Black Sabbath with thousands of people screaming so loud you could barely hear us play. A very supportive town at that time.
Myglobalmind: Any prospects of playing some local gigs down here in the comforts of the South soon?
Jimi: It looks like I’m going to be spending most of my time up north and in Europe in the near future but hopefully some shows south of the Mason/Dixon will pop up now and again.
Meanwhile….. I’m doing a show with David Hasselhoff next week in Austria. That should be a blast!
Myglobalmind: What does Jimi Jamison do on his down time if any?
Jimi: On the phone and computer A LOT. And… hang out at home waiting for my kids to figure out what they want me to do next.
Myglobalmind: Do you have a favorite cover song that you have performed in concert in all of your years of touring?
Jimi: I really like doing an old Eric Clapton/Blind Faith song called “Can’t Find My Way Home”
Myglobalmind: Hey Jimi thanks so much for lending your time for Myglobalmind Webzine and to your legion of fans around the world, it has been a pleasure. The last words are yours.
Jimi: Thank you Denys. It was my pleasure. Thanks for the great work you do.
Please visit: http://www.jimijamison.com and http://www.myspace.com/jimijamison
For updated Tour Dates for Jimi Jamison.
**All images are courtesy of jimijamison.com
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