Gales used his performance at the UK Guitar Show and London Bass Guitar Show this past weekend to break the news, where he revealed Bonamassa is onboard to produce and perform on the effort, ahead of a joint Joe Bonamassa/Eric Gales tour, most likely towards the end of 2020.
We managed to grab Gales following his performance to get the lowdown on what’s set to be the blues record of the decade.
I’ve got some very dope guests appearances and some people involved with this record that are gonna be a surprise to the world
“All I can tell you at this point is it’s already making out to be a serious explosion for 2020,” says Gales.
“Me and Joe are chatting every other day about the approach and everything. I’ve got some very dope guest appearances and some people involved with this record that are gonna be a surprise to the world, so I can tell you it’s going to be amazing.”
Gales went on to reveal that the sessions are scheduled to begin in late-March at Ocean Way, Nashville, with other recording locations also being mooted.
The album is set to be mostly originals, with “definitely one cover song,” says Gales. “I can’t say what it is right now, but it’s going to be fun!”
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It’s “very possible” that the joint headline tour could take place during 2020’s closing months, Gales teased, even jokingly suggesting a run of five nights at the Royal Albert Hall.
(Image credit: Adam Gasson/Future)
For the UK Guitar Show audience, the shock announcement wasn’t even the highlight of Gales’ performance, which saw the highly lauded bluesman improvise the majority of his set to jaw-dropping effect, before calling up bandmate and virtuoso bassist Cody Wright to trade licks on an astonishing rendition of Little Wing.
Gales joined a star-studded roster of artists at the show, including Paul Gilbert, Devin Townsend and Lari Basilio, alongside a who’s who of gear companies and the Guitarist of the Year finals at London’s Business Design Centre.
The UK Guitar Show and London Bass Guitar Show will return next September. Stay tuned for more news on Guitarist of the Year very soon...
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
