There’s a great little tale behind the third of our ‘Talking Country’ interviews.
Prior to Willie’s evening performance at one of the International Festivals of Country Music held at Wembley, journalists and broadcasters were invited to a private screening of Willie’s movie ‘Redheaded Stranger’.
Myself and a fellow broadcaster from another radio station …(we’ll call him Bob) decided to take up the invite and were seated in a good viewing position.
As the lights lowered for the screening people were still filling the empty seats and by the time we were four or five minutes into the showing a couple wandered in in the dark and sat directly in front of us slightly obscuring our view.
A slight sigh of contempt was heard from my viewing partner who being slightly smaller than myself was having difficulty seeing the film without the occasional shuffle.
Some forty minutes into the film ‘Bob’ leaned towards me and supposedly in a quiet voice related “Well he might be a bloody good country artist but he’ll never be an actor as long as he’s got a hole in his a…e”!
The film duly finished and the lights came up, and it was at this point that the ‘vision blocker’ who sat in front turned round and said; “Hey Man I love an honest critic..thankyou for your kind comment”…..it was Willie Nelson!!
Even relating to it it now puts a smile on my face.
Thankfully neither comment from either ‘Bob’ or Willie were mentioned during the interview you’re about to take a listen to.
I never found out if ‘Bob’ got his interview or not!
Cheers
Brian C
Oh! Happy Days.
He must have fully recovered because he seemed.as spry as a man half his age not even slowing down enough to tune his guitar.Toward the end of the evening country.fans were treated to I Saw the Light Til I Gain Control Again City of New Orleans and To All the Girls Ive Loved.Before. Who else could get away with this? Considering the pace which Nelson delivers albums this pair of concerts he also.played there on Thursday night would make a memorable and thoroughly engaging live album — especially perfect for a party..And if somebody were to quibble about a country western star like Nelson on the stereo system you probably wouldnt.want them at your party anyway.Opening act Ryan Adams could never be accused of chasing the spotlight.