I ran across Joe Heuer’s website a little while ago and I knew that he had to the first in a series of interviews here at Best of Classic Rock. Joe has so much knowledge, enthusiasm and love for Rock music that he’s been crowned the Rock and Roll Guru. Joe’s basic philosophy of life is to play hard, have fun, learn lots. He’s been a professional speaker and has also written several books. The Guru currently calls Milwaukee his home. Enough of me blabbering, let’s get started-
When did you start the rockandrollguru.com?
I started a little over a year ago after a visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
What was your motivation to start rockandrollguru.com?
I absolutely love classic rock and it has been such an important part of my life that I felt a need to share my love with the world.
What are your favorite articles/posts you’ve written?
The posts I do after I’ve seen a concert are my favorites. I’m not a reviewer or a critic, so I just post my impressions of the shows I love. I particularly enjoy the ones I do during Summerfest, which is the world’s largest music festival. It’s right here on the lakefront in Milwaukee, and I’m blessed to be their official blogger.
What other things are you working on as the Rock and Roll Guru?
I’m glad you asked. I’m just finishing my next book, which is titled Everything I Know I Learned from Rock and Roll: Timeless Wisdom from Aerosmith through ZZ Top. I expect to have it ready to send to publishers by the end of April.
I’ve got a couple other really cool things coming down the road. One of them is ARRG!, which is the Association of Rock & Roll Gurus. It’s gonna be a ton of fun and we’re hoping to launch it later this year. I’m expecting that you’ll be a charter member.
Are there any changes planned for rockandrollguru.com?
Absolutely. I just added a new category called Rock & Roll Breakfast, where I talk about the first thing I listened to that day.
I’m also starting The Guru’s Garage of Giants, my own personal hall of fame.
The biggest challenge for me right now is that I’m obsessed with finishing the book, so I’m not devoting as much time to the blog as I’d like.
Any specific tips you have for newbie bloggers who want to make a music site?
The best advice I can offer is to write about what you love.
What other classic rock websites do you recommend?
From what you’ve been doing so far, I’d certainly recommend yours. Also my friend Layla’s Classic Rock and Uncle Joe Benson’s.
What is the best album released in the last 40 years or so and why?
I get asked this a lot and my answer is always the same. It’s whatever is on my turntable right now. There are so many amazing classic rock albums that I couldn’t possibly pick just one, or ten. That reminds me that I haven’t been doing much with the Desert Island Discs category on the blog…I need to spend some time there.
What underrated bands we should all go listen to?
1. Gov’t. Mule—Warren Haynes is a monster guitarist.
2. moe.—They are my absolute favorite of the next generation of jam bands.
What is your earliest classic rock memory or experience?
I was born in 1961 and am the youngest in my family by several years, and my older siblings tell me that by the time I was 4 years old I could sing the first few Beatles albums in their entirety, as well as several Bob Dylan songs. I vaguely remember that, but I cannot remember a time when I didn’t know all the Beatles’ stuff.
What’s on your current playlist?
Classic rock, baby! I’ve been listening to a lot of Bruce Hornsby and Dire Straits lately. And I’ve always got several Dead shows on my iPod.
I just checked and I’ve got over 300 albums on my iPod, and more than 90% of them are classic rock. The rest is primarily jazz.
Are there any good classic rock books you recommend?
There are a whole bunch of them, but my personal favorite is Searching for the Sound by Phil Lesh. What can I say, I’m a Deadhead.
Is Elvis really dead?
If I told you the truth, then I’d have to kill you…but just between us, I had lunch with him last week and he seemed pretty alive. And he’s still eating those disgusting peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
All right! That wraps this one up. Make sure to visit Joe’s site- http://rockandrollguru.com and while you’re there sign up his e-mail news to get updates on his new book “Everything I Know I Learned from Rock and Roll: Timeless Wisdom from Aerosmith through ZZ Top”.
To close it out here’s a cool video of Joe at Summerfest:
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