Interview: Albert Lee

3:13pm Friday 15th August 2008

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Legendary guitarist Albert Lee may have been making music for over 40 years, but, as he tells us, he confounds expectations.

WHEN it come to guitar players that other guitarists will leave a bar to watch, Albert Lee is up there with the best of them. As a member of Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings and with the band Hogan’s Heroes, he has astounded audiences all over the world.

And next weekend he’s coming to Colne to play at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival.

“I don’t think we’ve played the festival there before,” said Albert from his home in the US.

He will be appearing with Hogan’s Heroes, a band whose sound covers everything from country to blues and jazz.

“As a guitarist I tend to get mentioned alongside the likes of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck,” he said. “But although I had the same grounding as them, I went off in my own direction.

“It always surprises me that there are still a lot of people out there who don’t know what I do.

“With Hogan’s Heroes we really try to mix it up and play a bit of everything. I love good old rock and roll and I’ve also followed a more country route.

“The same thing happens when I go to play a session. I get the feeling that very often people are expecting something different from me from what they actually get.

“Although hopefully I like to think they’re pleasantly surprised.”

Although now based in America, Albert tours the UK extensively every year.

“This year we’ll be finishing up around the end of November so finally I’ll be able to make it home before Christmas,” he said.

“In the past we’ve been in Europe for three months at a time.

“It’s OK for the other guys who live in England, they can nip home. But that’s not so easy when you live across the Atlantic.”

At Colne Albert will be playing on Bank Holiday Monday, to be followed later by another guitar legend, Steve Cropper.

“I’ll definitely be hanging around to catch Steve,” he said. “I saw him with Booker T and the MGs in the ’60s and I know him socially but I’d love to see him play.”

For details of the festival contact the box office on 01282 661234