Interview: Steve Cropper

4:51pm Tuesday 26th August 2008

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ASK fans attending this year’s Great British R&B Festival which artist they are most looking forward to seeing and the majority will give you one name — Steve Cropper.

As one of the key figures behind Stax Records, guitarist with Booker T and the MGs and also the Blues Brothers he is simply one of the most revered figures in music.

But he’s also charming and surprisingly modest.

“Honestly I’m not that good a player,” he said. “I don’t spend hours sitting at home practising, for me the fun is to create and make music.

“I’ll get fans come up and say they love a lick I played on a record from 35 years ago. I’d have to relearn it to be able to play it exactly as I play by instinct.”

Steve has worked with virtually every major name in the industry from Otis Redding to Wilson Pickett and Eddie Floyd but his visit to Colne will mark something of a first.

“This visit to the UK will see me performing under my own name for the first time in 50 years,” he said.

“I always aim to have fun when I’m performing and from what I’m told we’re really going to have some fun in Colne.

“I’ve got to say they really wanted me to play here. I don’t know how many times I said ‘no’ but these guys really wanted me and in the end I said ‘yes’ and I’m really glad that I did.”

Steve has toured extensively with the Blues Brothers, a spin off from the hit movie starring John Belushi.

“I’m amazed how well the music from that film holds up,” he said.

“When I watch the film I remember all the things that were going on behind the scenes — with John around it was always party time.

"I think most of us wanted to end a day’s filing to see what we would be getting up to next.”

As he prepares to take to the stage backed by The Animals, Steve’s ready to put on a show.

“Oh, it will be quite a night,” he said.