From Illuminating to Soul-Destroying, Returning to Intoxicating.
It must be Rock and Roll!
Featuring: Jon Amor
It must be Rock and Roll!
Featuring: Jon Amor
By: Tilly Rivers, IRM Magazine Entertainment & Lifestyle Editor
July 1, 2008
Jon Amor, former member of the UK band “The Hoax” stepped out on his own, surprising everyone with how quickly he was a success. Including himself. In a recent interview Jon said that the only person he’s proved wrong consistently in his career was himself. That self doubt was his biggest career battle.
“Just before my first ever solo show in 2005 - a truly scary experience when you're used to having loud amps and drums behind you – I was pretty nervous-and the most recent nervous experience was last November (2007) just before my first solo show in Canada. I was opening for David Gogo in a beautiful theatre just outside Edmonton, Alberta, it was a sold-out show, and as I stood in the wings preparing to go on, my heart was pounding and my good old self-doubt was nagging away... "Can I really do this?" But the audience was fantastically welcoming and gave me a standing ovation at the end - it's a gig I will never forget.”
Fans of this Devizes UK resident however would never know that from time to time Jon battles within himself. At the age of 15 he picked up his brothers acoustic guitar. At first it was a love / hate relationship until he found his passion. “My first big influence as a guitarist was Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits. I bought the Brothers In Arms album first, then worked my way back through their catalogue and found myself far more drawn to the early stuff, which was much more rootsy and bluesy. From there I got into people like JJ Cale, Eric Clapton, and through them I got into the old blues greats like Buddy Guy and BB King. My guitar style is a mix of all those guys, with a healthy helping of Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan.”
When asked if he has any special ladies in his life, he teases ‘My mum of course,” but with those startling blue eyes of his, and soft raspy voice the women are swarming. I asked him if the saying “sex, drugs and rock and roll” was true? He commented “I spent all my twenties touring around the UK, Europe and the USA with The Hoax, but to be perfectly honest we were a pretty clean living band! We barely drank, were far too focused, busy or tired to spend that much time chasing girls, and drugs have never been a part of my life. However, when that band broke up I resolved to have a bit more fun on the road, and I have to say, as a result of that decision, my thirties have been the best years of my life! So, drugs? - Not for me. Sex and rock and roll? Most definitely! Bring them on in equal measures!”
I asked Jon if the business aspect of his career has influenced him at all and he states “There's a lot of bullshit you have to wade through, but eventually you wise up to it and realize that when someone in the industry comes to a gig and says "Hey, you guys ROCK! I LOVE your music!" it doesn't mean he's going to sign you for a million pounds, and when someone at your label says "We are right behind you guys with this album!" they're probably lying. Once you figure that out, and just keep trying to enjoy your music regardless, it gets a lot easier.”
Jon writes his own music, and is currently working on his 4th release. His music has a raspy blues feel to it, and he has toured all over the UK, and most recently made his way ‘over the pond’ to perform in Canada.
For the thousands of people attending the Ottawa Bluesfest and Thunder Bay Blues Festival this July, you will have an opportunity to see Jon perform. If you can’t wait, you can go to his My Space page and listen to four of his tracks, including “The Devil’s Backyard.” (www.myspace.com/jonamormusic)
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For more information about Jon Amor, or to purchase his CD’s, visit http://www.jonamor.com/ - or www.myspace.com/jonamormusic
