A Dirty Dozen with JAMIE JAMES – March 2025

According to a recent press release: “Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Jamie James has had a rich and varied musical career, best known for his work with DQ and The Sharks (featuring actor Dennis Quaid), his long-time collaborations with the late Harry Dean Stanton, his role as a touring member of Steppenwolf in the late ’70s, and as the lead singer and founding member of the LA-based rockabilly trio Kingbees—the band behind the hit “My Mistake.” On his upcoming 10-track solo LP, Straight Up, James reunites with his DQ and The Sharks bandmates—Tom Walsh (drums), Ken Stange (organ), and Tom Mancillas (bass)—with Jamie on guitar and harmonica. The album’s first single, “Let The Praying Begin,” will be released on February 14 via Oglio Records.” We get Jamie himself to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through? Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

The latest album is called Jamie James – Straight Up. They might not realize that except for a few minor overdubs, all ten songs were recorded  live in a magical session in one afternoon! The whole thing is a hidden nugget as far as I’m concerned.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I guess music has just always been in my blood and my surroundings. My mother had an old radio on top of the refrigerator growing up and it was on day and night. I loved it, every kind of song on there. I realized I wanted to be a musician the first time I heard a band practicing in their basement down the street when I was about eleven years old, 1964.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Sure, every single music note I’ve ever heard including the birds in the trees! Marching bands, Bagpipes, Live bands all of it.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Bob Seger. I love the way he writes, sings, plays, everything.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour? What do you like to do to unwind?

Watch television baseball games and do crossword puzzles.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

I would say it like this, since I’m a Septuagenarian: Jamie James is the perpetrator of 70’s Blues-Pop, and I ain’t talking 1970’s, I’m talking in my 70’s!

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

The only time we hangout is on stage, in the studio or traveling. The love we all share is music. The guys on the recording and I have been playing together for over twenty-five years.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Meeting Mose Allison about twenty years ago.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part of being a musician for me is that I never stop learning. If I couldn’t be a musician? Not an option.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering? I never tire of talking about music, there are no silly questions.

I’ve always wanted to be asked where I think music comes from? There are billions of answers.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

No.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

The Beatles recording “Day Tripper” to suss how Lennon came up with the best guitar riff of all time!!

Category: Interviews