“It is one of the great American art forms and I think the honesty in the music will always connect with people all around the world. The majority of American music is based in blues, whether it be jazz,R&B, soul, rock, etc… I think there will always be an appetite for the blues.”

Delta Generators:

On The (Blues, Rock, Roots) Road Again

DELTA GENERATORS draw on the traditions of Blues, Roots, R&B, Americana and Rock to create a sound uniquely their own! Front Man and Vocalist BRIAN TEMPLETON; Guitarist CHARLIE O'NEAL; Bassist RICK O'NEAL; and Drummer JEFF ARMSTRONG. Real music by real people, played live and recorded live. This best embodies the philosophy of established Boston band Delta Generators and their approach for their latest record ON & ON (Release Day: May 26th), self-produced by vocalist Brian Templeton. In an industry where technology has become the standard and intelligence has become artificial, Delta Generators are keeping it real and will continue to do so going forward. All the songs on this record were written, arranged and rehearsed over a period of eight days and then recorded in two days at Power Station N.E. in Waterford, CT by Evan Bakke, best known for his work with Warren Haynes and Prince. The idea was to get together, play and when something feels right, work it! No preconceived ideas as to what it should be. A journey of liberation, inspiration and perspiration. Yeah, Blues is the vehicle, but their lifelong love of rock music is the fuel that powers it. 

(Photo: Delta Generators are Brian Templeton,  Charlie O'Neal, Rick O'Neal, Jeff Armstrong)

Brothers Charlie and Rick O’Neal, on guitar and bass respectively, have been playing together since their teenage years. Charlie had been playing in rock bands throughout his early years, but he was always a huge fan of Blues guitar. When the ensemble was first conceived, a lover of R&B and Soul named Craig Rawding took the mic as the original front man. Charlie O’Neal brought on his brother Rick as the bassist. And in 2007, the Delta Generators were born. The initial drummer had to bail after a few months, so up-and-coming percussionist Jeff Armstrong was brought into the fold. By 2008, it was no longer a side project, and they captured the win at the Boston Blues Challenge. They went on to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge where they almost took the top spot. From there the band went on to forge a solid place in the Boston Blues scene.

Interview by Michael Limnios                Special Thanks: Steve Karas (SKH Music)

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?

Charlie: I think music is a way for us to all connect around the world. It can bring us together to feel joy, sadness, empathy. It really is a universal language. Getting my first electric guitar for Christmas when I was 11 years old.

Rick: A friend once told me, "Music is what there is when there are no more words." I think that is true, whether people understand the lyrics or the genius of the melody and chord changes. Music affects people in ways we still cannot completely measure or understand. It can bring people together who might otherwise have been enemies or simply had nothing else in common. When I had a stroke 11 years ago, my doctors told me that playing music saved my brain. It turns out that musicians' brains exhibit increased neuroplasticity (the rewiring of the brain), which the brain must do after it has been damaged. That is when I realized the ultimate power of music.

How did the idea of band’s Delta Generators come about? How do you describe band’s sound and songbook?

Charlie: The idea for the band came from our original drummer(John Perkins), original vocalist (Craig Rawding) and myself talking together about forming a blues/roots band in late 2007. We needed a bass player, so weasked my brother Rick. John ended up moving to the west coast in early 2008, so we asked Jeff Armstrong to take over on drums. We recorded our first album(Devil in the Rhythm) that spring in two days in Craig’s basement. After recording 4 albums with Craig, he decided he wanted to leave the band in 2016. We asked Brian to join the band that year and the rest is history. I would describe our sound as blues, rock, roots music.

“I miss the community. You can still find community in different pockets, but it seems to be disjointed now. My hope is that someone finds a solution enabling artists to create and earn a living. My fear is that music will continue to be devalued and watered down without safeguards or people making the moral argument for art.” (Photo: Delta Generators)

What is the story behind the band’s name, Delta Generators? Do you have any interesting stories about the making of the new album, On & On?

Rick: We were originally called "The Generators," but when we were putting our first release out, we realized there was an established punk band already using that name. To avoid "cease and desist" orders and to let people know we were a blues-based band, we put "Delta" in front.

The first interesting thing is that we agreed to record live to tape. The second is that we agreed whatever came out of these recordings was going to be published—mistakes and all. No polishing, no overdubs, and no punches to fix parts. It was also interesting that between July and August of 2025, we had eight rehearsals and then recorded this 12-song album in two days at Power Station New England with engineer Evan Bakke. We put these songs together from scratch; there were no demos or written-out songs during those rehearsals. It was both scary and gratifying. This is just four guys playing music together.

What keeps a musician passionate over the years? How does your hometown that affect your music?

Charlie: Trying to continuously better yourself as a musician. The more you learn, you realize the less you know, and that makes you want to learn more and dive deeper. You need to feed your musicality, it helps to keep your soul strong.

I grew up in a town called Plymouth, Massachusetts. It is known as America’s “home town”, and there were many talented musicians there when I started playing in my early teens, especially guitar players. I met some of them at school, and others I just knew from word-of-mouth orthe local scene. Many of them are professional musicians to this day. We all learned from one another and pushed each other to be better. I think we all inspired each other.

Rick: Great question. I'm not sure I know. I have to play music; it has been that way since I was a kid. I’ve been playing since I was seven years old (maybe even younger). It is what I do; it is what I think about. One thing is for sure: playing music with these guys (Brian, Jeff, and Charlie) keeps me inspired.

Growing up on the ocean may have made a difference in my perspective. Plymouth had a small-town feel when I was growing up, with very little urban influence. My whole musical world was based on a section in a sporting goods store that sold vinyl and cassettes. I did not have MTV in my house, so the radio, that store, and my friends were where I found music. There was nowhere to see live music locally, so we made treks to Boston or Cambridge to see bands.

“I think the blues is a living thing. We know its roots, and they should be honored, but that should not limit how we reinterpret the blues today. It's honest, heartfelt storytelling and, sometimes, awe-inspiring music. Musicians tell the story, reflect the times, and give people an escape. Art is on the forefront of the next generation, social movements, and technology.” (Photo: Delta Generators)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Charlie: I miss the imperfections. I think music has become too perfect. Everything is auto tuned, quantized, etc… I think this can suck the human feel out the music and the listener doesn’t connect in the same way as they did in the past. My hopes are that artist continue to innovate and push the boundaries for what is possible in music. My fear is that we continue down this AI path, where the majority of music is created by computers.

Rick: I miss the community. You can still find community in different pockets, but it seems to be disjointed now. My hope is that someone finds a solution enabling artists to create and earn a living. My fear is that music will continue to be devalued and watered down without safeguards or people making the moral argument for art.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

Charlie: I have learned to stay inspired by many different styles of music. I play many different styles and it has helped to keep me working as a full time musician since my late teens.

Rick: Stay true to yourself. Do not fall victim to fads or create in a realm where you don’t feel passion. If you write songs just to please somebody else but you don't like them, you may end up playing those songs for the rest of your life just to make a living. Have principles, regardless of the paycheck. Root for others. Give free advice. Do not forget who and what is important to you.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? What is the role of music/musicians in today’s society?

Charlie: It is one of the great American art forms and I think the honesty in the music will always connect with people all around the world. The majority of American music is based in blues, whether it be jazz,R&B, soul, rock, etc… I think there will always be an appetite for the blues. I think our role is to try to bring people together and maybe help them process emotions. I believe music can connect every walk of life, no matter what part of the world you come from, or what your social orpolitical background is, in a communal and spiritual way.

Rick: I think the blues is a living thing. We know its roots, and they should be honored, but that should not limit how we reinterpret the blues today. It's honest, heartfelt storytelling and, sometimes, awe-inspiring music. Musicians tell the story, reflect the times, and give people an escape. Art is on the forefront of the next generation, social movements, and technology.

“We were originally called "The Generators," but when we were putting our first release out, we realized there was an established punk band already using that name. To avoid "cease and desist" orders and to let people know we were a blues-based band, we put "Delta" in front.”

(Photo: DELTA GENERATORS draw on the traditions of Blues, Roots, R&B, Americana and Rock to create a sound uniquely their own! Front Man and Vocalist Brian Templeton; Guitarist Charlie O’Neal; Bassist Rick O’Neal; and Drummer Jeff Armstrong)

How can a band/musician truly turn the blues into a commercial and popular genre of music for the today's audience?

Charlie: I am not sure. I think a band or musician should play the music that moves them and hopefully it will move others.

Rick: It is a tricky thing to commercialize a tradition born from struggle. The blues is a way to tell a story in a framework that is familiar to most. It should not be too musically complicated, but the lyrics should be honest and true—whether they are about a party or a personal struggle.

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