"I think it’s culturally important to preserve the blues - after all it’s the foundation on which most other music is built, whether it be rock, hip hop, jazz, etc. As a lover of the blues, I would of course love to see it undergo a revival and become more listened to by younger generations."

Dave Hole: Down Under The Blues

Dave Hole is Australia's premier internationally successful bluesman and a highly acclaimed slide guitar virtuoso. He first burst onto the international scene in 1991 with “Short Fuse Blues”, the first of his seven albums released on the prestigious Alligator Records label. He is widely regarded as one of the all time slide guitar greats whose playing is infused with the spirit of such legends as Elmore James, Duane Allman and Johnny Winter. Dave Hole was born in England in 1948. At the age of four he moved with his family to Western Australia, settling in the hills outside of Perth, the place he still calls home. Being fairly isolated, his childhood was somewhat lonely and the young Hole sought solace in music via the family radio. He listened intently to the likes of Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers and Cliff Richards and the Shadows, being increasingly drawn to anything that featured a twangy guitar. By the age of eleven he had convinced his parents to buy him his first cheap instrument.  He was immediately smitten - and so began a lifelong passion for music and guitar in particular.

(Dave Hole / Photo © by Gio Angel)

At the age of sixteen a friend’s Muddy Waters record introduced him to the power of the blues and it wasn’t long before the pair resolved to form a band and set about getting their hands on as many blues records as they could find. What ensued was a voyage of discovery through Robert Johnson and Blind Willie Johnson to Elmore James, Otis Rush and BB King. On leaving school Hole completed a degree in physics at the University Of Western Australia before being increasingly drawn into a life of music and by 1974 he was playing steadily around Perth and the country towns of Western Australia. In 1976 he broke the little finger of his left hand playing Australian Rules football. The mishap lead him to adopt his unusual slide guitar technique, whereby he places the slide on his left hand index finger and plays from over the top of the neck. The rest music paths of Dave Hole is a bright story of the blues world!

Interview by Michael Limnios        Archive: Dave Hole, 2011 Interview @ blues.gr

How has the Blues and Rock music influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

The blues has been at the center of my world since I first fell in love with it at the age of 16. I has been the guiding passion for me in making choices throughout my life and very much defines who I am. My experience of the world has been looking at it from the perspective of a bluesman and I’ve always had music as a way of expressing my emotions - both happy and sad.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? What's the balance in music between technique (skills) and soul/emotions?

My sound has changes a bit from time to time but has always been on the more rocky side of the blues. I’m always trying to make the guitar sound like it’s singing to me.

My view of music is that it should be felt, not just heard and I’m always trying to communicate my feelings to the listener and hope they will be moved in some way by my songs. You need a certain amount of technique of course but I don’t believe you need to be a virtuoso to get through to people. The blues is full of examples of some very basic performers and simple songs that are still incredibly moving.

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

Be real, be fearless, be true to yourself and serve the music.

"People who love blues don’t ever fall out of love with it. It’s with them for life and not at all a fickle thing like pop music can be, where fads come and go. Australia is no different than other countries in that respect and the blues fans here Down Under are a very devoted and passionate lot." (Dave Hole, Australia's premier internationally successful bluesman / Photo © by Gio Angel)

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

The first time I heard the really deep blues was a Muddy Waters album. I heard it when I was 16 and it changed the way I wanted to play music and changed my life. Another life-changing event for me was when I sent a copy of my first album to Guitar Player magazine, and they gave it a glowing review and did a story on me. The editor, Jas Obrecht, also put me in touch with Bruce Iglauer at Alligator Records and that kick-started my international career. From a playing point of view there have been numerous highlights but playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London was certainly special.

Why do you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following in Australia?

People who love blues don’t ever fall out of love with it. It’s with them for life and not at all a fickle thing like pop music can be, where fads come and go. Australia is no different than other countries in that respect and the blues fans here Down Under are a very devoted and passionate lot.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past?

I do miss hearing new music of the calibre of Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Freddie King and John Lee Hooker. Of course, there are some incredibly talented new younger blues performers around, but those older guys are still my favourites.

What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I hope the blues survives in a form we recognise. I’m sure it will, but it is often mixed with so many other influences today that it’s hard to recognise.

Why is it important to we preserve and spread the blues? 

I think it’s culturally important to preserve the blues - after all it’s the foundation on which most other music is built, whether it be rock, hip hop, jazz, etc. As a lover of the blues, I would of course love to see it undergo a revival and become more listened to by younger generations.

"Be real, be fearless, be true to yourself and serve the music."

(Dave Hole / Photo © by Gio Angel)

What is the role of music in today’s society?

The role of music is changing somewhat. Now that it is free and available anywhere, anytime to anyone with a phone it’s becoming less valued and regarded as just something you have going on in the background.

Life is more than just music, is there any other field that has influence on your life and music?

Yes, life is more than just music. I’m happily married and have a happy home life with a dog that comes running with me most days in the bush where I live. I also have a degree in Physics and I continue to take an interest in all things scientific.

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