Willie Nelson’s ninetieth birthday celebration on the Hollywood Bowl might have been mistaken for a retirement occasion.
However two years later at 92, he is working as a lot as ever. Not that retirement would look a lot totally different. The life he loves is making music along with his pals, even after outliving so many expensive ones.
Nelson can be on the highway once more with Bob Dylan when the Outlaw Music Pageant resumes for the second leg of its tenth yr beginning on June 20 in Clarkston, Michigan
Requested if he’d ever like his life to get the function movie therapy that Dylan did final yr with “A Complete Unknown, ” Nelson stated, “I’ve heard some talk about it. But I’m not through with it yet.”
Nelson spoke to The Related Press in a telephone interview from Hawaii’s Oahu.
“Bob’s a good friend,” Nelson stated. “And I’ll be glad to let him headline.”
The tour is one a part of a loaded yr. It’s going to lead proper as much as the fortieth anniversary of Farm Assist in September. This spring, Nelson launched his 77th studio album. And he is added a brand new THC tonic, Willie’s Treatment, to his broad world of weed merchandise.
An all-Crowell album
Nelson has all the time cherished singing the songs of his pals as a lot as if no more than those he writes himself. In 1979, he launched “Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson,” a full album of the work of his good friend Kris Kristofferson, who died final yr.
He has related love for the songs of his good friend Rodney Crowell. Nelson has lengthy carried out Crowell’s “Til I Gain Control Again,” which he known as “one of the best country songs that I think I’ve ever heard.” Now he is launched a complete album of Crowell tunes, “Oh What a Beautiful World.”
“So far he hasn’t written one that I don’t like,” Nelson stated.
The album comes on the fiftieth anniversary of “Red Headed Stranger,” the album that many contemplate Nelson’s masterpiece. A breakthrough for him at age 42, it took him from revered journeyman to beloved celebrity.
Nelson stated he is already begun work on album quantity 78, however declines to share its course.
Willie’s Household band, previous and new, nonetheless with no set listing
As Nelson returns to the highway, the one surviving member of the basic lineup of his Household band is Mickey Raphael, 73, whose harmonica has duetted for many years with the Willie warble.
Bassist Bee Spears died in 2011. Guitarist and backup singer Jody Payne died in 2013. Drummer Paul English died in 2020. And Nelson’s sister Bobbie Nelson, his solely sibling and his piano participant, died in 2022.
However the band he takes on the highway now’s simply as familial in its personal approach. It usually contains his sons Lukas and Micah. English’s brother Billy performs the drums. The son of Payne and singer Sammi Smith, Waylon Payne, performs guitar.
They collectively sustain with Nelson’s needs and whims on stage. One factor the dwell present by no means contains is a set listing. He refuses to make use of them. Band members — and sound guys, and lighting guys — have to remain on their toes and be prepared for something.
“I’d rather play it off the top of my head, because I can read the crowd pretty good,” Nelson stated. “They jump in there.”
The list-less set these days has included classics like “Whiskey River” (all the time the opener, no guessing to be executed there,) and “Bloody Mary Morning” together with newer adoptees like Tom Waits’ “Last Leaf,” a tune that completely expresses Nelson’s survivor standing.
“I’m the last leaf on the tree,” Nelson sings within the tune that leads his 2024 album of the identical title. “The autumn took the rest, but it won’t take me.”
“My son Micah found that for me,” Nelson stated. “I really love the song, and the audience likes it, it’s one of the real good ones.”
He is additionally been performing songs written by Micah, who information and performs as Particle Boy.
One favourite, “Everything Is B- – – – – -t,” appears to face in distinction to the gospel requirements like “I’ll Fly Away” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” that he usually performs a couple of minutes later. Willie disagrees.
“It’s all gospel,” he says with amusing.
Farm Assist turns 40
September will convey the fortieth anniversary addition of Farm Assist, the annual competition to help household farmers, which Nelson based with Neil Younger and John Mellencamp, He performs there yearly. It was impressed by one-off charity live shows like “Live Aid,” however turned an annual establishment, rotating every year to a unique farm-adjacent metropolis. It is in Minneapolis this yr.
Requested his favourite, he stated, “They’ve all been good, for different reasons. The first one was great, the last one was great.”
