INTERVIEW: Eric Gales

When compiling a list of the best blues rock guitarists around, it’s not a coincidence one name pops up repeatedly. Eric Gales’ name often appears on these lists, the musician who’d garnered comparisons to other guitar royalty, showing prodigy level talent before most teens can drive, dropping his first album on a major label at the tender age of 16. Known for his unique style of playing a right-handed guitar the opposite way, anyone who’s seen him live would agree his skill is magnetic. At 17 years old, he was flown in a helicopter to Woodstock to play with Carlos Santana. Spending some time with him at the Winter NAMM Show this year, beyond the cosigns in publications from Dave Navarro and Joe Bonamassa, I witnessed many other prominent guitarists featured in other booths take time out of their busy schedules to see him play or stop him while walking on the exhibit floor to express their genuine admiration. He took it all in humble stride, not letting the attention faze him, which impressed me even more.

I chatted with Eric at NAMM before he jetted to a studio session with Raphael Saadiq about his early music memories, Hendrix comparisons, throwing a hypothetical teen dream music fest with Robert Randolph and Derek Trucks, sharing stages with Bootsy Collins and Lauryn Hill and seeing Prince live (RIP). Peep the interview soundclip below and visit Eric’s site for more tour and discography info !