Brother Cane had their second within the early ’90s and it was an excellent one which carried them many miles. The Birmingham, Ala. band shared the stage with Aerosmith, Van Halen, Robert Plant and loads of others who had been their rock heroes.
“Received No Disgrace,” led by the bluesy harp work from Birmingham native Topper Value, served because the infectious introduction of Brother Cane to the world, with the track receiving heavy airplay at rock radio following its launch in 1993.
Although the group went its separate methods not lengthy after the discharge of their third album, Wishpool, in 1998, guitarist and vocalist Damon Johnson continued on. He lent his guitar abilities to the likes of Alice Cooper and Skinny Lizzy, whereas additionally writing songs for Stevie Nicks, Carlos Santana and Sammy Hagar.
Turning the main focus again to his personal profession lately, Johnson has launched two sturdy albums that served as an acceptable primer for the reunion that no one — together with Johnson himself — noticed coming.
Brother Cane reunited in April for 2 exhibits in Illinois and Wisconsin, with extra dates deliberate for later this yr and 2023. The present model of the group finds Johnson joined by authentic Brother Cane bassist Glenn Maxey, keyboardist Buck Johnson and drummer Jarred Pope.
We spoke with the guitarist, who has additionally been enjoying with Lynyrd Skynyrd for the previous yr, about Brother Cane’s return and what lies forward.
One of many actually thrilling developments this yr has been the return of Brother Cane. How did this reunion come collectively?
I’ve to provide all credit score to my supervisor, Kevin Lee. I had not considered this. It hadn’t crossed my thoughts. I’ve simply been so centered on my final two solo data. Actually, the Skynyrd state of affairs required loads of my consideration and it was thrilling and enjoyable and all of that. I had lots on my desk to remain busy with.
However Kevin got here to a few the Skynyrd exhibits and never simply speaking with the band, however even being out speaking to a few of the followers within the crowd. He and I each had been getting so many individuals speaking about Brother Cane and asking about [the group] or simply sharing their tales. “Oh yeah, I noticed them in 1994 and so they opened for Aerosmith in Rochester, New York, it was among the best exhibits I ever noticed.” You understand, that sort of stuff. I do know that’s what received Kevin’s wheels spinning. He known as me out of the blue in the future and mentioned, “Hey man, I’ve received a loopy thought. What about Brother Cane?” I mentioned, “What about it?” [Laughs] I mentioned, “I don’t know.”
You understand, I really like Brother Cane a lot. I really like these songs a lot. It’s so essential to me, sort of spiritually. I assume the rationale I haven’t put any thought into performing as Brother Cane once more is as a result of it needed to be particular. I didn’t need to simply half-ass do it, simply go e book a bunch of exhibits in some bars. It’s like, no. I simply wasn’t motivated to do it until it was going to be carried out correctly. To have an important accomplice in Kevin, it’s simply modified the entire panorama for me. There’s no query that who was going to be within the band was an essential dialog to have. You understand, getting the unique guys again collectively simply isn’t sustainable. Actually not proper now. As a result of everyone seems to be unfold out all around the nation. And, you realize, everyone’s busy. They’ve received their very own lives.
That mentioned, it was an enormous thrill to have that telephone name with the unique bass participant, Glenn Maxey, and simply say, “Hey man, what do you will have in your calendar?” He’s like, “Effectively, I’ve received a number of issues. What have you ever received?” After I instructed him I wished to do some Brother Cane dates, I swear I assumed the man was going to simply break down, man. He was so thrilled. Simply that vitality of reconnecting with Glenn is a large a part of this second within the story of Brother Cane. As a result of, look, he was the man that was with me as we put it collectively within the first place.
It was mainly the 2 of you initially, proper?
It was. It was a bit of little bit of a revolving door for a few yr there. Completely different singers, totally different guitar gamers, totally different drummers. Glenn was in Chyld, that’s what we had been known as after we had been purchasing that authentic tape round after I was simply the guitar participant. After which we attracted the eye of Virgin Information, as a result of they actually appreciated the songs and so they appreciated the band. We spent six months or so looking for a special singer. Glenn was with me, by way of all of that.
He was there that night time [when] the A&R man from Virgin heard me singing some cowl songs at a bar in Birmingham and pulled me off to the facet and mentioned, “Hey man, you didn’t inform me you might sing.” [Laughs] I swear, Glenn was standing proper there after I was speaking to this man, Aaron Jacoves, the A&R man who’s my pal to this present day. I mentioned, “Aaron, I don’t need to be the singer. I need to be Joe Perry. You’ve received to assist me discover Steven Tyler.” You understand, we’d already spent a bunch of cash making demos and attempting totally different singers and flying folks in. He simply mentioned, “Hear man, we’re operating out of time. Let’s go in there tomorrow. Simply sing a few songs and let’s see what it seems like.”
Glenn didn’t hesitate to drag me apart and go, “Dude, you must do that. You must do that, man. You don’t sound like anyone else, since you haven’t been standing in entrance of the mirror pretending to be Robert Plant or Roger Daltrey or whoever. You’ve simply been centered on songwriting and being a guitar participant.” He added, “However you will have an important voice. Let’s give it a shot.” So Glenn was pivotal in that, man. It modified my life, clearly, that second. I’m actually thrilled to be enjoying with Glenn once more. It feels unimaginable.
What is the plan for the remainder of the yr and past so far as Brother Cane?
There’s no query that the Skynyrd state of affairs is a part of our weekly conferences, Kevin and I. You understand, they’re already doing exhibits in 2023, however they wouldn’t actually get fired up till the summer time of subsequent yr. So there’s this poetic magnificence about attending to sort of step backwards and forwards between Brother Cane and Lynyrd Skynyrd. As a result of Skynyrd is that this built-in promotion for Brother Cane! Johnny Van Zant introduces me each night time in entrance of 10 to twenty thousand folks and says, “That is our pal Damon Johnson, stepping in to assist us out for Gary Rossington, from Brother Cane.” You may virtually see folks look straight to their telephones, like, “I’ve received to look this man up!” After which they go, “Oh yeah!”
Hearken to Brother Cane’s ‘Received No Disgrace’
Is a brand new Brother Cane album potential?
I believe the quick reply is sure. It’s sure, as a result of you realize me, I’m all the time writing. I simply want one thing to put in writing for. It’s like, what’s the main focus? That’s what’s been so fulfilling over the past 5 years is that I shifted gears and went, “I’m going to make solo data.” I really feel like I’ve carried out a fairly good job. So should you mentioned, “Alright, nicely possibly it’s time for a Brother Cane document.” It will actually deliver consideration to the band, it could give us some new songs to play.
I believe you realize higher than anyone that just about any of these songs off of Memoirs of an Rebellion or Battle Classes, might have been Brother Cane songs. So at any time when I choose up an electrical guitar and stand behind a microphone, it sort of seems like Brother Cane. To me, simply the considered making a document, I’ve nothing however optimistic emotions about that. There’s no trepidation or eye-rolling or exasperation. It will simply be a blast. I’ve received no thought what it could sound like, however I do know we wouldn’t put it out until we felt it was nice.
I received an important telephone name from my buddy Brian Wheat from Tesla the very morning we put out that announcement about Brother Cane. He could have known as throughout the hour. He goes, “Hey man, pay attention, we’ve received to speak. We’ve received to place one thing collectively. You didn’t inform me you had been going to place Brother Cane again collectively. Fuck, I really like that band. That band had hits, Damon!” He added, “Do you perceive how branding works?” I’m like, “Sure, sure, I perceive the way it works.” [Laughs]
As we wrap up, what else is on deck for you? I’ve to ask that, as a result of I did not have a Brother Cane reunion on my bingo card.
It wasn’t on my bingo card both. I’m going to make use of that. That’s superior. I’ve a deep need to make one other acoustic document. I spend hours per week, simply me and an acoustic guitar, both writing or simply enjoying songs that I like by different writers. You understand, for a music fan to simply placed on that document in the best temper, the best way of thinking, I really like people songs and I really like singer-songwriters. I’m proud to think about myself a type of as nicely.
So yeah, I actually, actually need to make one. I’ve received a few half dozen songs that I’ve written and I’m all the time choosing random and typically obscure songs by different artists the place I am going, “I ought to do a canopy of that and make it my very own.” That wouldn’t require a bunch of bells and whistles to drag that off. I’ve received an important microphone proper right here at my home and a few items of recording gear. I can knock it out right here and take it to any individual like Nick and have him combine it and be carried out and get it out. I actually need to put that out.
However you realize, my iPhone is simply filled with monster riffs, buddy. I’m all the time placing the riffs down. I simply went to my amp man and received two of my favourite amps tuned up and prepared. I’m jonesing to get again within the studio with all of my gear and with the band and produce out some songs. You understand, see what we will give you. I’ll positively be with Skynyrd all yr in 2022 in some capability. Then, we’re going to e book Brother Cane dates round that. Hopefully in early 2023, it could be nice to announce a bundle that Brother Cane is on with one other band or two that may be an excellent match with [us]. However yeah, man, the songwriting has begun in earnest. I’m enthusiastic about that.
Watch the Video for Damon Johnson’s ‘Battle Classes’
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