Page 23 - BiTS_12_DECEMBER_2025

CLICK TO PLAY - ‘ONE MISSISSIPPI’

FD: Eric, if you had a time machine to go back and collaborate, or go in the future for
that matter, but if you had a time machine to go back and collaborate with anyone, who
would be on your wish list, living or dead? Well, obviously, if you went back, you'd be
dead, I guess.

EB: My goodness, what an amazing question. Off the top of my head, yeah, the first
person that comes to my mind quickly is Robert Johnson.

EB: There are so many musicians that have been, you know, amazingly inspirational
for me of all kinds of genres. But I guess, because I'm a guitar player and because I love
blues and Robert Johnson, you know, is like a masterful guitar player and blues singer.
And writer, I would have loved to have seen, or would love to see, having had a time
machine experience, up close what he was actually doing. Just, you know, seeing it, and
not only hearing it, but seeing it, yeah. Being privy to that sort of spirituality and mystical

being that he's turned into. Yeah, however you look at it and whatever you take to heart
from his mythology, the music speaks for itself.

There is something above about this music. There's something about the precision and
the... this distillation of a whole genre that is so awesome. It's almost supernatural. So,
you know, enough said, yeah.

FD: Exactly. Now, the new album, “One Mississippi”, and the tour returning to Australia
in April 2026. Last time you were here, you did a lengthy solo tour. This time you bring
in the full band. Who's in the band with you this tour for 2026?

EB: One of the band members has toured Australia with me previously on a number of
occasions. Wonderful guitarist, Staffan Astner, who I've worked with for years. On
drums, we'll have also somebody I've worked with for years, Paul Robinson, who I
toured Australia with before. Paul, incidentally, is a drummer who worked for 20 years
straight with Nina Simone, a wonderful, wonderful drummer. And on bass, I have the
pleasure... of touring with my musical producer, who I've recorded with for decades,
the incredible Glenn Scott will be playing, you know, bass and keyboards and singing
and whatever. So, yeah, my wife, Ulrika, who is just one of the best singers I know, who
has also toured Australia with me, will be with us as well. So, yeah, it's going to be a

wonderful... reunion.

FD: Absolutely. We look forward to that. And obviously with a new album coming out
and the lineup of songs and the many songs that you have. But before we play a few
tracks from "One Mississippi”, how do you feel when your new album is finished and
out in the world?

EB: Well, another great question. You have a great little bag of questions there.

FD: Thank you.

EB: Yeah. Frankly, no pun intended, I'm working on the next album already, deep into
it. And that's the way it works for me. There are not really that many, long hiatus