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And of course, those things fade, and then there's the wonderful moments where you feel
like you're in control, and everything's in slow motion.
FD: Joe, I can imagine the stories around the family table that, you know, hey dad, or hey
grandpa, tell me about the time you played with Ray Charles? But what about, is there a
book, perhaps, in the life and times of Joe Camilleri? You've still got a long career ahead
of you, but is there a book, perhaps?
JC: Well, thanks for that. No, I don't think I need to do this. No, I've been offered this on
a number of occasions, you know, and apparently, I have some stories, but I don't really
think I need it. Well, not at 77, I don't think I know enough. And I think I tell most of the
things that I know live, and I appreciate that,
you know, I think that's kind of, that's neat,
that's interesting, that's kind of; sometimes the
bands say, "never heard that story before," and
I've only told it live, and it's only come out of
what was happening just before it, but no, I
don't think so, I don't think, I don't have that
interest.
FD: Joe, I had the pleasure of talking with
Russell Morris a few months ago about his
retirement tour, and I hesitate to ask you the
question because I hope you never retire. But
is retirement a plan for Joe Camilleri?
JC: No, it's, no, you know, the idea of dying on
the bus still has some interest. But I don't
understand retirement. I don't, you know, I can
understand if you can't do it for whatever reason you know. We're all at, you're getting
at an age where Mother Earth is kind of looking at you. And, you know, you're meant to
break down. There's so much joy in doing it, you know this, playing is beautiful. It's
beautiful if you kind of like being there. Getting there becomes more difficult; you learn
how to deal with that, you learn how to deal with other things. I just would like not to do
it; I don't think, I'd think I'd die in the vine to be honest with you.
FD: Are you a golfer?
JC: No, I used to be in my thirties, but it's not a thing for me, you know. I've got a guitar.
I want to, at the moment, I want to learn how to play like Elmore James. I want to get his
feeling, how he plays the slide guitar. I don't want to do it like the rock guys do it; there's
something beautiful about the way he plays it. I want to get a feeling of that, you know;
that's joyous.
I play the piano and I want to play the American Songbook. I'm trying at the moment to
play "Misty". I can play Misty either playing it on the saxophone or playing a bit of a solo,
but I want to get inside it, so I do. That's fun for me, and then when I'm bored with that,
I'll pick another song or I'll play a record that kind of will make me want to get on the
piano and do something. Oh, that's interesting! What's that? I was listening to Big Joe

