Few guitarists today channel the raw spirit of the blues quite like Eric Gales. A true fighter, Gales has lived the highs and lows that give the blues its depth, emerging each time with more to say—and more to play. Fresh off the stage at Blues on Broadbeach in sunny Queensland, Australia and heading into a heartfelt tribute to B.B. King back home, Gales took time to reflect on the legends who shaped him, the power of music to move and unite, and his own ever-evolving relationship with the guitar.
Candid, passionate, and humble, Gales opens up about Grammy recognition, finding inspiration in basketball, how personal loss inspired his upcoming album, and his long-standing dream of collaborating with friend John Mayer – an artistic meeting that feels more like a matter of “when” than “if.”
You’re back in Australia for Blues on Broadbeach. What’s your favorite thing about touring the world?
Everything about it. We go to all the different places and get to experience new people and take their energy and vibes. I have a vision to bring the whole world together stage by stage and song by song. That in itself is enough to keep striving and keep pushing.
Post festival you’ll be returning home to play BB King’s birthday celebration. What kind of impact has BB’s playing had on you as a musician?
Oh my god, he’s been a huge factor, and I don’t know nobody who BB King hasn’t been an influence on in some way, form or fashion. And if he hasn’t been then you’ve been under a rock. His tenacity, his touring methods – he toured all the way up until he died, he played almost 365 days a year, that is something I think is just WOW. The most I’ve done is maybe 200 shows in a year.
BB is a guy that showed to me he had a genuine taste for the blues, a genuine taste for playing music, he didn’t take his guitar or being able to be one with the guitar for granted, and his voice was just so synonymous with touching people’s hearts and souls. It’s just fascinating.
Yeah, he was truly the G.O.A.T., and I think even if people don’t realize it they’ve been influenced by him because he influenced so much modern music.
Absolutely. In one way or another he absolutely did.
Speaking of BB, he really bonded with his guitar Lucille. Do you find that you specifically look for a bond with your guitars or do you use them as a tool?
I use it as a tool initially, but not long after I create a bond with it. It’s the vessel that channels what’s coming from my heart and my soul, out through my fingers and out through my instrument. It’s definitely one with the other.
Amazing. So, Eric, your life has been a wild journey. What has kept you inspired and motivated to keep pushing for yourself and your career?
Man, just knowing that somewhere out there it might be someone’s first time hearing something I play — and it could be at a pivotal moment in their life when they’re wondering whether they should keep going or do something else — and hopefully I can be a catalyst to help them make that decision to keep pushing, keep going forward. You have to keep moving forward to see what the end result is.
Beautiful. You’ve flown under the radar for many years, and when you released your record I Want My Crown in 2022 you really did get your flowers with a Grammy nomination. What was that like for you?
After all these albums I’ve put out to get recognition of that magnitude, that record was a highlight of my life and all that did was make me hungry for continuing to reach status. The reason I make music is not just for a Grammy nod or whatever, but that is a great accolade to have under my belt, to be recognized by peers for your work. It just makes me hungrier to keep going, knowing that somebody out there is listening to the hard work we’re putting into what we’re doing. And the efforts are not lost – just means that much more to me.
I still think your Grammy is coming.
I do, too! Thank you.
As a guitarist is there anything you want to improve on at this point in your career?
Oh wow, that’s a good question. Just to continue to keep learning. Believe it or not, I am in a continual learning state. I’m always trying to find little ways to perfect — if that’s ever possible — to perfect or keep the craft sustained. To not go backwards — if anything, to continue to try to progress forward and do things that are enough to make someone say, “Wow, I’ve never thought of it that way before” or “I’ve never heard it put that way,” things like that. The most important thing I could say is to not go backwards! Never stop learning! The moment you stop learning, I think that’s the beginning of your demise.
100%. So, I read that you find inspiration everywhere, even basketball. What’s been bringing you inspiration lately?
I do. Basketball. To watch Stephen Curry do the things he does moves me to tears, and it reminds me of music in a lot of different ways. I know I get a similar feeling from a song or riff that I may have heard Eric Johnson play that just has me in tears. And just watching Stephen Curry move with the ball like it’s just mesmerizing. It’s poetic. It’s inspiring. Allen Iverson and all of these cats that do their thing – it’s jaw-dropping to see. And you’ve actually really done your research!
I’m a blues girl; I’m across it. So you’ve obviously collaborated with a lot of incredible artists in your time. Is there a specific collaboration that’s really meant something to you?
Every last one of them! All of them have been profound to me. All of them have meant the world to me. I mean there are collaborations that I’ve yet had the chance to do, John Mayer is the one that’s definitely on my radar, I have made that publicly known and I’m going to continue to make that known; I would love to do some work with John Mayer, and I think it’s coming right around the corner. It’s coming. We know each other very well, we’ve just never played together before.
I believe John Mayer has a few more years before he comes back around to blues, but when he does you guys will be playing together for sure!
Oh yeah, I’ll be here!
That is a collaboration we need to hear! As for now, what’s next for you? Are you working on any new music?
Yes, I’ve just about finished up a new album that’s a tribute to my late brother Little Jimmy King, and I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it because I can’t wait for the world to find out about this record that we’ve been working on. I think that I have done a great job at paying homage to my late brother, and I believe that he will be looking down from the skies with a smile on his face at what his little brother did for him and in memory of him. So I can’t wait. I can’t wait.
I look forward to hearing that. Finally, I know that you’ve mentioned in the past that you’re always happy to give enough to other guitarists because you’ve received so much. Is there a specific piece of advice that you would give to upcoming guitar players?
Very simple: NEVER QUIT. Keep going.
