Flyer Profile: Luther Dickinson

August 12, 2008 9:06 am · By Todd Gill · 6 Comments

Luther Dickinson is no stranger to Fayetteville. It’s always a packed house when his North Mississippi Allstars are playing a show…usually at George’s. This week, however, Luther will be performing in Fayetteville with a different band.

He has recently become the lead guitarist for The Black Crowes and in anticipation of this Thursday’s concert at the AMP, the son of legendary producer Jim Dickinson answered a few questions for us here at the Flyer. Enjoy.

Fayetteville Flyer: What are you listening to lately?
Luther Dickinson: Cody (Dickinson)’s new band, Hill Country Revue. He and Chris Chew started a new band with Garry Burnside, Dan Coburn and Kirk Smithart. Great modern Mississippi Rock and Roll. They are touring with Mofro all fall! Also, The Buffalo Killers and The Mighty Boosh!

FF: Hearing your music and knowing that you’re the son of Jim Dickinson, we’re pretty sure you were raised on plenty of roots music. Did you ever veer from the course, though? Because we heard a rumor that you like Black Flag. Any truth to that?
LD: I grew up with my Dad’s amazing record collection. It is all types of american music. But I discovered Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Van Halen, and The Stones at a very young age. Cody and I had our first band when I was in third grade and he was in Kindergarden. I first remember reel to reel tape machine and records, then cassettes. I got turned onto Black Flag when I was 12. It was the Six Pack 7inch and it sounded like music from my planet. I followed them all the way until they broke up. Then I really got into old, primitive blues!

FF: Some people say no matter how good you are at playing guitar, you never stop learning. However, watching you play makes me think this might be a bunch of bullcrap because you seem to know every millimeter of the fretboard like it was programmed into your head by aliens. So tell me, are you still learning about the guitar?
LD: Oh Yeah!! What I try to work on is rhythmic phrasing..RHYTHM. I like to keep music simple and direct. So even when I fall into goin crazy on the guitar, I try to keep it based on a simple riff, chord progression or melodic idea. I’ve been trying to play less stuff that is more hip!

FF: The guys from Lucero have nothing but good things to say about you. From what we understand, you and your brother sort of took that band under your wings and played a big part in helping them get started touring. What did you see in Lucero that compelled you to lend ‘em a hand?
The way I see it, you cant help but love Lucero. Great songs and a great bunch of guys playing them. There were a handful of bands that gave us a break and took us on the road in our early days. We try to do the same and I’m sure there are alot of cool bands Lucero helps now! Getting out there was the key for us breakin into the music scene. You have to book yourself until you’re proven that you have value. Then you get a booking agent…

FF: You recently joined the Black Crowes on lead guitar and even played on the most recent album Warpaint. Holy crap, dude. Holy crap!

FF: OK, that last one wasn’t really a question. Sorry. Here you go: The Robinson brothers are known for not necessarily getting along all that well sometimes. During your time with the Black Crowes have you ever had to tell them to chill the hell out?
LD: …We all became friends playing shows together. NMA opened up for the BCs. Then, Chris used to come sit in with NMA. Rich and I started a side project together, Circle Sound, and played 2 shows. They asked me to record with them and we had a blast. Music is an adventure, the adventure of my life. Its’s amazing where it will take you.. I’ve been fortunate to live my lifelong dream of playing the guitar.

FF: On a scale of 1 to 10, how nervous were you when you realized your amp was going to sit right next to the drums during the live Warpaint recording sessions? I mean, you can’t really screw up in a situation like that without everyone immediately realizing it can you?
LD: Cool question! The setup let me know what kind of record and vibe they were going for. In the studio you have to allow yourself to relax enough to be able to commit to the moment and concentrate on listening to what’s goin on and playing your part. Our father taught us this, like any father with a trade and a family business. It is a valuble skill in the music world! If that mindset you get in could be a religion; our father’s studio would be a church.

FF: We heard that your brother Cody is going to star in the Memphis-based, Craig Brewer/MTV web series “$5 Cover.” How did he beat you out of that one? I mean, come on, he’s the drummer!
LD: I heard they were looking for a good psychedlic sex machine washboard player!

FF: When you’re not busy rocking, how do you pass the time? In other words, did you watch the new Batman movie like the rest of the world or not?
LD: I love cinema, well in my world dvds! This year I’ve revisited Deadwood, Rome, Robert Rodriguez’s Mariachi Trilogy and Twin Peaks. Obviously, I spend too much time traveling.. My new LOVE is The Mighty Boosh from England! Amazing comedy, acting, music and animation all in one package. It’s 2 guys who started out as stand up, went to radio, then did 3 seasons of an amazing tv show for BBC2. They went back to doing stand up [big time] and now they perform as a rock and roll band.

FF: Finally, we’ve heard that you like Fayetteville as much as it seems to like you. Is there any truth to that or did somebody just say that to make us happy?
LD: Its true! Fayetteville and Knoxville were our world tour back in 93-95! We had alot of good times there, getting out and doing shows out of town.