St. Petersburg Times Article
The Pressing Questions
By Gina Vivinetto
While on tour promoting "Dan Fogelberg Live: Something Old, Something
New, Something Borrowed and Some Blues," "sensitive"
singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, knows for weepers like "Longer" and
"Leader of the Band," phones in to answer 10 Pressing Questions. And
guess what? Mr. Sensitive, Dan Fogelberg, hasn't always been such a nice boy.
l. So, you're a blues fan?
I love the blues, Muddy Waters, B. B. King. I've probably seen B. B. King more
than I've seen any other performer. I've seen him 16 or 20 times. I like
Robert Johnson, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan. I've been a blues fan since
I've been a music fan. But, I wouldn't want to be a blues artist. As a
singer/songwriter the genre is just too simplistic, it's too confining.
2. Why don't you do videos?
I did some in the 1980's, but I don't anymore. I'm not enough of a showoff.
I'm a musician, not a dancer. It's all so Vegas-y now with artists like
Madonna. You have be really be willing to make a spectacle of yourself. I
don't want to jump around or wear make-up.
3. Best sandwich?
Fresh roasted turkey breast on rye.
4. Are you the kind of person who refills the
ice cube tray when it's empty or do you leave it in the sink?
My girlfriend, Jean, refills it because she insists on spring water and I'm
lazy and I would use tap water. So I leave it.
5. What's the dumbest thing you've ever done on stage?
Well, it wasn't dumb, it was just an accident. One time in Atlanta, I was
playing Chastain Park outdoors. Up front were all these people sitting at
these very expensive tables with champagne buckets and everything. At one
point, I reached down and asked for a glass of champagne to toast the crowd.
When I turned around, I tripped over the monitor and I cut the s___ out of my
hand. There was blood coming out everywhere (laughs). And I was just trying
to, you know, toast the crowd.
6. Did you ever get in trouble in high school?
Always. Always. I did everything you could possibly do. My parents were very
understanding. I got caught drunk, with pot, getting girls pregnant. All the
classic bad stuff.
Interviewer: Really? Dan Fogelberg? You're not such a nice guy after all?
Dan: Oh, no, I was a rebel. I was very rock 'n roll.
7. If you were on Gilligan's Island and had to share a hut with one of the
castaways, whom would you choose?
I think there is a Freudian thing between choosing Ginger or Mary Ann. But I
think neither is the ideal woman. I see one woman between the two. If you
could combine them, you'd have a complete woman.
8. Who's the coolest superhero?
I really liked the Flash. I was really into DC Comics. I learned anatomy from
DC Comics. I;m a visual artist, too, painting and photography. But I learned
anatomy from all my comic book heroes.
9. Read any good books lately?
I read a lot of nautical books because I sail. I spend summers in Maine on my
sailboat. I've read all the Napoleonic War epics, too. I also just read Tom
Robbins' new book and it was wonderful. I'm a big Tom Robbins fan.
10. What's the greatest gift you ever got?
My parents' love. Really. They were so supportive, telling me, "You go
try to be a rock star, but if it doesn't work out, home is home." Your
parents' love, it's the most important thing in the world.