In his new autobiography, Solely You Know & I Know, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Dave Mason appears to be like again on his unbelievable life, together with turning into a founding member of Visitors, sitting in as a particular visitor on classic-rock favorites just like the Jimi Hendrix Expertise’s “All Alongside the Watchtower,” and having fun with a protracted solo profession highlighted by the albums Alone Collectively and Let it Circulation, together with the hit single “We Simply Disagree.”

Why did you resolve to write down the e book presently?
Nicely, I’m 78, for one factor. However why did I write it? I bought badgered into writing it, mainly. Followers, over time, have continuously stated, “You’ve bought to write down a e book!” and naturally my spouse bought on my ass about it (laughs). It’s been 4 years placing it collectively. Due to [co-author] Chris Epting, I had some nice assist, particularly with analysis and the remainder of it. I’ve bought a reminiscence like a sieve, and I didn’t maintain a diary.

Principally what I’ve tried to do is make it about my private journey extra than simply music.

Within the e book you say you’re a non-public individual. Did that make it laborious to write down?
Nicely, apart from doing interviews, I don’t spend a lot time fascinated about who I’ve performed with or what I’ve performed. However as soon as we completed writing the e book, it was like, “Wow! Did I do all that?”

Would you say the method was cathartic in any manner?
It wasn’t cathartic. It was only a course of. We thought we had been completed at one level, however there have been various issues the place I might go, “Oh s**t, you understand what? I forgot that.” So we’d return and do it once more.

Visitors was an uncommon band. It was groundbreaking, versatile, standard, and critically acclaimed. But it surely doesn’t get sufficient credit score.
Nicely, it wasn’t a really lengthy profession. It’s simply too unhealthy that issues completed the best way they did. Clearly, [Steve] Winwood had main issues with me being in that band, and I write about it. What’s unlucky is that, particularly after the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame induction [in 2004], we didn’t all reunite and exit and tour and produce the music again.

You had a topsy-turvy relationship with Winwood and Jim Capaldi.
I might extra sofa it as they’d a bizarre relationship with me (chuckles). It was very odd, which was in all probability rooted in nothing extra easy and silly than jealousy and egos.

You additionally point out that you just wished to keep away from stardom, and also you join that with quitting Visitors. You write about the way you simply wished to make music, however didn’t you notice that turning into well-known was a chance?
I wished success, however I simply wasn’t prepared for what got here with it. I used to be very younger and was introduced up as mainly an solely youngster, with zero road smarts. It was all an excessive amount of for me.

Did you ever turn out to be comfy with stardom?
I’m nonetheless not comfy. I’m not a entrance man (laughs). I’ve to be in a band. Something that smacks of being an extrovert simply makes me nervous. I’m primarily a guitar participant. That’s what I like. Singing and songwriting simply got here together with the job.

You’ve performed completely different electrics however appear to favor Stratocasters.
I’ve a few Strats with Lace Sensors and a humbucking pickup on the bridge. One is Mexican, the opposite is a Hank Marvin mannequin Fender made for me; I eliminated the Quantity knobs. I even have three Telecasters together with one of many first made when Fender was purchased again from CBS they usually used Leo Fender’s authentic plans. They gave a type of to me and one to Steve Cropper.

Which others do you play?
I’ve a Les Paul goldtop, nevertheless it’s not an authentic, and a Cherry Purple Les Paul. I like their tone, however they’re too heavy for me to play onstage. My acoustics embody a Taylor six-string and a extremely stunning 12-string hand-made for me by Alvarez.

Do you have got any classic items?
I don’t. Guitars have at all times been a instrument for me. I want I nonetheless had the Strat I bought after I was 16. I used to be 13 or 14 after I found the Strat, performed by Hank Marvin. The truth that a radio repairman designed that factor is superb. That design will nonetheless look nice a thousand years from now.

This text initially appeared in VG’s November 2024 concern. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.