When Joe Bonamassa's Suit Comes Off, He's Just An Average Joe

Joe Bonamassa's career is one of perpetual motion; the American blues-rock axeman/singer/songwriter prolific in the studio and seemingly perennially on the road. Beginning his live career aged 12 opening for B.B. King, he's also a bucket list type, with further goals soon to be realised. "This year we'll have the honour of doing the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall," he enthuses.

Bonamassa's slick shades-and-suit on-stage aesthetic opposes his off-stage demeanour. It's a unique dichotomy; the guitarist has professed to having no desire to be a rock star. "I always see that as the other guy. The other guy comes out at 7.30, plays from eight to 10.15, then I reassemble the nerd and that's the other 22 hours. That's an extension of my personality, but that's not who I am all the time.

"You see some people that are in the public and operate… They are legitimate rock stars, but they go to the market for dish-washing detergent, and they're dressed for the gig. That's not me. You'll never see me sitting at The Ivy, hoping somebody takes my picture. Often I'll be at McDonald's and in the corner where nobody can notice me. I don't crave that attention; as a matter of fact I don't really enjoy it, off the stage. Yeah it's an ego stroke, but it's like, for what? That's not why I got into this thing. I got into this thing because I love to play guitar and love being around music."

They are legitimate rock stars, but they go to the market for dish-washing detergent, and they're dressed for the gig. That's not me. 

Based on the live persona though, fans may have misconceptions about what Bonamassa would be like if they encountered him in the street. "Hundred per cent. People think if I wear sunglasses on-stage I'm arrogant. No, I'm actually really light sensitive. If you had two 40,000-watt spotlights pointed at your face the whole night, you'd wear sunglasses too," he laughs. "The whole suit thing was inspired by looking at old photos of Muddy Waters from the '60s. Those guys were dressed, were tailored and they wanted to portray this image of success and affluence, because they'd worked their way out of the cotton fields of Mississippi. I've derived all that stuff from my influences of the old blues guys… I decided 10 years ago it was in my vested interest to probably dress better than the audience that was coming to see me. Out of respect to them, because I've actually put some effort into my show."

Among his many projects will include restarting star-studded Black Country Communion. Reports suggested a falling out between Bonamassa and Glenn Hughes previously meant the band being shelved indefinitely.

"We're scheduled to record in January," Bonamassa details. "It was just a misunderstanding that got spun up. At this point it's all water under the bridge because we've always maintained friendship. It was never like, 'Fuck you, Glenn', 'Fuck you, Joe' or 'Fuck you, Jason [Bonham, drums]'... Time heals all wounds and I think we have one great rock album in us. We have one more great album, we have one definitive Black Country Communion record that we haven't made. And it'll probably be the last one. Ultimately it's something that is unfinished business in my mind."