This is an interview from September of 2000 with Amreican guitarist Stef Burns. At the time Stef was promoting his first full length solo album Swamp Tea. That album came out in 1999 (late ’98 in Japan). Like many back then, this was done via email. I’ve added in some links and songs here as well. In retrospect, some of these questions may seem a bit dorky now. At the time I was excited getting to send interview questions to someone who’d been on an Alice album (being an AC fan). Stef has released a few more solo albums since Swamp Tea (not all instrumental).
AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER Y & T and Alice Cooper guitarist for his solo album ‘Swamp Tea’.
“Guitarist Stef Burns is best known for his time in Alice Cooper’s band in the early ’90s, as well as being in the last incarnation of Y & T. Recently Stef’s been working with Huey Lewis, and has released his first solo CD “Swamp Tea”. Swamp Tea is an instrumental album. Here I did some Questions and Stef answered, and gathered more info on his career, his time with Alice, Y&T, and his solo project. ”
Who were your earliest influences? how did you get into guitar?
SB: Jazz, blues, soul records of my parents. My dad played a little guitar and I picked it up around 7 years old. Then I became more influenced by the great guitarists like, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, etc. Allman Bros, then later by Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Mike Stern, Scofield, Pat Metheny, sax players, singers, drummers all were very influential.
What were your favorite albums & bands growing up? favorite guitarists in early days?
SB: Hendrix – Are You Experienced, Jeff Beck – Blow By Blow, Allman Bros. – Live at Fillmore East, Montrose, Deep Purple – Machine Head, Led Zeppelin – All of them, The Beatles – All.
What was your first professional gig?
SB: Touring with the R&B group – “Omega” featuring members from the Elvin Bishop Group.
How did you get involved with Y & T?
SB: Being a San Francisco Bay Area musician we kind of hear about each other. They asked me to join and I accepted. Was really a good hard rocking time.
How was the 1998 “Endangered Species” album received? What has the band done over the past decade?
SB: That was the last album recorded by the band. I hardly had anything to do with it other than one song as I was busy working in Italy that year (’96). I like that album though because it has a raw trio kind of feel to it. Dave plays his ass off on that one as well as “Musically Incorrect” (’94). I was more involved with “Ten” (’90) and “Yesterday and Today, Live” (’91)
You mean you only played on 1 track on the album??
SB: Yes.
Did you write & record on ‘Ten’? where & when was Live recorded? [what labels are these on?]
SB: Yes, I played a lot on “10”, 4 solos. It is on Geffen. “Yesterday and Today, Live” is on Metal Blade.
Seeing as Dave M. and Jimmy D. both played on your album, are there any plans for future Y & T gigs or recordings? What are the other Y & T guys currently up to?
SB: No plans as of now, but I think some day we’ll get together and do something. Don’t know exactly what though. Dave works with his band and does other projects in his studio. Jimmy is in Megadeth. Phil has a bunch of great songs I hope he releases some day.
What other recordings and name bands were you involved with prior to working with Alice Cooper?
SB: Well, there was Michael Bolton, Sheila E., Pablo Cruise, Berlin, Jesse Colin Young, (we’re going back to ’82 now). There was a band I was in, in ’88 called the VU. The stuff we did then will be released in Europe next year. It’s power pop rock, I guess you would call it, and sounds really good.
A lot of “pop” stuff! Who was in VU? anyone of notoriety ?
SB: Ross Valory, Prairie Prince, Kevin Chalfant and Tim Gorman.
How did you get involved with Alice Cooper? what do you recall of the auditions, etc… ?
SB: I was recommended to Alice by Joe Satriani, whom I know from the Bay Area, and I sent Alice a tape, got hired to do the “Hey Stoopid” album, then to tour. Then I recorded “The Last Temptation” which I felt more involved in creating sonically.
You were not in the songwriting credits on ‘Hey Stoopid’ or ‘The Last Temptation’; why not? was songwriting a ‘closed shop’ with Alice due to his working with outside ‘pro’ writers?
SB: I don’t know. I really didn’t have anything prepared that was in the Alice Cooper style.
Hey Stoopid had a lot of big names on the album, including other guitarists. What do you recall of these sessions?
SB: I was only present during the Motley stuff. Oh yeah, and Slash too. He was super cool, little bit drunk, but…
Why were there almost no big name guest stars on The Last Temptation?
SB: I guess that was Alice’s choice to make more of a band sound.
When did you tour with Alice ? Any stories or recollections?
SB: Toured a lot with Alice from 91 to 95. Again in the end of 98. It was always fun.
How close were you to Alice? How was he to work with? Are you still in contact?
SB: Alice is a breeze to work with. Very easy on stage and rehearsal. Great poker games on the bus. Haven’t talked to him in a while though we sent messages to each other through mutual friends.
What are your personal favorites [songs] from the stuff you recorded with Alice Cooper?
SB: The Last Temptation.
The song? anything else ?
SB: No, the record. Some of my favorite songs are, “Stolen Prayer”, “Cleansed By Fire” and “You’re My Temptation”.
What have you been doing since The Last Temptation?
SB: Vasco Rossi, tons of sessions, released “Swamp Tea”, Huey Lewis etc…
What’s your involvement with Huey Lewis? [Recordings, tours, etc…] [What’s Huey been doing for the past 15 years?]
SB: Right now it’s just touring. The new album to be released first of 2001 was finished before I joined. Chris Hayes plays his ass off on this CD. Some of his best playing ever, I think. Huey has always been working.
Have you done any recording with Huey? How long you been in his band? [where have you toured? where’s his market these days, cause I ain’t seen anything of him until the other day when i saw him in the promo for the “Duets” movie].
SB: Have not done any recording yet. Will play on one live track that I think will be for Europe. I have been playing with The News since March. The band’s market is spread out. We just played for 12 000 people at Pine Knob in Detroit.
How did the solo project come about? [who runs Lakeside Records? ]
SB: I did it myself with the help of my friends and collaborators. Always wanted to. John Seppala and I worked a lot together to finish it. He’s amazing.
‘Swamp Tea’ is less of the Alice Cooper riff-rock stuff, and more of a almost progressive / fusion sound. Is that the style of music you are more into? How did the sound / idea come about to not be a ‘metal’ album, but a more prog style?
SB: We just came up with music that we liked. Sometimes very melodic or jazzy. I never wanted to do a metal album.
What can you tell me about a few of your favorites on Swamp Tea? Any stories behind any of the tracks? any favorites?
SB: Some of my favorites are Walking the Penguin, Echo Lake, Summer of ’68. These have a bit more of a soulful melody style.
How was the response to Swamp Tea in Europe and Japan? What promo plans are in the works for North America – any gigs, tracks receiving any radio attention, major mag features, etc.. ?
SB: I did an Italian tour and it went well. There were features in a few of the Italian guitar mags. I think I’ll go back to Italy first of the year. My Italian band is great. Next I think I’ll get working on my next CD.
What would you compare it to? Familiar with [fond of] Steve Morse’ work?
SB: I don’t compare it at all, but some of the influences that I hear are Todd Rundgren, Led Zeppelin, Toto, Deep Purple, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Mike Stern. I am familiar with Steve Morse but I am not really influenced. John’s song – “Wayfunner”, has a ‘Dregsish’ line in the verse.
How has the reaction been so far? any plans to do a follow up?
SB: Good and yes.
Any ideas for the next CD ?
SB: Not sure yet really.
Aside from the Italian mags, any major features, chart placings [ie internet, foreign countries, etc…]
SB: Haven’t got my first statement yet, so don’t really know what I sold.
What are you listening to these days? what guitarists out there do you admire these days?
SB: I still listen to the old guys. Beck, Hendrix, more Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Pat Martino, Rage Against the Machine.
( KJ: thanks Stef!)
SB: You’re welcome. This is the longest interview I have ever typed in my life!
Outsider Rock 