John Nitzinger Interview
John Nitzinger is an American blues rock guitarist, recording artist, songwriter and actor, born in 1948 in Fort Worth, Texas. He has worked with Bloodrock, Alice Cooper, Carl Palmer (in PM) , as well as had his own band, Nitzinger.
When did you first pick up the guitar?
John Nitzinger: I was 8 years old and asked my parents for an accordionn. They couldn’t afford one, so got me a guitar. A Les Paul Junior for $149 worth $ 30000 today, but I had to trade it for the bright red one. Stupid if I got the accordion I’d be playing electric bar mitzvah!
Were you in any bands back then?
In junior high and high school I had a very successful teen band called The Barons. At 16 I had a bad acid trip walking around Fort Worth, walking into a studio, recording two songs ’Plastic Windows’ and The Life Of John Doe’. It was produced by T Bone Burnett who today is #1 producer in Hollywood.
Can you tell me about your collaboration with Bloodrock?
Jim Rutledge, lead singer for Bloodrock walked into a gig I was playing at The Cellar and asked me to write songs for them. I wrote half of five albums, which led to me signing with Capitol, and a gold album.
Tell us about ’Nitzinger’ and ’One Foot in History’?
’Nitzinger’ and ’One Foot in History’ came from that and I toured opening for Leon Russell on the infamous Carny Tour. I played some tours with Bloodrock for Grand Funk Railroad and toured with B.B. King, Freddy King, Sly and the Family Stone …
What about ‘Live Better Electrically’?
I played most of the instruments, then I joined Carl Palmer after Emerson, Lake & Palmer broke up, with a band called PM. I hand picked five guys from around the world to be the perfect band. We hated each other! Five chiefs, no indians.
You have something new coming.
I have a new DVD movie just released. Premiere will be March 25th in Fort Worth. Cameras followed me around for 6 months everywhere I went … from weddings to funerals. I’m hald at writing a tell all book that will blow you away! A new album called ‘Nibbled to Death by Ducks’ … and so much more.
Klemen Breznikar
John Nitzinger Official Website / Facebook / Twitter
“Nitzinger and One Foot in History came from that and I toured opening for ” Leon Russell ” on the infamous ” Carny tour”
—There is full color video of Nitzinger opening for Leon Russell in 1972 at the Charlotte Sugar Bowl, and I hope that someday Johnny Nitzinger will give his blessing for that footage to be released.