E-mail a friendBen Harper
airdate April 24, 2006
Singer-songwriter Ben Harper creates music that blends an assortment of styles. Born into a family of musicians, he was singing chords at age 4 and started playing the guitar at age 6. By age 12, he was performing for live audiences. Harper is a master of the slide guitar and has collaborated on records and in concerts with such artists as John Lee Hooker, Metallica and The Blind Boys of Alabama. On his seventh studio album, "Both Sides of the Gun," he exposes listeners to various sides of his multifaceted gift.
Ben Harper
Tavis: (Laugh) I'm serious. I'm pleased to welcome Ben Harper back to this program. The Grammy-winning musician is out now with his seventh solo CD, which is getting terrific reviews. This disc is called "Both Sides of the Gun.' In a few moments, he'll perform a song from the CD, so don't you go nowhere. But first, here's some of the video for 'Better Way.'
Tavis: Ben, I love that video. Those guitars around?
Ben Harper: Thank you.
Tavis: That's a cool shot right there.
Harper: And just for clarity's sake, those are old, beat up guitars that would never be able to be played.
Tavis: (Laugh) So you weren't burning, I love that shot. You weren't burning nice guitars, then.
Harper: No.
Tavis: Whose concept is this?
Harper: That was my wife and I, Laura and I's concept. My family owns a music store, has owned it since 1958, out in Claremont, California. And we've been, it's acoustic instruments from all over the world. And through those going on 50 years now, we have amassed a collection of amazing instruments, and some clunkers. And those were the clunkers burning.
Tavis: So, you didn't have a choice but to be a musician, did you?
Harper: I had choices, but no alternatives.
Tavis: (Laugh) Choices as in what instrument and variety of instruments to play?
Harper: Yeah.
Tavis: Yeah. And you play how many instruments now?
Harper: I really play one seriously that I put the hours in on, which is slide guitar. Which was the one in the video there, sitting down and sliding around on. But I love to play the drums, piano, base, the vibes, I'll make a sound out of anything that'll let me.
Tavis: Yeah. You mentioned earlier your wife, Laura, whose co-idea this was in the 'Better' video. Your wife Laura happens to be Laura Dern, wonderful actress. And when you were last here, I should say since you were last here, two things have happened. One, you got married, so congratulations.
Harper: Thank you very much.
Tavis: I'm a little late, was that December? This is what, April or May?
Harper: (unintelligible) I haven't seen you since.
Tavis: I haven't seen you since then, so congratulations on that. And baby number two is here.
Harper: Yes, Gaia.
Tavis: Yeah. So how does baby number two challenge you when you just had one?
Harper: Man, they both kick my butt.
Tavis: Yeah. (Laugh)
Harper: In the best way. In the best way. I just - the amount of energy, especially the women. 'Cause let's face it, Tavis, we gotta be there for what we can be there to do and support, but the women raise the kids, man, in a specific way, especially at that age. I kind of just roll over, and she's awake feeding the baby, and I just kind of roll over and look, and (laugh) roll back over.
Which, to be honest, obviously, the father's role is equally as important, and you have to be there. No deadbeat dads. But it's amazing, the amount of time and energy that the women have to put forward to do it. So I could sit up here and complain about how tired I am, but when I get home, I'll hear about it.
Tavis: (Laugh) Well, we're not gonna let you do that. I don't want Laura in your grill when you get home, after watching this conversation. This new CD, "Both Sides of the Gun,' the title comes from?
Harper: Being there. Being there. And you can take it from the literal perspective in saying that from this side and on the other side, or it's just seeing a situation from both perspectives for true clarity and a heightened level of diplomatic resolution.
Tavis: Maybe I'm reading too deep into it, but I thought it was apropos as well, because this is really like two CDs here. This isn't...
Harper: And there's two discs. (unintelligible)
Tavis: Two disks, exactly. Yeah. And you and I were talking before we came on the set here, you deliberately put two different sounds on two different discs. Tell me about it.
Harper: Yeah. One is more charged, more, I hate to say more energy or more energetic. One's more upbeat, and one's more laid back. And I found that the songs just weren't going together on a single disc. Even though there was time to put them all on the same disc, it didn't make creative sense.
Tavis: You know what's funny to me, not funny, funny's the wrong word. What's wonderfully fascinating for me is no matter which disc you listen to, even though the sound might have been too eclectic to work on one disc, you don't shy away from saying whatever you need to say, no matter what the sound is.
Harper: Okay. Yes, that's fair enough.
Tavis: Obviously, you're consciously aware of that.
Harper: Yeah, yeah, I'm not putting a good idea on the shelf.
Tavis: Do you ever get, how do I wanna put this? Do you ever get ideas about what to say in your lyrics that scare you? You said no, that's a little too honest, I can't say that.
Harper: That's when you know you gotta say it. But I do get that feeling. Like, you know what? This is dangerous. Saying this is gonna make people feel a certain way that might frustrate them to a certain degree, or varying degrees. Or even emotionally say, you know what? That's too honest. I'm giving up too much of my, that's too big of a secret. But that's when you know you gotta put it out, 'cause that's when it's getting to the soul of matters.
Tavis: Well, he ain't afraid to put it out, and I'm glad that he's here. And I wish I had more time to talk to him, but I always like to leave a little room for a Ben Harper performance. Last time he was here, the (unintelligible) was in Alabama.
Harper: Oh, man, I had so, that was such a...
Tavis: We enjoyed that show so much.
Harper: Thank you. Anytime that George Scott - that was the three, the original cast who left at that time.
Tavis: Yeah. Well, we're glad to have you back. Ben Harper's new CD is "Both Sides of the Gun.' His seventh solo project. Up next, a special performance from Ben Harper. Stay with us to check out the new sound on the new CD, "Both Sides of the Gun.' We're back in just a moment.
From his new CD, "Both Sides of the Gun,' here is Ben Harper, along with Michael Ward, performing 'Gather Round the Stone.' Enjoy. Good night from Los Angeles, and keep the faith.
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