Dear readers, it is our pleasure to offer you in this article an interview with a legendary band from the American proto-Metal scene. Please welcome Poobah.
“Hello, Jim Gustafson of Poobah here.“
Hello, how are you?
“I’m very pleased to see this new POOBAH Release happening, so I’m in a great situation, thank you.
I’m happy to be alive.“
What is the meaning of your band name Poobah?
“The Band name POOBAH was introduced to me, when I was a Freshman 9th Grade, in High School in Boardman, Ohio. There was a Senior Girl who wore a black leather jacket, and everyone seemed to be scared of her. Rumor was , she would stab you with a RatTail Comb ( metal ended and sharp), If you called her POOBAH. It could have been a bad Rumor, but it scared us teenagers.
Anyways, I suggested it as a Band Name to the guys. Bassist Phil Jones rolled on the floor laughing, but agreed it was a good idea.
She showed up at one of our early nights of playing live, and we thought She might come after us, but nothing bad happened, thankfully. Maybe She was glad someone else had become POOBAH, as I don’t think She liked being called that.“
The band was formed in the early 70s, what memories do you have of that magical time?
“In the early 70’s we got a lot of Radio Airplay for “Mr Destroyer” and “Bowleen” in NE Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. It seemed so lucky, and was like a dream coming your way, so make the best of it.
Suddenly all our Shows were packed , and our pay got better. We were in love with playing our instruments, and I had just had my previous Band , Biggy Rat, break up, so I was very excited to see my new Project POOBAH, taking off, right out of the gate, or a lucky beginning start. I’ve been in lots of Bands, and since this one was now in demand, I was a happy musician.“
You were among the pioneers of Heavy and proto-Metal sounds, how did your passion for these sounds start?
“When I first learned to play guitar, I took it very serious. i practiced often and for hours. My Grandmother ( who loved me, and would have given me so much,) bought me a new Fender Telecaster, when I was 14.
I quit my Baseball Team, and spent all my time, trying to be a good Guitarist. I started writing Songs, and ended up completely enamored with , and loving music, guitar, and the Craft of Songwriting.
My first guitar, a noname crappy brand, was so hard to play. My Grandma saw me trying to play the thing for days. She then took me and bought a new Guitar for me, that was much better.
A year later, she got me that Telecaster like Jeff Beck had , in the Yardbirds. I thought they were so excellent. I was a big fan of British Guitar Heroes and loving American Guitar Star, Jimi Hendrix. It is wild, that soon after he passed away, I met his Bass player, Billy Cox. What a nice man he is. He Produced an Album I played on in Memphis. He told me he thought I was a good Songwriter. I had written most of the Songs Billy Cox Produced for those Sessions.. I’ve remained friends with him, and have met up with him a few times, in the last Decade. I gave him some Poobah CDs, and he told me they were incredible! He is a great talent and nice man. His Bass Parts are perfect for the Jimi Hendrix Albums he played on.
I Think I have listened to so much different music , all my life. I had to soak it all in, listening closely to many good Guitar Players.
I used to go to almost every Live Music Event, that I could, for Decades, checking out so many Guitarists. Lucky for me , some local guys were so good, I got good players to pay attention to. Joe Walsh and The James Gang, Phil Keaggy and Glass Harp, Jazz Guitarist Tony Palkovic, Dick Belly, and the Human Beinz, all were advanced and could play the Songs I wanted to learn.
Probably most Musicians are influenced by what they hear and see others doing when performing. Good music lasts forever. I know I paid attention to the Guitarists I admired, and love to hear them still.
Every time I hear songs like Purple Haze, or She Loves You ,on a Radio or Jukebox, it takes me to another time and place.”
Your anthology “Burning In The Rain: A POOBAH Anthology” is about to be released in June 2024, how would you describe this work?
“‘Burning In the Rain’ 2LP CD Download has become my favorite POOBAH Album at this time. Or is stuffed full of great Rock Guitar Songs.
I feel connected to these Songs, all of them with some Guitar Parts that I really like. It’s probably got the most Guitar going on, of any POOBAH Album. More Guitar than allowed by Law.“
Since 1972 you have released numerous albums, how has your sound evolved over time?
“My Guitar playing has certainly evolved over the years. I never stop Practicing for more than a few days. It calls me in my mind, ” play me”. Every time I pick up a Guitar, Song ideas start flowing in my head . It doesn’t have to be my main Guitar, it can be a Guitar in a music store, a friend’s guitar, as long as it’s decent, I want to play it. I currently have about 9 Guitars. I wish I had not sold some that I parted with.”
Many of your fans and our readers wonder if there will be a chance to hear your music live. Do you have any plans to do so in the near future?
“I want to Tour Europe next Year. I hope I can arrange it. I’d love to play with POOBAH all over the place. Ask for us, where you go, anyone who wants to see us play Live.“
How do you think the way of gigging has changed since the ’70s? What has changed for you?
“The main change in the Music live Scene, is now Bands have to compete with DJs and Karaoke. Anyone can do that, that has enough money to buy the System. Practicing to be a Band requires actual skill. Learning to play takes time to be good. A good Band is what I like to hear.“
Your music incorporates elements of different genres and styles, how does the creative process of your tracks take place?
“The Creative Process is a strange thing. One day you hear someone say a sentence, and my mind starts making a Melody to go along with the sentence, that is becoming a Lyric. I start hearing guitar sounds in my head.
I then start adding more Lyrics, adding more as I start feeling the Tempo, and how the Words fit into the Rhythm. I’ve done it hundreds of times, so it becomes so easy, many Songs come quickly, while others ended up being used years later. I’m hard on myself, sometimes, as I think the Song is not making me feel that it is as good as other Songs I’ve written. I’ve been surprised that one of my Songs, that I thought was just ok, is being mentioned by someone else saying that they love it. I guess it may be hard to judge your own art or music.
Most of my Songs were Recorded rather quickly, because of a low independent Budget. I have been determined to get these Songs out of my head, into the ears of other people.
I found ways to get my Songs Recorded, going many times to awesome places like Peppermint Studio in Youngstown, Ohio, and RecW Studio in Massieville, Ohio
I’m so glad that I did these Recordings, as I now have a large Collection of Pro Studio Recordings, actually probably enough material for at least 20 or more POOBAH Albums. Did I mention that I love to go to the Studio and make Records? There has been some times where the Song turned out not as good as it should have. I usually scrap the old one, and Re-Record the Song, maybe several times. Somehow I’ve managed to get these done at a speed of quickness. I was amazed sometimes, how an Evening of Recording, could sound like it took way longer, luck and maybe skill allows that.
It helps to Rehearse the Song, before the Session, but it’s not always possible, with others on a schedule. I often make a Cellphone Recording of the Framework of each of the Verse, Chorus, Bridge parts, so I can go over it multiple times. You always need a Framework of the Song , or waste Studio Time, and that could mean money out of the Pocket of whoever is responsible for the Session.“
Both the instrumental and vocal parts are very intense, what themes do your lyrics deal with?
“The Themes and Lyrics have changed from Song to Song. If I’m feeling certain way, it could come out happy or sad. Hopeful or Painful. I do not like an all Songs sound alike album. It may be fine for others, but I love Rock, Metal, Jazz, Blues, Classical, World Music, Acoustic Guitar Music, so much to listen to. There are exceptions, that I love.
I try to make sure that there is a lot of different sounding Songs, on POOBAH Albums. It’s not that I get bored easily, but I find I have an active imagination, and a desire that drives me to create Music. I get up in the middle of the night to write down Lyrics, that won’t stop flying around in my head. That has happened in a lot of different places.
Many times I write about things happening around me.“
Your album covers are very special and interesting and I also know of a passion for comic book drawings, what can you tell us about that?
“I’m proud of the POOBAH Album Covers. I’ve tried hard to use interesting Art, that hopefully gives off a feeling that it goes good with the Songs.
I’ve had the pleasure to get some beautiful Art from talented Artists. I was glad to get it for my music.
There’s been lots of Cover Art sent in, that was pretty good, but didn’t seem to fit that Album’s music. If you use boring or amateur pictures, I’m thinking less people will buy that. There’s been times where multiple Art was sent in, and we showed it around to friends, getting opinions on what Cover they liked.
Even the Song Selection on ,”Burning In the Rain” was sometimes based on what Songs fans told me were the best of an Album. I love hearing the opinions of others, and like meeting cool music lovers.
It’s been cool to be included in recent Rock and Roll Comic Books. Ariane Eldar is awesome and has POOBAH in some recent Paperback Comics on Amazon. I like seeing these fun Comics.”
Do you have plans for a new studio album in the near future or for new record releases?
“There is another Brand New Unreleased POOBAH Album already Recorded. It’s been being worked on for 3 years. Lots of Rockin’ going on, and more wild Guitar. Besides our new 2LP, CD, Download ” Burning In the Rain”, we will also soon Release a Reissue of POOBAH “Steamroller”. I love that Album a lot. It Blows my mind, l get a thrill listening to it, everytime. It’s coming.
Thank you for your time. Rock the World.
Jim Poobah Gustafson
Peace from POOBAH.”
I thank Jim for the interview, wishing him all the best for the release of the new anthology and the continuation of his artistic career.
Purchase the new compilation “Burning In The Rain: A POOBAH Anthology” on Bandcamp: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/burning-in-the-rain-an-anthology
