Forecasting a hot Winter's night at Northern Lights

Sure, a new generation of rock fans may only know him through "Frankenstein" on "Guitar Hero II," but veteran rocker Edgar Winter has been serving up a unique and popular blend of blues, rock and jazz for almost 40 years.

Winter and his band play Friday at the Northern Lights Theater inside Potawatomi Bingo Casino along with special guest, "Queen of the Blues" Koko Taylor. Showtime is 8 p.m. and general admission tickets are $20.

OnMilwaukee.com talked with Edgar about his storied career, his recent tour with Ringo Starr -- which also stopped in at the Northern Lights Theater this past summer -- and what fans can expect at the show Friday.

OnMilwaukee.com: Considering the breadth and depth of your musical career, does it bother you that many music fans think of you as that "Frankenstein" guy?

Edgar Winter: No, not at all. Part of what I've tried to do throughout my career is broaden musical horizons and make people aware of all the music that's out there. And although I'm primarily thought of as a "rocker," I love jazz and classical as well and I think throughout the years I've made pretty eclectic albums and tried to remain true to the music I believe in and to play a really wide variety of music.

That hasn't been necessarily a calculated crusader campaign on my part, it just happens to be what I naturally do.

I've heard so many classic rock artists talk about how different the music scene is today compared to what it was back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. I think that we're all tempted to feel that the era in which we grew up was somehow special, but I really do believe objectively that there were two golden eras in music -- the ‘40s and ‘50s for big band, jazz and swing -- and the ‘60s and ‘70s for rock. It was a magical time and era.

I've tried throughout my career to most of all play the music that I really believe in -- not to "sell out" and not to succumb to some of the commercial pressures that have exhibited themselves through the record companies -- which is just about over now. There is certainly a new day dawning.

I really feel that the artists are ultimately responsible for the integrity of their music and that's what I've tried to do -- to never forget that. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to do what I most love and to have people continue to come out and see my live performances and buy the CDs. I want to thank all my fans out there for their continued support -- I couldn't do it without you.

OMC: What accomplishments are you most proud of in your musical career?

EW: I started and really rose to prominence as a result of playing Woodstock with my brother, Johnny (legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter) in 1969, at the height of the civil rights and peace movement. Woodstock really changed my life. Up to that point, I had considered myself more of a "serious" musician and I think had it not been for Johnny I might have been a jazz guy. My first recording, "Entrance," was a blend of jazz, classical, rock and blues, but music was my own private escape world as a kid and I had an introverted take on music up to the point that I played Woodstock.

When I saw the hundreds of thousands of people united in that special way, it really made me realize that music wasn't just a personal thing and it went far beyond just entertainment -- but that music had the power to really bring people together and to change the world and make the world a better place.

It also made me realize that as a writer and not just a musician, in terms of writing songs that mean something and have a message -- that you can affect change. That is really what led me into the path that I followed thereafter. Woodstock was definitely a life-altering experience for me. With civil rights and the peace movement -- it was an amazing time that helped shape the music as well.

Shortly after that, I started to write seriously and one of the first songs I wrote was "Dying to Live." It was perceived as an anti-war song -- which in part it was -- but it was also basically about the simplest subject there is -- that of survival. Whether you think you're fighting to defend your country or just to make it one more day on the street. "Dying to Live" was one of those songs that was very special and personal.

Other highlights for me -- playing the Apollo Theater with White Trash when we did the "Road Work" album. We were only the second white band to ever play the Apollo. That was really a landmark. Also, playing Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall in London with Johnny -- all of those stand out.

OMC: How was touring with Ringo and his All-Star Band this summer?

EW: I just completed the tour with Ringo and his All-Star Band. It was totally amazing. It was my second go-round with Ringo. I did the tour back in '06 as well. I stand in total awe of the Beatles -- I feel that what they did transcended music. They caused a paradigm shift that changed the mindset of an entire generation. They really brought about a revolution without firing a shot; a revolution in the freedom of thought and a real spiritual renaissance that touched my heart and the hearts of millions and changed the world forever. I feel that what Ringo does with the All-Star Band carries on in that spirit that The Beatles came to represent.

Beyond the music, Ringo is the coolest, most real, down to earth person, with a great sense of humor both on and off stage. What impresses me most is that he's such a heartfelt advocate for peace and love and being an old hippie myself -- going back to Woodstock -- certainly peace and love were in the forefront of social and universal consciousness at that time.

Playing with Ringo reaffirmed and revitalized that for me. In fact, I wrote and dedicated a song on my latest CD "Rebel Road" to Ringo and The Beatles, called "Peace and Love." So it was just and awe inspiring tour for me, and something that I'll always treasure.

I would wake up every day and say, "Wow I'm going to be on stage with one of The Beatles." Whoever would have thought that 30 years later I'd be playing "Free Ride" and I'd look back over my shoulder and see Ringo Starr playing drums ...

It was a wonderful experience working with Ringo and all the All-Stars. It was one of those situations where it became a real band in an amazingly short period of time and everyone was just so excited and enthusiastic and happy to be there, not only to support Ringo, but to have a great band and play music that we all love. It really is a nostalgic and entertaining show -- hit after hit -- all great songs. Really I can't say enough about it.

I would love to do another -- I hope Ringo will invite me back for a third, forth, fifth -- any number of runs, I'll definitely be there.

OMC: Who would you count as your greatest musical influences?

EW: My greatest musical influences were Ray Charles and my brother Johnny -- who is my all time musical hero. He and I started out playing together and he was the most important influence in shaping my music from a very early age. He and I have almost a telepathic kind of communication, as brothers often do, musically and otherwise.

OMC: What are you currently working on and what's next for Edgar Winter?

EW: I released "Rebel Road" while I was out with Ringo in mid-July. Right at the end of the All-Stars tour, I started immediately, with no break whatsoever, the Rebel Road tour with my own band. We went to Japan for a while and then to Canada -- so it's really been non-stop since June.

Now finally, I'll be getting a breather for the holidays. My style of touring today -- we're sort of weekend warriors. We go out, rather than doing a six-month world tour, I just prefer to go out on weekends (and) play Friday and Saturday every week. That's about what we do -- 100 to 150 shows a year. I love doing it that way because I still get to spend a lot of time at home and I get to play regularly, which I love. You never know what the future holds but regardless, I'm ready for it.

As I said, I consider it a real honor and a privilege to be able to do what I most love and have people continue to come out and see the shows and buy the CDs. I want to thank all my fans out there for their continued support.

OMC: What can fans expect from the upcoming show at the Northern Lights Theater?

EW: I'll be doing everything you'd expect to hear from Edgar Winter, going all the way back to "Entrance" my first recording "Tobacco Road," the traditional blues song that I popularized with my brother Johnny, which has the vocal / guitar dual at the end. Songs from my first band, White Trash, like "Keep Playin' That Rock 'N' Roll" along with some new songs from Rebel Road as well as the big hits like "Free Ride" and of course, "Frankenstein."

We don't like to do the same set every night. I like to get out there and see what the audience feels like. I occasionally will take requests from the audience, so I'm excited to see all the fans in Milwaukee again on Friday.