Over the past few years, it's not a rare occurrence when Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty leans over to his wife, Julie, and triumphantly tells her, "you know, 20 years in hell is worth one day of happiness with you."
The same rings true for his music career, which has seen steady activity (including his latest album "Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again," the sequel to his 1973 album) and, more importantly, a genuine, overflowing joy.
While his days with his infamous swampy / roots rock 'n' roll band Credence Clearwater Revival produced numerous hits such as "Susie-Q," "Fortunate Son" and "Bad Moon Rising," it also created dark days with a bitter split in the band and an ensuing battle with his label over royalties. But he's over those bad times and it's all about the music these days.
"I don't have any crap going wrong with me anymore and I'm just happy and very grateful I get to make music, and that the music is pure and joyful and energized by all the right motives," says Fogerty in a recent phone call. "For me it's the wonderful exploration and expression of music and getting to discover new things."
This Thursday, Fogerty will provide the audience at the Riverside Theater this exploration and a wide range of songs spanning his CCR and solo days. While he may be getting into his 60s, recent televised performances have proven that pure desire to put on a memorable rock performance can override age.
"Having a guitar in your hands all the time triggers music; it triggers creativity and it helps me write songs," says Fogerty of his passion to keep going.
With CCR and in his solo days, Fogerty helped create a soundtrack for many generations, with each passing on his music. Ryan Matteson, a spokesperson at the Riverside, can't wait for Fogerty's performance.
"There are few voices that are as timeless and recognizable as John Fogerty," says Matteson. "His work with Credence Clearwater Revival was essential listening for a lot of people growing up, myself included. The songs he's penned have, and continue to be, markers in time, tied to memories that span generations."
Fogerty adds that includes his two teenage sons who play guitar in a band and love classic rock.
Besides many of Fogerty's hits, the Riverside set likely will contain many songs from his "Rides Again" album, on which Fogerty and his band hand-picked a number of covers of his contemporaries, including the Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved" (featuring a duet with Bruce Springsteen) and Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party" (featuring The Eagles' Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit providing harmonies).
"The new Blue Ridge Rangers is so full of joy," says Fogerty. "I think that's probably more important than the individual songs, that you get a particular sense of fun and joy hearing this record."
He added that while a lot of rock and roll is done by layering -- i.e. having two or three guys on bass, drums and singer / guitarist and then add everything -- the new album demanded a different approach.
"That's the way most rock and roll is made and it seems like a normal way, but this Blue Ridge Rangers music really cries for spontaneity between the fiddle player and banjo player and so on," says Fogerty.
This approach differed greatly from his first Blue Ridge album on which he recording everything.
"After the first one way back in ‘73 and maybe and shortly after, maybe a week or 10 days, I told myself, ‘man if I do this again I'm going to get real guys'," says Fogerty.
After 36 or so years of writing lists and losing them and waiting for the right moment, he finally had a reason when his wife suggested recording a followup. Ever since he met his wife, Fogerty says she has been his manager and a source of inspiration that he can always trust for ideas. He said that sounded like a great idea and "jumped in with both feet."
Unlike the first one, this album comes at a great time in his life and full of musical inspiration. After the first Blue Ridge Rangers album, which followed CCR's breakup, there often were long lengths of time between releases. But with several CD and DVD releases in the past few years, Fogerty certainly has an increased desire to get new music out there.
"I was so non-busy for such a long time in my life and it's great to be busy," says Fogerty. "Sometimes you'll say it's both a blessing and a curse. I'd rather be too busy and complain about being too busy. You might say I stored it up for a long time and it's fun to be in front of people and be active."
When asked if his recent albums were an attempt to reconcile with the past, Fogerty said that he's forgiven his brother Tom for the rift they experienced with the breakup of CCR and issues with Fantasy Records.
"We had a whole lifetime of growing together and building a dream which was achieved," says Fogerty of his brother who died in 1990 of AIDS. "It's unfortunate that we entered a bad phase. But I'm kind of past that and someday, on the other side, we'll run into each other and I'll be glad to see him."
When the studio lights flickered on and the Blue Ridge Rangers band began to play its first song, "Never Ending Song of Love," Fogerty found himself in seventh heaven.
"I could just hear how spirited they were; it was beyond just playing the song like a session musician might do," says Fogerty. "There seemed to be an added energy or joy or love. It was kind of a holiday for everyone because it was outside of what we normally do. So everyone had that connection with music that makes them feel good."
For Fogerty, who has experienced the joys and horrors that success in the music industry can throw at you, it's all worth it to get up on that stage and watch his fans' faces break out in smiles when he plays a song that means so much to them.
