Interview: Nuno Mindelis

Born in Angola, by the age of nine Nuno was building his own guitars and playing them.

His influences include Otis Redding and Booker T and The MGs.

Settling in Brazil in the mid-’70s, Nuno finally released his debut album in 1991. His second album followed a year later, featuring Gary Moore bandmate Larry McCray and French harp player JJ Milteau.

In 1994, US Guitar Player magazine compared Nuno to Jimmy Page. Four years later, the same magazine named him Best Blues Guitarist.

We spoke to him.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING TO COLNE FOR THE BLUES FESTIVAL?
Oh yes, it will be great. Although this is going to be my first time in Colne I am sure I will be missing it as soon as I play the last song and quit the stage.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR MUSIC?
It is a blend of everything I heard from a very early age (since I remember myself in the world, say what, four years old?) until I was 17-years-old. During that period I literally (and obsessively) heard every existing music on the planet, from classical to blues, rock, soul, country, folk, jazz, free jazz, everything. Since these first and early influences are the most strong and enduring in every musician's life, my music is some kind of (guitar) electric blues-rock-soul. From 17 on I had to work in regular jobs to survive in strange countries. I was exiled (to Canada and later Brazil) due to civil war in my country, and I had lost absolutely everything I had so far. I don’t remember much of that period, there was some kind of artistic (actually not only artistic) hibernation that lasted until about 1985/6 when I “woke up” again.

YOU WERE BUILDING AND PLAYING SELF-MADE GUITARS BY THE AGE OF NINE — WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED YOU TO THE WORLD OF MUSIC?
I am not sure if it is a genetic thing or something related to the environment. For me it certainly has to do with the birth of rock and roll when I was very young. My parents were very young as well and would always have a record player and/or a radio on which would play (besides classical) The Beatles, Ray Charles, Fats Domino etc. Every musical note sounded magic to me.

ONE OF YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCES IS OTIS REDDING. WHY?
Otis is something sacred, untouchable for me. His influence and meaning in my musical life is very strong. If soul music were a man, he would be it. If you need to explain to a child what the soul music is, just play Otis before anything else (sorry James Brown, you’re the guy too but first Otis).

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR MUSIC CAREER SO FAR?
I’d say to play the Montreal International Jazz Festival twice for thousands of people alongside big names such as Prince, George Benson, Oscar Peterson, and many others. Also to have recorded two albums and toured with Double Trouble (Stevie Ray Vaughan’s supreme rhythm section) and opening for BB King in the most important venues in Brazil. Another highlight was to be judged the “best blues guitar player” award by Guitar Player magazine.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HAPPINESS?
We are born and we die. In the middle, we go to the restrooms and we play guitar. If we can do this for at least 70 years without to much back pain or constipation, that’s happiness. Now seriously, you reach happiness when you are finally able to value very simple things and when you realise that happiness is not the top of the mountain but the path that leads to it.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF HELL?
I see some place much warmer than Venus where a huge number of politicians can be found, most of them trying to trip the Devil up and ask for votes in order to take care of the financial management of the place.

DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BLUES TO PLAY THE BLUES?
No doubt. You don’t fool the blues.

WHAT’S THE MOST ROCK ‘N’ ROLL THING YOU’VE DONE OR THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO YOU?
In one city during a tour I managed to balance myself on one leg on the top of a 25th floor hotel balcony handrail, while answering a call on the mobile phone.

l Nuno Mindelis plays the International Stage at Colne Muni on Sunday, August 24. Details from 01282 661235.