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The old blues man is short, thin, has greyish green skin and unsettling yellow eyes
which he keeps camouflaged behind a pair of dark wayfarers. He dresses impeccably
(both on stage and off) in conservative three-piece suits, usually pinstriped, and
always seems to have a fresh carnation in his lapel and a matching fedora on his head.
Shoes, however, seem to be optional.
He has a quiet way about him. He doesn't talk much, and when he laughs, which is often,
it is with a soft chuckle. His smile, in spite of his eyes and some badly needed dental
work, is warm and infectious and he has an uncanny ability to put people, friends and
strangers alike, comfortably at ease whenever he his around.
His story, what is known of it, has been told over and over again. Still, the character
as portrayed in "There And Back Again" and later in "The Redbook of Westmarch" could not
be more different than the person we are talking to. According to our sources, the
change in his personality began to occur sometime after he embarked on the legendary
journey to Mordor with Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee, both of Hobbiton, The Shire,
neither of whom could be reached for comment after sailing to Valinor. As for himself,
HWG remains as enigmatic about his past as ever.
His rise to prominence as a blues man occurred sometime after his return from Mordor
and the destruction of the ring. His first performance in public is widely regarded
to be at the celebratory concert in the Field of Cormallen shortly following the end
of the War of The Ring where many say that it was in fact Gollum who wrote and performed
"Nine Fingered Frodo and The Ring of Doom". Although there has yet to be any independent
confirmation of that and even HWG himself will only smile and shrug and tell you
"That'sss what some folkses sssay."
His subsequent rise to fame did not come overnight. Starting with small clubs in Bree,
Laketown, Dale and other lesser venues, he began to build a small but intensely loyal
following. The people of Middle Earth, lovers of music of all sorts, quickly took to
the simple guitar and lyrics of the blues that HWG played. As he continued his rigorous
performing schedule his shows began to sell out and larger and larger sites were required
to meet the ever increasing demand for tickets to his performances. It wasn't long
before others began to imitate his style and then to go off and create their own versions
of the blues. As the spread of the Blues continued, HWG began to recruit musicians from
among the best of these new players and formed his first ensemble, "The Misty Mountain
Blues Band". Most of Middle Earth's best known blues musicians have at some point in
their careers played in the band, the most notable of which is Tom "Sticks" Bombadil who
brought the drums and harmonica into the band.
We caught up with HWG and co. on his most recent tour in between stops at Osgilliath and
Minas Tirith where the tour was scheduled to come to an end. At the time of this writing
he had been rejoined by original members of the band including Bombadil on drums, "Magic"
Thror Hammerhelm on bass, Lorielien "Ears" Morningstar on rhythm guitar (she has since
gone to the Havens) and of course the legendary harpist (harmonica for non-blues fans)
Ted "Maximum Hairfoot" Lowenstien, best known for his own hit singles, "The Hairfoot Stomp"
and "I Ain't Got No Ham For My Eggs Blues".
The interview begins as the band is coming off stage at the Osgilliath Center For
Performing Arts and ends just before what is now considered to be the career defining
show at the Gondor Outdoor Pavillion.
-The Runt
TR: You don't seem to want to talk a lot about your past. Why is that?
HWG: Yeah, a lot of y'all asksess me that. Truth is, I ain't got a lot to say 'bout it.
TR: How come? A lot of people who are great fans of yours would like to know. It would certainly end a great deal of speculation.
HWG: Water under the bridge man.
TR: Some say it was Bombadil that pulled you out of the fire at Orodruin. Any comment?
(Howling Wolf Gollum just smiles and shakes his head)
TR: Why not?
HWG: (laughs) Gotsess my reasons.
TR: That's it?
HWG: What y'all think?
TR: Is that why you put him in your band?
HWG: Nah, Old Tom can play. Best backbeat in Middle Earth.
TR: What really happened at the Gladden Fields?
HWG: Heavy stuff man. Bad, bad, heavy stuff.
TR: Like what?
HWG: Oh man. . . (refuses to say anything further)
TR: When you first found the Ring, did you know what it was?
HWG: No man. I mean I knew it was like, something special dig? But I didn't know how special.
TR: Might even say it was precious?
HWG: Wouldn't be the first time.
TR: In The Redbook, and There and Back Again a lot of harsh words were spoken about you by Bilbo, Sam Gamgee and others. Any hard feelings?
HWG: Byegonesses man. I'm the last one should be holdin' grudges.
TR: All of the Ringbearers except for you have been able to go to Valinor. How does that make you feel?
HWG: How should it make me feel?
TR: Don't you wish you could have gone too? Does being left behind make you feel left out?
HWG: (laughs) Left out? Oh man! Could you imagine me over there, with all them Elveses? I don't think so. Nah man, I'm happy right here, singin' the Blues with my friends for all these good people. Me in Valinor, that's funny.
TR: You had the ring for hundreds of years and it left quite a mark on you. Do you ever miss it?
HWG: (a faint glow comes into his eyes then quickly fades) I don't miss it so much like I used to y'know? I mean it's more like after you wake up from a dream and can only remember bitses and piecesss.
TR: Would you like to have it again, just once more for "old times sake"?
HWG: No.
TR: No?
HWG: No.
(We are interrupted at this point by the members of the band returning from the backstage party. Bombadil stops to join us. He and HWG shake hands.)
Tom: Nice show G. Missed you at the party.
HWG: Just don' a Q & A with this nice young fellah here.
TR: Tom Bombadil.
Tom: Ring-ding-a-dillo. (to HWG) He treating you alright? Old Tom knows lots of songs for nosey journalists.
TR: (squeak)
HWG: (laughs) Yeah man, everything is cool. This one's alright.
TR: Yeah, I'm being nice, I promise.
Tom: Well as long as he's showing the proper respect. I'm going to get changed, we're going to be rolling out pretty soon. You coming?
HWG: Be along in a minute man.
Tom: Alright, see you at the bus. And you, you be nice.
TR: Yes sir.
(Tom leaves)
TR: Wow. That's a good friend to have.
HWG: The best there is man.
TR: He doesn't seem too crazy about reporters though.
HWG: Did you read the Redbook? Would you want to come off looking like that?
TR: Good point. I haven't seen Goldberry around. Is she here?
HWG: Nah man. She don't like the road scene much.
TR: How about you? You were "off the market" for some time. Everyone knows that with fame comes the inevitable groupies. How do you deal with them?
HWG: One at a time baby, one at a time.
(at this point HWG excuses himself to get ready to leave for Minas Tirith)
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