New Zealand Interview with Jimmy

Simon Sweetman, writer of the New Zealand Blog on the Tracks, has an excellent interview with Jimmy Buffett as he prepares to head Down Under for three shows in Australia and another in Auckland, NZ.

“I worked out long ago that I’m an average singer, I’m an average guitar player. I’m okay as a musician but nothing flash. But I can tell entertaining stories; I can pack in a lot of material and create a great atmosphere. That’s the party that people come for and that’s what I want to offer – a great amount of fun, a huge party. I’m an entertainer – and I’m very proud of the work I do. I think we do it well; I’ve got a great band.”

And he works hard too. I point out that his last year off – without a tour – was 1983. Buffett laughs hard and says, “yep, that was a lazy year, that one, but I’ve made up for it ever since. I must take another year off – sometime. But I’m lucky: most of what I do is not really work. I’ll make an album, play some shows. I’ll then spend half the year sailing and surfing.”

Read the full interview here.