Shouldn't it be Tom Petty opening for Steve Winwood?
Culturally, in terms of importance -- absolutely.
Winwood responded enthusiastically when I asked him in an interview last week about Detroit artists he revered. He immediately mentioned touring with the Funk Brothers a few years back.
"I toured with the Funk Brothers around Europe and England...I just had a wonderful time with them. I used to tell them all the time, you guys can do it without me. They were so nice, and I loved singing those songs. I was singing some Junior Walker songs, a Marvin Gaye song and a Shorty Long -- 'Function at the Junction.' Fantastic stuff. I've always been a big big fan of that sound. I also sang 'Things I Do For You' by Junior Walker..."
He was calling from his home in England. Now that his young children are in school, he and his American-born wife spend more time there than in her home city of Nashville.
Winwood on his new album, "Nine Lives": "We cut it live in the studio and it's the same band I have with me on the road. It's great fun to play this stuff. I love playing live, getting on stage, seeing the reaction. It'll be interesting to see how the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers audience reacts to some of my stuff."
On his recent show with friend and former bandmate Eric Clapton in New York City:
"It was very exciting for me to play with him on the Madison Square Garden shows ...since I left playing with Eric, back in the '60s now he's become a great singer and a great bandleader as well, he didn't want to do either of those things when I played with him back in the '60s. Now he's a great singer/bandleader and of course guitarist."
Although many singers his age -- 60 -- have to adjust the key they sing in downward, Winwood hasn't had to make many such accomodations, that famous soulful wail is pretty much intact.
"I'm 60 years old now and a you can't do what a 25 year old can do, but I try to tailor what I write according to my abilities now and hopefully, it sounds like it might have worked."
I am due a writer flogging today too, for muffing one of Winwood's most important songs, "Dear Mr. Fantasy" in the print edition. One word was off. Let's hope he plays it Saturday night, he is mixing up the "must-play" songs in each town.
Fans will want to watch this ABC Nightline video where he talks about some of his favorite songs.
You can reach Susan Whitall at (313) 222-2156 or swhitall@ http://detnews.com.
