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August / 2006
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Text and Photos by TIM HOLEK | |||||
 LIL' ED and TIM click to see a large image |
Blues is full of misconceptions and stereotypes. Those predetermined perspectives become altered once you get to know the sincerity of the music and its artists. Chicago’s wicked slide guitar master Lil’ Ed Williams is one artist who puzzles his audience. Under the guise of a careless fool, there is a complex man musically, spiritually, and personally. Williams & his Blues Imperials have been called “the world’s #1 houserockin` band". Mentored by his blues legend uncle, J. B. Hutto, Lil’ Ed formed The Blues Imperials in 1975. “J.B. was my idol. He was the man that I adored more than my father. My father left me when I was six years old and I haven’t seen him since. J.B. took a fatherly role for me and my brother Pookie.” The two brothers were actually keen about three of their uncles. From them they learned how to survive and treat people. When the uncles got together they would sing Gospel. “You could feel their tones coming through your body”. After performing Gospel they would break into some Percy Mayfield, Howlin’ Wolf, and Elmore James. “That’s how I learned a lot of those old songs.” Ed’s comprehensive knowledge of the blues was just one thing that caught the attention of Alligator Records’ founder Bruce Iglauer. |
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Except for a brief stint with Earwig Records, Ed has recorded exclusively for Alligator. He has just released his sixth Alligator CD Rattleshake. Like the previous five Alligator releases, Rattleshake was recorded live off the floor. On it, Williams embodies Alligator’s Genuine Houserockin’ Music. Ed possesses the uncanny ability to chip his guitar straight into your very being. Experience this firsthand on Maybe Another Time. The majority of these 13 in-your-face songs were written by Ed or his wife Pam. Half brother Pookie contributes additional originals, and there is the customary cover/tribute to Uncle J.B. Hutto. The subject matter of the songs – overcoming defeat, resisting temptation, having respect, loyalty, and responsibility – reveal Ed’s strongest values. |
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 With youthful rebellion, Leaving Here contains rollicking energy. It is boundless on Golden Rule where Ed’s guitar is a fireball. Unlike shooting stars, his positive energy does not fade quickly. Combined with a punk beat and Elmore James and J.B. Hutto inspirations, Ed’s slide guitar enthusiastically shouts and shrieks on Icicles In My Meatloaf. Williams’ gifted guitar talent receives exposure on ballads such as You Just Weren’t There. The diminutive dynamo takes the usual (“My baby’s gone”) lyric a step further on Nobody’s Fault But My Own. Here, he ain’t just singing the blues; he is asking for forgiveness and making a life transformation. You can feel it in his brazen guitar solo. |
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    LIL' ED WILLIAMS click to see a large image |
During a recent interview, Ed was jovial and jolly as he reflected upon his life. “My uncle told me, ‘Never try to over pick and never try to overplay’. When you hear those super guitar guys, they really aren’t saying anything, they are just playing. I can’t get into that style. But there are certain licks and certain notes that I hit, which grabs the people. I try to catch the audience off guard, so their reaction is wow where did that come from? People like to see me act a fool, you know that. And I like to act a fool because I like to see people smile.”  The way he sounds on CD is exactly the way he sounds when you hear him perform live. That’s because he always records live in the studio. “I can’t record any other way. I get the band together. We go to the garage, set up, rehearse, and get ourselves tight. Then we go into the studio and play”. Regarding the modern way of recording he said, “Everybody’s really trying to change things from the old school. If they change it in the right way then it’s good. There are some things that need to stay exactly the way they are. You can do a first take and it comes from your heart. Then you can do another take, because somebody wants you to do it, but you’re not really into it. You might hit the right notes, but the feeling isn’t there. A live record is live. If you hear a little glitch here and a little flop there, so what? You’re gonna get up and dance anyway”, laughed Ed.  Ed never uses a set list for his energetic shows. They are always 100% spontaneous. The chosen songs he performs one night will be entirely different the next night. When you watch him perform, he looks like he is having the time of his life. Wearing a colourful and signature fez, he fires notes while he is down on his knees, slides across the stage, performs duck walks and backbends, and pops his eyeballs out. He may fool you into temporarily believing that life is a breeze. It’s been anything but for Williams, who hit the ultimate low while addicted to street drugs. Regarding how he was able to overcome his serious street drug addiction, Ed seriously stated, “It wasn’t nothing but God. You have to seek a higher power because it takes more than you to do it. If it (kicking his habit) had a been left up to me, it wouldn’t have happened.” There was a time when he did drugs and booze daily. He felt like there was no way out. When his daughter told him you need to find somewhere else to go, he figured it was divine intervention. By then, he had met his future wife Pam. Finally, he got the strength and courage to leave and told his daughter, “I’m going to leave today and I won’t be back for a long time”. She hugged him and said, if that’s what it takes Dad, you gotta do what you gotta do. Then, he walked out and started heading towards the expressway where he had planned to meet Pam. “I turned the corner and I started running. I ran all the way to the expressway. I left everything I had at that house”. He began a new life with Pam, found a good counselor, and kicked his habits. “All those so called friends turned out not to be. But I got new friends now. I got my fans, and a real family and I got it good. With trust and faith you don’t worry about what’s behind you.” |
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 Obviously he is deeply convicted with his faith in God and Jesus. He has regularly played drums at his church. Most recently, he has begun a Gospel quartet at the church featuring his wife and brother-in-law. “At some point in your life you have to go in a different direction. Your life don’t stay the same all the time. If I can spend all these years singing this other music for myself and my fans, I can sing some years for the Lord.” For over 20 years, five foot one inch Lil’ Ed has been playing music that is full of animation and joy thanks to his singing slide guitar and friendly, honest voice. Ed’s tight-knit band has been playing together for so long, they know their every move. |
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made with Macintosh
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Rattle Shaking With 
The rhythm section – Kelly Littleton (drums) and James “Pookie” Young (bass) – locks tightly into each groove while Mike Garrett (guitar) rocks. Together, they perform real deal blues, which is raw and heavy. Their energetic music rocks like a bed in a brothel while the slide guitar barrels over you like a mighty machine. Yes, the songs do become repetitious, and each album tends to blend into the next. Don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a raucous, wild party without purpose. Lil’ Ed is in touch with his inner self and expresses it via jovial melodies and tough blues. Perhaps more than any other artist on Alligator’s active roster, Lil’ Ed Williams embodies the very reason Bruce Iglauer created his respected record label. 