Preston Hubbard - The Fabulous Thunderbird's
Recording Industry & Musician Interviews

A Pizzazz Magazine Exclusive

Publisher Don Lemmon

Pizzazz Magazine: First of all, what is a day in your shoes like? What do you do from waking to hitting the hay each day?

Preston Hubbard: Not much these days, when I'm home. Mundane shit: cleaning, cooking, chillin' with my pups and girlfriend, on the computer a lot with the world, watching movies, listening to music, all that. Total h omebody when I'm home. On tour is a whole different story, of course: travel, check in to the hotel, sound check, dinner, gig, party a little....start all over again!

Pizzazz Magazine: What would you say is the highlight of your life so far and how does it compare to your overall goals?

Preston Hubbard: Playing with so many greats over the years: T-Birds, Stevie Vaughan, Bonnie Raitt, Big Joe Turner, Roy Eldridge, Count Basie, Santana, Roomful of Blues, Cleanhead Vinson, on and on. Too many to list. I have been very lucky in my life and career. I achieved my goals back in the day, but will play until I die (like all my heroes). Maybe the big time will happen again. If not, it's all good. Playing good music is the thing...

Pizzazz Magazine: Who was the first person to tell you getting into what you are known for was a crazy idea? At what point did you agree (even if it was momentarily)?

Preston Hubbard: No one ever did that. My family and friends always supported me. I never regretted giving my life to music, even through the hard times. That's the problem with so many youngstas these days: they want instant fame and fortune and to be instant rock stars. That ain't what it's all about. You gotta love what you do and love the music, and then maybe...maybe...you'll get lucky and hit the "big time".

Pizzazz Magazine: Have you made contacts using the internet that you know you wouldn't have if it weren't for the web being so accessible?

Preston Hubbard: Absolutely!! I have friends across the world who I met online. Some I have never met in person, but we have true friendships going on. The internet and my web site also brought me back to my family and many old friends when I returned to the world. That would not have been possible back in the day.

Pizzazz Magazine: Funny how it usually works. We grow up wanting to be firefighters or nurses, then due to the glory of media, rock stars, actors, etc. and then reality sits in... We end up being ourselves... Good or bad... What's your story?

Preston Hubbard: We always loved the music first and foremost. Everyone I ever played with. Of course, we wanted to be rock stars, but didn't count on the dream. Everyone I knew and played with went through very, very hard times. A constant struggle. I got lucky with the T-Birds...it was chemistry, luck, timing, a good record company, and most of all talent and perseverance! It's always good to end up being yourself!

Pizzazz Magazine: What one thing haven't you done you would still like to?

Preston Hubbard: That's easy! Play with The Stones! I know them, but have never had the opportunity to play with them. Other than that, I've pretty much done everything I ever wanted.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me one of the negative aspects of your field that everyone needs to know. Do not say there are none! The biggest lie about your work is:

Preston Hubbard: Well, back in our day, it was the whole lifestyle. Sex, drugs, and rock n roll ain't no joke, and very, very easy to get caught up in. I am proof of that. Fun, but it catches up to you. Another negative is all the down time...driving or flying, waiting around (hurry up and wait), etc. There's a lot of mundane time leading up to that exciting and fun time on stage. A lot of people think it's all exciting, all a party. Many friends who went out with us would bail fast and go home. They saw the reality. The other main downside is "the business" end of it. Those people have nothing to do with the music or artistry. With few exceptions, I hated dealing with them. So did all my boyz.

Pizzazz Magazine: What are your 5 favorite or most frequently visited websites?

Preston Hubbard: I would have to say my email sites which are my link to the world. And MySpace. It's a good networking site, and I have met quite a few friends there. Al-Jazeera for uncensored news from a different perspective  (I read it every day), and New York Times and Yahoo for in-country news.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me something people do not realize about you, maybe it's not a secret, maybe it's not anything special, but it is something no one else has ever asked you about until now. What's boring to you is news to everyone else...

Preston Hubbard: I can't think of a thing. My life is an open book...it's all up on my website and in countless articles. My friends know the private me, which is really no different than the public me. I guess most people don't know what a homebody I am. I enjoy being an unmarried "househusband". Cooking, cleaning, all that.

Pizzazz Magazine: What's the craziest thing you have experienced in your work? Maybe it's something you witnessed and didn't participate in, but what would shock us, make us laugh or show us another side to things besides the obvious...

Preston Hubbard: Damn! There are a lot of stories. I can't even remember them all! They rioted over us in Belgium once, and we had a line of cops in front of the stage. A lot of serious drug use, but that's rock n roll normality. A few orgies. I spent the night with a lesbian couple in Australia, which was fun. I don't know...it was all crazy, but normal to us.

Pizzazz Magazine: Anything embarrassing happen when YOU were trying to look cool? What? Embarrassing and crazy are different things!

Preston Hubbard: Oh, I'm sure. But I can't remember anything specific, and definitely never on stage. I'm sure other people could probably come up with a few situations.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell us a few sites that friends of yours own that would appreciate a plug:

Preston Hubbard: mikelawblues.com/home.htm (up and coming youngsta from CT) planetjerome.com/misstayva/ (retro pinup and mi carnalita from AZ) pinupglamour.com/ (gorgeous retro pinup and true sweetheart Kay O'Hara) candyekane.com/ My hard working baby from Cali. Great blues singer. I'm on her new record. tonyvegaband.com/index.html Mi carnal from Houston. I record and tour with him. The rest are well known, and don't need plugs from me!

Pizzazz Magazine: The biggest PLUS FACTOR about your line of business is:

Preston Hubbard: The pleasure that I get from playing music, and just as importantly, the wonderful people I have met throughout the years.

Pizzazz Magazine: Did the people around you change when you went out looking to succeed in this field? Sometimes those who weren't so supportive in the beginning, suddenly become supportive or possibly vice versa; they became thorns in your side....

Preston Hubbard: No, my friends have always been my friends, and still are, despite time and distance. Any "thorns" were already assholes, and I dealt with them as such. They didn't get a chance to "change around me".

Pizzazz Magazine: What question makes you crazy whenever asked and hopefully saying so here will prevent it from being asked again?

Preston Hubbard: None! For real! I have always loved talking to fans, either in person or via email. I have always enjoyed interviews. Non of it ever gets old, or any particular question. It's a pleasure and honor that someone cares to know.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who do you see on TV, in film or hear on the radio that just makes you wonder how in the hell they got where they are?

Preston Hubbard: Most of the bands that are out there today. The terrible 5th gen hair salon "punk rockers", some of the hip hop people, The Pixies (they are and always were awful, and have a huge young following now), most of the country bands and singers, the poser bands, Keanu Reeves, Fox News announcers, on and on.  I don't know...I'm an old curmudgeon and hate anything that's not real, or talentless people who get over somehow.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me a joke! Hell yeah!

Preston Hubbard: A kid says to his father, "Dad, I want to be a musician when I grow up"!

His dad replies, "Son, you can't have it both ways"!

Pizzazz Magazine: What music group do you listen to most often and what is their best album?

Preston Hubbard: The Stones (since I was 14)...all their records

Pizzazz Magazine: Who should hang up their hat in your business? Why?

Preston Hubbard: Anyone who doesn't truly love what they are doing, and are willing to dedicate their lives to it through thick and thin! All posers. All wannabe rock stars!

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me your favorite movie genre, name a few titles, think video rental or dvd's you own and watch the most:

Preston Hubbard: Probably drama: American Me, Man on Fire, Crash, American History X, A Beautiful Mind, Colors, Training Day, Sid & Nancy, anything by Scorcese and Coppola, anything with Bogart...pretty much true-to-life drama.

Pizzazz Magazine: What TV show do you miss from childhood... I used to love Land of the Giants and Dance Fever (kidding on that one)....

Preston Hubbard: Hmmmm....don't really miss any of them. We didn't have a TV for a long time. Maybe Ed Sullivan...

Pizzazz Magazine: Ever had someone from your past try and track you down and bug the tar out of you? I know this seems like the same questions as, "did people change" but it isn't meant to be.... Maybe we can put a little tact in people's future efforts here...

Preston Hubbard: People track me down all the time via my website, and rarely bug me. They are all respectful, or become friends. The IRS maybe?

Pizzazz Magazine: If you were anyone besides yourself, who would you be (even for just a day, on a good day, of course) and did you emulate them growing up or is this a recent admiration you have acquired?

Preston Hubbard: Keith Richards...just to be in his head and have his innate talent. Always been a hero of mine (though there are many, many others).

Pizzazz Magazine: Who in your business would you like to say, "Hey, remember the time someone hooked you up and now look where you are? How about hooking me up with... (blank)?" Insert the BLANK....

Preston Hubbard: Chuck Leavell, who is a good friend and toured/recorded with us for a long time. He's been with The Stones now for a longer time. Hook me up, Chuck (and not just the passes,but I love you for that).

Pizzazz Magazine: What did we forget?

Preston Hubbard: Nada! You seem to have covered it all pretty well. The rest is on my website!!

Visit Preston Hubbard's Official Website: CLICK HERE