Greg Dulli is, as you would expect, a gentleman. Strolling into the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch on a February afternoon, he’s confident, courteous, and, of course, cool. That swagger is there, the one I’m familiar with from having seen him perform live countless times over the years – including Valentine’s Day 1999 in Boston, MA, Dulli totally in his element on such a night. But if I was expecting some sort of David Lee Roth-style "always on" entertainer persona, such thoughts are quickly dispelled. A consummate showman, yes, but I soon see that Greg Dulli brings this passion and intensity to whatever he’s doing, quieter now but no less focused, in the manner called upon by circumstance.
As we settle into the interview, it’s Dulli the fan who is talking enthusiastically about these albums and these bands. It’s obvious this huge love of music shaped the performer he is today and in the process inadvertently made The Afghan Whigs the best covers band of all time. Their versions of ‘Band Of Gold’, ‘Come See About Me’, TLC’s ‘Creep’, and ‘The Dark End Of The Street’ all bear witness to this, to name but a few. And live you never know what song Dulli will slip into at any given moment, from current chart hit to rock & roll classic.
"I knew stuff from the radio when I was young, although I was buying records as a five-year-old, 45s, singles. The first album I ever bought was a Jackson 5 record and I remember buying an Earth, Wind & Fire album, Queen’s A Day At The Races, Elton John maybe. Those were the first albums I remember buying."
One thing I have always respected about Greg Dulli is his care for the details. When he plays a concert in a city, he remembers specifics from the last times he performed there, recalling those gigs in his onstage banter. This interest in the particulars of the whole musical experience is also readily apparent as he takes me through these albums. Eager to get his facts correct about the records he loves, he checks his phone for the tiniest of technicalities. The delights these albums brought mean something to him and, like a gentleman, he is happy to share.
Do To The Beast is out now via Sub Pop. The Afghan Whigs are currently on tour in the U.S. before heading to festivals this summer; head here for full details. Click on the image below to begin scrolling through Greg’s choices
