Charlie Starr, the frontman and guitarist of the renowned Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke, has long been associated with his 1955 Gibson J-45 acoustic guitar, which has been the starting point for many of the band’s songs. Starr often recalls, “I can sometimes hear a song from a recording of ours, and if I think hard enough, I can be like, ‘Oh yeah, I remember that that song started on this guitar in my living room.’”
On his current solo tour, Starr continues to bring along his J-45. The setlist for his shows includes acoustic renditions of Blackberry Smoke hits like “Hammer and the Nail,” “One Horse Town,” and “Azalea,” along with unique covers from artists such as Neil Young, Robert Johnson, and even Van Halen. “All the pomp and circumstance are stripped away,” Starr explains. “That’s the way these songs get written, so it’s taking it back to that type of instrumentation. I’m also telling stories and telling some lies and a little bit of the truth, and it’s just like we’re in a big living room.”
The solo performances feature guitarist Benji Shanks, who became part of Blackberry Smoke in 2018.
During a November Blackberry Smoke show, Starr had the rare opportunity to play the Gibson SG electric guitar once owned by late Lynyrd Skynyrd legend Gary Rossington. This guitar has been seen by Southern rock fans for many years and is particularly famous for its use in the Skynyrd anthem “Free Bird.” When asked about playing it, Starr shared, “I was absolutely blown away to have the opportunity to do that. I mean, honored is not the word. Honored, that word is not quite special enough sometimes, but it was really great.”
Starr recalled that two of Rossington’s Gibson SG guitars were brought to the show, and he chose one to play. “He only really ever played ‘Free Bird’ on that guitar. So I thought, ‘Wow, this guitar was used as a specific tool for a specific song,’ and I broke rank and played ‘Tuesday’s Gone’ on it,” Starr said. The emotional weight of the moment was compounded by the presence of Gary’s widow, Dale Rossington, and their daughters. “It was just really emotional,” Starr confessed. “It’s hard to not get emotional holding that guitar.”
Starr also mentioned having a similar emotional experience when playing Duane Allman’s guitar, though he had never met Allman personally. “Gary and Duane are giants when it comes to guitar and songwriting in the music that I love. They’re probably the two biggest giants. It’s not lost on me.”
Starr was asked if he felt the presence of Gary or Duane while playing their guitars, and he admitted that there was a palpable energy. “Gary’s, as soon as I played a note on it, it was like, wow, man. I had a similar experience a couple of months ago in Paris, where I played Steve Jones’ Les Paul from the Sex Pistols. You just hear certain things that ears have become accustomed to hearing, and it’s like, oh yeah, that’s it.”
On the topic of touring Europe with Blackberry Smoke, Starr reflected on why Southern rock connects so well with European audiences. “I don’t know why it does, other than the fact that maybe it’s working-class music. And it’s not particularly angry music, you know – it feels good. But it really connects with European audiences,” Starr said. “It’s amazing to watch. Specifically the U.K., but also Germany, France, Switzerland, and Sweden—they just eat it up.”
Starr’s connection to Southern rock history also includes his long-standing relationship with the Black Crowes. He shared an experience where he filled in on lead guitar for the Crowes in 2019. “Their guitar player at the time, Isaiah Mitchell, had to leave for a month, and Rich Robinson called and asked if I’d be interested in filling in. I was honored,” Starr recalled. “I love that music more than most. It’s part of the soundtrack of my life.”
Starr went on to describe the whirlwind experience of joining the band for a performance at the Stagecoach Festival in front of 30,000 people. “The first time I played those songs with Chris [Robinson] was on stage with no soundcheck. I think what he was saying was, ‘I expect you to do your job. I don’t need to babysit you.’”
Tragically, Blackberry Smoke drummer Brit Turner passed away in 2023, leaving a significant void in the band. Starr discussed how difficult it has been to carry on without him. “It’s hard. It continues to be. I mean, we all have moments where we’re just blubbering messes,” he shared. “He was my best friend too. He wouldn’t accept it if we wanted to stop. He would probably haunt me and reach through the cosmos and make me do it.”
Starr reflected on how Turner’s commitment to the business side of Blackberry Smoke helped shape the band’s success. “He created it. While the rest of us years ago were just happy to play songs and party, he was the one that was like, ‘No, no, this is a business, and this is how we do it.’”
Although Turner’s unique drumming style cannot be replaced, Starr expressed gratitude for the band’s continued momentum, thanks to drummer Kent Aberle. “We’ll continue to move forward, and I’ll miss him forever,” Starr said.
Related Topics
- Todd Sucherman Rejoins Sonor Drums in 2025: ‘Returning Home to This Brand is Not Something I Take Lightly’
- The Beatles’ Only Ringo Starr Drum Solo: A Rare Moment in ‘The End’
- Australian Guitar Quartet Unveils ‘Bach, Bossa, and Beyond’
