Celebrity Travel: Go away with Michael Lockwood
Musician Michael Lockwood has done it all. He’s collaborated with Fiona Apple, Carly Simon and Susanna Hoffs. And with his band Lions & Ghosts, he toured with an eclectic array of groups, including Love and Rockets, the Alarm and Guns N’ Roses. Most importantly, he is a father to 14-year-old twins Harper and Finley. (Their mother is Lisa Marie Presley.) Today, the Los Angeles-based guitarist, songwriter and producer is promoting a digital re-release of Lions & Ghosts’ 1985 debut album “Velvet Kiss, Lick of The Lime.” The album will be available on all digital streaming platforms on Sept. 9, followed by their new single "Gurl I Love You" on Sept. 16.
Q: Why did you choose to re-release an album versus making a record of all new songs?
A: There are a few reasons for wanting to re-release it. I believe it is a good album and, sadly, you cannot open up any streaming apps and find it. We were an odd band for that period. It would be big-headed to say we were the Big Star of the eighties, but maybe that's a way to describe what we went through. Because that first record did not do as well as we hoped, we stupidly headed in every direction instead of sticking to our guns. You live, you learn. In some odd way, I also wanted to do this for my children and the other members of Lions & Ghosts. I have the energy, I have the record label (Sparkle Plenty) and I wanted to share this with everyone.
Q: Do you remember writing any of these songs on the road?
A: All these songs were brewed and simmered in a bedroom or rehearsal hall. We spent countless hours jigsawing this first record together. I have spent time writing and recording on the road and I love it. A hotel room is a great place to work.
Q: Where did you perform your first concert?
A: My first concert was in Bakersfield, California. I was 16 and I performed at the local college. My first tour was with Lions & Ghosts. We toured the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, Nevada and Texas. It's something I will never forget. A cargo van with five people. It had two seats. I slept on an Ampeg SVT bass cabinet for a few weeks. My back still remembers it.
Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: Picture a 1968 fastback Mustang with a stack of phone books in the back seat so I could see out the window. We drove to Tijuana, Mexico – my parents and I. It was so fascinating. I didn't know any Spanish. All the bright colors and music filled the streets. There were as many donkey carts as there were cars. To this day, I have never lost my love for Mexican food.
Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
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