Polish poet and musician A.J. Kaufmann recently interviewed the great Dave Bixby for Third Eye Psych Rock to discuss psychedelia, pirates, and creativity.
Hi David, it’s so nice to talk with you on behalf of The Third Eye. What’s new in your world?
We have known each other for a few years now and it’s fun to interview with you Adam. The Third Eye is a great name, to me it means insight. Recently I have been setting up a European tour in April starting with London. The exact times and places will come out on My Facebook and Harbinger Magazine.
I recently bought your brilliant new album “Terraferma (Welcome to Earth)” released in 2024 on Guerssen. Can you tell us more about the creation and meaning of this work?
Terraferma are songs written over the years that never got recorded. This may be my last musical statement.
Do you think your rich past has led to the creation of “Terraferma”, or is it rather a new future?
You got it right! This body of work points to the future. When we are born, we don’t have a manual on how to live and where we come from. (“You were a spirit child before your birth”)
“Ode To Quetzalcoatl”. A classic and an album that made you a Legend. What are your memories of creating this work?
1969 I was invited to high schools, colleges and churches to do concerts. Many people encouraged me to record these songs, so the birth of Ode To Quetzalcoatl was born. The order of the songs on the recording is the same order as the songs in the concerts I performed.
“Second Coming” by Harbinger took the debut’s essence and took it further. Until the Harbinger Orchestra materialized. Can you tell us more about this beautiful project – the Orchestra?
Over the Years many artists asked for permission to record these songs for themselves. So, I created Harbinger Orchestra to present their renditions to the public.It was rewarding to hear the excellent job these artists did with their arrangements. Check them out at Dave Bixby Bandcamp.
Your life has been exceptionally inspiring and rich in adventure. How do you keep yourself on the creative path? What are your most valuable adventures?
Out of boredom comes the inspiration for adventure. I was in a shipwreck and had a near death experience. That made a significant change in my life. We get used to being alive. When I gave myself up for dead life went deeper and more precious.
What does the word “psychedelic” mean to you?
Psychedelic means adventure and letting go of who you think you are and rewiring the brain. What you are is different than who you are. What I am is a guitar player. Who I am is in the music.
I first heard about your work around 2008/2009 when “Ode To Quetzalcoatl” surfaced on the many music blogs popular then. What are your thoughts on the internet? I love your song “Cyber Pirates”.
Many musicians took songs from the internet and resold them through bandcamp and other platforms. Artists recorded my work for their own albums without the courtesy of asking me. An individual copyrighted my work in his name. I was helpless to do anything about it and felt ripped off. I wrote the song “Cyber Pirates” with the revelation the pirates were advertising me and giving me popularity. The pirates introduced my work in a way I wasn’t. Now I am grateful toward them. This was a good question and a transformation of my attitude. I have Guerssen Record label from Spain protecting and promoting my work.
Do you have any new favorite artists to share with us? Do you think, apart from the Harbinger Orchestra, that there are people out there who will continue your work and path?
No new artist has caught my ear. I am steeped in the folk-Rock music of my time. I can feel the audiences of Europeans appreciate the words and content of these songs. It brings the best out of me in front of a live audience. I hope people will continue to rearrange my work to their own style long after I am gone. I see that most of my audience is the same age as I was when I composed these songs. This music is more for soul searching than entertainment. It is rite of passage!
It is! Thank you so much for chatting with The Third Eye, and hope to talk again soon!
– A.J. Kaufmann
https://windwege.wordpress.com/
https://ajkaufmann.bandcamp.com/
Dave Bixby 