Das Interview mit Matt Bissonette

I think there was like 65,000 people there from what I heard and it was a blast! The fun thing was that we didn't have any time to go over any of the songs and it's been several months since we've played together but once we hit the stage it was like we never left from a couple years ago. These guys are all great musicians and everybody remembered their parts, pretty cool!

eltonjohn-fan.de:

Are any more shows planned? Possibly in Europe or even in Germany?

Matt:

We're doing a one off in Anaheim at the end of October, in a few weeks and we are also playing in Dubai sometime in November, it's been really fun doing the one off's because every gig is completely different.

eltonjohn-fan.de:

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour has been over for more than two years. Is there anything special you always look back on fondly? Is there anything you miss?

Matt:

I miss hanging out with all the guys because it was really one big family. It was fun playing the songs every night but it was really fun also to go from .8 to point B every day and go to new cities and meet new people and walk around some amazing places. I can't say I miss the grueling travel schedule but I do miss being with the band and making music every day.

eltonjohn-fan.de:

We met several times during the tour, and you even signed our Goodbye Yellow Brick Road LP, as did all the other band members. How did you perceive the fans in Germany?

Matt:

I love the fans in Germany. I had a band called the mustard seeds that were signed by a German label back in 1994. We played Rockem ring and we performed in many German cities for several months so I got to know many German fans, very nice people and down to earth. It was always fun meeting people there and you guys know your music and that makes us feel good.

eltonjohn-fan.de:

What do you do when you're not on stage with Elton? Are you involved in other musical projects, or do you have your own projects?

Matt:

I have a lot of projects that I'm working on, I have a band called the reddcoats and a band called the squirts. I also have a jazz record that's coming out the middle of October and try to keep busy doing whatever I can, I love to write music and I love to play pickle ball and do a lot of things outside of Music.

eltonjohn-fan.de:

Which bassist has inspired you the most and why?

Matt:

I can't say there's one Bass Player that's inspired me more than another, I love Peter Cetera, D Murray, Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller. Neil Orsted Peterson, many different bass players in many different combinations of styles of music.

eltonjohn-fan.de:

Do you play any other instruments besides bass?

Matt:

When I write music I play guitar piano, I sing a lot but I don't consider myself very proficient on any of them but I can get through a tune

eltonjohn-fan.de:

Your on-stage outfit reminds me a lot of the Blues Brothers. Could you have imagined playing in the Blues Brothers Band in the past?

Matt:

I would have loved to play with the blues Brothers, that was an awesome band and I love that they are on a mission from God!

eltonjohn-fan.de:

Music is your great passion. Do you have any other passions or hobbies that you pursue in your free time?

Matt: I love music but if I do it too much I go kind of crazy. I love sports and I love going for long walks and going to movies and just doing stuff that's different than music, too much music makes Jack a dull boy so I try and balance out my life with a lot of other things.

eltonjohn-fan.de:

At least: Can you tell us a funny story about you and Elton?

Matt:

We were once doing a TV show, the Stephen Colbert show a few years ago and it was national cancer day so we all wore mustaches when the camera started rolling. I looked at Elton and he looked at me and then looked at all the other members of the bands and we could not stop laughing, we almost had to reshoot the whole thing but it was really really funny!

Thanks for having me buddy, hope all is well with you.

eltonjohn-fan.de: Thank you so much Matt for answering our questions