By Lynda Hollenbeck
The Benton Courier
March 31, 2003

A Benton man soon will have a new CD out - a project done in collaboration with his longtime friend, actor/musician/director Billy Bob Thornton of Malvern roots.

Michael Shipp and Thornton are planning a performing tour after the release of the CD, Shipp said.      

Shipp also is reeling from a recent musical venture in Austin, Texas, he shared with Thornton and other friends in the music industry.      

At the Austin event, Shipp said "a thousand or so bands were there for showcase performances in the 10th annual SXSW Music and Film Festival."

This was an experience he's not likely to forget. Shipp described the scene in Austin this way: "World famous for its live entertainment and home to a vast array of artists and musicians, Austin boasts its own atmosphere of cool factor ooze."

The event was especially exciting for him "because it was the first year for me to attend the annual event as a performer. My longtime music collaborator - one of those famous Hollywood types, Billy Bob - had once again summoned me with my guitar in hand," Shipp said.

"It seems we were pulling the band together for a special little engagement at this year's SXSW to debut our new material on the soon to be released CD we worked on last year," he explained.

He noted that Thornton also was in Austin in conjunction with his work in an upcoming movie. "It's a very authentic effort to recreate 'The Alamo,'" he said.

 "Billy plays Davy Crockett, and should you compare a real picture or description of old Davy and get the John Wayne image out of your head, you will see what an amazing resemblance to the real deal Billy is pulling off.

 "This should be one of his most exciting roles," Shipp predicted, adding that it's "a major Disney production."

 The band was in Austin for three days of rehearsal, a brief performance and a trip or two to the movie set, Shipp said.

 "Speaking of the movie set, they have rebuilt outside Austin a complete replica of the Alamo," he said. "It's so eerie ... and standing in the old-style mission, you realize what a huge task these poor brave men were up against."     

 "Billy and I were looking at the 'wall' on the side of the compound that Davy was asked to guard against Santa Anna's army. In my head, I would have assumed it would be a big, tall wall, like Fort Apache or something. In fact, it was no more than about a six-foot picket fence.

 "Without a doubt, when Crockett was put in charge of this task, he and his men knew they were going to die. While this is not a new revelation, it really hit home to me what a sad event this was, and it gave me cold chills, not unlike when I have stood at the USS Arizona Monument in Pearl Harbor.

 "Not to blow my John Wayne image here, but the emotions overflowed ... even at 6 feet 4 and a big old boy by any standards," he said.

 Shipp said it seemed a "fitting time to tie into today's current events," especially knowing his son Randy is currently stationed with the Air Force in Tacoma, Wash.

He predicts the movie will "be awesome for those interested in history and great movies."
 

Shipp said it was exciting for the band to come together again. "Some of us had not seen each other since our Private Radio World Tour ended last July," he said.

 "Billy and I had recorded some new tunes over in Memphis late last year and he had completed most of the CD at his home in LA," he said.

 "Our show at Austin Music Hall was an exciting one," he said. The bill included Daniel Lanois, followed by the Billy Bob Thornton Band and then the Yardbirds, who were the "original rhythm section from the '60s blues band that helped create the British invasion and left us with some famous guitarists named Clapton, Page and Beck."

In Austin the band "featured a special guitarist, including our good friend, Slash, as well as Skunk Baxter from the Doobie Brothers and Steve Vai."

 "We were all set and ready to debut our new music for the full-blown rock show ... Those around here who know me know that I was all over that idea.

"We hit the stage running," he said, opening with a song called "Emily."

He described "Emily" as a "cool little tune written by Billy Bob's late brother, Jimmy."

About a year ago, Shipp arranged the song - the saga of a waitress - from a living-room demo version Thornton's brother had left behind.

 "Jimmy's songs are very important to Billy, as well as myself, since I actually knew Jimmy before I knew Billy Bob," he said.

Shipp was pleased with the performance. "I think we served her up well to a packed house at the Austin Music Hall. Billy was in fine form and a tremendous audience response followed."

 Following "Emily" was a song called "Island Avenue," which features Shipp and his guitar,"Goldie."

"Some cool folks were in front of me on the stage and were yelling at me," he said. "I don't know how some even knew my name, but they had done their homework.

 "As a finale, Billy Bob did an unplanned thing," Shipp said. "He bounced back to the drums and laid down a back beat while the band went into an impromptu jam for about 10 minutes," he said.

That kind of move carries some risk, Shipp said, but worked in this case. "I think the crowd was really digging this. Billy and I are old-school at this; it's something we grew up doing," he added.

Daniel Lanois joined the band for some of the performance, he said. "You might recognize Dan from his amazing soundtrack work on 'Sling Blade' (Thornton's Oscar-winning movie that was shot in Benton)."

 Lanois also produced Bob Dylan's "Time Out of Mind" CD and many U2 records, he said.

"Dan came out and did a version of Johnny Cash's 'Long Black Veil.'"

Another friend, Tommy Shaw - of STYX fame - sang a brand new tune, "Desperate One," with Thornton, he said.

"By the time we got to a new song Billy and I just finished - called 'Everybody Lies' - the Austin Horns had joined the band," Shipp said. "This new song has that Memphis vibe all over it. We love this tune and we had written it together because the subject matter hits home for us.

"My best friend in the music business, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, had bolted over from Houston. Billy G. is about the nicest cat you will ever meet. He took me to a few of Austin's finest places ... "

 Reminiscing about an event that occurred in the Saline County area during the 1970s, Shipp said, "Anybody remember the outdoor concerts in Thomas' field at the 114 exit way back in 1976 or so?  Billy Bob and I got to open or perform in one of the old local bands right before Richie Havens. That was the last time either of us had seen him.

 "He spoke well of the show and of Arkansas ... it was my honor to introduce him to Billy Gibbons. Talk about some rock history between those two ... Richie was at Woodstock, the real one, back in 1969."

 Also backstage for the Austin event was Joe Ely, who has some Arkansas (Searcy) ties, Shipp said. Calling him a "nice guy," he said he "still looks like the Guns and Roses rocker and wails on the guitar."

 He also saw Ian Moore, describing him as "an old friend and guitar player."

"Ian had a part in 'Sling Blade,'" Shipp said. "We reminisced about what a great time we had while filming that movie here in Benton. Ian loved the long jam sessions we would have in my studio while the cast and crew came out to hang during the filming a few years back."

For the next two days, Shipp visited with industry friends, including John Briggs, vice president of ASCAP in Nashville.

He said Briggs helped him network and preview the new CD, the "Michael Shipp Excursion" (Adventures of Roosterboy,) which is due out in about a month.

"John introduced me to several new Austin friends, including Louis Meyer, one of the founders of SXSW and a staple in the Austin music scene.   My CD got some really great reviews and acceptance, which excited me," he said.

 "We had a swell little time in Austin, down on 6th Street," he said. "If you were there, I hope you enjoyed our show and new music. Billy Bob and I hope to see everyone at a show later this year."