Advice and Whiskey with John Dillon

Biz 417: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
John Dillon: A musician and a guitar player. I wanted to be doing exactly what I’m doing.

Biz: Talk to me about following your instincts.
J.D.: I’m very aware of a still, small voice. And I try to cultivate those possibilities where I’m in a spot where I can at least hear the sound. I think all artists are trying to just follow your own heart, your own dream.

Biz: Tell me what happens when an idea strikes.
J.D.: I’ll write it down if I can. I have drawers of little notes. The best songs I’ve ever written take only 10 or 15 minutes. It’s almost like they come from some other planet. It is amazing. I don’t take it lightly. I’m so grateful for that, because so few people get to do this.

Biz: Describe how it felt having a No. 1 hit.
J.D.: Once we had ‘Jackie Blue,’ then the suits wanted a ‘Jackie Green’ or a ‘Jackie Red.’ They wanted us to keep doing that ‘hit factory stuff,’ and we just couldn’t do that. We write what we write when we write, for whatever reason. And then we’re not gonna sit down and write another hit song, so it’ll make the record company more money. And what’s weird is that the record company respected that.

Biz: How do you handle criticism?
J.D.: I couldn’t care less. If you believe in what you’re doing, and you are absolutely dedicated to the path you’ve chosen, criticism is a waste of time on the part of the artist.

Biz: How does it feel entering your final year-long tour?
J.D.: I’d rather be working and go out with a bang as opposed to just sort of drifting away, into the fog. And the fact that we’re ending [the tour] in Springfield…I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s the right thing to do.