Out of the Blue: Life on the Road with Muddy Waters

by Brian Bisesi, Bob Margolin (foreword)

Out of the Life on the Road with Muddy Waters begins with a moment lifted from a young musician’s dreams. Brian Bisesi, a guitarist barely out of his teens, is invited on stage to fill in for a missing member of the band backing blues legend Muddy Waters. This life-changing quirk of fate opens the door into a world of challenges and opportunities that Bisesi, an Italian American reared in the comforts of a New York City suburb, can barely imagine. Despite their differences, Bisesi and Waters hit it off, and what might have been a one-night stand turns into a career. From 1978 to 1980, Bisesi works for Waters as his road manager, bean-counter, and at times his confidant, while often sitting in with the band.

Bisesi’s years with the band take him to Europe, Japan, Canada, and across the United States as Waters tours—and parties—with rock gods like Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, a Beatle, and the gamut of musicians who came of age with Waters and introduced a younger generation to the blues. In Out of the Blue, Bisesi captures it from the pranks and tensions among bluesmen enduring a hard life on the road, to observations about Waters’s technique, his love of champagne and reefer, his eye for women, and his sometimes-acrid views of contemporary music. Bisesi has sharp insights into the ill-conceived management decisions that led to the dissolution of Waters’s longest-serving band in June of 1980. This book will rivet, amuse, and occasionally infuriate blues aficionados. It is a raucous and intimate portrait of the blues scene at a pivotal moment in time that fascinates music historians and blues fans alike.

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2024

Reviews

[Diana Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the heart of the narrative lies Bisesi's firsthand experiences touring with Muddy Waters and the colorful cast of characters that populated his world. From the camaraderie and pranks shared among bluesmen enduring the hardships of life on the road, to intimate observations about Waters' technique, preferences, and personality quirks, Bisesi's storytelling is rich with detail and authenticity. Readers are transported back in time to an era when blues and rock music were undergoing a transformative evolution, and Muddy Waters stood at the forefront as a pioneering force.

[Joshua Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout the narrative, Bisesi's writing is infused with a deep passion for the blues, evident in his meticulous attention to detail and his reverence for the musicians who paved the way for future generations. His insights into the inner workings of Waters's band offer valuable perspectives for music historians and blues enthusiasts alike, shedding new light on a pivotal moment in the genre's evolution.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about the Blue Singer, Muddy Waters, and the author’s few years working/touring with him and his band. Written with much love for Muddy Waters and an interesting personal spin on what it’s like to tour with a band and all the interconnectedness of many musicians.