Loud and Proud RecordsThe latest incarnation of Blackfoot released its new studio album, Southern Native, earlier this month. While the band’s young lineup features no original members, founding Blackfoot frontman — and longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist — Rickey Medlocke was heavily involved in the project.
Medlocke tells ABC Radio that he and his manager initially were skeptical about getting involved in the new version of Blackfoot, but in the end he had “an incredible time” working on the album.
“We just thought maybe it might be kind of weird that all of a sudden you had four unheard-of guys, brand-new guys that had nothing to do with the original ‘Foot,” he admits, but he decided to take part on the condition that he’d serve as producer, while also contributing songs, guitar work and some backing vocals to the album.
Medlocke says that along with producing and mixing Southern Native, he wound up co-writing five or six of its songs, two of which date back more than 20 years — the title track and “Everyman.”
“The band took them and made the songs [their own,]” notes Rickey, “and when they brought them to me in the form that they had ’em I just loved it.”
Medlocke tells ABC Radio that he’s happy that the new lineup is carrying on the band’s legacy.
“It’s like all of a sudden I had children and all of a sudden they’ve grown up and they want to play Blackfoot material,” gushes Medlocke.
He adds, “I had an incredible time producing this record with these guys. A lot of talent that you don’t come across just every day. And, man, it’s been a labor of love, and I…actually can’t wait to do the next one.”
You can check out Blackfoot’s official video for Southern Native‘s title track now on YouTube.
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