On the Line: Nick Lowe tells us why he teamed up with Los Straitjackets

Singer-songwriter Nick Lowe is coming to Australia in February 2020, it’ll be his first tour down under in seven years. This time round he’s teamed up with Lucha Libre mask wearing band Los Straitjackets.

Speaking to OUTinPerth Lowe told us how he came to be recording and working with the American band and collaborating with them to put a new spin on his many hits.

The British musician has a long history both as a performer and a producer, and his songs have often been covered by a wide range of artists.

He wrote the classic What’s So Funny ’bout Peace Love and Understanding when he was a member of 70’s band Brinsley Schwarz. The song found a new generation of fans when it was covered in the 80’s by Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and Lowe made a small fortune when a version recorded by Curtis Stigers was included on the soundtrack to The Bodyguard.

His other hits include songs like Cruel to Be Kind and I Knew the Bride When She Used to Rock ‘n Roll, I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass and many others. He was a member of the group Little Village with Ry Cooder, John Hiatt and Jim Keltner, and has also played with country legend Johnny Cash.

Lowe was previously married to Cash’s step-daughter Carlene Carter, the country music icon recorded Lowe’s song The Beast In Me as part of his American Recordings series of albums..

Lowe’s also made his mark as a producer, he worked with Elvis Costello, The Damned, The Pretenders, THe Men They Couldn’t Hang, John Hiatt and Paul Carrack.

Listen to our conversation with Nick Lowe as he chats to Graeme Watson about his latest collaborations, the trick to writing a good song, and his thoughts of a new biography of his life that has just been released.

Lowe and Los Stritjackets will play Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Sunday 16th February, Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Tuesday 18th of February, before heading up to Brisbane for a show at The Tivoli on Wednesday 19th February, then Perth’s Astor Theatre on Friday 21st February before bringing things to a close with a show at The Gov in Adelaide on 23rd February. Tickets are on sale now.

Graeme Watson