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Fogarty: AFTER THE STORM is your newest CD. What makes this one so different?
LeDoux: Well, its more insightful, reflective.
Fogarty: Yes, but certainly in no way a downer.
LeDoux: You know, after kinda going through what I went through with my health and everything, and just realizing how solid my wife is and friends, family. The songs that I picked for this album were after I went through all of that, so it kinda has a little bit of that appreciative feeling, I hope.
Fogarty: It sounds trademark LeDoux, but I did pick up that it seemed a little more personal on this go-round, Chris. Was that by design?
LeDoux: Yeah. My producers Mac McAnally and Allen Schulman sent me lots of songs and it was like they were meant for me, like it was meant to be to make this record and use these songs. You know, after going through the ordeal Im just more appreciative. I was lucky to find these kind of songs too.
Fogarty: How did you decide on the title?
LeDoux: When they asked what should we call this thing. I said well, I went through a storm and it was after the storm, so lets go with it there and the songs laid down.
Fogarty: Your great rodeo tune Bareback Jack shows up on this CD too. There a story behind that?
LeDoux: Well, it was kind of an after thought. Bill Kennedy down at Capitol Records, hed been getting a lot of emails and comments on the Internet from fans and they wanted to hear that song. (Chris chuckles proudly.) So he talked me into re-recording it.
Fogarty: Please tell Bill your fans thank him. Now, in the future do you think youll be drawing up some of the older stuff and get it out there?
LeDoux: Well I kinda did that with COWBOY, which is the album before this one. I went back into the old stuff and we have a new box set, THE CAPITOL COLLECTION. I signed with Capital in 91, so itll be those projects up until 2000. Plus we added a couple old things. I found some older songs and redid them again as add-ons, you know, kinda extra cuts... so I have dug into the old, old stuff. Its kinda neat to breathe new life into it.
Fogarty: Are you planning on writing anymore new songs?
LeDoux: Well, you know, Id rather be outdoors, either building a barn or fixing a fence or irrigating or golfing or somethinganything but sittin in a room with a pencil and a guitar (he laughs).
Fogarty: From this Storm album, are there any songs that are your personal favorite?
LeDoux: Well, theres something special about every one of em.
Fogarty: What about the upbeat classic Dont It Make You Wanna Dance? ...And by the way, yes, it does!
LeDoux: Now that one is pretty special. Thats an old song from the 70s. Lyrically it hits right on the head about being back. Its good to see old friends. Yeah, thats a pretty emotional song. ...I cant think of the title of another one... (He sings the lyrics) Lord I aint been a prayin man, figure the whole worlds in your hands....
Fogarty: You mean, Daily Bread.
LeDoux: Yeah! To me, everything sorta centers around that one. Yeah, that was a tough song to get through. Had to stop and kinda relax and breathe a little bit.
Fogarty: Well, I know youre probably tired of answering questions about the transplant, Chris, but that had to be a tough experience for you. What did you do during that time? I mean, thats pretty intense stuff.
LeDoux: It was, yeah. You know, it all seemed to hit real fast and uh.... (he sighs and takes a moment to regroup)... and then the transplant itself, you know the donor came up very early. (He still sounds surprised by the odds.) Id only been sick for only maybe three months, four months, and then you know, heres a liver. So there wasnt a whole lot of time to think about it. But the recovery was really pretty rough. It was the oddest thing I ever went through in my life. My spirit just disappeared, like it crawled in a hole somewhere.
Fogarty: What kept you going through those dark days?
LeDoux: My wife, my family, friends, and all the letters and stuff I got from fans too. You know, you need a lifeline and they were that. If I was by myself, you know, Id a probably given up.
Fogarty: You dont strike me as that kind of person, especially given your rodeoin history. It always seemed like you were out there, just tackling whatever came your way.
LeDoux: Well, once your spirit kinda goes into a hole somewhere... its just amazing. You know, I was ready to go. I thought, you know, I had a wonderful fifty years. But, man, after it was all over with I thought how selfish can I be? Ive got a wife and family who would like me to be around a little while longer. (pauses) ...Yeah, Im glad I made it through it.
Fogarty: How long did it take you to recover from the transplant?
LeDoux: Well I was about two months in the hospital. And then after that it was... four, five months, something like that. Somewhere along the fifth month I started feeling a little juice coming back. Boy, that was wonderful!
Fogarty: As you look back on it, would this experience be a blessing or a curse?
LeDoux: Well, I dont know. Its too weird. You know, maybe for someone who just doesnt realize how lucky he is, itd be a blessing in that way. But as far as going through it... oh, man, just to come through it or say youve been through the fire, its weird. I dont understand life any more than I did before it, and I probably understand it even less, but it feels really good when you come out the other side.
Fogarty: What was it like, going back into the studio to record after going through the ordeal?
LeDoux: The studio has always been a place I havent really enjoyed much. But as the years have gone by I have gotten to where I do enjoy it more. Its becoming easier. Its always a tough process to drag me off the ranch or off the road to do it, but once I get in there I do enjoy it. Theres some great musicians to work with, and theyre all just happy to be there and they play their butts off.
Fogarty: Some Things Never Change, the first cut on this album, what was it like to teaming up again with your pard Garth (Brooks)?
LeDoux: Well, that was recorded separately, but still, its a wonderful song thats been around for a while. You know, you just look at the way the world just keeps changing, faster and faster, this song just seemed really relevant. And then to go in and sing it, was emotional for meeven just by myselfand then Garth came in later and put his part on there too. I guess it was emotional for him too. But it was weird, this whole album. You know, usually you go in and cut all the tracks, and then you go in and re-sing things, you might take several days. I went in and re-sang everything in one day. I was lucky. Just somehow my voice worked. But it was an emotional roller coaster! It was just everything, just being alive and being back...
Fogarty: You probably thought youd never have the chance to do that again.
LeDoux: That may be. I dont know, it all just kinda seemed to hit. It was a weird, wonderful day.
Fogarty: Scatter the Ashesvery pretty song.
LeDoux: Yeah, thats a pretty one. Ive known guys whove let life do that to them, or rodeo has done that to them because they just never get an eye on other things that might be more important... you know, like a relationship (he chuckles.). And it was always just the goin and the rodeoin and partyin and livin in the spotlight. Youve got to share that with somebody or youll wind up just like the guy in the song.
Fogarty: Simple As Dirtfantastic piece of music, kind of an in-your-face tune full of good ol country grit. Whered that one come from?
LeDoux: It reminds me of my grandpa. He had a farm in Michigan. Being a farmer, he had simple family values. Whats it say? (He pauses briefly to recall the lyrics)...Life is easy as a hard days work. Simple as dirt. Yeah.
Fogarty: Switching gears now from the simple life to your legendary wild concerts. What kind of preparation does it take on your part to get up there on stage.
LeDoux: Basically, we go out there to have some fun, deliver some songs. Its kind of like Im a host of a party and everybodys my guest. They make me feel good and I have a wonderful time. And hopefully somewhere along the line during the night, maybe well do a new song or two that might reach somebody, maybe a little message here, there, and then do some fun stuff. When everybody leaves I think theyre grinnin. Its kinda like takin an eight second ride and puttin it into an hour and fifteen minutes. Its kinda got a bit of a rodeo attitude.
Fogarty: Well thats certainly part of you, Chris! Given the obvious love that you have for the land and for your family, are you very often torn between that and having to hit the road?
LeDoux: Yeah. This year Ive been three months at home just workin on a barn, and I just dreaded gettin back on the road. But now that Im back out here it all falls into place. Its good to see the guys in the band again, and see parts of the country that Ive grown accustomed to and seein all the friendly faces out there... its good, but Ill be glad to get back home again also.
Fogarty: From this album, is there any particular message that you hope the fans gain from it?
LeDoux: Actually, its kind of a dedication to my wife. Probably five songs in it were pretty much put there with her in mind.
Fogarty: Now that youve come through the storm, is there anything a little different that you now enjoy most about life?
LeDoux: Taking that long to heal up and not really having any sap, juice, little moments of joy. Like you feel just good enough to appreciate a sunrise. Or any little thing. But theres kind of this joy juice in you, I guess, and sometimes it doesnt flow. And when it doesnt, it doesnt matter if its the prettiest day in the world, it might as well be black. But I guess its kind of a spiritual thing that maybe God puts in there thats just joy, happiness. Its a wonderful thing. Yeah, just hang on to every little moment that comes along.
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