The Fusion Show Transcript & Archival Notes
Lindsey Boullt – The Fusion Show Interview (2010)
WCSB 89.3 FM Cleveland | Host Randy Allar | 30 June 2010
Full Transcript & Archival Notes
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“We kept the vibe of the combination between the bombastic nature of Led Zeppelin and the orchestration with the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Olympic-caliber composing.”
— Lindsey Boullt, on the making of Composition
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ABOUT THIS RECORDING
In 2010, I was invited onto The Fusion Show—a legendary radio program hosted by Randy Allar on WCSB 89.3 FM in Cleveland, Ohio. The interview was set up by Eddie Coralnick (former manager of Mark St. John of KISS and, most notably, Allan Holdsworth). This was a pivotal moment, just three years after the release of my album Composition (2007).
In this conversation, I discuss the late start that defined my path, the family struggles that shaped my discipline, the serendipitous recording sessions at Plant Studios, and the profound support of musicians like Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Steve Smith (Journey/Vital Information), Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), Atma Anur, and Jeff Richman, . I also speak openly about my spouse’s brain hemorrhage in December 2006—midway through the album’s creation—and how the music carried us through.
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KEY TOPICS COVERED
• Zeppli-Vishnu: Deliberately fusing Led Zeppelin’s power with Mahavishnu Orchestra’s complexity.
• Late start: Picking up the guitar at 21 with no childhood training, yet entering university immediately.
• Adversity: Growing up with “no resources,” family disintegration, and a spouse’s brain hemorrhage two days before Christmas 2006.
• Studio magic: Steve Smith walking in from the next room at Plant Studios; Jerry Goodman calling to commit during a medical crisis.
• Underground roots: The NYC underground scene and being rival bands with Rusty Cooley in Houston.
• Eddie Coralnick: How Holdsworth’s former manager became a crucial advocate.
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FULL TRANSCRIPT
[0:30] Randy Allar: “That was some Lindsey Boullt, something called ‘Grooving with Stu’… you are now officially the ambassador of fusion.”
[0:38] Lindsey Boullt: “Thank you so much for having me. It’s a great honor. My mom is listening—hi Mom!”
[1:10] Boullt: “The heritage is French, Cajun, and Creole… there was a real struggle for survival, going back generations.”
[1:35] Boullt: “Rick Fierabracci says hello—one of the greatest bass players. We’re going to book some gigs as a trio with Joel Taylor.”
[2:37] Boullt on Derek Sherinian: “Derek was cool… he helped me turn the corner and get Jerry Goodman on the record.”
[3:49] Allar: “Let’s talk about your disc—it’s called Composition.” Boullt: “It all began with my friendship with Atma Anur, the great rhythmic drumming genius. We met in San Francisco in 2000.”
[5:23] Boullt on Plant Studios: “Stu pops through the door and says, ‘Next door is Steve Smith.’ Steve starts asking about the direction—Mahavishnu with modern sensibilities. He says, ‘You know Jerry Goodman’s around.’ That was mind-blowing.”
[6:46] Boullt: “I was traveling back and forth to Los Angeles every week… Atma brought in Mingo Lewis. Derek was key in getting Jerry Goodman.”
[8:45] Boullt: “We kept the vibe of the combination between the bombastic nature of Led Zeppelin and the orchestration with the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s Olympic-caliber composing.”
[9:18] Allar: “You started playing guitar late… a late bloomer.” Boullt: “The family unit was disintegrating because times were so difficult. No resources whatsoever.”
[11:36] Boullt on his mother: “She thought I would sit on the street corner and beg for money. But she appealed to my athletic discipline—I’d made it to a high level in athletics.”
[13:12] Allar: “Your disc was fairly successful for an instrumental record.” Boullt: “Compositionally, the disc stands on its own, whether you have the big names or not.”
[14:20] Boullt on his underground roots: “I’ve played with people from Prong, Helmet, White Zombie. Down in Houston, my band Human Zoo’s rival band had Rusty Cooley. I knew King’s X, Galactic Cowboys.”
[15:38] Boullt: “December 2006, two days before Christmas, my spouse Julnar had a brain hemorrhage and lost half her vision. Surgery was scheduled for February. Then, out of the blue, Jerry Goodman called: ‘I’m coming through town.’ These artistic gods grabbed you by the arm.”
[18:17] Boullt: “It’s been exciting—it still is exciting today.” Allar: “You’re such an icon.” Boullt: “I don’t know about that.”
[18:39] Boullt on his spouse’s recovery: “She’s a trooper. The loss of vision doesn’t come back. Life changes for all of us, but you march on. I call her the Miracle Child.”
[19:36] Boullt: “Big shout-out to Eddie Coralnick. He’s represented two guitarists in the last 25 years: Mark St. John of KISS and Allan Holdsworth. Such an honor to have him speaking on my behalf.”
[20:15] Boullt: “To everybody out there in radio land: keep rocking. We’ll do this again in the future.”
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ARCHIVAL NOTES
The transcript has been lightly edited for clarity, but the voice and timing remain authentic to the 2010 broadcast.
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CITATION
Boullt, Lindsey, interviewee. The Fusion Show with Randy Allar. WCSB 89.3 FM, Cleveland, 30 June 2010. Transcript retrieved from LindseyBoullt.com archival page.
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