Steven Seagal and Thunderbox

I've heard some of this stuff. It is pretty much plain shit in a cardboard wrapper. I like watching him kick the shit out of 4 guys who really need it, but he should put the guitar down, he stinks.

Here is an amusing article:

Action film star Steven Seagal has swapped screen violence for a guitar and a microphone. As he brings his band Thunderbox to Croydon and Gravesend, he talks to PAUL FLECKNEY.

IT IS hard to tell whether Steven Seagal is bored, genuinely talks like a trachemotomy recipient or has just found out his cat has died. Either way, the least he could do is speak up.

Never mind. Let's just revel in the fact that one of Hollywood's biggest names is coming to town as as part of a world tour (OK, Canada, the UK and Denmark) to promote his new album, Mojo Priest.

"I've been playing music since the 50s," growls the thrice-married star. "It's my biggest love, so I'm just showing people who I really am.

"I don't know what people said about Keanu Reeves, Kevin Bacon or that Die Hard guy (he means vest botherer Bruce Willis) and their music. But people can say whatever they want about me."

I ask if it's galling for such a successful chap to be playing smaller venues scattered around the country - rather than, say, Wembley Arena.

He disagrees: "If you understand how powerful the blues is and really love it, that's what blues is about.
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"I'm used to the crap juke joints in Mississippi and Texas, it's how I grew up and that's where I'm coming from now so I don't mind doing this."

Steven is most perky speaking about his blues heroes.

"I met Howlin' Wolf. I spotted him one day and I had to meet him as I was a big fan," he says. "I walked up to him and said howl for me man,' and he did his little thing, Aaaooooooooo'!

"There isn't really anyone I want to meet or play with now, they're all dead."

Steven found fame in his 40s after playing a vigilante chef on a navy battleship in 1992's Under Siege.

Up to this point, his life was devoted to buddhism and the martial art of aikido.

He was the first foreigner to open an aikido school in Japan, plus he apparently broke Sean Connery's wrist while working as a martial arts instructor on Never Say Never Again.

His films have grossed $600m worldwide, but getting him to talk movies is an uphill struggle.

"I'd rather not talk about my films," he mutters. "But, you know, if I have to."

Steven, I'm with you on this. I too have seen On Deady Ground.

Small talk is sparse. He can't remember when he was last in London as he is "kinda autistic with time and numbers, I can't answer questions like that".

He is actually friendly, just hard work.

Steven meditates every day, and he does lapse into pensive excursions.

"We live in very politically charged times," he says.

"I didn't agree with the war in Iraq and, the way the West is, we've made it into a religious war.

"But I think all religions are great. They are a vehicle for people to lead their life in a better way."

I let him get back to his rehearsals, where he promises to "make the band hit a bit harder".

Good idea Steven, so long as you get heard above it.