Gavin Butler, former vocalist of The Blackout, shares his transition from rockstar to fatherhood and discusses his life post-band. He reflects on nostalgic moments from touring and hints at potential future projects. Gavin opens up about challenges like navigating hemiplegic migraines during performances and the absurdities of social media. Listeners can expect laughter as he shares hilarious anecdotes from the road and musings on the possibility of a band reunion, blending humor with poignant memories.
Gavin Butler reflects on balancing his responsibilities as a father with his musical background, blending parenting with his passion for music.
He discusses the draining pressures of the music industry that overshadowed his enjoyment of creating and performing with The Blackout.
Butler expresses a cautious optimism about a potential reunion for The Blackout, emphasizing the need for it to be a meaningful event.
Deep dives
Transitioning from Rockstar to Family Life
Gavin Butler discusses the significant changes in his life since the end of his band, The Blackout. He reflects on the balance between his responsibilities as a father and engaging in music, noting that real life with mortgages and family has taken precedence. The transition has been a blur for him, as he grapples with nostalgia for his rockstar days while embracing his identity as a family man. He humorously shares that he often plays guitar while watching his child in the bath, illustrating the blend of parenting with his musical background.
Challenges of the Music Industry
Butler elaborates on the difficulties he faced within the music industry, emphasizing how it drained his passion for music. He describes the stress of sustaining a career in music while juggling financial responsibilities and the demands of being in a band. This tension culminated in a realization that the fun of being in a band was overshadowed by the pressures of the business aspect. He acknowledges that while he loved creating and performing, the financial struggles stifled his enthusiasm.
Memorable Tour Stories
Butler shares hilarious and shocking stories from his tour experiences, demonstrating the chaotic nature of life on the road. He recounts a time when he lost his phone during a wild night out, only to find it in a travel lodge after sitting on it the whole journey back. Another unforgettable incident involved getting pulled over by plainclothes police in Munich, which turned out to be a nerve-wracking but ultimately harmless experience. These anecdotes highlight the unpredictable and entertaining moments that come with touring.
Future Music Projects
His current lack of motivation for new music projects stems from a mix of life changes and previous band dynamics. Butler mentions struggling to write lyrics and feeling disenchanted with the industry, which has made him hesitant about jumping back into the music scene. However, he hints at potential future collaborations and expresses a desire to create a country-inspired album, showcasing his evolving musical interests. He stresses that meaningful music creation must align with personal circumstances and expectations.
Revisiting The Blackout
Gavin reflects on the possibility of a reunion for The Blackout, suggesting that a special occasion could reignite the band. His experience with the group left him both nostalgic and cautious, as he and the other members have moved on to various pursuits. While he emphasizes that a simple one-off show wouldn’t do justice to their shared legacy, he remains open to the idea of a well-planned reunion that would provide a more substantial connection to their fans. Ultimately, Butler believes the reunion would need to be something truly special to honor their past.
This Is Why We CAN Have Nice Things. Beautiful blue eyes, Gavin Butler from The Blackout is our guest on Sappenin' Podcast Episode 10! The better vocalist from the band (Sean's words) reminisces on The Blackout days, what he's been up to since the split, a possible future project, if he's up for a reunion, being a father, the 10th year anniversary of The Best In Town and MAD stories from the road you won't believe. Laughs all around. Join Sean and Morgan to find out Sappenin' this week. Get bonus content on Patreon