Interview Roundup: CCR
Creedence Clearwater Revival were the Great American Singles Band. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they had the most hit singles; rather it connotes the band’s enduring and indelible place in the world of pop music singles. More so than many of their contemporaries, CCR made music that captured the zeitgesit of the times. John Fogerty wasn’t an overtly political lyricist, but the band’s songs nonetheless cut to the heart of that era’s concerns. (And those concerns are timeless.)
I’ve written fairly extensively about the band; one of my most recent pieces was a brief historical essay found here. And I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford – lifelong best friends, those two – many times on many subjects. (In addition, I interviewed Cook about Roky Erickson twice, more than a decade apart, and those interviews informed the Roky chapter in my second book.)
- Creedence Clearwater Revisited / My 2007 interview with Stu Cook (2007)
- My 2014 inerview with Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (2014)
- Creedence Clearwater Revival / My 2019 interivew with Doug Clifford and Stu Cook (2019)
- My 2022 interview with Doug “Cosmo” Clifford (2022)
- Loads more CCR-related reviews and whatnot at this link.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.