Justin Townes Earle Podcast Interview - The Right Note

Justin Townes Earle talks to Bernard Zuel about his plans to work with the Nashville Ballet, his decision to start telling other people’s stories on latest album The Saint of Lost Causes, and why he’s stopped stamping his foot onstage.

[@mrs.mcnamara1669]

I don’t usually get gutted by celebrity deaths, but damn Justin Townes Earle you got to me. You had an old soul and a formidable talent.

[@taylorg1585]

Hardly a celebrity

[@at_brunch3852]

I agree Mrs. McNamara. He is a gem. That’s right ‘is’. He lives on ~ 🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@helenlizzystewart4908]

I am so gutted and sad that he has passed away now, too young, so talented and a brilliant performer and songwriter

[@skipitv3603]

Terrible news that has shocked so many people. Hope you are spinning some of his records today.

[@helenlizzystewart4908]

@@skipitv3603 certainly am I am a busker and have added a few of his songs to my singing list now for sure

[@neilmccormick2064]

It's an absolutely heart wrenching situation, he had so much more living to do, so sad he's gone , he was such a talented lad and he comes over as the kind of guy you'd love to have a drink and chat with so down to earth and affable.

[@lopresti4559]

We miss u JtE. Your sound/talent- is so needed. ❤

[@davidhorton502]

A true artist. Can’t believe he is gone. RIP.

[@chutcentral]

Miss you bud! Hope you're cruisin out there in hyperspace... we're all still here, singing along 😉

[@langstongrandma]

I just can't believe that we will never hear this voice again. Aside from his singing voice, which I also love, his talking and answering questions during interviews made me love him, too - so distinctive, so southern, so Justin. How we will miss you forever.

[@at_brunch3852]

😭 thankfully he recorded.

[@specto146]

Just thinking about "Mama's Eyes" slays me emotionally; and now, all of his pain is gone. Rest easy JTE.

[@CoMa_84]

I wanna be the next step. Thanks for the music Justin. We didnt deserve you.

[@harrolddonnelly2862]

Absolutely slayed me!!! I went to a show in Rochester NY at a small club nearly six years ago on my 40th bday it was by and large the best show ever and Im Just heart broke

[@ocmslover9455]

My heart is BROKEN. Truly. God damnit!!

[@cityofoceans8380]

Miss you, JTE. You passed about a year after I saw you play at First Avenue, still bums me out. You'll live forever through your music, but you were far too young. Your music holds a significant place in the soundtrack of my life.

[@at_brunch3852]

♥️🌹🎶🎵🎶♥️

[@gabrielbenjamin8876]

I’ll never forget you! The day I picked you up at the airport in Minnesota on our way to Hazelden! I couldn’t stand being around you cuz you reminded me of me! We battled our demons and overcame them! I’ve watched you from afar as you shined in this world! Your great! Rest Easy old friend!

[@skipitv3603]

Beautiful words Gabriel.

[@codybruner7608]

I also went to Hazelden. I want to hear more about this. I wasn’t aware that it’s where he went to rehab

[@Rainierbooks]

So sad. I am going to miss him a lot. He had so much music left in him.

[@im-already-tired-tomorrow]

very sad Justin passing.This is an excellent interview of a very honest guest,i felt as though it was a conversation between two new friends,and more would have been interesting.

[@okalright8980]

Rest in peace Justin

[@PongbyAtari]

I really feel fortunate that me and my sweetheart got to see JT a couple times he really captivated us.

[@cdane7]

Never fail to realize, even if you live to be 100, that life is a tiny amount of time. If there’s one thing that you know you were born to do, then do it as long as you can and do it as best you can. RIP JTE. You will be missed but your songs will never die so long as the sun still shines.

[@jamesreedmusic4224]

🙏

[@kennethfulton8452]

Time isn’t meant to be measured.

[@roderickbalt8993]

You're right in theory but in real life it's a whole different story. I'm not saying JTE should've done something differently but he did choose a way of life that rarely ends well and comes at a huge cost to his surviving loved ones. I'm not saying everyone should live a safe life and be 80 years old but I don't think it's good to perpetuate the whole life is short don't look at your issues kind of mentality.

[@cdane7]

There is no “in Real life”. Artists like Justin was never gonna be someone who was going to be a nine to five guy taking his kids to school in a mini van. Those folks would never be an artist like Justin. Throughout all of history, a lot of your greatest art and artists are depressed drug addicts that fuck up their lives and leave a trail of tears behind them when their gone. Nobody should romanticize that or aspire to be that. But for someone like Justin, that was not just his Real life, that was the only life he was ever gonna have. He had no choice in the matter at all. Try to be normal, fail, make great art because you ain’t normal, rinse and repeat until your gone. It’s sad to be sure, but that guy in the mini van once he’s gone will be missed for awhile by those few who knew and loved him. Then they’ll move on. But the artist who leaves something beautiful behind, will be remembered by many for a long long time. And it’s not “pick your poison”. The average guy ain’t gonna make great art and the artist ain’t never gonna be average. Now that’s not to say every great artist has to die young or can’t get sober and still make great art. But I don’t think a lot of them were ever gonna live to be old happy sober wealthy men or women. Maybe I’m wrong.

[@roderickbalt8993]

@@cdane7 I think he acted a lot tougher and more macho than he actually was. I think like his dad he latched on to a certain persona but in reality he should've gone to therapy because now his daughter will have to deal with the same shit he dealt with.

[@teriwaymire9704]

Into the mystic JTE. God speed

[@DinkWhit]

This was an excellent interview. Wonderful job! Thank you for this! ❤

[@ChrisHeathFilms]

Great interview. RIP JTE

[@skipitv3603]

Thanks Chris. Glad you enjoyed it mate.

[@robertpryorjr.7868]

Always loved his father's music. Since Justin's death, and because of it, I've discovered him and his music. listening to it around the clock. Great discovery from terrible circumstance.

[@heatherremlin8607]

Me too! 💙

[@heatherremlin8607]

Me too! 💙

[@jennycartwright5578]

@@heatherremlin8607 me too

[@im-already-tired-tomorrow]

well said indeed

[@92prelude]

So hard to watch. Rest now, troubadour.

[@skipitv3603]

Terrible news. So hard to process.

[@vickymayo6052]

I am so sad about the battle lost.

[@edwardedman7682]

So fucking sad. Rest well Justin.

[@douglasriddle6447]

He is really going to missed. There was so much more a head of him. For someone who never looked the healthiest, this the heaviest I have ever seen him look.

[@kennethfulton8452]

Time is not meant to be measured...and tomorrow isn’t promised. “It’s not when you die, it’s how many awesome stories they tell about you” ~ The Peanut Falcon (I’m sure I butchered that quote) . At this point in his life I think he finally understood or could relate to his father for not being around and why. ...You marry a musician, and have a baby and you think he’ll change who he is. Man, I wish someone would’ve said to Justin around this time, buddy, you’re looking rough, are you okay? Etc etc etc. but no one can save someone from themselves. Much luv and respect to JTE’s music, talent and as a human being. Godspeed. P.S. Fuck Nashville.

[@christian_cantarutti]

Sad day indeed.

[@brendonleary]

heartbroken.

[@davehanhela5997]

excellent interview bz. miss you already jte.

[@rileyjamesmusic9333]

Heartbreaking news. Rest easy JTE

[@RC0307]

Was this the last interview JTE had done? Sad news of his passing. I wish he could have gotten released of his painful heart while here...Talented and gone too soon. 💔 🕊 🕯

[@angelblessings4065]

True, but also, because of his pain we have his gorgeous music that will live forever

[@-TheRealScubasteve-]

When was this recorded? I’m heartbroken, what an amazing man and singer/ songwriter. Going to miss you man.

[@yerbabuena2984]

Here they say "last year": facebook.com/therightnoteshow/posts/1093712861026176

[@skipitv3603]

Was filmed in October 2019 while he was touring Australia.

[@dandeshow4887]

@@skipitv3603 Wasn’t it early/mid September of last year? In Late September and October of 2019 he was in the U.S. touring. I know because I was there with him!

[@jenn_marie_earle]

@@dandeshow4887 it was Australia 2019 for sure

[@at_brunch3852]

Thank God for recordings.

[@kpintauro]

this one hurts

[@aka-Legendary]

RIP

[@caiowski]

When was this shot?

[@marquettegloves9907]

Gutted and upset. Rest easy bro.

[@benjefferis3901]

Also, when was this recorded? could be his last interview

[@yerbabuena2984]

Here they say "last year": facebook.com/therightnoteshow/posts/1093712861026176

[@skipitv3603]

Was recorded in October 2019 in Australia.

[@mrjasondylan]

There's interviews on here from just before lockdown much more recent than this one.

[@benjefferis3901]

@@mrjasondylan Thanks I will check them out.

[@mrjasondylan]

@@benjefferis3901 It's 36 minutes long something like wxprs or similar .

[@light_and_sound]

"...like an elephant..." such a cutie

[@mondoseguendo6113]

I feel bad for his daughter.

[@gregoryfortenberry741]

Nooooooo, Damit. He’s the reason I play a Loar. L- ooo

[@cherrypickerguitars]

His dad is the reason I play a Martin 000-17!

[@RaymondMeunierMusique]

So sad

[@fiddlefolk]

How did he die?

[@new0305]

It’s all fucking painful

[@leapsplashafrog]

Stress of the blocking mother no doubt having an impact of his subsequent suicide

[@dandeshow4887]

So much I could add to this comment... but yeah he was under a lot of stress that last year.

[@jenrutherford6690]

His wife loved and supported him through a lot of thin times. She was no way a blocking person . Do you think a troubled drug addict is easy to have a marriage with?

[@jenn_marie_earle]

There was never a moment of “blocking” not for a second. The only thing I ever wanted to “change” was how much alcohol and coke he began ingesting, and the pain in him that drove it. He’s wasted in this interview and no doubt twisting reality for a public interview to make wrongs seem right fin on the outside. I supported him to the last breath. Pulled all the stops to help him out of it. Never gave up. Only love, always

[@controloz3310]

He seems to be coughing a lot 🤔

[@rattusnorvegicus4380]

Lung damage...a lot of us have it. Not only smoking.....and thanks to Govt depts "numbers abuse", (read lies) re deaths from smoking, environmental pollution never gets addressed. Tom Petty had COPD.

[@AndySalinger33]

@@rattusnorvegicus4380 right on. they spray the sky with poison and we're surprised we all cough and wheeze.

[@turfguy420]

He smoked a lot

[@DinkWhit]

He was a heavy smoker. He was “always a fool for a conversation and a couple smokes”

[@zachgates7491]

I hope that this is the last generation that thinks self-destructive behavior is something to be proud of.

[@a.m.6402]

Not proud, but it leads to the truest and most comprehensive depiction of life.

[@zachgates7491]

@@a.m.6402 Utterly false.

[@a.m.6402]

@@zachgates7491 Perhaps. But what is light without dark, white without black, and good without evil. I haven’t the answer.

[@DinkWhit]

@@a.m.6402 Justin was ashamed of his faults. He never glorified any of it. He wrote about it. They write about what they know. That’s what musicians do. If you have the comprehension skills where you can actually listen and digest lyrics you will see he wasn’t glorifying shit. He was broken from his upbringing and finding drugs at an extremely young age. (10-12 years old) it may have been to be cool back then but the addiction was never meant to be cool. There was no proudness in his past at all. And, yes it did finally catch up to him….

[@FullBlownPossession]

It’s pain that can’t be extinguished

[@roderickbalt8993]

I hate hearing him speak about localities, national identity and politics. He just sounds so lost, just like his dad speaking about cheap sentimental stuff. I saw the same with Anthony Bourdain, just so lost in a maze with a kind of cheap bravour talking about empty unimportant things and making them really important. Love JTE as a songwriter though!

[@2busysecretary]

The music business, and the fans, need to stop glorifying drugs and alcohol and realize it does kill and it does destroy homes and children. It isn't cool.

[@deathkampdrone]

Thats like saying people need to stop believing in God. Especially because drugs work immediately and is a solid escape from your pain. In a way it’s amazing religion is still bigger than drugs, if you think about it. Both kills a lot tho... :/

[@joshmajor8662]

Justin is awesome but you sound like you shoved a sock down your throat beforehand!??? Why does your audio suck that bad!??? Would make sense if this was filmed in a box but aren't you supposed to be a produced show? Haha