Welcome to rockandroll.gr. Which were your first influences , the ones that made you love Rock ‘n’ Roll?
Thank you for the interview I am honoured. I hope I can perform in Greece one day soon. My dad Ed Matzenik started his band The Atlantics in 1959, it was one of the first surf rock bands and they had a hit with Bomborra. He also worked at Track Records London in the 60s and 70s as an engineer recording The Who and others. So he taught me some piano as kid and I would learn from his records. He had lots of jazz, rhythm & blues, country and rockabilly records that I loved. I first got into Bill Haley & His Comets, when I was a little child, then Moon Mullican, He was a western swing pianist from Texas. I also heard Merill E. Moore, he made a few sides at Capitol in the early 50s. Then I heard Jerry Lee Lewis, it was ‘Live On Shindig’ on VHS. He is amazing and he is still the best.
Johnny Green’s Blues Cowboys were the first band you took part in…
I started at 13 playing in a 50s style country band and then joined Johnny Green’s Blues Cowboys at 14. Because we played in pubs I had to get a fake ID but it was worth it because while other teenagers were running paper routes, I was making $450 a week playing blues, country and rockabilly music ! It was great also because my dad was on bass and my brother Hank Green was on guitar.
In 2010 you played in Las Vegas with Jerry Lee. What were your impressions?
I only supported him, I wasn’t on stage with him but I watched his show and he was amazing. He could still rock like no one else. I shook his hand after the show and it was just a great moment.
But let’s not forget your tour with Wanda Jackson in 2013. What are the most characteristic moments you remember from that time?
Wanda was a lovely, warm and sweet lady. She like a beer and we would always have one together after the shows. Her husband’s name was Wendel and as a joke I would call them both ‘Wandel’ and they would laugh. She was a big fan of Big Mama Thornton and we talked about music history alot. When I first met her at rehearsal, she walked over and sat on my lap and started playing and singing Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, that was wild !
In January, your 9th album titled “Death Roll” was released. Tell us a few words about it…
I recorded a single with Linda Gail Lewis, Annie Marie Lewis, Danny B. Harvey (Headcat), Jimmy Sutton (JD McPhearson) and Sun Records drum legend J.M. Van Eaton.
Once that was released I wanted to do another project with J.M. Van Eaton to really show his rock n roll drumming. So we also did that with Travis Wammack, the guitarist that backed Little Richard for 20 years. We made it during lockdown with a friend of mine, Dizzy Davidson, who also played on the album
How did Ezra Lee & The Nomads arise?
I got a call from my friend Chris D’Rozario, who is the bass player in Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot. He was interested in starting a band and I had played in Firebird Trio with him and his brother Pete Belair on guitar years ago, so we got together and he’s a great singer and the double bass and barrelhouse piano sound great together. I love the piano, bass, drums trio.
What does Rock ‘n’ Roll mean to you?
Rock ‘n’ Roll musically speaking is a feeling and a rhythm and I can hear it in Pine Tops Boogie Woogie 1929, in some of the wild abandon on Jelly Roll Morton rags, I can hear it in fiery bluegrass and western swing records and of course the boogie woogie and R&B of the 40s and 50s. Like Howlin’ Wolf is R’n’R to me, listen to that voice, you can call it blues but sometimes the labels don’t matter cos it’s rockin !!
I do love all the 50s cats like Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Elvis, Little Richard, Fats Domino and others.
Rock ‘n’ Roll is also an attitude, we should all be able to live our lives to the fullest and with freedom from dictators and rock ‘n’ is a great way of pushing back and saying ‘fuck you’. The world is full of squares and they need to be taught that we wont just take their bullshit without a fight.
What is the response of the people in Australia according Rock ‘n’ Roll music?
It’s good, from the mid 50s we had our first big rock ‘n’ roll star, Johnny O’Keefe, who wrote Wild One. He was ‘mad as a cut snake’ ! then The Easybeats in the 60s. So Aussies are really into it and we have lots of festivals here now for rockabilly and R’n’R.
Do you have any plans for the near future ?
Yes we are planning on touring Europe next year and we are looking at Greece.
How can we find you online?
My website is www.ezralee.biz
on instagram its @ezraleemusic
in facebook it’s @ezraleeandthenomads
on tik tok its @ezraleeaustralia
A message for the Greek fans….
Never give up. Your ancestors we’re the first great human civilisation. Be proud of that and keep pushing forward to greatness. I hope I can visit sometime and experience your country. Also come to Australia, if you havn’t been before, you’ll love it here.
