Willie Nelson — easy-going superstar

Press, 10 February 1981, Page 1

Willie Nelson — easy-going superstar

By

PETER COMER

Willie Nelson would have to. be one of .the most approachable millionaire musicians- around today.

Not. for him the stilted, prearranged press conferences, endured by most visiting artists. J.. . '<

Anybody, who could catch up with the Texan singer on'■ the'Shirley Golf Course yesterday • could talk for - as long as. -they liked while members, of the. entourage waited patiently beside his . limousine at the ’ clubhouse. •

“Let’s just park on that seat over there,” said Nelson, who had headed straight: for the golf course when Jte arrived at Christchurch to . prepare for this evening’s concert at Queen Elizabeth II Park with the Little River Band and Australian Crawl.

He cut an incongruous figure at Shirley with his long brown plaits, grey beard,, diamond ear studs, red bandanna, and shorts, but definitely lived up to his reputation of being; an easy-going “Mr Nice • Guy?’ , .At 47, , Nelson .is. still pretty near. rock-bottom at golf, but.welLup ia the. top bracket of country musicians after almost 30 years in the business. ./ ~

■ Even after this long, he is ■ not sure what’ to call his music. "I don’t go much . on labels,” he said. “We throw- in a bit of everything — country, rock, gospel, bluegrass, and jazz.”

Nelson was delighted with the. audiences at his shows in Auckland and Wellington. He likes New Zealand, and wants to tour again- next year. “A few guys' told me it was a beautiful place, and they were right,” he said. ‘TH check out a few more courses next time.” ■ ’■■ ■ NelSon’ is bn the road every month of the year, and tries sto run his entourage as <a : “family.” “When you’re together that much you have to get on,” he said. He has the same (attitude to the press. “I believe in being friendly, and open, but a lot of performers seem to be real shy of the press. It’s-better just to sit down and talk, but you have to remember that performers get tired out, overworked and overtravelled. Anybody gets irritable in that situation,” he said. Nelson’s wife will- come from •'’Austin, Texas, to join him for the Australian leg of. the tour. The rest of his real family comprises five children and-six grandchildren — a bigger- “entourage” than most . present top singers could boast. ■ : . . . < He intends .to keep going as long as his health is good — for another ,47 years, rd' like that.” . .. ’ J What does Nelson do on the eve of a concert, apart: from play golf - and, field inane questions. he has, heard hundreds .of-.times before? “Just what we’re; going to do tonight. — play a little poker . and drink a couple beers.”