After more than 30 years as a country icon, Charlie Daniels is as outspoken as ever. But what he says and who he offends has done a full 180-degree turn.
The fiddler who in the 1970s talked about being stoned regularly and supporting Jimmy Carter now advocates hanging drug dealers and is an outspoken conservative Christian.
"One of the big problems in this country is we're so politically correct-we're so afraid of alienating people-that we don't say anything at all," says Daniels, who recently came out with the book Ain't No Rag: Freedom, Family, and the Flag. The title of the book was taken from Daniels' 2001 song "This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag," written in response to 9/11.
Daniels also reveals his conservative leanings on his Web site, www.charliedaniels.com, where twice a week he writes a column on politics, religion, education, and other topics that he otherwise won't address on stage.
"Those are two different worlds," Daniels says. "I don't espouse political views on stage. That's all about entertainment. But I do have these thoughts and I see things I feel I can write about."
Daniels laughs when asked about his recent tour, saying it's not really in support of his most recent album, called The Essential Super Hits.
Catch CDB Live
Does this band ever stop? Seems The Charlie Daniels Band is constantly on the road, and their schedule for the rest of the year is no exception. Find details on tour stops at www.charliedaniels.com. Here's where to find them in the coming months:
November
6 Fairhope, Ala.
7 Baton Rouge, La.
19 Salisbury, Md.
21 Nashville, Tenn.
26 Charlotte, N.C.
27 Johnson City, N.Y.
December
31 Artesia, N.M.
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"The Charlie Daniels Band is always touring, whether we have an album out or not," he says.
This album includes the songs "In America," "The South's Gonna Do It," and "Uneasy Rider." Daniels has also included a recitation of the "Pledge of Allegiance," which is based on a version televised in 1969 by the late Red Skelton. Daniels recites the pledge and explains the meaning of the words. The CD comes with a limited edition DVD that has five videos, including "Southern Boy" with special guest Travis Tritt.
In addition to fiddler/guitarist Daniels, the Charlie Daniels Band consists of keyboard player Taz Di Gregorio, guitarist Mark Matejka, bass guitarist Charlie Hayward, lead guitarist Bruce Brown and drummer Pat McDonald.
Besides being lengthy, Daniels' musical background is diverse. In the 1960s, he was in a band that played rock and jazz, he co-wrote a song for Elvis Presley and played on three of Bob Dylan's albums. From bluegrass to country to rock and most recently Christian music, Daniels regularly refuses to label his work as a single type of music.
"I think there are just two kinds of music, there's good music and bad music," he says. "I'm into crossing lines, mixing jazz and blues in one song."
Although he admits to a desire to have radio stations play his songs, Daniels says he no longer lets that drive his choice of what to record.
"I've decided I'm going to spend the rest of my career doing what I want to do," he says. "I've got some music I want to play."
The 67-year-old Daniels insists he's not close to slowing down, although he recognizes the need to return to his ranch outside of Nashville occasionally to recharge. There, he spends time with his horses, enjoying the beautiful Tennessee scenery, and relaxing with his wife, Hazel.
"I really enjoy being on the road," Daniels says. "Lots of people get burned out and tired of it, and of course I do too at times. But when you've done it as long as I have, it's as routine for me to ride 400 miles a night and get up in another town and go to work as it is for people to go to their jobs everyday."
Home for Daniels is a 350-acre quarter horse ranch in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., about a half hour east of Nashville.
"It took me a long time to learn I need some downtime, to come back revitalized," he says. "I love what I do. And I've got to make a living. That's a pretty prime motivation."
Super Hits
The Charlie Daniels Band's latest album has new versions of songs he made famous, as well as a load of famous contributors, such as Hal Ketchum, Keith Urban, John Berry and Travis Tritt. A bonus DVD contains five videos, a must for any CDB fan.
