Life Lessons From Dr. John, In Illustrated Form

With six Grammys and more than 30 studio albums under his belt, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Mac Rebennack (AKA: Dr. John) is a piece of N'awlins history.

“After I signed with Atlantic in '67, I created my Dr. John persona based on an old New Orleans spiritual leader,” Rebennack recently told The Wall Street Journal. “I added the 'Night Tripper' to the name because I had always stayed up all night.”

Rebennack's past wasn't always grooves and gumbo: Rebennack served two years in prison, after a decades-long battle with heroin and criminal activity that led to his arrest. He has been clean and sober for 25 years.

In 2012, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, approached Rebennack to record an album (Locked Down). Rebennack called the collaboration “a real group manoeuvre”, which left him “feel[ing] good about the music”.

Rebennack is back on tour after he “wuz bitten by a flu bug” earlier this month, which forced him to cancel a handful of shows. (Thank goodness it wasn't Ebola). He will be performing at UCLA December 6. Ske-Dat-De-Dat, Rebennack's upcoming album, drops August 19.

Here are a few life lessons from the Boogie Woogie Badass from the Bayou:

Quotation above via thequietus.com.

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