BEN HARPER AND JACK JOHNSON LOOK TO FUTURE COLLABORATIONS

(VIDEO) Although Ben Haper is currently touring in support of ‘Both Sides of the Gun’ and Jack Johnson is on a hiatus for a year or two, the two share their thoughts on possibly working on an album together in the future, right here.

Ben Harper is sets to begin a North American tour with Damian Marley in support of his latest release, the epic two disc ‘Both Sides of the Gun.’ With two discs totaling about an hours worth of music, ‘Both Sides of the Gun’ Showcases Harpers amazingly distinctive songwriting ability. With each song fitting perfectly onto the double disc, we wondered what happens to the studio takes of songs not fortunate enough to make the cut. Interestingly enough, it was Harper’s with The Blind Boys of Alabama, which won a Grammy Award for Gospel Album of the Year, that featured some of Ben’s older songs that weren’t lucky enough the first time around. So what will Ben do with the material that didn’t get released on ‘Both Sides of the Gun?’

This story wouldn’t be complete without a followup from Jack Johnson, who currently is taking some much deserved time away from touring to be with his family in Hawaii. So what’s Jack’s thoughts of a collaborative album between himself and Ben Harper.

“What I think is going to happen with those songs as I get older they’ll find uses. Like a bunch of gospel songs were just sitting around and the Blind Boys of Alabama presented themselves as an opportunity to make a record together and I was able to just go grab those gospel songs that I had written and put away and then that record came to life. So, it’s pretty clear to me that there’s going to be a purpose and a place. Anything can happen, like if me and Jack Johnson were to make an album together I’ll be able to pull, he’ll be able to pull and we’ll also collaborate. Or me and anybody make a record together there’ll be songs there. Or if somebody needs a song I can just throw it there way or something.”

Ben Harper’s North American Tour with Damian Marley is set to kick off August 10th in Phoenix, Arizona. The tour will last until both artists perform at Austin City Limits September 17th in Austin, Texas. Ben Harper will depart on his European leg of the tour starting October 4th in Portugal and extending until Novemeber 10th in France. Jack Johnson last collaborated with Ben Harper for a song on Johnson’s number one album for the soundtrack to the film ‘Curious George.’ After releasing two hit album, with ‘In Between Dreams’ and ‘Curious George’ Johnson is taking some time away from the road to be with his family in Hawaii.

“Yeah, we always talk about it and it’s funny it takes so much time to go into the studio and all that and it’s so easy for us to talk about it, it’s just a matter of both of us not being on tour at the same time. He lives in California and I live in Hawaii so we always want time off at home. One of these days it will happen. Things will slow down for both of us, but yeah, i’d love to make a record with Ben.”