John Fogerty CCR Singer Guitarist Updates Classic Rock Anthems for New... Music

John Fogerty Is on a Roll at 68

Creedence Clearwater Revival s frontman updates classic anthems for a new CD and tour

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images May 2013: John Fogerty performs in L.A. It's a mid-October day and is rolling — not on the river, as he did in 1969's "," but on a tour bus traveling from Tulsa to Dallas. Now 68, the former lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of is playing a string of one-night gigs that will keep him on the road into December. It's a typically busy time for Fogerty, who has released 11 solo albums since CCR broke up in 1972. But he turned collaborative for his latest CD, , on which Fogerty revisits his best-known ballads with guests from rock, pop and country, including , and . In a recent conversation, the — who's sold more than 100 million records — touched on staying fit, writing his autobiography and earning the title "Father of the Flannel Shirt." (Article continues beneath the video.) Q: You're closing in on 70, yet you're out on stage every night with the energy of a 20-year-old. How do you maintain your stamina? A: Well, I don't smoke. And I'm careful about what I eat, but I'm not a fanatic — I like steak, for example. When you're older, the metabolism slows down, so you have to get into some sort of exercise program. I'm a runner. I run every day at home and a couple of days a week when I'm on the road. It beats sightseeing from a cab! Q: You also look young. What's your secret? A: I'm a very happy man! [Laughs] My beautiful wife, Julie, is the love of my life. We have three grown children, plus a 12-year-old daughter still at home. I love listening to Taylor Swift with her; seeing the world through her eyes keeps you timeless. When you're older and good things happen to you, you actually recognize them. Q: Your new album pairs you with younger artists like Miranda Lambert, Jennifer Hudson and Kid Rock. Why did you take that approach? A: Julie and I were watching TV with our kids when she suddenly said, "Why don't you get a bunch of the people you love and sing your songs?" It was such a refreshing idea! I got to make new music with many of the artists who are at the top of my list. I told them to pick one of my songs — that in itself revealed their personality. Then I said, "I don't just want to remake an old record. Let's envision this song in a new way." With Keith Urban, I said, "I've seen you play the banjo really well. That might lend a really cool flavor to this." And that's exactly what happened. Next page: Chris Walter/WireImage/Getty Images 1970: Creedence Clearwater Revival hits London. From left: Doug Clifford, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook and John Fogerty. Q: The cover of Wrote a Song for Everyone draws on your fondness for flannel shirts. What do they symbolize for you? A: They're very American, for starters. When I see someone else wearing a plaid shirt, I think of the "cowboy way." I think of guys like John Wayne who were not real talkative, so when they said something, it meant something. They represent a belief in honesty and telling the truth, even if it hurts — almost a Boy Scout way of living. The shirts are comfortable, and I feel warm and happy when I wear one. You walk in my closet, and it's pretty much just flannel shirts in different colors. [Laughs] I've got almost as many flannel shirts as I have guitars — and I must have a couple hundred of those. AARP Members! Chris Polk/ACMA/Getty Images April 2013: John Fogerty and Keith Urban take the stage in Vegas. Q: "Bad Moon Rising," "Lodi," "Born on the Bayou" — do you ever get tired of playing these classics? A: No, not at all. It's kind of a love affair. Those are my children. I can still remember the exact moment I created "Proud Mary" or any other song, because they've become part of my personality. I was on stage the other night when I looked out and saw thousands of faces singing along to this one song; I had to stop and tell the audience, "Do you guys know how wonderful it is for me to see all of you singing?" Q: You funded headstones for Charley Patton and Robert Johnson — famous Mississippi bluesmen whose graves had gone unmarked.

Music Interviews

A: Yeah, that was a personal quest. Basically I was just trying to sort out the "family tree" of the blues. Charley Patton — somebody who's so important to the field I'm in — wasn't going to have a headstone unless somebody stepped up, so it was a no-brainer. It had to get done. Q: You have a book in the works. How's that coming? A: I've chosen a great cowriter, and I know that as soon as the tour's over Julie's going to remind me, "You've got to write that book!" [Laughs] That means a lot of talking, but at least it will be definitive: I'll have a chance to tell my story the way I see it. Alanna Nash writes about music, entertainment and culture.

Also of Interest br

or add your comments to our Visit the daily for news, deals, savings tips and more Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.