Since the release of his superb new album American Romance, Lukas Nelson has been fully in solo career mode, promoting the record with a headlining tour.
But one consequence of a solo tour is the fact that it often separates him from his father, Willie Nelson. Nelson has been an integral part of Willie’s Family Band, along with his brother Micah and longtime members like harmonica player Mickey Raphael and percussionist Billy English, and it was that time growing up on the road that informs American Romance.
As his dad continues to tour at 92, Nelson can’t help but want to join him.
“Every second of every day I am trying to be with my father. But he of all people understands the importance of striking while the iron’s hot,” Nelson told Rolling Stone during an appearance on the Nashville Now podcast. “I’ve always wanted to make him proud by being a hard worker, being self-sufficient, and never needing to ask him for anything. It takes me away from my dad sometimes, but I know that he knows why, because he had to do the same thing when he was young.”
When the Nelsons do gather together — be it at Willie’s ranch in Texas or his home in Hawaii — they spend the time immersed in simple activities. Unsurprisingly, many of them are music-based. “When I’m home I’ll go see him every day. We’ll sit and pick, we’ll sit and talk,” the younger Nelson said. “We’ll sit and listen to music, and listen to Django [Reinhardt] and Merle [Haggard] and Ernest Tubb and Hank Williams…and play dominos and spend good time. That’s what it all about.”
It’s unlikely that father and son bond over pot though. Lukas gave it up a few years ago, along with alcohol. Like with his solo career, he said Willie understood. “My dad respects individuality. He respect being yourself. He and I both now don’t smoke weed. I don’t think it mattered to him either way,” he said. “When I was smoking I’d smoke six, seven joints a day. I was so into weed.”
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