Written interview with Bluesman, harmonica player Pierre Lacocque’s Mississippi Heat – Don’t Look Back (2025).
Jazz Blues European Union: – Thank you for taking the time to have this interview with Jazz Blues EU. Tell us about your music. When did you start performing?
Pierre Lacocque: – I started performing at 17 years old (c. 1970). Going to as many jam sessions in the Chicago area as I could, and occasionally I sat in with my mentor, Junior Wells, at Theresa’s Lounge.
What do you consider to be your hometown, and how does that affect your music?
We traveled and lived in four countries by the time we emigrated to Chicago in 1969. Our father was a Theologian and biblical scholar (Old Testament), as well as a Protestant Minister. By the time we arrived in Chicago, we had lived in Israel, Germany (for my father’s pastoral/military requirement), France (Alsace), and Belgium.
Our family hails from Belgium on both sides. And this, for centuries. We have French (Walloon) ancestry as well as Flemish origins on our mother’s side.
What performers have been your inspiration?
I always loved the harmonica. Ever since I was two or three years old. But it is in Chicago that my calling to be a bluesman became clear: Big Walter Horton introduced me to blues harp and blues music. I had never heard an amplified harp before I heard him live at the University of Chicago’s Ida Noyes Hall (1969). I followed his recordings and live performances closely.
Another harp player who continues to have an impact on my playing is Little Walter. When all is said and done, Little Walter remains my master.
Other players who influenced me, but in lesser ways, are Sonny Boy Williamson I & II, George “Harmonica” Smith, James Cotton, George “Papa Lightfoot, Junior Wells, Slim Harpo, and Paul Butterfield.
Lee Oskar (War), while not directly influencing my harp playing, introduced me to natural minor tunings for harp.
What do you find most challenging about being an independent artist in today’s music industry?
I am blessed to have been on the Delmark Records label since 2005. CEO/President Julia Miller and Elbio Barilari (Artistic Director) took over the label in May 2018 and are delightful to work with. We have released 14 Mississippi Heat albums so far, and 7 of them are on that Chicago label, including a Live DVD recorded at Rosa’s Lounge in 2005.
We also recorded two albums for CrossCut Records (Bremen, Germany) and enjoyed our relationship with them (Detlev Hoegen, CEO/President). The other five Mississippi Heat releases were independent releases on our label, Van der Linden Recordings.
Whether you are an independent artist or not, you need to be masterful at budgeting and leading your band. It costs money to do things right as a band leader. Morale within the band is paramount to me.
While we have been independent artists on and off over the years, being on a label helps with local and international recognition.
What do you base your success on?
Critics often note our sincerity, freshness, and heartfelt interpretation. Mastery of our respective instruments also brings positive attention. We thrive and respect Blues history and culture, its “vocabulary’ and existential truth.
Having support from my family is a huge plus. Having friends and fans who believe in our music is also reassuring.
I always say that “if you don’t enjoy what you are doing, a life in music can be like falling into a bottomless pit”.
Financial survival is often a necessity. Many of my friends and colleagues earn extra income by playing with other bands, giving private lessons, driving Uber, or even delivering pizzas! For decades, I held a full-time job while leading Mississippi Heat. Whatever helps fund our joy to sing and/or play our instrument!
Recording and traveling with Mississippi Heat for over 30 years has helped us gain notoriety.
Can you talk about your experiences collaborating with other artists or musicians? How does it influence your creative process?
As we are busy with our families, gigging, and making ends meet, I lean towards writing my own songs.
I always welcome my band’s feedback -individually and collectively- when we rehearse for a recording.
I have also enjoyed co-writing with others, such as Robert “Golden Voice” Covington, Billy Flynn, Chris “Hambone” Cameron, and James Wheeler. I also welcome recording with other harp players like Billy Boy Arnold and Peter “Madcat” Ruth, and on our new album, Don’t Look Back, Omar Coleman. Duets are challenging (in a positive way) and exciting. In our live shows, I often invite harp players to join me. Sugar Blue, Omar Coleman, Nico Wayne Toussaint, Michel Herblin, Tad Robinson (in this case, he is the one who called me up to sit in with his band when he lived in Chicago), and countless others.
What was your latest musical release?
We released DON’T LOOK BACK (DE 895) on the Delmark Records Label (September 2025).
Do you have any news to share?
We are working on a new recording project for 2026. All original songs.
It will include musicians I perform with in Argentina, as well as with the core members of my band in Chicago.
Could you share the story behind your latest CD, Pierre Lacocque’s Mississippi Heat – Don’t Look Back – what inspired its creation? How does it fit into your creative path? Is this a goal you wanted to achieve?
This recording took longer to make than others we have done in the past due to the COVID-19 timeout. It was during that time that I wrote most of the songs on our Don’t Look Back.
In terms of creation, I am thankful to God for inspiring me to continue writing and composing songs. I don’t know where that urge comes from, but in addition to my loved ones, it provides me with joy and purpose.
I am always in a creative mode. I am inspired to continue, even in my seventies. My friend and former bandmate Bob Stroger, the original co-founder of Mississippi Heat with Jon McDonald, Robert Covington, and me, just turned 95 and is still going strong! He is an inspiration to me. May I continue to thrive as long as he has!
How do you approach the process of songwriting, and are there any specific themes or emotions you tend to explore in your music?
I stay with the existential issues confronting us as humans, as well as the direct and indirect experiences of my family and myself. I occasionally turn to humor to disguise painful truths. “Can’t Take It” on the new album is an example of that. It talks about a true story of what alcoholism will do to a family.
As an indie musician, how do you navigate the balance between creative freedom and commercial appeal?
I aim for depth and inspiration when I release a song. My thought is that existential themes tend to speak to others. In the end, if I am happy, I accept that it will be, or will not be, a commercial success. Although it can happen, in blues music, the likelihood of getting a hit out of a song or an album is rare. What ultimately matters is the inspired enjoyment of the songwriting and recording process.
What role do technology and social media play in promoting your music and connecting with your audience?
Visibility is everything. Many outstanding artists do not get their deserved spot in the sun. Hiring a publicist and having friends and family behind you is priceless in this area.
As my friend and mentor Deitra Farr used to tell me, “Pierre, your audience is what matters.” My advice to any artists is to treat our audience with respect. Give them your time and interest. Fans do not forget sincere acts of kindness and inspirational moments on stage.
Could you describe a memorable live performance experience or tour that has had a lasting impact on you and your music?
We have performed at the Lucerne Blues Festival many times, including its first years. The organizers’ welcome and the audience bring out the best in us.
Many places are equally touching to us. Places like Québec, France, Poland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina, Mexico, USA, Tunisia…
In an era of streaming platforms, how do you feel about the changing landscape of music consumption and its impact on independent musicians?
To survive in the blues world, you must love this music, its cultural context, message, and its legends.
For many of us, financial survival is a forefront issue. Yet, no matter what, I continue to plow forward with meaning and fulfillment. I love what I do!
Musicians often have a close relationship with their fanbase. How do you engage with your fans and build a dedicated community around your music?
My brother Michel (manager since Day One) and my sister Elisabeth help me with PR,
social media, and artistic decisions. They work relentlessly out of love for the band and for me. They keep tabs on our Facebook pages, including messages, and Instagram; they edit pictures for magazines, contact radio stations, etc. This enables me to respond promptly to my fan base. I wouldn’t do this well without their devotion.
How can fans find you? Lastly, please share some final words with the fans.
You can find us at www.mississippiheat.net
There you will find pictures, updates, interviews, CD purchase orders, reviews, and our history.
You can also find us on Facebook: Mississippi Heat Blues Band
By Olivia Peevas
