The Holy Grail

Background

"The Holy Grail" is a song written by John Fogerty. He recorded it together with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top at the home studio of the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman. Fogerty handles most of the vocal parts, Gibbons contributes background vocals on the chorus. Both trade guitar licks throughout.  The swamp boogie is based on a bluesy, John Lee Hooker–like guitar riff, reminding of ZZ Top’s “La Grange”.  Lyrics feature mumbo jumbo, mystical plains and the nectar of the Gods.

According to Billy Gibbons, one of his initial meetings with John Fogerty in early 2018 to discuss the upcoming Blues and Bayou Tour turned into a jam session where "The Holy Grail" started to evolve. (WSRV The River, June 7, 2018.)

Fogerty explained the song to Alan Carter of radio WZLX in Boston on June 24, 2018: "The Holy Grail is [being] up on a stage standing next to Billy trading licks.  Musically, that’s one of my favorite places to be as a guitar player.  The idea for that song came to me in that way.  I could just picture us up on a stage jamming.  The more I toyed with that, it eventually turned into a song.” 

The song was released as a soundfile on streaming services on June 8, 2018. The sneak peak was heard on the page of the Rolling Stone one day earlier. 

Fogerty and Gibbons joined forces for the first time in a concert in Catoosa, Oklahoma, in October 2013 by performing "Born on the Bayou" and "Sharp Dressed Man" together on stage. 

Live versions

Fogerty and Gibbons played the tune on the Blues And Bayous Tour committed by Fogerty and ZZ Top in May-June 2018. The world premiere was witnessed at Borgata Events Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, on the first leg of the circuit on May 25, 2018.    

The duo also performed the song during the soundcheck of the concert in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 7, 2018. The performance was seen in the beginning of the video interview John Fogerty, Shane Fogerty and Billy Gibbons gave to Kaedy Kiely of the local radio WSRV The River. The video was released on the official Facebook page of John Fogerty. 

Critical reception

"---a song that comfortably fits right in with the patented "swamp boogie" feel and sound that has been part and parcel of Fogerty's long, musical career." -Kane-O, Radio, spring 2018 (blocked in Europe). 

Fans' views

"It's a good song, but everybody who hears it and is no CCR or Fogerty fan will think it's a ZZ Top song."

"Sounds like the new drinking summer song."

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