European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Through the eyes of Charlie Daniels Ood times and bad by Anita Gosch staff writer when Charlie Daniels says he s a simple Man you a better believe it. There s nothing complicated about the Southern rockers values he s an unabashed Patriot who fights for his rights a born again Christian who credits god for giving him his first break and a Down Home country boy who Longs for the Good of Days. Quot i m a very Basic person Quot says the grammy award winning Singer guitarist and fiddler. Quot i like Beans and Cornbread and John  vet there a a lot More on Daniels mind than Southern food and Western heroes in fact to hear Daniels talk about his concerns you a think he a carrying the weight of America on his shoulders. Daniels who s known for such hits As the Devil went Down to Georgia Long haired country boy and still in Saigon was in Europe recently performing at military bases in West Germany. Before a show in Hanau he took time out to talk about his life and his music. One of Daniels biggest concerns these Days is drugs and crime in the United states. Quot i remember a different America than what most people remember Quot said the 53-year-old. Quot i remember Small town America. Crime in the streets was not tolerated. And you did t have crack dealers on the Corners. I remember that and i Long for that. We need to go Back to those  7 like Beans and Cornbread and John Wayne a says Southern Rocker Charlie Daniels. Below Daniels signs autographs for his fans. Fli Well print me be strew bleach receive a copy Ewina Book. Send your review to. Stars and Suppes a new kids review Apo 09211 of to the International address Star and stripes new kid review post1ach117 d.6100 Darmstadt n West Germany Fth dress age the please include yarn Eti and a Smalt. Galeand torah it my it Hec 5 or \ 1 a mss 1 3 a Quot rip a amps Michael Abrams Daniels prefers to express his beliefs through interviews with the Media he said rather than through his music. But some of his ideas filter through to his songs. His recent hit simple Man for instance is about people taking the Law into their own hands if the Justice system in the United slates fails to Deal properly with criminals. The song suggests one should Quot put the criminals on their Knees and tie them to a stump and let the rattlers and the bugs and the alligators do the  Daniels said he s received criticism from the Media for simple Man. Quot i be been accused of being a fascist in be been accused of being a Bible thumped a you would t believe the names in be been called from this song a he said. Quot i just cannot see us putting up with the things we put up with. I be got a 12-gauge Shotgun. And in a not going to bother anybody but Don t break into my House. Because i m going to shoot you if you  Daniels who lives in mount Juliet tenn., about 25 Miles East of Nashville was raised in a Rural working class environment. The son of a North Carolina Lumberjack he grew up in the South during a time of heavy racial prejudice. Quot i came out of that on my own Quot Daniels recalled. Quot i be seen the Hurt that segregation can do and it s a very bad thing. And i think i recognize it probably More than a lot of people that were never raised that  Daniels began singing and learning to play the guitar fiddle and mandolin As a child. After performing with local bands in the South then doing session work and writing songs for other artists he released his first album in 1971. These Days Daniels is on the Road More than 200 Days a year performing at colleges and other venues throughout the United states. But when he sat Home he said he hangs out with cowboys and Farmers. Quot that a who i talk to that a who i get most of my song ideas from Quot Daniels said. Quot i done to get along with intellectuals. They can to see what in a doing and i Don t give a Damn what they re  Daniels said he also gets song ideas while on the Road. He often carries a cassette recorder with him to record ideas and melodies. One new song he s writing is called let Freedom ring which includes a verse about the Berlin Wall. Daniels was on the East Side of the Brandenburg Gate recently filming part of a video documentary titled Home folks and highways Good times remembered by Charlie Daniels. Quot travelling and touching base with people affects my writing Quot he said. Quot you draw from experience. That s kind of what in a  but mostly Daniels insists he s about Good times Quot we re about Charlie and the boys Are in town tonight lets have some fun a Quot he said. Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes wednesday May 16,1990