Meet David Fore

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Fore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi David, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

I’ve only experienced writer’s block once in my life. Usually, creative ideas have always been within reach during my time as a writer and songwriter. All my creative friends used the downtown during COVID to write. Not so with me. I found the COVID-19 lockdown scary and emotionally draining, and it made me unproductive. I couldn’t write songs, and I didn’t have the creative energy to finish episodes for my “Bubble Puppy Bites” Substack. What to do about this? It came to me that writing about my writer’s block was my only way out. I came up with the chorus phrase “I Can’t Write No Songs.” The rest of the lyrics came along easily:” I ain’t got no writer’s block, I got the mental cramps. For a while, I was knockin’ ’em out, writing like a champ. But I Can’t Write No Songs. That’s what this song is about.”

You can hear the tune on my CD “I’m Too Shallow to Sing The Blues.”

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

There are three endeavors important to me at this point in my career:
1. My musical career with my “David Fore & Friends” band. (davidfore.com)
2. My Substack “Bubble Puppy Bites” about my time in the 1960s hit group The Bubble Puppy. (SubStack: https://davidfore.substack.com/ )
3. My “Bubble Puppy Bites” Podcast

As you can see, all the fun I have is related to music. I discovered a long time ago that playing, writing, and performing music is the way that I fit in best in society.

I’ve been in the Austin music scene for over 50 years. I’m in the Austin Chronicle Hall of Fame with Bubble Puppy. Also in the Austin Chronicle, I won the “Best Cover Band Award” eleven times, drumming for The Beatles Tribute Band “The EggMen.” I even won in the “Best New Band” category in the eighties. I’ve placed as high as second in the “Best Drummer Category” in the Music Awards.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, I’d say the three things that made the biggest difference in my journey were my creativity, my tenacity to see a project through, and my love of working with other musicians. Creativity has always been my compass—it’s what keeps me excited and pushes me to try new things, even when I’m not sure how they’ll turn out. I’ve learned that you have to trust your instincts and not be afraid to experiment, even if it means making a few mistakes along the way.

Tenacity is just as important. There have been plenty of times when a project felt impossible or I hit a wall, but I’ve always been stubborn about finishing what I start. I think the key is to break things down into smaller steps and just keep moving forward, even if it’s slow. That persistence pays off, and there’s nothing like the feeling of finally seeing a project come to life.

And honestly, none of it would be as rewarding without the people I get to work with. Collaborating with other musicians has taught me so much—not just about music, but about listening, compromise, and the magic that happens when different ideas come together. My advice to anyone starting out is to nurture your creativity, stick with your projects even when they get tough, and seek out people who inspire you. The journey is so much richer when you share it with others.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Everyone in Austin is in at least three bands! It’s challenging to find a core group of people who can focus on a single group. For instance, my bass player is in two other bands, and he has his act as well.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos by Steve Mackie Photography

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