Eric Gales: “Every Day I Wake Up, I Make Sure I View Myself as a Student”

After earning Grammy nominations, touring the world and sharing stages with many of the greatest guitarists of his generation, Eric Gales still believes there's one mindset that matters more than any accolade.

Humility.

Standing backstage at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2026, surrounded by legends and rising stars alike, Gales explains that the moment he stops learning is the moment he stops growing.

A Student for Life

"Every day I wake up making sure I still view myself as a student,” says Gales. “Because the moment I don't, I think that's the beginning of my demise. If I forever keep a mindset like that, I think I'll always have a door open to learn something. I can't recall a moment in time where I ever thought that I knew it all."

A “United Nations” of Musicians

"Crossroads is like a U.N. meeting—in a good way,” says Gales. “It brings all kinds of players together. From Buddy Guy—who's in his 90s—all the way down to the youngest player here, I can find inspiration or something to learn from everyone."

Friends Push Each Other Forward

"When I heard Marcus King sing, it completely blew me away,” remembers Gales. “Then, I heard him play and said, 'Oh my god—who is this dude?' I introduced myself, and he said, 'Man, I know who you are. You're one of my biggest influences.' That floored me. Back around 1991, Joe Bonamassa opened for me. My brother came back to the bus and said, 'There's a kid in there playing his ass off. You're going to have to bring everything you've got tonight.' Joe and I have been best friends ever since. It's an elated feeling to be up there with two guitar players that I feel are Mount Rushmore material. Every time they play, they inspire me."

Learning From a Legend

“Buddy Guy is full of gems, stories and legacies,” says Gales. “There's no amount of money that could buy hearing anything that he has to say. To be in a room with him is unmatched.”

Living in the Moment

“The more I stay away from a guitar, the better it is for me,” shares Gales about his pre-show prep. “I want to be as far away from a guitar as possible, because when I step on stage, what's coming out is just as fresh as if it was the first time. I try my best to live in the moment and soak it all in. Then, when that green light comes on, I try to give everything I've got—whether there are 25,000 people out there or 25. It doesn't matter to me, because not only am I playing for them, but I’m also playing for me.”

Positivity

“Basically, I'm just taking life as it comes,” says Gales, “because life definitely be lifing. Ain't nothing we can do about that. So, I’m marinating and basking in the positive stuff that's happening now and looking forward to many more positive things in the future.”

Get the Sound and Continue the Experience

Gales has his own signature Kiesel guitar. If you’re curious about the brand, check out available Kiesel instruments from Guitar Center's Used collection.

Get the Gibson Falcon 20 1x12 tube combo amp used in the video. Be sure to check out the rest of our artist interviews from Crossroads 2026.