real . It ’ s that voice in the head — the voice that we all have , this dark strange voice — it ’ s not me . So “ Hypnotize Yourself ” is about that . And in “ Face Your Fear ,” fear is also an illusion — all that we think about is really not real , so for me , overcoming fear is not listening to what that narrative in the head is talking about . Which was a big thing for me to realize — that that voice in the head is not my voice . So that ’ s where I ’ m at these days .

The Dead Daisies , 2022

GH : You know , for me , the entire record is about … dreams , really . So it should put oneself in this crazy , difficult time period — we ’ re going through this … whatever you want to call it — and I ’ m just trying to express myself as a songwriter in the only way that I know how to ,

and that ’ s in talking about letting go , overcoming fear , and stepping into the light .

IE : Who are you addressing in “ Hypnotize Yourself ”? You seem very angry . GH : It is about coming to the realization that nothing is real , really . Everything is an illusion . In the last 20 years of my life , more so than ever , I ’ ve realized that what you believe is not

IE : Is there a daily ritual that you perform to keep you grounded , then ? GH : You know , you ’ re the first person to talk about this . And yes , I do have affirmations . And again , for me , it ’ s simply about gratitude , realizing before I hit the floor every day , getting

out of bed , that I ’ m very grateful and thankful to have been given one more sunrise . I sing about the sun a lot in these songs , and it ’ s a huge thing for me . I mean , with what I ’ ve been through in my life — illnesses , overcoming drug addiction so many years ago , heart operations , a couple of new knees — they were typical times , personally , but you know something ? I ’ ve always had faith that music will set

me free . And I sing about that on the albums that I make . And I ’ ve made , what ? 20 albums in the last 30 years ? And I ’ m always singing about these things , these feelings , and I always talk about letting go , always continually letting go . Of everything . So being thankful is a big component for me that I live in this time of great difficulty when people have lost their jobs or are having difficulty surviving . My aim is to still be here , helping others .

IE : And you just caught Covid . GH : Yeah . I got it in Paris . My wife came to visit me , and I got tested in Paris — we get tested all the time , as you can imagine — and I got it ! I wasn ’ t feeling great . I didn ’ t tell the band I

wasn ’ t feeling great , but I said , “ I ’ d better go and have this checked .” And lo and behold , I had five tests that day , and I just couldn ’ t continue , so I had to come home . I had difficulty with my heart last year , so I had to make sure that I was okay . But I took a tremendous amount of inspiration from my doctors . So I got home and took care of myself , and I ’ ve been doing the right thing ever since .

IE : And you and David Coverdale are still pals , and he just went through some respiratory problems , too . How ’ s he doing ? GH : Yes . I spoke to him yesterday , and he ’ s doing good . He ’ s in Malibu right now and doing much better . So I think he will resume