Basement to Stardom: Steve Wynn's Musical Odyssey

A Journey Through The Dream Syndicate and Beyond
In an exclusive interview with Cultured Focus Magazine, rock veteran Steve Wynn opens up about his musical journey, reflecting on decades of creative exploration with The Dream Syndicate and his various musical projects. In discussion with journalist John Wisniewski, Wynn discusses his recent memoir "I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True" and his solo album "Make It Right". With a career spanning alternative rock, indie music, and multiple bands, Wynn provides a candid look into the evolution of his artistic vision and the ongoing passion that continues to drive his musical endeavors.

1. Steve, why did you want to write your recent Memoir "I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True"?
SW: It’s something I had thought about for a long time. I knew I had a good story to tell. But I was also pretty busy, balancing two bands and a solo career, all of which kept me in the studio and on the road most of the year. In 2020 that all went away, so I just hunkered down with the idea of writing maybe 500 words a day and surprised myself at how easily it all flowed. Turns out there was a story to tell once I allowed myself—or was forced by circumstances to allow myself to slow down for a second.
2. Tell us how the dream syndicate documentary came about?
SW: It was the brainchild of a young filmmaker from Amsterdam. He had spent a little time in LA studying and perfecting his craft at Cal Arts. He came to one of my shows at the Troubadour and ended up chatting with my mom, of all people, and firebrand that she is, she said “why not make a film about my son.”. It took about a dozen years but he got it done. It was a labor of love and a lot of hard work for him, we mostly just helped where we could and then stayed out of his way. I think he did a fantastic job.
3. How did The Dream syndicate form?
SW: Karl Precoda, Kendra Smith and I were just a ragtag trio of kids making noise in the basement, loving what we were doing but without any kind of ambition or plan. By chance, drummer Dennis Duck who was fairly well known on the local scene for his band Human Hands came to rehearse with us and things just clicked. His connections made people pay attention from the start and it turned out a whole lot of people liked our music as much as we did. It all happened pretty fast.
4. Why did you wish to have a Dream syndicate reunion?
SW: It wasn’t any kind of a grand scheme. We did a festival and short tour in Spain just for kicks. But then we realized how much fun it was for us and how happy it made people to see us play again and we went from just tickling the nostalgia bone to wanting to write new songs and make new records and redefine the entire arc of the band’s history. In many ways, I prefer our 21st Century quartet of records over the ones we made 40 years ago.
5. Dream Syndicate toured with U2 and R.E.M. What was that like?
SW: Pretty heady stuff for kids who had been making noise in the basement a year before but we were also unintimidated and undaunted. We were cocky little buggers.
6. Any favorite bands, Steve?
SW: Too many to name. I guess the building blocks are Dylan, the Velvets, Television, Neil Young, Coltrane, Miles, Ornette, Neu, Roxy Music—all the usual stuff. But right now, I’m enjoying the latest records by Beachwood Sparks and Psychic Temple and a new band from Chris Forsyth called BASIC.
7. What was it like recording the 1982 album "The Days of Wine and Roses"?
SW: A blur. We made it in one midnight to 8am session. But we knew as we’re making it and once, we heard the cassette by the light of day that we had managed to capture all the things we loved about the band and that’s no easy thing on your first record. Or any record!
8. Is the dream syndicate currently on tour? Tell us about this?
SW: I’ll be on the road from now until next Summer supporting my new solo album and memoir and then will figure out what to do next. The Dream Syndicate and The Baseball Project are both very active and I always have other things up my sleeve. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even write another book!
9. Could you tell us how you formed The Baseball project with Peter Buck Mills of R.E.M.?
SW: It’s equally natural and weird. I mean, who forms a band to sing about nothing but baseball and makes it a four-album, 16-year ongoing activity. But the bottom line is that Mike and Peter and Scott and Linda and I are all old friends who go way back, have fun and play well together and, oh yeah, happen to like baseball. To be honest, we just use the sport as a springboard to tell universal tales we’d tell with any of our bands. But we sure do see a lot of baseball jerseys at our shows!

Steve Wynn emerges as a multifaceted musician whose creative journey transcends traditional rock boundaries. Beyond his foundational work with The Dream Syndicate, Wynn has consistently reinvented himself through diverse musical projects like Danny & Dusty, Gutterball, and The Baseball Project. His approach to music reflects a deep appreciation for improvisation, drawing inspiration from free jazz and eclectic influences ranging from The Velvet Underground to Ornette Coleman. Wynn's artistic philosophy centers on musical freedom, allowing him to explore various genres and collaborate with numerous musicians while maintaining an authentic, uncompromising creative vision. His recent memoir and ongoing musical endeavors demonstrate a lifelong commitment to artistic expression that continues to evolve and challenge musical conventions.
For more information, visit and follow Steve across his social platforms:
Website: https://www.stevewynn.net Music: Spotify Firerecords: https://www.firerecords.com