They can be unknown to the general public and still have the aura of legend among musicians and rock fans. This is the case with Chuck Leavell. The man Keith Richards called “The Southern Gentleman” in reference to his southern origins. And that as a final sign of respect, the Rolling Stones appointed the musical director of the “greatest rock group in the world.”
The gifted pianist and native of Birmingham (Alabama) was hired for his first recording at the age of 16. At the age of 20, he joined a group with considerable success in the United States, the Allman Brothers Band, capable of playing to 600,000 people, such as at Watkins Glen in 1973, before forming the group Sea Level. But in the early 1980s, Chuck Leavell found himself at a turning point. The fees are becoming increasingly rare, his wife Rose Lane has inherited a huge farm in Georgia. The pianist is about to give up music in favor of agriculture. Of course he doesn’t know anything about it, but the topic fascinates him. He might have given up his piano altogether if the phone hadn’t rang one day in 1981…
At home, on the Charlane Plantation: 1,200 species of pines, oaks, elms… around 150 kilometers from Atlanta (Georgia). Getty Images / © Allen Farst/Contour
At stake are the Rolling Stones. You are looking for a pianist. Chuck will never leave her again. But between two tours and between two albums he returns to his property in Charlane, Georgia: With Rose he dedicates himself to sustainable forestry. Their 1,000-acre plantation is a model of its kind and in 1999 their property was named Tree Farm of the Year. Chuck Leavell becomes a respected figure in the world of conservation.
In parallel with his collaborations with the Stones, Eric Clapton and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Chuck Leavell was invited by President Bill Clinton, published several works on sustainable forest management (including “Growing a Better America”) and co-founded the site of the environmental information platform Mother Nature Network and receives numerous awards for its ecological commitment. There was even a documentary film dedicated to him called “The Tree Man.” At 71, the environmental activist finally eclipsed the musician. An achievement that won’t stop him from going on tour with the Rolling Stones next year!
Chuck practices controlled burning to reduce fuel buildup and stimulate germination of certain trees. ©DR
Paris game. You are recognized worldwide as a musician, but before the documentary dedicated to you, almost no one suspected your ecological conscience. How was she born?
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Chuck Leavell. I am a child of the 1960s. Many of us already had an inkling that there were environmental problems. The smoke emanating from constantly roaring automobiles or the smells from the surrounding factories. There was a pulp mill where I grew up and the strange fumes were noticeable every day. I could see that there was already something wrong with the way we were treating the planet. But my real realization came when I met my wife, Rose Lane. His family, farmers, owned land in Georgia. Despite my cold attitude, they welcomed me with open arms. I started spending time with them and learning about farming. They owned livestock, grew all sorts of things and traded in timber. I discovered a relationship with nature, with people who cared for the land, nurtured it and used it positively. We didn’t say “sustainable” back then. In the early 1980s, as my wife’s parents grew older, the decision was made to sell or manage the property. There were still 400,000 hectares left… I had to decide whether I really wanted to invest or not. What have I done.
His brother-in-law’s stroke of genius
But you knew nothing or very little about it, right?
Exactly. Especially since it worked quite well for me as a musician. I had just given my first concerts with the Rolling Stones. I wouldn’t allow that. However, the farm required daily maintenance as there were livestock, cotton fields, soybeans, etc. Since I didn’t want to sell, it was my brother-in-law who gave me the solution: “Why don’t you plant trees?” It’s easier and the wood is easier to handle.” I hadn’t thought about it, but I liked it. I immediately recognized the connection to my life as a musician: most of the instruments I encountered were made of wood. Starting with my piano!
On his favorite tractor, a 1970s model John Deere 4020. The Rolling Stones logo is depicted on the cap. Getty Images / © Allen Farst/Contour
How did you acquire the necessary knowledge while traveling the world with the Rolling Stones on endless tours?
I borrowed books and also took a few courses. At the beginning I fumbled: I started with the idea of planting walnut trees, then peach trees, then nursery plants… But I kept coming back to forestry. And that’s exactly what I ultimately decided to do.
Silviculture is crucial to the health and biodiversity of forests
Chuck Leavell
What exactly is forestry?
This is much more than just the commercial exploitation of forests. This includes a range of activities from planting to forest regeneration and sustainable management of forest ecosystems. This process is not just limited to cutting down trees for various purposes – be it for fuel, furniture or paper products. It is also a useful activity in designing and maintaining rural landscapes as well as in preserving biodiversity. Silviculture is a crucial factor for the health and biological diversity of forests. I learned all of this on tour on buses or planes. While the Stones were partying – to be honest, I was partying too, uh… – I was studying my books on forestry.
In Washington state. Over the past two decades, the United States has lost 17% of its forest cover. Getty Images / © Getty Images/Mint Images RF
What were the biggest difficulties you encountered?
The insects ! When I first encountered the beetle, a type of beetle, I noticed that it can decimate several hectares in a very short time! Not to mention some equally dreaded diseases. Over time we learn to: produce generations of more resilient pines through selection; how to balance trees and their entire ecosystem, fauna and flora. I had a passion for all of these things.
I am not a rabid proselytizing activist
Chuck Leavell
You are very discreet by nature. How do the famous musicians you work with react when they discover your passion for the environment?
True, I am not a rabid proselytizing activist. I don’t talk about it when I’m working as a musician. But as time went on, more and more people asked me about this passion. I’m trying to shed some light and explain that we can’t just fool around with eight billion people on the planet. This puts too much pressure on natural areas. However, we will not stop growing. It is therefore important to make people understand how we should deal with natural areas in the future. If we want to continue using wood, we must ensure its durability. This means you have to grow more trees than you remove from the landscape. That’s the message I’m trying to convey.
Legendary: on the keyboard between (left to right) Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, at the London Stadium, May 2018. DR / © DR
Nowadays buildings are made of wood. Isn’t there a risk of further deforestation?
Japan has been doing this for some time. But it is true that in the West, thanks to new technologies, wood is making constructions that were previously unthinkable possible. Compared to wood, concrete and steel cause a large environmental impact during their production. And they don’t bind carbon. Wood, yes! When you build a wooden house, the sequestered carbon is still sequestered, and in a different form. In my book “Growing a Better America” I advocate always having ecological thinking as a prerequisite. I sometimes have opinions that are somewhat contradictory to the Doxa. I believe that cities are not necessarily a scourge. Simply because it prevents the people living there from spreading everywhere in the still untouched nature. Imagine if all of Tokyo’s residents (more than thirty million!) decided to build a house in nature? I’m not sure that would be a boon for the environment!
Let’s look for areas where we don’t destroy a natural habitat at any cost just to get renewable energy
Chuck Leavell
When it comes to environmental issues, two “philosophies” collide: degrowth and, on the other hand, sustainable but green growth. What is your opinion?
You have to find the right balance. We all want to live comfortably. Have cars to get around. The spread of electric cars is desirable. However, I have concerns about the batteries and what happens to them if they become unusable. The same applies to solar power. Right next to my house is the largest solar farm east of the Mississippi, 1,200 acres. Renewable energy is good. Clearly. But what was in this place before? Beautiful trees and lots of wildlife. I like the concept of the sun producing energy. But let’s be careful when implementing it. And let’s find areas where we don’t destroy a natural habitat at all costs just to generate renewable energy.
With Bill Clinton. ©DR
An annoying topic, but… when you’re on tour with the Rolling Stones, those millions of liters of kerosene spent on planes to transport equipment, CO2 emissions… Where do you put your ecological conscience in these moments?
You’re right when you talk about it. Even if there are now ways to compensate. For example, there is an organization called 1 Ticket, 1 Tree. The goal is clear. Bought a ticket, planted a tree. Other organizers are Live Nation Entertainment and Anschutz Entertainment Group [AEG]Take $1 or $5 from every ticket sold. This is also used to replant trees. There are also individual initiatives, such as that of Jack Johnson, who runs a recording studio powered entirely by solar energy. Or that of Elton John, who makes CO2 compensation payments from his private assets for his tours. Cut the musicians some slack: the technology isn’t quite ready to put the equipment into circulation in electric trucks. For example, the Rolling Stones use shipping to transport stage equipment between oceans. Only once, to fly to Australia, I think we used a plane. There is more awareness in the music community than you might think.
With former President Jimmy Carter. ©DR
Do you try to talk to Mick Jagger about this before you go on tour to encourage him to do more?
I spoke to the Rolling Stones’ promoters, AEG, about 1 Ticket, 1 Tree. They met one of their representatives. Unfortunately nothing has come to fruition yet. I hope this will happen. But I’m careful because nothing is more boring than an activist who stubbornly insists. Of course, large organizations need to act to reduce their carbon footprint, but if you don’t know how to be more virtuous in an environmental sense at an individual level, there are now carbon offset initiatives that are simple and effective. Everyone can do it at their own scale.
We know that the United States can be a little “American-centric” at times. Are you generally concerned about deforestation in the world?
How can we not do this when we consider what is happening in the Amazon basin and illegal logging in Indonesia where large oil palm plantations are destroying the diversity of forests…it is dramatic. We have a president who understands some of these things. Which wasn’t the case with its predecessor. Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. What can I say? The same applies to Brazil. Deforestation had increased again, but the new President Lula seems to want to stop it. It is above all a political decision. We need strict laws and enforced regulations to eliminate the need for variable geometry guidance depending on your choice. Too many people in power still use bad practices and we will not start a war against them, there are already enough of them. The only solution is to continue to work tirelessly to raise awareness.
I believe the battle against climate skepticism has been won
Chuck Leavell
Given the intensity of the news, we feel that environmental issues are now being pushed into the background. What do you think?
Our generation has made mistakes out of ignorance. We didn’t know that what we were doing was harmful. I believe the battle against climate skepticism has been won. Even if there is still residual bitterness. The key is education. It is important to understand the scientific aspects of the problem. I have two daughters, aged 49 and 42, and it seems to me that this generation is ready not to leave the problem unresolved. I hope that this generation and the next will use science to change our bad habits and find ways to improve our lifestyles in healthy ways. In my book I talk about achieving a better “industrial symbiosis”. For example, if you build a factory, you could not allow the heat produced to evaporate by sending it to surrounding communities to create economic opportunities to heat themselves.
In the world of music we have the impression that the topic of ecology is not very suitable for making songs, right?
Maybe not enough, but my friends Bruce Hornsby or Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills and Nash have songs that address environmental concerns. Could it be more? Surely.