Gerry Beckley, the co-founder and front man of the iconic band America, has spent decades traveling the globe, creating music, and capturing life through a lens. Splitting his time between Sydney and Los Angeles, Beckley balances mornings on quiet beaches or photography walks with afternoons in his studio, crafting songs that blend personal reflection with universal resonance.
Beckley’s most recent project has him teaming up with fellow musician Jeff Larson for their exciting new project, JEFF LARSON WITH GERRY BECKLEY, released in late October. The album blends a fresh, modern sound with deep roots in the iconic California musical tradition, showcasing two voices that frequently soar in rich, tight harmony. The collaboration highlights Beckley’s signature melodic sensibility while bringing a contemporary edge, making it a standout addition to both artists’ discographies.
We caught up with Gerry to dive into his creative process, favorite travel destinations, and even his photography tips.
You split your time between Sydney and Los Angeles. What does a perfect day look like for you in those cities?
In Sydney, I live in Paddington, a lovely suburb not far from the city center. My day usually starts with coffee and a walk at Bronte Beach, which is quieter than Bondi and just gorgeous. I like to take a dip in the ocean, then return to my studio—a mirror of my Venice, California studio—and spend a few hours on music before letting the rest of the day unfold with friends and family.
In Venice Beach, I start with a photography walk to catch the morning light. I’ve been shooting Venice for over a decade, and it’s hard to tell whether I’m out for the photography or just to enjoy the walk—it’s both.
Your new album with Jeff Larson is perfect driving music. Is there a story behind the song “Again”?
Jeff and I collaborate in a very organic way. Often, the track comes first for me, and the lyrics evolve naturally. “Again” was one of those tracks. It’s lyrically a little more Jeff than me, but the whole album really came together, and I’m proud of it.
“The Waiting Game: Jet Lag Zombie” seems personal. Do you have any tips for coping with jet lag after decades of travel?
That song started as a concept about friends collaborating musically, but the title stuck. The truth is, extensive travel really messes with your body clock. I tend to be a morning person, which helps, but otherwise, I stick to basics: no screens late at night, get natural rest when you can. Flying long-haul multiple times a week—as I did—is challenging, and it takes years for your body to adjust.
Have you ever drawn inspiration for a song from a place you’ve visited?
Absolutely. Though sometimes it’s more imaginative than literal. For example, “Daisy Jane” mentions Memphis, though I had never been there at the time when I wrote it. Hawaii has also inspired us—both Dewey and I have fond memories from our tour stops there.
You’ve traveled extensively. Do you have any hidden gems to recommend?
Italy is always near the top of my list. The culture, the people, and the food are endlessly inspiring. On a more personal note, I am half English and spent my childhood in Englad. Very early in the 70s, after our initial success, I bought a 16th century cottage in Sussex in the English countryside. My mother was from Brighton, which is in Sussex, in the south of England. So that’s someplace that I could always recommend to people for a visit because it really pulled at my own heartstrings, you know.
Do you have any bucket list places to travel left?
There is a few. My wife and I recently went to Scandinavia to both Copenhagen and Stockholm, and that was because we had neither been to either of those places. Now that I am not touring, it allows me to kind of actually go to places and see them in a far more realistic time frame.
Let’s talk photography. What cameras do you use, and what inspires your work?
I shoot a mix of film and digital, mostly for landscapes and moments rather than people. My go-to gear includes a 35mm film camera, a Ricoh GR III for mobility, and a full-frame Sony with interchangeable lenses. I also have an Olympus t7 for water-level shots. Much of my photography is what I call “photography of circumstance”—being in the right place at the right time. Inspiration often comes from the environment itself, rather than planned composition.
Did you take pictures all those years traveling the world?
Not as much as I should have, but I realized that there were times that I did have a beautiful SLR canon that I traveled and shot with so I have some images. There was one time when I had a film camera, and we were playing some shows for the troops in Korea. We were in a Chinook helicopter where the backdoor just hinges down, like a garage door down and you’re looking out over the Korean countryside.
I was photographing the guys in this thing, and we look out the back and I saw another Chinook following us, and, and I shot that out of the back of our chopper. And I said, um, what’s that? And I realized all of our guys were in the helicopter we were in. I said, “Well, who’s in that one?” And they said, “Nobody’s in that one. That one is only there in case this one goes down.”
You’ve witnessed some of the most politically charged eras of music. How do you think young songwriters today can make meaningful music in today’s chaotic political climate?
I am in preproduction on a documentary called The Long and Winding Road, and it’s basically makes the argument about why late 60s, that era was the pinnacle that I consider of popular music.
The biggest challenge today is that music often gets created by committee. it’s very hard to make a personal statement when you have to run everything around the room. For example, Warren Zevon wrote “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” Warren was one of those guys that just wrote music to his own drum. He wrote some unbelievable stuff. But that’s one you couldn’t have done with five other people’s input.
Back in the late ’60s and early ’70s, personal experience and perspective drove songs like Neil Young’s Ohio. Music should still be a form of escape, but it can also reflect your heart and mind. Unfortunately, short attention spans and fear of backlash sometimes constrain creativity today.
Do you have a favorite guitar or story behind it?
I’ve been enjoying mahogany acoustics recently—they’re warm and intimate. My current favorite is a Gibson signature model by Keb Mo. I particularly like 12-fret guitars because they limit the fretboard, making me focus more creatively, often using a capo.
Can you share one of your craziest travel or tour stories?
Sure. One of the wildest was July 4th decades ago. The Beach Boys were playing a massive concert at the Washington Monument, and we were invited to join them. Our own show was scheduled in Casper, Wyoming the same night. We flew our leased jet from DC to Casper after performing for hundreds of thousands, landed, and played our evening show for another 35,000 people. I was in bed before midnight—quite a day!
Gerry Beckley’s reflections reveal the balance between craft, creativity, and life on the road. From capturing fleeting photographic moments to composing music inspired by imagination and experience, Beckley’s journey is a testament to curiosity, discipline, and passion. Whether through music, photography, or travel, he continues to inspire generations of artists and admirers alike.