Interview: Switchfoot Honors Blues’ “Last Man Standing” with an Electrifying Tribute to Buddy Guy - Atwood Magazine

      Switchfoot pays tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy with their new release “Last Man Standing,” a heartfelt homage to a man who has influenced countless guitar legends.

      “Last Man Standing” – Switchfoot & Buddy Guy

      Jon Foreman reflects on how different his life might have been if he hadn’t taken his high school soccer coach's advice to see Buddy Guy and B.B. King perform live. Foreman, a self-described “teenage surf rat” from Southern California, was far from the origins of the Blues. Nevertheless, armed with a new driver’s license eager for an adventure, he bought tickets from Lou’s Records, picked up his date, and drove down to the concert in his 1968 VW Bug. It was a transformative evening—he immersed himself in the music and ultimately discovered his inspiration.

      During a brief lunch break in the midst of a recording session, Foreman surveys a collection of hot sauce bottles while reflecting on that pivotal moment. “It’s like the Butterfly Effect—these little acts from a good teacher or a friend can change our world forever,” states the Switchfoot singer-songwriter. “After that night, I played mostly the Blues. Buddy Guy taught me how to play guitar.”

      Foreman recently transitioned from being a student to a collaborator when he had the opportunity to see Guy perform at a nearby club. Guy’s drummer, Tom Hambridge, is a mutual acquaintance, and after the show, he encouraged Foreman to write a song about the Blues legend.

      The song had to reflect the greatness of the man whose tracks “Skin Deep” and “Stone Crazy” have influenced guitarists like Hendrix, Richards, and Clapton. Thus, “Last Man Standing” was born, an electrifying tribute to the 88-year-old Blues icon who has outlasted them all, featuring dynamic guitar riffs throughout.

      “When I heard his voice singing the words I had written about him, I was in total disbelief,” shares Foreman, whose excitement in describing the moment transports him back to that awe-inspired teenager who spent countless hours in his room enveloped in the tragic yet beautiful narratives of the Blues. “That entire project with Buddy has reignited my passion for playing electric guitar.”

      While the song is dedicated to Guy, it also reflects Foreman’s own journey as a Grammy Award-winning artist who has inspired many music fans.

      My heart’s taken a beating

      But there’s still a drum beat inside

      I know my days are numbered

      But I’m still awake

      I’m still alive

      Sands of time

      Slipping through my hand

      I’m the last man standing

      I’m the last man standing

      Buddy Guy © Paul Natkin

      Switchfoot, known for hits like “Dare You to Move” and “Meant to Live,” are presently in the studio collaborating with producer Mike Elizando, “another Southern California kid” and protégé of Dr. Dre. The forthcoming album, set for release later this year, will not carry the same Blues influence; Foreman muses that he’d need Guy beside him at the mic to capture that essence.

      Foreman and his Switchfoot bandmates boast a distinctive sound that has been honed over nearly three decades. A glance around his studio reveals a man who has constructed a meaningful life: shelves reaching the ceiling filled with albums and music memorabilia, guitars gracing the walls, and surfboards neatly stored in the beams above—ready for the next adventure.

      I’ve seen kings reduced to thieves

      I’ve seen the writing on the wall

      I’ve seen the mighty walls fall

      I’ve watched nations crumble

      None of this was part of my plan

      But I’m the last man standing

      I’m the last man standing

      Switchfoot © 2025

      I’ve witnessed wicked men rise

      And seen good men perish

      I questioned “Lord, why this bitter cup?”

      And the answer never came

      I still grasp my guitar

      You know who I am

      I’m the last man standing

      Foreman remarks, “The places where I feel most liberated on a deep level are on stage, in the studio, or in the ocean. When I create music, I desire the freedom to be honest. As a child, I struggled with a speech impediment, and music became one of the few realms where I could express myself openly. Through music, I can conceal myself within the songs and address any topic in front of a crowd of strangers. That’s something I truly cherish.”

      I’ve learned my pain the hard way

      Heaven knows I’ve experienced my share

      And the lessons they imparted

      Aren’t free, nor fair

      There’s no way to understand it

      But believe me

      I’m right here, I’m right now

      I’m the last man standing

      You know who I am

      With this guitar in my hand

      I’m the last man standing

      — —

      :: stream/purchase Last Man Standing

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