Like a lot of people my age, Private Dancer was my introduction to Tina. At the time, I knew nothing about her incredible journey with Ike Turner or the years she spent fighting to rebuild her career as a solo artist. All I knew was that the second the video for "What's Love Got to Do with It" came on MTV, I couldn't look away.
Back then, my dad had a pretty great system. He'd buy the latest 45s, record them onto one of his mixtapes, and then I'd inherit the singles. I still remember bringing those records home and playing them over and over again. Like just about every radio DJ at the time, my dad couldn't stop talking about Tina's iconic fishnet look on the Private Dancer cover. Me? I just thought she was the coolest woman I'd ever seen.
By the time the album's title track, "Private Dancer," was released as a single, I was already a full-fledged fan. Ironically, I wasn't crazy about the song the first time I heard it. It felt slower than the other hits from the album, and I didn't immediately connect with it. But sometimes the songs that take the longest to grow on us become the ones we treasure most.
Now, all these years later, "Private Dancer" is one of my favorite Tina Turner recordings. I also love the different videos that have been released for it, but this live performance from Wembley Arena has always been my favorite. It captures Tina at the height of her powers, commanding an arena packed with fans who hung on every word.
Watching it today is a reminder of why she became such a legend. The performance is understated, elegant, and completely captivating. It's proof that great songs—and great artists—never really age. They just find new generations of fans to fall in love with them.
You can live your life lonely heavy as stone Live your life learning and working alone Say this is all you want but I don't believe that it's true 'cause when you least expect it waiting round the corner for you Love comes quickly whatever you do you can't stop falling Love comes quickly whatever you do you can't stop falling
When the Pet Shop Boys arrived in America in 1986, they did so in a big way. "West End Girls" became an undeniable smash, climbing all the way to No. 1 and helping usher synth-pop into the mainstream at a time when the genre was absolutely everywhere. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe suddenly found themselves among the biggest names in pop music.
Their follow-up single, "Love Comes Quickly," didn't enjoy the same chart success in the United States, but for many fans, it's one of the duo's finest moments. In fact, it's long been considered one of the Pet Shop Boys' own favorite songs, and it's always been one of mine too.
There's something wonderfully understated about "Love Comes Quickly." Instead of delivering an over-the-top love song, it captures that quiet realization that you've already fallen for someone before you even had a chance to stop it. Love doesn't ask permission. It doesn't wait until the timing is perfect. One day you're going about your life, and the next, those feelings have completely taken over.
The song's shimmering synths, elegant melody, and Neil Tennant's cool, understated vocals make the message even more powerful. It's romantic without being overly sentimental, proving that sometimes the strongest emotions are expressed with the fewest words.
Looking back, "Love Comes Quickly" may have been overshadowed by the massive success of "West End Girls," but it has aged beautifully. It's one of those songs that reveals something new every time you hear it, reminding us why the Pet Shop Boys became one of the most respected and enduring acts of the synth-pop era.
Not every great song becomes a blockbuster hit. Sometimes the ones that leave the deepest impression are the quieter follow-ups that loyal fans continue to treasure decades later. "Love Comes Quickly" is one of those songs for me, and forty years later, it still sounds just as elegant and heartfelt as it did in 1986.
"Someone found a letter you wrote me On the radio And they told the world just how you felt It must have fallen out of a hole In your old brown overcoat They never said your name But I knew just who they meant I was so surprised and shocked And I wondered, too If by chance you heard it for yourself I never told a soul Just how I've been feeling about you But they said it really loud They said it on the air On the radio"
I figured a little disco might help me (and you) to get moving this morning. Donna Summer has always been a favorite. I remember my dad putting one of her greatest hits albums on tape and I then inherited the vinyl. I don't think any of my friend's had ever heard "Macarthur Park" before I played it on my little record player. I loved everything by her but my very favorite has always been "On The Radio".
I can remember being down the shore (Jersey of course) and walking the boardwalk when a downpour started. My parents and I ducked into a place to eat and right across from us was the movie theater which was showing The Main Event, a movie that I was way too young to see. The title track to the film was by Donna and Barbra Streisand and inside the pizza place where we sat, who was on the jukebox? Of course, Donna.
She had a way of unintentionally providing the soundtrack for bullet point moments in my life. Like when I was pregnant with my first kid, Donna Summer had a VH1 special that blew up and the cd lived in my stereo forever. Her passing at age 63 in 2012 was far too young and under questionable circumstances. She had developed lung cancer in spite of never smoking. Donna maintained that her illness was caused by toxic fumes from 9-11. It's still a bit sad to me to think that she's not somewhere belting out a song. Check out a classic below.
I fell in love with Tina Turner's music back in 1984 when she released Private Dancer. I knew nothing of her career years earlier with Ike and I knew nothing of her struggle to establish herself as a solo artist. I only knew that when the video for "What's Love Got To Do With It" started I was completely sucked in. I remember at that time my dad would buy singles' and add them to a mixtape, then I'd get to keep the 45. At the time my dad, like every other DJ on the radio was mesmerized by Tina's fishnets on the cover. I just thought she reeked of coolness.
By the time the title track, "Private Dancer" was released I was already a fan. At first, I thought that the song was a bit boring but it quickly grew on me. Now many moons later I love it AND all three of the videos that have been released for it. The one below is my very favorite. Shot during a concert at Wembley Arena, it shows just how popular Tina really was in her heyday. It's also a subtle version of a song that's kind of timeless, don't you think?
"When I think about you, my feelings can't explain Why after all this time my heart still feels pain When I look at you, memories of love like no one before You stay on my mind Special feelings, special times (Always so special) I was yours and you were mine (Made for each other) All the good I won't forget (You will stay on my mind) Saturday the day we met For always and forever you'll be my Saturday love" Ya' know that song that gets stuck in your head, but you don't really mind too much? Well, one of those little ditties for me is Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal's "Saturday Love". When it was released in 1985 it kind of solidified the two as one of THOSE R&B duos. The kind that was sure to have a hit together. On their own, both Cherrelle and Alex were poppin', but together was fire. If you search YouTube you'll find recent performances of this song and it's pretty clear that these two still share a special bond. Alex has seen better days vocally but Cherrelle? Man, she still sounds great. "Saturday Love" seems like a great way to kick off this weekend so... here it is!
Valerie Day and John Smith, the masterminds behind the music of Nu Shooz, are always looking for creative ways to involve their fans in whatever they're doing and that certainly includes an active presence on social media. The band was first formed way back in 1979 and they were playing live gigs for years before that big breakthrough finally came. Back then Nu Shooz found it self working several nights a week onstage as part of Portland's pre-synth raging music scene. While the synth sound eventually was the catalyst that brought the bands' music to the masses (and earned them a Grammy nomination in 1987 for Best New Artist), their love for organic music and using real instruments runs deep. 1986's Poolside may be considered the most successful album for the Shooz, but their journey certainly has encompassed decades.
(Photo: Phil Isley)
While on paper it may seem that Valerie and John dropped off the radar for years, just the opposite is actually true. Valerie has performed with the Oregon Symphony Pops, several celebrated jazz artists and she has co-created a show called Brain Chemistry for Lovers beside Darrell Grant. John has been equally busy and his musical genius has kept him working in the commercial industry for more than twenty years. The 80's are one of the hottest genres out there right now and last Christmas Target decided to use "I Can't Wait" as part of their holiday advertising campaign. Admit it, you were singing along every time the commercial came on, weren't you?
The only thing bigger than the 80's right now are the tours circling the country that feature large roster's of some of the biggest names in old school music and so when the Freestyle Explosion show came knocking, Day and Smith were thrilled to jump on board. "It's amazing how strong the love for music from way back then still is. Social media also helps to keep us connected with our audience on a regular basis. It's neat to see fans from the 80's at our shows and they're now bringing their kids with them. We actually have different generations of fans waiting for autographs at meet and greets- that's a little surreal! We were told about a fun little tour (Freestyle Explosion) that would reunite Nu Shooz with a whole roster of other performers from the 80's and it's something that we've really enjoyed doing." explained Day in a recent interview with The Daily Boom.
(Photo: Mike Hipple)
Ironically enough, according to Smith, reconnecting with the diehard 80's fan base is what helped to breathe life into their latest album. "It was doing that tour that actually made us want to consider coming back with another Nu Shooz album. The love for that era of music is pretty amazing and the rush for us is still the same as it was back then. We decided that it was time to take ourselves maybe a little less seriously. We're definitely more confident both as artists and as people. Plus we have a really great band to play with. We have alumni band members now that have played our style for years. The cohesive mix makes for many “Life is good” moments. It was fun to have radio hits but nothing beats playing live."
"After making ourselves miserable musically we decided to make a record aimed at having fun and it has really worked for us. At one point John and I went to dinner with our good friends, Marv and Rindy Ross (of Quarterflash) and we were all feeling similarly about where we were at musically at that point in time. They were coming off the release of a more serious record (as were we) and Marv mentioned wanting to create an album that was just fun to play live. That idea really clicked with us and it felt like exactly what we needed to do as well." explains Day while contemplating why making this record has really worked for them.
(BagTown Cover Art: Malcolm Smith
The key to the magic that has unfolded really seems to be the fact that they have absolutely enjoyed the process. According to Smith, "BagTown is the funnest (yes, 'funnest' and 'funner' became the descriptive words for BagTown) album that we have made, maybe ever. With every record, the process of creation is different. Sometimes it's lyrics first, other times the music is written first. We made a city of bag people and started drawing on them and all of a sudden these bags were partying. The songs from BagTown actually came from creating this city and bringing it to life in our minds. Of course music for us is a two-way relationship and so the audience ends up being an equal partner in the whole experience."
Connect with Nu Shooz below so that you're kept up-to-date on everything that they're doing!
DailyBOOM is flashing back to some of our favorites from previous years, plus some interviews that are oldies but goodies! Enjoy this flashback! ICYMI...
Chances are when I say Bananarama, a particular bit of music instantly runs through your mind before a visual forms.. It might be from "Cruel Summer" or the heavy synth of "Venus", but you've got something already stuck in your head, don't you? It's the mark of a legendary artist really when their work is so easily recalled. The ladies of Bananarama are exactly that- legendary. Iconic. If you could jump back in time to the early 80's you would find Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward, and Siobhan Fahey kicking down preconceived ideas of what a girl group "should" look like. They were trailblazers that helped to lead the way for other female artists, not because they were trying to, but because they were simply being true to themselves and their own unique creativity.
Their approach was probably one of the main keys to success. Sara, Keren, and Siobhan have always at root, just been three friends doing something that they believed in. That belief has translated into 4 U.S. top tens, 32 top forty UK hits, ten albums and over thirty million records sold. Did you catch that? Thirty MILLION records sold. It's no wonder that when Bananarama announced last spring that they would be reuniting for a real tour, the response was insanely positive.
Siobhan left the group in 1988 and had never actually experienced the live audience love of Bananarama's fan base, until recently. The Original Line Up Tour crisscrossed the UK late last year leaving the ladies vacillating between moments of healing tears and pure joy. The experience was so phenomenal that they are now bringing their tour stateside to the U.S. and Canada beginning in late February. Those quirky young girls have aged gracefully but don't let their obvious class completely fool you, there's still a bit of mischief and a whole lot of fun going on behind the scenes.
I was lucky enough to steal a few minutes of Keren's time earlier today and she was quite happy to reflect on Bananarama's past while being incredibly grateful for their current success.
Cate Meighan: Where are you now?
Keren Woodward: I'm at my home in Cornwall. I got back from London yesterday actually. I don't live there anymore, I prefer a quiet life in the country. I've got a little time off before the tour and we'll be starting rehearsals when we get to the states. It shouldn't be too difficult since we've just done 23 shows in the UK. We should hopefully still remember most of it (laughing).
CM: I've watched a lot of video clips from those shows and the emotion on stage between the three of seemed to range from teary-eyed to pure joy. Was it everything that you had hoped this reunion would be?
KW: It really was quite an experience and it really was quite emotional. We wanted to do something different and special. We phoned Siobhan up, thinking she just wouldn't want to do it because it was a huge amount of work for her, and then she surprised us. She hadn't been doing the songs in the same way that Sara and I have, so for her to take it on required a huge amount of rehearsals, and sort of just relearning stuff. It was very emotional from the first time that we were sitting together listening to the songs that we wanted to do on tour, we all got quite teary eyed. It has been an absolutely amazing experience, with such an overwhelming response. The emotion in the crowd and all of that emotion on stage was actually quite unexpected and incredible. It's the whole reason why we decided to bring the show to the states and to do a couple of other things as well. It's just been so fabulous. A really wonderful experience.
CM: Bananarama fans are really one of a kind. Not only do they love you ladies, but they also seem to have an instantaneous, genuine love for each other.
KW: Aren't they? It seems like a bit of a family. We've met so many of the fans and they have so many different stories of why Bananarama has meant so much to them. It's really, really heartwarming. When we were in our heyday back in the 80's we were going around doing TV and interviews, but maybe not getting to meet the fans as much. The loyalty and the stories that they tell us now are just really so wonderful. I did feel slightly bad that we had so many fans come from the U.S. to see us and then we announced that we were going there anyway. So now they get to see us twice and they don't seem to be too bothered by that, to be honest (laughing).
CM: It's beautiful to see the love and positive energy that they share with you.
KW: It really is and it's quite surprising in some ways. We never could have expected it. Sara and I have done a lot of shows but it's really quite different when you're playing a festival as opposed to your own show. I know we've got enough songs that people know to keep us going but it's a different atmosphere when you're playing in a theater. Especially when everyone knows every word, of every song, start to finish, including album tracks and B sides. It's quite extraordinary.
CM: Let's be honest, you're not twenty-five anymore. How daunting is it to tour now?
KW; I've toured with Sara before and we have maybe done ten shows in a row. This one did seem pretty daunting when we first took off but I think the excitement kept us afloat. I mean we perform full out. I know my friends that came to see us said they were exhausted just watching. The reaction from the audience helped and I don't really remember feeling as though I couldn't keep going. Not at all. I was a bit tired in between shows I'm sure, but performing was never a problem. It's good to know I suppose (laughing). It's not like I'm really a gym bunny and I tend not to do much more than walking the dogs, so I must be fitter than I thought. It's a good thing (laughing).
CM: Have there been some kitchen discos along the way?
KW: (Laughing) To be honest, we had enough disco at our shows in the evening. No time for kitchen discos when we were on tour. They worked us so hard that when we had a day off all we wanted to do was relax (laughing). I did have plenty of discos over Christmas though, in my own kitchen with family, friends, and Sara. She and her daughter came and spent Christmas with me. We did have a sing-a-long in our dressing room before each show though. We would put music on and sing songs while getting ready just to help us get in the mood.
CM: So we know the UK tour was a smash. What should we expect from your U.S. dates?
KW: It's quite energetic and we're adding in our own memories. Plus there are visual memories on the screen behind us, which someone commented is really brave, to perform in front of a younger version of yourself (laughing). I suppose they're right. I know there were people (at our UK shows) that weren't massive fans but sort of came for the hell of it, just to have a laugh because they knew a few of the old songs. Well, they got there and realized that they actually knew most of the songs and had a ball. I'm hoping it'll be the same in the states. There are hits, surprises, and more. Some of the older tracks we've given a real party treatment to and it all sounds really great with the band. Our band is incredible and it just changes the dynamic. Keep in mind that much of the stuff that we did in the 80's didn't have live musicians. It was all done on computers at that time. Sara and I have performed with a band for so long that we can't bear to do it without one. I know people still go out without one and do a track show but I just can't, it wouldn't be right for me.
CM: Does Bananarama have any other solid plans in the near future once this tour wraps up?
This current tour is all about our celebrating our time as a trio. We have some big festivals that we'll be doing and after that, I don't really know. The whole point of doing it was to welcome back Siobhan and to do these songs with her. Every time that Sara and I saw her, either in London or at her home in LA, we would be dancing around and singing. It was hard to imagine that we had never done these shows with her and she absolutely embraced it, which is amazing. The beauty of Bananarama is that we've never really made monster plans. In the 80's everything was always so laid out and your calendar was full before you even started the year. Now we're doing what we want to do and going with what makes sense in the moment. Right now this show makes sense and we're having a ball.
CM: What would you like to say to those fans that have supported you through the decades?
KW: I've met so many of them! So many women along the way have told me that they considered me a role model growing up. I feel it's important to set an example at this age, to remind people that if they put their minds to something they can still do it and hey, you might surprise yourself! I think it can actually be quite difficult for women of our age to be seen or heard. You might feel written off because of other people's attitudes but ultimately that comes back to you. You're not too old to do things or change things that are making you unhappy. Hopefully, people can look at us and think- if they can do it then I can do it too. We girls need to stick together and buoy each other. That's how it should always be!
Check out a review of Bananarama's reunion in NYC in February of 2018 right here!
We are flashing back to some of the best of the best content here at DailyBOOM.
(ICYMI)
Here is a great recent chat with Sabrina Nieves of The Cover Girls.)
Isn't it interesting how some music just really stands the test of time? Being a DJ's kid I can rattle off songs and artists easily, My dad trained me well and a corner of my brain has 40 years' worth of music neatly filed away, just in case I need it someday. Then there are those groups and artists that for whatever reason really stand out. The Cover Girls are a big one for me. I can't tell you exactly what it was that initially made me pay attention, but "Because Of You" was my song back in 1987. Mixed in with my hairbands there was a bit of freestyle music and these ladies topped the list.
I can distinctly remember taping The Cover Girls off of Open House Party because they hadn't hit locally (yet) and even though I could have had my dad order their album I hedged on that because I had my rocker image to maintain. Any long-suffering fan of freestyle music knows that The Cover Girls went through a lineup change when Angel Sabater left as the lead vocalist and was swiftly replaced by Evelyn Escalera. What many don't know is that her departure was completely anticipated, so much so that Escalera had already been trained and was simply waiting for that phone call to come naming her as the new lead voice of The Cover Girls.
What's interesting is the fact that Escalera has been performing with the group regularly for the last 25 years and still takes heat for daring to replace a singer who left on their own accord. She has been joined onstage for the last 12 years by Sabrina Nieves and Lorraine Munoz and let me tell you, these ladies really kill it. After catching a recent freestyle show in Westchester County, NY where The Cover Girls performed, I had the privilege of chatting with Nieves for a few minutes and I quickly realized that while my teenage self loved the originals, my grown-up self is far more in tune with the class act that blew me away onstage a bit earlier.
While Nieves readily admits that there is often "noise" that surrounds them, she is completely humbled by the love that they do receive. The connection that these women actually share is pretty intense too. As it turns out, Nieves and Munoz actually go all the way back to 4th grade and they attended the same performing arts school together. In their earlier years, Nieves focused on dance while Munoz was more into voice training. While they naturally hoped to one day work together, neither ever could have imagined that they would spend over a decade together performing with The Cover Girls.
Cate Meighan: What is it like for you to still work with Evelyn and Lorraine after all of these years?
Sabrina Nieves: It's actually pretty amazing. I really respect what Evelyn has done, she is THE longest running Cover Girl! I think that she also really respects Lorraine and me, what we bring to the stage as well. We all really love and respect the Cover Girls brand and want our performances to be the best that they can be. But behind the scenes, we are all really just clowns (laughing). We have so much fun and nothing breaks the bond we share. Even if we are busy with our 9 to 5 jobs and don't talk for a bit, once we finally do get together it's always all good.
C.M.: Is there any new music on the horizon for Cover Girls fans?
S.N.: It's funny because we have written and we have recorded some other things! We also realize that we only get so long on stage and people really want to hear the classics. They come to a freestyle show to hear the old songs and we really understand that. As long as we can get out there and keep performing them then that's what we're going to do. There is a real sense of peace with where we are at now. It's good, really good.
C.M.: What is it like to perform the same songs for so many years?
S.N.: I love it! I'm a boss and a mother in my daily life so this is what gives me a chance to play dress up! There is a moment at the start of every show when Evelyn, Lorraine, and I are just standing there. When the music hits and the lights go on- that feels like it's my moment. It's funny because I also instantly look for a heckler. If I find him then I will work extra hard to try and change his mind about us (laughing). I also really love it when the crowd sings along with us. "Show Me" is my favorite song to perform and it's always last. It feels like a lot of people came just to hear that and to hear them singing the words with us is just the most amazing feeling!
C.M.: What would you like to say to the fans that come out to support The Cover Girls?
S.N.: Oh my gosh, the Cover Girls fandom is diehard! There are those people that really do follow us from show to show, so much so that I kind of look for them (laughing)! We are so very grateful for all that the fans have done to support us. We love that they have introduced our music to their kids and now we have another generation of fans following us. That's honestly what helps to keep the Cover Girls alive, so thank you!
Talking to Nieves makes it extra easy to root for these ladies. The talent is obvious. Escalera's live rendition of "Wishing On A Star" kind of rips the roof off of any building, but the grown-up Cover Girls are also role models. They juggle children, are businesswomen, have nursed broken hearts, and whatever else life has thrown their way, all with a little grace and a whole lot of class.
We are flashing back to some of the best of the best content here at DailyBOOM.
(ICYMI)
One of the coolest things about music is the way that it provides each and every one of us with the ability to travel through time. You know what I mean, a twenty-second song intro and for just a flash of a moment, you really do feel like it's 1980-something all over again. Night Ranger always takes me back to the tail end of middle school, when laying in the sun while trying to win albums off of a local radio station was an actual hobby. My first boyfriend was a bit obsessed with the band and so I became a fan as well. That was 35 years ago and while I have no idea where he is today, the Night Ranger on vinyl is still with me.
If you haven't had an opportunity to check this band out live then you really owe it to yourself to grab some tickets and just go. The videos that were so popular way back when really didn't do Night Ranger justice in terms of showing just how capable they are of playing a great rock set. I caught the guys recent gig at M3 Rockfest and was keenly aware of just how much the audience seemed to appreciate their talent.
I also had an opportunity to speak with one of the driving forces behind the band's continued success, drummer/vocalist Kelly Keagy. He considers his return to the stage last year after a health crisis not only a rebirth but also a joyful opportunity to be even better than before.
(Photo: Ash Newell)
Cate Meighan: How was the M3 Rock Festival for you and the rest of the band?
Kelly Keagy: It was cool. M3 is more of ametal-ish kind of festival and I know that everyone worries about throwing a straight rock band into that kind of lineup. In Europe a metal band show is totally different and filled with bands people in the states may never have even heard of. I remember when Night Ranger was put on a Sweden Rocks show about five years ago and it was mixed up musically. They had Pearl Jam, they had us and they had 10cc from 70's yacht rock play right before us (laughing). 30,000 people came out to see them because they still sounded just like the record and it was phenomenal. I was standing at the edge of the stage singing along, "I'm not in love..." thinking how much I loved these guys too. It's nice to be thrown in with a bunch of different kinds of acts and to be able to hold your own.
I like being in front of people that know our songs but aren't actually fans because then when we go up and not just play, but also interact with them, we can really wow them.
CM: I've noticed that people almost seem surprised by just how great you guys are live. Why is that?
KK: When you first start out it's all about playing live and it's all about being really good in front of an audience. That's how we started out and then we went in to start making records we had to start thinking in terms of promotion. Since a lot of our radio hits were ballads, the videos that went along with them were often a lot lighter than our live shows would be.
When you are playing live then it's about how you relate to an audience and bring them in. For the last fifteen years or so we've been added on to shows with Journey or Foreigner or some of those bands that were around for maybe ten years before we actually had success. Some of those audiences wouldn't have necessarily been our fans so it's a real challenge for us to go into that situation and have the confidence to know that we can win people over. We always end up walking away with the feeling that maybe those who hadn't seen us before might come and check us out again in the future, so that's cool.
(Photo: Ash Newell)
CM: Rising to meet the challenges that the music industry presents really isn't a new concept to you though, is it?
KK:It has always been awhirlwind for us, especially in the early days. Our first record was on Boardwalk, which went bankrupt in the middle of our tour. We came back after doing two sold-out shows with Sammy Hagar and the record company told us that the IRS had locked the doors so we weren't going to have any records in the stores! We had to go back in to make another record as soon as possible and thankfully we already had an offer from MCA, so we went in just as soon as we could. We started writing and we already had some songs leftover. "SisterChristian" hadn't been put on our first record because we already had a lot of ballads, so we were able to use it on our second record. We ended up writing the majority of the other songs in about a month and then we went back in and recorded it. We were very lucky because we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Anybody else would have just folded because there it was, that one shot to make it and that first record company collapsed. We were lucky to have another shot and so we really ran with it.
CM: Some of the singles put out were a bit of an issue for you too, weren't they?
KK: Oh yeah, the singles that they chose often timesweren't really what we would have picked for ourselves and I think it's part of the reason why people don't realize that we're so good live. We did an album called Man in Motion back in 1988 and we were kind of defiant about it. Since all that wanted to do was release ballads, we turned the record in without one (laughing)! They thought we were kidding, a Night Ranger record without a ballad.
The record company would just push those tracks that radio was expecting and so we went back and wrote a really great ballad, but they never used it. Instead, they wanted to use a Russ Ballard song and we were stunned because we write our own material and do well with it! Why would we do a song that doesn't even sound like us? That's when people started to write us off a tiny bit and wonder what happened to Night Ranger. We had to wholeheartedly try and promote that song because the rest of the album was good and we were proud of it, so we had to promote this ballad in the hopes that people would hear the rest of the record
(Photo: Ash Newell)
CM: So many people end up being involved that it almost seems like a small miracle when any record does get made. How has the process changed for you over the years?
KK: It has flourished a lot especially in the last three records. On the last one the three of us, myself, Jack (Blades) and Brad (Gillis) decided to just write all of the songs together. In the past I'd bring 2 songs, Jack would bring 2 and we would have almost half the record already so we would then start piecing it together with the rest of the band. With this album, we wanted to be creative together from the very start. Kerri and Eric have had great ideas right off the bat too so it has really been a joyous situation.
We have the benefit of having a great record company that has been putting out our stuff for a while now. Frontiers Music Srl, owned by Serafino Perugino, is very passionate about all of the bands from the 80's era. They give us some space because they ultimately know that we're going to give them what they want. It's a big business because these companies put a lot of money on the line, and so they have to be sure that they get what they need. Every time they drop a single it's a quarter or a half of amillion bucks. It was insane back in the day to do those videos and it's not that much cheaper to do these things now.
We really care about what the fans think and we'll always make those records that the fans like. But it's nice not to have to worry about the record company breathing down our necks reminding us that we don't have a single to send to radio. We're confident in what we're doing and Frontiers is on board with us.
CM: Is the process of writing and recording different for you now than it was even ten years ago?
KK: Absolutely because we get to produce our records. Back in the day, we had some pretty heavyweight producers come in and they made all of the crucial and sometimes unpopular decisions. They picked the songs and just did everything. Now, we get to produce the records and decide what songs will be on there and we're having a much better time developing our albums. We needed someone to make all of those decisions back thenbecause when you're young, you don't know how to produce a record (laughing). You need that second ear to tell you when a song isn't worth spending time on and so then, that was good for us. Producers get a lot of money too and we wanted to be able to take our budget and make the best sounding album with itfor the fans.
On Don't Let Up, the last record that we did, we wrote all of the songs together and we recorded it in our home studios. Honestly, for a bunch of old school guys that was a tough decision. What we did do is make sure that the writing and workwere really solidly done as demos. We were confident in them and then all we had to do was to re-record our parts. We weren't too far off the mark that way, but if you were doing it without real structure then it wouldn't work. We were doing sessions 3 or 4 days in a row and then coming back and listening to them, before doing a few more days in a row. That worked pretty well. We had time to live with the demos and then have discussions about them and so we ended up pretty excited about the project.Ultimately, I really do think that it's a good idea to go in there and have everyone present. The emotions really come out when you're all together playing and singing, so there's a kind of magic in the music then.
(Photo: Ash Newell)
CM: I know that you went through a health crisis about a year ago and ended up having heart surgery. How did that experience change you?
KK:Oh, wow it really has changed me. I didn't realize it until after I had the heart surgery and I was at home recovering. The doctor had warned me that there was going to be some depression that might set in while I was just sitting there and the band was still out playing. They would send me videos of the audience singing "Sister Christian" and just saying hello to me. At that point, it was just impossible for me to not learn to appreciate those days on stage because they're not going to last forever. I started thinking that this was now a challenge to get back in there with the band. I knew that people were going to be looking at me to see if I would still be as good as before. I looked at it as a new lease on life and so now I had to be even better. It might take a while but I was determined to be strong and singing even better than before. Once you plant that positive seed in your mind then it truly grows
We are such a close band, even with newer members like Kerri Kelly and Eric Levy, we're really tightand so any crisis brings us closer. My recovery really did do thatbecause I heard from everyone daily and then the fan support was intense. It is truly a miracle to see that kind of energy come into your inner circle and flourish.Such a difficult thing eventually wasjust such a blessing. It was like a rebirth that brought us all closer. Then we made another record, which was great in my mind. We just keep coming up with good stuff to write about and it's all of these different pieces that ultimately make us still viable. We're still passionate and music is still very important to us and that's how it'll stay for as long as we're making music.
CM: I know that the band keeps you busy, but is there anything else that's close to your heart now?
KK:I'm an ambassador forthe Musician's Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, which is just an amazing place. People can actually come and visit the museum to see pieces of the history that they've been listening to. It's all about the unsung heroes of music from the 50's up until now and there's just this rich music history that unfoldsright in front of you. The owner of the museum just seeks out these amazing items and their goal is to preserve music history, whenever and wherever they can. It's such a great place for music buffs to visit and so they really should come and check it out.
(Photo: Ash Newell)
CM: Night Ranger's summer is already loaded with tour dates so your fans will have plenty of opportunities to catch you live. What comes after that?
We figure every three years we'll put out an album. Heading into next January after things slow down, we might start kicking ideas around. We've been having such good success at just getting together in a room andjamming out with good, solid musical ideas. I could see that easily happening and then the record would come out a year later- or maybe the fall of 2019. We kind of put it on the calendar, even though it might not happen exactly that way. We're still working with our last record Don't Let Up. We've got another single coming out from it called "Truth" and we're just finalizing the video for that. We like the material so much that we're going to add another song or two infor when we have 90 minutes or atwo-hour set.
CM: How do you feel about those fans that appreciateyou as a great live band?
KK: Every time that I walk on stage it's just such a positive thing to know that these people have come from all over to hear us play. I feel like it's important for us to say something positive to get us all in sync and in the same circle. Bringing everybody together is what it's all about and to still be able to do that is a big deal. We think about it even after 35 years. Not only are we still doing it but we like doing it. We even still like being with each other which is a blessing in itself (laughing). We have to cherish these times because this could be it, we're all getting older and things happen. We're not going to worry about the future because it's all about right now. Stuff goes by really fast and it doesn't come back so we're going to keep going until we literally can't anymore.
Check out Night Ranger's official site for music, tour dates, and merch! You can also plan a trip to the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum here.
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