Bryan Adams Covid 19 Interview July 20, 2020
When People think of Canada, they think Bryan Adams!!
and then..............hockey.....
Canadian rock icons don’t come much bigger than Mr Bryan Adams. It’s almost 40 years since he burst into the spotlight with his Cuts Like A Knife album, before becoming a global superstar one year later with Reckless. That album gave us bonafide classics including Run To You, Heaven and, of course, Summer Of ’69.
Since then, Adams has garnered many awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations and 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television in 1992 for (Everything I Do) I Do It for You .
I managed to score an interview with legend Bryan to talk about his veganism, how COVID19 is affecting his music plans and his love for Montreal.
Since C19 and the pandemic has literally changed life in a way that we have never seen before; can you offer me your perceptions and experiences on how it may have changed the way you look at life in general?
BA: Well thanks to the COVID, touring for musicians has become an uncertainty, that has meant more time at home, for everyone. For me in a general sense, I believe we humans have brought this pandemic on ourselves because of the way we have disrespected nature and animals. If you look it up, 200 million animals are killed every day for food, how could there not be repercussions to that?
I became vegan thirty years ago, I wish I’d been vegan my whole life, but I wasn’t brought up like that. Now I have the knowledge that it’s a much healthier way, and I really don’t want to be part of the cycle of death and the bad karma that all that killing brings on when we ingest it.
Bryan Adams at Montreals Bell Centre (photo credit Eric Brisson)
I am chatting with you right now from my humble hometown of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, and being in a small town like this; do you realize the joy (to the fans) and economic benefit you bring when you play a smaller venue like ours?
BA: Thanks, it goes both ways and it’s an absolute pleasure. Sitting at home the past four months is the first time I’ve not travelled since sometime in the late ’80s, I usually do 2 weeks a month on the road. I’d be happy to play a small venue right now.
With social distancing being the norm and capacity limits for venues still in question; do you worry about never being able to play a small, intimate venue again, or playing an arena and it only being filled to half capacity and how that will look?
BA: Yes of course, but I believe it’s a bit too early to be able to tell if that is actually going to be the case
During the major portion of the lock-down, did you have a regular kind of daily schedule to get you through the day?
BA: I start every day with a little yoga and stretching, that includes push-ups and sit-ups, then I go for a swim if I can, and I started to play tennis, so I do that every other day in the afternoons.
When was the last time you were recognized or asked for an autograph, outside of a musical setting?
BA: Probably from someone at an airport or travelling, so that would have been four months ago!
Is there any Canadian talent that you are listening to these days that you would recommend or would say that they are underrated.
BA: Yes, I’d recommend Joey Landreth from Winnipeg.
It is widely known that you have a soft spot or affinity to Montreal; is there a certain reason?
BA: I just love it there, always did. When I started playing clubs in the early 80’s we always had a good turn out in Montreal and things just clicked. Word of mouth and then some support from Quebec radio made all the difference. Merci beaucoup!
I recently interviewed legendary guitarist, Adrian Vandenberg (Whitesnake/Vandenberg) from his home in the Netherlands and asked him who his favourite Canadian artist was. Without hesitation, your name came up as per your songwriting and the whole package. He told me that he took his daughter to see your show in Holland a few years back and it was amazing.
BA: Cheers to Adrian
Moving forward; do you have a message to your fans worldwide, but more specifically Canada?
BA: Hang in there, it’s gonna be alright.
In light of piracy and social media, it is tougher these days for budding artists to make a living… not to mention COVID19. What advice would you give to someone thinking about making music a career?
BA: Get into software design in case music doesn’t work out.
Last question; coffee or tea? How do you take it?
BA: Espresso on ice, please
