One of the more pleasant reunions of any band that has happened in recent memory has to be that of the band Extreme. I attended one of their first shows back at the 2008 NAMM Expo. They were amazing and havent looked back since. They are now releasing a new live record called Take us Alive that was recorded in 2009 in their hometown of Boston. We recently spoke with frontman Gary Cherone about the decision to do a live record now. We also chatted about his side projects, Slipkid and Hurtsmile. I even squeezed in a question about his former band Van Halen. Let’s Get the Funk Out and see what Gary has to say
Gus: The band will be releasing Take Us Alive in a CD/DVD combo on May 4th. This was recorded in your hometown of Boston. Tell us about the decision to do a live record.
Gary: First thing that comes to mind is why havent we done a live record? We had a 13 year hiatus, but we’ve been scratching our heads saying what took us so long to do a live DVD, a live CD? I think a while after we got back together and we put out some new material Saudades de Rock, we went out on the road and I think this is going to be the norm, we hope, from every tour. For us, this is exciting because we grew up with all of those bands like Aerosmith, Queen, and Cheap Trick Live at Budokan. Not to compare us to them, but some of our favorite records were live, like KISS Alive II and all of that stuff, so now we have our official double live CD/DVD to go along with it. Were excited about it!
Gus: How was it narrowing down the song selection to put on both the CD and DVD?
Gary: It was pretty much the tour with a couple of songs absent. It wasnt hard. Again, coming back and doing a new record after we were dissolved for 13 years, it was obvious from doing a set list that it was a matter of balance from the catalog. You know… like playing as much older stuff, familiar stuff and not pounding over their head the interest of doing new material. We didnt change the set for the DVD, that was basically the tour, with a couple of songs absent of course, but that was pretty much the bulk of the tour.
Gus: Going back on your previous comment on future tours. You said that your fans can expect new recordings after each one?
Gary: Whether we like it or not, there is this thing called YouTube (laughs) and its going to be recorded anyway. No.. no (laughs) .. that is the plan. We did a recording on the Pornograffiti Tour in ’90 while we were in Europe. They filmed the tour and think we filmed like two nights in Hammersmith in London. We were going to put out a documentary/movie. It never materialized. Why?? Management change, money and all of that stuff. But we still have that footage. Hopefully someday, with a new record, we can put out bonus material of that era.
Gus: Speaking about your last record Saudades de Rock being Extremes first studio effort in 13 years when it was released back in August of 2008, are there plans for a follow up?
Gary: Yes! Yes! I guess it was considered a reunion record. We got some new blood in the band with the new drummer Kevin (Figueiredo). We feel like a new band and making new records and not just another one. We plan on making records and touring. Now were on a little hiatus with Nuno on the road with Rihanna this summer. This CD/DVD should hold over the fans by telling them we are not going away.
Gus: My next question was actually about the future of Extreme as you pretty much just answered that, but to go off on a side note…How did Nuno get involved with Rihanna?
Gary: (Laughs) Good question! I dont know if it was networking with some people he knew at some party. Yeah, it was a guy who called him and Nuno thought it was intriguing. He dug some of the material and he says he is playing with some incredible musicians. He is on tour and doesnt have to sing much. This is different than Extreme and because…
Gus: Hes not the focus as he would be in Extreme.
Gary: Right! Exactly true!
Gus: Well enough about Rihanna and let’s focus in on you. Tell us about your side projects Slipkid and Hurtsmile?
Gary: Well, Slipkid developed with me and my brother being big Who fans. Actually, I had that thought for years. In between tours, it never materialized. A few years back it was going to be a one off. We were going to do Whos Next. Then when we were around all of this music, it was just too much great material. When Im around, its done two or three times a year. Its a great band, a great group of guys, local guys and very talented. We love The Who and its not a copy band, its a tribute! We just love the music.
Gus: What about your other band, Hurtsmile?
Gary: That is an original project that my brother Markie and I got going. We are finishing up a new record and that should be finished up within a couple of months. We plan on it coming out over the summer, a full length CD. Hopefully I will be able to talk to you then about that as well!
Gus: Are you looking outside the Boston area to do this project, to tour?
Gary: Yes and overseas too!
Gus: When are we looking for this CD, in the fall?
Gary: Ummm.. I would say the record is out in the late summer or fall. Getting back to Extreme, even though Nuno is out with Rihanna, we are talking about doing a string of dates before the end of the year. We are coming upon the 20 year anniversary of Pornograffiti and we are talking about doing the whole record, which would be fun!
Gus: I think the fans would really appreciate that!
Gary: Thats cool!
Gus: When are we looking at this happening, say around Christmas time?
Gary: It really depends on the extent of the Rihanna tour. Even though Nuno is on the road, we have a new CD/DVD coming out and we plan on writing the next record.
Gus: Going back to the Poronograffiti thing, are you looking to tour around the end of the year possibly?
Gary: Well, the 20th anniversary is in 2010 so thats the idea to do it sometime before the end of the year.
Gus: Will the tour be just in the states or worldwide?
Gary: Probably.. well, you never know but probably the states.
Gus: We just talked about you being a huge Who fan. What were some of your other influences growing up?
Gary: Wow! Well, Queen comes to mind, Zeppelin. I was a big Alice Cooper fan. Bowie. Obviously, the Beatles! We grew up with Cheap Trick.
Gus: When you are not performing, what are some of your hobbies away from music?
Gary: I play a lot of Basketball. That doesnt mean Im good (laughs), other than that, the bands keep me pretty busy.
Gus: Its been 13 years since Van Halen released a studio record and you were the last vocalist to lend his voice to them doing one. Do you still have a relationship with the Van Halens?
Gary: The only one I really keep in touch with is Michael. Not for any other reason, I kept in touch with Eddie right after that. Then we just kinda moved on. Its fine, Im sure he can call me and I can call him, we just havent tal
ked. It was great that period. Its surreal to me that it has been 10 years. Michael is great. I was hanging out with him at the Chickenfoot gig in Boston. I got to hang out with Sammy and Mike and the rest of the guys. Sammy has always been real good to me.
Gus: Give us a retrospect on what lies ahead for Extreme for the rest of 2010?
Gary: Extreme is releasing a CD/DVD and we are excited about that! Hopefully, that will hold them over till we get back on the road. We will be writing a new record. Extreme is strong. If you want to see Nuno, he is on tour with Rihanna right now. Ill be coming out with new material with Hurtsmile this summer. Were busy and were excited! Also, there are four bonus studio videos that Nuno actually produced that are on the DVD. Its four songs from Saudades de Rock, the latest Extreme record that hopefully will spread virally, on the intranet.
Gus: Great! Thanks for talking with us.
Gary: Thank you man!
We would like to thank Nancy Sayle from VQPR for setting up the interview with Gary. For more on the current live record CD/DVD called Take Us Alive and anything on Extreme, you can go to: www.extreme-band.com/.
