Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Straight from the heart
Aaysha Cader meets Bryan Adams for an exclusive interview
Bryan arrives:
The artiste himself, whose universal appeal has cut across age and emotion, is unpretentious, as he steps into the front seat of the white Benz at the Bandaranaike airport on arrival last Monday.

As a four-car motorcade led the way, and a more fashionable Jaguar followed, the Canadian soft-rock legend clad in his trademark white T-shirt, blue jeans and black shades, smiles, waves and flashes the peace sign from the Benz that’s driving him to Colombo. There are those among us who long to be its driver.

He doesn’t generate much of a fuss. It’s been a couple of concerts in Delhi and Bangalore the week before, but the Canadian with the raspy voice we have all come to recognise in his hits that have rocked global charts, didn’t seem tired, and flashed a winning smile that didn’t fail to enthral those who have been waiting to catch a glimpse of him. He’s still very much a hunk, and his looks, from afar, belie his 44 years.

At the hotel:
Back in the Colombo Plaza, where the artiste stayed on his whirlwind visit to the island, there’s chaos as the crowds flock to see Bryan Adams in the flesh. Some hours later, we see him close-up, as he walks in to meet us at 6:00 pm sharp, as promised. It’s not exactly ‘rock-star’ behaviour, but there he is, right on time.

Twenty years on top of the charts doesn’t seem to have had any impact on him at all, it seemed, as he approached in simple and very informal attire, a far cry from the superstar image that he has generated for the last couple of decades, ever since his first single was released in 1979. Bryan Adams sports the ‘comfy’ look, clad in a light-blue shirt, blue jeans (folded up) and black rubber slippers, not forgetting his dark shades.

The person:
We are told he’s a shy, private person, but it doesn’t stop the cameras from clicking frantically as he makes his way to the traditional oil lamp, is informed of its significance and ‘how to light it correctly’. “Where do I go?” he enquires, with a smile, when given the candle to light it. Quite thrilled with the cultural routine, he grins, “All of them?” before proceeding to light the 10-or-so wicks of the lamp with ample enthusiasm. Having completed the task the mega-star says ‘Thank you’, and takes off his shades before sitting down for an informal chat.

He is genuine, down-to-earth and unaffected, to say the least. The kind of person a teenager would call “very very sweet”. For a few moments I am speechless, more so overwhelmed at the unaffectedness of a man who’s been in show business for over a couple decades and had super hits like (Everything I do) I do it for you and that awesome party track Summer of ’69.

Bryan mania:
“Is this one of the first rock concerts in Sri Lanka?” he asks. He’s been in Colombo for just a few hours, and there isn’t enough time to get about and see the ‘BA-mania’ for himself. We tell him that the last few weeks have been ‘all-about’ and ‘only-about’ him, and that Colombo has been waiting (and waiting) for him to come. “Is it really true though?” he inquires innocently as though it were hard to believe he was so big here. There are no put-on airs about him. Super entertainers like him don’t set foot on our shores too often, and the Bryan mania hasn’t left out anyone, be it old or young.

What’s the inspiration behind your hits, I ask him. He gives it some thought, before saying, “I wish I knew, I’d write more of them.” He writes the lyrics to almost all of his numbers, with Cuts like a knife, Straight from the Heart and Summer of ’69 all being individual efforts. “Ever since my school days, music has always been my motivation,” he says, adding that Straight from the Heart was one of the first songs he ever wrote.

Getting to know him:
For a man who’s been around for so long, and who still sustains the power to entertain, I ask him of any memorable moments in his career. “Uhm...most memorable…” he ponders, before adding, “There have been a lot of them, I wouldn’t know where to start.” “Even coming here has been quite differ-ent for us,” he adds, revealing that they are very happy to be here in Sri Lanka, as this has been an idea they had been contemplating for some years now. We have been informed that

Bryan had plans to ‘get the feel’ of Lanka incognito; on a more spiritual note, the Canadian rocker who is also reported to be interested in Indian spirituality and had wanted to have a bath in the river Ganges, also had plans to visit a Buddhist temple.

The legend:
Bryan Adams, a super-talented guy, who not only sings, plays bass, writes his own songs (and some lyrics for others), is also a brilliant photographer. We asked him what made him take up the camera, and we have by now become used to the customary “Uhm...” followed by the momentary thought he puts into every answer, “I enjoy the other side of the lens better than the front of it,” he says. One of his exclusive shots of Queen Elizabeth II has also been featured on a stamp issued recently. Of the experience, he chats candidly, “That was quite interesting, quite an adventure, she (the Queen) was actually quite sweet.”

Having done quite a lot of charity work to raise funds for cancer research, he says that apart from his best-selling book of photography titled Made In Canada, he is also working on a new book on American women, featuring actresses, models and society personalities. The project is supported by Calvin Klein.

Adams is also a vegetarian, and has been one for the past 16 years, as he says, quite simply, “I don’t like the idea of eating animals.”

Back-up:
As for his faithful band comprising Keith Scott on guitar, Mickey Curry on drums, Norm Fisher on bass and Gary Breit on keyboards, he says, “I’ve had the same nucleus band for the last 20 years, we’ve journeyed into the musical adventure together,” adding that it goes back a long, long time.

On the issue of hectic tours, Bryan says, “I don’t really tour like a lot of people do, I go out for a week or a month and that’s about it.” At the end of the Gulf segment of this tour, he hopes to return to London, where he is now based, and begin work on his latest album, which he hopes to release this year.

Special memories:
There are no false airs about him, and he is ever so obliging when it comes to autograph hunters, and meticulous about not only writing the fans’ names but spelling them correctly as well.

Ask him to pose for a picture, and “Sure” comes the swift reply. Inscribing a message for his Mirror Magazine fans, he says with a sheepish grin, “It’s my horrible handwriting.”

Time to leave, we are told by the organisers. Last question: “Are there any special preparations for the concert?” “Uhm...maybe a cup of tea,” says the 10-time Grammy award-winner. Staging a mega-success concert is as simple as a cup of tea for him, it seems. And yes, he did make it a night to remember. It was just my cup of tea!

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