Post by HARD ROCK UNIVERSE on Feb 15, 2005 1:08:34 GMT -5
In an exclusive interview with Electricbasement.com, bassist BILLY SHEEHAN (MR.BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH, STEVE VAI) discusses taking up singing on his new album, Cosmic Troubadour, stating "I have a great vocal coach in LA. (Ron Anderson). He does everybody: Ozzy, Janet Jackson, Gwen Stefani - you name it. A lot of singers will say it's good to sit down with someone and go over basic exercises. This guy helps big, famous singers get their voices back in shape. There's a great technique to it."
Sheehan also sheds some light on the breakup of his longtime band, Mr. Big, with his version of events, "None of us could deal with a certain person in the band. We're adults and didn't need to be called names. We were all fed up with this one guy."
Asked if the member was to remain nameless, he implied it was frontman Eric Martin, “Yeah. And I don't mean to be negative. He's a great singer, but I couldn't hang with the constant insults."
He went on to explain the differences, "Yeah, if I hear how bad I suck, how I can't really play bass - after a while, I'm like, 'Wait a minute, bro. I gotta go.'”
Read the entire interview, including info on his demanding tour with guitar God Steve Vai, here.http://www.electricbasement.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=209&z=10
As previously reported, initially released in Japan by Yamaha Music in November, 2004, Favored Nations will issue Cosmic Troubadour, the second solo album from Sheehan, on February 22nd in the United States and Canada.
Produced by Pat Regan, Cosmic Troubadour again sees Sheehan handling multi-instrumental duties and writing all of the material, as he did on his 2001 debut Compression. Ray Luzier and Simone Sello lend a hand on drums and guitars/programming respectively. Cosmic Troubadour shows Sheehan maturing as both a songwriter and vocalist on his sophomore release. The tracks cross a multitude of genres while still remaining true to his hard rock roots. Beginning with the prog-rock syncopation of 'Toss It To The Flame', to the pulsating bass line of the instrumental 'The Suspense Is Killing Me' to the closing King Crimson-esque polyrhythm of 'A Million Tears Ago', Sheehan is able to juxtapose elements of funk and blues with a foundation in metal.
The complete Cosmic Troubadour track list is as follows: 'Toss It On The Flames', 'Back In The Day', 'The Suspense Is Killing Me', 'From The Backseat', 'Don't Look Down', 'Something She Said', 'Dreams Of Discontent', 'Dig A Hole', 'Taj', 'The Lift', 'A Tower In The Sky', 'Long Walk Home', 'Indisputable Truth #1', 'Hope', and 'A Million Tears Ago'.
Sheehan will be on a North American tour with Steve Vai from March 1st until April 30th.
Sheehan also sheds some light on the breakup of his longtime band, Mr. Big, with his version of events, "None of us could deal with a certain person in the band. We're adults and didn't need to be called names. We were all fed up with this one guy."
Asked if the member was to remain nameless, he implied it was frontman Eric Martin, “Yeah. And I don't mean to be negative. He's a great singer, but I couldn't hang with the constant insults."
He went on to explain the differences, "Yeah, if I hear how bad I suck, how I can't really play bass - after a while, I'm like, 'Wait a minute, bro. I gotta go.'”
Read the entire interview, including info on his demanding tour with guitar God Steve Vai, here.http://www.electricbasement.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=209&z=10
As previously reported, initially released in Japan by Yamaha Music in November, 2004, Favored Nations will issue Cosmic Troubadour, the second solo album from Sheehan, on February 22nd in the United States and Canada.
Produced by Pat Regan, Cosmic Troubadour again sees Sheehan handling multi-instrumental duties and writing all of the material, as he did on his 2001 debut Compression. Ray Luzier and Simone Sello lend a hand on drums and guitars/programming respectively. Cosmic Troubadour shows Sheehan maturing as both a songwriter and vocalist on his sophomore release. The tracks cross a multitude of genres while still remaining true to his hard rock roots. Beginning with the prog-rock syncopation of 'Toss It To The Flame', to the pulsating bass line of the instrumental 'The Suspense Is Killing Me' to the closing King Crimson-esque polyrhythm of 'A Million Tears Ago', Sheehan is able to juxtapose elements of funk and blues with a foundation in metal.
The complete Cosmic Troubadour track list is as follows: 'Toss It On The Flames', 'Back In The Day', 'The Suspense Is Killing Me', 'From The Backseat', 'Don't Look Down', 'Something She Said', 'Dreams Of Discontent', 'Dig A Hole', 'Taj', 'The Lift', 'A Tower In The Sky', 'Long Walk Home', 'Indisputable Truth #1', 'Hope', and 'A Million Tears Ago'.
Sheehan will be on a North American tour with Steve Vai from March 1st until April 30th.
