Canadian rock legend Bryan Adams is headlining the final night of RBC Rock the Park in London, Ontario on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Tickets are still available for the show and can be purchased, here.
Adams was recently named as the replacement for Neil Young in the Saturday headlining slot, as Young and his Crazy Horse bandmates cancelled the remainder of their tour due to sickness.
While on his European tour, Adams took some time to chat with SWOMP for a Q&A session:
Your year is shaping up to be a Canadian sandwich, on a European bun. An April to July run in Europe, before you head back home for a string of shows in Quebec, and of course, the recently announced show in London, Ontario, before heading back to Europe this fall. How is tour life treating you so far in 2024?
BA: “It’s been the busiest year for me in a long time. A lot of that is because I’m managing myself and I’m an independent artist now. All of that is super inspiring so I’ve decided to work hard this year. Also, in the past two years, I’ve released a new album (So Happy It Hurts), a musical soundtrack (Pretty Woman – The Musical), a three album boxset recorded at the Royal Albert Hall in London (Cuts Like A Knife / Into The Fire / Waking Up The Neighbours) and re-recorded two albums of my biggest hits. I did a Taylor Swift basically and I call them the Classic Versions. I’ve also started my own label and will be announcing that this month too… so to answer your question, these are exciting times.”
How are the crowds and the energy overseas?
BA: “The audiences have been epic all year, truly. It’s been one of the best times on the road we’ve ever had and there are a lot more shows coming up.”
Looking forward to coming back to your home turf?
BA: “Yes, absolutely, really looking forward to being in Canada for a bit of the summer. Shortly after the London show, we have a series of open air festivals in Quebec… yes i’m working on my Quebecois accent.”
From what we could find, the Saturday, July 13, 2024, show at Harris Park in London, Ontario for Rock The Park will be the 12th time you’ve played ‘The Forest City’. From the John Labatt Centre/Budweiser Gardens several times and going back to the London Gardens in 1982. What are some of your best memories of performing in London?
BA: “London has always been good to us and all of the gigs you mentioned rocked. Specific memories are hard to pinpoint, but anytime I play in the area, whether it be Hamilton, Kitchener, or even at the towns just south of the border, I get a sense of being close to where I was born… Kingston, which is always good.”
When the Rock The Park organizers announced you were replacing Neil Young at their event, you issued this quote: ‘My team and I wish Neil Young the best with his health and look forward to rocking out with everyone on the 13th of July at Rock the Park’s 20th Anniversary.’ As a veteran Canadian musician, what else can you say about Neil Young and his career?
BA: “Neil is a hero to me, and I can’t speak for the others on the show, but I bet they feel the same. The guy has written some staggeringly brilliant songs over the years, and if you reach back to CSNY days, one of the first records of my youth was Deja Vu… geeezus what a record.”
Have you ever crossed paths? Or any Neil stories you can share?
BA: Yes, I’ve met Neil a couple of times over the years, I think the last time we saw each other was at Farm Aid in the States many years ago. We emailed back and forth a couple of years ago when I was trying to get the Canadian Government to pull a finger out and update the copyright laws for Canadian creators (which they did not do), but the first time we met was during the recording of “Tears Are Not Enough” in Toronto.
And speaking of Rock The Park celebrating 20 years… with your years of experience and countless festival appearances, what kind of an achievement is it to not only host an event like this in general, but to maintain it and carry on for two decades? What’s the recipe for this type of success?
BA: “Its gotta be about the music hasn’t it? I’m looking forward to the day, with the Sheepdogs, Alan Doyle. It’s gonna be a staggering day of Canadian music.”
With all of your accomplishments, awards, accolades, etc., you’re still making new music and currently on tour in support of your latest album ‘So Happy It Hurts’. Where does that spark come from? Do you envision always having that motivation to continue creating new music?
BA: “The spark comes from the love of music and I don’t delude myself that any of it is ever gonna get heard, but that doesn’t stop the songs from coming and yes, there are lots in the works.”
Anything else in the works?
BA: “As I mentioned I’ve started my own label and I’ll be releasing things from it shortly. I’m thinking about the future of it and what it can potentially do, but it’s still early days.”
And lastly, on top of your career as a musician, you are also an award-winning and decorated photographer. As an online music magazine, we have a few talented photographers that contribute to our publication. What words of wisdom do you have for them? Or for aspiring concert photographers in general?
BA: “That’s very kind of you to say. My advice would be the same for all things creative; follow your gut, study the greats, aspire to do something different and don’t be afraid of fucking it up, cuz it’s gonna happen!”
Follow Bryan Adams on his official website https://www.bryanadams.com/.