Adams to take latest tour to 7 Canadian cities
Rocker’s world tour includes seven Canadian dates and features songs from latest album
Bryan Adams is shining his light on Canada this summer.
The Canadian rocker is playing seven dates of his Shine A Light world tour — named after his 2019 studio album of the same name — back home in July. The tour includes Toronto’s Budweiser Stage, which he opened 25 years ago as the venue’s first performer.
“I’m excited about that,” said Adams, 59, of his return.
Q Taylor Swift invited you on stage last August in Toronto to sing Summer of ’69 with her. What was that like?
A It was fun. I didn’t really expect to be doing that. She just asked me up. And I arrived there and she said she really wanted to do that and I said, ‘OK.’ And we sang. (The crowd) liked it.
Q How much of the new album are you playing on this tour?
A We’ve done a couple of the new ones. You can’t really do a whole album of new songs but we’ve definitely have done (some, including Shine A Light, Part Friday Night, Part Sunday Morning and Whiskey in the Jar). That’s the whole point of being out here.
Q Why do an Irish traditional like Whiskey in the Jar for the new record?
A I started playing that song when I was in Dublin. Really as sort of a challenge — why don’t you play that song tonight?
Q How did the collaboration with Ed Sheeran, who you met in Dublin, on Shine A Light’s title track happen?
A Yeah, a lot of good things happen in Ireland. My mom would be happy because she is part Irish. Her grandmother was from County Wicklow. It was more or less a meeting, just hi. And then some weeks later I proposed the idea of him helping me with a song. And he said, ‘Yeah.’ And we just stayed in touch on email. We just emailed back and forth, had a chats on FaceTime.
Q Less likely is your duet with Jennifer Lopez on the new song That’s How Strong Our Love Is. How did that come about?
A I just thought because of the song, and the lyric of the song, I just wanted a woman who had been through a little bit and would be believable, and I just like the idea of JLo. And so I asked her management if she’d be interested in doing it and she did it.
Q You’re also planting trees while on this tour, with one tree planted for every ticket sold.
A It’s part of a partnership with (shipping partner and green logistics experts) DHL. I thought it was a good idea to do this as part of a good overall environmental message. Everyone’s talking about carbon footprint and so it made sense that we should give back, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re going to plant trees. At the end of this year it could be as many as a million trees.
Q Do you attribute this environmentalism in any way to your Vancouver upbringing?
A Are you saying all people in Vancouver are a bunch of environmentalists? I’d be OK with that, if it was. You’re saying Vancouver is a bunch of hippies? I know. It’s OK. Hippies are all right.
Q You’re approaching your 60th birthday in November and The Rolling Stones, now in their 70s, are still touring. Do you think there’s a “best before” date in rock?
A Well, I guess I’m nipping at their heels. Seriously, I don’t really know. It doesn’t matter what your job is if you’re enjoying it and you’re still good at it and people are coming to see you. You could be a great plumber and still want to work. I don’t necessarily think you have to retire. I think you should just keep doing what you want to do.
A I’ve never even considered what you’re asking me. It’s not even entered my mind.
Q Does being a longtime vegan (for 30 years) help with road stamina?
A I don’t know (laughs). It helps me. I can’t speak for everybody else. There’s loads of people that aren’t that are on the road, so I just do what’s best for me.
Q Well, it seems to be working for you given there’s an iconic Bryan Adams image that’s remained largely unchanged.
A That’s kind. Thank you. Oh, wow. What can say?
Q Is 60 a daunting birthday, or is that just another number?
A I don’t know. You’ll have to ask me on the day after.
Q Are birthdays in general still a big deal for you?
A Well, I celebrate it like everybody else does. I’m looking forward to it.
Q Does a lot of that have to do with being a dad to two young girls (Mirabella, 8, and Lulu, 6)? Q What’s it like when they are on the road with you?
A They take over because they love it and it’s fun.
Q Are they singing or playing any instruments yet?
A It’s hard to say. All kids love to sing and dance and act and dress up so it’s a little bit too early to tell if it’s desire beyond (being kids). But if that’s what they want to do then they’re very welcome to keep going.
Q And that’s where you’re at?
A Oh, yeah, for sure. Absolutely.