Aging Adams keeps on rockin’
As has been the case for the bulk of his career, the veteran Canadian rocker Bryan Adams continues to maintain a huge international fan base.
Take his 1996 album, “18 Til I Die.” It was a No. 1 hit in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Australia and the United Kingdom. Even here in the States, where Adams remains best known for early-’80s MTV pop-rock hits and a string of movie soundtrack ballads, the album went platinum.
And that pales next to 1991’s “Waking Up the Neighbors,” which sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, and 1984’s “Reckless,” which sold 5 million in this country alone.
The globe-trotting has only increased since then. During the past decade, Adams has maintained his international following by playing at least one week every month in a different part of the world.
“I don’t really strategize any of it,” Adams, 49, said last week. “I just go with the flow.”
This week, the singer of guitar-driven, hook-happy, rock radio staples “Run to You,” written for but rejected by Blue Oyster Cult, and “Summer of ’69,” as well as the epic movie ballad “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You,” returns in rather modest fashion.
Adams is performing without frills and without a band, as part of a solo acoustic tour that began last year with the release of his 11th studio album, titled “11.”
“I started out doing this pretty much to challenge myself,” Adams said. “I tour with a band all the time, but I wanted to do something to push myself. A solo show is more about getting back to basics.
“This isn’t like an unplugged thing. It’s rawer than that. Besides, even when I did my unplugged album (1997’s all-acoustic “MTV Unplugged”), I still had a band. This time it’s just me.”
The idea for an unaccompanied tour began with “11.” There are strong acoustic elements to the record, particularly on the album-closing “Walk on By.” The tune, one of three songs on “11” to reteam Adams with fellow Canadian songsmith and longtime writing partner Jim Vallance, uses only acoustic guitar and strings to accent the scratchy, weathered contours of Adams’ singing.
Don’t let the simplicity and intimacy of the solo acoustic tour suggest that the scope of Adams’ music and career is shrinking.
Over the years, he has forged a resilient bond with the film industry, ranging from collaborations with composer Hans Zimmer on the animated “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” to a Golden Globe-nominated song, “Never Gonna Break My Faith,” featured in Emilio Estevez’s fictionalized biopic “Bobby.”
“I don’t think I could have imagined any of this,” Adams said of his Hollywood connection. “All I wanted to do at first with my music was pay the rent. Suddenly, to be working with great composers … was just incredible.”
The birthday bunch
Actress Jean Stapleton is 86. Actor Fritz Weaver is 83. Actress Tippi Hedren is 79. Movie director Richard Lester is 77. Singer Phil Everly is 70. Actor-singer Michael Crawford is 67. Actress Shelley Fabares is 65. Country singer Dolly Parton is 63. TV chef Paula Deen is 62. Singer Dewey Bunnell of America is 57. Actor Desi Arnaz Jr. is 56. Actress Katey Sagal is 52. Actress Drea de Matteo is 37. Actress Jodie Sweetin is 27.