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Review and Interview from February 2002
"Recovering the Wasted Years", the second solo record from Mike Tramp opens with "Falling Down", a song about being at a crossroads in life. About realizing that it would be just as easy to give up hope as to stay strong. Throughout this album, the singer faces that decision and ultimately, does in fact, stay strong. The next song, "Living a Lie" looks at a similar situation except this time it is sung about a woman's life.
"Mr. Death", despite what the title suggests, is actually somewhat of a peaceful song. With "If It Ain't Gonna Rock", Mike gets really moody in the verses and energetic in the chorus. It's a cool contrast and it's reassuring to hear lyrics like "This ain't no fashion, it's a way of life. And those who fake it won't survive". Next up is "All Up to You", leading to the touching "Endless Highway" and "Darkness". Somehow these two songs work very well side by side. The first is a mid tempo song about being a loner out on the road, reflecting on your life. "Darkness" is a ballad about longing for closeness. Again, the contrast makes for beautiful music. The final few tracks, "Follow Your Dreams", "Do it All Over", "Take it Easy", "Don't Take My Rock n Roll" and "Always Tomorrow" add up to a definative statement from a familar voice in rock n roll with something new to say.And now, in a Music and the City exclusive, Mike Tramp gives us insight on his past and the present.
1. Describe your life in Brooklyn during the early days of White Lion. And how did it feel to be back at L’amour last year?
Coming to New York from Denmark was a dream come true. The years we spent in Brooklyn building White Lion were almost better than when the band succeeded. Coming back to L’amour is always like coming home.2. I stumbled upon these photographs of you and Leif Garret at some type of variety show. What is this exactly? Were original or cover songs recorded then? Any acting or modeling?
Around 1979-80 in Spain when I was a teen star there. I have only and always done originals. Never acting, never modeling.3. When “Big Game” came out, it received some negative reviews due to your “overly political lyrics”. I find this ironic because the critics later praised the Seattle grunge bands exactly because of this. What are your thoughts on this now? What were your thoughts on this at the time of the albums release?
I can’t even remember that. Still the point that you make is valid. I always wondered what the difference was between Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" and White Lion's "Broken Home". I guess we looked like we shouldn’t be taken serious. In those days everything was pussy and fast cars, having a good time and so on. I never found that a great lyric subject.4. What came first, White Lion breaking up or being dropped by Atlantic Records?
The band was not dropped. I broke up the band.5. Are you regretful that White Lion ended, as the expression goes, “not with a bang, but a whimper”?
I would never use those words. I don’t regret anything. It’s always easy to be a Monday morning quarter back. I just go out and throw the ball harder the next Sunday.6. When did you start playing guitar?
I have always played the kind of guitar playing that I now do. It hasn’t evolved and it won’t7. When did you start writing songs for “Capricorn” and when did the album begin to take shape?
The song "If I Live Tomorrow" was written for White Lion in ‘85.
But most of the songs were written in the early ‘90’s. The album took shape once I selected the songs out of the hundreds that I had at that time.8. Explain your relationship with CMC International and why it didn’t work out. (CMC released Mike's first solo record, "Capricorn".)
It was a one album deal. And based upon the work they didn’t do, why would you go back?9. I thought the “Remembering White Lion” album (on Deadline/ Cleaopatra Records) was extremely contradictory of you. Why exactly did you make that record? Wouldn’t a live White Lion album have been more appropriate? Are there any old tapes around for a possible live album in the future?
I wonder how many people didn’t get the point. It has nothing to do with White Lion, it’s me redoing some songs for some dumb ass reason, that I shouldn’t have now that I think of it. My album cover wasn't anything like what Cleopatra did, and that's what fucked up the album in legal terms. I would rather have been working on another solo album or tour, but somehow I ended up with this. Still I am happy I did it. Now I can stand listening to myself singing White Lion songs. There ain’t no White Lion live recording except the stuff from the MTV concert at the Ritz in NY.10. What goes through your mind as you're playing White Lion songs with your solo band?
Nothing. It’s just another song in the set. The reason I have chose to play some White Lion songs are to say to the fans that I haven’t forgotten the past. Still as years goes on, I will end up playing none.11. Write liner notes for the following 10 songs. (You choose the last two.)
1. "Falling Down": but somehow I’ll get back up and keep moving onward
2. "Endless Highway": It’s the choice we make
3. "Here I Don’t Belong": L.A. & 80’s bands reunions
4. "Wait": Vito's solo is one of the best all time rock solos
5. "When the Children Cry": In a hundred years the message will still be as powerful
6. "Love Don’t Come Easy": Should have been a hit
7. "Cry for Freedom": We always forget that there are many places on earth where people still don’t have it
8. "Goin’ Home Tonight": Home is always where the heart is, still my heart is not at home
9. "What am I" (F.O.N.): Mind your own business
10. "Mr. Death": I ain’t done with living my life, so fuck off12. How and why did you hook up with Ulftone Music that released “Recovering the Wasted Years”?
Miracles do happen.13. What are your future touring plans? Which bands would you like to tour with? Would you take part in a hard rock package tour?
I will tour till it’s time to start recording the next album. I am open for any touring offers.14. You’ve said that the past five years were “the wasted years”. Why is this? How did you come to write such introspective, soul searching and often sad songs? Is “Recovering the Wasted Years” part of a midlife crisis?
No it’s not a midlife crisis. But it’s anger over wasting some good years, waiting for my old manager to fuck up my career. Now I do it because it's what I do.
"Recovering the Wasted Years" is available at: www.miketramp.com
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Mike Tramp live review at Music and the City
