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 Happy Holiday's to all of you Glam-Metal heads! My gift to you is Kip Winger! Well, the interview anyway's, so calm down girls! We're stoked to have Kip back again for the second time here at GlamMetal.com to update us on what's going on in his world, and with Winger as well.
I'm sure most people have heard by now that Winger have recently reunited to write and record their fourth album titled " Winger IV," which is now freshly out on Shrapnel records. "Winger IV" is currently getting great reviews, and one of the songs on the new album titled "Blue Suede Shoes" recently hit number two on High Octane Radio!
I have gotten tons of emails in the past asking about Kip Winger and Winger, and if they'll ever reunite for a new album, tour, etc...So I have asked Kip to fill us all in on his plans, and it appears that Winger is back with a vengeance, and have just gotten back from a European tour in support of "Winger IV," and are currently gearing up for a rockin U.S. tour soon!
So, kick back and read what the very talented singer/songwriter/bass guitarist, and all around great guy, Kip Winger has to say about the Winger reunion, the upcoming tour, his solo work, and much more. Enjoy!
Kip Winger, welcome back to GlamMetal! How are you man?
I'm good, thanks.
We're happy to see that Winger has finally reunited, and have a new record out! First, is this the original Winger line-up, and why did it take so long to reform the band Kip?
It's the original line-up minus Paul Taylor, and we've all just been really busy. We reunited in 2001 to do "The Very Best of Winger" with a new track. One day I just woke up and heard the new album in my head, and I was like, ok, I know what to do with this now.
How's it feel to be back on stage performing with your old band mates again?
Really good man, we went to Europe for three weeks and had a great time over there. People came and saw us, and I was quite surprised by how many people came out. Way more people than I expected to be there, so it was great.
Is this reunion going to be a long-term relationship again, or just a brief reunion for the tour?
Well, we never broke up really, we've always done stuff together, and if not together, we've made a lot of records together individually...so it's always a long-term relationship with evey guy in the band, and we'll probably make another record after this.
That's great man! We're also excited to mention that Winger has a new album freshly out on Shrapnel Records titled "Winger IV." I hear the record is getting great reviews. Mind telling us a little about "Winger IV," and how it compares to previous Winger albums Kip?
Sure. IV is kind of a combination of the first three records, being a little bit of the first, a little bit of the second, and a little bit of the third, and it kind of moves into the future. Some of the songs are reminiscent of the old days, and a lot of it is kinda pushing the envelope into the future. The first four songs are kind of from the military soldiers point of view, I wanted to kind of dedicate a song to the soldiers in support of the troops, but not in a cheesy way, so I wrote a song from the actual point of view of what somebody might be thinking about when they are enlisting, and why. Two other songs, "Right Up Ahead," and "M16" which are kinda songs that reflect what it must actually feel like to be out in the field, and the album cover reflects that as well. The album kinda moves into other subjects with different kinds of songs, and ends up back to kind of a political statement, kinda like a letter to the White House about how I view the whole 'going into war situation', with a song called "Can't Take It Back," where I feel it was just a big cover-up, and why I don't agree with the war, but I'm in support of the troops. So...there's a few songs for everyone on there, but it's not an easy listen, you have to listen to it three or four times to really get it, you know?
I couldn't agree with you more, this Iraq war really sucks, and I'm pretty much fed up with it man. What are some other thoughts from you Kip on this whole war?
I mean it's brutal man. The way it was sold to us was kind of a farce, and now it's just a Civil War, and we're spending a lot of money, and people are dying...I feel the same way most eveybody does man, the Democrats took back the White House, and nobody in that party really wants to stay there I would imagine. The thing is, we're screwed, because if we pull out now, it's just gonna be worse, but I could go on and on and on on this subject man...
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Yeah, I hear ya man. Getting back to the new record, which songs from "Winger IV" made the setlist, and how well of a response are you getting from the new songs so far?
We're getting a really good response man. "Right Up Ahead" we play, and "Blue Suede Shoes," "Generica," and we play "Your Great Escape." We're going out in February for two months, so we'll probably play a few more, but I'm not really sure about that yet.
Well that's great, people are really digging it then huh?
Oh yeah, people are digging it man. You know, everybody likes to hear the hits, but the new music is going over good live, and it's really fun to play to.
What's the writing process usually like in Winger?
The song writing process is exactly the same as it was on the first, second and third records. Reb and I get into a room, we start up the drum machine, start a riff, and then it goes from there man. We just kinda knocked out the riffs, and then I have alot to do with how the arranging goes...we wrote the whole record in twenty days, really the music, we just jammed for twenty straight days, and sometimes came up with two a day, so it was really fertile ground for me and Reb for having not done it in a while, you know? It was all new ideas, so we thought that was kinda cool.
Cool. So do you pretty much write all of the lyrics?
Reb and I wrote all of the songs, and then I write all the lyrics with a little help from my wife on three songs where I was a litle stuck. She's a song writer, so she helped me out on a few.
When can Winger fans expect a U.S. tour man?
February and March we'll be covering the whole United States, and we'll be kicking off the tour in Long Island.
Have you guy's thought about an opening band yet, or are you going out alone?
Not yet, I just got a call that Enuff Z'nuff wants to open for us in some places, but I'm not really sure yet.
What's a couple of your all-time favorite Winger songs?
I really like "Who's The One," " Blind Revolution Mad," and on the new record I like "Blue Suede Shoes," and "Generica" quite a bit. "Headed For A Heartbreak," and "Rainbow In The Rose," are favorites of mine as well.
I understand that you re-released "Songs From The Ocean Floor." For people that may not know about your solo records, mind telling us a little about them as well?
Yeah...I've got three solo records out, and another one coming. "Songs From The Ocean Floor" was actually re-released about eight months ago. "This Conversation Seems Like A Dream" came out in 1997, and then I followed it with "Down Incognito," which is an acoustic record with a new song, and an acoustic version of Winger stuff, and some solo stuff, and then I did "Songs From The Ocean Floor" which was all new studio stuff. I've got a new one I'm working on which isn't done yet, I don't know when... it's really hard to finish records while you're touring.
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Wow, you're a busy guy Kip.
Yeah, and I've got a three-piece power trio called Blackwood Creek that's gonna be coming out sometime next year. It's my very first original band with my brother on drums, and a guy named Peter Fletcher. It kinda sounds like the James Gang, so I'm working on that as well. So...I've got a lot of shit going on.
Cool, so it's kinda like a classic rock band then?
Yeah, very much like that.
What's a couple of your personal favorite's off some of your solo stuff Kip?
"Monster" is a song from "This Conversation Seems Like A Dream," that is one of my favorites. There's a song called "Here" off that record as well that I really like. Off of "Songs from the Ocean Floor," there's a song called "Cross," and "Resurrection," that I dig. "Only One Word," which is off from that record as well, is probably my favorite of all solo songs.
You've written some great songs and music over the years Kip. What inspires you the most to write?
Smoke a bowl. (Laughs) You know what? I've written music my whole life, it's my first and foremost love, and my ultimate source of inspiration. I study music, and I've got myself to the point where I can just write it, and that's what I do. I don't know if everybody likes it, but I just try my best.
Last time you spoke with GlamMetal.com, you mentioned you were doing some film work. Are you still involved in that as well?
I am. I just talked with a director two days ago about possibly doing a new score for a movie he's doing. I'm kind of on a low level with that, I'm trying to get my shit together with that you know?
That's cool, I don't know how you juggle it all man.
Well, I just try to put one foot in front of the other, and do one thing at a time. Usually what happens for me, is that if I've got a dead-line, that's what gets done first.
What's a couple of your favorite Glam-Metal bands from back in the day?
Man, I thought Cinderella was really good. Ah...New York Dolls as well, but I think Cinderella was actually the best of all of them, that first record really captured the vibe.
Looking back on the whole "Glam-Metal," "Hair Band" scene if you will, what do you miss the most about those days, and is there anything you'd do differently?
Not really, I mean we were all just trying our best, we made some mistakes, and we hit some home runs.
Is there anything that you particularly miss about those days, are are you quite content with it all?
I'm really happy, I'd like to have a little bit more bread, and play bigger shows, but other than that, musically I'm totally happy.
Of all the great things you've accomplished so far in your musical career, what are you most proud of?
Wow, who knows dude. Probably the classical piece I just wrote, string quintet, piano and harp. All I care about is the tunes man. If I'm writing good music, then that's cool. It's easy to be cavalier about having platinum records, and I'm really proud of my platinum records, but it's really just a thing that kinda marks a certain period of time, and you can't really like sit around and go "Wow, I've got a gold record," so I'm really into the most recent music that I've been writing, you know?
Any newer bands that you really dig these days Kip?
Army of Anyone sounds pretty cool to me. I don't really listen to a lot of bands. Porcupine Tree was kinda cool as well...
So you don't listen to a lot of newer music then huh?
Not really man, I mean I was into My Chemical Romance because my seventeen-year-old step son was really into it when it first came out, but I haven't listened to that in a while.
What are your thoughts on the music scene today?
It sucks, the internet is gonna destroy it. Nobody is paying for music anymore man.
When you're not writing or touring Kip, what do you like to do for fun or relaxation?
I don't really do anything dude.
You don't do anything man? No hobbies or anything?
Not really, I travel alot. I'm in to re-modeling houses actually, I don't do the work anymore myself, I used to, but I'm just too busy man.
Any other projects or news you'd like to share with GlamMetal.com?
That's pretty much it man, we've covered everything, I appreciate you calling Doobie.
In closing, is there anything you'd like to say to all of your fans out there Kip?
Yeah, I would like to say thanks for hanging in there with us, because I'm surprised at how many people are still willing to listen to the new stuff.
Cool. Thanks so much for talking with GlamMetal.com, and good luck with everything you've got going on man. I hope the new records go through the roof!
Thank you. Have a good one man.
All of you Kip Winger fans who want more info on tours, news, merch, etc...you can go to www.kipwinger.com and www.myspace.com/kipwingermusic
ALSO, go to www.myspace.com/wingertheband
Buy Winger IV here
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