Have you ever abandoned a song, because the emotion was too personal?
Good question. I do think you have to be careful of turning experience, especially tragedy, into a mere material source. I debated that with the content of "Policeman's Xmas Party", but due to the outcome, I was comfortable writing about that dark reality.
Performing at the post-9/11 concert, with artists like Mick Jagger, Elton John, and Paul McCartney must have been an amazing experience. Were you able to appreciate the time you were there, with the 'music greats', or was the focus more on the people, and the tragedy?
Any other night it would have been beyond a dream come true. It seemed every living influence of mine was on that stage. That evening though, such hero-worship seemed trivial in comparison to meeting the families of those who lost dads, and the true heroes who showed us the finer side of the human heart.
What is your most treasured music moment?
I can't imagine anything being more humbling than the Concert from NY.
People seem to relate to your songs in a very powerful way. Have you ever known a song was 'inspirational' when you were writing it, or has your connection always been a purely personal one?
I can sense what songs may connect on certain levels. Many of these songs are reminders to me, like “100 Years”, and spring from failings in my own character to achieve the sentiment I'm singing about. Still, the beauty of music is that people make songs their own, often with no connection to my intention. That's how it should be, whether I'm singing about riddles or '65 Mustangs.
Your website says "Two Lights" was partly inspired by conversations you had with ordinary Americans. Tell me about some of the more memorable conversations you had.
Yes, the song “Two Lights” was inspired by a conversation with a Vietnam vet and his son, who was going back to Iraq for his second tour. It illuminated to me the sacrifice families make for our way of life. “I Just Love You” and “Road to Heaven” came right out of the mouths of my kids, literally. In doing research for “Freedom Never Cries,” I spoke to many people, though the dinner with Tom Ridge was especially memorable due to his experience as head of Homeland Security.
The future for the band?
The only thing that is certain about the future is its uncertainty.
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