When Is the Outfield Going to Tour Again?
June 1, 2018 Interview – Tony Lewis from The Outfield
Everyone has their cantankerous to bare. Nosotros all face arduousness in life, simply it is how we come out on the other side of information technology all which truly defines who we are. For The Outfield's Tony Lewis, it came as a sudden, dramatic life modify when his friend, and career spanning musical partner, John Spinks, tragically passed away in 2014. A deeply somber time for Lewis, he opted to step away from music, but fortunately he has recollected four years later, preparing to release his first always solo album,Out of the Darkness, on June 29th.
A new chapter in Lewis' life, he is not merely coming with fresh, original music, he is returning to touring for the beginning fourth dimension in quite a long time! Gearing up for a run on this summer'south Retro Futura tour, alongside others such as Belinda Carlisle and Modern English, Lewis is reinvigorated and gear up to rock. Recently nosotros caught up with the easily distinguished vocalist to talk the success of The Outfield, his time away from music, his return, plus more.
CrypticRock.com – Involved in music professionally for over three decades, you have seen a swell deal of success with The Outfield attaining multi-platinum selling albums. Looking dorsum on everything, how would you describe your journey in music?
Tony Lewis – The journey has obviously been filled with hard piece of work from the beginning. The very first time we went to America, we had "Say It Isn't So" coming out. It did well for us and being signed to CBS we were quite naïve – footling did we know that nosotros were going to go onto gold, platinum, triple platinum.
It'southward been a long journey, and it hasn't happened over dark; we really worked difficult. Information technology'due south quite flattering to be invited back into the music concern over again. I accept been out of this manufacture for xiv years, where I oasis't toured. It has come up to 4 years of John (Spinks) passing. I am looking forward to starting a new chapter.
Columbia
Columbia
CrypticRock.com – Information technology sounds like it has been filled with highs and lows, like anything in life. It seems similar it has been overall very exciting.
Tony Lewis – Very exciting. We got to see a lot of countries together as a ring. We went to places we never dreamed of playing in, like Trinidad and Lima. Information technology's been a long journey of difficult work, but we really did enjoy it. We enjoyed each other's company. When times were getting tough, we were getting shows cancelled, there was the 9/11 situation; that was really quite a tough menses of time to go through. I find it hard to believe nosotros have been in this manufacture that long. It is just very surreal to be in a tape deal and come back in the U.South. touring again. Information technology'due south exciting!
CrypticRock.com – Every bit you mentioned, it did not happen overnight, it took a lot of hard work. The Outfield actually made a major impact with their 1985 debut full-length record, Play Deep. That anthology was specially huge in the The states. A bang-up record to this 24-hour interval, what exercise y'all think was the key to Play Deep'due south success?
Tony Lewis – The first single, "Say It Isn't So," did pretty well nationally. Nosotros finished that tour, came home for Christmas. "Your Love" was released to radio in 1985: it was only to go on u.s. on the radio and in people's minds. That song had a life of its own; it kept ads and it didn't accept a week, it took quite a couple of months for it to build. The vocal stands upwardly on its own, when yous recall about it, it took us xx minutes to write information technology – John and I put information technology together so quickly. I retrieve that song reinforced the album; it is definitely the flagship for the album.
CrypticRock.com – Yes, and the record still stands up today. The Outfield continued to produce quality music releasing 8 more albums through 2011'southward Replay. What would you depict the progression of the band like through the years?
Tony Lewis – After doing Play Deep, nosotros did a sort of Rock album withBangin' (1987). Information technology is similar the sophomore jinx – a lot of bands similar Def Leppard, they were always cautious of not doing the same thing over again – considering the impact of the 2nd album would not be as good. Then the third anthology,Voices of Babylon (1989), was produced past David Kahne, and he brought a dissimilar slate on our music – information technology was very sleek and pop cultured. It had a very sophisticated audio, simply it even so had the core of The Outfield going for information technology. After nosotros moved on to MCA, we did Diamond Days and Rockeye, and we basically pleased ourselves. We recorded up in England and had a nifty fourth dimension doing them. We didn't have the pressure of a producer breathing down our necks, we didn't accept a time-frame or anything.
I would say our music has changed over the years, merely I retrieve the main core of it has remained the aforementioned. We have always been known as that band that did "Your Love." That is the vocal that has the evergreen sound. I don't retrieve nosotros ever really changed our sound; we accept had unlike productions of albums, just we know what the fans want.
Columbia
MCA
CrypticRock.com – Yes, and the signature of The Outfield has ever been the vocals and guitar tone.
Tony Lewis – Yep, because of the loftier phonation and jangling guitars, information technology fabricated the states sound quite unique. Our harmonies weren't quite like harmonies other bands had washed, possibly similar The Beach Boys or The Beatles. We had a sound of our ain; it was non like we worked on it, it merely came naturally. We didn't work stuff out on a pianoforte or guitar, we just went in a vocal booth and sung; it came naturally.
CrypticRock.com – It all worked wonderfully. You worked with John Spinks for a long time, and beyond the musical partnership, he was a friend. One can imagine it was very difficult when John tragically passed away in 2014. Was his passing a key factor in your stepping away from music for a bit?
Tony Lewis – Yes, I didn't option upward a guitar for ii years. This July will be the 4th twelvemonth of his passing, and information technology took a long fourth dimension for me to even retrieve virtually picking up a guitar, recording something, or singing something, because my caput wasn't in a good place. After a couple of years, I started to creep dorsum into my room, recorded things, and put some backing tracks together. I was really enjoying it, because it was taking me out of the place I was in my head; it was taking me somewhere else. Anyone who records music or plays music live, it'due south something magical nearly information technology. It takes you lot out of yourself and takes you into another place where you can well-nigh spiritually detach yourself from your troubles.
Platinum Amusement
Protocol
CrypticRock.com – Correct, and now you are back with your outset ever solo album, aptly-titled Out of the Darkness. The championship is not by blow, it pretty much describes your emotions, yep?
Tony Lewis – I'm thinking everyone has worked it out. I was going to say, "Out of the Calorie-free and into the Darkness" is about an unprofessional electrician who could never fix his fuse box properly. (Laughs)
Yeah, information technology is just about a venture back into the music industry afterwards a 4-year hiatus. Later on beingness known as a vocaliser, I want to evidence I have more than than one cord to my bow. I just want to show I am not only the singer and bass player in the band, I picked up production skills, play guitar, drums, keyboards, and provide backing vocals. I merely love recording. This anthology came together, it was just totally enjoyable. My married woman Carol helped me out with lyrics. It merely basically grew from in that location.
CrypticRock.com – The record is really proficient. Production-wise, it sounds wonderful. In that location is an uplifting vibe to it, but at that place is a mix of emotions. Tell us a piddling bit well-nigh the writing and recording process.
Tony Lewis – Overall, the album is about love, loss, betrayal, sorrow, grief, and other human emotions all of the states accept experienced. Carol has a great way of writing a story. What I've written about, I but was going down a road that I want to fight, I simply wasn't making sense with the lyrics. I just put a positive musical spin on some of the songs that were dark. Songs like "Dreams and Wishes" is all about having faith. "Here and Now" is all about acknowledging the past so you can look into the futurity. I think David Gilmour said that some of his best piece of work was when his mind was completely in a nighttime place. People are able to connect to that instead of doing "I love you, y'all honey me, let's go to the embankment with a six-pack in the back of the car." I get a flake tired of that sort of lyrics, you can't really connect with it.
CrypticRock.com – Admittedly. Sometimes the best art comes from a darker identify: when you are facing adversity in life, sometimes the best material comes out of you lot.
Tony Lewis – Yes, some of the songs are in a dark identify, but the music gives it nigh similar a polish. There are five tracks on the album that Tanner Hendon played drums on – he owns the label Madison Records. That was quite a result getting someone who owns a label equally the drummer. I love the feel of a real drummer. Information technology was a period of 2-three years of writing songs and putting them together. I picked upwards production techniques that I had learned from John. I just enjoyed doing information technology, it was not one little flake stressful. It was almost going into the studio with a blank canvas each twenty-four hour period. That is how it all came together, it was very effortless.
CrypticRock.com – Information technology bleeds through that way. Songs such equally "I'll Still Exist Here" really stand up out besides.
Tony Lewis – Yes, it has a menacing guitar riff to it. It is quite bones, and I just wanted to make it different. To me that is the almost interesting song on the album. My favorite i would be "Loving You," it is basically near the inflow of our granddaughter and how we changed as people because of it. I really enjoyed doing these songs and I hope people similar them. I kept the first unmarried, and hopefully "Here and Now" might be another unmarried, they have a very Outfield spirit, simply my twist on it. I simply want to get across to people this is my time at present, this is what I do, and this is my music. That is why I didn't desire to carry on with the name The Outfield when John passed abroad: I call myself Tony Lewis from The Outfield. When I continue bout, I will have a band together, we volition play The Outfield songs, my new stuff, and it'southward going to be a whole new experience. It's going to be strange non having John on stage, merely it's a whole new affiliate and I am looking forward to it.
Madison Records
CrypticRock.com – Speaking of being on tour, you lot will be on the Retro Futura tour in the USA come July. For those coming out, what tin they expect from these performances?
Tony Lewis – They can look a expert show. When I go and see Sting, I like his albums, but fundamentally you lot become there considering you lot want to hear The Police songs. No matter how great a solo album you lot have, people want to hear "Your Love" and "All the Dear in the World." I am going to evangelize them songs similar I never went away, I am really looking frontward to information technology. It should exist a groovy testify. I am just doing iv songs which is a bit strange. By the time I've warmed up, it will exist time to get off. (Laughs)
CrypticRock.com – Right, that is the i unfortunate affair. Could we peradventure see y'all mix in some off-dates where you tin can play more of the new music?
Tony Lewis – That will all be coming. I obviously want to take this one day at a time. I don't know actually where my head volition be when I practise the first evidence. I have known John for over 40 years, we accept done and so many The Outfield tours together; then, this is going to be a whole new venture for me. I'grand just taking it one stride at a time. I just want to get out at that place and say to fans thank you for all your support and here I am to play some stuff for you, tell me what yous call back, and we will have it from there. I have no plans from Retro Futura onwards, I accept offers, but I but want to take it one step at a time.
CrypticRock.com – Like you said, information technology is a new chapter in your life and career. Hopefully it will develop into more than.
Tony Lewis – Yes, hopefully. I haven't even met the ring yet. This is a whole new situation for me. You play in a band all those years, made all those albums together, and suddenly y'all are doing it on your ain. Information technology is quite scary, but at the same note information technology is quite exciting. I am looking forward to a new first!
CrypticRock.com – Information technology is certainly an exciting time and fans volition be happy to run across you return! Last question, CrypticRock covers music as well equally Horror and Sci-Fi films. If yous are a fan of these genres, do y'all take any favorites?
Tony Lewis – I think the last Horror film I went to see was The Blair Witch Project (1999). My wife got motion sickness through that, and I didn't really get it. I liked The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). I remember seeing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) and I retrieve going to my room, after seeing the picture, there was a knock on the window, and all night I couldn't sleep, thinking, who is that? It was John knocking and he was talking on the passenger vehicle saying I'm thinking about buying a chainsaw. I didn't know he was joking, I said, "Yous're non going to exist buy a chainsaw, are y'all?" I thought he was going to chop my artillery off or something. (Laughs)
I like Thrillers and I used to exist a fan of Horror films, I used to watch Frankenstein (1931) and Dracula (1931) every bit a child. Horror films are now most effects. My girl laughs at the Saw films. It is like what level of claret and gore tin we become to at present. I remember information technology has gotten a fleck more computerized and special effects. Whereas in the old days, the '60s and '70s, they were then desperately washed, only they played on your mind. Silence of the Lambs (1991) had more than a Thriller vibe to it. No Land For Old Men (2007) I thought was a good film. I similar Thrillers more than Horror films, considering it makes you remember. I think The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was the first one that e'er really affected me.
Bryanston Pictures
Cannon Releasing
CrypticRock.com – The original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre had a very real, grainy quality.
Tony Lewis – Yep, and I enjoyed that. I felt like I was in a story. With other films it is all virtually effects and who can spill the most blood. With The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, you lot are taken through that story; that is probably my favorite sort of Horror picture show, it felt real. Tobe Hooper was a very clever director.
Tour Dates:
Wednesday eleven-Jul Atlanta, GA State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
**Thu 12-Jul Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Tune Tent
Fri 13-Jul Westbury, NY NYCB Theatre at Westbury
~Sat xiv-Jul Englewood, NJ Bergen PAC
Sun xv-Jul Lynn, MA Lynn Auditorium
Wed 18-Jul Branson, MO Welk Resort
Fri 20-Jul Common salt Lake City, UT Cherry Butte Garden
Sat 21-Jul Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay
Lord's day 22-Jul Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery
Thu 26-Jul Costa Mesa, CA Pacific Amphitheatre
^Saturday 28-Jul Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
Sun 29-Jul Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia Tore Amphitheater
Wed 1-Aug Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre
Fri 3-Aug Northfield, OH Hard Rock Live
Sat four-Aug St. Ignace, MI Kewadin Casino Resort
**ABC, Modern English language and Tony Lewis only
~No Annabella
^No Belinda Carlisle
For more on Tony Lewis: tonylewismusic.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Source: https://crypticrock.com/interview-tony-lewis-from-the-outfield/
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