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Interview
by SashaS
16-11-2001
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| Mike Tramp |
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Recovering wasted memories
‘Remembering White Lion’ is an ode to a bygone era of metal without gratuitous nostalgia
Thesis: This album shouldn’t be out. Antithesis: Mike Tramp shouldn’t be talking about it. Synthesis: You shouldn’t be reading it. ‘Remembering White Lion’ is an album from a career’s finer moments from a band that played its last show on October 2nd, 1991, after ruling the 1980s with platinum sales of their ‘measured’ metal. But, the two main protagonists, Mike Tramp, responsible for this artefact, and guitarist Vito Bratta decided to differ opinions ever since. Over to you, Mike.
“After my ‘Capricorn’ album I went on the road for three months around America, driving myself and performing with a guitar only, like a door-to-door salesman and as I’d pull into towns radio stations were playing the old stuff. Then, a rumour started that White Lion were getting back together and I considered the idea seriously enough to go and see Vito; I had not spoken to him since our last show and it turned out we had nothing in common anymore. Within 10 minutes I knew there was no reunion as he told me that he wasn’t interested and he hadn’t touched a guitar in six year.”
“I had already had an offer to record this album,” Tramp shrugs disappointingly, “but there wasn’t going to be the real thing. So, I flew to Denmark and recorded with some friends. My concern were fans who bought all the albums and of those who had only bought ‘The Best Of’ album. I wanted to present the way we sounded in the rehearsal room and on stage. I choose the songs we all enjoyed playing live; there are also our three biggest hits.”
Banned bugger
White Lion, “a pretty-boy band distinguished by better than average songcraft” is how ‘The Rolling Stones Encyclopaedia of Rock & Roll’ (ed. 1995) summarizes them, was formed by Mike Tramp, a Dane-by-birth who had six albums out with a band Mabel in his native land and sporting a tag of ‘Danish Michael Jackson’. Inking a deal with Elektra in 1984, a year after formation, White Lion’s album was rejected but a move to Atlantic resulted in their debut ‘Pride’ selling two million copies two hit singles, ‘Wait’ and ‘When The Children Cry’ (#3, 1988). The rejected album, ‘Fight To Survive’, was released independently in the wake of this popularity but it only reached the 151st placing.
These two hits are on the ‘Remembering’ that, when Bratta heard about the project, he had it stopped although the album ‘sneaked’ out a couple of years ago in America.
“I submitted one cover to the American label,” Tramps explains at the Concorde speed, “but they turned it around and its cover displayed ‘The Best Of White Lion By White Lion.’ I had no idea about it and when it came out Vito stopped it. I used to listen to the album and it sounded good and I decided to issue it in Europe. I hate when something exists but it is unavailable.”
Was he concerned that fans would prefer some rare and unreleased material rather than reworkings and updating?
“Yeah, there are some asking why I changed songs,” Tramp answers with a sigh, “and the point is that this is not representative of the band because there isn’t one. It’s me, I’m the only one who is representing that line-up and this is my way of interpreting it. Also, I didn’t like the way my voice sounded and wanted to reflect more my singing today.”
Away from maddening crowd
Tramp moved to Tasmania two years ago and conducts his business from a farm. The next on his agenda is his own album, due to be released very shortly.
“That’s what we should be talking about,” Tramp argues passionately, “and not about this, but… My new album is called ‘Recovering The Wasted Years’ and you can see where I’m coming from. It is still rock, a bit mature, a bit more reasonable and not just noise… This is me, moving on with my life, and doing different songs. I feel it’d appeal to an adult audience but some younger ones will find it interesting. I’m not choosy who my public is…”
“I’ve been a musician for 27 years and when I see all these newcomers explode and burn out in a couple of years, I find it amazing… The industry’s become too shallow, too exploitative and only interested in quick buck. But, we have technology now which allows us to make good quality albums for small amounts of money and have it distributed independently; there is no problem, the major labels can have all their pop-stars.”
“The only downside with all the technology,” Tramp concludes, “is that you are your own manager, agent, designer, everything. I’d like to be just a Rock’n’Roller, again.”
SashaS
16-11-2001
Mike Tramp’s album ‘Remembering White Lion’ is released 12 November on Dream Catcher Records
Mike Tramp’s album ‘Recovering The Wasted Years’ is released 21 January 2002 on Ulftone Music
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