More than a ballad

More than a ballad

There is no shame in a funk metal act having a tender, acoustic 90s love ballad as their career-defining hit.

In fact, in a phone interview with M from his home in Massachusetts, US, Gary Cherone, the raspy-voiced frontman of veteran rockers Extreme, called More Than Words "one of the main reasons why we are still able to play 25 years later".

"More Than Words definitely separated us from other contemporary rock bands out there," explained Cherone, 52.

"Its immense success gave us the freedom to be indulgent.

"In our follow-up album, III Sides To Every Story (1992), we had the chance to record with an orchestra at London's famed Abbey Road Studios. That wouldn't have happened, if not for (More Than Words)."

More Than Words, included in the Boston-based quartet's second album, Extreme II: Pornograffitti (1990), is their only song to have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

The well-loved tune, featuring cheesy lyrics such as "What would you do if my heart was torn in two/ More than words to show you feel/ That your love for me is real", was and still is a huge favourite with newlyweds, acknowledged Cherone with a laugh.

"I myself have sung More Than Words at several of my friends' weddings," he said.

"Also, more than often, I get people coming up to tell me that they've picked up the guitar because of this song, that they played it specially for their girlfriends."

Extreme - whose other members are guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, 47, bassist Pat Badger, 46, and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, in his late 40s - will be in town next week for a one-night concert as part of their ongoing 25th year celebratory world tour.

Cherone - who relaxes by listening to British singer Adele, US pop duo Hall & Oates and country band Zac Brown Band - has played in some of the world's biggest arenas, thanks to his stint between 1997 and 1999 as the lead singer of rock legend Van Halen.

He stepped in after the departure of vocalists David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Roth reunited with Van Halen later.

"When I joined Van Halen in 1997, it was surreal.

"These guys were like gods to us, definitely on par with Queen, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith.

"I idolised them. They were my biggest musical influences," he recalled.

"I got to tour the world with them and we played at really huge venues. Eddie (referring to guitarist Eddie Van Halen) was just brilliant.

"Looking back, that stint almost feels like another life of mine."

After the success of More Than Words and Extreme II: Pornograffitti, the group went on to release III Sides To Every Story (1992) and Waiting for the Punchline (1995), but both albums were commercial flops.

DISBANDED, REUNITED

The group disbanded in 1996 and reunited in 2008 and released their comeback effort, Saudades de Rock, the same year.

Cherone and Bettencourt, who has been the designated lead guitarist on Barbadian pop star Rihanna's concert tours since 2010, are often viewed as Extreme's most prominent figures, but Cherone assured that "there is no competition" between them.

"Nuno and I are like brothers. We push ourselves to become better performers and fill each other's needs, musically.

"We're too old for jealousy. Maybe when we were much younger, I might have beenw jealous if a girl liked Nuno and not me. Now? No way."

WHAT Extreme Live In Singapore

WHEN June 5, 8.30pm

WHERE The Coliseum, Hard Rock Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa

TICKETS $78 to $212 from Sistic (6348-5555 or www.sistic.com)


This article was first published on May 28, 2014.
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