Although some college students may not know Bryan Adams by name, their faces usually light up with recognition when they realize he sings “Summer of ’69.”
Often, Adams’ “Summer of ‘69” and a number of other hit songs can be heard on weekends at any one of the bars or fraternity house band parties near the University of Alabama’s campus.
“Hey, a good party song never goes away,” Adams said when told his music is still popular today among college students. “I didn’t realize we’d written any at the time, but it’s time that is the ultimate decider on things like music. I’m grateful.”
Adams will play an acoustic show called Bare Bones tonight at 8 p.m. in downtown Tuscaloosa at the Bama Theatre.
The show, originally scheduled for October, was rescheduled when Adams became ill and had to cancel the tour, said Sandra Wolfe, executive director of the Bama Theatre.
“I think it’s going to be a great show,” Wolfe said. “We love having top quality musicians playing at the theatre.”
Adams said the show has been bringing him to different types of venues.
“It’s just me and a guitar and as a result, I’m seeing the country and playing it in a totally different way to how I may have in the past,” he said.
Adams told the Syracuse News Times, “It’s a way of reintroducing the music to everybody and to myself. Originally the idea was to go out for a summer and just goof off and do this. I invited Gary to come play piano with me on a bunch of songs. And a few years later, we’re still doing it.”
According to that Syracuse News Times article, Adams was unsure of what to expect when he began testing out acoustic versions of his most popular tracks in 2008. However, the reaction was so positive that he is back on the road sans band to support the continued success of his 2010 acoustic live album “Bare Bones.”
During a career that spans more than three decades, Adams has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide, but what drives him to continue to do music after all these years is something even Adams is not sure he can answer.
“It’s immensely satisfying to finish a good song, I can’t say exactly what drove me to music but it was something I could not control,” he said. “Someone asked me why I made my 15th album when they all sound the same, I told them I was offended by the question, and that I’ve made 16 albums that all sound the same.”
Despite having a long successful career, Adams is still not ready to think about retiring but is instead looking forward to the next chapter in his career.
“I feel like I’m just getting started in some ways,” he said. “The next thing is probably another tour and another album of music, although I have been writing for a few smaller independent films lately.”
Adams said the best thing about being a rock star is not necessarily what first comes to mind when thinking of the famous life of musicians.
“Way before all the sex, drugs and night parties, the best thing [about being a rock star] is I’ve been able to take care of the people around me,” Adams said. “We’re all doing just fine thanks to the music being played at college band parties.”
