MIKE TRAMP criticizes singers who “struggle through their songs because they don’t want to accept that they are no longer 23”

In a new interview with Dawn Osborne by TotalRock, former WHITE LION Singer Michael Trampwho turned 63 in January, spoke about the need to adapt his singing to his now deeper voice. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I can’t sit here and deny what I did (in the studio during the WHITE LION years). I mean, that’s what we did back then. When I sang “Wait,” I sometimes thought about it, I mean, not only did I sing so high, I went into the studio and sang the harmonies over myself.

“I have no vocal training whatsoever,” he explained. “I’m not a trained singer. I’ve spent my whole life trying to keep my voice in shape and things like that. So I don’t really know why it happened. I guess it just happened because of that, but it was never my desire to end up there. And I’m not embarrassed in the slightest.

“Nowadays, when you have to go through that and see all the crap on YouTube and stuff… some of my old fellow singers who struggle through their songs because they don’t want to accept that they’re not 23 anymore…

“When football players get too old, they become sports commentators,” tramp continued. “We accept it when other people are not too old but are no longer fit for the job. That’s biology. But rock and roll has been given carte blanche when it comes to age. And I can tell you one thing, regardless of the fact that I have to earn a living and lead a very, very, very simple life, I’m not going to go out like KISSI will not go like that, because they are my heroes and they really, really disappointed me, that’s how you do it. And I am not for reading Blackie Lawless say, “Well, it’s all for the good of the show, so let’s play with tracks.” That’s not why we started rock and roll. Why can’t people grow into it a little bit?

“I have the greatest respect for Robert Plant (LED-ZEPPELIN) – higher than any other artist on earth.

“There Are a few singers out there who can still sing almost the same way – a few. And then there are the bands that find a younger singer who sounds like the original singer, but it really, really hurts me to see Arnel Pineda sing for TRIP and think of Steve Perry. Steve Perrymade this voice. I mean, Arnel sings phenomenally, the guy is a phenomenal singer and it’s fun to watch him, but I wonder how Steve Perry feel at home? Or how does it feel to go out and be the singer who now represents Lou Gramm In FOREIGNERa band that doesn’t have a single original member.

“Shame on Rock’n’Roll” Mike added. “Shame on rock and roll. I don’t get it. And I think I can say that regardless of whether I’m out there (on the street) and calling it Mike Tramp’s white lionit’s still my band, but I do it with dignity. But I just think there are too many cheap shots in rock’n’roll these days, and it only hurts us. It doesn’t make us stronger when we’re already fighting in a dying business.”

tramp will be published “Songs of the White Lion – Volume II” on 23 August about Frontiers Music SrlThe ten tracks on the album show again tramp reinterpret selected pieces from his former band WHITE LION.

Last year, tramp was asked in an interview about the possibility WHITE LION reunite for a tour. He said: “When we split up in 1991, we always knew we would never get back together. And a lot of people always talk about reunions.” WHITE LION A reunification would not be a better WHITE LION as WHITE LION was, so I’m out there playing the songs, not trying to recreate them WHITE LION.”

When asked if he had ever thought about starting his solo band WHITE LION and on tour with new members, Mike replied: “I can not call it WHITE LION.” When asked if he would call his band WHITE LION If he could, Mike said: “I tried it and it cost me money. (Laughs) I think the audience understands now that I’m just keeping the songs alive and performing them in a different way. I can convey the image that I’m not going out there and doing a show, I’m taking them through the greatest hits. I like to tell stories about the songs. You can’t always do that at a festival when you have an hour, but that’s my goal, that I keep the songs alive. And I think all the fans and music fans know who Michael Tramp and it does not need to be called WHITE LIONBut it means “Songs of the White Lion”.”

In 2019 tramp announced in an interview that he had apologized to the guitarist Vito Bratta because he tried to revive his former band without his former songwriting partner and bandmate.

The Danish-born singer did not play with Bratta since WHITE LION gave his last concert in September 1991 in Boston.

In the 33 years since WHITE LION separated, BrattaThe public profile was practically non-existent, while tramp is still active and records and tours as a solo artist and with the bands NATURE FREAK, THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CIRCUZ and more recently BAND OF BROTHERS. tramp also tried to revive WHITE LION with the album from 2008 “Return of Pride”with new members. Two years later tramp assigned ownership of the name WHITE LION To Bratta as part of an out-of-court settlement.

Especially active in the 1980s and early 1990s, WHITE LION released his debut album, “Fight for survival”in 1985. The band’s breakthrough came with the double platinum hit “Proud” Album that produced two top 10 hits: “Wait” And “When the children cry”The band continued their success with the third album, “Big game”which reached gold status.

By the time WHITE LION released his last album, 1991 “Mane attraction”Alternative rock was on the rise, leading to a rapid decline of the so-called “hair metal” scene in terms of sales, popularity, radio airplay, and most importantly, relevance.

Mike Approved “Songs of the White Lion”in April 2023 via Frontiers Music Srl.