An Org Exclusive Interview by Anxiety


Michael Bland in the NPG days, posing for a never-released Prince single
(Courtesy of MichaelBland.org)

Imagine having to keep a steady pace during one of the most chaotic periods of someone's life. Imagine if that steady pace is the work of a drummer, and that chaotic someone is none other than a certain artist then-formerly known as Prince.

Starting out as a member of the popular Minneapolis group Dr. Mambo's Combo, Michael Bland was drummer for the New Power Generation during the most turbulent years of Prince's career. Bland came on the scene in 1989 (around the time of the Batman album) and kept the beat for Prince and the NPG throughout the infamous "Symbol years", into the late '90s.

Most folks remember Bland as one of Prince's greatest drummers in a history of greats including heavy hitters like Sheila E. and John Blackwell; though casual fans may be more likely to remember him as "that guy with the big chicken bucket hat".

Since the days of the NPG, he's left the chicken bucket behind, moving on to work with a multitude of diverse artists, including Mandy Moore, Paul Westerberg, Soul Asylum and the Dixie Chicks (who he recently played with at a Hurricane Katrina relief concert).

He's also launched a spiffy new web site, MichaelBland.org, where fans can check out what the man is up to these days, and read more about his history and check out the ever-expanding gallery of personal photos from throughout his career. Soon, it will also be the online source for purchasing music by Bland's own current band, Sons of Almighty.


Bland circa 2005, with Mandy Moore
(courtesy of MichaelBland.org)

I had the honor of catching up with Michael Bland via e-mail recently. Here's what the man had to say...



Your web site bio tells how you first hooked up with the NPG, but what music first drew you to drumming? When did you decide that this was what you wanted to do?

Listening to music is what drew me to music. It was that simple. I decided at 14 to take it seriously...

Have any other drummers influenced your style?

All drummers have had an influence on me... whether it was about what I wanted to sound like, or didn't want to sound like...

You were present for a lot of classic Prince recordings and performances, including some classic TV appearances - the infamous MTV awards "Gett Off"
performance, "The Ryde Dyvyne", "The Undertaker", the SNL "Electric Chair" performance - is there any one performance that is a favorite to you?

Favorite TV appearance? 1994 AMAs.. 'Shhh' intro...monumental.

Okay, I gotta ask because everyone wants to know about The Hat. How did you come to start wearing that big bucket hat, and do you still wear it at gigs?

I don't wear the hats anymore...I was wearing them when I met Prince...just not that tall...it was Miko's idea to make them really tall...but I had to take them off to get in the limo...LOL...just got old, to me.

How often do you keep in touch with your fellow NPG bandmates/graduates?

I see Sonny T., Tommy Barbarella, and Mike Scott often...I see everyone else every once in a while.

You've worked with a pretty diverse group of people over the years, including Mandy Moore and Paul Westerberg - how do you go from working in one style of music to approaching another style?

My approach is the same, no matter what music I'm playing...be solid, listen intently, and choose your moments.

What's the most challenging project you've worked on since the days of the NPG?

Most challenging project? Michel Portal, "Minneapolis". I'm a musician who bases what he does on being objective...that album was a subjective study...very frustrating...

You recently started a new web site, with some pretty great stories and pictures. Can we expect some other goodies in the near future?

Goodies? Absolutely!!! Developing a bobblehead doll with bobbling arms, as well...we'll see how it turns out. if it sucks, no one will ever see it...LOL

We've listened to a lot of music with you on drums, and we're still enjoying it...what's Michael Bland listening to these days?

I'm listening to "Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell...that song makes me cry.

Since this is Prince.org, I gotta end this with a Prince question: What's the most important thing you learned from your days as a full-time member of the NPG?

Most important thing learned? "If you're not having fun, it's probably your fault..." or something like that...

*****
Michael Bland's official web site:
www.michaelbland.org

Get Sons of Almighty CDs here:
www.efetus.com

Anxy's Quick Q&A with Dr. Fink:
http://www.prince.org/msg...=308702108

Thanks for this one.. i like his site too!

It is good to see he is ok!

thank u again 4 another very kool interview...

keep rockin it, Anx!

Great Site

That's great - nice one Anx.

Loved his answer to the last question - I may use that Q...

Excellent Anx!

I to admit to thinking of Michael as the one witht he bucket of chicken hat

Hey Michael! any chance of you starting a funk rock band or joining Fishbone?!

You'll always be one of my favorite drummers! Can't wait to hear more from ya!

Thanks Anxiety!

Always great to see what ex-associates have been up to. Michael Bland has always seemed like a very cool guy.

BananaCologne said:

Be sure that you post it with a picture of the gates of Auschwitz:"If you're not having fun, it's probably your fault..."
[Edited 9/29/05 12:53pm]
[Edited 9/29/05 12:54pm]

wow,so very very very cool-t4p!

Great Job!

http://www.michaelbland.o...ery/16.htm


Michael says, "Basically, the baddest living guitarist, and one of the greatest musicians I've ever known....Jef Lee Johnson, and Tommy Barbarella in the background. This was at the Sons of Almighty gig at the Quest Nightclub in 2001, I think."


I don't see him giving Prince those kind of props, I wonder does he have hard feelings about Prince?
[Edited 9/28/05 13:44pm]

Astasheiks said:

Just a guess, but probably most of the people who have worked with Prince keep from mentioning him due to a fear of concievably breaking any confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements they had to sign. It's safer to say nothing at all than to have to justify an innocent comment taken the wrong way, ya know? I'm sure he's just covering his assets.

Great interview Anx!

I like the quote "If Ur not having fun its probably Ur fault"...So True!!

Anxiety said:

totally agree. also u got to remember he worked with p for so many years, so they were close friends at one stage, so just out of respect for a friend he doesn't want to say anything that might be taken the wrong way.
Thanks Anx for da interview. Bland looks well

Thanks Anx! I can't wait until the Soul Asylum project see's the light of day.

man! what a drum solo that was! I love that quote...."if you are not having fun, it is your fault." It's pretty much true. I think fun was what kept the Musicology tour going strong. It looked as if all of the band members were having fun every single night, didn't it?

Nice! Now I where to find him, if I need drums for my cd.

catpark said:

Actually I guess there's nothing else to say if he's calling somebody else the "baddest living guitarist"... hhhmmm?

Astasheiks said:

it coulda been that he wanted to give someone the shout-out who isn't as well known, as opposed to being the kajillion-and-twelfth person to cite prince as an amazing guitarist, which is of course a deserved citation, but hardly one that he needs to be given yet again.

Anxiety said:

Possibly.

????
Did you mean the "Electric Chair" performance?

Or am I gonna have to take a week off of work to track down a video of something I missed (so it can sit unwatched for a couple of months until I get around to it).

stephaniebrown said:

Good catch! I've had "Thunder" on the brain lately...of course, MB didn't correct me either!

I ran into Mike at the Greazy Meal show on Friday night. Talked for a few minutes but then the show started, so it was time to get greazed. He's an incredibly cool cat, very down to earth and kind. Big ol' teddy bear really.

catpark said:

- Well. But if he said something like ´Prince is a great guitar player´it cannot be taken the wrong way. Judging for the videos, it seems that Michael B enjoyed playing with him a lot. I am still curious about his opinion about Prince.

Ah, Michael...my fave drummer ever. One of the reasons I am a Prince fan. Thanks a lot for the interview.

GustavoRibas said:

The only Drummer who I like better then Michael Bland is Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews band. But Mike is a very close second. The drum intro to Shhhhh" is awesome! I'd like to know how he came up with it.

thanks