As enthusiastic concertgoers eagerly await Bandland 2024, Bengaluru finds itself not needing persuasive arguments from legendary rockers like Steven Tyler to ensure a performance of one of the most iconic acoustic ballads in rock history. The Boston rock band, Extreme, confirmed that their chart-topping hit, “More Than Words,” will grace the setlist, validating the anticipation of their dedicated fans. The timeless ballad, penned by vocalist Gary Cherone and renowned lead guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, has an interesting history that includes a battle with their record label to see it become a single. Released as part of their sophomore album, ‘Pornograffitti’ in 1990, “More Than Words” quickly soared to number one, catapulting the band to international fame.
Despite the immense popularity of the track, the band has had a complex relationship with it over time. As Extreme’s identity became closely intertwined with “More Than Words,” Gary Cherone revealed, the group grew to resent this singular association. During a tour in Poland with Aerosmith, Extreme opted out of performing the song, compelling an exasperated Steven Tyler to scribble a profane encouragement to play the track on their dressing room door.
In a candid conversation over a video call from Temecula, California, Nuno Bettencourt expressed his enduring connection to the song, emphasizing, “I’ve never had to make peace with the song. We made that song. That song didn’t make the band. Rock fans know who we are. It’s only the people that aren’t Extreme fans, maybe, know us for ‘More Than Words’, but our true fans know us for everything that we do. So we don’t have a problem with it whatsoever” (smiling as he speaks).
Asked about the prospects of performing the celebrated anthem at Bandland, Bettencourt playfully quipped a “no,” before affirming with a grin, “Of course, we will play it.”
The simplicity of “More Than Words” is something Bettencourt describes with ease. “Oh, come on, it came like any other song. You pick up the guitar, play some music, sing along, write a lyric, tell the story, and there it is. It’s just like any other song that you write. There was nothing special or different about it. It’s very basic stuff, very simple.” As for the creative process, Bettencourt notes that each song emerges uniquely. “It depends. Sometimes you have a story and a title, sometimes you have melodies, music, sometimes the drum groove…”
Beyond his role in Extreme, the 58-year-old musician has ventured into a solo career with his album ‘Schizophonic’, and shared stages with industry titans like Janet Jackson, Toni Braxton, and Rihanna. Despite these solo efforts, Bettencourt reveals an affinity for the band dynamic.
. “The first thing I did was to be in a band. I’m a big fan of all the bands that I grew up on. So it’s being in a band that works best for me.”
Speaking on the nuances of solo projects versus band engagements, Bettencourt elaborates, “It’s just stuff that’s probably more personal to you, songs that are more personal, and being able to do things that maybe you don’t do with the band. It is not more or less joyful, just different. It’s taking a break from what you do.”
Bettencourt relishes the creative flexibility that comes with scoring films, having contributed to the soundtrack of ‘Smart People’. “I love movies. I don’t get to do it a lot. I would like to do more of it.” He describes film scoring as an art that intertwines with the visual narrative, requiring the music to enhance, not overpower, the cinematic experience.
The collaborative essence of band life is, as Bettencourt puts it, akin to a marital engagement but on a broader scale, often involving compromises. “If you are married or ever been married, you know the answer to that question (smiles). Try being married four ways at once, not just to one person, but three at the same time and good luck with that.” Yet, these challenges, Bettencourt believes, are what make the experience enriching. “It’s not rocket science. Being in a band has its ups and downs. A band is like any family. All families are dysfunctional, especially rock bands.”
As for the grind of touring, Bettencourt admits to mixed feelings. “I enjoy touring to play on stage, but the other 20 hours is tough. Being away from friends and family and living out of suitcases, traveling, sleeping in buses, stuff like that, is definitely more of a younger man’s game. In your 20s, you love it, but once you have been doing it for 10 years, and we’ve been doing it for nearly 40 years, it loses its glamour pretty quickly.”
The band’s Indian fanbase fondly remembers their electrifying performance in Manipur in 2019 during the ShiRock Festival. Now, as Extreme readies for their debut in a major Indian city, Bettencourt promises an unforgettable experience for their fans: “We’ve never played in a major city like we’re about to do now, and we’re excited. Fans can look forward to the best rock show of their lives.”
Set to perform as part of BookMyShow Live’s Bandland 2024 on November 23 and 24 at NICE Grounds, BIEC, Bengaluru, Extreme is preparing to deliver a performance that reinforces their enduring legacy, with “More Than Words” at the heart of it all.
Published – November 01, 2024 04:56 pm IST
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