Photo provided
Amid sold-out arenas and hit records worldwide for nearly half a century, pop-rock Night Rangers’ bassist Jack Blades has remained grounded — so much so that he and wife Mollie have remained happily married for all of that musical journey.
He can easily explain the seemingly rare harmony and allegiance in such a chaotic industry.
“She has kept me very grounded,” Blades said, speaking by phone from Iowa last week where the band was playing, not long after a sellout in Kansas City, Missouri. “I would come home off the road, and she would say ‘Hey — you’re expected to do your own laundry. Don’t pull that rock star crap on me.’”
The 70-year-old Blades and his four bandmates — drummer Kelly Keagy, lead guitarist Brad Gillis, keyboardist Eric Levy, and rhythm guitarist Keri Kelli — will bring their own harmony to Nashville’s Brown County Music Center for a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
He mentioned that the group, which has sold more than 17 million records since 1980, is changing its set list for every concert. That includes the band’s biggest hit, “Sister Christian” (included in the “Boogie Nights” soundtrack), plus other 1980s Top 40 hits “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “When You Close Your Eyes,” “Sentimental Street,” and “Four in the Morning (I Can’t Take Any More).” Blades also expects the concert musical lineup to include hits from his Damn Yankees’ tenure, including the 1990 single “High Enough.”
Plus, some nights have included covers of the tunes of his band’s buddies such as Ozzy Osbourne.
“That keeps everything fresh for the audience, and for us,” he said.
Yes, he has noticed in person what others have seen in concert clips: young people singing loads of their lyrics.
No wonder. Night Ranger songs can be heard in TV shows such as “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “American Dad,” “Glee,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Parks & Recreation.” The band has also had music featured in video games such as “Rock Band,” “Guitar Hero” and “Grand Theft Auto,” plus hit the Broadway musical “Rock of Ages.”
New audiences. And maybe an occasional new beverage backstage, he joked.
“The ’80s was Jack Daniels,” he said with a chuckle. “Today might be more tequila.”
Forget asking him about retirement. In 2005, he went to New York City to catch guitar god Les Paul in concert — at age 90.
“That was one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen,” he said.
To be sure, he had little or no understanding of such legendary longevity when he began performing in his native California.
“I would have told someone that they were out of their mind,” Blades said when a question came about closing in on the half-century mark as a band. “When you join a band, you generally think it might last maybe five years. You certainly don’t count on it being forever.”
This iteration of the band has been together nearly 15 years. He said a unity has developed on the road and onstage.
“It’s like a brotherhood,” Blades said. “Unlike some other bands which I shall not mention, we actually like each other and enjoy each other’s company.”
Away from the road, the history buff is a military memorabilia and artifact collector, from the Civil War to World War II and onward.
“I think that so much (heritage) is getting lost right now,” he said.
But his heritage in rock ‘n’ roll keeps him coming back to the tour bus.
“We’re busy, busy, busy,” Blades said of the live schedule. “We’re just going to keep going until it’s not fun anymore. And right now, it’s still way too much fun.”
About the concert
Who: Pop-rock band Night Ranger.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Brown County Music Center on Maple Leaf Drive in Nashville.
Tickets: browncountymusiccenter.com
