The name Bryan Adams is synonymous with pop music, having churned out one hit after another from his very first U.S. release, “Straight From the Heart” in 1982. Ever since, the singer has been a staple on radio airwaves, with songs such as “Heaven,” “Summer of ’69” and “(Everything I Do,) I Do it For You” all reaching No. 1. Overall, Adams has sold over 65 million records, toured six continents and achieved No. 1 status in over 40 countries.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of his best selling album, “Reckless” and the singer has a few thoughts on to what has made the record so successful over the past three decades.
“It must be the songs, as they have stood the test of time,” he says. “It could be because the Internet spreads music all the time and more and more people are discovering the old songs. It’s amazing that the audiences I play for are mostly younger than I am. ”
On Friday, Oct. 24, the legendary singer will play an all-acoustic show at the National Theatre in D.C., as part of his Bare Bones tour.
“Like all of my shows, I play all the hits and pepper it with a few surprises,” Adams says. “Playing acoustic is a release, anyone that sings will relate to that. No matter what you were thinking before you got on the stage, nothing can draw you in more than working in front of people, it’s exhilarating.”
Adams has special memories of playing in D.C. and visiting the landmarks around the city.
“I was in awe when I went to the National Archives…that blew my mind,” he says. “Especially the Louisiana Purchase Treaty.”
This year, Adams released “Tracks of My Years,” a compilation album of classic songs that meant a lot to him.
“If I’m honest, making this kind of record wasn’t on my radar at all, it was the idea of David Foster and Verve Records my record company and I thought I’d give it a go,” he says. “ His criteria was the songs had to be top 10 hits in the USA, and so it ended up being quite different to say the songs that really inspired me to make music —it was more about songs that were around at the time I decided music was the thing for me. ”
Adams’ last major release had been 2008’s “11,” which debuted at No. 1 in Canada, No. 2 in Germany and No. 80 in the U.S. He released the critically praised acoustic album, “Bare Bones” two years later, and this year wrote and sang on Michael Buble’s hit, “After All.”
The Canadian rocker also spends a great deal of time with his other passion—photography.
This past Remembrance Day, Adams released a new book of photos of soldiers injured whilst serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying he hopes it would help the general public to understand the lives of wounded military personnel. “Wounded: The Legacy of War” is a collection of photographs of servicemen and women who have cheated death whilst serving their country.
Each photo tells the story of a different soldier and each is unique. Some victims couldn’t speak properly; many had limbs blown off; others were badly burned or blinded and disfigured. But what all these soldiers share is the spirit of camaraderie, and an unflinching faith that no matter how horrifically wounded they were, no matter how hazardous their situation, they would not be left behind on the battlefield.
“For the majority, this was the first time they had revealed their amputations, their scars and their disabilities to anyone other than their immediate family and friends. Some were willing to reveal their wounds in full; others, understandably, were more hesitant,” he says. “To witness how they and their families have coped was humbling. These proud portraits are proof of how profoundly changed their lives are, and how they have discovered an inner mettle that perhaps they did not realize they possessed.”
Adams began seriously taking photos in the late ’90s and his lens has captured photos that appeared in British Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Esquire. He’s also done advertising campaigns for Converse, Guess Jeans and Escada, and has exhibited at museums in Toronto, London and Germany.
In 2012, he published his first photographic book, “Exposed,” which features portraits of friends and colleagues in the entertainment, fashion and art industries. Among the celebrities he’s shot on film are Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Lindsay Lohan, Peter Gabriel and Morrissey.
Another big part of Mr. Adams’ life is his “Bryan Adams Foundation,” which aims to advance education and learning opportunities for children and young people worldwide, believing that an education is the best gift that a child can be given. The foundation is mostly funded by his photographic activities.
The singer was awarded the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia for his contributions to popular music and philanthropic work.
