How Extreme Finally Moved Past the Stigma of ‘More Than Words’

Extreme’s 1991 single “More Than Words” has a sophisticated legacy.

The stark acoustic ballad struck an emotional chord with many listeners, giving the Boston-based group their first and solely No. 1 single. But even again then, “More Than Words” was an outlier.

“A lot of our contemporaries had a lot of rock hits and they were power ballads and maybe of that time, but they were big productions,” singer Gary Cherone as soon as instructed this author. “I think ‘More Than Words’ was an anomaly in how it was just a guitar and two vocals.”

It additionally raised totally different expectations for brand new followers who purchased Extreme II: Pornograffiti on the energy of the single. More mellow fare like “More Than Words” and “Hole Hearted” was the exception on an album full of songs that moved seamlessly from melodic rock to groove-heavy funk metallic.

More than 30 years have handed since Pornograffiti, and Extreme continues to ship surprising moments like “More Than Words.” This 12 months’s “Rise” was a piledriver of a single which reminded music followers that only a few individuals on this planet can tear off a solo fairly like guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.

Cherone argues that Bettencourt deserves to be in the dialog together with his influences, together with Queen’s Brian May, and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. “You know Nuno the minute he picks up a guitar as well,” Cherone says, referring to the signature tones of Bettencourt’s fellow gamers.

During a dialog with UCR, Cherone shared some tales behind Six, Extreme’s first album in 15 years, and why it took so lengthy to complete. He additionally mentioned how gratifying it’s as new generations discover their solution to “More Than Words.”

One factor that caught out immediately to me is that it feels such as you’re unlocking some new issues together with your voice on this album.
Wow, perhaps I’m too near that. You know, listening to it from an out of doors perspective, what that makes me suppose of is perhaps some of the keys these songs are in and a few of the ranges I’m singing in is perhaps a bit bit totally different. “Rise,” “#Rebel” come to thoughts. Just talking of the band basically, I feel we’re higher at our craft. I feel we’re nonetheless pushing ourselves. So thanks, that’s very good of you to say.

Watch Extreme’s ‘Rise’ Video

“Beautiful Girls” has a reggae vibe, but additionally variety of a funk factor. How did that one come collectively?
When you say that, I feel of the sequence of the document. That’s following most likely one of the most heaviest and eclectic tracks, “X Out.” It’s only a noise fest. And then right here we include “Beautiful Girls,” with this almost-summertime, roll-down-your-windows variety of groove that you may dance to. I don’t know if we’ve ever touched on that in the previous, apart from perhaps that the band can take a left flip. [Songs] like “When I First Kissed You” again in the day [from] Pornograffitti [are an example]. “Beautiful Girls” is only a enjoyable, lyrically gentle track celebrating the fairer of the sexes. I feel that may most likely be a enjoyable one to do dwell. For me, perhaps I’m analyzing it an excessive amount of, however I feel by the time individuals get to that on the document, it’s virtually a palate cleanse. Like, it is going to make the listener smile coming after some of the different stuff.

Nuno’s guitar work on this album is, as all the time, one thing else. The intro on “#Rebel” has a Tom Scholz feeling in the introduction, however then he simply takes it to the subsequent stage. He’s doing that throughout this album.
Yeah, I feel he outdid himself. It’s humorous, you understand we launched the track “Rise” and the response has been overwhelming for the band. Nuno’s blown away. I’m saying to myself, “Wait until they hear the record.” Because Nuno’s guitar taking part in is ballistic. You know, his status precedes him, however he’s on fireplace with this document. I feel he’s pushed himself. I don’t know what bought into his meals or the water, however “#Rebel,” you understand there’s nice riffs on this document, however the solos are simply [unbelievable]. Even on some of the poppier tunes like “Other Side of the Rainbow,” he variety of channels a Brian May philosophy, the place it’s melodic, however there’s nonetheless some shred in there. He’s all the time had that, however I feel you nailed it, that’s going to be a standout. People are going to get by way of this document and virtually be exhausted by some of the stuff Nuno is doing.

How did you strategy “#Rebel” out of your perspective?
The theme of that, so far as how I approached that track, it was variety of calling out these trolls that cover behind their keyboards. You know, we dwell in that day and age the place it’s simple to criticize slightly than assemble. It’s simpler to tear down than to construct one thing. So the refrain, “You got something to say? You talkin’ to me?” You know, the entire [Robert] De Niro [thing], “You talkin’ to me? You got somethin’ to say?” [Laughs] That’s one we’ll most likely do dwell for the relaxation of our lives as a result of it’s aggressive. I feel some of the one-off festivals that we play in Europe, it’d even open up the set. It’s a punch in the face.

You’ve bought rather a lot of theatrics together with your voice on that one.
That affectation that you simply put in your voice, the snarly, sarcastic [feel], perhaps there’s some subliminal Alice Cooper popping out of me. [Those moments] on data the place he’s taking part in a personality. I’m really taking part in the instigator. I’m calling out the instigator, however I’m really being the provocateur in that state of affairs. The band virtually breaks down, it’s very syncopated and it focuses on these lyrics. Maybe there’s a bit bit of Cooper and perhaps there’s a bit bit of Roger Waters in there as nicely.

Watch Extreme’s ‘#Rebel’ Video

Nuno has talked about how the band had three or 4 albums of materials, written and demoed. What was the key to lastly getting this document out to the lots?
Well, that was a tough factor. We have stuff all through the years, half-finished tough issues that me and Nuno have finished. We go, “Okay, let’s take this to the band.” Then, it will likely be placed on the shelf, as a result of one thing else will come up. So the tough half of this document was sequencing it and deciding. I’m certain a bunch of the guys had some favorites that didn’t make the document. Usually, that comes right down to me and Nuno, however there’s a basic consensus. I feel that’s what rather a lot of bands do. [At] sound checks, we’ll write and it’ll simply be placed on an iPhone and we’ll dig it up six months later. “Oh yeah, that’s a good idea. That’s a good title.” There’s all the time that [kind of] materials and I feel rather a lot of bands have that. For us, trying again on it, I feel we picked the proper songs. I feel the viewers is the ultimate choose of that, whether or not it’s obtained nicely with our crowd and perhaps we will activate some new followers. With “Rise” popping out and getting the consideration that it has, I get a kick out of the response movies, individuals listening to the track which have by no means heard the band earlier than.

So you watch the response movies? I really like that.
Yeah, I really like the first-time listeners. You know, you’ve bought your Extreme followers that may dissect the new track and so they know the historical past. So I bought a kick out of that, watching some “Rise” response movies, individuals blown away by the solo. “This doesn’t sound like old Extreme” or “this part sounds like old Extreme,” you understand, all of that stuff. But I get an enormous kick out of individuals from totally different walks of life discovering [our music]. Whether it’s “More Than Words” or III Sides to Every Story – and even the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert efficiency, you’ve bought these children that weren’t even born. “Okay, today we’re going to look at Extreme’s performance at the Freddie Mercury.” You know, they don’t know us from a gap in the wall – and to see their response to that or an obscure Extreme track [is really cool].

It’s humorous, I’ll return to “More Than Words,” to me, these response movies with the new listeners, it’s comforting that track, particularly, can nonetheless contact the lady’s response or the man’s response. They get the lyric and so they get the sentiment. All of the shit, all of the tendencies, fall by the wayside – whether or not we got here out at the finish of the hair metallic factor or no matter. They’re it as a track. They’re distanced from the time it was put out. They do not know when it was put out. To get a response to a track that you simply wrote years in the past prefer it was new continues to be a thrill, whether or not it was that track or “Rise.”

Watch Extreme’s ‘More Than Words’ Video