Questions for Jack Blades?

Where are my Night Ranger fans? Damn Yankees dudes? Shaw-Blades supporters?

My devastatingly handsome Stuck in the '80s pal Steve Spears just reminded me that Night Ranger and touring pal Dennis DeYoung are coming to Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on Jan. 19.

I used to rock the Ranger pretty good when I was a kid. (Wow, that sounds dirty.) So I said, sure, what the hell, I'm up for an interview with Mr. Blades. I saw Night Ranger a few years ago on St. Pete's gorgeous waterfront -- it was highly entertaining, all the hits front and center: When You Close Your Eyes, Sentimental Street, Sister Christian. Fun stuff.

So now Jack's back! Who has a question for him?

Comments

[Marissa]

::crickets::
If his hair is still longish-mullet like, ask if those are hair extensions (made with Michael Bolton's hair).

[Sean Daly]

Wow, it is pretty crickety for ol' Jack, isn't it?

Maybe I should journey to Stuck in the '80s Land and poach some of Spears' peeps...

[Marissa]

I just know about Night Ranger's top songs you mention, tight jeans, and lots of hair.
By the way, I'm listening to M.I.A right now. I think I threw my neck and shoulder out with my funky head boppin'

[Sean Daly]

It's wild sh--, isn't it? Glad you're down with M.I.A. Her first album, "Arular," is cool, too. Try "Galang" and "10" on that one.

[Marissa]

lol I know this post is intended for Jack Blades questions, but this is freaky-deaky! My son asked, "what are you listening to?" In this tone like he's witnessed me enter the bizarro realm. It's not that he's a stranger to seeing me dance with the music cranked up loud -- he asks me to turn it down all the time.

[sparky]

Does Jack get more pleasure doing Night Ranger stuff, Shaw/Blades stuff or solo stuff? Or is it that he bebops around through all of the different projects that keep him going?

Does he ever see a Damn Yankees reunion happening?

When are they going to play Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe again?

Why did they replace Jeff Watson in Night Ranger?

[Sean Daly]

I knew you'd be up to the task, Sparky.

[Jeff in Cuba]

I've always wondered why established artists form "supergroups" like Damn Yankees. Surely they know that the track records of these groups is pretty dismal.

Do they think that theirs will be the band to break the mold and become an ongoing effort? Are they only looking for a short-term collaberation? Does the mutual admiration from their previous accomplishments create a self-feeding death-spiral of egos?

I'm going to pose this question to Jack's fellow Damn Yankee, Ted Nugent, when he comes back to GTMO in 2008 (I guess I'm the closest thing we've got to a pop music critic, so I've been promised an interview), and it will be interesting to compare the two answers.

[Sean Daly]

I imagine it's like chain-smoking Marlboro Reds and mainlining Jolt in rehab. Anything to keep the buzz going. Velvet Revolver, Damn Yankees, Asia. Never as good as the real thing, but hey, it feels so good even catching half a buzz.

[Sean Daly]

By the way, to let you into my high-flying Friday night: The FF and Kid Lulu are asleep, and I'm burning Regina Spektor into my iTunes. If I'm still feeling crazy, I'm gonna watch a press screener of "Into the Wild" on the flatscreen.

[Jeff in Cuba]

My night's not exactly a Bret Easton Ellis novel either. Harriot and the kids are asleep and I just won $8.45 in an online poker tournament.

I should probably hit the rack. There's a 4-star Admiral in town and I've got to show him a few things tomorrow. There's also an "all-hands" Q&A session. How much would you give me if I asked him if he approved of Ashley Tisdale's nose-job?

[Marissa]

Sean, you are a maniac! I have the Ben-gay on my shoulder, Diet-coke in my system and Family Guy on the tube. I'm a wild woman!
I have nothing to contribute that's worthy of this particular post. I just have nothing else to do (Much like Ally Sheedy in the Breakfast Club).

[Marissa]

Jeff, I'll give a burrito if you do it.

[Bassnote]

I never saw Night Ranger, but I did see jack with Damn Yankees twice, and they put on a great show both times. Jack is very high energy on stage.

Ask him if Tommy approved of this pairing in concert.

Was there ever any tension between Ted and Tommy because of Tommy being a vegetarian?

Does he still do the swinging bass thing, even after he hurt his eye doing it?

[Sean Daly]

Those are great questions, Bassnote. I can't wait to pass them off as my own.

[sparky]

Is there one musician that Jack has always wanted to play with but hasn't?

Whatever happened with the original keyboard player (Fitz)?

When Night Ranger was starting out did they ever envision that they would still be around putting out albums and touring mostly intact some 30 years later?

[Sean Daly]

Fitz? Jeff Watson? Dang, Sparky, you know your Night Ranger minutiae. That's gonna make me sound wicked smart. Blades will be blinded by my faux professionalism.

[Walter Cox]

How did they decide who sang lead on which tracks, in both Night Ranger and Damn Yankees? Was it based on who did the most writing on the tune, or was there some sort of ritual combat involved?

And then ask him if he thinks you're sexy.

[Marissa]

Where's Stephanie? I don't know Jack, but I do know glitter!

[sparky]

I'll take a signed guitar pick as payment for you Night Ranger 101.

That's what happens when you buy a record album at the Gallery of Sound because you liked the cover art and then find out the band is pretty good. And then the bonus was that the screaming dual guitars really annoyed the parents.

Here is another question.

What ever possessed the band to have dual lead guitarists?

[Sean Daly]

Favorite Night Ranger song?

"Four in the Morning"

Great rock tune. Love those cheeseball strings at the beginning.

[sparky]

Not even in the top five.

Eddie's Going Out Tonight

[Mike]

What's his take on the Led Zeppelin reunion concert?

That being said, what's a reuion concert he would really pay to see?

Also, find out who allowed Tommy Shaw to go on stage in a cut-off flannel shirt, cut-off jean shorts, and combat boots on the Damn Yankees' "Uprising - Live!" DVD.

Oh, and did he ever try and get Sister Christian to "give it up before her time is due?"

[sparky]

And if your going to do the interview, SD, you better get yourself a copy of the latest Night Ranger release Hole In The Sun. Can't go into the interview just talking about Sentimental Street and Secret of My Success when they just cut a new CD.