BRYAN ADAMS || Rocker goes bare bones in acoustic show

By John Benson

entertainment@vindy.com

Bryan Adams — armed with a small array of acoustic guitars and a large catalog of sing-along rockers — is coming to town for an intimate show tonight at Powers Auditorium. The Canadian pop star’s “Bare Bones Tour” finds him playing solo-acoustic and reliving his 65 million-records-sold past, which includes hits such as “Cuts Like A Knife,” “Summer of ’69,” “Kids Wanna Rock,” “Can’t Stop This Thing We’ve Started,” “[Everything I Do] I Do It For You,” “Open Road” and most recent “Thought I’d Seen Everything.”

The Vindicator recently interviewed Adams via e-mail about his impressive photography career and what fans should expect from this “Bare Bones Tour” show.

Q. Recently, I saw the girl from the “Cuts Like a Knife” video. Tell me you at least dated her?

A. I didn’t. She got swooped up by a guy from the record company.

Q. What exactly is the “Bare Bones Tour?”

A. It’s an acoustic-guitar show, comprising 30 years of songs I’ve written. It’s all about reinvention. It’s been amazing rediscovering the songs, and many of the songs chosen for the set were chosen by the fans.

Q. How’s the photography career going? What does photography provide you that you don’t get out of music?

A. I’ve been working on a book; I’ve been working on editorial (stories) for various magazines; I’ve been shooting for my tour program and CDs. I shot the recent Chickenfoot CD cover. So it goes on and on.

Q. You’ve lasted in the pop-rock world for well over two decades. Any thoughts about your eligibility for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

A. I thought it was three decades, but I’ll take two. The chances of me being (inducted into) the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are slim and none.

Q. What’s the one thing that you have yet to accomplish in your career?

A. I’d like to try and rally my fellow Canadian songwriters together to see if we can form an alliance to try and monetize illegal downloading.

Q. Finally, regarding your upcoming show in Youngstown, are you playing any obscure tunes or older cuts people might not expect?

A. Yup, all of the above, and plus the show ebbs and flows with the night. Unless you have to shovel the snow, I’d say come out and see the show.