Mike Tramp (formerly White Lion)

Mike Tramp is a singer, songwriter and guitarist.  He is best known for his work as the singer in White Lion. The band had several hits, sold millions of records and toured with AC/DC, Motley Crue, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne and others. Mike also put out two albums with the band Freak of Nature and several solo records. His latest album “Songs of White Lion” is a re-imagining of many classic White Lion songs. He will hit the road soon in support of the record. We discuss all this and more! Check it out!

00:00 - Intro
00:40 - New Album - Songs of White Lion
03:21 - Guitar Player Marcus Nand
04:34 - Full Band Shows & Set Lists
06:05 - Solo Vs. White Lion
07:25 - Cry For Freedom & Big Game Album
08:25 - Hunger, Work Ethic & Showmanship
10:35 - Reflecting Back on the 80s Good Times
13:25 - Melodic Songs & Campfire Songs
14:47 - White Lion Future & Vito Collaboration
17:18 - New York Music Scene
20:05 - Early Musical Background
21:00 - No Rockstar Fantasies
22:40 - Business & Money
26:34 - Freak of Nature
29:05 - Producing or Mentoring
31:10 - Teaming Up with Other Artists
33:10 - Charities
34:15 - Promotion
35:00 - Outro

Mike Tramp Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MikeTrampOfficial/

Chuck Shute website:
https://chuckshute.com/

Transcript

Chuck Shute: 0:00

All right, well, I was finally able to get my tramp on the show. I think I've been trying for that since I started this thing. And now it's happened and it was worth the wait. He's got a new album out now called Songs of white lion. And it's a reimagining of his songs from his time with white lion comes out April 14, and then he will tour to support it. And we're going to talk about the new album, white lion, his solo career, his band freak of nature, and much much more coming right up well, welcome Mike trim. This is so exciting. Thank you for doing this. I, I was telling my buddy Troy, your old drummer, that only took me like five years to get you on the show. So thank you for doing.

Mike Tramp: 0:50

Why sure. It's not my fault.

Chuck Shute: 0:52

No, no, no, it's just like, I don't know. It's it's tough. You got to have something to promote. I got to know the right people. And yeah, when I saw your name came up that you had a new album, I was like, great. I'd love to have him on the show talking about the new stuff. So yeah, let's talk about the new album. That's called Songs of white line. And it's what you've done is you've reimagined the songs of white lion, basically. Right?

Mike Tramp: 1:15

Well, yeah, exactly. It's like, you know, how many Wait, can you describe a re recording of all songs? Yeah, you know, I've taken you know, I've taken you know, the recordings and the songs that was recorded in the mid 80s. And without disrespecting anything, you know, they're not standing the test of time in high five, high fidelity in today's world. And at the same time, also, since I was 26, then, and now I'm 62. I flipped over the numbers. like kinda like, the song launch? to sound like where I am today.

Chuck Shute: 1:58

Right. So and you don't have the big hair and the spandex and doing the kicks on stage? It's different to different show.

Mike Tramp: 2:04

No, yeah, that that would really put me in in grave danger. The songs, the songs are almost note for note of change the key of the songs, because obviously, I can't sing that high anymore. I don't want to sing that high anymore. Like a like, I mean, I'm in lack of better excuses. I wanted that when I walk out on stage, I want everything to sound like it is today, I'm standing there, people look at me as a man and, and my face. And I kind of like the voice to follow that, that that, you know, it's not like you're standing up there and you're totally out of place, or you're wearing something that shouldn't be there and things like that. It's just the way it is.

Chuck Shute: 2:58

So this is how the songs will be performed live as well.

Mike Tramp: 3:01

Correct. At least when I went to play with full band, the tour that I'm doing in America throughout the May, will just be a power duo. Because the venues we're playing and the fees we're getting allow us to do just that.

Chuck Shute: 3:17

Yeah, okay. Yeah. So talk about your guitar player that you're working with Marcus, Nan, tell me about what you

Mike Tramp: 3:24

and I have been together, it's been great friends, when he got to play with me back in 94. And we our friendship had just gotten stronger by the year and we knew that there would come a day when we eventually we would end up doing this. In 2019 we did about it, we did a European tour together which really proved that you could actually go out and do what we do together and still make people feel like you know, they gotta show without also taking it too seriously. I mean, you know, we're two electric guitars. And we have you know, we have a little bass and drum loop behind us that allows us to you know, you know, get the songs groove and you know, people feel the beat in the room, you know, but besides that it's just it's just a lot of fun a lot of smiles and a lot of connection with the audience things like that. You know what is it's adjusting to the situation it's as simple as that you know, it's not necessarily been on my wish list that that's where I would end up but it is where I am so I'm going to I'm going to make make the best out of it. Yeah, so

Chuck Shute: 4:34

if you had the offer to play like some of these festivals and things I know you've done Monsters of Rock cruise and other things like that before if you have the money offered to you use the full band if you could all right

Mike Tramp: 4:47

well yeah, I mean in all through the summer in Europe, I mean from from June till, till September we're doing all the not all but we're doing most of the the big rock festivals and that will be with a full band and I'm aiming at the same thing in America. It's just a matter of when that time will allow and maybe I need to maybe I need to just use this year to establish this show because it is in many ways a show. It's not a Korea that's gonna grow these will be the songs that I will be playing next year to when I do the show. It's the songs of wide line show.

Chuck Shute: 5:26

Okay, yeah, that's interesting because when I looked at your setlist a lot of the ones the shows that you did in Europe, there was a lot of shows where you didn't do any white lion songs. Although most of the ones in America was a very white lion heavy so now it is still going to be more heavy on both Europe and America.

Mike Tramp: 5:41

It's only going to be the song from the album and maybe a couple of songs that we didn't record

Chuck Shute: 5:47

Oh, of white lion songs are solo

Mike Tramp: 5:50

Yeah, it's only white lion. So only one line Wow. Song some wide lion.

Chuck Shute: 5:55

Okay, so that's the whole and so it's kind of like you found a loophole and away because you don't want to do the White Lion reunion. But I mean your is different. It's not white lion because Vito is not in it and they sound different.

Mike Tramp: 6:08

You know, you are you are right on. I mean, the thing is that I have pushed the limit and I've tested the legal boundaries, you know, and now when I look back the few times where I've stood under the white lion banner, not trans white line, but somehow the show was sold us wide lion stuff like I have not felt comfortable because it isn't wide lion wide lion was beat abroad on my tram, James LoMenzo and Greg D'Angelo on drums. Now, it's my tram playing the songs are wide line as close to the originals as possible.

Chuck Shute: 6:54

Okay, so but I mean, it's gonna be sounding different because like, when the children cry, you've got a piano and, and things.

Mike Tramp: 7:00

But we're not going to have a piano on stage. The reason why I used I did the version with the piano for the album is because your original version already exists. That's No need. You can really change that song much more than it is on the pride album. It's Vito and I, nobody else. And now it's just me and the piano play on that to finish up with that song. But that song is when we played that song live, we're still playing it with the guitar.

Chuck Shute: 7:25

Yeah, no, it's cool that you picked a cry for freedoms. That's kind of the first single right.

Mike Tramp: 7:30

Yeah, I mean, a cry for freedom is a great song that Vito and I wrote, but a couple of the songs that I've taken from the big game album, were sort of unfinished because we really did not have the time when wide line went in to record that album after almost two years on the road we viewed on I especially would have definitely needed a good half year off. So we had the time so we got rushed into the studio. And while you know the money was coming in from this, you know, successful two years both with millions of sold albums and, and hundreds of big shows. We're almost forgetting about that. We're recording a record.

Chuck Shute: 8:13

Okay, yeah, that's interesting. Yeah, that song is it sounds really great. I love what you've done with it too. And it's interesting that didn't become a bigger hit.

Mike Tramp: 8:20

It's really home now. Yeah. Yeah, no,

Chuck Shute: 8:23

that's that's really cool. So when when you look back at the white line stuff, like is there something that you like you contrast your time that I heard you talking about the old days and how you were really hungry back then and you still have that hunger now like to prove to people that you can still do this and that you're, you know, you're doing it you're just at the top of your game? Or is the work ethic the same as it was back

Mike Tramp: 8:45

then? Well, I mean, my worth my work ethics has never changed. I mean, I don't ever go half half into anything and I mean anything and now I think now I own and control the songs back then the songs owned and controlled me. So it's almost like if you get a second chance to do something you do in it with all the knowledge from what was right or what was wrong the first time and so we're obviously going out on stage to really respect the music or they'll be less blitz less jumps from the drum riser, or you know, it said for a cetera less changing of jackets, etc. You know, but really, really performing the music. I know it's come something completely different, but I'm almost good to say that. Two years ago when I went to see eagles in in Denmark playing, I witnessed the best concert I've ever seen. And the band you know, obviously called members aren't there anymore. But they stood there on the white light, they didn't really move more than 10 inches. They played the music, they sing the music, they played some of the greatest songs ever written. I really did not need fireworks or, or somebody's looking at the camera, and I'm walking role were like that in the 80s. Now, it's actually if you want to get back up on stage, and these perform the music Great.

Chuck Shute: 10:30

Do you think that that's just also with time as you're getting older and things that's just natural part of progression? Or if you could go back in time and go back to the 80s? Would you do anything differently? Would you stylistically creatively or any of those kinds of things, any changes that you would, obviously the financial stuff, and we get into that business stuff later? But just stylistically? Is there anything you would have done differently?

Mike Tramp: 10:51

No, I really don't think so. Because, you know, I'm happy to say in about because financially and stuff like that. Now having all the knowledge of when you sign a contract of how much trouble it can create 35 years later on. But everything that I did, there was from a continuation from what my heroes that started in me, I mean, from Freddie Mercury to David Bowie. And then when David Lee Roth came about, then I sort of saw that the stage is a place you perform on. And the rehearsal room is where you stand still, with your pants hanging down your ass, but when you're on stage, you're like a bullfighter. You know, you. It's, you're performing me. Yeah. So and everything we did was part of the times. You can, you know, I don't think that any players or artists of the 80s have ever, you know, sort of regretted what they did. We also followed what the industry was like, you know, goading us to do, you know, MTV wanted to flash MTV wanted those kinds of videos. Nobody wanted to be a black and white suicidal video when somebody sat in the corner, you know, looking down, they wanted full action, all the way. And we gave them that and they slammed the door in our face in 1990 as Kip winger that, you know, I mean, so we had a great time. We had the time of our life. The 80s were phenomenal concert. The people were happy. I remember when I went I went to a concert like in 92 or 93 men. And you know, I look at the guy next to me as this man. On the road crew still doing soundcheck is not that's a band. Band, why does it have the back to the audience off? That's just their attitude? And I just go okay, I rest my case.

Chuck Shute: 13:00

Yeah, but Okay, but what if you could have done it differently, would you you wouldn't do like more like maybe a Tom Petty or like a you to like, maybe tone down that because that's what you want to do now?

Mike Tramp: 13:11

It wasn't I wasn't. I hadn't mature to that. I mean, it's some of my heroes made the greatest albums when they were 20 years old. Yeah, I made my greatest albums after I turned 50

Chuck Shute: 13:24

Yeah, I mean, I'm loving this the solo stuff. I'm just now discovering it, which I don't know what took me so long. But I'm like, wow, these are really well written songs are catchy. They're very melodic. And I think that's what drew me to white line as well. I just love Maillet melodic songs like that, that are catchy. And that's the same stuff as your solo.

Mike Tramp: 13:41

No, I mean, I do appreciate that because that is the combination of vibrato and Mike tramp, Mike tramp is a campfire song writer and reader Brian was a was a guitar genius. And when we made in the middle, you know, he took the simple chords from my songs, and you know, and then we turn it into the 80s. But when you take my tramp away from the bands and telecasts or acoustic guitar in his hand, you get you know, without you know, dissing my own stuff, you get petty you get Springsteen you get Mellencamp you get Neil Young songwriters of that kind of stuff, and that's who I am by myself you know, and a times I've been out with those with with my band, the band of brothers that play the kind of stuff and then when we attempt to play wide lion songs, it's Neil Young interpreting wide line and that doesn't work me either. So I now build a very very high wall that when I do white lion, I wear tight pants and when I do my tramps all their little bit looser. Well,

Chuck Shute: 14:48

will you ever do the white line tight pants? Again like just a one off or something with you and Vito, I know that because he seems to be open to doing a show maybe not a full tour but like a one off for charity. You're something

Mike Tramp: 15:01

you're you're the third today that said that he seems course. It's that old Eddie trunk interview that's rehash repeater says I don't close the door. I speak off to beto and things like that. And him and I are on really good terms. I don't think either either of us want a white lion reunion. Okay. I also do not believe that a white lion reunion would be an honest reunion, where actually the four guys would come into the rehearsal room with wide open on saying, bam, it's good to be back. So, so unless, you know, you know, the big hotel in Dubai offers us a million dollars, like, you know, they offered one of the guys some kids. And then he says, Well, if I bring the other three for 4 million will you play? Yeah. Okay. I mean, but that's not to say that maybe that wouldn't come the opportunity where Beto and I would do something but I think both of us would want to do something new. With the knowledge of what we have, what kind of song would we write today?

Chuck Shute: 16:19

Yeah, can he still play? How does he I know his hand hurt and he can only do classical guitar can he play with so would you do something acoustic more with him? Or is can he is he fully healed from his hand injury? Where there's a

Mike Tramp: 16:31

lot of part of my body that hurts every day? I can speak for beatable speak when Vito needs to speak you know? I know. I know that he he is playing. And he's also you know, a taken the trying some other things and stuff like that. You know, he will I will not force anything out of him. He will tell me when he will tell me.

Chuck Shute: 17:01

Yeah, no, that's cool. And you guys are still friends. And has he heard the the new album has he given you his blessing?

Mike Tramp: 17:07

No, I don't know. Because the album's not really out yet. So when it's out there, I you know, I'll send it to him with with a box of chocolates.

Chuck Shute: 17:15

Oh, that's cool. Yeah, it's interesting. Like so you. You met Vito, and was it 82 or 82? So back in that New York scene? Can you talk about that from it? I'm always fascinated by music scenes. I'm actually from Seattle, and I grew up in the 90s. But the New York rock scene is kind of interesting to me too. You got you had Twisted Sister and Danger Danger and anthrax and all these.

Mike Tramp: 17:39

Let's just forget Danger Danger in this talk. They were not really part of that scene. You had burned on your band and you Yeah, well, don't ask me you know about that. He Bruno came in and he came in the out out into the outdoor, you know, a very short while, you know, you know, I met him a few times on SSI. You know, like, easy on the CV you know, you weren't in the band that long. But be honest, the honest description of New York was said You know, when Vito and I met and we were trying to, we will obviously look into what's California we will obviously look into, you know, at Van Halen, we were obviously looking at Motley Crue and, and the first the first wave of those bands, and there were almost nothing like that in New York. There was almost nothing like it was like, you know, New York with with damn tough. You didn't get out on the street like you did on Sunset Boulevard in a little t shirt, and the girl subgrade and stuff like that. It was still tough. And we were we were banned out of an industrial area in Brooklyn. No life anywhere. We were had a massive rehearsal room in a cold basement. Underneath, you know, Brooklyn's biggest rock club that I manager owned. We I mean, we did not see much fun, we did not see much action of anything. We were rehearsing all the time, which is also in many ways why Beto and I wrote those songs you know, I mean, of course my my European background I've grown up with a completely different awareness that there is a world where you know, most you know, most of the guys I was playing with just kind of knew the tri borough you know, area and you know, and here I came talking about you know, all kinds of stuff and just from how I grown up and we combine that stuff I wasn't even though there are a couple of songs but I wasn't about to sing about all that you know, sleazy stuff that all the other bands it never interested in me I you know, I wanted you know later the valley cry for freedom when the children cry little fighter, you know, if my mind is evil, I mean, you know, I wanted to write lyrics. Then today when I go out on stage. I don't really have a problem singing and keeping a straight face.

Chuck Shute: 20:00

No, that's a good point. Yeah, one, you have some musical background too, right? Weren't you in like, kind of like a boy band? Is that what you would call it?

Mike Tramp: 20:09

From the boy band? You don't really have much musical?

Chuck Shute: 20:13

Well seen at least right. And then in music business.

Mike Tramp: 20:16

No, I mean, I mean, I left school when I was 15 and a half years old and joined air, a rock band that were 10 years older than me. And you know, those first five years, I was under the, under their wing, and you know, so basically, from the time I was 15, and a half, I lived in a grown man's world and I, I never had, you know, I never had those teenage years, which most most people have, it's like, you know, you know, first how I ended up in bed man who was with a mature woman. So it's like, it was just one of those kinds of things. There are a lot of years lost in my life and self again, it's a project to pay.

Chuck Shute: 20:57

Or wait, didn't you say when you are a rock star and you're in white line, you're touring with Kiss and ACDC? Do you get to live out your teenage rock star fantasies, then at least

Mike Tramp: 21:08

but I never had any teenage Rockstar fantasies because I never had any fantasies of becoming a rock star. And it just came from one day to another. The second I got into my band, which was already a professional band, I took a deadly serious you know, from day one on and says this is what I do. So I've had you know, I've seen it in a shot in my my brothers and white line. And I've seen it through the last 30 years when I've toured the US when they're so young fans supporting me and stuff like and, and you know, their energy and, and, you know, all that stuff there. I didn't have that in the same way. You know, I was just driven by different things. I was threatened by a lot about the knowledge you know, why everybody was partying? You know, I took much more interest in seeing how the stage and the PA and everything was built, you know, the Aerosmith and AC DC to and you know, today there's nothing that I don't know about everything that makes the world go around.

Chuck Shute: 22:13

Yeah, wow, that's fascinating.

Mike Tramp: 22:15

Once in a while when I had some free time I went out to look at the girls too.

Chuck Shute: 22:20

I was gonna say how do you not when you're on tour with Motley Crue? Like I feel like that would be tough to keep it straight with those guys around Well, first

Mike Tramp: 22:28

of all, I had to find my way through Vince Neil and Tommy Lee, you know, about to take leftovers from them.

Chuck Shute: 22:36

Oh, that's funny. No, yes. Going back to the business thing that that is interesting though. Like I heard this I got to double check this with you. You said something about you got to let after the band is over you get this letter from the IRS saying you owe basically almost like a million dollars in taxes. This is crazy to me what happened there,

Mike Tramp: 22:56

you got the same letter because we were represented by the SEC but by the same the same accountant and since we don't I started the band and wrote the songs together and things like that we made equal amount of money and stuff like that. So we both got that same letter and I you know it it see I don't have a problem. I'm the kind of guy that when you meet me I reach out my hand on it give you my PIN code. I have I'm really it's really difficult for me to tell you. You know, lies are not the truth. So if you asked me about this, and by the time I go out and pick that letter up, my my my first son is just born. I'm living in a guesthouse in this in San Fernando Valley. I have an old Chevy pickup truck from 58 that I started with a screwdriver and I have about$2,500 in the bank and I was I was a singer and the songwriter on white lion and then I opened his letter from from the IRS and it's about I think it was like$875,000

Chuck Shute: 24:00

Crazy and so you 20 years to pay all that off

Mike Tramp: 24:04

yes a bait is a basic what most Americans you know aware of is when the IRS go in and put a lien on your on your future earnings and stuff like that. So I think about probably after about three or four years I actually had forgotten that I ever made any money and then 20 years 20 years down the road saltney My my my accountant who helped set this whole you know payment schedule and stuff like that down he says you're clean today you're done

Chuck Shute: 24:35

well that's got to be a nice feeling but still at the same time it's like you should have been collecting royalties during that time not paying debts that's insane

Mike Tramp: 24:42

yeah but that royalty is the is collect the IRS collected for me.

Chuck Shute: 24:46

Right so now do you get any royalties or is it now because of the record business you don't get anything?

Mike Tramp: 24:52

Well, I mean, you know the big money was made back then now we just get some that once in a while I get to change the tires on my car and you know You know, chain, you know, things like that, you know, the, you know, there's many ways of looking at it, I got paid for something I love. Okay, I'm not working in a coal mine or you know delivering the mail in the rain or things like that the money that the IRS took, I've never seen, they never were in my bank account, I never held them in my hands. It's almost like they didn't exist. So it's becomes easy to live with. I also come from a family who have nothing I come from, I come from pretty close to poverty. And I've always existed much better at that level, than the level of having, you know, too much money in the bank. Because I'm still the same guy when I wake up in the morning. And it's how I've been to and for the last almost 30 years, you know, and, and these last 10 years in the US that I've been touring, you know, I'm driving a rental car, I show up at the venue with a suitcase with T shirts and CDs and vinyls and a meet and greet the people after for free and sell the T shirts. You know, I do what's needed that day. And when you tell me I have to play Madison Square Garden, I'll be ready for that.

Chuck Shute: 26:17

Nice. So in still music is still your full time focus. You haven't had to like take on other jobs or other worker and now, okay, cool. Yeah, it's interesting. I was listening to so I listen to your solo stuff. And I listened to, to freak of nature, talk a little bit about that thing, because I think that was like a missed opportunity for some record labels. Like I listened. I was like, this stuff sounds really good. And you still had the guitars and things. It's like, you went grunge and it went a little heavier. But I liked it.

Mike Tramp: 26:47

Ya know, I mean, that's, that's, that is actually what I call the highlight of my musical career. I mean, I've read reads that once again, with some of my solo albums, where I feel that, you know, the songs really are there, but freak of nature was built on the mistakes of white lion. And even though you know, I mean, I spoke with Vito about it before, I mean him and I started the band and him I was the songwriting team. And he never really felt that he should be right with anyone else. When I when I started freak of nature, which was built on all that I had there, that I had met what I had in the bank at that time. You know, I, we were five guys, two guitar players, you know, bass, drums and myself, and we put up in a circle. And from that first day on, we wrote the song sia and each individual member took care of themselves and did not bother anybody else. So it is it is the true, it is a true product of a collaboration of five guys who wants to be together at that moment. And it is those two albums are phenomenal rock albums with a lot of 70s Thin Lizzy UFO, early Whitesnake attitude also of course, with a little bit of some of the good sides of grunge, you know, some of the great Allison chains, riffs and things like that, I mean, the heaviness, but obviously me singing and stuff like that. And already at that time, I started singing much different than it was in wide lion, you know, much fatter voice and things like that. And it also became the reasons why I was so passionate about the band that the second I started saw it just, you know, fall apart at the seams a little, which was very surprising to me. I said, You know what, these two albums and the two and a half years we've been together and touring has been the best time of my life. Wow, leave it at that. And then shortly after that, I started writing my first solo album, Capricorn, which came out in 97.

Chuck Shute: 29:02

Wow. Well, have you ever thought of like, with all this knowledge and experience that you have in the music business you've ever thought of like, either like mentoring younger band or producing or writing a book to share this all?

Mike Tramp: 29:14

Yeah, I mean, God knows. I mean, has didn't Gene Simmons to have reality show didn't it didn't Johnny Rotten? I mean, everybody does that. The thing is, I wouldn't be I mean, of course, I have the knowledge of all those things, but I'm not going to be able to go in and produce our young band and, and and make that any bigger chance for them getting you know, record deal and succeed. The recording industry of the music industry is a place that nobody recognized anymore. You need people that has nothing to do with music to take you to the next level. You know, in that way, you know, in the 80s when when we went into the studios, I mean, the thing is without taking anything Why don't you know when waveline went into record the pride album that had been our live show for almost a year, Vito and I have written the songs, we didn't really need anyone to tell us who we were. And that's exactly where Michael Wagner fitted in, he put microphones on the band. And then he said, let's eat. And then we record it, you know, I mean, it's like, he let the band be the band. He didn't go in and says, Oh, you know, I need to change this. So I can say I change it.

Chuck Shute: 30:28

Yeah, no, he's I think he's a brilliant producer. I love all his work.

Mike Tramp: 30:33

Today, you know, I mean, I don't think my tramp would get any bigger success if some of my my favorite, you know, producers that are still alive, came in and help me do that album. How do I reach that audience that likes what I do? Am I gonna go out there and support John Mellencamp? Am I going out there with Neil Young, et cetera, et cetera, I can't go out and support Nickelback with my solo albums. I mean, you know, it's just, it's just reality. And I have to face that reality to

Chuck Shute: 31:09

What about like teaming up with other similar sounding artists? Like I know like, I don't know if you remember the the band bang tango, but their guitarist Mark Knight, I mean, he's kind of doing a similar thing to what you're doing. He's kind of doing singer songwriter? Like would you team up with somebody like him for a tour or group or project or something?

Mike Tramp: 31:27

Yeah, I mean, you know, I've done I've done I've done several shows with with both with my with my friend Kip wing are also done many shows together with John corroboree. And stuff like that. We draw the same audience.

Chuck Shute: 31:37

Yeah, yeah. So maybe that would that be you? Because you haven't set up the US dates for this tour yet? Right.

Mike Tramp: 31:43

Now, you know, we have we're doing the whole the whole month of May. It's already set up.

Chuck Shute: 31:47

Okay. And so but would you add more dates with maybe like with Kip winger or John karate or somebody like that?

Mike Tramp: 31:55

You know, that's not really me. That's your, you know, we have the same age and so if if they if they need to change the carpet in the house and stuff like that, they call agent says, I'm in Can we play with my tramp?

Chuck Shute: 32:09

That's cool. Well, hopefully, you'll hit Phoenix or somewhere I can drive to I've never seen you live. That'd be

Mike Tramp: 32:14

you know, the second leg would probably take place more in the end of the year. Because right now, you know, I have the whole summer in Europe, playing festivals with a full band. So right now I'm just doing the power duo in America with it on the northeast coast. We're working on obviously we're working on on several things. But also like I told you, the songs are wide line is a show that will go on it's it's not a promotion of an album, the album it goes along, but you know, this is more about to say, when you see this poster, that's what I do.

Chuck Shute: 32:51

Okay, well, cool. I look forward to it. What's that?

Mike Tramp: 32:55

Is it don't ask if I'm playing wide line when it says on the poster?

Chuck Shute: 32:59

Yeah, no, I was hoping but I'm hoping for maybe a couple solo or maybe a freak of nature song or something of that a little surprise a cover. Last eight American tours, you know? Yeah. Okay, cool. Well, I always end each episode promoting a charity and I know that you guys have kind of had some social causes with with your songs in the past as a cause or a charity that you want to promote hear at the end?

Mike Tramp: 33:22

Yeah, I'm gonna do that the shape might tram charity. Well, you know what I want wherever I can help where it makes a difference. I do. It's as simple as that, you know, and things like that, you know, you know, you know, it's seemed like that. I don't necessarily, you know, I mean, yeah, I mean, I made a pretty big deal that back in in, in 89, when I wrote little fighter with Vito, and I wrote the lyrics for a, you know, in, in tribute to the Rainbow Warrior, which was a was a fishing trawler that, you know, belonged to Greenpeace and the French government blew up in 1978. I gave her a share of that song, a future royalty listens to Greenpeace. So you know, I've done my share.

Chuck Shute: 34:10

Now, that's really cool. I love that kind of stuff. So thank you so much for doing this interview was really eye opening and great stories. Great stuff. I look forward to seeing you live.

Mike Tramp: 34:19

Now. It's been my pleasure, man. I really appreciate it.

Chuck Shute: 34:21

Yeah. And just to remind people, the album comes out songs online out on April 14, and I think cry for freedom is out now. They can hear that song. And they can hear a sampling of the whole album on YouTube as well. Right.

Mike Tramp: 34:34

You know, I'm rarely on YouTube. And,

Chuck Shute: 34:36

yeah, well, I heard I'll put it in the link so that people want to play your website and all that stuff.

Mike Tramp: 34:41

You know, you know better than I am. And, you know, I tried to be really nostalgic, you know, and things like that, you know, you know, I still use real sugar and things like that, you know, you know? Anyway, so here, here's my you know, calling. Thanks, brother.

Chuck Shute: 34:55

Okay. All right. Yeah, I'll get to it. See you Bye. Bye. Bye. All right, well, Have you guys enjoyed that as much as I did? Make sure to support Mike by buying or streaming that new album and try to catch a show if you can follow Mike on social medias to keep up to date, you can follow us on there as well. We appreciate all your support your likes, comments and shares on social media and YouTube especially help us grow the show organically so that we can get great guests like Mike tramp. I appreciate all your support to the show and for the guests have a great rest of your day. Shoot for the moon.