Originally formed in 1990, the five members of Blind Melon are not altogether unfamiliar with the success affiliated with the release of their first effort in 12 years. Set to begin a Canadian tour this week to promote their new album For My Friends, guitarist Christopher Thorn takes some time to reflect on the bands historic past and speaks about the making of the new album.
“We’ve had great experiences in Canada, except for that one time when Shannon peed on the crowd,” comments Thorn.
The wild experience of touring 13 years ago however shares little in common with the more regimented lifestyle of the new Blind Melon.
“It’s different this time because three of us have young children at home and I think leaving them is the hardest thing,” says Thorn. “It’s easier because we don’t get loaded anymore. Our shows really suffered and sometimes I feel like we cheated people because we were fucked up. Travis [Warren, new front man] is great on the road and he delivers it every night.”
Having first graced the top of the charts with their hit single “No Rain” in 1993, Blind Melon feels positive about being a band whose fan base has breached generations.
“At one of our shows, I saw a mother and father with their kids all enjoying our music,” Thorn recalls. “It’s just the most flattering thing, I had no concept of it and it absolutely blew my mind. It’s the best way to share music.”
The band, although seeing new success, has brought a lot of memories of the past. Last Friday was the birthday of the late Shannon Hoon, the band’s original front man and one of rock history’s most talented singer/songwriters. His life was celebrated by his closest friends and family in Lafayette, Indiana and all the band members agree Hoon is a piece of the Blind Melon puzzle that can never be replaced.
“This is the first year we are doing this,” Thorn says. “It’s going to be good.”
The brand new Melon album, For My Friends, was written, recorded and produced by Thorn and Brad Smith’s Studio, Wishbone. Thorn says the recording experience was great because of the band’s relationship.
“These guys are my brothers,” he says. “It felt good being in the same room with them again. With the luxury of our own studio we made the record we wanted to make.”
This record hit very close to home for them, but as for the underlying message within the compelling words of each song, Thorn says it is up to the listener.
“We can never limit ourselves to one general message,” he says. “It is diverse. We don’t want to force-feed a message to anybody.”