AMERICAN TEARS – The Great Return!

Interview with Mark Mangold.

1. Do you remember the first years of the American Tears?

Yes.  Forever seered in my memory ha ha.

2. What is the meaning behind the name “American Tears”?

As I recall we wanted to call the band “Tears” and I think our A and R person thought there may have been some other band in England…or somewhere…called Tears…so we added the “American”.   Interesting living with that name…it meant something different back then.  Now it seems a bit more political than we may want to be at this time…and it used to mean almost the opposite back then.

3. What was the audience’s reaction about the extensive use of the keyboards?

We were fortunate to play in front of large audiences, and though “critics” would point out the lack of guitars ha ha…people in general always accepted our music as our music and I don’t think obsessed over whether it had guitars or not.  Of course on the third American Tears record we added a guitarist and singer and morphed into a band called Touch…but that is a different story.   For the most part we, on the first two albums (and now also on the most recent two “Hard Core” and “White Flags”) were finding new sounds, as everyone was at the time, and experimentation was encouraged…which actually gave birth to the classic bands that we still admire to this day.  The question then was…was it good…or not.  I hope that is still the question:))

4. Keyboards take over the lead role in this band, what type of keyboards do you use for the recordings?

For the new records I am trying to stay a bit true to the original keyboards we used back then…though now there are much easier and reliable ways to get those sounds…with some amazing plug in’s in computers and such.  Also there seems to be a bit of a resurgence of keyboards like the Mellotron (though the new one is electronic and not scratchy tape loops), the Arp Odyssey (though at the time it was so frustrating having only ONE note you could play ha ha), the Moog…the Clavinet D6 and of course the holy grail…the Hammond Organ.  I am needless to say kicking myself I had to sell my gorgeous Blonde C3 Hammond, and Mellotron…back then.  Could not afford to keep storing it in NYC…  Of course there are some amazing other ways to get those sounds now that are really accurate, and a lot easier to dial up…but it does not FEEL like the Hammond ..and that is an important thing.  I am actually in the process of getting another Hammond…a chopped B3 (chopped means they take off the legs so it’s lighter and more portable for touring etc).  They also make some cool new Hammonds that are actually electronic…but I just think they don’t sound exactly like the real thing…though there are some who may disagree… and they break less and are MUCH easier to move around.   Anyway, I also stepped it up on some songs and used some more modern sounds…and ultimately the records,  I hope, are a blend of the older approach to more modern production techniques. 

5. How does new technology affect your songwriting?

Well, firstly it makes things so much easier to record and develop.  You don’t have to save money and wait 6 months to get into a real studio to demo your stuff…and hope the engineer is good and can get you a drum sound, ha ha…  Now you can do it at your own pace.  Makes it MUCH easier to finish things at a world class level.  Also, as there are many sounds that are created “in” the instrument or plug in…developed by the manufacturer…if you discover something…maybe it creates/inspires a new song…  Definitely you play differently when you discover a new sound and one tends to come up with something that they may not have otherwise come up with…ie on a piano or acoustic guitar.  The same goes, I would assume, for any instrument.  I don’t think Jimi Hendrix wrote Foxy Lady on an acoustic guitar ha ha.

6. Do you use virtual studio technology (VST) and digital audio workstation (DAW) for your recordings or live performances?

Yes, sometimes.  It’s a bit of a mix and match…and depends on the gig.  Certainly if you are an opening act you need to get on and off stage fast and it’s difficult to bring up a Hammond and 10 keyboards…easier to get it all or some of it out of a Mac…which everyone by the way is doing these days.  A little trick called Main Stage.   You still need a bunch of keyboards to send the information ie. playing to the computer,  but easier to manage.   But if it’s a major gig and you have time…it’s always nice to have the real thing…and if possible…always have the Hammond.   Otherwise why bother ha ha.

7. “White Flags” is the new album of the band, would you like to describe it?
8. What was the main inspiration behind the album?

To both questions:

This album is being called Progressive…though I’m not sure what that means anymore.  It is all keyboards and songs that kind of unfolded as they were being created.  If a song became 9 minutes, so be it ha ha.  I wasn’t writing in the generic “form” that most pop songs take. If anything it may be a rebellion against those tired norms which limit creativity.   It is more, I think, in the moment and if it launches into another direction or another tempo that seemed in  that instant the right thing to do, then that’s what happened.  And of course a lot of keyboard tapestries, solos and surprises.  The lyrics are somewhat political and a reaction to what is going on in the world today.  The feeling in the world…politics…put me in a mindset that reminded me of the earlier times of American Tears when we did our first 3 albums in the 70’s…and I kept coming back to thinking of songs in terms of that band and that mood…and ultimately just dropped the hammer and did it.   Rather than me struggling to describe it I can just humbly quote some rather complimentary reviews, ha ha   “stunning”, “superb”, “bucks the norm of rock music”, “depth, passion and imagination”, “seductive prog pomp” etc. etc.  I am very flattered and humbled that this experiment that I embarked on with no support or encouragement (except for people in my personal life)….just an idea born out of passion and possibly obsession ha ha turned out to be getting some love…    Lastly…the title cut…White Flags…seemed appropriate for our moment in history…surrendering to and accepting ourselves may be one of the hardest things we can do.  Really…what are we fighting for?

9. Do you have any plans for touring?

Yes…trying to get that happening as we speak.

10. What is Mark doing these days in terms of recordings and new productions?

I’ll ask him ha ha.  Doing recording, producing and writing every day.  Working on another American Tears record…and actually chipping away at new Touch record.  Yes the original guys are back and we are working to get another record happening.  Also, some things for film and some pop stuff for other artists…but that’s another story ha ha.

11. What is your favorite track that you wrote for someone else?

Ooooohhhhhhh   that’s a hard one.  You know there is no answer to that….It’s between I Found Someone, Fool’s Game, Can’t Turn It Off,  Everytime and Save Our Love, for Michael.  I love For A Little Ride, recorded by Paul Rogers and by the grace of god coming out again soon as a re release.  Not to mention Automatic…a very cool song by Jennifer Rush…and a bunch more for various bands…I probably forgot a few.   Bottom line I think it’s just who I am listening to at the moment…I love it all.  

12. Are there any unreleased recordings from TOUCH or any chance to hear new recordings?

We are working on some things now…but nothing “old” that has not been released as far as I know.