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Interview With Train Lead Singer Pat Monahan

Aired January 22, 2004 - 15:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to make musical tracks now with a Grammy-nominated band. Train's latest single, "Calling All Angels," is connecting with listeners and topping the charts this week.
Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CALLING ALL ANGELS")

PAT MONAHAN, LEAD SINGER, TRAIN (singing): I need a sign to let me know you're here. All of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphere. I need to know if things are going to look up, because I feel us drowning...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The band is touring selected cities in support of its latest C.D., "My Private Nation."

Making a stop here in studio, "Train" front man Pat Monahan. He had a great concert last night. And he's still here with us.

And you're still awake and lively.

MONAHAN: I'm awake and nervous around you, because you're so good at this.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Oh, listen to you. Oh, I wish I could sing like that. Let me tell you. And I'm just wondering, can I have dibs on this jacket when this interview is over?

MONAHAN: You can have this jacket as soon as we're done, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: OK. Great.

So, take me back. Here you are, you're 13, 14. Drums, that's your first instrument.

MONAHAN: Yes, started playing the drums.

PHILLIPS: Tell me how this all began. You really weren't that open about it, right?

MONAHAN: No, I was very quiet.

I would be the guy who -- in all of the school music things, I would the guy just kind of, you know, pretending to sing.

PHILLIPS: You were lip-synching?

MONAHAN: Yes. But then, as time went on, I found that's the one thing that, if I work hard at, I can be good at. And so I continued to do that and then moved to Los Angeles and met these guys, who are now in Train. We moved to San Francisco and started the band and won a couple of Grammys. And here we are.

PHILLIPS: You make it sound so simple. I know it's not that easy, Pat.

MONAHAN: No, it's not.

PHILLIPS: There had to have been those times where you're playing those gigs in the coffee shops and just thinking, OK, when is it going to happen?

MONAHAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Was there anybody specifically or anything that maybe just gave you that energy and that perseverance to hang in there and know that eventually this was going to pop?

MONAHAN: Well, I think, in every career, there are a few moments that are pivotal and very meaningful.

And one was at Columbia Records, the same label that is our record label, they passed on us. And that really opened my eyes to the fact that they were right. And they did the right thing, because I wasn't ready. We weren't ready as a band. And a lot of life changes happened at that point. And we started to really concentrate on what we were good at, instead of the alternative lifestyle of being in a rock band. It became important to be a great band.

And so that was important. John Landau is our manager. That was a very important thing that has happened to us, but many on the way.

PHILLIPS: This support group.

MONAHAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: How do you know when you have a good song or something's clicking right? Is it a certain mood, where you're kind of hanging back? You're in your most relaxed state? Is it a special person in your life? Is it an event that happens and you think, I got something here? I'm going to sit down and I'm going to jot this down?

MONAHAN: Well, CNN actually played a big role in our newest single. It's called "When I Look to the Sky." And you guys were filming people departing to go to Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Really? MONAHAN: And, as I watched, I thought, really, the only thing we have in common, here are these men and women traveling, and some of them are staying and watching their loved ones go away. The same thing's happening all over the world. And the one thing we have in common is, we look up at the sky and we hope that there's some kind of connection. And so, when I looked to the sky, it came from that.

PHILLIPS: That sounds kind of spiritual. Are you a spiritual guy?

MONAHAN: Probably. I think we all are. We all have faith in something. And my faith is in people.

PHILLIPS: Hmm. Who's your favorite person? Who do you like to spend time with and just talk about anything?

MONAHAN: My children. They're my favorite people.

PHILLIPS: How old are they now?

MONAHAN: My son is 11. My daughter is 6.

PHILLIPS: Do they think it's pretty cool that you're a musician?

MONAHAN: No, I think they're pretty done with it.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: They're like, dad, we you just hang out in the mall?

MONAHAN: They went from calling me dad to Pat. That's how often I'm home.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know you love volleyball. Do you ever get out there?

MONAHAN: Yes. I get to play volleyball and racquetball with some buddies and golf, and go running in the hills of Marin in Northern California.

PHILLIPS: Beautiful area.

MONAHAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So, you say your music breaks down stereotypes. People write about this. How? Explain that to me.

MONAHAN: Well, yes, those weren't my words.

I think, as a lyric writer, I just find great quality in people and try to describe it, you know, and especially women, because I think women are amazing creatures, and very difficult, by the way, as well.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: With the good comes the bad and vice versa.

MONAHAN: Right. So there's a lot to write about. And so I don't know. A great writer wrote that I break down the stereotypes. But I don't know what that means, actually. So I'm just going with that.

PHILLIPS: Well, we have a little surprise for you as we roll on. We did a little research on you. I understand your favorite movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"?

MONAHAN: Yes, that's right.

PHILLIPS: So we thought, instead of serenading, here we go. We got a little clip. And maybe we can just do the Oompa Loompa together. What do you say? You want to dance.

MONAHAN: All right.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: OK. No, I won't make you do it. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and joining us.

MONAHAN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: We can't wait too see you perform next time. Maybe you'll do it live.

MONAHAN: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

MONAHAN: Whatever you'd like.

PHILLIPS: All right, Pat, thank you.

MONAHAN: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 22, 2004 - 15:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to make musical tracks now with a Grammy-nominated band. Train's latest single, "Calling All Angels," is connecting with listeners and topping the charts this week.
Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CALLING ALL ANGELS")

PAT MONAHAN, LEAD SINGER, TRAIN (singing): I need a sign to let me know you're here. All of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphere. I need to know if things are going to look up, because I feel us drowning...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: The band is touring selected cities in support of its latest C.D., "My Private Nation."

Making a stop here in studio, "Train" front man Pat Monahan. He had a great concert last night. And he's still here with us.

And you're still awake and lively.

MONAHAN: I'm awake and nervous around you, because you're so good at this.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: Oh, listen to you. Oh, I wish I could sing like that. Let me tell you. And I'm just wondering, can I have dibs on this jacket when this interview is over?

MONAHAN: You can have this jacket as soon as we're done, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: OK. Great.

So, take me back. Here you are, you're 13, 14. Drums, that's your first instrument.

MONAHAN: Yes, started playing the drums.

PHILLIPS: Tell me how this all began. You really weren't that open about it, right?

MONAHAN: No, I was very quiet.

I would be the guy who -- in all of the school music things, I would the guy just kind of, you know, pretending to sing.

PHILLIPS: You were lip-synching?

MONAHAN: Yes. But then, as time went on, I found that's the one thing that, if I work hard at, I can be good at. And so I continued to do that and then moved to Los Angeles and met these guys, who are now in Train. We moved to San Francisco and started the band and won a couple of Grammys. And here we are.

PHILLIPS: You make it sound so simple. I know it's not that easy, Pat.

MONAHAN: No, it's not.

PHILLIPS: There had to have been those times where you're playing those gigs in the coffee shops and just thinking, OK, when is it going to happen?

MONAHAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Was there anybody specifically or anything that maybe just gave you that energy and that perseverance to hang in there and know that eventually this was going to pop?

MONAHAN: Well, I think, in every career, there are a few moments that are pivotal and very meaningful.

And one was at Columbia Records, the same label that is our record label, they passed on us. And that really opened my eyes to the fact that they were right. And they did the right thing, because I wasn't ready. We weren't ready as a band. And a lot of life changes happened at that point. And we started to really concentrate on what we were good at, instead of the alternative lifestyle of being in a rock band. It became important to be a great band.

And so that was important. John Landau is our manager. That was a very important thing that has happened to us, but many on the way.

PHILLIPS: This support group.

MONAHAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: How do you know when you have a good song or something's clicking right? Is it a certain mood, where you're kind of hanging back? You're in your most relaxed state? Is it a special person in your life? Is it an event that happens and you think, I got something here? I'm going to sit down and I'm going to jot this down?

MONAHAN: Well, CNN actually played a big role in our newest single. It's called "When I Look to the Sky." And you guys were filming people departing to go to Iraq.

PHILLIPS: Really? MONAHAN: And, as I watched, I thought, really, the only thing we have in common, here are these men and women traveling, and some of them are staying and watching their loved ones go away. The same thing's happening all over the world. And the one thing we have in common is, we look up at the sky and we hope that there's some kind of connection. And so, when I looked to the sky, it came from that.

PHILLIPS: That sounds kind of spiritual. Are you a spiritual guy?

MONAHAN: Probably. I think we all are. We all have faith in something. And my faith is in people.

PHILLIPS: Hmm. Who's your favorite person? Who do you like to spend time with and just talk about anything?

MONAHAN: My children. They're my favorite people.

PHILLIPS: How old are they now?

MONAHAN: My son is 11. My daughter is 6.

PHILLIPS: Do they think it's pretty cool that you're a musician?

MONAHAN: No, I think they're pretty done with it.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: They're like, dad, we you just hang out in the mall?

MONAHAN: They went from calling me dad to Pat. That's how often I'm home.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know you love volleyball. Do you ever get out there?

MONAHAN: Yes. I get to play volleyball and racquetball with some buddies and golf, and go running in the hills of Marin in Northern California.

PHILLIPS: Beautiful area.

MONAHAN: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So, you say your music breaks down stereotypes. People write about this. How? Explain that to me.

MONAHAN: Well, yes, those weren't my words.

I think, as a lyric writer, I just find great quality in people and try to describe it, you know, and especially women, because I think women are amazing creatures, and very difficult, by the way, as well.

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: With the good comes the bad and vice versa.

MONAHAN: Right. So there's a lot to write about. And so I don't know. A great writer wrote that I break down the stereotypes. But I don't know what that means, actually. So I'm just going with that.

PHILLIPS: Well, we have a little surprise for you as we roll on. We did a little research on you. I understand your favorite movie, "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"?

MONAHAN: Yes, that's right.

PHILLIPS: So we thought, instead of serenading, here we go. We got a little clip. And maybe we can just do the Oompa Loompa together. What do you say? You want to dance.

MONAHAN: All right.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: OK. No, I won't make you do it. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and joining us.

MONAHAN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: We can't wait too see you perform next time. Maybe you'll do it live.

MONAHAN: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

MONAHAN: Whatever you'd like.

PHILLIPS: All right, Pat, thank you.

MONAHAN: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com