On the 'Slippery When Wet' road with Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora

与Bon Jovi的Richie Sambora一起走过《Slippery When Wet》之旅

The Bon Jovi axe master checks in from the biggest rock tour of the year

Bon Jovi的吉他大师在今年最大摇滚巡演中接受采访 

文 GERRI MILLER

 图 Rob Verhorst/Redferns

 

Metal Edge, February 1988

《Metal Edge》杂志，1988年2月

 

*原文发表于Metal Edge官网，地址https://www.metaledgemag.com/archives/on-the-slippery-when-wet-road-with-bon-jovi-richie-sambora

*翻译：微博@堆堆带我飞 

 

Eight times platinum on Slippery When Wet, two #1 singles, and hundreds of sold out shows,- you’ve had one phenomenal year. What moments stand out in your mind?

《Slippery When Wet》达到八倍白金销量，有两首冠军单曲，数百场演出门票售罄——这对你来说真是非凡的一年。你记忆里有哪些最难忘的时刻？

Richie Sambora: Every day. That two hours on stage is the ultimate.

Richie Sambora:每一天。舞台上的两小时就是极致。

What part of the show did you look forward to most every night?

每天晚上的演出中，你最期待的是哪部分？

Sambora: There were a few, like when I came out to do “Wanted Dead or Alive.”

Sambora: 有那么一些，比如我出来弹《Wanted Dead or Alive》的时候。

Any memorable disasters?

有什么让人印象深刻的灾难吗？

Sambora: Yeah, but nothing we couldn’t fix. There were malfunctions all the time, between monitors and amplifiers blowing up because of the pyro. You can’t blame anybody – things happen. There’s so many variables at a concert – wires, lights amps, power supplies, generators. Batteries go dead. There are bugs everywhere but luckily there are backup systems.

Sambora:有，但不存在我们搞不定的麻烦。随时都可能发生故障，从监视器到放大器都可能因为烟火而爆炸。这不能责怪任何人——这很正常。一场演唱会中的变数太多了——比如线路，灯光放大器，电力系统，发电机。蓄电池可能会耗光。随处都会出问题，但好在还有备用系统。

Playing over 200 concerts, how did you avoid monotony?

在200多场演唱会中，你们怎么避免让人感到千篇一律？

Sambora: By tailoring sets. We’ve changed it around since the beginning anyway to keep from being bored. When we play multiple nights in one place and the kids come back, we throw in two or three different songs, switch the order of arrangements.

Sambora：通过定制节目单。为了避免让人感觉无聊，我们从一开始就在不断变化。如果我们在一个地方要演好几晚，粉丝会反复来观看，我们就会加两三首不同的歌，或者改变节目单的顺序。

Are you glad it’s almost over?

巡演快结束了，你高兴吗？

Sambora: Yeah, I’m looking forward to taking it easy, but it’s been a fine year. Couldn’t have written the book better myself.

Sambora:高兴啊，我期待能放松一下，但这一年也很开心。我已经拿出了最好的表现。

How have you changed over the year? What have you learned?

过去这一年里你自己有什么变化？你学到了什么？

Sambora: It’s our first headlining tour so there’s a lot you learn about pacing a two-hour-and-15-minute show, how to deal with everything that goes on. You learn every day, you learn about people, that’s for sure. You see right through them. You see who your friends are. The playing’s easy. The traveling’s gotten easier for us. But the hustle-bustle, the time you can’t spend with people… when we were a band coming up, we used to able to talk to the kids more. Now our lives are just too fast-paced. We’ve kept ourselves busy even on our days off, working for other people – Cher, Loverboy. We haven’t had a chance to step back.

Sambora:这是我们的第一次作为主角的巡演，所以人会从中学到很多，比如怎样在一场两小时十五分钟的演出过程中调整节奏，怎样处理演出中发生的各种事情。你每天都能学到东西。你会更加了解别人，这是肯定的。你能看穿他们。你能认清哪些人才是你的朋友。而表演就很简单了。对我们来说，这趟旅程越来越容易，但是忙忙碌碌，都没时间和粉丝相处……当我们只是一个乐队的时候，还能拥有很多和粉丝交流的时间，我们现在的生活节奏太快了，即使是假期也忙得要命，忙着为别人工作——Cher，Loverboy。我们一直都没机会歇口气。

Will you have that chance now?

最近有机会了吗？

Sambora: Yeah, about a week, maybe two. I’m not the kind of guy that stays away from rock and roll for too long.

Sambora: 有，大概一两周吧。我不是那种会离开摇滚太久的人。

What’s the first thing you want to do that you haven’t been able to?

在你一直没机会做的事里你最想做的是什么？

Sambora: Sleep!

Sambora:：睡觉！

Now that you can afford it, do you plan to make any major purchases, like a house?

既然现在有钱了，你打算添置什么大件吗？比如买房？

Sambora: I’ve got a place now and I’m looking at one on the West Coast, too. But I’m not going to change things too much, switch my focus, worry about being a homeowner. I’m a kid, man. I’ve been running away from that stuff for years. I’m not worried about it. I can live any place and be happy as long as I play music. I’m flexible. I like New Jersey because I grew up here, I’m comfortable. It’s an attitude. I’m sure I’ll stay here for a while. Wherever the guys in the band are, I’m gonna be.

Sambora: 我已经有一处房子了，同时我还正在看西海岸的一处。但我不打算改变太多，夺取我的注意力，也不想为成为房主而忧虑。我还是个孩子呢，兄弟。这些年我一直在躲避这些事务。我并不担心房子，我在哪都能生活得很开心，只要有音乐就行。我很灵活。我喜欢新泽西，因为我就在这里长大，我在这里过得很舒服。这是一种态度。我确信自己还会在这里待一段时间。乐队的大家在哪里，我就去哪里。

So much has been printed about Bon Jovi – is there anything that people would be surprised to learn?

关于Bon Jovi的报道已经有那么多了，还有什么会让人大吃一惊的事吗？

Sambora: That we’re all just regular guys, the success hasn’t really changed us too much. Jon is such a hounded individual in terms of publicity and privacy – he has none. He’s probably the biggest star in rock and roll at this point, but he hasn’t changed – in fact, he’s gotten more regular. We’re still best of friends and still totally honest with each other about everything.

Sambora: 那就是我们都只是普通人，成功并没有让我们改变太多。Jon是一个公众形象和个人生活都备受关注的人——他根本没有个人隐私可言。他可能是当前最大的摇滚明星，但他也没变——事实上，他变得更普通了。我们仍然是最好的朋友，对彼此完全坦诚，毫无保留。

Have the outside pressures brought you closer together?

外界压力是不是让你们更亲密了？

Sambora: Absolutely. I agree with that wholeheartedly. I think we’ve actually gotten closer than we ever were, and we were damn close before.

Sambora: 绝对是的，我完全同意。其实我觉得我们现在比以往任何时候都更加亲密了，更不用说我们以前就已经亲密无间。

With the kind of life you lead, is it hard to balance your career and personal life?

在这样的生活方式下，想要保持事业与个人生活之间的平衡是不是很难？

Sambora: Absolutely. It’s basically no contest – the career wins. Rock ‘n’ roll prevails.

Sambora: 是很难。基本没有可比性——事业优先。摇滚才是赢家。

Can you see yourself settling down in five to 10 years?

你觉得自己会在未来5到10年里安定下来吗？

Sambora: I can’t see that far. [laughs]

Sambora: 我预见不了那么远。（笑）

Can you imagine yourself at 50? What do you think you’ll be doing?

你能想象自己50岁的样子吗？那时候你会在做什么？

Sambora: Doing the same thing I’m doing now, probably. I’m sure I’ll be involved in rock ‘n’ roll in some way. If not performing, I’ll be a producer, a writer – I’ll still be making records.

Sambora: 估计还是做现在做的这些事吧。我相信那时我也会以某种方式从事摇滚事业。如果不表演，那可能会当个制作人或者词曲作者吧——还会继续出唱片。

You played guitar onscreen in Staying Alive. Would you consider other film offers?

你在《龙飞凤舞》有一幕弹吉他的戏。你会考虑继续接电影吗？

Sambora: Not at this moment. I’m a rock ‘n’ roll musician, not an actor. I don’t really… maybe when I’m 50! [laughs]

Sambora:暂时还不会。我是摇滚乐手，不是演员。我不会……可能等到50岁吧！（笑）

We get a lot of letters form fans that mention your appearance as often as they do your playing. How do you feel about being a sex symbol?

我们收到了很多粉丝来信，信中提到你外表的次数和提到你的表演的次数一样多。你对于成为性感的象征这件事有什么感觉？

Sambora: Oh Christ! I consider myself a musician and anything else… I can’t comment on that. It’s unreal. If I make people happy, god bless ‘em, but I hope the music’s doing it.

Sambora: 天哪！我只把自己看做一个音乐人……我无法评论，这不是真实的。如果它能让人们开心，那么上帝保佑他们，但我希望给人们带来快乐的是音乐。

Can you see a shape for the next record?

你现在能看到下一张专辑的轮廓吗？

Sambora: It’s too early to tell, but we’ve written some stuff that we’re pretty happy with, the beginning of some real good stuff. Put it this way, I’m not worried about the next record, as far as the material. I think there’s a large potential for growth. When you’ve done as many dates as we have, been to all the countries, seen as much as we have, you get educated.

Sambora:还太早了，但我们已经写了一些自己满意的东西，最终的成品会很不错。可以说我对下一张专辑和它所需的素材并不担心。我觉得它会有很大的增长潜力。当你像我们一样开过那么多演唱会，去过那么多国家，看过那么多东西，你就有经验了。

Are you writing for anyone else as well?

你还在为别人写吗？

Sambora: We’re gonna try to retard that a bit, we did it enough. People are calling us and it would be easy for us to do, but we thought about it and decided we don’t want people to be overflooded with Bon Jovi material.

Sambora: 这方面我们准备放慢步伐，我们写的已经够多了。别人会给我们打电话，对我们来说其实写起来很容易，但我们考虑过，最后的结论是我们不希望人们被Bon Jovi式的素材淹没。

Will you record in Vancouver again with Bruce Fairbairn?

你还会与Bruce Fairbairn一起在温哥华录音吗？

Sambora: Absolutely. Vancouver is a great place; we had a great time. We have a lot of friends there.

Sambora:肯定会。温哥华是个好地方，我们在那很开心。我们在温哥华有很多朋友。

When is the earliest the album could come out?

这张专辑最早什么时候发行？

Sambora: September of ’88 maybe, late September.

Sambora: 大概88年九月吧，九月下旬。

Are you prepared to tour as extensively again?

你准备好重返大规模巡演了吗？

Sambora: Sure, it’s our life. That’s what we do.

Sambora: 当然，这就是我们的生活。我们就是干这个的。

Do you recall the first time you ever played live? Were you nervous?

你还能回忆起自己第一次登台演出吗？当时紧张吗？

Sambora: Yeah, but the nervousness was over as soon as we started to play. In a band you lean on other people. They come through for you and you come through for them. It’s the same kind of exchange of energy that goes from band to audience.

Sambora: 是啊，但是等到演出开始，紧张就消失了。在乐队里，你会依赖其他人。他们支持着你，你也支持着他们。乐队与观众之间的能量交换也是这样的道理。

Does it feel different playing to small and large crowds?

在小场子和大场子演出的感觉有什么不一样吗？

Sambora: When there’s more people you have to approach the show on a different level – “How am I gonna reach the kid that’s 1,000 yards away?” Your movements have to be bigger physically to show emotion. It’s harder to do that, but I like playing big areas a little bit better.

Sambora: 大场子的时候你需要用不一样的方式去表演——“我要怎么和1000码以外的粉丝互动？”你就要用更夸张的肢体动作去表达情绪。虽然这样更有难度，但我还是更喜欢在大场子表演。

What do you think about when you’re out there? Does your mind ever wander?

你在表演的时候都会想什么？你会走神吗？

Sambora: If you don’t think about playing when you’re playing, something’s wrong.

Sambora:如果弹琴的时候想别的东西，那就要出问题了。

How do you feel afterward?

演出结束以后感觉如何？

Sambora: Exhausted. That two hours is a total focus of all energy and body functions – you feel pretty drained.

Sambora: 累死了。这两个小时里，全部精力和体力都高度集中——你会感觉身体被掏空。

How long does it take you to recover?

你需要花多少时间来恢复？

Sambora: About 15 minutes, then I’m back to normal.

Sambora: 大约15分钟，然后我就又是一条好汉了。

Of all of Bon Jovi’s videos, which is your favorite?

Bon Jovi的MV里你最喜欢的是？

Sambora: The three that came out this year are the ones I really like because they captured us honestly. I guess “Wanted Dead or Alive” is the one that brought the fans closer to the band, the behind-the-scenes look – that’s the way we really are. The kids know us a little better from that video.

Sambora: 今年出的三支我都非常喜欢，因为它们表现出了我们真实的一面。我觉得《Wanted Dead or Alive》拉近了粉丝与乐队之间的距离，里面那些幕后记录，那就是真实的我们。通过这支MV，粉丝能够更加了解我们。

Will there be a new home video?

会出新的MV碟吗？

Sambora: Yeah, there’s gonna be a home video out for Christmas, and it’s gonna have a couple of videos not available in America – “Never Say Goodbye” and “Wild in the Streets.”

Sambora: 会，圣诞节的时候会出，其中收录了一些美国版没有的——《Never Say Goodbye》和《Wild in the Streets》。

Why weren’t they released individually?

它们为什么没独立发行？

Sambora: There’s no need. It’s something for our fans, so they can have something people can’t get.

Sambora: 没必要。这是为我们的粉丝准备的，这样他们能得到一些别人没有的。

Are they live videos?

它们是现场MV吗？

Sambora: There’s live, backstage stuff, a potpourri of the year.

Sambora: 有现场，有后台，是这一年的大杂烩。

Something like “Wanted Dead or Alive”?

像《Wanted Dead or Alive》那样？

Sambora: More up-tempo. In “Never Say Goodbye” there’s shots of us as kids, kind of cool.

Sambora: 更加快节奏。《Never Say Goodbye》里有我们小时候的照片，很酷。

When you were a kid, did you ever think you’d come this far?

你小的时候想过自己将来可能会走得这么远吗？

Sambora: You never know. I knew we were gonna be successful, but I didn’t know we’d be this successful. There’s been a lot of firsts for us this year. It’s all been damn exciting.

Sambora: 无法预料。我知道我们会成功，但也想不到会是这么巨大的成功。这一年里我们迎来了很多第一次，都太让人激动了。

With so many goals achieved, is there anything you haven’t yet fulfilled?

已经实现了这么多目标，你还有什么没完成的吗？

Sambora: Not much [laughs]. We just want to make some more good music and sell some more records next year. That’s all, I guess. Everybody’s paying a tremendous amount of attention to the success and forgetting about what counts – the music. Playing music and having fun, that’s the most important thing. What happens around it is still secondary.

Sambora: 不多了（笑）。明年我们只想做出好音乐，多卖点唱片。大概就这样。人们都把注意力集中在成功上，却忽略了真正重要的东西——音乐。玩音乐，享受快乐，这才是最重要的。随之而来的那些都是次要的。