Exclusive Q and A: Darius Rucker Talks Prince, His Next Album and "Hootie"
posted in: Music News
These are exciting times for Darius Rucker. Not only is he out on the “Own the Night” tour with Lady Antebellum but he’s ready to release his third album. The hotly-anticipated record will follow the much-loved 2010 release Charleston SC 1966 that debuted at the top of the country charts and his now-platinum debut album Learn to Live, which was released in 2008. And that’s just the beginning.
He’s musically partnered with a host of other artists, including Lionel Richie for a duet of “Stuck on You” which is on Richie’s album Tuskegee. He also remains very involved in several high-profile charity events, including this month’s Third Annual “Darius and Friends” benefit show in Nashville which raised money for St. Jude Children Research Hospital.
Rucker took time out from his busy schedule to talk to OurStage about his new album, his current tour, and just what inspired him to become a musician, anyway.
OS: So what can audiences expect at your upcoming shows?
DR: We will probably be playing the new single soon. When I play, audiences can expect a lot of music from both records [Learn to Live released in 2008 and Charleston SC 1066] and some cool cover songs. I’m just trying to have fun.
OS: On the fan boards, some folks say you always play Prince’s “Purple Rain.” Why do you play it so often?
DR: I always wanted to play it! The funny thing was, I was rehearsing with the band and my drummer (the band leader) said “Have you ever wanted to play ‘Purple Rain?'” I had never played it because I didn’t know if it would work in a country set. Now we always play it. If I don’t play it, I get nasty emails. So we are always playing it now.
OS: I’m guessing there are a lot of young fans who weren’t around when the song came out in 1984 [as the cover song for the album of the same name by Prince and the Revolution].
DR: There are people who haven’t heard it. That was one of the things that was so wonderful for me, playing it for [those who may not know it]. Look at how they came out with the “The Beatles: Rock Band.” Now [younger music fans] adore them and they are the biggest thing ever, once again!
OS: Do you remember when you first heard “Purple Rain?”
DR: Of course! When I first heard “Purple Rain,” I was in junior high. When I first saw [the movie] Purple Rain, I was on a date with Stacy Miller and I was late picking her up but we went to see Purple Rain. I’m telling you, the movie was so high energy, I left that movie theatre and it had just changed my life. It was awesome.
OS: I remember reading about Prince as a young performer and couldn’t wait for the movie to come out. Had you heard of him before that?
DR: He was so big in the black community, he was already a superstar in that community, but when he put that movie out, that changed everything. I went to see [Morris Day & the Time], too, and that made me want to be in a band.
OS: So let’s talk about your music. When I’ve gone to your shows, I’ve heard fans yell ‘Hootie’ to you from the crowd. Is that annoying?
DR: It’s cool. Hootie came out almost 20 years ago, so 20 years to be in this business and I still have people know me…I’m glad!
OS: You are one of the most successful crossover musicians, if you will. Was it a big change for you to play country?
DR: Not at all. I love listening to country radio so much. I always chuckle at people who [try to classify] country radio. Country is everything from that Jamie Johnson to pop country to Carrie who is killing it, to everything in between”R&B, Billy Currington. You get everything. Look at Colt Ford, he does country rap. I sang a song on his new album [Declaration of Independence due to be released in July] and it was great.
OS: Were you worried your fans wouldn’t move with you to country?
DR: I think a lot of fans of Hootie & the Blowfish had moved to country. A lot of my friends had been listening to country. Pop music is more beat oriented; they don’t play guitars like we do. You have to go to country music to find that. It’s really not that different [from the music of Hootie & the Blowfish].
OS: Do you think Hootie & the Blowfish will make another record?
DR: I know for a fact someday we will do another record and another tour.
OS: I understand you’ve almost completed your next album. What can you tell us about that?
DR: We have already cut about six songs and I’m always writing. We will go back in a week or so and cut. And we should have a single coming out [“True Believers”] in a week or two. I am very, very, very excited about that. We’ve really stepped it up. It doesn’t sound like the first two records.
I was writing the song and [my co writer] came in with this great idea. The great thing about working with him is that he and I are in the same place in our lives. The whole song is a country story and I’ve never sung a song like this before. The chorus is so different from anything I have ever done before.
He had this great idea and he had the first verse and part of the chorus and then we got really deep into it. I said “I think we got a single.”
OS: So look into the future. When you and I talk next year, what will you tell me about?
DR: I hope I’m telling you I have my own tour, the single did well, and I hope everything is good!
Find out more about Rucker’s new album, his tour dates, and other news on his website.