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Kip Winger Interview

Interview with Kip Winger
September 2009

BackstageDirt caught up with Kip Winger to find out what he has been up to recently. Most of you know Kip as the frontman for the massively popular rock band Winger, who scored loads of hits in the early 90's with songs like "Seventeen," "Headed for a Heartbreak," "Easy Come Easy Go" and "Madelaine." He has never stopped making music and Winger's new album, "Karma", will be released on October 27.

Kip was able to chat briefly with BSD for a couple minutes and even "Did The Dirt" Interview! Enjoy!!

BSD: You've been in the music business for a very long time...and it has changed a lot over the years. What advice would you give to a musician or singer just starting out in the business?

KW: LEARN HOW TO WRITE SONGS IF YOU'RE NOT A WRITER AND NEVER BELIEVE YOU'RE AMAZING BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE KICKING YOUR ASS.

BSD: What song did you and Reb write for Winger that you never thought would be a hit?

KW: WE NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING WAS GOING TO BE HIT. THE WHOLE THING WAS A BIG SURPRISE TO US.

BSD: I know you've studied ballet in the past and have taken a lot of crap for it (I took ballet in college and dropped out after a couple of weeks because it was too difficult so anybody who disses it needs to try it for one day!!), and now you are composing a ballet ("Ghosts" by the San Francisco ballet debuting 2/9/10), how is this different than composing a rock album?

KW: WELL YOU WORK ALONE..LOL... I ALWAYS APPROACHED ROCK AS A VERY ORCHESTRATED IDIOM. SO NOT TOO DIFFERENT WITH PART WRITING. THE DIFFERENCE IS YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EXTEND A MELODY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND KEEP IT INTERESTING AND THE HARMONY IS MUSICALLY MORE SOPHISTICATED

BSD: You've said in the past that the only thing you really care about professionally is writing music. Is there anyone you have not worked with yet, that you would really like to work with?

KW: NOT REALLY, I ADMIRE A LOT OF PEOPLE BUT FROM AFAR.. I MOSTLY LIKE TO WORK ALONE

BSD: The BSD girls have seen you live many times. You/Winger honestly have one of the best sounds live of any artist or band we have ever heard (and we've heard a lot!). It actually sounds like you are listening to the actual CD or video when you are on stage. Other bands sound like they are playing in their mom's garage. What's your secret?

KW: GOOD MUSICIANSHIP... I MEAN THE BAND GUYS..NOT ME OF COURSE..LOL

BSD: Tell us about the new Winger record? Is it similar to your past albums?

IT'S A CROSS BETWEEN THE FIRST RECORD AND 'PULL' -VERY UP AND ROCKING.

BSD: David Coverdale recently lost his voice and had to cancel the remainder of the Whitesnake tour with Judas Priest (he actually lost his voice while Backstagedirt was in the audience at Red Rocks). How do you keep your voice in shape? Do you think he should have tried drinking some tea and honey (that's a joke!)?

KW: DAVID IS ONE OF THE GREATS AND AT HIS AGE IT'S AMAZING THAT HE'S STILL GOING.. THE VOICE IS A WEIRD INSTRUMENT SOMETIMES IT JUST GOES..

OBVIOUSLY WARMING UP IS A MUST, BUT ALL THE "SPECIAL" POTIONS DONT DO FUCK AT ALL.

BSD: Tell us about the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp that you were a part of in August of 2009.

KW: FOR ANYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT ROCK AND ROCK FANTASY CAMP I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GO TO THE WEB SITE AND CHECK IT OUT. IT'S A BLAST!

BSD: You currently give vocal lessons. Have you worked with any singers that are on the verge of breaking out?

KW: NOPE.. I'VE WORKED WITH SOME WHO ARE ALREADY THERE THOUGH

BSD: You have a couple of upcoming shows with the Sin City Sinners in Las Vegas. Tell us about this.

NEVER DONE IT..SOUNDS LIKE FUN

And now for THE DIRT!!!

BSD: What band did you love touring with and why? What band was a pain in the ass?

KW: SPINAL TAP. EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS ON THE ROAD..YOU REALIZED WE'RE ALL SPINAL TAP.

BSD: What band should give it up? What band should make a comeback?

KW: YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAM! ONLY ONES I'D LIKE TO SEE HAVE TOO MANY DEAD MEMBERS.

BSD: Name your top five favorite all time singers

KW: FUCK,..WHO KNOWS, THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT SINGERS OUT THERE...

BSD: Name your top five favorite all time bass players?

KW: MEL SHOCKER, DALE PETERS, DENNIS DUNAWAY, ROGER GLOVER, SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY

BSD: What's the craziest thing a groupie ever did to meet you or the band?

KW: MASQUERADE AS A PIZZA DELIVERY GIRL- NAKED.

BSD: Is "Seventeen" about any one in particular? Was she really 17, and were you really close to 30 when you wrote that? Or do you want to give credit for the writing of the song to Reb?

KW: LOL... ABOUT SOMEONE I KNEW..KIND OF..

BSD: Why do you think Winger is not as popular as Bon Jovi?

KW: WELL WHO KNOWS...BON JOVI HAD GREAT TIMING..AND THEY ARE A GREAT LIVE BAND..VERY TALENTED BUNCH

BSD: Any last words for your fans

KW: THANK YOU, NOW GO BUY MY RECORDS!..LOL

Thanks again to Kip, and now go buy his records!!! You can find info on Kip and his music via his website at www.kipwinger.com