The times they are a changing especially in the world of pop music, which ultimately turns to the past for inspiration. But the time is now for Platinum Blonde who are more than just a classic rock band with numerous hits in the ‘80s including “Crying Over You,” “Standing in the Dark,” and “Doesn’t Really Matter.”
Platinum Blonde, who play Whoop-Up Days, on Aug. 24, released a brand new CD called ‘Now & Never’ on Aug. 21 featuring a new hit single “Beautiful.”
Years ago Holmes vowed the band wouldn’t tour again unless they had new music.
Three years later they completed their new record.
“It’s mostly because we have unfinished business. Sometimes you think you’ve dotted all the ‘i’s and crossed all the ‘t’s but never realized there is unfinished business,” said lead singer Mark Holmes, who has kept active in the contemporary music scene as a DJ, record producer and remixing professional.
“The musical climate these days has a lot of bands who sound like Platinum Blonde or who say they were influenced by us,” he said.
There is a personal reason for new music too — he promised original bassist Kenny MacLean they would get together again back in 2008. Unfortunately MacLean passed away from a fatal heart attack scant hours after they agreed to get the band back together. They had already tested the waters with several one-off shows
“In 2008 Kenny asked if I’d like to get back together and I said yes. He was all gung ho about it and a few hours later he was gone and I realized I promised him we’d get the band back together.”
He said the new material has been really well received.
“It’s getting way better reviews than anything I did at the band’s height ,” he said.
Some of the reviews read like they were written by my mom,” he said adding some people have been very critical of new Platinum Blonde material.
“One guy was quite critical. He didn’t expect it to be any good. So I sent him one. And he opened it up and listened to it and called me back. He had one question “How did you do it?” Holmes said.
“ I told him you have to continue to grow and embrace technology,” he said.
“So the musical climate has been quite friendly,” he said.
“The past is great but you can’t refuse to grow. We’re very proud of our past and those songs,” he said adding he is also very proud of the new music, especially the new single “Beautiful.”
“We played the new single at a concert and I looked out into the audience and there were thousands of people singing along with ‘Beautiful.” I nearly fell to the floor. It was so moving,” he said.
They will be touring with original guitarist Sergio Galli, Robert Laidlaw on bass, Lindsay Clark adding keyboards in the background and Dan Todd on drums, a friend of original drummer Chris Steffler, who had to retire due to a severe case of tinnitus.
“That happens to a lot of drummers with the cymbals right by their ears,” Holmes observed.
“ It was very painful for him,” he said adding Steffler didn’t contribute to the new music.
“Chris was never a writer,” he said adding they approached songwriting similar to how they did back in the day.
“There was no real difference. I wrote the songs on acoustic guitar or on a rough demo and brought them to the band and we all added our little bits,” he said.
“It’s a good combination and the guitar is still quite front and centre,” he said.
Their Whoop Up Days show will feature several new tracks and all of the hits.
“It‘s a nice mix and it’s working out quite well,” he said.
“But what is concerning is the extra high expectations about it,” he said.
He remembers a lot of Lethbridge shows, however one early show at the Enmax Centre stands out.
“The very first time we were there, we were opening for Bryan Adams and we didn’t have time for a sound check. He came backstage and apologized for it. He didn’t have to do it, but he said we’ll make sure you sound good.’ He’s a pretty classy guy,” Holmes said.
“It was very special and a one of the many great memories we have there,” he said.
