After doing three shows in India in 2009 with his hard rock band Mr. Big, vocalist Eric Martin is back in the country. The 90s rockstar opens up about pursuing music, why Preity Zinta is his favourite Indian actress, and more!
The veteran musician starts the conversation by saying that he would have become a comedian or a wine taster, if not a singer — “My father taught me to play drums and I taught myself to play the guitar and piano. The vocals just came naturally to me. And songwriting was like writing personal messages to myself that other people could relate too... nothing else compared.
The man who gave hit songs like Green Tinted Sixties Mind, Wild World and the widely-acclaimed track To Be with You among others, says that he thoroughly loved writing songs. “I loved it like I was getting a Christmas gift everyday of my life or as if I had some kind of secret super powers! Everything fell into place quite easily, except that spotlight and talking to an audience — that was the only fear factor. I’m still trying to dance with that devil,” he grins.
Though the band split up in 2002, they got back together in 2009 and have been touring every couple of years. “The next ‘Mr Big’ tour starts in May 2017 and goes on till the end of August. We put out a ‘Big’ box set, two albums — ‘What If’ and ‘The Stories We Could Tell’ and a couple of live albums. We are in the talks for a new album as well. I’m in the writing stage to hopefully get a jump on it.”
The veteran musician is also looking forward to collaborate with other artists here in India. “I’m open to suggestions. I’ve heard a lot about the Indian musicians. Once I was given a list of artists to check out from an Indian friend of mine. Though I am not able to recall the names now, I was floored by the talent,” he says.
Ahead of his gig in the city, we ask him what songs Chennai could expect. “You can request anything and everything — if I can play it, it’s yours on a silver platter. I’ve been playing a sad song called No one said goodbye. I’ve heard a few light claps for it and a distant ‘I love you, Eric!’. I’ll also be playing the tune called Wink and a smile that no one knew of, but they liked it. I wrote it 12 years ago, and now I’ve given it a new coat of paint the other night.”
What does the American musician, who has been touring the country, feel about the experience? “I have been bouncing around in the back of the car up and down the mountains of India like an Indiana Jones adventure!” he chuckles.
But he is ecstatic about having met a couple of actors in Shillong, during his last visit to India. “They were VIP guests who attended my solo band concert at the sports arena. One of them, whom I’ll never forget, is actress Preity Zinta. She was stunning and adorable. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her!” sums up the singer.
(Eric Martin will be performing today at Phoenix MarketCity from 7 pm onwards)
