Riverboat Gamblers Pay Homage to Music’s Purple Majesty and His Purple Rain
Photo by: Lindsay Hutchens
The music community was abuzz June 25, 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of the Purple Rain soundtrack (the film by the same title was released a month later on July 27, 1984) in honor of the revolutionary album Spin Magazine gathered a handful of musicians to recreate the purple magic on a cover album titled “Purplish Rain.â€
A piece titled “Riverboat Gamblers: ‘Crazy’ For 25 Years Of ‘Purple Rain’” ran on Npr.org in July. Alex Cohen wrote, ‘It’s remarkable and a little depressing to contemplate the fact that this week marks the 25th anniversary of Prince’s Purple Rain album. To commemorate the occasion, Spin magazine has released a free tribute album titled Purplish Rain, featuring covers performed by Of Montreal, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Riverboat Gamblers, whose members kick off the album with the party anthem “Let’s Go Crazy.”
We got a chance to do a Q & A with Riverboat Gamblers’ front-man Mike Wiebe, in the interview Wiebe discusses his own memories of the album and why they decided to stay true to the cover of “Let’s Go Crazy” he also discusses the band’s latest album and life on the road.
Sinister Girlz: How did the cover of Prince’s “Let’s go Crazy” come about?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): We were honored to have Spin ask us to do it. We had very little time to get it together before we left for tour, so we had a few long days trying to get it right in the studio.
SG: Some artists when they cover a song they take a couple of liberties with the tune, was it important to you guys to stay true to the original song?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): We tried to stick pretty close, but do it in our own way. I added my little vocal shout out at the end of the jam/freakout part at the end. I don’t mind taking liberties with a cover though. I think Devo’s “Satisfaction” cover is the best reinvention of a song ever
SG: How old were you when you first listened to the Purple Rain album or saw the movie?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): Young…. Grade school for sure. I wasn’t allowed to watch the movie but did anyway when it came on cable. It was a little over my head at the time, but I was fascinated. I knew I had some affinity to what was going on onscreen.
SG: Let’s talk about your own music for a bit, for those who havenâ’t picked up a copy of your new album yet what can they expect from Underneath The Owl and why did you decide to name the album that?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): It’s so tough for me to verbally describe music… Somewhere where rock, garage and punk meet I guess. The name is homage to our adopted city of Austin and the concept of living underneath giant predators who warily eye us as prey. The struggles that us mice face living under a giant shadow
SG: What was it like touring with Rise Against and Rancid?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): Wonderful and a lot of work.
SG: Did you learn anything from either band? Did anyone offer any advice?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): Lots of technical advice was sought out by us. We are new to playing stadiums and it’s really a different animal than playing clubs. I tried to soak in any knowledge that might make a better show. I also talked to both bands about business stuff, which is something I have much to learn about
SG: What are a couple of things you can’t go on tour without?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): IPod. IPods. Greatest invention for the touring musician. To be able get some imagined privacy in a crammed van has saved my sanity 12 times over. They also help achieving sleep when people have snoring issues (which is miserable for me). I got podcasts, books, TV shows, movies and tons of music
SG: Aside from music what are some of your other passions or hobbies?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): I started doing acting before music and I am starting to do more with that stuff. I am a cinephile of sorts although some might say film nerd. I really love standup, but don’t participate in it really.
SG: Keeping with the 25th anniversary of Purple Rain theme, where do you hope to be 25 years from now?
Riverboat Gamblers (Mike Wiebe): Making music and making films and making a living.
Riverboat Gamblers are: Mike Wiebe (vocals), Fadi el-Assad (lead guitar), Ian MacDougall (guitar), Rob Marchant (bass) and Eric Green (drums).
