Train

The result was Drops of Jupiter, the soaring, inspirational piano epic that became an instant classic upon its release in two thousand one. It went on to win a Grammy that year for Best Rock Song, and two decades later, it's still going strong. It's since gone platinum six times over. In honor of the song's twentieth anniversary, this year, the album of the same name is being reissued with extra bonus tracks. Will also be made available on vinyl for

the very first time. I'm so happy to welcome the lead singer of Train, Pat Monahan. Yeah, it's good to speak to you too, Jordan's. First of all, how are you doing? In the last year has been tough on all of us. Have you been feeling have you been holding up well? It's been a wave of emotions Jordan's. It started with disbelief, moved into anger, transferred into sadness, drank a whole lot of wine, a lot a lot of wine, got obsessed with getting better at golf, so

that that turned back to anger. Then uh, now I'm back to anger. And in the last month I finally found um so uh from for me, there's always a song that isn't always the big song, but it's it's the defining song on an album, and I finally wrote that defining song, so now I know what the album is.

So now for the last three weeks, I've been really encouraged, and it just happens to be at the same time that you know, herd immunity seems to be working and vaccines are happening, so it's just a very uh timely. It just seems like it's the perfect time that all of this is working out. Plus the weather is getting better, so I'm finally in a good place. Oh that is wonderfully here. I mean definitely, there's definitely feels like the

light at the end of the tunnel. He was was the song inspired by that, by that feeling of sort of like spring is here. Things are opening up. There's hope. No, no,

not at all. Actually, uh so I was. I have a golf buddy and his name is Sydney Rice, and he's a former Seattle Seahawk And when we go out in golf, even though and please don't tell anyone at my golf course, we're not allowed to be playing music out there, but Sydney he doesn't really care because he's a big, strong guy and if somebody's gonna tell him to turn his music off, he'll be like, are you sure, and they'll be like, no, not really. So he actually

is about thirty. I think he's thirty four, thirty three, thirty four. He's always turning me onto new music, which you know, you would think be the other way around. But and so I just was so inspired by these young guys doing such cool throwback music that I was like, oh my god, I think I think I know how to do that. And so this is gonna be a very different Train album. And it's all inspired by a friend of mine on the golf course. That's awesome. What

kind of stubs planning for you? Well? I found the Seattle band called the Dip, and I just think they are the Shi yet. And there's a lot of other bands that that he's turned me onto. There's Duran Jones and uh, that band is nuts so good, Like I can't believe how good all those guys in the band can sing. So it's just I'm finding music like that like this, and it's like a new inspiration because I've been listening to hip hop for three straight years and

so this is a nice transition. Have you earlier in the year, have you been feeling productive musically or because that's what I always talk all my friends and everybody I talked to say, half the people are super motivated. They get up there, make a banana, brother, they're doing this or doing that. And then the other half the time and thinking, Okay, I got my pants on, this is a good day, Like this is that's my my

achievement for the day. Were you feeling earlier in the year, were you feeling really motivated to make music or is that back and forth? Yeah, it has not been a very encouraging or creative time for me. I've had to like wor really work through it, work through those times. But you know, when you are kind of an overprivileged white guy in the music business, it's hard to find someone that you can complain to, you know, Like, so I just try to just keep quiet about it and

wait for the shift. You know. When the shift came, and so now I can talk about the prior sadness. Instead of poor me, you should feel for me. It's more like, hey, I'm I'm back. Oh that is good to hear. We can't wait to hear more from you. We we're here to talk to you about the twentieth anniversary. That's hard to believe. Of drops a Jupiter. No, No, I'm not. I just wanted to tell you about that. I'm out now. I've got more golf stores. I'm happy here.

Those two all right, I'm because I'm just kidding. I'm more of a bowler myself. But incredible song. That song means so much to so many people. Has the meaning of the song changed for you over the last two decades? Well, I mean, you know, like all music, I think that at first it's for you, for the writer, and then soon after that it's not for you anymore. It's not

that's that song is not for me. It was a really important part of my healing because I had lost my mother and we were desperate for any kind of song that was going to make a connection, just so we could keep making albums. You know. It's like at a time where it cost a lot of money to make an album, and the only way someone was going to support that, uh, that habit, as you would say, was to keep making music that was compelling to others. And we just didn't have the goods on that album.

And it was a very very frustrating time. So when Trump's Jupiter was written, it was very quick. It was from a dream. It was just basically my mom saying, this is what it's like afterlife. Then the song was recorded and and put on the radio, and then it wasn't for me anymore. It was for other people. I said. It came new into dreams. It's funny often that happens. If Keith Richard's dream in the Satisfaction riff, you have

Paul McCartney, you're only dreaming yesterday. But also his mother came to him and that's where Let it Be came from. Did the words in the music come together or was it just a snippet of a phrase of music or just a snippet of the lyrics, or was it all all there in your hand. It was just all there, it was all it was all vocal, melody and lyric. And then the next day, you know, putting a very primal piano to h to the melody. That is amazing.

I Uh, it's funny how vivid those dreams are with with your late parents there full disclosure, I lost my mother to cancer about maybe six months before drops a Jupiter came out, and when it it did came out, it you know, it obviously has a very special place for me for that reason, for that the reason that we share. It's it's very interesting how those dreams is. I dream a lot. I never remember them, but I always remember those when when the couple, but only handful

of times. Maybe she ever come back to you in a dream? No, it never, it never reoccurred. Yeah, it was a really really strange time for me to think about it now and to think about that one time. Is was definitely didn't seem very coincidental. You know, it seemed very like my my wife asked me the other day, she said, uh, what do you think happens to us after this? And I was like, well, this is not like a five minute while I'm in the shower conversation,

but if you'd like to know. And so we started to really talk about it, and I think drops A Jupiter actually gave me some type of faith that maybe it's not just a dark hole in the ground that that's the end. Maybe there's just a waiting pattern afterwards that we get to help others. I don't really know the answer to all of it, but I know that she definitely made a big enough impression, either in the time that she was with me or afterwards, that that was a real That was a real moment. It was

an interview you gave I think fairly recently. Were you saying the song is as much about your mother it is as it is about you and you growing and changing. What is the song taught you? I don't know. I guess the word faith again. You know, some people have religion or god and and some people have you know, sports or and I guess for me, it's uh music.

You know that that music has given me faith And something like something happened to me about a month ago where I was pretty down, I mean about a month ago, right before everything kind of kicked into gear. I was like pretty much feeling really bad for myself for super super dumb reasons. No, no one would ever relate in a way that they should relate. And so I was kind of, you know, complaining to a friend about having hurt feelings and you know, and things like that. And

it was among other other friends too. There were there three other guys, and I was explaining to them, like the feelings that I was going through and I had been hurt by people. And what they said to me as a response made me remember that I have to just have faith, like the universe knows what you need somehow, and I just needed to just believe in my friendships and believe in the things that matter the most to me. And they reminded me that I was being a knucklehead

and it was really important for me. And so music does that for me, like when I hear like that's why I listened to hip hop so much. And now this new version of or new cycle of music that I've been listening to because it's kind of young people's stories to remind me that guys my age should sometimes just shut up and listen, you know, like we we think that the old cat should be heard most, but

sometimes not so much. Was there somebody when you first started out listening to music that really made you think, Okay, this is what I want to do. I want to

I want to share my voice as well. Well, I was the last of seven kids, and my dad listened to a lot of jazz records, and uh, my brothers would be, you know, using their Beatles records to sort out their their marijuana from stems and seeds and roll their joints, and then my sisters will be listening to James Taylor and Chris Christofferson and uh, you know, I got to hear the Ohio Players and led Zeppelin and

you know, everything that was happening. And uh then I found Michael Jackson kind of that was my artist at the time, and I was able to sing like him and my brother I remember going like damn boy, Like you know, he was way older than me. And just to think that an older sibling would take one second to give you one moment of something pleasant was that made is a pretty good sign. That's a positive reinforcement right there. Well, I mean, speaking of positive reinforcement, what

was talking to me about winning a Grammy? The Grammy because not only must have been cool, but you know, you were handed it by Don Henley and you toour in the front row. You know that that you beat I think twice. I think they were nominated twice for for Best Rock Song. What did that feel like? I mean, just taking it to the opposite extreme from from you your brother giving you note, your older brother giving you notice, to having the eyes of the musical world on you.

How how does that feel? It was pretty surreal? You know, I was not a seasoned guy and how to be grateful on a stage, you know, like I learned a lot of hard lessons about how to be grateful and why, but professionally grateful that's hard to do, you know what I mean, like to be to be gracious on stage? You know, I'm I'm not a guy that's going to go up there and be like, you know, these awards are bullshit, bro, Like I'm here just because, um, you know,

and that's just not who I've ever been. And uh, I wanted to make sure that my my mother got some props because she probably wrote the thing, and um,

I don't remember it. You know. It was just such a blowing, forceful, just a sketch of a moment that was so quick that I don't remember much about it, except for being backstage and having my picture taken, but knowing that the photographers were waiting for the next hot chick to come in that was far more interesting than I was that, so I just wanted to get the heck out of There's all about those moments. I guess I want to ask you. I read, do the best

songs come quickly? The ones that you almost don't even have to work on? I guess, like drops the Jupiters. I think I read that you said, Hey, Soul's sister came almost equally as fast as that does? That Is that usually a sign for you that those are the ones that just are almost delivered fully formed? It? Does? They do have that in common. I'm not good at recognizing high quality things like that or whatever the thing would be. Uh, I don't. I'm not good at recognizing

songs that could potentially be hits. Um. I'm the worst at it. And I'm not good at titling songs like I called it Drops a Jupiter because it was such a such an interesting three words, like it was the most interesting three words in the whole composition. How do you call it? You know? Tell me like that's just not that interesting to me, but I was. I was asked to change it, to tell me over and over and over again, until it was called drops the Jupiter

in parentheses tell me anyway. Um, I don't know why things come fast. Well, I guess they're just supposed to be there. I mean a song like Troups the Jupiter to me, it's it's so poetic and so specific, which I guess in a lot of cases that sometimes leads to misinterpretations because it's so specific. Are there any myths or mistakes that people have about it that you might want to clear up involving I don't know, soy lattees or fried chicken or falling from a falling star or something.

Is there anything for the ages that you would like to to clear up now about that song? Yeah, those are all things. So I was definitely asked to get rid of soy latte hundred percent asked to get rid of fried Chicken. It's fall for a shooting star and not from a shooting star, because the idea was did you fall for somebody that was that looked like a better you know, because I had to turn what was about my mother into a love song. You know about

maybe two young people. But and then the last thing, my favorite thing is that people really thought I was saying and that van Halen is overrated. And so I got a lot of this is early this early internet days, and so I got a lot of hate mail about you know, you got a lot of nerve, bitch van Halen rules you still compared to van Halen. I'm Michael, I don't even I don't even know why you're mad at me? What does this even mean? And then I

found out that they thought I was saying. It's so funny because like Sammy Hagar and I have been friends for fifteen years, and I used to golf with with Eddie van Halen, and it's just so cute that that was. I adore those guys. You know, I never met the other Fellows, but I love that band. What were they like to golf with? That's that's amazing. He's just you know, Eddie was such a quiet, mild mannered guy, you know

he was. I don't know if that was in the second half of his life or if that's just you know, who he was when I knew him. But he was just so sweet. Man. I want to invite to one of your golf games. You've got a good got a good going, You're good. I'm kidding. My favorite guy to golf with a the whole world is George Lopez. He is. He has a charity tournament every year. I hope he has it this year because it's my favorite thing to do in the whole world. Oh man, is it later

on the year? I hope that happens and he's Actually he's why I know Eddie van Halen is because of George. WHOA how was that introduction? I met George at a well. I was on the George Lopez Show with Hay soul Sister the same day that that Cheech and Chong were on. So that was a huge day for me because I I love all three of those guys. And then I didn't see George for years and didn't realize that he was into golf and I had just started to get

into golf. So uh, we were on this San Francisco golf slash cooking show together and then we just stayed friends and we're very close. Now. I hope that that opens up soon. Now pouring opens up soon as well. I mean, I know that's got to be tough. This last year and not being able to for so many reason. Nothing of the engage with your friends. What's filled that space for you? Have you been big on social media just in keeping you know, in contact with all the

people that love you and your music? Uh? You know, I mean I think early on we did some TikTok stuff and tried to stay socially active. But honestly, Jordan's I think sometimes it's good for people to go away for a little while, and so I don't think it's a bad thing to be missed. I think it's endearing and and adds here's the thing, it's a beautiful part of humanity. If I can come back with an album that is worth a ship, then I missed and it's

worth the weight. Otherwise, you know, Oh, we really missed you, And I just heard that new crappy song. Uh, you know, I'd rather it was like, Man, we really missed you, and you're still my favorite band. This new album is just my favorite. That's going to be. That is what I lived for. How the Zoom songwriting session has been going. Has that been working for you? You are more solitary.

Do you like doing it on your own? First? I've been pretty bummed out about the zoom writing until about a month ago, and then I was like, man, it's working out. It's working for me. I love it. I'm just good with it, uh, because it gets lonely. I'm like in my studio now and I like interacting with people, and and you know, half the time we're together, we're just trying to make each other laugh, and then there's

fifteen minutes of work. So this this way, I just have to get to work more often, and that's not as fun. But I'm learning how to do it better and and manage my my loneliness, you know, and turning it into fuel. Do you have a rough idea of when when fans can expect the new album or EP or single or is that that's still a little further down the line. I feel like it shouldn't be until

after the summer, you know. I mean, we're we're planning on a big summer tour for two thousand twenty two in amphitheater around the country and going into Europe and Australia. And you know, I haven't have still haven't been to South Africa and meet so many South Africans that are like, man, your music is just so big and we've just never

been there. I'd love to stop saying that. So I think that Fall would make a lot of sense to have a first single, maybe put the album out in November perhaps, and then by the time the concert tickets come for sale, you can buy the album and it all all makes sense, and people will start looking forward to that Summer Vibes, because this is a Summer Vibes album for sure. I at the other end of the spectrum, I read that you were filming a movie based on

I believe your Christmas album, Christmas and Tahoe. Do I have that right? Yeah, they're you know, we're gonna shoot a movie for it. I still haven't seen the script, and I was hoping that I would see it by now, because it'll be shot in Tahoe obviously, and they still have snow, so I don't know how much longer they'll have snow, but I ink snow is going to be an important part of the whole Christmas and Tahoe experience.

But yeah, and then my friend Neil McDonough, who's an extraordinary actor who you've seen a hundred times in a hundred movies and was one of the really good, bad guys in yellow Stone. He asked me to be in a movie, and so about two months ago I went and shot I'm in the first scene of a movie called Boon. So I'm excited to see that. Maybe that would be the beginning of a you know, maybe I'm the next Brad Pitt Jordan. You never know. Hell yeah,

I mean that's something you really want to do more of? Yeah, I would. I wouldn't mind if it was a specific thing. And you know, I knew that acting is very difficult, Like you have to really really care a lot. It's like music where you know, yeah, maybe you get lucky and have one song do well. But honestly, if you want to be good at it, you need to commit your life to it. So I don't know that I can commit my life to acting, and I know that I have the talent to be good at both things,

but I wouldn't mind trying once in a while. One of the things been keeping me saying during lockdown is watching a lot of movies. Have you been watching a lot? Yeah? That's another thing that my friend Sydney Rice. I go, hey, Sydney, do you watch Netflix? And he said, I have watched Netflix, meaning to I have already watched a Netflix. I feel like that, that's what I feel like. We just revisited the the First Coming to America with my kids so that we could watch the second one. So oh now

that's awesome. Oh my god. Yeah. No, I've been meeting to watch that do a little like musical and TV comfort food. Like I just like watched All of the Wonder Years, which I haven't seen like since it came out, which was strange, well a long time coming. I have to watch A Night in Miami because Leslie Odom Jr. Is a friend, and he just was nominated for an Oscar today. So out of my respect for what a talent he is and the fact that UM such a huge Sam Cook fan, I have to see the movie.

I don't know what's taking. If you're especially if you're a Sam Cook fan, you're gonna love it. Have you seen so good? Yeah, it's it's really incredible. Well, my last question, and we've been asking everyone this question has been really fascinating to hear everybody's very different answers. If you could snap your fingers and have everything go back to normal, whatever your definition of normal is, call it, say what would be the first thing that you would do,

places you'd go, people you'd hug. What would it be? Uh Well, my real, honest answer is that my relationships, the closest relationships in my life, have suffered a great deal because of COVID, because we've all thought of it in different ways, none of us being irresponsible, but some of us being scared, and that fear has really interrupted a lot of the great close love that we had, and I would want that back, and it's gonna be some work to get that back, because there's a lot

of feelings that get hurt when there's not communicating about like, hey, Jordan's here's the way I'm gonna behave and you're like, okay, cool, Pat, I love that, and I'm gonna behave like this and we'll meet at the end. It's there's not that kind of communicating when it comes to most relationships. It's a lot of well that was bullshit. I can't believe that they did that without telling, you know, like whatever, whatever the thing is. But I I would want the old

version of those relationships back. That's my snap of the finger. That is the most considerate answer we've had, And you know, I mean open communication, approaching things with love. I think you can't go wrong. It seems like you can't, but you can. You'll find a way for it to go wrong. We're humans. We're humans, and we we expect it. We factor that in and we forgive. And there is light at the end of the tunnel. Yep. I think it's

gonna be good soon. Man. Thank you so much for your time today, and your music has meant so much to me over the years. Thank you, Thank you so much. I appreciate that Jordan's well. I have this recorded. I'll send it to you and uh in a picture of me without my shirt on, just because I'm not sending that. Thank you. I'll talk to you guys soon. We hope you enjoyed this episode of Inside the Studio, a production

of I Heart Radio. For more episodes of Inside the Studio or other fantastic shows, check out the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.