Interview by Kris Peters
American hard rock outfit Winger have been a mainstay in the global music scene for almost 40 years, with their triple-platinum, self-titled debut album spawning hits like Seventeen, Headed for a Heartbreak, and Madalaine.
Their sophomore album, In the Heart of the Young, solidified Winger's place in rock history, delivering anthems such as Miles Away and Can’t Get Enuff, propelling the band into a select group of artists who have become bigger than the industry that created them.
Over the years, Winger has gained significant critical acclaim, with Grammy nominations and widespread recognition for their intricate compositions and electrifying stage presence. Each member of the band has built an impressive resume beyond the project, with Reb Beach becoming a longtime guitarist for Whitesnake, Rod Morgenstein playing with the Dixie Dregs, Paul Taylor collaborating with Alice Cooper, John Roth playing with Giant and Starship, and frontman Kip Winger enjoying a successful solo career and a critically acclaimed career as an orchestral composer which has earned him a Grammy nomination.
But for all of Winger's achievements and tales from over the years, there is one mountain left to climb. One world left to conquer. And that world is here. Australia.
It's hard to fathom that the original incarnation of Winger has never toured this country, with previous visits being either as Kip performing solo or without the original band lineup. But in honour of their Australian fans and perhaps as a means of ticking off remaining bucket list points, Winger are finally headed this way - with original members - for a run of shows this April to deliver the ultimate send-off, celebrating decades of iconic music in a career spanning musical spectacle.
HEAVY had the pleasure of spending time with Kip ahead of the tour, at one stage asking him what it will mean for him to round out his musical career to date with the upcoming shows.
"The band has got a huge legacy, and it's rare that a band like us would be all original members still," he replied. "It's rare, and we all still really enjoy playing with each other on stage, so it's great. When we played Australia in 2014 it was just spectacular. I mean, the fans are awesome, and I've always wanted to come back with the band. We're very excited about coming, and we've got all the original members, including John Roth. So it's actually going to be better than it would have been before because I don't think John was able to come that time."
Another topic we broached was the period in the mid-1990s that saw Winger part ways, largely due to the explosion of grunge, and ask if that movement was as bad for rock music as history has led us to believe.
"Yeah, it was over like that," Kip sighed. "It was over overnight. When Smells Like Teen Spirit came out MTV dropped all the 80s bands, and MTV was really the big promotion tool. Then you had Beavis and Butthead and all that stuff, which didn't help at all. They were lifting all the grunge bands up and talking trash about all the bands like us, so it was over in a second. It was like, you're playing an arena, and then you're playing a club within a six-month period."
In the full interview, Kip discussed Winger's upcoming tour in Japan and Australia with the original line up, emphasizing its significance as a rare opportunity for fans to see the band perform together in their purest form. He highlighted his transition to a classical music career, which adds to the tour's importance, and reflected on the band's legacy and positive experiences from their previous Australian tour in 2014. Kip recounted the band's formation during the peak of rock music in the late 1980s, their rise to fame, and the subsequent decline due to the grunge movement, which led to their disbandment in 1994.
He noted his continued musical pursuits through solo projects and the resurgence of interest in Winger's music, keeping the spirit of rock alive. Kip also shared his artistic evolution towards orchestral music, mentioning his classical album and current projects with the Nashville Symphony and more.
Australian tour tickets https://www.silverbacktouring.com/
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