SPEAKING WITH:
Eric Carmen and Jim Bonfanti

By Lisa Frydman

It took a total of four minutes to sell out the Raspberries reunion show at the Cleveland House of Blues the day after Thanksgiving. Not bad for a band that hadn't played together in 32 years.

The '70s power pop band known for such hits as "Go All the Way" and "Overnight Sensation" includes singer Eric Carmen, guitarist Wally Bryson, bassist David Smalley and drummer Jim Bonfanti. The guys will perform here Saturday night at the House of Blues—the third gig on their reunion tour.

Now in their mid-50s, Bonfanti and Carmen share what it's like to rekindle friendships after a tough breakup and what it's like to rock the house once again.

Here's what Carmen and Bonfanti had to say:

On the four-minute sellout:

JB: We were shocked that the show had sold out…blown away that it actually had sold out in four minutes.

EC: For a band of 55-year-olds who haven't played together in 32 years, it was a nice, ringing testimonial.

On the Raspberries' fan base:

EC: It's a pretty good cross-section. The majority of the people are in their 40s and 50s. But definitely we have the younger generation's interest who have caught on to the band. I think it's due in part to Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love saying how much they loved the Raspberries, and their fans wanting to emulate their idols.

On new artists today:

EC: These days every record company is looking for a 16-year-old with blond hair who knows how to dance. It really was similar in our day. The trend then was in the form of say, Jethro Tull and Traffic—any band who could deliver lots of jamming solos became hot. To tell you the truth, it bored me to tears. The Raspberries were different because we were a songwriting band. Our goal was to write great songs and deliver them in an exciting way.

JB: Today's hits are homogenized, computerized music. I'm not trying to put anybody down, but the music today doesn't have the same creativity, spontaneity. I may have played the same song 100 times in the recording studio until we got it down. I think the difference between us and a lot of young bands today is that we did everything to keep the sound real.

On marriage, kids and rock 'n' roll:

EC: My kids are 7 and 4. I had them late in life. My wife and I are basically full-time parents, and it's the best part of our lives. It was a big deal for me to have my son in the audience during our first reunion show.

JB: I've been married 33 years to Barbara, and we've been blessed with two daughters, two grandchildren. [Laughs] Yes, I'm a rocker grandpa. The secret of a good marriage, especially when you're in the public eye, is maintaining a strong friendship, staying best friends above all else. Our marriage continues to grow -- every year it gets better. And wherever we go on this tour, Barbara's definitely coming with me.

On the reunion:

EC: When we were in our 20s there was so many frustrations and tensions between us. It's no secret that when the band broke up we weren't on the best of terms. This reunion tour has been so exciting, because we are experienced, seasoned, independent—so it's all about having fun together. Before, managers, record labels, and the like mucked it all up. These shows are about the love of playing, which is why we started in the first place.

JB: Coming together is beautiful. We are older, our priorities have shifted. I feel so lucky to have the chance to do this again, and come at it from this angle. This is our last hurrah, and the best part of all is the rekindling of our friendships. Every single moment that we're up there on stage together, I appreciate it that much more.

Chicago Sun-Times / January 14, 2005