With unmistakable guitar riffs, moody vocals, and a reverberating bass line, no conversation about this summer’s concert lineup is complete without including the iconic band, Collective Soul. Lead guitarist and co-founder of the band, Dean Roland sat down with us to talk about Collective Soul’s progression from the '90s to the present, expectations for this summer’s tour, and how Elvis’ spirit imbues their latest album.
Bursting onto the music scene in 1993, Dean Roland, his brother Ed, and childhood friend Will Turpin created one of the biggest hits of the decade, “Shine,” and Collective Soul firmly established itself as a defining sound of the decade. Churning out hit after hit, the band resonated with audiences with their now classic songs. 30 years later, Collective Soul has remained a dynamic force on the music scene, most recently with their double album, Here To Eternity, released last month, and the bold, rock-forward first single “Mother’s Love.”
“We’ve been playing this song live for a little while now. It’s a good old-fashioned rough rock song with some honest, positive lyrics,” says Roland of the natural first single off of Here to Eternity.
The band decided to make this latest album a little differently. Packing up and heading to Palm Springs, the band left the traditional recording studio behind and recorded in a home previously owned by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
“Elvis owned Graceland and he owned this house in Palm Springs. This was more of his getaway sanctuary. He spent his last multiple birthdays there. He would spend holidays there. He recorded two gospel records in the living room where we recorded our record. It’s been sitting there for years, still the same appliances. It was kind of a trip. We had fun doing that. It was inspirational… one song came after another and we were on a creative roll. You get in and you’re like I don’t want to say intimidated, but you have such a reverence for it because he’s such a huge influence on us and our family. Our father was a massive Elvis fan,” explains Roland of the recording experience.
With the creativity flowing, inspired by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Here to Eternity became the band's much-talked-about double album. Roland recalls the double albums he grew up listening to like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Quadrophenia, and The White Album as inspirations for this musical feat. Full of rock anthems and melodic ballads Collective Soul is known for, the album is filled with musical surprises and departures, while always remaining true to who they are as a band.
Collective Soul is taking this new album and their 30 years of music on the road this summer. Describing the setlist as “nostalgia and more,” as well as a “balancing act,” the Summer Camp with Trucks Tour will be rolling into Denver at Fiddler’s Green on July 10.
The tour is a reunion of sorts. Formerly all on the Atlantic record label, Collective Soul, Hootie and the Blowfish, and Edwin McCain will be touring the country, bringing fans highlights from their lengthy careers.
“We just get out there and have fun. Being in a place of gratitude and realiz[ing] it’s a very fortunate place to be able to do what you love for a living and share it and share our joy,” Roland said. “Hopefully it connects and people enjoy what we do.”
Nostalgia will play a big role in the future of Collective Soul. Aside from their tour, they also have a career-spanning documentary coming out later this year. While always a band to ‘march forward,’ the documentary and the tour have allowed them to pause and reflect on their entire career – especially rare now in times when longevity is not typical of the entertainment industry.
“It’s a fleeting industry. Entertainment in general can be disposable. You might have a resurgence at some point in time, but it’s tricky to navigate a long-term career. We definitely knew we were given an opportunity and the good fortune to be able to have the chance to have this career,” says Roland.
Standing the test of time with authenticity, pure passion, and love for what they do, Collective Soul has remained a force to be reckoned with and will continue to do so-- striking a chord with audiences everywhere they go.