With “Friends Of Mine” Adam Green became a shooting star in Germany. The fame didn’t last long, but the experience resonates with the singer.
To mark the release of Adam Green’s studio album THAT FUCKING FEELING, MUSIKEXPRESS spoke to the singer-songwriter about the highs and lows of success.
ME: In 2003 you had your breakthrough as a solo artist with your second album FRIENDS OF MINE – at least in Germany. The features section was overflowing and everyone was talking about this New York songwriter named Adam Green. Was there a key moment when you thought, “Now I’ve done it”?
Adam Green: When I came over in 2005, the German Rolling Stone had named FRIENDS OF MINE album of the year. That had a big impact on the audience. I remember a tour with the Tindersticks: every evening I played a concert in the opening act. But suddenly the audience gave me a standing ovation for ten minutes, they clapped and clapped. This didn’t make any sense to me until someone said to me, “The music press is singing your praises.” And I thought, “But I’m just doing the same thing I did last night. Why are people acting so different?” That is the power of the media. My shows in Germany became very big at that time: I was a headliner at festivals like Haldern Pop, a guest on talk shows like “TV Total”, with Sarah Kuttner…
ME: … and with Harald Schmidt.
Adam Green: Harald Schmidt, exactly. He doesn’t have his own show anymore, does he?
ME: Unfortunately not.
Adam Green: You know, actually that episode in Germany was very interesting. I can put myself a little in the shoes of pop stars. Because for that particular, very short period of time… it was six months, maybe even less, that I couldn’t go out in Germany: If I went to a restaurant, I had to give an autograph to every single person in the place – including the chef. When I went to the museum, people followed me. They tried to break into the tour bus just to talk to me. It was completely crazy. Only: I’m actually more of a kind of indie artist. That’s why it didn’t really work. In Germany they tried to make me a pop star – but that’s in no way what I am. My roots lie in the subculture. In all the other countries I just did what an indie artist does: I went on tour and played shows in small clubs.
ME: Does it bother you that the venues have become a bit smaller than they were in 2005?
Adam Green: That was so long ago – it was really just this short period in Germany where I played in these big halls. Mostly I played in rock clubs, before and after. A very intimate affair: I get there and do a sound check; there is a small bar and backstage snacks and a few beers. I can high five the audience and sing with them up close. This is a very typical indie rock experience. This is how I spent my life. Except for that little slip when I was Britney Spears for a second.
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