Former Motley Crue vocalist John Corabi recently joined in for an interview with Blabbermouth. He was asked about vocal backing tracks. He said that he hasn’t resorted to using vocal tapes yet
John Corabi opens up on backing tracks
Corabi will forever be identified by Motley Crue’s 1994 self-titled album, which has entered the rarified air of gaining appreciation even though it was a commercial flop. But with tour dates looming for The Dead Daisies (and possibly new music) and Crue embroiled in a public dispute with ex-guitarist Mick Mars, not to mention unending accusations of faking their live performances with backing tapes, Corabi appears to be content with sitting back and watching everything unfold.
During the interview, he was asked if he is helped with the fact that he sings with a nice mid-range. He said that he likes to keep it low and he hasn’t resorted to using vocal tapes yet
John: “There’s a few I have trouble hitting. Songs like ‘Catch Me If You Can’ from The Scream record. Some of them, I listen to, f**k, in 2019, I did the whole Motley thing [where he played the 1994 album in full]. Oh my god, dude. I was listening to shit like ‘Smoke The Sky’. I’m going, ‘Holy f***. What was I thinking?’ I figured out how to do them and for lack of a better term, I cheat a little bit. Instead of going up, I’ll do a bluesy little thing and keep it down here. It’s still in the ballpark. I haven’t resorted to using vocal tapes yet. [Laughs]”
When noted that he doesn’t use that, he weighed in:
“I don’t want to. I talked to somebody a couple of hours ago and he asked when I sing, do I ‘sing-sing’ or run it through Auto-Tune. I said, ‘Dude, even though I love Pro Tools and the technology, I don’t see it.’ I had a fan ask me at a show. This kid asked me, ‘Hey man, do you run your vocals through auto-tune when you sing?’ I said, ‘No. I sing it until I get it right.’ I’m that guy. But it is what it is.”
He was then asked if he cringed when he found out that bands he was formerly associated with rely on them so heavily.
John said: “I don’t. Honestly, to each his own. Whatever makes you feel better onstage — I don’t give a shit. I don’t worry about it. I will say this: I love you guys [Blabbermouth], but I swear a relative of mine is running your website. Whenever I open my mouth, it’s Blabbermouth going, ‘John Corabi said this.’ I’m like, ‘Ugh!’ With everything, including politics, to each his own. Whatever floats your fucking boat. I don’t give a shit about what you’re doing. You shouldn’t give a shit about what I’m doing. I’m having fun. I hope you’re having fun. Let’s call it a day.”
John added: “I don’t care. If a band wants to use tapes to enhance or pull off their show, knock yourself out.”
