August 24, 2023 • 8 mins
Grammy winner singer Michael Bolton talks new music, tour and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
On with Mario Lopez. You're all Mario Lopez joining me
now on Zoom. Two time Grammy winning recording artist Michael Bolton,
Welcome back, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Have you been I've been great. Thanks, it's great to
be doc.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Well, thank you for taking the time, sir. Congratulations on
your latest Now, congratulations on your latest album, Spark of Light.
What is the significance of the title.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Well, we just started writing something that felt good and
it's the time kind of around.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
The peak of COVID.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
When we started realizing that all these people responding so
positively because this is their safe place to go.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Well, these are your first new original songs in almost
fifteen years, And is COVID what inspired you to return
to songwriting. Had a little time on your hands.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Oddly enough, I never thought I'd use those words.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
COVID inspired us to do some extensive deep tagging into
our original songs.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Says you had to sit still and be alone with
your thoughts. So why not? The latest single is just
the beginning. What's the story behind that?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
That's just about finding what you need is right in
front of you all the time. It's a simple feel
good song.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well, they also they all feel very positive and uplifting.
What's your secret to staying grateful about everything?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
You know?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
As you said, it's it's basically a sparkle light that
is not just the title, but really the theme of
the whole album. At a time when the country and
the whole world needed to be uplifted, and music is
such a powerful and immediate force, it became a sense
(01:50):
of responsibility to make people feel good. When you and
in the next song and say how does it sound
to you? It's really what you're asking, how does it
feel for you? Right?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And you're now currently on the road, coming up on
San Diego this Sunday. How much of the new album
will you perform during your shows?
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Well, well, definitely have some songs ready to go. We
you know, we've been looking about where we could rehearse
near the theater after San Diego is Hollywood bawl with air.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Supply, you just rehearse at Mario's house.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
There we go, if you don't mind, We'll just have
a small gathering of fifteen thousand people.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
You're more than welcome over at Casa Lopez. By the way,
that sounds like an awesome show on a beautiful summer night.
You in Air Supply, a bottle of wine at the
or a couple I should say, at the Hollywood Bowl.
What's the date on that.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
That's September third.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
All right, Michael, that sounds like a really good time.
Had you performed with the Air Supply before.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Just once?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
It was like an elements that worked out really well.
The guys are great, the band sounds great. They're seeing
an amazing voice.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Wow, because they hit some high notes. So the fact
they can still get up there, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, it's something I'm really looking forward to.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, that's a cool show. I'm gonna look into that.
That's a romantic evening right there.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You know, somebody can hook you up the tickets.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay, Michael, I might take you up on that. I
wasn't trying to hit you up, but since you threw
it out there, thank you very much. Thank you very much.
World friends. Now we've had been on the show a
bunch of times. I love it. I love it. Back
in the day, you had an iconic haircut going on.
When did you decide you wanted to cut it short?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Well, agree it long because of these British guys called
the Beatles, the British invasion had a huge effect on
myself and my older brother. They both started bands. My
brother was a drummer, he had his own band. I
had my band. Just something happened that made me. I
(04:11):
just had this gut feeling that I could make a
career in the music business out of just the joy
of playing guitar and singing songs, simple songs.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And a friend of mine shot the tapes in New York.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You know, he was bringing cassettes around for people to
hear in New York City, and he wouldn't leave their
office until they listened to at least one of the songs.
So they got to kick out of the fact that
they're going to have to call the police to end
this unwanted meeting.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
But I started getting.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Offers for record contracts when I was about fifteen years old.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So my parents became really supportive really quickly about me
pursuing a career because these record executives were really excited.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Our son is going to be a rock star.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Started Yeah, well, yeah, I was doing R and B
and rock and roll, not quite metal, some hard rock
in between.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I've had songs sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Wow, that's a fun fact.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
From that era, and.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
When did the haircut happen? It was like nineties, right.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
The haircut happened in the mid nineties. I've been thinking
about it, thinking about it.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And then my stylist, who was very much into me
changing my look.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
And going short hair, brought the guy who cuts hair
for Brad Pitt, and.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I figured, how bad can I look after he's done
with me?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
That's right, No, it turned out great. One thing I
always wanted to ask, I don't think I ever have
when I've interviewed you, Michael, that your last name is
actually is it bulletin? Is that he pronounce it?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It's plot below it And with another five minutes you
probably get it right. But nobody nobody gets it right,
and nobody in the business got it right.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Oh that's why you change So wait, but one more time?
Was it Blotin Belowton, Belowton, Belowton? What is the ethnicity
behind that?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Is Russian? It's Russian?
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Michael belowten?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (06:28):
And then who made the suggestion to change it to Bolton?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I did because I didn't want I didn't want to
go that far away from my original name that my
grandparents would be rolling over in their graves.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Yeah, but what.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I realized was when I put a phone call through.
I was used to having an operator say who should
we say is called? And I would say Michael Blowton,
I'm sorry who, and I would say five more times
they weren't even close to say my name. And we're
we're in a business where marketing and branding is so big, right.
(07:03):
My songwriting career was just starting to take off. So
I would get those little songwriting credits where songwriters' names
are those smallest names on the on the record, but
they're on the record.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And I thought, my songwriting is starting to take off.
Let me let me use a name that somebody can remember. Uh.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And I went from below and to Bolton, and that
year I started getting amazing coverage in my songs.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Look at that, Well, Michael bolt is a great name,
and it's it's cool that it doesn't straight too far
at all from your original name. So yeah, I did
meaning to ask you that, okay, and you did it yourself,
so that's cool, not like a record is exact that.
Try try to influence you nice and h And last question, Michael,
how many grandkids you have?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Now?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What are their ages?
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Sticks? And they're like twelve to the youngest is six.
That's awesome. They're spectacular, so much fun, huh.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So beautiful and free and honest and of course they
will say anything about you.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Yeah, Gpa, that's great, that's awesome. Congratulations on everything, and
I look forward to seeing you at the Hollywood Bowl
with air supply. Meanwhile, you can get tickets at thank You.
I'm gonna hit you up. I'm serious. You can get
tickets at on Withmarrio dot com to see Michael in
(08:28):
San Diego this Sunday and of course next week at
the Hollywood Bowl. Michael, thanks so much for taking the
time to hang out.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
It is a pleasure. Thanks for making the time of yourself.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Okay, thanks Michael with Mario Lopez
On with Mario Lopez. You're all Mario Lopez joining me
now on Zoom. Two time Grammy winning recording artist Michael Bolton,
Welcome back, Michael.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Have you been I've been great. Thanks, it's great to
be doc.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Well, thank you for taking the time, sir. Congratulations on
your latest Now, congratulations on your latest album, Spark of Light.
What is the significance of the title.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Well, we just started writing something that felt good and
it's the time kind of around.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
The peak of COVID.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
When we started realizing that all these people responding so
positively because this is their safe place to go.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Well, these are your first new original songs in almost
fifteen years, And is COVID what inspired you to return
to songwriting. Had a little time on your hands.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Oddly enough, I never thought I'd use those words.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
COVID inspired us to do some extensive deep tagging into
our original songs.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Says you had to sit still and be alone with
your thoughts. So why not? The latest single is just
the beginning. What's the story behind that?
Speaker 3 (01:10):
That's just about finding what you need is right in
front of you all the time. It's a simple feel
good song.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Well, they also they all feel very positive and uplifting.
What's your secret to staying grateful about everything?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
You know?
Speaker 3 (01:28):
As you said, it's it's basically a sparkle light that
is not just the title, but really the theme of
the whole album. At a time when the country and
the whole world needed to be uplifted, and music is
such a powerful and immediate force, it became a sense
(01:50):
of responsibility to make people feel good. When you and
in the next song and say how does it sound
to you? It's really what you're asking, how does it
feel for you? Right?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And you're now currently on the road, coming up on
San Diego this Sunday. How much of the new album
will you perform during your shows?
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Well, well, definitely have some songs ready to go. We
you know, we've been looking about where we could rehearse
near the theater after San Diego is Hollywood bawl with air.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Supply, you just rehearse at Mario's house.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
There we go, if you don't mind, We'll just have
a small gathering of fifteen thousand people.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
You're more than welcome over at Casa Lopez. By the way,
that sounds like an awesome show on a beautiful summer night.
You in Air Supply, a bottle of wine at the
or a couple I should say, at the Hollywood Bowl.
What's the date on that.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
That's September third.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
All right, Michael, that sounds like a really good time.
Had you performed with the Air Supply before.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Just once?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
It was like an elements that worked out really well.
The guys are great, the band sounds great. They're seeing
an amazing voice.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Wow, because they hit some high notes. So the fact
they can still get up there, that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, it's something I'm really looking forward to.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
Yeah, that's a cool show. I'm gonna look into that.
That's a romantic evening right there.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You know, somebody can hook you up the tickets.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay, Michael, I might take you up on that. I
wasn't trying to hit you up, but since you threw
it out there, thank you very much. Thank you very much.
World friends. Now we've had been on the show a
bunch of times. I love it. I love it. Back
in the day, you had an iconic haircut going on.
When did you decide you wanted to cut it short?
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Well, agree it long because of these British guys called
the Beatles, the British invasion had a huge effect on
myself and my older brother. They both started bands. My
brother was a drummer, he had his own band. I
had my band. Just something happened that made me. I
(04:11):
just had this gut feeling that I could make a
career in the music business out of just the joy
of playing guitar and singing songs, simple songs.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
And a friend of mine shot the tapes in New York.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
You know, he was bringing cassettes around for people to
hear in New York City, and he wouldn't leave their
office until they listened to at least one of the songs.
So they got to kick out of the fact that
they're going to have to call the police to end
this unwanted meeting.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
But I started getting.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Offers for record contracts when I was about fifteen years old.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So my parents became really supportive really quickly about me
pursuing a career because these record executives were really excited.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Our son is going to be a rock star.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Started Yeah, well, yeah, I was doing R and B
and rock and roll, not quite metal, some hard rock
in between.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I've had songs sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Wow, that's a fun fact.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
From that era, and.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
When did the haircut happen? It was like nineties, right.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
The haircut happened in the mid nineties. I've been thinking
about it, thinking about it.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And then my stylist, who was very much into me
changing my look.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
And going short hair, brought the guy who cuts hair
for Brad Pitt, and.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
I figured, how bad can I look after he's done
with me?
Speaker 1 (05:53):
That's right, No, it turned out great. One thing I
always wanted to ask, I don't think I ever have
when I've interviewed you, Michael, that your last name is
actually is it bulletin? Is that he pronounce it?
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It's plot below it And with another five minutes you
probably get it right. But nobody nobody gets it right,
and nobody in the business got it right.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Oh that's why you change So wait, but one more time?
Was it Blotin Belowton, Belowton, Belowton? What is the ethnicity
behind that?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Is Russian? It's Russian?
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Michael belowten?
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Wow?
Speaker 1 (06:28):
And then who made the suggestion to change it to Bolton?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I did because I didn't want I didn't want to
go that far away from my original name that my
grandparents would be rolling over in their graves.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
Yeah, but what.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I realized was when I put a phone call through.
I was used to having an operator say who should
we say is called? And I would say Michael Blowton,
I'm sorry who, and I would say five more times
they weren't even close to say my name. And we're
we're in a business where marketing and branding is so big, right.
(07:03):
My songwriting career was just starting to take off. So
I would get those little songwriting credits where songwriters' names
are those smallest names on the on the record, but
they're on the record.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
And I thought, my songwriting is starting to take off.
Let me let me use a name that somebody can remember. Uh.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And I went from below and to Bolton, and that
year I started getting amazing coverage in my songs.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Look at that, Well, Michael bolt is a great name,
and it's it's cool that it doesn't straight too far
at all from your original name. So yeah, I did
meaning to ask you that, okay, and you did it yourself,
so that's cool, not like a record is exact that.
Try try to influence you nice and h And last question, Michael,
how many grandkids you have?
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Now?
Speaker 1 (07:47):
What are their ages?
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Sticks? And they're like twelve to the youngest is six.
That's awesome. They're spectacular, so much fun, huh.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
So beautiful and free and honest and of course they
will say anything about you.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Yeah, Gpa, that's great, that's awesome. Congratulations on everything, and
I look forward to seeing you at the Hollywood Bowl
with air supply. Meanwhile, you can get tickets at thank You.
I'm gonna hit you up. I'm serious. You can get
tickets at on Withmarrio dot com to see Michael in
(08:28):
San Diego this Sunday and of course next week at
the Hollywood Bowl. Michael, thanks so much for taking the
time to hang out.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
It is a pleasure. Thanks for making the time of yourself.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Okay, thanks Michael with Mario Lopez
Host
Mario Lopez
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