Mark McGrath: "we're certainly not the most talented guys, and I can barely sing" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-26-2009, 12:33 AM

Mark McGrath knows what you're thinking. The singer never called Sugar Ray the world's greatest rock & roll band, but they had some fun during their peak years in the '90s with bouncy radio hits like "Fly" and "Every Morning." They toured the world, sold millions of records and landed on the cover of Rolling Stone in March 1999. "That's when they were really giving it away for free," McGrath jokes in a typically self-deprecating rasp.

Sugar Ray never broke up, and have continued to tour even during the increasingly lean years that followed their '90s boom. McGrath also recently finished a four-year run as TV host of the entertainment news show Extra, helping keep score on Nick and Jessica and Brad and Angelina. And today, Sugar Ray release their first new album since 2003, Music For Cougars, and begin a national tour with Fastball on July 24th.

It's an unexpected new chapter for the original Orange County lineup of McGrath, guitarist Rodney Sheppard, drummer Stan Frazier, bassist Murphy Karges and DJ Homicide (a.k.a. Craig Bullock), now recording for Pulse/Universal/Fontana. The new album features guest appearances by Rivers Cuomo, Donovan Frankenreiter and others, and was produced by Josh Abraham and Luke Walker.

As a grinning, unshaven McGrath sits in the studio at Pulse Recording in Los Angeles, a tall cup of Pepsi from 7-Eleven at his feet, he sounds happy to be back full time with the band. "We've been through all the things of Behind the Music — the drugs, the chicks, having money, having no money, and I think the biggest reward of this band is that we're still together after all these years," says McGrath, now 41. "Getting onstage together is like the first time we ever jammed. The joy of playing with these guys still exists."

How did this record come together?
Obviously, there is not this huge demand to make a Sugar Ray record from the public. It was, hey, we still got all our parts together, we still like each other, we're still a band after 21 years, and we haven't been creative in about six. We had no new material, and we said, sure, let's try it. In September, I left Extra, and it became a full-time thing.

You had been doing all that TV. Was it different coming back to it like this?
It was great to get back to what your passion is. I don't think anybody looks at me as a songwriter musician guy. Probably just the opposite. But I love it so much. I started as a fan first, and willed my way into being in a band and figuring out how to write songs. It was great to scratch that itch of writing again. This is where I came to work everyday, not Extra. I got to wear my clothes. I got to be me again.

You guys never broke up?
There was a misconception because I was at Extra. We played about 30-40 shows a year. If you were at Shrimp Fest or the county fair and you smelled funnel cake, Sugar Ray was playing. That Spinal Tap/puppet show thing was happening to us. We did a best-of in 2005, and we had a single on the Surf's Up soundtrack in 2007.

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto..._still_rocks/1

Hollow · 07-26-2009, 02:13 AM

lol yeah they suck.

Darren J. · 07-26-2009, 02:40 AM

That's actually one of the last things I thought he would say. I remember when Sugar Ray came onto the scene in 1997. They were pretty big then and remained popular for a good 3-4 years. They are a talented group and had at least a moderate amount of success.

catlover79 · 07-26-2009, 09:06 AM

At least he's being honest.

MickeyMac · 07-26-2009, 04:05 PM

Sugar Ray is the reason radios come with push buttons.

Schmoopie · 07-28-2009, 05:41 AM

Is it bad for me to admit that I like Sugar Ray?

07-26-2009, 12:33 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Mark McGrath: "we're certainly not the most talented guys, and I can barely sing" Mark McGrath knows what you're thinking. The singer never called Sugar Ray the world's greatest rock & roll band, but they had some fun during their peak years in the '90s with bouncy radio hits like "Fly" and "Every Morning." They toured the world, sold millions of records and landed on the cover of Rolling Stone in March 1999. "That's when they were really giving it away for free," McGrath jokes in a typically self-deprecating rasp. Sugar Ray never broke up, and have continued to tour even during the increasingly lean years that followed their '90s boom. McGrath also recently finished a four-year run as TV host of the entertainment news show Extra, helping keep score on Nick and Jessica and Brad and Angelina. And today, Sugar Ray release their first new album since 2003, Music For Cougars, and begin a national tour with Fastball on July 24th. It's an unexpected new chapter for the original Orange County lineup of McGrath, guitarist Rodney Sheppard, drummer Stan Frazier, bassist Murphy Karges and DJ Homicide (a.k.a. Craig Bullock), now recording for Pulse/Universal/Fontana. The new album features guest appearances by Rivers Cuomo, Donovan Frankenreiter and others, and was produced by Josh Abraham and Luke Walker. As a grinning, unshaven McGrath sits in the studio at Pulse Recording in Los Angeles, a tall cup of Pepsi from 7-Eleven at his feet, he sounds happy to be back full time with the band. "We've been through all the things of Behind the Music — the drugs, the chicks, having money, having no money, and I think the biggest reward of this band is that we're still together after all these years," says McGrath, now 41. "Getting onstage together is like the first time we ever jammed. The joy of playing with these guys still exists." How did this record come together? Obviously, there is not this huge demand to make a Sugar Ray record from the public. It was, hey, we still got all our parts together, we still like each other, we're still a band after 21 years, and we haven't been creative in about six. We had no new material, and we said, sure, let's try it. In September, I left Extra, and it became a full-time thing. You had been doing all that TV. Was it different coming back to it like this? It was great to get back to what your passion is. I don't think anybody looks at me as a songwriter musician guy. Probably just the opposite. But I love it so much. I started as a fan first, and willed my way into being in a band and figuring out how to write songs. It was great to scratch that itch of writing again. This is where I came to work everyday, not Extra. I got to wear my clothes. I got to be me again. You guys never broke up? There was a misconception because I was at Extra. We played about 30-40 shows a year. If you were at Shrimp Fest or the county fair and you smelled funnel cake, Sugar Ray was playing. That Spinal Tap/puppet show thing was happening to us. We did a best-of in 2005, and we had a single on the Surf's Up soundtrack in 2007. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/sto..._still_rocks/1
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

07-26-2009, 09:06 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	At least he's being honest.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

07-28-2009, 05:41 AM	#6
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Is it bad for me to admit that I like Sugar Ray?
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

07-26-2009, 02:13 AM	#2
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	lol yeah they suck.

07-26-2009, 02:40 AM	#3
Darren J. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 19, 2009 Posts: 692	That's actually one of the last things I thought he would say. I remember when Sugar Ray came onto the scene in 1997. They were pretty big then and remained popular for a good 3-4 years. They are a talented group and had at least a moderate amount of success.

07-26-2009, 04:05 PM	#5
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	Sugar Ray is the reason radios come with push buttons.