By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune and other outlets
June 25, 2024
More than three decades into their career, Collective Soul recently released the double album, “Here to Eternity,” and are currently on tour with Hootie & the Blowfish. From their respective Atlanta homes, singer-songwriter Ed Roland and bassist Will Turpin discussed their tour, how they spend their free time on the road and where they’d like to visit one day. Fans of the group may follow them on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and X. And for tour updates, check out their website . This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: Where was your first Collective Soul concert?
Ed: One of the first places we played together that was the most memorable and [that] we will never forget is Woodstock ’94.
Q: What do you do on tour when you’re not on stage?
Will: We try to have fun on tour. We will plan outings on days off. We like to go see baseball games.
Q: Your band has toured for decades. Is there a city on this current tour that is new to you?
Ed: When you’ve been [in] a band for as long as we have, we have toured just about everywhere at this point. So I don’t think there is a city on this tour we haven’t been to before many times.
Q: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned from your travels?
Will: That at our core, humans all enjoy and want the same things.
Q: Have you ever traveled specifically to see an artist perform?
Ed: I’ve actually traveled many places to see an artist perform, but the ones that stand out to me the most are Elton John, Duran Duran, Elvis Costello, U2 and Paul McCartney.
Q: What are your five favorite cities?
Will: Austin, Asheville, Phoenix, Vancouver and Tampa.
Q: Do you work on any material while on the road?
Ed: Yes, I just wrote three more songs this week. I’m always writing whenever I get the chance.
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
Will: First time in Mexico was a bad trip. The airline misplaced my luggage and we all got Montezuma’s revenge. Every time we go to New Zealand, it’s an awesome trip. We love the people, vibe and scenery there.
Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?
Ed: When I was a child, going to New York to [visit] the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. I remember absolutely loving it. It was a very memorable time with my family.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
Will: Chicago is a great one! We have always loved the area.
Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
Ed: I would have to say heaven.
Will: I’d like to go to Ireland.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you’re on the road?
Will: Trying every town’s [cooking] style when it comes to Buffalo chicken wings.
Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
Will: Just basic geography and locations of popular destinations.
Q: Do you speak any foreign languages? And in the same train of thought, do you pick up new languages easily?
Will: I speak a little bit of Spanish. I like to think I’m good at picking up basic common statements.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
Ed: My acoustic guitar.
Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you prefer a food truck or fine dining?
Ed: There are a lot of great places to eat in the world. But for me, nothing will ever beat my mom’s home cooking.
© 2024 JAE-HA KIM
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