Speaking with Jimmy Stafford of Train

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
August 9, 2002

It’s a different world for Train’s Jimmy Stafford these days. One minute he’s watching Gwyneth Paltrow act it up in “The Royal Tenenbaums.” The next moment, there she is touring with them.

Come again?

“She’s friends with Sheryl and was singing on stage with her for a while,” says the guitarist/mandolinist for Train. “So, she was on the road with us for a while. It was surreal.”

That’s Sheryl Crow he’s talking about. Crow and Train are among the acts performing at the Jeep World Outside Festival on Sunday at the Tweeter Center. Concertgoers can take a break from the music by checking out all the other activities, including scuba diving, mountain biking and rock climbing. In other words, this is a sportier Lollapalooza.

“That’s about right,” says Stafford, who grew up in Morris, which is about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. “It’s an interesting idea for a concert tour. I can’t think of very many places where you can go listen to Sheryl Crow and then go get certified in scuba diving.”

Though the title track from Train’s current album, “Drops of Jupiter,” still gets strong radio play, Stafford says the band is ready for its next record to come out.

“I’m not sure if people are tired of hearing that song yet because Billboard magazine said it was the most-spun song on the radio of the year,” he says in a phone call from Portland, Ore. “But we still like it. The recording turned out really nice. But we just finished recording the new album yesterday. We started it in mid-February and have been working on it in bits and pieces. It’s been crazy, but in a good way.”

HERE’S WHAT ELSE STAFFORD HAD TO SAY:

Favorite musicians: I love Wilco. I also bought the Norah Jones CD.

Secret crush: Norah Jones. I love her. I want to date her.

Brush with fame: We share the same manager, label and record producer with Bruce Springsteen. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Atlanta a month ago. He dropped by the studio one day and was just the nicest, most normal guy in the world.

Favorite food: I’ve really become a big sushi guy over the past 10 years.

Hanging with Tiger Woods: We performed at a benefit for the Tiger Woods Foundation. We were supposed to play golf with Tiger but he had to cancel. He’s going to make it up to us in December. I don’t play golf, but I just bought my first set of clubs anyhow. I’ll get a chance to practice once the tour’s over.

First concert: I remember going to the Rockford Speedway to see AC/DC, Molly Hatchet and Cheap Trick. But my first concert in Chicago was at the old Chicago Stadium. I saw KISS when I was in eighth grade. We went with a buddy’s parents who waited outside for us. It was pretty exciting stuff. I bought a T-shirt, which my mom saved. She saves everything. She has more Train stuff than I ever knew existed.

Wanna be my neighbor?: I’m fooling around with the idea of getting a place in Chicago. The idea has always been kicking around in my head, but now I’m more serious about it. I like the Wrigleyville area a lot.

How he keeps that head so nice and smooth: I just use the same electric shaver I use for my face.

Favorite sports: I enjoy lots of activities, but I like rock climbing in Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas, where I live. The last time I was out there, I saw a very experienced climber fall to his death. I had to hike out to try to get to an area where my cell phone could get a reception so I could call 911. It was crazy.

Favorite Chicago experience: I remember one crazy night in Chicago at Pippin’s [Tavern, on Rush]. It was right near our hotel and we went there after a show and had a really good time. I don’t really do that sort of thing often. I’m more of a dinner and movie kind of guy.

Tell us something we don’t know: I’ve just recently gotten into shaving my chest a little bit. I’m not a real hairy guy, though.

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Jeep World Outside Festival featuring Sheryl Crow and Train
3 p.m. Sunday
Tweeter Center, 19100 S. Ridgeland, Tinley Park,
Tickets, $32-$37
(312) 559-1212