Rock in the 90’s. Simply amazing. It was special the first time I played Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, and Bush on the radio. I was also lucky enough to experience those bands performing live in their heyday.
Living and working so close to New York City afforded me the opportunity to attend many of the MTV Unplugged events as well. An evening with Nirvana included. Remember signature shows like Lollapalooza, H.O.R.D.E., Vans Warped Tour, and Ozzfest? It was a glorious time in rock radio.
Did I ever imagine that the band Bush would go the distance? 32 years later, Bush is a band that is going all the way and putting on better shows in 2025 (the last time I saw them) than in 1994. Truth be told, I didn’t see that coming. I didn’t imagine that all these years later, Gavin Rossdale would still be crafting such impactful music and delivering an even more dynamic stage show.
Over three decades since their multi-platinum debut “Sixteen Stone” was released, Bush is on fire. The band has just announced their “Land Of Milk And Honey” tour with special guests Mammoth and James and The Cold Gun.
Their tenth release, “I Beat Loneliness,” features 11 tracks with a familiar feel and a fresh coat of melancholy.
Recently, I caught up with Bush’s charismatic leader Gavin Rossdale on my Carr Stereo Podcast. He discussed creating modern-day Bush classics. Also his admiration for singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, and why strong openers on tour are important, and taking Bush “The Distance.”
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
Terrie Carr – You’re making some of the most impactful music of your career now. It’s very interesting because they’re Bush songs, but they’re not the same Bush songs.
Gavin Rossdale – Thank you, I love that phrase.
TC- When you’re writing these songs, are you thinking about them appealing to a new generation? Or does it sort of naturally, organically become a sign of the times and just sort of happen?
GR- It’s everything you just said. It’s trying to be as mindful as possible. Mindful of myself. I’ve gotten to be a better editor. I used to think I was better when I was younger.
Sometimes I would write things and be like, Jack Kerouac, who thought “the first thought is the best thought.” That’s not always right, though sometimes you can’t edit yourself.
I’ve just tried to be honest with myself and be like, “You’re not as good as Radiohead yet. You know, this isn’t as good as Radiohead.” “How good is this?” “Compared to a System of a Down track?”
Socrates said it, which is not to bring the interview down too far. “The more you know, the more you get to understand.” You realize “the less you know,” the smarter you are. I’ve always been kind of cursed with it. I’m smart enough to know I could be smarter!
The brilliant thing about being dumb is that you don’t know it and everyone else gets to suffer it. I’m in the position where I’m not “really smart,” but I’m smart enough to be like, “man, I wish I was smarter.”
TC- You’re crafting a sound that is your sound and continuing to take it decade after decade. Not that many people are smart enough to be able to do that. To have the feel, to know when it’s yours. To know when it’s not yours, and to continue to do it successfully without chasing trends.
There was a point in your career where all of a sudden everything kind of clicked. Was there a period for you where you said, “you know what, I think we can take this band the distance?”
GR- When I came back after a little hiatus in 2002, a couple of years away from Bush, we made Sea of Memories, which had the [song] “Sound Of Winter.” I noticed that there were a couple of songs, one in particular, which I won’t name because it’s unfair to the song, where I think I was guilty of slightly treading water. I was like, “where am I going?” “I’m not really pushing myself.” “I’m doing what I know.”
Someone like Charlie Puth. He’s an absolute genius musician. He’s phenomenal and really intriguing. I follow him and watch him. He’s so good that he could sit down and be like, “I’m doing a song only using fours. I want to be very technical,” and he does.
However, someone like me is more feral. I find the sound I like, and it’s more instinctive, more instinctual than a learned classical musician. So for me, this has been an incredible journey of pushing the music and trying to learn and understand more.
At the same time, I keep mindful of editing myself better. Keeping in mind what’s going on out there in the world. That’s important. You don’t want to be in a bubble. It’s putting all those pieces into the pot and seeing what comes out.
And you know what comes out? “I Beat Loneliness.” That’s what comes out for me. Our new album.
TC- You are taking Mammoth and James and The Cold Gun out on tour this time. I loved watching Wolfgang interview you. You could tell he was thinking, “I’m interviewing Gavin Rossdale!” And James and The Cold Gun are amazing. How important is it for you to have these great touring mates?
GR- It’s everything. I want people to have an amazing night. Truly, I don’t want to get into it, but what it costs people to go out is disproportionate and unfair. I just don’t like it.
I know I’m part of the system, so it feels hypocritical. Honestly, I should be jumping up and saying “keep prices down.” But a lot of the prices have nothing to do with me, parking, beverages, food, all that stuff.
It’s such an expensive night that you have to respect that people had many choices of what to do. If they choose to see us, it’s incumbent on us to provide a great night of music.
Bush never disappoints. In the past ten years, I’ve easily seen them five times, and they always deliver a great night of music. Bush begins their headlining tour in April and is also playing major festivals this year, including Sonic Temple, Bottlerock, and Download.
Their tenth album, “I Beat Loneliness,” is out now. It’s a personal, melodic force that delivers the mid-tempo Bush bangers we love while tackling heavy themes like mental health and current affairs.
Bush in 2026 is on fire. Nineties soul for those of us who loved those songs, with a sound for a new generation. I’m glad they went the distance. You can listen to the full interview below, and follow the Carr Stereo Podcast with Terrie Carr here.
