High On Adams: In Conversation with Darren Thorpe

Tribute acts have become a much-loved part of the live music scene in the UK, celebrating iconic artists while giving fans the chance to relive legendary songs in intimate venues. One such band is High On Adams, Birmingham’s very own tribute to Bryan Adams. We sat down with frontman Darren Thorpe to talk about the band’s beginnings, his admiration for Bryan Adams, and what it takes to recreate the magic of one of rock’s most enduring voices.

Darren, let’s start at the beginning — how did High On Adams form, and what drew you personally to paying tribute to Bryan Adams?

I think it all started back in 1991 after the release of the Waking Up the Neighbours album. I was just getting into rock music at the tender age of 10 — I’d just had my “first real six-string” for Christmas, and back then we could borrow music cassettes from the local library. I borrowed Waking Up the Neighbours and had it on repeat until I knew every word. Shortly after, “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” seemed to stay at number one in the charts forever — it was everywhere. People loved it at first and then started to hate it, but I actually found it funny because it was a rock artist keeping all the other rubbish out there from claiming the number one spot.

As I grew into a spotty teenager, I was still listening to a lot of Bryan’s music, but I’d found the harder stuff — Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Green Day and The Offspring were all being blasted out of my bedroom with teenage angst, much to my parents’ disgust! But they always approved of Bryan’s music — my dad loved Run to You and my mum’s favourite was Summer of ’69. I kind of introduced them to Bryan’s music and they became big fans soon after. Whenever we were at family parties, my mum would always ask me to sing Summer of ’69 if there was karaoke — and of course I obliged. The crowd always loved it and sang along with me. I think that’s when I got the hook and knew I wanted to front a band.

Fast forward almost 30 years — in early 2022 the world came to swallow me up as my mum was taken ill and passed away at the age of 73. This was obviously a very upsetting time for me as I looked up to my mum and dad a lot, but guess which song we chose to have at her funeral for everyone to walk into...Summer of ’69.

At the time of her passing, I was playing with an originals band as rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist. I never really enjoyed it much (neither did my mum), as it’s so hard to get a crowd to engage with original material. The songs were great, but coming out of Covid, I was just happy to be playing. I said to Clare (my partner) that I’d always wanted to do a Bryan Adams tribute band — I knew my mum would have loved it, and it would be a great ode to her. The problem was, nobody ever advertises for a “Bryan Adams”! Where could I audition for that kind of gig? Clare simply said, “Start your own.” That was the lightbulb moment — of course, advertise for like-minded musicians and form the band myself. The rest is history, but really, I owe it all to my mum (and Clare). That’s why, every time we play Summer of ’69, you’ll see me pointing up to the sky to say, “Thanks, Mum — this one’s for you.”

Bryan Adams has such a vast catalogue. What is it about his music that resonates with you most strongly?

I’ve been listening to Bryan’s music since I was 10 years old — it’s been with me through childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. There’s a song of his for just about every mood. You can rock out to Kids Wanna Rock or chill out with some of his acoustic performances. I always remember when I lived on my own in a flat in Walsall back in 2010 — Bryan had just released his Bare Bones album: just Bryan, an acoustic guitar, harmonica, and Gary Breit on piano. Some of those renditions really resonated with me, as he reworked some of his most famous songs in a way that had never been heard before. It was so atmospheric to listen to that album with a few drinks and low lighting — it helped me reflect and gave me great thinking time.

Singing along and trying to play those songs on my acoustic guitar helped me focus on my voice and pitch it closer to his. I’ve always wanted to sing like him, but that album really let me hear his voice more clearly. His vocals are just incredible — I can only ever dream of sounding as good as that!

Do you have a personal favourite song to perform, and does the crowd always respond the way you expect?

Summer of ’69! It’s the one I feel closest to, but it also gets the crowd going every single time — everyone’s dancing, singing, clapping, and having a great time. We never want it to stop — it’s timeless! Another song that goes down surprisingly well (even though people claim to hate it) is Everything I Do. The crowd sings back every single word, and it’s great to give them the spotlight for a bit.

Bryan Adams’ career has spanned decades — how do you see his music evolving over the years, and how does that influence your setlists?

Thankfully, I don’t think Bryan’s music has changed too much over the years. Somehow, I feel Bryan and his band — particularly Keith Scott — are underrated in the rock world. But I think that’s because Bryan has always produced music for the love of it, rather than chasing world domination. He’s stayed true to himself, written amazing songs, and built an incredibly loyal fanbase. That really comes through in his recent Roll with the Punches album — catchy, middle-of-the-road rock songs with a few love songs thrown in for good measure.

That’s what you get with our setlist — great rock songs, melodic choruses, and love songs for everyone to sing along to. The most recent track we’ve added is Kick Ass from So Happy It Hurts. It starts with a John Cleese reading (we don’t do that bit… yet!) and then Bryan bursts in with “LET THERE BE GUITAR, DRUMS, BASS, PIANO, LET THERE BE KICK ASS ROCKING BANDS...” That’s now our set opener, and it goes down a treat with the crowd.

When you step on stage, how do you and the band go about recreating the sound and energy of a Bryan Adams concert?

We watch loads of Bryan’s concerts and try to replicate as much as we can — the clothing, the instruments, and the sound. But the biggest thing we focus on is the energy and crowd interaction. From the first minute I’m engaging with the audience — getting them to sing, clap, and light up the room with their phone torches. I’ll play guitar and move around with the rest of the band just like Bryan does with Keith Scott. We even ask for volunteers to come on stage for the Mel C part of When You’re Gone.

It’s great playing the songs note for note, but the most important thing is sending the crowd home “so happy it hurts.”

Tribute acts are hugely popular in the UK right now. Why do you think they strike such a chord with audiences?

Tribute acts give something special to the live music world. They let people relive moments they love, and introduce new audiences to artists they might not have seen before. In some cases, they offer the “next best thing” when the real artist is no longer touring or tickets are just too expensive. We’re lucky that Bryan is still out there performing, but tribute shows offer an affordable alternative — and in the current cost-of-living climate, that’s important.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a tribute band, and what keeps you motivated?

I’ve been in cover bands before, but tributes get critiqued in ways others don’t. You’ll always get comments like, “His hair’s not the same,” or “Bryan doesn’t do it like that.” But a tribute is exactly what it says on the tin — a tribute! You’re there to play the songs people love as close as possible to the originals. We’ll never look identical to the real artists, but we do our best.

That’s always a tricky one for me — Bryan’s a teetotal vegan, and my waistline’s a little larger than his (I love a drink and my meat!) — but otherwise, I’m not too far off! Haha.

What have been some of the highlights for High On Adams so far? Any particularly unforgettable gigs or fan moments?

Every gig feels like a highlight to me, but the one that stands out is our first ever show at The Robin in Bilston. I’d performed there before as a support act for other tributes and always wondered what it’d be like to headline — to have our name on the bill. To do that with a band I’d built from scratch and absolutely smash it was amazing.

We’ve had plenty of unforgettable fan moments too — and a few we’d rather forget! Once we had a slightly tipsy volunteer come up for the Mel C part and announce herself as a stripper in front of everyone. That was an eventful night! We’ve even had a few “Male C’s” on stage too — it’s always good fun.

Looking ahead, what’s next for the band? Are there any venues or festivals you’d love to tick off the list?

We want world domination! Haha. Seriously though, we want to ramp up our promotion. We’ve ticked off some of the best live venues around — The Buttermarket in Shrewsbury, The Robin in Bilston, The Station in Cannock, Billesley Rock Club in Birmingham, and Birdwell Venue in Barnsley, to name a few. We’ve played festivals across the country, but I’d love to start performing in theatres and music halls. That’s one goal that’s eluded us so far, but in 2026 we’re determined to make it happen. Bryan’s music would sound incredible in those settings.

Finally, if you could sit down with Bryan Adams himself for a chat over a pint, what would you ask him?

I’d ask him what it was like to perform It’s Only Love with the late Tina Turner — what an experience that must’ve been, sharing the stage with such a powerhouse! Then, after that, I’d probably ask if he’s going to drink that pint — since he’s teetotal, I’d be happy to help him out!

FX Pedal Planet Online Store would like to thank Darren Thorpe for his time for this interview and wish the band every success in the future. Please check out High On Adams WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK.

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