EXTREME's GARY CHERONE: 'I Don't Really Wanna Play Another Show Until There's New Material'

Massachusetts hard rockers EXTREME are putting the finishing touches on the long-awaited new album for an early 2017 release. Speaking to Metalholic, EXTREME singer Gary Cherone stated about the progress of the writing and recording sessions for the follow-up to 2008's "Saudades de Rock": "First thing is, we apologize to our fans. To get us in the same room has been a difficult thing. But we have more than enough material for a record. We've been recording [and] finishing up some writing. It's really whittling it down. It's been a while since we've put out new music. We're not gonna compromise it. We're definitely overdue."

Regarding the musical direction of the new EXTREME material, Cherone said: "There will be, like all EXTREME records, familiar elements, but also stuff… Over the years, when Nuno [Bettencourt, guitar] and I write, we're affected by our environment and music changes throughout the years, so those elements… There will still be some new elements to the band as well. Hopefully that always happens; you always wanna grow and evolve and move on. But the guitars will be there, the harmonies will be there, the songs, the hooks, the lyrics… There'll still be elements of the past, but certainly new elements [as well]."

Gary added that EXTREME is taking a break from touring until the album is completed. "I don't really wanna play another show until there's new material," he explained. "I know there'll be some festivals and some offers coming our way, but the band's determined to finish some music up for the fans. We owe it to 'em."

EXTREME's first studio album in thirteen years, "Saudades de Rock" (pronounced "sow-dodge") was released in August 2008 on Open E Records and distributed by Fontana. The European version of the CD included a bonus track, the "Americocaine" demo from 1985, the very first studio recording of EXTREME.

2015 marked the 25th anniversary of EXTREME's classic album "Pornograffitti", the definitive album of the band's career. To mark the anniversary, "Pornograffitti Live 25 / Metal Meltdown" will be released October 14 by the award-winning production company Rock Fuel Media in association with Loud & Proud Records as part of their four-part "Metal Meltdown" DVD series. The concert film captures the Boston band performing "Pornograffitti" in its entirety.

EXTREME released a live CD and DVD, "Take Us Alive", in May 2010 in the U.S. via Frontiers.