Kim Hughes, Now-Toronto
November 8th, 1990
It’s hard to say if Gino Vannelli’s first tour in 12 years is doing much to reinforce a more contemporary sound and image for the singer, or if that’s his intention. While the 84 release of the single Black Cars, accompanied by a slick video with androgynous looking models, showed Vannelli’s willingness to break new ground. old, notions die hard. Vannelli remains strongly associated with the 70s disco era and its trappings the gold chains, wide-open shirts and tight trousers.
All it takes is a phone call to the Diamond – where Vannelli gives two shows next week – to learn that his sex-symbol image still holds.Says Diamond promotions person Dawna Vinnels. calls about ticket information and seating arrangements have been pouring in. most from middle-aged women. “When I tell them they can get as close to him as his knees,” Vinnels says, “I can practically hear them swoon. For his part, Vannelli jokingly rejects the idea that he’s a “lady killer.””I never killed one lady in my life,” he says. But the point is taken. So why tour now? “This is for myself.” Vannelli says. “I don’t care what the turnout is, what people’s preconceptions are. I just needed to go out. Doing this reflects a much deeper, deeper decision than just going out on the road because my album needs promoting or my image needs boosting.
“I love singing and I haven’t done that in front of people for 12 years. I began feeling like a pent up animal, a tiger in a cage. and when I get on that stage. I start to blow it all out. “When Black Cars came out. it felt like a new beginning,” the soft spoken singer continues. “But I wasn’t sure if I was really ready. I could have toured, there would have been an audience, but I think I was going through some personal growth thing. I didn’t want to be half there. I didn’t want to be a potpourri of a person.” Indeed, the last few years have witnessed significant changes in Vannelli’s career and personal life as well as his image. A switch from longtime label A & M to PolyGram, and the birth of his first child have both figured in. And he’s continued to sell records – by the million.
So is this jaunt with a full band away of paying back fans who’ve re-mained faithful throughout his career? “I’m not sure that I felt I owed them anything,” he says. “When you put it like that, maybe I do owe them something. I never thought about it. “You have to understand something,” he explains. “The 70’s was a whole different era. A lot of artists performing today, if they had been around in the 70s, they ‘would have been really pooh-poohed. “Picture Prince or someone like that performing in the days when the Eagles were really hot. The mind set was post-Woodstock. So I think I was mismatched to an era.
