Hard rock meets high art Hard rock meets high art (January 30, 2004)

Bon Jovi keyboardist brings rock-star spirit to new musical

By Dana Green

Preparing for the preview show of "Memphis," David Bryan has enough energy for a cast of thousands.

As he watches the cast run through lines and the crew set the stage, one hand grips an extra-large coffee cup while the other is free to emphasize his enthusiasm for the topic at hand: his parallel passions for theater and rock 'n' roll.

A founding member of the rock band Bon Jovi, composer-keyboardist Bryan has collaborated with playwright Joe DiPietro on "Memphis," which premiered Saturday at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Bryan wrote and composed 25 songs for the musical production, which played first at Boston's North Shore Music Theatre to positive reviews.

For Bryan, the transition from rock star to theater composer was not difficult. He just brought his rock 'n' roll roots with him.

"It's not really a transition," Bryan said with a smile. "It's (just) shaking the cage."

After he severely injured his finger in an accident in the early 1990s, Bryan was temporarily unable to play the piano and turned his focus to composing. His publicist, John Titto, suggested he give theater a try. He met with DiPietro, who asked him to write the music for "Memphis."

"I like ['Memphis'] because it says what music does ... it's a celebration of what brings us together," he said.

Bryan's rock-star resume brings a dose of passion and excitement to the 1950s musical. When he arrived on the set, he instructed the musicians to think of themselves as a rock band, not an orchestra. "I told them, 'Listen, it's a band -- you're a rock band with a horn section,'" he said, grinning.

Bryan certainly doesn't look the part of the community theater type. While he is wearing the requisite all-black outfit, it's enlivened by a silver-gilded cowboy shirt and tight black jeans. With his curly blond hair and ready smile, Bryan's enthusiasm is palpable.

When he first introduced the songs for the show, he jumped on stage and sang them solo. "I'm up there singing my ass off!" Bryan said, laughing uproariously at the memory.

In Bon Jovi, composition is a collaborative process. With "Memphis," Bryan found himself adjusting to the responsibility of being the chief composer for a full musical production. "In this world, I have nine people in the band looking at me, saying, what do I play?" Bryan said. "Any time the band plays a note, I get the credit and the blame."

When "Memphis" opened before a sedate, serious audience in Boston, Bryan thought his musical was dead in the water. Instead, the crowd ended up on its feet, singing with the cast. "People want that joy. That's what this show does," Bryan said.

Although Bon Jovi is an ongoing commitment, the band has supported Bryan's solo efforts. Jon Bon Jovi attended the opening in Boston, and guitarist Richie Sambora had promised to attend the premiere. "We support each other," Bryan said. "I can bring a whole new experience of this world to my band."

Bryan lives in Coltsneck, N.J., with his wife April, 9-year-old twins Colton and Gabrielle, and his 3-year-old, TygerLily. When they saw the show in Boston, his children were disappointed to discover the music wasn't quite current.

"They thought it was about rap music," Bryan said with a laugh. "That's all they know." After the show, Bryan gave his reluctant young audience a crash course in the music of the '50s and '60s.

Bryan thinks the themes in "Memphis" resonate with anyone who has faced change and adversity. "They have a dream ... they can take away your freedom, your money, your house ... but not your dream."

Meanwhile, Bryan has embraced the positive changes the world of theater has brought to his career. He recently submitted songs for two other theater projects, including a John Waters production of "Crybaby."

"My moonlighting gig is turning into a full-time job," Bryan said with a rock-star smile.

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