B-sides and outtakes just won’t cut it for John Ondrasik when he’s compiling CDs for the Troops. The talent behind the popular band Five for Fighting wants only the best tracks for his song collections, each designed to show the music industry’s support for the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Big Hollywood caught up with Ondrasik to get the latest on his new military-themed release, “CD for the Troops IV” and how we works with artists who might not fully support the military’s mission at any given moment.
Big Hollywood: Any unifying themes to the new album that might not be apparent on a first or second listen?
John Ondrasik: We have some younger artists on IV like Ingrid Michaelson and Mat Kearney to go with the established artists such as Matchbox 20, Wynonna and Barenaked Ladies. There’s a wide range of styles as well from Brandi Carlisle to Finger 11. As in previous compilations I try to provide something for all musical tastes.
BH: Do the contributing bands select the songs they donate, or is it a collaborative selection process between you and them?
JO: It’s collaborative, but I push for the artists’ biggest hits and, to their credit, usually win out. From the beginning I wanted popular songs, not B-sides, as that would make a statement on the gesture itself, and it’s what most folks want. One exception is if the artist has a patriotic or military-related song they would like to include.
BH: Has it been hard to get such major artists to contribute songs to these discs, or is it getting easier now that you have an established track record?
JO: Every effort you need a big name in before the dominoes start to fall. On the first CD once I had Melissa Etheridge and Billy Joel we had no problem filling out the line up. In similar respects, once we had Adam Sandler on the comedy CD, all his buds were cool coming in. This round I have to credit Rob Thomas kicking us off with the Matchbox 20 hit (“If You’re Gone”). This far into the project we have developed a credibility that helps going forward, and though we have had some who have passed, we get more yeas then neas.
BH: Was there a particular singer on the new album you were particularly eager to include – and why?
JO: I always like to include an unsigned band or someone who is out supporting the troops in an organic way. That’s why I included Gary Sinise’s LT Dan Band on CDFT I and why I chose John David Kahn’s “American Heart” for this project.
This whole effort was kicked off when I was asked to contribute music to a compilation of local independent artists who were sending music to Iraq on their own dime. I wanted to keep that purity of spirit as part of each CD.
BH: Talk about your first experience with the USO and what impacted you the most about it?
JO: When I first spoke with the USO I asked them to send me where nobody wanted to go. I figured it would be Iraq or Afghanistan but ended up in Gitmo! My first show I played for 200 National Guard at a small bar called Club Survivor. Club Survivor is literally under the flood lights of the prison, (detention center), twenty yards off the Cuban shore. We had to get through three military check points to this 10 by 20 concrete block (stage) and 20 beat up wooden benches (theater). Waiting for me at sound check was a Guardsman who was a fan of mine. We started chatting and I found his unit was at the end of their 18 month, six day per week, 12 hour shift tour and therefore was not allowed to drink that night. It seems troops go no alcohol before we send them home for leave. As I had some time we went to his lodgings (temporary housing with sheets as dividing walls since the prison (detention center) is technically temporary). This particular soldier was torn as his unit was being sent to Iraq and he had fulfilled his commitment. He had not seen his kids in 17 months but was worried about his other “kids” going to combat for the first time. I noted he had a small copy of the Constitution on a table bedside.
John Ondrasik
That night, playing my song “Freedom Never Cries,” there was an American Flag silhouetted by the moon above Club Survivor. In the far back round you could see the lit Cuban guard tours and fence surrounding Gitmo. For years I had sung this song that speaks of the cost of Freedom and in the faces of the Guardsman, and the landscape of Gitmo it all hit home. That reality I wish all Americans could experience.
Oh, and I saw my new Guardsman friend at a different gig a couple days later. I asked him what he did today, and he said, ‘I re-enlisted.’
He smiled when I teared up.
BH: Entertainers today sometimes get a bad rap from the Right for not being more supportive of the troops. What’s been your experience with projects like the “Troops” CDs? Have the albums helped open your fellow entertainers eyes about the work the soldiers do, or do you find they’re generally eager to help in any way they can?
JO: The reality is, like Hollywood, most non-country artists are liberal. (See the Obama’s campaign arena rock show.) Still, there is a vein of anti-military sentiment throughout the industry – many work with the USO and though they “don’t support the mission, support the troops.” My main goal from day one was to make a cultural statement with high-profile artists from both sides of the political spectrum reinforcing that view. I understand that some may find it cynical but thinking back to Vietnam, it was celebrities that were part of the slander and disgrace that our soldiers were subject to. Whether we like it or not, culture drives opinion, both domestic and international. The more high-profile names I get on record supporting the troops the better, in my opinion.
BH: Artists often speak out on behalf of social causes – but some are criticized for either not doing enough or not following through to see if the funds raised are going to the right places. Talk about your approach to charitable work and did anyone give you advice along the way that made doing the right thing more effective?
JO: I had no clue about the red tape I’d have to cut through to make this happen, or I probably wouldn’t have jumped in the pool. Sadly, because of past abuse, setting up one’s foundation for philanthropy is crazy expensive and prohibits charitable efforts. Just this year the rules changed so we couldn’t pay our one expense (legal bills to clear the songs) though the California Community Foundation. Why our government makes it so hard for people who want to do good works is beyond me.
One piece of advice is to find great partners. I’ve been blessed to have amazing cohorts in Triwest Health Care, Operation Homefront, Sony Manufacturing, Aware Records, and the Army Air Force Exchange.
In the big picture the causes I’ve worked for have provided personal inspiration, wonderful relationships, amazing experiences and great example/perspective for not just me but my children as well. It has been the true gift of my career. On that note, check out Augiesquest.org.
BH: What’s on your plate next? CD for the Troops V? More work with the USO? Work on a new Five for Fighting album?
JO: I’m thinking of going Classic Rock for CDFT V…What you think?
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