When I saw Mona Gnader playing her bass guitar at Universal City's
Amphitheater my first thought was that the instrument was as big
as she was. When I told her that later she just laughed. Large or
small, Gnader is one very good bassist, respected among her colleagues
in the business.
I recently talked to Gnader about her musical career and her life
with the Waboritas, Sammy Hagar’s post-Van Halen rock incarnation.
She was a pleasure to talk to and was "totally stoked," as she put
it, to be doing the interview.
When she’s not touring or playing dates at Hagar’s Baja Mexico stronghold,
Cabo Wabo, Gnader lives along the northern coast of California.
Her rugged spirit is emphasized in the fact that she has made a
name for herself in the male-dominated world of bass guitar. Hagar
is by no means the first man to notice her chops; she has played
with other high-profile musicians such as Tommy Tutone, Wayne Perkins
and Gene Parsons.
This year, Gnader’s powerful playing supports the swaggering party
rock heard on Hagar's most recent release, "Red Voodoo." The Waboritas,
named after Hagar’s favorite drink (something akin to a Marguerita,
but with Cabo Wabo Tequila), are on tour this year.
"The new album is totally killer," she says. "The fans will dig
it, and we'll attract a lot of new fans with it as well."
WOMANROCK – What got you started in your career and how did you
get started as a bass player?
MONA – I had begun playing guitar and I did that for a couple of
years. It goes back to when I was 11 or 12. And when I got into
high school I wanted to continue and I couldn't because they weren't
real big on guitar players. So I chose the closest thing to guitar,
which was bass. It was an acoustic bass that I ended up playing
for a few years. And once I picked that up the guitar just really
got left behind. I went in to get bass lessons and ended up getting
a gig with the guy who was giving the lessons. So that was kind
of cool.
WOMANROCK – Did you start a band or have you always worked for hire?
MONA – I’ve always really worked for other people. I actually prefer
working for other people. A lot of people are exactly the opposite,
but I actually like that.
WOMANROCK – What was your specific goal when you started playing
the bass? Where did you want to take it?
MONA – I really was tuned into the songs. I have always been really
into the song. And I guess my biggest goal has always been to be
real supportive of the song and play what was required to make the
song happen. I have never really been a huge, incredible, fast soloist
or anything, for me it's really always been the song and the groove.
WOMANROCK – What do you think is the most important thing in your
career that you have done to get where you are today?
MONA – Being true to myself as a player and as a person. I have
always been a really strong person as far as what I will and will
not do and in what ways I will or will not compromise. It's really
important, especially for young players.
WOMANROCK – Who are your biggest influences?
MONA – Oh, Paul McCartney. He is definitely the reason that I am
playing bass. Of course, I love all of Motown.
WOMANROCK – What is your favorite kind of music?
MONA – It's hard to say; any great song. I listen to a lot of blues
and rock, early rock. But I was a little bit left confused by the
90s rock thing; I'm not really into that ‘Hey, I'm miserable, come
be miserable with me.’ That's what I love about Sammy.
WOMANROCK – How did you get hooked up with him?
MONA – Through David Lauser [drummer for the Waboritas].
WOMANROCK – You’re playing on this tour and what else?
MONA – I did the 1997 Marching to Mars tour and I did the new CD.
WOMANROCK – Do you think you have sacrificed for success?
MONA – Well, there were a few very lean financial years, I have
to say. I would consider that to be about it.
WOMANROCK – Anything else about your career or your goals that you
set for yourself early on that you want to talk about?
MONA – Let's see, I would love to play with Eric Clapton or Paul
McCartney. My goal is just to keep becoming a stronger player, which
as I said earlier doesn't necessarily mean becoming a great soloist
or anything. Always to be strong with the groove and very supportive.
And I love to sing backup. I think of my singing sort of the same
way as the bass; I love to sing backup and I don’t really want to
be a solo artist or [lead] singer.
WOMANROCK – Did you always know you were going to be a musician?
MONA – I can remember when I was in pre-school. I remember there
was a lady that would come in once a week with her guitar and one
time I actually had the guts to tell her I'm going to play guitar
when I get older. That's one of the very few memories I have from
when I was a kid. I always knew.
WOMANROCK – Did you do anything else before you became a full-time
bass player, did you do any other jobs?
MONA – Oh yeah, a very brief stint at McDonalds, but I worked in
a machine shop, a couple of different machine shops, for quite a
few years and I enjoyed that. I liked the mechanical things – I
like working with my hands.
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