Thicker Than Blood: Extreme Carries On

It was a Sunday in Sacramento. The congregation was on its feet. The figure in the spotlight, Gary Cherone, preached an urgent message: 

"Love is all, all you need..." 

That line may come from the Extreme song "Thicker Than Blood," but it's also a key band ethos. Whether Extreme is delivering the goods in dusty Northern California, or at Hellfest in Clisson, France, their beliefs remain intact. These guys are steadfast — truly dedicated to their cause. 

Anything this durable begs examination. In 1990, the power trio King's X proclaimed, "It's love that holds it all together." But what's holding Extreme together in 2024? Based on the observable evidence, it's fan devotion, and a commitment to each other. America may run on Dunkin', but Extreme's using another fuel altogether. This is a robust, Boston-bred brotherhood, full of intention and propelled by an enviable, high-flying songbook. On tour in support of Extreme's 2023 album Six are Cherone (vocals), Nuno Bettencourt (guitar, vocals), Pat Badger (bass), and first-rate drummer Kevin Figueirido, a fellow Bay Stater onboarded in 2007.

Gary Cherone in Sacramento

"Here I am, on the road again..." At Hard Rock Live in Sacramento last February, Extreme was hitting it for the third consecutive night (shows in Indio and Phoenix preceded this gig), but they still radiated vitality. Cherone's spry energy and Bettencourt's Washburn acrobatics combined to sensational effect. Meanwhile, Badger reinforced his rep as a secret weapon, with his on-point backing vocals and rhythm. Touring logistics unavoidably conjure the exhausted, "playin' star again" blues of Bob Seger's "Turn the Page," but wait... there's something else going on here. Call it joy, call it feeding off the crowd, call it what you want. Watching Extreme, a lifelong music fan was reminded of Brad Delp singing "Rock and Roll Band," his tenor aloft and awestruck: 

"But when we got up on stage and got ready to play, people came alive / Rock and roll band, everybody's waitin' / Getting' crazy, anticipatin' / Love and music..."

 

Like that other act out of Boston, Extreme takes none of this for granted. And notably, given their 39 years of existence, they can boast being 3/4 intact, making them a near-anomaly when compared to other acts of their era. (The metric would be 100% instead of 75%, but founding drummer Paul Geary left in 1994 to become an artist manager). The band clearly values authenticity and dignity; they wouldn't allow some near-tribute outfit to go out there, so don't expect "Badger's Extreme Evening" or "Cherone's Side of the Story" to be hitting a club near you anytime soon. 

Figueirido, Bettencourt, Cherone and Badger

Extreme's overall longevity is commendable. There have been on-again, off-again eras, but Nuno, Gary and Pat have consistently found their way back to each other, as family often does. Extreme formed in the mid-'80s, and after winning "Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band" two years in a row at the Boston Music Awards, they were signed to A&M Records, and released their self-titled debut in 1989. That timestamp feels especially momentous in hindsight, because it shows that Extreme arrived at a distinct midpoint between the peak of Sunset Strip glam-rock debauchery and Seattle angst. Lyrics from their haymaker of a debut single, "Kid Ego," seem to address the failings of hair metal and its attendant Icarus narratives that set the stage for grunge: "Some modesty would suit you better"; "...the bigger they come / The harder they must all fall."

Upon reflection, the guys in Extreme were too creative and emotionally intelligent to convincingly be branded hair metal. They were too upbeat, too East Coast (and too early) for grunge. Ultimately, they were too steeped in the sweet emotion, bombast, and guitar heroism of '70s rock to deny they stood on the shoulders of giants (Daltrey-Townshend, Mercury-May, Plant-Page, Tyler-Perry, Edward Van Halen). 

It's what they did with those influences that matters. Extreme forged their own path, revealing a songwriting and performance sophistication that outclassed all the mascara-smeared, Gazzari's-playing, Rainbow Bar and Grill pizza-eating gutter rats. In the process, they created a form of counterprogramming to what was out there at the time. They were reverent classicists with a vision, more A Night at the Opera than Look What the Cat Dragged In.

Extreme's concept albums, vulnerability, and bold eclecticism (heavy metal shredding, funk, piano torch songs, acoustic rave-ups, musical theater references, etc.) set them apart, but not at the expense of success. They conquered the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 with the number one hit "More Than Words," a harmony-drenched, evergreen ballad now woven into the American (and easily, global) musical tapestry. Their pop instincts served them well yet again that year when the single "Hole Hearted" reached number four on the same chart a few months later, adding to the double-platinum success of their second LP Extreme II: Pornograffiti.

1992 saw the release of III Sides to Every Story, a thrill ride of existential, romantic and political themes that showcased the quartet's artistic bravery and potential. While recording that album, Extreme received an invite to perform at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, and were even introduced onstage by Brian May (an avowed Bettencourt fan to this day — check YouTube). Like "More Than Words," Wembley was major profile boost for Extreme, and one of their finest hours. But sadly, and as Yeats once wrote, things fall apart; the center cannot hold. Following Geary's 1994 departure, the band recorded 1995's Waiting for the Punchline, went on tour, and broke up the next year.

A long, winding road then unfurled for Extreme. It's a complex timeline marked by Cherone's stint in Van Halen and solo ventures (Tribe of Judah, Hurtsmile); Bettencourt's own projects (the Schizophonic album, Mourning Widows, DramaGods, Satellite Party) as well as a gig playing for Rihanna; and various reunions, hiatuses and tours. 2008 marked the arrival of Saudades de Rock, Extreme's last full-length effort for 15 years. In spite of all the upheaval, track 4 of Saudades found the band unbroken and defiant: "They'll never take us alive."

With the release of 2023's Six, Extreme delivered a mature, late-career statement — one greeted with acclaim and undeniable fan excitement. It also sent guitar aficionados into their bedrooms to decode Bettencourt's light-up-the-sky, god-tier solo from the lead single "Rise." Dedicated to the late Edward Van Halen, Six means business — it's by turns explosive (the confrontational thunder of "The Mask," the Internet troll-crushing "#Rebel"), romantic ("Other Side of the Rainbow"), and unexpectedly devastating ("Hurricane"). As with any Extreme album, Six also colors outside the lines, with haunting industrial textures ("X Out") and even beach-ready summer pop ("Beautiful Girls"). The closing track, "Here's to the Losers," finds Extreme inverting "We Are the Champions" in the name of compassion ("...you cannot win them all / We all have dropped the ball at one time / Game on the line "). This warmhearted benediction is among Six's best moments.

Nuno Bettencourt

Six is full of songs meant to be played live, and in Sacramento, Extreme summoned the power and precision to do their newer material justice. "Banshee" and "#Rebel" brought the passion and warfare, while "Other Side of the Rainbow" and "Small Town Beautiful" provided exhilaration and grace. At certain moments, there were direct quotes of Van Halen, Sam Cooke, Elvis, Queen, and even Andrew Lloyd Webber — bits of hero worship that underlined the band's respect for their predecessors. "Cupid's Dead" (from III Sides) was a dizzying zenith, with its tightly coiled funk, breakbeats and rapid-fire Nuno runs. Mid-set, "Am I Ever Gonna Change" served as a challenge and reminder that human struggle is universal. Still, the next selection, "Thicker Than Blood," offered a solution — one that's helped Extreme carry on for 39 years:

"Just take a look around / There’s so much to be found / Open your heart and you’ll find in you / Love is all, all you need..."

Extreme hits the road again this September in the U.S. and Canada. Tour dates:

Sep. 1 - VooDoo Lounge - Kansas City, MO

Sep. 4 – The Pub Station – Billings, MT

Sep. 5 – The Newberry – Great Falls, MT

Sep. 7 - Emerald Queen Casino - Tacoma, WA

Sep. 8 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Spokane, WA

Sep. 10 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, Canada

Sep. 12 – River Cree Casino & Resort – Enoch, Canada

Sep. 13 – Grey Eagle Event Centre – Tsuut'ina, Canada

Sep. 15 – TCU Place – Saskatoon, Canada

Sep. 16 – Casino Regina – Regina, Canada

Sep. 18 – Club Regent Casino – Winnipeg, Canada

Sep. 20 – Thunder Bay Community Auditorium – Thunder Bay, Canada

Sep. 21 – EPIC Event Center – Green Bay, WI

Sep. 22 - Mystic Lake Casino Hotel - Prior Lake, MN

Sep. 24 – Taft Theatre – Cincinnati, OH

Sep. 25 – Riviera Theatre – N. Tonawanda, NY

Sep. 27 – Casino Rama Resort – Rama, Canada

Sep. 28 – MTELUS – Montréal, Canada

Photo credits: Extreme group photo by Jesse Lirola. Live photos by Mary Layton.