Interview: Saving Abel’s Eric Taylor Talks USO Tours, Giving Back

Saving Abel does good overseas. Courtesy photo.

Interview: Saving Abel rocks USO tour

Saving Abel’s sophomore album, “Miss America,” is packed tight with crunchy, post-grunge rock anthems and just enough Southern rock to prove the guys are from Corinth, Mississippi. The guys have ruled the new rock charts with hits, “Addicted,” “Drowning (Face Down),” “18 Days” and many more.

Bass player Eric Taylor recently phoned Audio Ink to talk about the band’s efforts overseas.

Audio Ink: Saving Abel frequently does USO tours in the Persian Gulf.

Taylor: Yeah, it’s really fun getting to hang out with the men and women of the military and seeing how they live. We slept in the same place as them, ate the same food – it was a really great experience.

Do you feel it’s your duty as musicians to give back by entertaining the troops?

Absolutely. What we feel – and we don’t shove it down anybody’s throats – but we feel they’re over there fighting for our freedom. We’re just asking for people to support them, not the war. (They) are sacrificing so much.

Why the title, “Miss America,” for the new album?

We chose that title when we were overseas. We have this song, “Miss America,” and it’s a soldier writing home to his mom and dad and wife. While we were over there, we said, “Let’s finish this up.” We all agreed it should be the title, and it’s the first time all five of us have agreed on something that quickly. In the song, it’s, “I miss America.” America is also known as the lady, so that term can be used different ways.

Highlight of the album?

We pinned down our sound. On this album, you can really hear the Southern rock. It shows Saving Abel isn’t afraid to get up and play some rock and roll. I’m most proud that we’ve grown as writers and musicians, and we can sit back and listen and think, “Wow, we’ve constructed that. We’ve improved that much.”

-Xtra: Skillet frontman talks with Audio Ink Radio in the Features section.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Band Profiles, Features, Interviews, Music, Rock

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