Bryan Adams, "Summer of '69" Singer, On 'Tracks Of My Years,' 'Wounded at Photokina,' Vegetarianism And Fatherhood

Bryan Adams is best known for a pop career that landed him in the Top 10 more than a dozen times with hits such as "Summer of '69," "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" and "Run To You."

But the Canadian star — who released a new covers album, Tracks of My Years, today — is also an award-winning photographer who specializes in intimate portraits.

His latest project is Wounded at Photokina, which features British soldiers disfigured during recent Middle Eastern conflicts. Between promoting his new album and playing several gigs, Adams is prepping a November exhibition at the esteemed Somerset House.

We caught up with the 54-year-old to talk about his photography, vegetarianism and early fatherhood, among other topics.

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You've managed to set yourself apart not only as a musician, but as a photographer. How did you latch onto the subject matter of "Wounded at Photokina"? What inspired you there?

Occasionally, things come across my desk. That one in particular was about five years ago. I was approached by a lady who was a journalist in London. She'd seen some of my pictures and came to see me and said, 'Look, I think it'd be great to do a calendar.' I said, 'No. I don't do calendars. But I tell you what: Why don't we just go in, do this, and maybe it's an exhibition. Let's see what we get.'

So over the course of four years, I photographed some extraordinary people who had been under fire and came back in pieces. It was kind of heartbreaking at times, but I wanted to do it because I wanted to create something that would be everlasting in hindsight. Because so many boys and girls are coming back from those wars, and if they weren't physically damaged, they were mentally damaged.

We live in a really tumultuous time, and I am a sensitive artist. I don't like to see people so fragmented. I wanted to do something that people wouldn't forget what this was like.

Here we are five years later, and I've got a big exhibition coming up in November in London at Somerset House, which is one of the nicest galleries in London.

How will that experience affect your next project?

One thing always leads to the other. I'm already thinking about what my next book is gonna be, so I'm sort of shooting for that now.

Any hints as to what sort of topic you might be chasing?

Well I'll certainly let you know when I get there. These things take time, and what you start out with can sometimes lead you somewhere else. You might be thinking, 'This is what I want to do,' but at the end of the day, you've already gone somewhere else.' That's the way creativity works.

Related to life-changing experiences: You have a couple young daughters, don't you?

That's right.

How did their births change the way you approach your art?

You mean having a family? It changes everything in a really beautiful way. I don't know if I can add much more than that. Do you have kids?

I don't, sir. Hopefully soon.

Don't miss it, man.

Are you still a vegetarian?

Yes. I did it because I felt better doing it. I wasn't carrying a big basketball around for a gut, you know? Everyone I knew who was a vegetarian seemed quite live. I don't know. It suits my lifestyle a lot.

Do you remember when you made that decision?

I was 28. I totally encourage it.

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BONUS COVERAGE: Read about Adams' new album, alleged decades of memory loss and affinity for Miley Cyrus at MusicTimes.

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