EXTREME Interview with Nuno Bettencourt & Pat Badger | AMS

You know what's EXTREME!? Our interview with Extreme! We got to sit down with Nuno Bettencourt and Pat Badger from the band Extreme to talk about everything from their latest album to trying out Eddie Van Halen's rig and their approach to writing killer music. Needless to say, we learned a lot.
Here’s a list of some of the amazing Shure gear that EXTREME uses:
Shure SLDX14 Wireless Guitar System: ter.li/AmericanMusical-Shure-...
Shure WA307 Premium Locking Guitar Cable: ter.li/AmericanMusical-Shure-...
Shure SBCS03-US Dual Docking Charger: ter.li/AmericanMusical-Shure-...
Shure SB903 Lithium Ion Rechargeable battery: ter.li/AmericanMusical-Shure-...
Shure Super 55 Deluxe Dynamic Vocal Microphone: ter.li/AmericanMusical-Shure-...
Shure PSM300 Wireless Transmitter: ter.li/AmericanMusical-Shure-...
For all other gear needs head on over to AmericanMusical.com
#AmericanMusicalSupply #EXTREME #interview #NunoBettencourt #PatBadger #RussandRyan #ams
Chapter Markers:
0:00 - Intro
0:27 - Songwriting process
2:21 - What we can’t take off the album
3:25 - Do it for yourself
7:11 - Influences
10:00 - Vocal textures
11:36 - Why we do it
14:50 - The gear doesn’t make the musician
16:25 - The difference between being a musician and being and artist
19:00 - Great guitarists come from great bands
20:54 - Are you willing to take the harder road
23:55 - Punching in the clock
24:28 - EXTREME Shure gear
26:16 - Philosophy of tone
28:54 - Everyone sounds like themselves
29:55 - Why the capital letters?
30:54 - Outro

[@xGuitarInFlamesx]

16:11 Nuno and Pat's friendship right there, I love it

[@cognitivepawn]

III Sides to Every Story is a masterpiece! It contains beautiful melodies and talented songwriting.

[@bobhanover4841]

I agree! I've been listening to it a lot lately. I'm also re-discovering Waiting for The Punchline.

[@gtdcoder]

Yes but it’s so long. I actually prefer Waiting for a Punchline. I like to listen to albums all the way thru.

[@darkghoulrecords]

I think every Extreme album is better than the last.

[@bpshogun3748]

I listed to III sides CD hundreds of times in the 90s even if grunge albums 💿 were coming out everyday and fading away. Waiting for the punchline was exciting new sound and an upgraded drummer! 🥁 (now with dream theater 🤯)

[@yoshikigrg8]

Exactly. Extreme is so underrated.

[@GlennGerard]

8:32 What an ace guy Nuno is! Always carrying the King's X flag. Much respect!

[@DesireeStamat]

Extreme is the sum of its parts. 3 part harmonies, showmanship, awesome lyrics and great funky music. And boy are we loving the new music! We are looking forward to seeing them again this winter. Great work boys. Good to hear Pat Badger speak. ❤

[@TheLookingGlassAU]

AC/DC are a great example of the band making the individuals shine in a way they couldn't or wouldn't alone.

[@yrmthr]

My most favorite records are the ones I didn't understand at first. Giving the artists you admire a chance to enlighten you can be very rewarding

[@evh1984]

this album for me was like a 7/10 for me when it first came out now i think it’s either a 9 if not 10

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

I think that's a great point. If you listen to it a few times, you hear the songs differently and see the album as a whole.

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

Six I took to immediately. I loved it from the first listen.

[@darrenXparker]

Pat’s underrated as a vocalist

[@leayhgbbrvxzwaxhyunrxeaXgy]

He is killing it as usual. Gary.. not so much unfortunately.

[@UsRanger]

Gary is still rocking.. He's not 25 anymore. I'm just glad I can see them live and be entertained.

[@h_helenasantos515]

O Pat é ótimo,mas eles não são uma boy band(onde todos cantam e dançam 😂),Gary é o frontman,a contribuição de todos é perfeita,cada qual na sua função.

[@feelinguru-vywiththepaingu9808]

Saw them in Reno about a month ago. They were amazing, every single one of them!

[@michellegiardinobast7471]

This album is awesome. Just what we needed to wake up Rock again. Should be nominated for awards this year♥️. Went to the concert and it was awesome . Like fine wine.. better and better with age.🍷

[@joerobinson2538]

I would second that! The album truly is a masterpiece. It’s strong enough definitely to wake Rock music up from its sleep.

[@slydog75]

It's amazing how good they are live to this day.

[@marleemumu]

Post Melbourne 10/9/23 show in Australia (absolutely brilliant show), we were discussing what it is about Extreme music that we love; it's the melodies, harmonies, the mise en scene that each song unfolds before you. Each one with different flavours. Yes, Nuno is a maestro but it IS the ensemble that makes it.

[@michaelgray4986]

Sydney 12/9 farkin AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME,Living Colour also AWESOME

[@tonymontana-uw1bq]

Extreme were awesome at the Enmore! Even better than 2018 tour with Mr Big!

[@darrenXparker]

Interviewing Nuno isn’t easy, good job and vibe.

[@clausm2203]

Glad they are back great band

[@sucobass]

Super interesting interview!!! The last Extreme album is great, powerful and catchy .Not only it has jaw dropping solos and vocal harmonies but also superb music composition skills and musicianship. Saw them one month ago in Milano and they killed it! Amazing show!

[@scottteague3738]

Patty B, the most underrated bass player in the biz.

[@marcomazotti]

Pad, one of the greatest bass players in rock history! His sound is unique and of course .. Extreme are still killer! :)

[@tim46387]

I've heard Nuno on several interviews, Like with Rick Beato, and he makes sense. I get what he's saying. He doesn't come from anything other than a really organic approach, And I respect that. You write songs that represent you to the core and those are the ones you share with the fans, the family. friends, I get that. I appreciate that attitude. You get the best that the band has to bring to the table. Worth it. Love you too Pat. Such a big part of the bottom end groove and great vocal talent. Much respect.

[@liorauf]

Great interview and a huge band! SIX is an amazing album!

[@liebeschnuck4123]

They explain, what AI can never offer us. Extreme Natural Energy ✌🏽 I just visited a concert in Cologne, Germany (Dec/23) and could feel the collective energy of the band 🤍 Handmade, pure love for the music, paired with mindblowing skills: art vs. artificial - the artists win. 🤍

[@Audrey-nz6cc]

What an amazing interview! Loved the variety of questions and it was great to learn why all the song titles were in capital letters. 😂

[@misha_musica_]

I loved this interview! Thanks for dividing the video by the questions, awesome!

[@DVitaleCox]

Thematic AOR is integral to my personality. Thank God to the kismet that brought these 4 to our purview. You stand tall amidst the few. Rock on my friends!

[@classicaxe1]

Today in Rock & Roll history ! Only at AMS Rock Central !

[@jpslaym0936]

Nuno always does great interviews

[@mathtrixmusiclix4248]

Lol. The AMS censor be like “awww, f&$@! Not Nuno!!!” (subscribed)

[@djlehara]

Met all of them on 8/8 in reading. And WOW GREAT GUYS

[@JeffPulinski]

Great interview!

[@insertgoodname4809]

Nuno is always a good interview.

[@4stringz.]

great interview !!

[@volt8ge]

“I like to say that films are never finished, they're only abandoned.” - George Lucas I love Nuno but if he came up with this in the moment I’d been surprised lol but maybe he did!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I kinda got claustrophobic watching this. ;) Still loved it.

[@kipripper3267]

LOVE THIS!!!

[@thomasjimenez6724]

Got my tickets for Austin show! Wooooooo

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

Super interview.

[@mikeoscarparijs1313]

Once again :thank U guys for waving the KING'S X banner!!!

[@originalgiantvintage]

Great job!

[@reginaricaaquinde7727]

I love you, Nuno💕... Whatever it takes❣️

[@BillyBongwaters]

coool thanks for this

[@nextplanet6275]

Glad you guys asked about the ALL-CAPS on the song titles.... I was wondering the same! It stills annoys me but at least they answered ;P

[@angelahamrick-cooley3599]

3 sides, I believe is their magnum opus. Brilliant and life changing for me.

[@hollywoodactress]

Great interviews Did anyone do a detailed rig rundown of Nuno and Pat’s gear during the 2023 Extreme world tour ?

[@user-zr7wc1dh2c]

Nuno, did you see you had a target behind your head? 3 days before I wrote I felt like an arrow set off in the air.... Wondering what target I was meant to hit. Looks like an answer! Brilliant. LiliAne, AquAries 👋😆👍

[@lucyenesenna5686]

❣️🎸🎶❣️

[@fmbighair]

7:11 good for you Nunno! Ain’t no shame for having influences younger than. Punchline was THE best Extreme album!

[@MrNickHorn]

I love the band part, but when he talks about Eddie, it's the same way I've seen him and I'm a drummer. I have always thought that Eddie was a Rhythm-Lead player and that is why he is the best ever He changed the game. He grew up listening to bands like Cream, Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath. Hendrix did amazing things on the guitar and played backup in real blues bands in America, which all the British bands wanted to be. He hit his peak, but it was still blues-based and he sang, at that time it was amazing. Great! The bottom end never dropped out when Eddie played a solo. My first band did a lot of Metallica and Megadeth. The guitarist was way better than I was, but I noticed that bands would put a backing track on their albums when they did a solo. We were a 3-Piece, because it was hard to find a Rhythm guitarist iin Hiroshima at the time. You can only pound the drums harder to a point when a solo would come up. Cheers!

[@longhorn2615]

King’s X!

[@UsRanger]

F yea... I think they were referring to Dog Man. That's my guess.

[@lindalvaartesa9595]

Nuno meu rei feliz aniversário muita saúde paz

[@mikeimpressionsreviews9831]

PaKeNuGa!🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍🦍

[@RockFan89]

Sayreville. Jon Bon Jovi's little hometown =)

[@mariaisabelsanchezpena7296]

Estaría bien que al menos pusieran subtítulos en español, hablemos millones de personas en el mundo que nos quedamos con las ganas de saber lo que dicen

[@g_man2177]

EVH once said that 90% of guitar in music is the rhythm.

[@lahaza6515]

He would look great with a haircut similar to the Dramagods era. It's getting straggly and he's too handsome to start looking like the crypt keeper.

[@allkindsamusicchick]

I agree with Bettencourt's belief that the listener must be willing to have an affair with the offering. I have revisited many a disc that I wasn't too keen on, although a great fan of the artist. Sometimes....I fall in love....sometimes....the offering is deemed a lost cause.

[@rosamariajustinojustino8033]

nuno is beatfull and the best guitarist 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 and talk very much😢

[@whoisOldboy]

The way they talk about hating the recording of an album makes the EXTREME shitty /beyond garbage engineering sound of the new album a bit more understandable^^

[@tammyf.7864]

I know you're trying to get a Rise - see what I did there? - out of true Extreme fans, but if you really feel this way about the new album, why are you even here? 😒

[@whoisOldboy]

@@tammyf.7864 I see what you did there 😁 I commented here because I am a fan and I am EXTREMEly disappointed about the sound . It doesn’t let me enjoy the album . If you compare the engineering to 3sides , the difference could not be more significant. It sounds like someone threw a big blanket over my speakers. And I just can’t understand how someone would want an album to sound like that 😑

[@stevewright1539]

@@whoisOldboyYup! The songs are great but a “difficult” listen (sonically) due to the mix. Says a lot about the songs.

[@lorettasearcy1471]

Is Nuno still married?

[@gavinkennett8381]

Remarried 👍

[@lorettasearcy1471]

@@gavinkennett8381 Yeah I know to someone 24 years younger than him.

[@user-hm9nj9eh8g]

Van Halen four, really?? nooooo 🙄

[@chrisorrell3066]

May be off topic but the more I listen to Van Halen iii the more I like it. It may not be their most popular album obviously but Eddie’s playing on that album is stellar. I would have liked to hear what the next one with Gary and a real producer would have been like.

[@brightredcar]

It seems I'm in a very small minority but this album was a little disappointing to me. Great songs but for me, it's missing Nuno's rhythm riffing. Nuno in the past got me more interested in rhythm than any other guitarist. This album just feels a bit stale, or 'staple'. Don't get me wrong, I'm still so very happy that they finally released another album. They are my favorite band, I just can't help but feel a bit cold.

[@UsRanger]

I totally agree... Yes, it's a great album... A great Rock album.. To me, Extreme is......... Funk Metal.. Nice place to visit, Money, Comfortably Dumb, Pornograffiti, GTFO, He Man, Flesh and blood etc.. They are also my favorite band and I'm glad the rest of the world is finally seeing their potential.

[@gregmeyer1805]

Extreme is my favorite band of all time for the many reasons that have been posted before me. After I saw the video for "Get the Funk Out" on Headbanger's Ball I got the Pornograffitti album on cassette. Obviously was blown away by the talent on display. When III Sides was released I was initially disappointed because it wasn't Pornograffitti. It took me multiple listens to get past that aspect and to finally accept and embrace it as the musical masterpiece journey that it is. It is my "alone on a deserted island" album. Now that I've rambled a bit I was get back on topic lol. I too, even after multiple listens, am not blown away by Six. It's really good. It's Extreme. But to put it above their previous albums I cannot do. I'm part of the minority as well. The production sounds muffled and that's really surprising coming from Nuno. I can go on and on about the things that irritate me about the album as a whole so I will stop. Extreme is an amazing group of guys and it's wonderful to hear new tunes from them. Even if it's just really good I'll take it. I don't think it's anywhere on the same level as Saudades but that is someone who is in the minority would say lol

[@iamjarrettdean9358]

Starland = HUNKA BUNKA 😅😂

[@patriciagonzales2148]

I love Nuno but Pat’s not getting a chance to say anything.

[@Bona19646]

Eight minutes into this, does Nuno ever shut up? I like him and everything, but for heaven’s sakes, let the other guy talk.

[@gregmeyer1805]

All Nuno interviews are like this. Like myself, when Nuno talks about something he's passionate about he tends to really go off. The guy just loves to play music which is why I could listen to his interviews all day. However, I'm just as interested in what Pat has to say as well so it would've been nice to have him be able to chime in more than a few times for a grand total of 60 seconds lol

[@monkeyhouse1672]

Please tell Nuno to not fill side 2 with utter filler next time. All the good songs are on aide 1. Then it just gets boring. It's miles away from Porno, or III sides. The singles are amazing. But side 2 sounds like out takes from Nuno's solo output. It sounds dated like he's still obsessed with 90's alternative music. Awful. Pete Pardo's review of the record was spot on. Its half an album. If you put the best songs off this with the best songs of Saudades de Rock - you have a good album. Where's the melodies and harmonies gone? Where's the adventure and risk? It's just 90s alt rock by numbers on side 2. He even says 'We DO get influenced by Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana though...' for fuck's sake. Please stick to Van Halen, Queen, classic stuff guys - not the crap from the grunge era that's SOOOOO DATED NOW!

[@TemploSagital]

I think the eclecticism demands an open mind, is great to join 80's and 90's...

[@noneyerbidness]

wtf, why two interviewers? with three people talking there's already too many people talking over each other - four makes this almost unlistenable. regardless, looking forward to seeing extreme live, and SIX just kills. eta: UGH! that 'Van Halen IV' comment at the end made me cringe...hard.

[@rbee1804]

Yeah ~ the Van Halen IV comment even made Nuno shake his head a bit. What possessed the interviewer to say that?! Ended interview on a low point, for me.

[@noneyerbidness]

awful@@rbee1804

[@bheinlen]

I always think it's funny that Nuno thinks he can explain his magic. He doesn't know; only we do.

[@bheinlen]

I listened to the first three songs over and over, couldn't wait for the album. I think I've listened to it twice. Huge disappointment

[@xmonikerhotmailcom]

Pat needs to adopt a whole plant diet. Not looking so good on the standard, fat laden American diet.