Bryan Adams

Bryan Adams Artistfacts

  • Nov. 5, 1959
  • He grew up in Canada, but owns a house in London, where he lives when he is not on tour.
  • He is much more popular in Canada than the US. He plays much smaller venues when he tours in America.
  • Adams has done duets with Celine Dion, Bonnie Raitt, Barbra Streisand, Tina Turner, and Mel C. of the Spice Girls.
  • When he was 16, he quit school to make music.
  • Content regulations require Canadian radio stations to broadcast mostly Canadian artists. Adams 1991 album Waking Up The Neighbours was co-produced by Mutt Lange, so the government did not consider it Canadian and limited its airplay. Adams has protested the regulations, which have been relaxed, ever since. Canadian Content rules require radio stations to play 35% Canadian music between the hours of 6:00am and midnight. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Pam - Vancouver, Canada
  • Bryan had a small role in the movie Pink Cadillac.
  • He was named Canadian Artist Of The Decade for the '80s by the Canadian Recording Industry Association.
  • His father was a Canadian diplomat. Adams lived in many countries in Europe and Asia when he was young.
  • When he was 17, Adams became lead singer of Vancouver rock group Sweeney Todd.
  • In 1999, he released a book featuring photographs of Canadian women. Some of his subjects: Sara McLachlan, Neve Campbell, Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, and Shania Twain. Proceeds went to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
  • As he stated in an article in The Guardian, Adams is a vegan, meaning he eats no meat, cheese, milk or eggs. Says Adams: "I abide by the rule that if it looks like it's going to clog your system, it probably will." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tom - Trowbridge, England
  • Bryan Adams has two daughters by his girlfriend, Alicia Grimaldi. They are Mirabella Bunny (born April 22, 2011) and Lula Rosylea (born February 15, 2013). Lula Rosylea was born in London during tea time, which influenced their choice of name. "Rosylea is cockney rhyming slang in London for 'cup of tea,'" Adams explained to People magazine. "And the name Lula comes from Gene Vincent's song 'Be-Bop-a-Lula.'"
  • Bryan Adams recalled his childhood during an interview with the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine. "My father was a diplomat in the Canadian foreign service so we traveled around a lot," he said. "So I was a polite, well-behaved child. I was also aimless until I discovered music at a young age. After that I would lock the bedroom door, play records and learn the guitar. Music became my whole life."

Comments: 4

  • Dana from Woodbury, Mn, MnI'd read that he had personally called up New Orleans radio stations asking them NOT to play "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" because former Klansman David Duke was using it as his campaign theme song, and didn't want people down there thinking he was a David Duke supporter.
  • Jo from Newcastle, AustraliaBTW- he's just released another book of photo's of famous women, for Breast Cancer. A great friend of his died from the disease.
    Onya Bry!
  • Caitlin from Vancouver, CanadaWent to a highschool in North Vancouver called Sutherland Secondary. His piano is still in the Music room. Very cool to go to the school where he went:D
  • Jo from Newcastle, AustraliaV.talented muso and v.funny guy- have seen him in action twice now; he tends to reveal different things about different songs each time.

    Take last night - in the Hunter Valley vineyards, where he intro-ed a particular song by saying "A lot of people have ideas about what certain songs are about. There is a gross misconception about this song. It has NOTHIN' to do with the year 1969." When someone asked him "What's it about then?" he replied "You figure it out Honey!" He then very clearly sang "...me and my baby in a sixty nine..."

    He also said "don't know what I was thinkin' when I wrote 'Everything I Do'"
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.