Steve Wynn is a music veteran. Wynn, who was apart of 80’s band The Dream Syndicate. The Dream Syndicate along with REM and The Replacements practically invented the American indie rock scene of the 1980’s.
Steve, thanks for taking the time to chat with 9 Inning Know it All.
Please tell us more about yourself.
I had a good carnitas taco last night, I’m digging the new Phosphorescent CD this very minute and I’ve made a living playing and writing music for over 30 years. My wife is my drummer. She rocks.
Growing up who were your influences?
The Who, Roxy Music, Sandy Koufax and Captain Kangaroo.
What has been the best experience of your career so far?
Holding my first album in my hands, recording any record or playing any show that like something I would have loved as a 13-year old music fanatic, throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field.
Your a Yankee fan. Have you always been a Yankee fan?
I became a Yankee fan when I moved to New York City in 1994. I had been a lapsed Dodger fan before that. But I love NYC and wanted to support a local team. Couldn’t choose the Mets because I was a Dodger fan, hence the Yankees. They sucked when I moved here and became a dynasty after I became a fan. I take full credit.
Do you know of anyone that has used your music as a walk-up song?
Just my band mates.
Please tell us about The Baseball Project.
We’re an unlikely mix of our love for music and our love for baseball and we have been gratified to find that there are others out there who love that mix as much as we do. We know our stuff, walk the walk and talk the talk in both fields.
Do you have a favorite song that you have played or written?
Nope. I like them all more or less depending upon my mood or where I’m at any given time. I’ve recorded about 350 of my own songs so it’s nice to have some to choose between.
Do you have any favorite baseball players? And did you have any growing up?
Sandy Koufax, Dick Allen, Mark Fidrych and Pete Rose. The greats and the freaks.
Do you have a favorite place you have played and why?
Big Mama in Rome. I’ve played there more than any place in the world (40 times, more or less).
The London Guardian named “Medicine Show” one of the 40 best rock albums of all time. That must have been pretty cool. What did that mean to you and the band?
Well, it happened long after we broke up so it didn’t mean much to the band but it made me proud. I remember the full list being pretty impressive. Nice to be listed in such good company.
Who do you listen to? And give me 5 must have albums.
I like to hear new things that excite me–loving the new albums by Nick Cave, David Bowie, Foxygen, Phosphorescent, the Parquet Courts and Bill Fay
What’s your take on the PED issue in baseball? If a player fails a drug test in their career, should they be eligible for the Hall of Fame?
The ultimate in hypocrisy. Make all the names on the list public or prosecute nobody. You can’t cherry pick the players that “everyone hates” (like Clemens and Bonds.). Pisses me off. Bud Selig is the antichrist.
What’s the process for writing songs for The Baseball Project?
Something moves us or fascinates us and we try to find the angle that makes what should only exist on the sports page into something that works as a 3 minute pop song. And it’s fun and surprising how often that’s possible.
Steve, Once again thanks for taking the time. I have so many more questions for you. Can we do a follow up with you?
Wow, I think we covered a lot right there! Not much more to say than that. Except that it’s a beautiful day and I need to get out of the house. Nice talking to you