Classic Music Saved Me Replay with Pat Monahan from Train

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Classic Music Saved Me Replay with Pat Monahan from Train"

Podcast Information:

• Title: takin' a walk
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: Classic Music Saved Me Replay with Pat Monahan from Train
• Release Date: March 19, 2025
• Description: The "takin' a walk" MUSIC HISTORY ON FOOT podcast, hosted by Buzz Knight, explores music history through engaging stories and insights from musicians, bands, and industry experts.

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Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of "Music Saved Me," host Lynne Hoffman welcomes Pat Monahan, the charismatic frontman of the Grammy-winning band Train. The conversation delves deep into how music serves as a healing force, both personally for Pat and for his fans. Lynne expresses her excitement about Pat's appearance, highlighting their long-standing friendship.

Music as a Healing Power

Lynne Hoffman: "Do you believe that music has healing powers?"
Pat Monahan [05:00]: "Yes. I've received emails many times that music has done wonderful things for people that I've been a part of... There's got to be something in music that stimulates our brains and hearts to shift or change or progress."

Pat shares a poignant story about an autistic child who, despite never having spoken, began singing "Hey Soul Sister," illustrating the profound impact music can have on individuals facing significant challenges.

Personal Journey and Connection with Music

Lynne Hoffman: "Can you give us one example?"
Pat Monahan [06:12]: "I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and music was a thing that separated me from my peers... I would just sing to everybody in class and it was usually Led Zeppelin songs... that led me to become a singer and eventually start Train."

Pat reflects on his formative years, emphasizing how music was not just a passion but a lifeline that distinguished him and paved the way for his future career.

Relationship with Fans

Lynne Hoffman: "What it means to you when you hear from your fans about their lives and their challenges and their loss."
Pat Monahan [07:05]: "They mean as much as it would mean if a close friend told you... We've become very close friends. We email each other and sometimes talk on the phone. And other times we meet on a cruise every other year."

Pat discusses the deep bond he shares with his fans, whom he affectionately calls "Trainiacs," and how their personal stories and interactions strengthen his connection to them.

Transparency and Sharing Personal Struggles

Lynne Hoffman: "Is it even difficult for you to share what's happening in your life with people through your music?"
Pat Monahan [07:53]: "I share what feels like it wouldn't be a burden for people... I don't really look to Train fans for sympathy or comfort... When people are really struggling with big stuff, if I share something with a similar story, if it feels appropriate."

Pat explains his thoughtful approach to sharing personal experiences through his music, ensuring that his openness is supportive rather than burdensome to his audience.

Creating "Drops of Jupiter"

Lynne Hoffman: "Your song 'Drops of Jupiter' is one of the greatest songs of all time... Can you tell us about how you created that?"
Pat Monahan [09:05]: "We recorded an album called 'Something More' and delivered it to Columbia Records, but they didn't think we had a first single... I woke up with all the lyrics and melodies in my head as though my mother had delivered me the message... It had to translate into a love story."

Pat narrates the emotional genesis of "Drops of Jupiter," a song deeply inspired by the loss of his mother. He describes the moment the song's lyrics and melodies came to him, feeling like a message from his late mother, which he then artfully transformed into a universally relatable love story.

Unexpected Success of "Drops of Jupiter"

Lynne Hoffman: "Were you surprised at how huge that song was and how it connected with so many people?"
Pat Monahan [10:17]: "There's no reason for that song to become a hit... It was pretty interesting that it happened."

Despite initial doubts about its potential, "Drops of Jupiter" resonated widely with audiences, becoming a monumental success. Pat reflects on the unexpected nature of its acclaim, attributing its impact to the authentic emotion embedded in the song.

Philanthropic Endeavors: Family House

Lynne Hoffman: "You had a charity that you work with, your charity House in San Francisco. Can you tell us about that?"
Pat Monahan [10:54]: "It's a place called Family House that houses low-income families with very sick kids being treated at UCSF Hospital... Proceeds from wine sales go to Family House... It's an incredible program that has saved people's lives and dignity for many years."

Pat highlights his commitment to giving back through Family House, a sanctuary for families with seriously ill children. By integrating philanthropy with his ventures, such as wine sales, Pat ensures continuous support for this vital cause.

Vocal Surgery and Overcoming Adversity

Lynne Hoffman: "You had vocal surgery in the past... What was it like for you going through that surgery?"
Pat Monahan [12:52]: "It was the scariest thing that you can imagine... They removed scar tissue from both folds of my vocal cords because I couldn't sing at all... After the surgery, I can sing in many cases better than I ever have."

Pat opens up about his challenging experience with vocal surgery, detailing the fear and uncertainty he faced. His successful recovery not only restored his singing ability but also enhanced it, showcasing his resilience and dedication to his craft.

Legacy and the Importance of Hope in Music

Lynne Hoffman: "How would you like your music to be remembered in terms of the good that it spreads in the world?"
Pat Monahan [15:29]: "For the short time that we'll be here on the planet and for however many years after, I just think that music is supposed to have hope... Hope is underrated and really helps."

Pat shares his vision for his musical legacy, emphasizing the role of hope in his songwriting. He believes that music should inspire and uplift, offering solace and optimism to listeners amidst life's challenges.

Lynne Hoffman: "Do you think writing music also is sort of therapeutic?"
Pat Monahan [17:09]: "Oh, yeah, 100%. If I didn't have the ability to write music, then I would be a mess because it really helps a lot."

Acknowledging the therapeutic nature of music, Pat credits songwriting as a crucial outlet for his emotions and a means to maintain his mental well-being.

Closing Remarks

Lynne expresses her gratitude to Pat for sharing his profound insights and personal stories. Pat reciprocates the appreciation, acknowledging the joy his music brings to countless individuals.

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Notable Quotes:

• Pat Monahan [05:00]: "Music has saved my life many times."
• Pat Monahan [09:05]: "I woke up with all the lyrics and melodies in my head as though my mother had delivered me the message."
• Pat Monahan [15:29]: "Hope is underrated and really helps."
• Pat Monahan [17:09]: "If I didn't have the ability to write music, then I would be a mess because it really helps a lot."

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This episode of "Music Saved Me" offers a deep dive into Pat Monahan's relationship with music, illustrating how it acts as a source of healing, connection, and hope. Through personal anecdotes and thoughtful reflections, listeners gain a richer understanding of the transformative power of music in both Pat's life and the lives of his fans.

Transcript

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[Pat Monahan]

Me When Hey Soul Sister came out, there was a family with a highly autistic child who was eight years old and had not spoken one word in his lifetime. The parents were in the kitchen and the television was on in the other room and obviously that video for Hayes Soul Sister was on and they heard something that they've never heard before and walked in and their son was singing to hey Soul Sister. The first thing that they ever heard this 8 year old do was sing that song.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I'm Lynne Hoffman and this is the Music Saved Me podcast. The podcast where we get to explore the healing powers of music with some of the biggest names in music. And we also love being supporters of Musicians on Call, which is a wonderful charity that does tremendous work using the healing power of music to make a difference for so many. Today our guest is the leader of the multi Grammy winning band and an old pal from Train, Pat Monahan. Pat, it is so great to have you on Music Saved Me. I think it's been a minute since I've seen you and I actually still have the Train bottle of wine here that I have not drunk yet. So very special occasion for me today.

[Pat Monahan]

Great it is for me too. Thank you.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Welcome to the show. Not sure when the last time we spoke was, but today it's specifically about music and how it can heal. And I'm curious, do you believe that music has healing powers?

[Pat Monahan]

Yes. I've received emails many times that music has done wonderful Things for people that I've been a part of. And I'm very grateful for those emails and conversations that I've had. One particular was when hey Soul Sister came out. There was a family with a highly autistic child who was eight years old and had not spoken one word in his lifetime. And the parents were in the kitchen and the television was on in the other room. And obviously that video for Haes Soul Sister was on. And they heard something that they've never heard before and walked in and their son was singing to hey Soul Sister. The first thing that they ever heard this 8 year old do was sing that song. So there's got to be something in music that stimulates our brains and hearts to shift or change or progress, whatever it is. But I definitely believe in it. I know music has saved my life many times.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Can you give us one example?

[Pat Monahan]

Well, I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and music was a thing that separated me from my peers, that I tried sports to do that, to be exceptional at it. And that didn't work. And academics certainly didn't work and there weren't many other choices. So I would just sing to everybody in class and it was usually Led Zeppelin songs. And then from there I became a singer in a Led Zeppelin cover ban. And well, then I ended up moving to Los Angeles and San Francisco to start train.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Well, you have a very strong connection with your fans. They're called Trainiacs. I've met quite a few of them in my day. And I want to know what it means to you when you hear from your fans about their lives and their challenges and their loss.

[Pat Monahan]

Well, I mean, you know, it means as much as it would mean if a close friend told you, because these people have been with me for, you know, 30 years. So we've become very close friends. We email each other and sometimes talk on the phone. And other times we meet on a cruise every other year, which is really a great way to connect with them and for them to connect with us.

[Lynne Hoffman]

There's this trend for artists to be transparent about their lives. For example, we've had Jelly Roll. We've also heard similar stories from Brent Smith from Shinedown. I wonder. You've always been an open book about your life through your music. I want to say, how difficult. But is it even difficult for you to share what's happening in your life with people through your music?

[Pat Monahan]

You know, I share what feels like it wouldn't be a burden for people. You know, when I do have struggles, I don't really look to train Fans for sympathy or comfort. However, I will share similar stories that people are sharing with me. But I don't feel like in a position of being a successful singer in a rock band, it's hard for people to go, aw, well, isn't that so bad that that happened to you? When people are really struggling with big stuff, if. Share something with me, I will share a similar story if, if it feels appropriate. But otherwise, you know, I, I keep my. My woes to myself.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Your song Drops of Jupiter, it's one of the greatest songs of all time, if I may say, and it's a very personal song to you. It's. It's about your mom passing. Can you tell us about how you created that, how you were able to make that and put it out there for people to, to hear?

[Pat Monahan]

We recorded an album called Something More and delivered it to Columbia Records and they didn't think we had a first single. I was emotionally not in the mood because I, I lost my mother just recently and now I don't have a single for this record company. And one night I went to sleep and probably was asleep for 10 minutes and woke up with all the lyrics and melodies in my head as though my mother had delivered me the message. This is what it's like when you go to the other side. You can swim through the planets and come back with drops of Jupiter in your hair and don't worry about me. So then with the looking for yourself out there, that was the emotional part of it for me. That was like it's it, you know, somehow had to translate into a love story. And so that was the little bit of something I gave to the song that maybe my mother didn't deliver.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Were you surprised at how huge that song was and how it connected with so many people?

[Pat Monahan]

There's no reason for that song to become a hit. It's the same thing as any other song that was big for us. Like even Meet Virginia was a quirky little song and, and then a song with a ukulele and, you know, Drops of Jupiter was like 4 minutes and 20 seconds or something at a time. And there were, you know, two and a half minute songs on the radio, so.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's so true.

[Pat Monahan]

It was pretty interesting that it happened.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It was a big deal. You had a charity that you work with, your charity house in San Francisco. Can you tell us about that and what that work means to you?

[Pat Monahan]

Yeah, it's a place called Family House that houses low income families with very sick kids that are being treated at UCSF Hospital. Most of Them are brain tumors, eye tumors, things with the head that UCSF Hospital is very specialized in. So when we started making wine about 12 years ago, we decided that it should be a reasonably priced bottle of wine from the Bay Area, whether it was Napa or East Bay or somewhere, so that train fans could get a taste of where we're from. In the meantime, proceeds from those sales would go to Family House. And then every time that another charity event happens, we. We just give them the money for that as well. It just. It's an incredible program that has saved people's lives and dignity for many years.

[Lynne Hoffman]

It's amazing. That's. It's. It's really exciting to hear about things that other people do to help those and. But it also. It's, you know, when you have that power and that platform to use it for good things, and it's just. It's a special thing, I think.

[Pat Monahan]

Yeah. It was obvious at the time that it was time to give back to the Bay Area for all they've done for us. So it was a pretty easy choice.

[Lynne Hoffman]

You had vocal surgery in the past, which is shocking to me because I didn't realize that until I read about it. You love what you're creating and the impact that it has. What was it like for you going through that surgery? I mean, did you think that you were going to be able to still make music?

[Pat Monahan]

Well, that's, you know, that's an example of things I don't share with train fans or anybody. I think I recently mentioned that to someone, and here we are talking about it.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Oh, forgive me. I'm sorry. I had no idea.

[Pat Monahan]

No, it's okay. It is what it is. I'm the one who said it. But it's been five or more years now. At the time, it was the scariest thing that you can imagine. And right prior to that, I was playing golf in a Pro Am in Pebble beach, and I was with a guy who was also a singer and told him I was about to fly to San Francisco after the Pro Am to have vocal cord surgery where they actually removed scar tissue from both folds of my vocal cords because I couldn't. There were times I couldn't sing at all.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Wow.

[Pat Monahan]

And he said, man, that's like Tom Brady getting his right arm worked on. And I'm. That's not really what I was hoping you'd say, but that even scared me more. But anyway, when I came out of it, and the doctor's name is Clark Rosen, and he's originally practiced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And when I met him, I just had a real connection to him, and he did an incredible job. And here I am able to sing, in many cases, better than I ever have. There are things I can't do anymore, but for the most part, I can do it all.

[Lynne Hoffman]

That's pretty amazing. I. I do voice work for my secondary job, and I couldn't even imagine if someone said that I had to go have that done, I'd be petrified. Did you listen to any particular music to get you through it or your own?

[Pat Monahan]

Well, you know, music is such an interesting thing. Music wasn't going to be what was going to, like, pull me out of being scared, because listening to people sing, it's just like, I want to keep being able to do that. So there's that. It was more of, you know, just communicating with the people that I needed to about knowing that it was the right thing for me to do at the right time, and. But then shortly after, music was everything because I had to, you know, teach myself to sing in a different way because I didn't want to end up having to be back there doing the same thing. So I think singing those Led Zeppelin songs put me in more jeopardy than. I mean, that's why Robert Plant doesn't do it anymore.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Makes sense.

[Pat Monahan]

You know, he's probably like, what are you doing, kid?

[Lynne Hoffman]

That look on your face. Well, in closing, how would you like your music to be remembered in terms of the good that it spreads in the world?

[Pat Monahan]

Well, that's a. That's a big answer, because I'd like it to be remembered. And, you know, unfortunately, I'm a fan of comedy, and I just saw a Ricky Jarvis special that was incredible. And he was like, none of us will be remembered. Like, it's just a matter of time. And so, you know, quit being an asshole. And he's right. So I think for the short time that we'll be here on the planet and for however many years after, I just think that music is supposed to have hope. I always did. I remember writing the first few songs I ever wrote, and it was at a time of grunge music, and so people were like, this sucks. Like, it's like. It's so cushy. But for me, it was like, I don't know, man. I think people need to have hope somewhere. So Calling All Angels was at a time where I was really at odds with myself. We were successful, but I was incredibly unhappy. And I found an incredible therapist, and she told me that we are divided between angels and traitors. And I had to call my angels and I was like, consider it stolen. Those are the things that gave me hope. And I feel like that was the message I was supposed to deliver. So hope is underrated and really helps.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Do you think writing music also is sort of a therapeutic.

[Pat Monahan]

Oh, yeah, 100%. Like, it's. If I didn't have the ability to write music, then I would be a mess because it really helps a lot.

[Lynne Hoffman]

I hope a lot of people hear that and try it out. It's pretty. Yeah, it's pretty incredible. Even if you're not writing a song, just writing in general, getting your thoughts.

[Pat Monahan]

Out of your head.

[Lynne Hoffman]

Well, thank you, Pat. It was so good to see you. Congratulations on all the continued success with the band and thank you for joining us on music Saved me and. And for the joy that your music brings to so many.

[Pat Monahan]

Well, thank you.

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Thank you.

[Lynne Hoffman]

You too.

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