Adams, who taught himself how to play guitar at an early age, quickly rose to prominence in the 1980s, becoming one of the most popular and successful recording artists of the era. At age 15, Adams replaced Nick Gilder as the lead singer of glam rock band Sweeney Todd. By the age of 20, his eponymous debut album was released, marking the beginning of a remarkable career that has seen him rise to global stardom. Adams's 1983 top-ten album, "Cuts Like a Knife", featuring hits like its title track and the ballad "Straight From the Heart", propelled him to fame in North America.
Recognized for his exceptional songwriting, Adams has produced chart-topping ballads like "Please Forgive Me" (1993), "All for Love" (1993), and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" (1995). His 1993 greatest hits compilation, "So Far So Good," sold 13 million copies worldwide and achieved multi-platinum status in various countries.
“Creating something from nothing in that way is basically magic, without the trickery,” muses Adams when asked about his creative process. “It’s not easy, it takes a lot of work to get there, sometimes you don’t even know what you’ve done it until you look back at the work, or listen to the tape. Sometimes the moment is so small, you miss it. It’s like mining for diamonds.”
“I think the mark of a great song, photo or a painting is something you can remember,” said Adams recently. “It’s kind of that simple. That’s not to say other photos or paintings aren’t great; if it moved you or if it inspired you, then it’s great. Of course, great is subjective, because the same thing to someone else might not have any effect. But if you work at it, there will be times when the intangible becomes tangible and for a moment… You are a wizard.”
