Sugar Ray: The Urbancougar Interview

As we wrote earlier, Southern California outfit Sugar Ray returned the rock scene this month with their new album Music for Cougars. We've been listening to it a lot lately as we cruise the jungle. The album is a return to form for the band, full of the same infectious summer grooves that characterized their highly popular "Fly." Standout tracks include the reggae-tinged "Girls Were Made to Love," the 80s-flavored "Closer," and the breezy romance "Dance Like No One's Watchin'." 

We were fortunate enough to catch up with the band - currently on tour of the U.S. - to talk about all things cougar.

What inspired you to make "Music for Cougars"? Personal experience?
The title is a reflection on that fact that we’re getting a little bit older and people who have grown up with our music are older too. It’s kind of a joke, but a fun joke. The music on this record is for everyone, but for cougars too. Especially if they wear too much makeup and have gnarly perfume.

What do you think makes music for cougars? What's the sound they respond to?
Wilderness calls, wild & primal screams in loincloth and face paint in the darkness next to a campfire, with a million stars in the sky. Um.. I don’t think anybody knows what sounds cougars respond to. We gave it our shot with this batch of songs though. We think it rocks and so will all the cougars in America. 


Do you recall a lot of cougars hanging around when you were working the club circuit in Orange County back in the day?
We’ve always had cougars digging our music. Not in the very beginning with ‘Lemonade & Brownies’ but later when we had a hit single with ‘Fly.’ Older women (especially secretaries) started digging our music. Those cougars back then would be called GRAM-COUGARS I guess. But it was really with ‘Fly’ that our audience really opened up to the ‘expendable masses’ as Neitchze called them.

Would you say your concerts are a great place for a young fan to find a cougar?
They are an excellent place to find a cougar on the prowl for young meat. But you will be in direct competition with our singer, Mark. But Mark isn’t exactly young anymore….so if you’re younger than him you’ll have an advantage. Plus we play randy rock music so these cougars are whipped up into a hysterical frenzy, much like feedings in the wild, where they tear into a bloody carcass and it turns into chaos and you just have to battle to get a bite. Sugar Ray shows in 2009 are a little like that. If they had speakers in the vastness of Africa where native cougars roam, we would be the house music. So come on down to a show.

In all your travels, what's your favorite city for cougars?
The San Diego Zoo


Well said, gentlemen.


Music for Cougars by Sugar Ray at Amazon.com

Visit the band's website at sugarray.com