Remember Bill Wadhams,
the guy who sang the '80s hit (you're my) "Obsession"? Did
you know that he now walks among us? After achieving "one-hit
wonder" status with his band Animotion, Bill switched gears
and began a career in graphic design and advertising, then
moved from L.A. to Portland in 1993. Recently, he felt brave
enough to subject himself (and his new band, Vivid) to the
scrutiny of VH1's Where Are They Now?
Willamette Week: What's the pop song that
sticks in your head the longest?
Bill Wadhams: "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra. When
I was a kid, I had a paper route, and I remember waking
up very early one morning to that song playing on my clock
radio. It sort of became my theme song. I guess I already
felt a little world-weary at the age of 11.
How about now?
That Cher song, "Believe." When I hear the first few bars,
I have to quickly switch the station before it can stick.
What would you like to spend more time doing?
Getting out to see local musicians. I see a lot of jazz,
but I'd like to get out more to see some of the rock 'n'
roll acts I hear about.
What's your favorite place to end an evening out?
At Jimmy Mak's listening to Mel Brown or Dan Faehnle, or
any of Portland's mainstay jazz guys like Dan Balmer.
What would you like to spend less time doing?
Sitting in front of a TV or computer.
What's the most Martha Stewarty thing you've ever done?
A couple of years ago my wife and I bought an 8-foot piece
of bird's-eye maple at the coast and cut it into nine pieces.
We made lamps for every member of my family. It was actually
great.
What are you most offended by?
People who don't return my phone calls.
What's the most un-PC thing you've done recently?
I used my two-year-old's zoo card to get into a concert.
Do you have any girlish qualities?
Not anymore.
Care to elaborate?
Well, in Animotion we used to wear makeup at our shows,
so we'd be backstage in front of those big mirrors with
the lights, sitting there giggling with our Jack Daniels
and our eyeliner, which is a scary mix. I also wore concealer
to cover up the dark areas under my eyes.
What's the most embarrassing garment from your past?
The Roman gladiator outfit I wore in the "Obsession" video.
The director was going for kind of a Fellini style, so he
rented me a Marc Antony costume with this big brass breastplate
and one of those USC marching-band helmets with the brush.
At the time I thought, "Well, this band isn't really going
anywhere, so what does it matter?"
Do you get recognized?
Usually it's just, "Hey. You're that guy." But they're
never really sure which guy.
When you first moved here from L.A., what did you think
of Portland?
I moved here a few days before my 40th birthday, and on
my birthday I was actually feeling a bit lost, not at all
in a happy state. So I took a walk around downtown and ran
right into the Rose Festival Parade. All those high-school
kids in marching bands, all the floats--it totally changed
my outlook, and I felt great.
So it's just been one big Rose Festival Parade ever
since?
Pretty much.
OK, I can't resist. Who's your obsession?
My wife, Katherine Hammond.
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Willamette Week | originally
published May 26, 1999
|
