In a new interview with Sonic Perspectives, Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon explains why the band still tours non-stop 40+ years into their celebrated career. “We’re a lot older now and we have to tour a lot to make a living,” Hannon reveals. “We’re not rich. We never became millionaires.” The music industry changed dramatically over the four decades that Tesla has been a band, with commercial focus shifting to the immediacy of new singles while albums have become less important, especially for classic rock acts. “We still have to pay our bills, and so it makes more sense, the philosophy of going out on tour and writing a song and while that song is fresh, putting it out and enjoying it at the time,” explains Hannon. Tesla’s Keepin’ It Real Tour continues into 2025 with a show on January 10 in Fort Pierce, Florida.
