Pop Quiz: Rob Thomas

Pop Quiz: Rob Thomas

Aidin Vaziri | Having served as front man for platinum rockers Matchbox Twenty and songwriter to senior stars (hello, Carlos Santana, Mick Jagger and Willie Nelson!), Rob Thomas is now checking off the "successful solo artist" box on his lengthy to-do list. It's right under "Marry a gorgeous model." With the single "Lonely No More" and a No. 1 solo debut, "Something to Be," he's well on his way.


Rob Thomas
Q: Of all the people you've written songs for, which one would you write for again?
A: I think any of them. Because all the success I've been fortunate enough to have with Matchbox, I've never had to do a paycheck gig for writing. Everyone I worked with was either because I was a huge fan or I wanted to learn something from them, I haven't had a bad experience. I only wrote one big hit out of the band, "Smooth."
Q: When you were writing songs for Mick Jagger's last solo album, did you think, "Man, this is totally going to suck"?
A: No, for what? I loved his record. It's hard, man. If you're Mick Jagger and you are steeped in the Stones, he's not allowed to touch pop and reggae because people would be like, "What are you doing? Where's Keith?"
Q: That doesn't seem to be a problem for you.
A: As much as I love my band, we're not the Stones. Our biggest criticism has been that we're a "faceless" band, but that turned out to be a blessing because we still managed to have successful music and play arenas and not be associated with a time or a scene.
Q: I don't know if you heard, but there was a rumor about you and Tom Cruise.
A: Yeah, that was funny.
Q: But we all know you prefer Brad Pitt.
A: Or Johnny Depp. If all of a sudden I woke up one day and switched teams I would have so many more choices than Tom Cruise. He's a good actor, right? But he's not necessarily the best-looking actor