For Bart Van Bemmel, music has always been about more than the songs themselves. It is about the memories they create, the people they bring together, and the experiences that stay with listeners long after the final note. As the frontman of Run To You, a tribute band dedicated to recreating the music and energy of Bryan Adams, Van Bemmel has turned a lifelong passion for rock music into a live experience that allows fans to reconnect with one of rock’s most recognizable catalogs.
During a conversation on PressPlay Radio, Van Bemmel joined hosts Dean Baldwin and The Don to discuss his journey into tribute music, the extensive preparation behind his Bryan Adams performance, and the personal connections that continue to make the band’s shows meaningful. From the unmistakable guitar tones of “Run to You” to the soaring harmonies of “Waking Up the Neighbors,” the conversation revealed just how much attention goes into recreating the sound of an artist he deeply admires.
Van Bemmel’s connection to music began in childhood, growing up in New York surrounded by the entertainment industry. His father worked in stage lighting, Broadway, and live entertainment, even contributing lighting equipment for Live Aid. He also helped design KISS’s stage show during the late 1970s and early 1980s, including the mechanics behind Gene Simmons’ famous flying harness. With music and performance woven into his upbringing, Van Bemmel was exposed to the world of rock and roll from an early age.
Before Bryan Adams became his primary focus, Van Bemmel was an enormous Duran Duran fan. Watching Live Aid as a kid, he was initially waiting for Duran Duran and Power Station to take the stage. But Bryan Adams also caught his attention, leaving an impression that would eventually shape his musical future. Although he continued pursuing his own music for years, including winning VH1’s Best Unsigned Songwriter competition and performing on the VH1 Rock Across America tour, he eventually stepped away from music for about a decade. When he returned, he no longer wanted to chase traditional record deals. Instead, he decided to pursue tribute music, first performing with a Duran Duran tribute band before turning his attention to Adams.
For Van Bemmel, choosing Bryan Adams was never simply a business decision. It was an opportunity to celebrate an artist whose music, career, and musicianship he genuinely admired. He spent a year training his voice to capture Adams’ distinctive vocal style, practicing six days a week and sometimes twice a day. The challenge was not just matching the notes but understanding when to introduce the rasp, when to pull back into a smoother delivery, and how to maintain the power behind the performance without damaging his voice.
That same dedication extends to the band’s instrumentation. Van Bemmel describes himself as a mad scientist when it comes to guitar tones, studying studio recordings, live performances, and the equipment Adams used before experimenting with his own setup. Even after shows, he continues adjusting the smallest details. He credits Adams with being an exceptional tone master, emphasizing that the signature sound listeners recognize is not simply the work of lead guitarist Keith Scott. Adams’ own guitar playing, particularly his rhythmic precision and distinctive right hand, is an essential part of the sound.
One of the clearest examples is “Run to You,” the song that inspired the tribute band’s name. Van Bemmel considers it one of his favorite songs of all time, and its guitar riff presented an obvious starting point for the project. Recreating its tones and dynamics required careful listening and experimentation. During live performances, the band also expands certain moments, allowing the music to breathe and giving the audience time to anticipate the next explosive section. For Van Bemmel, those moments are part of what makes performing the music so rewarding.
The same attention to detail carries into the band’s vocal arrangements. Discussing Adams’ 1991 album “Waking Up the Neighbours,” produced by Mutt Lange, Van Bemmel described it as the best Def Leppard album Def Leppard never made. The record’s layered harmonies and powerful production demand a different level of effort from a live band. Rather than relying on prerecorded backing tracks, Run To You builds its sound through the musicians onstage. Van Bemmel handles the lead vocals while bassist Tim Slack and guitarist Gary Grant contribute harmonies, with Grant taking on some of the demanding high parts.
That commitment to performing the music live is central to the band’s identity. Van Bemmel explained that he prefers to recreate the sound with the musicians rather than rely on tracks taken directly from the recordings. Songs such as “Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven” require the band to dig deep vocally, but the challenge is part of the experience. He wants audiences to hear the music recreated by a group of musicians working together, not simply reproduced through technology.
The effort has begun paying off in memorable performances. Van Bemmel recalled a recent show at Legacy Hall in Plano, Texas, as one of the best performances of his career, even after years of playing clubs and stages. The venue was packed, and the response from the audience left him smiling long after the show ended. For him, the most rewarding moments often come after the music stops, when fans share what the songs mean to them.
Some audience members are longtime Adams fans who know every album and deep cut, while others are surprised to discover just how many songs they recognize. The emotional reactions can be particularly powerful. Van Bemmel recalled people telling him that a song belonged to them and a spouse who had since passed away, explaining how hearing the music live helped them reconnect with those memories. Others have expressed amazement at how closely the performance captures Adams’ voice and sound.
Those connections are a major reason Van Bemmel approaches the project with such care. He sees Run To You as a way to help people revisit important moments in their lives. Rather than delivering the exact same show every night, the band regularly changes its setlist, keeping the experience fresh for both the musicians and returning fans. While certain major hits are essential, the group also explores lesser played material that longtime listeners may not expect to hear.
Among the songs that have become staples are “The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You” and “Straight From the Heart.” Van Bemmel particularly enjoys the latter because of the audience participation it inspires. When the chorus arrives, he can step back and let the crowd take over. The band also performs “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman,” sometimes bringing a woman from the audience onstage and recreating the masks seen in the song’s music video. Although the masks can become uncomfortable under the stage lights, he enjoys the theatrical element and the fun it adds to the performance.
Other songs present a different kind of challenge. Van Bemmel admitted that “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” is one of the hardest songs in the entire show because of its demanding high notes and powerful bridge. He remembers a friend who had worked with Adams’ online community in the late 1990s initially doubting that a tribute band could successfully perform the song. After seeing Run To You deliver it live, the friend was surprised by how well Van Bemmel handled the vocal demands.
The band also occasionally steps outside the familiar Adams catalog. After the death of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Run To You brought “War Machine,” a song co-written by Adams and Jim Vallance for KISS, back into its set as a tribute. Van Bemmel even incorporates elements of Gene Simmons’ stage persona into the performance. These moments reflect his lifelong connection to KISS and his desire to make each show entertaining without losing sight of the music that defines the band.
Although Run To You is still establishing itself as a touring act, its ambitions extend well beyond Texas. The band has performed throughout Texas, as well as in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Ohio, and Van Bemmel would welcome opportunities to bring the show to Canada and Europe. He also expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of performing in Florida and North Carolina, where the hosts hoped to help introduce the act to new audiences.
His confidence today comes after a difficult learning period. Van Bemmel explained that the band spent more than a year training and refining its performance before officially launching. Even then, he felt they were not entirely ready when they finally took the stage. The first few shows were nerve racking, but the experience gradually became second nature. Now, he approaches performances with excitement and a willingness to embrace whatever comes next.
One of the most meaningful milestones in that journey was meeting Adams in 2023, along with guitarist Keith Scott and bassist Solomon Walker. Van Bemmel had already connected with Walker online and was thrilled to meet him in person. Meeting Scott was particularly special because Van Bemmel had idolized him as a child, even calling guitar stores repeatedly to ask whether they had the same Telecaster Scott was playing at the time.
Finally meeting Adams himself was an experience he will never forget. Van Bemmel recalled that Adams reacted to seeing his tribute look with a memorable comment that made him smile, though he kept the exact words private. More importantly, the encounter reinforced his admiration for Adams and the musicians around him. He described them as genuine professionals who lived up to the respect he had developed for them over the years. The experience became one of the best nights of his life, combining the excitement of seeing his musical heroes with the opportunity to meet them personally.
Van Bemmel’s appreciation for Adams also extends to the artist’s continued creativity. He spoke enthusiastically about albums such as “On a Day Like Today” and “Room Service,” explaining that the former holds a particularly special place in his heart. Although he recognizes that American audiences may be more familiar with Adams’ earlier hits, he appreciates the artist’s willingness to continue releasing new music and exploring different sounds. He also highlighted songs from “Shine a Light” as personal favorites.
For Van Bemmel, the newest releases will never replace the music that shaped his childhood and later experiences, but they demonstrate why Adams remains an artist worth following. He admires the fact that Adams continues to evolve rather than simply repeat the same familiar set of songs. As a devoted fan, Van Bemmel said he will continue buying the new music regardless of its direction.
That love of music extends well beyond rock. When asked about his go to happy music during the interview’s SongStory segment, Van Bemmel described how songs can transport him back to specific people and periods of his life. Yacht rock, the Bee Gees, Barry Manilow, ABBA, and other artists remind him of growing up with his father and brother. Duran Duran and KISS bring back other memories, while Warrant and Skid Row reconnect him with the friends and music he loved as a teenager. He remains especially passionate about KISS’s non makeup era, a preference he jokingly suggested he would defend against anyone.
Ultimately, it is the connection between music and memory that ties everything together for Van Bemmel. Whether he is recreating the guitar tones of “Run to You,” pushing through the high harmonies of “Waking Up the Neighbours,” or watching an audience sing every word of “Straight From the Heart,” he understands that the songs mean something different to every listener.
Run To You is built around that idea. The band is not simply recreating Bryan Adams’ greatest hits but giving audiences an opportunity to experience the music that has accompanied their lives. For Van Bemmel, every performance is a chance to honor an artist he admires, celebrate the musicianship behind the recordings, and create new memories with the people who continue to love the songs.
As his conversation with PressPlay Radio made clear, his enthusiasm for Bryan Adams is matched only by his passion for music itself. And if Van Bemmel has his way, Run To You will continue bringing that passion to audiences far beyond its current home, one unforgettable song at a time.