Five for Fighting adding strings to tour coming to Iowa City

John Ondrasik has no problem morphing. The singer/songwriter, who performs under the moniker Five for Fighting, fronted a hair metal act during the ’80s, but pivoted during the early ’90s when Nirvana popped the glam metal bubble.

“That’s just the way things went,” Ondrasik said. “Things happen and you just have to move on to what’s next.”

The earnest songsmith left the guitar and hard rock behind. Ondrasik turned to the piano and created the delicate piano ballad “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” in 2001. The clever song became an anthem after the 9/11 tragedy.

The hit ballads continued during the 2000s: “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “World,” “Chances” and “Blood on My Hands” each landed in the Top 40.

“I tell stories with my songs,” Ondrasik, 59, said while calling from his Los Angeles home. “That’s what my heroes did.

“I’ve always been a Billy Joel fan. The first concert I ever saw was Billy Joel at the Forum in Los Angeles. It was the ‘Glass Houses’ tour and I was 15. Nothing excited me more than seeing Billy. I also saw Elton John many times. Both of those guys are incredible.

“Billy and Elton told great stories and evolved throughout their careers.”

Ondrasik has changed it up over recent years by touring with a string quartet.

“I started doing shows with quartets and symphonies. and it’s been so inspiring,” Ondrasik said. “I love playing to smaller audiences with the string quartet. I love the dynamic. There is nothing like it.”

Ondrasik, who will perform March 28, 2024, at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City, enjoys playing the hits he’s delivered myriad times with fresh accompaniment.

“I’ve played ‘Superman’ 10,000 times,” he said. “If you get to play any song you’ve written 10,000 times, you’re very lucky. What I love about playing the song with a quartet is that it adds another dimension to the song.”

Ondrasik wrote “Can One Man Save the World,” which was inspired by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ondrasik played the song backed by the Ukrainian Orchestra in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 2022.

“Going to Kyiv and performing was one of the greatest experiences of my career,” Ondrasik said. “Every emotion that you can imagine flowed through me. You could feel the love, hope, fear, anger and frustration in the city of Kyiv. It was surreal to go there and share music with these amazing musicians in the Ukraine.”

Ondrasik has wonderful memories spreading hope and music throughout war-torn Ukraine.

“The people there are just amazing,” he said. “You can’t help but hope for the best for them.”

But Ondrasik has shifted to the Midwest for his tour.

“It’s special to go out and perform in the Heartland,” he said. “I go up onstage and play my songs with the quartet and I get to tell stories. It’s the greatest experience.”

Ondrasik is a throwback, since he doesn't care who he offends when he writes a song.

“I write from the heart,” he said. “We live in a tribal society and people take offense to things. But I write what I want. I’m not looking for hits. I have hits. I just want to make the best music possible. I believe that you can get better as a writer as you get older.”

Ondrasik was excited when Billy Joel performed his first new song, “Turn the Lights Back On” in 30 years, at last month’s Grammys.

“I kept listening to that song over and over,” Ondrasik said. “I love it. I hope Billy puts out more songs. Just because you reach a certain age doesn’t mean you can’t make great new music or change as you get older.”