Train's Lead Singer Gets Animated
Patrick Monahan
It's been a banner year for Pat Monahan, who's been riding high in the pop charts with his band Train's Grammy-nominated single "Hey, Soul Sister." And now, the lead singer is poised to become a preschool rock star, lending his voice to a lion choo-choo conductor with mad storytelling skills in Sprout's new animated series Driver Dan's Story Train.
TV Guide Magazine: How did a rock star wind up on a kiddie show?
Monahan: They asked, which made me feel good that I wasn't 12th on a list. They wanted someone that had something to do with trains and I think I was the obvious first choice.
TV Guide Magazine: So what happens in a typical Driver Dan episode?
Monahan: There's a problem at the beginning of the show, and then we read a story related to the problem. There's always a happy ending, which is perfect.
TV Guide Magazine: Guess having a 2-year-old daughter factored into your doing this show...
Monahan: Working with Sprout is just an extension of what I love, which is children. I have three! Kids are so much cooler than adults. When we do concerts, I always try to get little kids up on stage.
TV Guide Magazine: Glee recently did a rendition of "Hey, Soul Sister." What did you think of it?
Monahan: Loved it! I thought they did an amazing job.
TV Guide Magazine: You guys also have a holiday song out this year. Where will Train be ringing in 2011?
Monahan: On Dick Clark's New Year's show, so that's awesome. I'm really looking forward to that.