Celebrity Travel: Go away with Five for Fighting

John Ondrasik – better known as Five for Fighting – has been touring for decades. But rather than being jaded by life on the road, he said he considers it a perk that has yet to grow old. “One of the beautiful things about being in a touring band is seeing all aspects of America,” said the California native. “My favorites are the small towns between the big cities.” Best known for his hit singles “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” “The Riddle” and “100 Years,” Ondrasik kicks off his latest tour on April 25 (https://fiveforfighting.com/tour/). He updates fans on his music and his travels on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/fiveforfightingmusic/), X (https://x.com/johnondrasik) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/fiveforfighting/).

Q: Are there any cities on your upcoming tour that are new to you?

A: Yes! Wichita, McMinnville (Tennessee), which is near my sister-in-law and mother-in-law, Lawrence (Kansas) and Newberry (South Carolina).

Q: Are there any bucket list venues that you would love to perform in one day?

A: Yes, Red Rocks in Colorado has always been a little dream of mine. So many iconic concerts have occurred there. Many of my musician pals list it as their number one favorite place to play.

Q: What was the last state you visited?

A: Recently, I just checked off visiting my 50th state – North Dakota!

Q: Musicians often talk about how difficult it can be to stay healthy on the road. What helps you, especially to maintain your vocals?

A: Great question. Because I have a chronic injury to my vocal cords due to the removal of my tonsils years ago, I have to be extra diligent. On tour, I typically don’t talk after the show until soundcheck the next day. We load up on supplements and vitamins [since] getting sick, along with singing every night, can easily lead to laryngitis. The big key is getting enough sleep, which can be challenging on the road in a tour bus bouncing down the highway. For a last resort, I have a small pharmacy of meds in case I do get sick to keep us going. I [joke] that for the most part, our beer and pizza days have now turned into health shakes and hummus wraps!

Q: What songs have you written or worked on while on the road?

A: One song I worked on a lot while touring was “The Riddle.” Unlike “Superman,” which took an hour to write, “The Riddle” took almost a year to finish.

Q: Do you have any personal trips planned?

A: We just got back from Hawaii for my 60th at a lovely resort in Kona, where my wife and I went for our honeymoon 27 years ago. She will be joining me on the road, as well as my daughter, Olivia, who will be opening for me with her folk rock duo Lace and Lee. My wife keeps bugging me to book a show in Maui so we can go back.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: Lately, my wife and I have been spending a lot of time in Joshua Tree. There is a special quiet and tranquility in the desert that calms the mind and soul. It also inspires creativity and reflection. We like to bring the telescope and stargaze, as well as drive through the park at night. And there is the fact that U2’s “Joshua Tree” is one of my all-time favorite albums.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?

A: My dad was an astrophysicist at [the Jet Propulsion Laboratory]. We took many trips to watch the rocket launches. My favorite was watching the Voyager spacecraft begin its journey to reach far beyond our solar system. I was sick with a 103 fever, but was not going to miss it.

Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?

A: That the American people are wonderful and kind. Though we may have different beliefs, life experiences and upbringing, there is much more that bonds us together than separates us.

Q: Where have you enjoyed your best meal?

A: Wow, now that is a hard one! We once had dinner at a Chinese-Indian restaurant in Kuala Lumpur which, to this day, is legendary in Five for Fighting lore. That said, we have also eaten at most every Cracker Barrel in the nation.

Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?

A: A quick ski trip to Mammoth Mountain, a drive up to Santa Barbara for a beach escape or a Los Angeles Kings hockey game, preferably against the Edmonton Oilers.

Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?

A: I was honored to play the National Memorial Day Concert on the Capitol Hill lawn with my pal Gary Sinise one Memorial Day weekend. The honor of my career has been singing for and supporting our troops and our military families, particularly our Gold Star families.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: We went to Rome for my parents 50th anniversary and I fell in love with the culture and food. I also enjoyed the magic and mystery of Edinburgh. In the states, I have to say my grandma’s hometown of Franklin (Tennessee), Boulder and our nation’s capital.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: This may sound silly, but I always bring my own pillow when I hit the road. So many pillows are too big and I can’t get a comfortable sleep. I really should launch the Five for Fighting pillow!

Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?

A: As mentioned, though we attempt to be as healthy as possible, I must admit, barbecue and pizza are our downfalls, particularly Chicago deep- dish pizza and Kansas City barbecue. And if we roll by a Graeter’s Ice Cream in Ohio, it will be a long bus stop.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?

A: My favorite vacation memory was walking through Venice [Italy] with my family under a harvest moon on my parents 50th anniversary. My worst was the mass attack of mosquitoes at Yosemite. It seems they were not fans of my music!

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: On our tour last fall, we drove through Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire at the height of the fall leaves. It is a must-see to believe and a Monet painting at every turn. Another don’t miss is the Corning Museum of Glass in Upstate New York. You will be amazed.

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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)