ROCK MOMENT – Extreme ‘Hole Hearted’
When Extreme crafted their landmark 1990 album Extreme II: Pornograffitti, they were intent on proving they were more than just another hard rock band riding the late-’80s wave. The album was a bold concept piece—half social commentary, half rock opera—blending funk metal, pop hooks, acoustic balladry, and virtuosic musicianship. Recorded primarily at Scream Studios in Los Angeles with producer Michael Wagener, the sessions pushed the band to experiment with new textures, tighter arrangements, and more daring songwriting than on their debut.
Amid the high-energy tracks and Nuno Bettencourt’s blistering guitar work, ‘Hole Hearted’ emerged almost accidentally. Nuno had been outside his home in Massachusetts when he heard a rhythmic clatter from a nearby construction crew. Their syncopated hammering sparked an instant groove in his mind. He went inside, grabbed a 12-string acoustic guitar, and began strumming the bright, percussive pattern that would define the song. When he brought the rough idea to the studio, Gary Cherone worked quickly to craft lyrics that captured the feeling of emotional emptiness—“a hole hearted” feeling—and the search for something spiritually grounding.
During recording, Wagener encouraged the band to preserve the song’s porch-born looseness. The track was built around layered acoustic guitars, hand percussion, and light bass flourishes from Pat Badger. The band avoided overproduction; instead, they aimed for a natural, open-air sound that contrasted sharply with the dense, theatrical arrangements elsewhere on Pornograffitti. Nuno tracked most of the guitars live to maintain the rhythmic feel that first inspired the tune.
When ‘Hole Hearted’ was released as the album’s final single, it rode the momentum of ‘More Than Words’ and solidified Extreme as a band whose acoustic work was just as compelling as their electric fury. Today, the song stands as a defining moment on Pornograffitti, showcasing the band’s adventurous approach during the album’s dynamic and creatively charged recording sessions.
