Train lead singer Pat Monahan explained why he “gave up” singing the national anthem at sporting events.
Monahan, 57, said he made the choice after an ill-fated performance in 2014 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.
“I opened Levi’s Stadium,” he recalled Tuesday, March 10, on New York’s WFAN Sports Radio. “Sound check was great. Everything was beautiful. It’s about time. They hand me a microphone.”
When he tapped the microphone, Monahan realized it wasn’t turned on — with just “a minute left” before he was due to start singing. He said he was assured the microphone would “be on by the time you get out there.”
Monahan got into position at a podium in the middle of the field, which was covered by a giant American flag. With seconds left before the performance, Monahan said the microphone still wasn’t working.
“I start singing, microphone’s still not on,” he remembered. “Someone under the podium hits me on the leg, hands me a second microphone. So now I have two microphones and one of them works. I don’t know which one.”
Monahan continued, “I sing the anthem. I get done. I hand the two microphones to the guy under podium and I said, ‘That was my last anthem.’”
The singer admitted that the surprising response to his performance did make him consider whether he was throwing away a good thing.
“I had 400 texts from my friends saying, ‘You’re so badass you need two microphones?!’ I was like, ‘Maybe I should keep doing it with two microphones!’” he joked.
Monahan did leave the door open for more renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” — but with one important caveat.
“The only way I’ll do it is if my 14-year-old son sings it with me,” he explained.
Monahan and his wife, Amber Peterson, share daughter Autumn, 17, and son Rock. He also shares son Patrick and daughter Emelia with his ex-wife, Ginean Rapp.
The musician said his son is “amazing” and “better than I’ve ever been.”
Monahan and Rock performed the national anthem at a Coachella Valley Firebirds American Hockey League playoff game in 2024, but said he turned down a recent offer from the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks after the team wouldn’t let him sing alongside his son.
“I was like, ‘You can go look it up on YouTube,’” Pat boasted. “My guy can sing.”
