In a new interview with Charlie Kendall's Metalshop, TESLA bassist and founding member Brian Wheat spoke about how the band's live performances have evolved over the course of TESLA's four-decade career.

He discussed how the band used to play longer sets, but now they focus on keeping Jeff Keith's iconic voice in top shape for their live shows.

According to Wheat, the shortened set lengths and reduced touring schedule are key factors in preserving Keith's vocal health.

"We have lost a lot of great singers, and the voice is a muscle," Wheat explained.

"And then you got age and abuse and singing out of the range...

There's so many things, and I feel so lucky that Jeff, his voice is still in such great shape."The bassist also discussed TESLA's reluctance to release a full-length album of new original material, preferring instead to stay on the road or focus on special projects like their upcoming "Homage" LP.

Wheat explained that it takes time to write and record new songs, and they prefer to spend this time touring rather than in the studio.

He noted that TESLA is not wealthy enough to just stop playing live shows, and that people don't buy records as much as they used to."It takes a lot of time to do a record, and that means that's time that we have to spend off the road," Brian said.

"And what people don't — I don't think they realize is that TESLA's not wealthy guys.

But when we play, that's how we earn our living.

We have to go to work."TESLA will hit the road this summer on their "The Return Of The Carnival Of Sins" tour with Mötley Crüe and EXTREME.

The trek begins on July 17 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and winds its way through the United States before concluding on September 26 in Ridgefield, Washington."Homage", due on July 17, 2026 via Frontiers Music Srl, features covers of timeless rock hits by artists including Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, and James Brown.

The album arrives more than 20 years after the "Real To Reel" series, a release that helped inspire TESLA's new original song "Never Alone."TESLA previously held a residency at the House Of Blues in April 2024 and completed a five-song Las Vegas residency at the House Of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay Resort And Casino last October.

The band has also released several singles, including the live version of "Walk Away" and the instrumental track "From The Heart", since their latest six-song EP "All About Love" in November 2024.

TESLA's debut album, 1986's "Mechanical Resonance", went platinum on the strength of hits like "Modern Day Cowboy" and "Little Suzi." The band's follow-up albums, including "The Great Radio Controversy" and "Shock", have also produced numerous chart-topping hits.

Wheat's comments provide insight into TESLA's creative process and their ongoing commitment to preserving Keith's iconic voice.