OK, Gavin Rossdale — you’re up. And you’d better be good.

“Every time I go sing a vocal, I feel like this is it — everything depends on it,” the former Bush frontman says about his singing approach. “I’m in the Cup final every time. If I don’t get this right, I’m out. I’m done. I’m gone.

Rossdale was in Toronto recently to talk about his appearance on Canadian Idol, his first solo album Wanderlust, and a little bit about the baby he and wife Gwen Stefani are expecting.

Sipping on a self-made green tea at the Royal York, Rossdale is blunt about the pressure he felt to make a successful record. After a multi-platinum, five-album run with Bush, Rossdale took a step back commercially with the hard-edged group Institute.

So now what?
“If I was going to make another record, it really had to connect, or I could be in certain degrees of trouble,” Rossdale said. “That’s just me being realistic and truthful.”

Wanderlust, produced by legendary Canuck Bob Rock, was released June 3 and has surpassed Institute’s chart performance.

And here’s a good way to ensure better album sales: Rossdale appeared on Canadian Idol this week, mentoring the Top 8 with their acoustic-performance skills, as well as performing his single Love Remains the Same.

The 42-year-old London native said he was impressed with the finalists’ dedication.

“They all really cared about the songs, really cared about singing them well, and doing the best that they could do. That’s what I liked about it.”

When asked whether more musicians were embracing the Idol phenomenon, Rossdale wasn’t sure.
“I’m definitely sure it’s been embraced by the public,” he said. “The public couldn’t give a f—k how someone comes about — they’re just really happy to hear people’s stories …

“To me, it just shows that — wow — if everyone who’s good could have marketing — imagine what would happen!”

As for his own marketing, Rossdale said an extensive tour is on hold for a few months, to give the album a chance to gain momentum. Also: “I’m about to have another baby. It’s kind of cool, because it’s like complete chaos. And I think life is richer when it’s full of chaos. The idea of having an ordered, simple life is just not for me.”

Rossdale and Stefani are expecting their second child by the end of the summer. Their son Kingston, was born in 2006. No word on whether Kingston will have a little brother os sister.
“I don’t know,” Rossdale said. “We’re going to go for the surprise.”