Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“I think we’re five smart women who bring something different to TV,” said host Meredith Vieira, who spent more than two decades covering hard news for such programs as “60 Minutes,” “West 57th” and “Turning Point.” “We’re opinionated and not afraid of airing our views. Plus we’re live and unscripted, so anything could happen.”
The crowd at the Mercury Lounge wasn’t sure what to make of Big Blue Hearts when the four musicians made their New York debut. Dressed in black suits – with a big old cowboy hat for the 6-foot-5 bassist – the San Francisco-based musicians looked slightly nervous, peering at the skeptical crowd.
It was early in Los Angeles and Beck Hanson sounded tired. Phoning from LAX – where, in an hour, he would board a plane for Tokyo – the artist currently known as Beck spoke candidly and seriously about his metamorphosis from perceived one-hit wonder to the most important musician of his generation.
Sarah McLachlan knew it was time to start a music festival that celebrated female artists when she discussed the possibility of having Paula Cole open for her and a promoter told her that two women on the same bill would be too . . . well, you know . . . female.
If you have MTV, try to catch the exclusive airing of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” video. The fully animated clip was drawn by Magnus Carlson, whose animated “Robin” series is a favorite in Great Britain. The band is briefly depicted in a bar at the end of the 6-1/2-minute video, but the music and the stark images are the stars.
Rhett Miller’s doing all right for someone who got kicked out of piano lessons as a kid. He fronts Old 97’s – a country-influenced rock group with tinges of punk elements. And the band has just snagged a primo spot in this year’s Lollapalooza lineup.
After a spectacular concert Friday night at Soldier Field for more than 40,000 fans, U2 hosted an intimate after-show party in the Bears’ locker room. The party celebrated the kickoff of a three-night stand in Chicago, one of the band’s most popular markets.
As U2 comes to Chicago this weekend, the band finds itself in an unusual position: insisting that a tour that has sold 2 million tickets isn’t a failure.
The Smashing Pumpkins will head to Europe on Wednesday for a two-week tour of festival shows. But before they pack their bags, bassist D’Arcy and guitarist James Iha – half of the Chicago-based group – will co-host a Saturday night showcase for Scratchie Records, the label they helped create.
Michael Brandmeier learned early on that if you want to make it in the music business, you need to adapt to survive. As a student at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, he joined a band called the Changes, which was heavy on cover versions of ballads.
Trace Adkins isn’t your average country music star. The 6-foot-6 baritone has hosted a cooking special. Granted, it was a cowboy cook-off, but still … He also was a guest voice on “King of the Hill” and acted in the sitcom “Yes, Dear.” And, oh yes, he released two albums in the last year — “Trace Adkins, Greatest Hits Collection, Volume 1” (Capitol) and “Comin’ On Strong” (Capitol) — and headed into the studio this week to record another.
The most coveted item at rock shows isn’t a pair of decent earplugs. It’s the backstage pass. We want those round (or square, or triangular) stick-on adhesive passes that are our entree into rock ‘n’ roll nirvana for the same reason we want Porsches, 15-carat diamond engagement rings and brainy significant others who are dead ringers for supermodels. We covet what we can’t have.
While recording their album “Middle of Nowhere,” the Oklahoma-based trio Hanson went through a problem that few artists have to worry about. The singer’s voice changed.
If there’s one thing Paul McCartney knows, it’s how to charm an audience. Wearing a casual black suit, white T-shirt and a pair of trendy “trainers” (they’re sneakers to us Yanks), the former Beatle came across as relaxed and congenial during a live telecast and Webcast Saturday afternoon.
By Jae-Ha KimChicago Sun-TimesMay 9, 1997 Even Psychotica’s diehard fans will have a difficult time recognizing Pat Briggs in the film “All Over Me,” which opens today at Pipers Alley. Without his heavy stage makeup, skintight outfits and […]
While U2’s album “Pop” hasn’t been the sure thing that the music industry had hoped for, it has done well enough to kick-start the Irish supergroup’s 14-month, 100-city “PopMart” tour.
In a business that is dominated by men onstage and off, Susan Silver is an anomaly. For most of her adult life, the 38-year-old has guided the careers of superstar groups such as Soundgarden, which recently disbanded after 12 years together, and Alice in Chains. Silver got into band management for the love of music. Money wasn’t an issue. Until six years ago, Silver maintained secondary jobs to make sure the bills got paid.
Jonny Lang doesn’t have his drivers license yet, but the 16-year-old blues musician has already put in thousands of miles on the road. Of course, someone else is at the wheel. “That gives me a good excuse to sleep in the van,” Lang said, suppressing a yawn. “The other guys can’t get mad at me for not pulling my weight.”
“I think that the whole Bush-copying-Nirvana (thing) is totally full of – – – -,” said Chicago-based producer Steve Albini, who recorded Bush’s latest double-platinum album, “Razorblade Suitcase.”
What does an indie rock star do when he’s not busy touring with his critically acclaimed band? If he’s Sooyoung Park, frontman for the Chicago-based Seam, he gets a couple of pals together and spearheads an arts festival in his hometown.