Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
Robert Lamm knows a bit about traveling. In his four decades with the band Chicago, the singer-songwriter-keyboardist has been around the world multiple times. “I could be a travel agent,” Lamm says, laughing. “If this music thing doesn’t work out…” One of his favorite memories is of the trip he and his wife, Joy, took to Munster, Germany.
Based out of Canton, Ohio, the rock band Relient K first made a name for itself on the contemporary Christian music scene. The Grammy-nominated band has since crossed over into the secular market, performing at the hard-rocking Vans Warped Tour. They play hard, praise God and love to tour. Lead singer Matt Thiessen has seen most of the world, thanks to his years with Relient K. His favorite place to vacation, though, is Belfast … the one in Maine, not Ireland.
After almost 16 years together, the Donnas are still going strong with their hard-rocking live shows. Their latest album, “Bitchin’,” proves that this group hasn’t lost its punk roots or its feverish love of rock. The band, which owes more to the Ramones than it does to the Runaways, includes lead singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Allison Robertson, bassist Maya Ford and drummer Torry Castellano, who says that thanks to years of touring, the band has gotten to see a good chunk of the world — a perk of their job.
Born in Kalamata, Greece, Yanni moved to the United States to attend the University of Minnesota when he was 18 years old. Though he earned a degree in psychology, the self-taught musician decided to pursue music as his career. “I didn’t know any better back then,” he says, laughing. “I’m not sure it was the best thing to do, but it was what I needed to do. I have always just loved music.”
Located in Leith — Edinburgh’s bustling port district — the Malmaison is within walking distance of a United Nations-variety of restaurants.
As FBI agent Renee Walker on Fox’s hit series “24,” Annie Wersching is a formidable partner for Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). As tough as he is and just as smart — if not even more cunning — Renee is a girl’s girl that every man wants. Wersching says her television counterpart is a lot more skilled than she is in most things, but she says there is no way Renee could out dance her. Wersching was in a Celtic step-dancing troupe for more than 14 years and returns to her hometown of St. Louis every year for St. Patrick’s Day to watch Irish dancing.
The Jonas Brothers are burning up. Just a couple years ago, the sibling trio was best known as Miley Cyrus’ cute boy band opening act. These days, 16-year-old Nick (who once dated Cyrus) and his brothers Joe, 19, and Kevin, 21, are bona-fide heartthrobs with millions of fans worldwide. With their film “The Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience” rolling into theaters on Feb. 27 and an upcoming Disney series called “J.O.N.A.S.,” in which the brothers portray rock star secret agents, the group is smoking hot.
Melanie Brown knows a thing or two about traveling. As a member of the Spice Girls, Brown — or Scary Spice, as she was known — saw much of the world, thanks to multiple tours with the group. “It was great fun,” says Brown, 33. “I’ve always loved seeing bits and pieces of places and then kind of figuring out where I’d like to return for vacations.” Brown, who was born in Leeds, England, currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Stephen Belafonte and her two children. After competing on “Dancing with the Stars,” Brown began to put together ideas for a workout video that would be fun for “girlfriends to do together.” Her exercise DVD “Totally Fit” is in stores now.
There are many aspects to Kevin Bacon. There’s the actor (“Frost/Nixon,” “The Woodsman,” “Apollo 13,” “Footloose”), the director (“Loverboy,” his wife Kyra Sedgwick’s series “The Closer”), the producer (“Wild Things”) and cultural icon (Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon). And then there’s his music. With his older brother Michael, Kevin has been touring for the past 14 years as part of the blues-tinged folk band the Bacon Brothers. “I can’t spend as much time touring as I’d like because of my other job,” says Bacon, 50.
It’s been drilled into our heads that the best way to get a cheap airline ticket is to buy it well in advance of your travel date. But parents adopting children from overseas often have no idea when that date might be. And once their adoption agency gives them the go-ahead to bring home their child, they typically have only a matter of days to make all the arrangements.