SPEAKING WITH…Jonny Lang
Ask Jonny Lang about his favorite book or film and he’ll be hard-pressed to come up with an answer. But ask him about his favorite music and the guitarist-singer-songwriter can go on forever.
Tag: Backbeat column
Animation’s `O.K.’ with Radiohead
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.
In with the Old (97’s): Group gets country-rock in gear
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.
Brandmeier’s kin aren’t all crazy
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.
Hanson is boppin’ to a pre-teen beat
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.
Psychotica’s Briggs gets `Over’ in starmaking turn
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 […]
Susan Silver steers careers toward rock stardom
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 parks himself in the blues
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.”
Singer’s bindis are just for show
Gwen Stefani first started wearing bindis on her forehead as a teenager when she and No Doubt bassist Tony Kanal began dating. Since the band’s success, the blond singer has been repeatedly asked whether she’s Hindu.
Male metal fans make obnoxious demands
There’s safety in numbers. That’s the only explanation I can come up with as to why a stadium full of 95 percent men would work itself up into a collective dither, trying to get the few women in the venue to expose their breasts. Hey – ever hear of Playboy? If any one of these lumbering morons was at a beach, or even a bar, there’s no way he would walk up to a girl and scream, “Show your – – – -!” at her.
Young stars shining for talents alone
Back in the mid-1980s, 17-year-old Charlie Sexton was in a unique situation. The guitar sensation headlined at clubs across the country but was legally too young to order a beer at any of them. He was encouraged to trade his rootsy blues style for synth-driven rock and had a minor hit with “Beat’s So Lonely.”
`Hype!’ the last word on Seattle grunge scene
It’s not often that having no money or a reputation are considered fortuitous in filmmaking. But when director Doug Pray and producer Steve Helvey decided to make a movie about the Seattle music community, their do-it-yourself attitude endeared themselves to the film’s subjects. Even reclusive Eddie Vedder spoke candidly on-camera about feeling guilty that his band, Pearl Jam, was enjoying so much success while older Seattle bands went unappreciated. “Hype!” opens today.
Beans jump into limelight on TV movie
Rock’s prettiest couple has split up. No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani and Bush’s Gavin Rossdale – the Gwyneth and Brad of the music world – have ended their 10-month relationship. But they’re still good enough friends to exchange little presents. During a recent visit to Chicago, Stefani wore a black sweater with black and white striped sleeves – exactly the kind that Rossdale favors. “Oh, it’s funny that you mention that,” Stefani said. “It was a gift from Gavin.”
Pumpkins are expanding their patch
Got the itch to party? The place to be on Saturday is the Metro, where Scratchie Records will host its Christmas party. Fulflej, Chainsaw Kittens, Fountains of Wayne and Kid Million are the headliners, but the evening’s hosts are pretty fabulous, too. The Smashing Pumpkins’ James Iha and D’Arcy Wretzky-Brown – who goes by D’Arcy – are co-owners of the Chicago-based record label and likely will jam with their friends.
Model rockers were inevitable
It used to be that the primary link between rock stars and models was that they dated each other. These days, the line between the two factions is blurred at best. Oh sure, they’re still dating each other. But check it out: Jon Bon Jovi and Madonna posing seductively for Versace ad campaigns while human clothes hangers Donovan Leitch and Milla sing their hearts out onstage.
Ireland’s punky Ash burns to pin down a U.S. niche
The three musicians in Ash are so young that when their record label signed them two years ago, their contract stipulated that the kids could finish their school exams. In fact, the Irish teens turned down the chance to tour with Pearl Jam so they could graduate.
Good to last drop: Kula Shaker draws from Brit pop and mysticism
The next wave of British music is riding on the slim shoulders of Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills. Who? Tall, thin and extremely blond, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist (son of actress Hayley Mills) is the latest hottest thing across the Atlantic.
Eye Candy
Eye Candy keeps watch on music-related items worth a closer look: The shotgun reunion between David Lee Roth and Van Halen may have been a bust, but the original Van Halen lineup looks young and happy in “Van Halen – Video Hits, Volume 1” (Warner Reprise Video). The 64-minute home video also includes “Me Wise Magic,” a new track featuring Roth on vocals . . .
Heat preaches to converted: Musical pulpit
Reverend Horton Heat is one of the best bands you’ll hardly ever hear on the radio or see on MTV. And that’s just fine with the Texas trio, which falls somewhere between the retro rockabilly sound and the frenetic psychobilly craze.
Punk to a T: Quirky trio still going strong after 10 years
I pity the fool who doesn’t like the Mr. T Experience. Playing a potent blend of poppy punk tunes, the 10-year-old San Francisco trio sings songs that are sweetly melodic and, at times, hysterically true-to-life (“I’m like, `Yeah’/But she’s all, `No’/And I’m all, `Come on baby, let’s go’/And she’s like, `I don’t think so’).