I just got the COOLEST assignment--Melissa Etheridge!!

[disneymac]

That's great - congrats!

I'm big fan of hers too, but I have no questions for you - sorry. I tend not to care about celebrities and the details of their lives, but I'd read your article for the answer to the previous posters question! That's really interesting - great question.

Good luck with this interview and your future in Rolling Stone!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Hey that's great! I'd love to read it, which magazine and when will it be out?

 

[ducklite]

That's great - congrats!

I'm big fan of hers too, but I have no questions for you - sorry. I tend not to care about celebrities and the details of their lives, but I'd read your article for the answer to the previous posters question! That's really interesting - great question.

Good luck with this interview and your future in Rolling Stone!

Just to be very clear, although I do sometimes ask questions about people's lives outside of "music" I am keenly aware of the issues of personal privacy, and IMHO there's a line in the sand. I do not cross that line, and when someone offers information that I think may be "personal" I do clearly ask if that is off the record or not. Often I find that they are willing to offer a lot more information that I'm willing to send to print!

But for example in recent interviews I've asked about a guitarist's black belt (certainly an accomplishment to be proud of even if it was outside the realm of music!), a drummers interest in anthropology, a bass players hockey jersey that hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and have even inquired as to the general well being of a singer's growing family after his wife had their second child a few weeks before the interview. They add a rounded element to the article, and IMHO are hardly intrusive into a person's personal life.

I believe that MLE has offered a lot obout her "personal life" to the public, and within a reasonable standard, there is topical information there, and there is nothing wrong with touching on issues such balancing home life with the responsibilities of work, political activism, and being a breast cancer survivor. These topics affect her music, so to that point they certainly are topical to the interview.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Hey that's great! I'd love to read it, which magazine and when will it be out?

This one will be in Connections Magazine, only available in the Orlando area and not online, sorry.

I'm working on something else along the same lines for another magazine that if the assignment comes through, it's a national magazine and I'll let you know.

Anne

 

[OceanAnnie]

Oh you are lucky!! Good for you!

I have a few questions.

I read an article about Sarah McLaughan (who I also admire) and Lilith Fair. It was the early 90's when she organized the event and it held so much promise for show casing women's talent. Now sadly, there are much fewer solo women & women bands in general on the scene. I wonder why that is.

What is Melissa Etheridge's take on women and the music industry?

Along the same lines, was there any one event or series of events that changed her tact in approaching the field? What advice would she give to someone starting out?

Oh, I have another one! What does she think of shows like American Idol? And does she think a show like that has an impact on the music industry?

 

[crazyme5kids]

Too bad, it would have been nice to have read it. She has been pretty open about things so I would imagine it will be a hard interview, you'll really have to find something new to talk about.

On an off topic note, my daughter has a very good friend who is in a band that will be on tour and doing club dates in Florida. Maybe you'll get to see them and do a review. The name of their band is Gracer. I haven't listened to them yet so I couldn't tell you if they are good or not.

 

[ducklite]

Too bad, it would have been nice to have read it. She has been pretty open about things so I would imagine it will be a hard interview, you'll really have to find something new to talk about.

On an off topic note, my daughter has a very good friend who is in a band that will be on tour and doing club dates in Florida. Maybe you'll get to see them and do a review. The name of their band is Gracer. I haven't listened to them yet so I couldn't tell you if they are good or not.

Gracer's been on my radar for a few months now. They are pretty good, have a decent chance of making it. They are not coming to central FL, only up on the panhandle.

Anne

 

[crazyme5kids]

Keep your fingers crossed, maybe you'll wind up interveiwing them one day.

 

[mickeysaver]

OMG, you lucky duck! She is my favorite music artist. Have a great time. I think it's so cool that she and Tammy Lynn are expecting twins. Melissa deserves happiness especially with all the drama that Julie caused. That woman was psycho, but you can read about that in Melissa's book. Anyway, I am just a wee bit jealous. Maggie

 

[Micca]

Ask if she knows when she sang Piece Of My Heart on the Grammy's that it gave me chills all over

 

[SideshowBob]

very cool!