The Bangles are back! After a rough breakup at the peak of their popularity, they have reformed with new life. They are well under way in recoding a new album and playing shows across the country. The Bangles broke new ground for women in the music industry in the 1980s and continue to inspire while treading forward in an often difficult and frustrating business.
Two seminal members of two of the most influential New York City punk bands, THE NEW YORK DOLLS and DEAD BOYS, join forces in BATUSIS (Yes, named after Adam West’s ridiculous dance in the 1960’s Batman TV series), a straight up rock and roll band with an upbeat and catchy sound. With their image, sound, and attitudes, guitarists Cheetah Chrome (also a founding member of ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS) and Sylvain Sylvain were at the forefront of the underground rock and roll movement that would eventually lead to being able to buy CBGB shirts at the mall. But back then it was the most dangerous music around.
Their first concert was at this year’s South by Southwest festival in Austin and they were backed up with the rhythm section from Joan Jett’s BLACKHEARTS. Cheetah explains how they started, “Syl’s manager and my label guy got to talking” he says, “and they suggested that since we’d known each other for a long time that we should do something together. We said ‘Hell yeah’! It sounded like fun because we’ve always wanted to play together. Basically it started off as just the EP and it went so well, we went off to do some touring and now next week we’re going to do a full album.”
At the age of 9, Emily Bear has accomplished more than most of us could ever hope for! She began studying piano at the age of 5 at The Music Institute of Chicago. She also made her first professional debut performing solo at Ravinia Music Festival in July of 2007. Emily performed at the White House in 2008. That same year she was awarded the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Competition Award. She made her orchestral debut at age seven as well. She is the youngest person ever asked to study at The Aspen Music Festival. Emily has released four Cd’s, partial profits from each are donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities, Susan G. Komen for The Cure, and The Children’s Hospitals of Los Angeles and Chicago.She plays jazz, classical, or her own compositions with ease.
Maximum Ink: Can you tell us a little about where you are from? What would you say is your favorite childhood memory so far?
Emily Bear: My favorite memory was playing at the White House and also all the amazing places where I have performed. My favorite non-musical memory is apple picking with my family and family game night!
MI: What was it like to began your training at age 5?
EB: So much fun!! My teacher would always make the lessons fun and I loved to practice for the lessons. He would also draw funny things in my music notebook.
Bella Donna is a critically acclaimed Stevie Nicks Tribute Band from Southern California. The band is a seven-piece concert show that recreates Nicks’ solo career, as well as her career with Fleetwood Mac, in a stunning and authentic experience from her music to the lace, velvet, and chiffon handcrafted wardrobe. The band takes its name from Nicks’ 1981 first double platinum selling solo album, Bella Donna. The tribute band Bella Donna was awarded the highest honor after lead singer Michele Tyler was invited to meet Nicks after she listened to a Bella Donna performance.
Maximum Ink: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from and what do you think has made you who you are at this moment?
Michele Tyler: Where to start? Well, I am one of those rare Los Angeles natives. I would freeze to death on the East Coast or anywhere it gets below 65 degrees. So, I am here to stay. I believe being in LA, with all the music influence and diversity, has contributed greatly to where I came from and where I am still going.
MI: Other than Stevie Nicks, who were some of your earliest influences?
MT: This is an easy one for me. Grace Slick, definitely. I used to listen to my dad’s music, you know, Frank Sinatra, Vickie Lawrence. I loved it all. I would walk around the house singing these incredible songs. But, when I heard “Somebody to Love” on the radio and that rich, powerful, icy voice, that was it. I had one of the ultimate thrills when I portrayed her on a national TV show, Your Big Break singing “White Rabbit.” I think I have thousands of hits for that one on YouTube now.
Petite Jamilla has been belly dancing her entire life, bridging the generation gap between traditional folkloric style and modern belly dance fusion. Studying for over ten years, Jamilla toured the Southeast U.S. at fifteen, a seasoned instructor by seventeen, with two instructional DVDs before she turned twenty. A member of the BELLYDANCE SUPERSTARS for the past three years, Petite Jamilla was kind enough to answer a few questions in anticipation of her troupe’s arrival at Madison’s Union Theater on March 26th.
MAXIMUM INK: What are the biggest misconceptions about belly dance?
PETITE JAMILLA: Due to Hollywoods’ early depictions of ‘belly dancers’ I think the biggest misconception is that belly dance is done for exploitive and seductive reasons, but it really has become a self-exploratory and self-improvement tool for dancers in the U.S.
Bo Bice first came to the attention of his fans everywhere when he finished second to Carrie Underwood on the fourth season of American Idol. Since then he has enjoyed a successful solo career. His third album 3, is a joint release from the SugarMoney/Saguaro Road labels. It features performances by The Black Crowes drummer, Steve Gorman and A.J Croce (son of Jim Croce) on keyboard.
Maximum Ink: Your mother was a gospel singer and your father played guitar. Did their influence have a major impact on your decision to become a musician?
Bo Bice: Of course, I think every family member contributes in different ways to an artist’s music whether it’s directly or indirectly. I known I’ve drawn inspiration from memories both good and bad from childhood experiences and on down the line.
MI: You were originally from Alabama and later moved to London. Was there much of a culture shock? How did the exposure to the cultures of both places affect your musical style?
BB: Living in London was extremely different from living in the states. But I have many fond memories of the UK and my time there. I started my first band at age 14 in a little town called Gerrards Cross and without my time and travels in Europe, I’m not sure I would be where I am today.
The doctor is in. Big John Bates will share his hellfire remedies for ho-hum music with audiences at The Frequency Nov. 10. When Big John Bates plays in Madison, audiences can expect to hear new material featured on the band’s upcoming release Battered Bones.
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