Crush' on Bon Joví
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Artists & Music F ans Still Naue `Crush' On Bon Joví Band Returns With Set On Island/Def Jam, Mercury's Successor BY MELINDA NEWMAN The June 13 release is the band's again was the turn -on that every- LOS ANGELES- Looking back on first for the Island /Def Jam Music body needed," says Island /Def Jam his band's 17 -year life, Jon Bon Jovi chairman Jim Caparro, who has remembers the days when Bon Jovi worked with the band for 12 years. would play at the opening of an enve- "For those who knew Bon Jovi pre- lope. viously, it reminded them why they "There was an old Doc McGhee had sold 90 million records. To those [the band's former manager] saying who made didn't, it them realize Soulful Lads. The Vancouver -based trio Soul Decision is currently promoting its that this band will play a pay toilet one of - they're the greatest rock U.S. debut, "No One Does It Better." Due June 27, the MCA set is produced by and use its own change, and any- 'n'roll bands is." there the act with Charles Fisher (Savage Garden, Ace Of Base) and Femi Jiya (Ben where you have electricity, we would Although Jon Bon Jovi estimates Harper), with mixing by studio veteran Chris Lord -Alge. The first single, "Faded," show up, and if you didn't have it, BON JOVI gone nine that the band has through has just been serviced to top 40 radio. Pictured, from left, are group members we'd it. That's how we bring built our Mercury presidents during the Trevor Guthrie, Ken Lewko, and David Bowman. reputation," the singer recalls. Group, the label that subsumed Bon (Continued on page 22) And that reputation has served Jovi's longtime label, Mercury the band exceedingly well over the Records, in the Universal/PolyGram past two decades. With more than 90 merger. (The title comes out May 17 million albums sold worldwide over in Japan and Australia and May 29 the course of the band's career, in the rest of the world outside the according to the label, Bon Jovi has U.S.) Osborne Inks With Interscope; Tears For been working like a baby band in "We actually started our market- getting the word out about its first ing plan months ago when the band Fears album in five years, "Crush." went into the studio and people could Gets Reacquainted; Lynne Wows L.A. The group has already gone to an watch them make the record via the ST. JOAN: Look for Joan Osborne, who was dropped Smith, "but we're being very laid-back, which is a good industry convention for grips and Internet," says Island /Def Jam se- from Mercury/Island/Def Jam earlier this year, to ink a thing; we're not being precious about it." grins, conducted dozens of inter- nior director of product development deal with Interscope Records. She has already complet- In the meantime, Smith says he's still pursuing his solo views for international magazines, Beth Tallman (Billboard, Jan. 22). ed an album that her manager David Sonenberg says career under his name (he previously had recorded as jetted to Germany to announce a It helped spread the word among will come out in late September via her Womanly Hips Mayfield). An EP of his new solo material will come out world tour, and performed a major those at the label that the boys were imprint. in August, followed by a full- length album early next year. industry showcase for radio and back in town. "Mercury passed on Joan in January-[the new re- The projects will be released through his own label, Zero retail May 4 in Chicago. "Seeing the band perform live gime] wasn't really interested in pursuing a relationship Disc, which goes through Proper Distribution. with her," says Sonenberg. "We got a call from [Inter- scope Geffen A &M co- chairman] Jimmy Iovine and CH-CH-CHANGES: Former MCA VP of publicity Car- [Interscope Geffen A &M president] Tom Whalley, who oline Prutzman has been named VP of media relations Multiple GLAMAS Co To 'Hedwig,' asked us to play the record, which Mitchell Froom pro- for Atlantic Group's Division One, which includes the duced, for them. We sat down with Nonesuch, Teldac, and Erato them and made the deal. We didn't labels. She starts Monday (8) ... 'Out' Artists Ndegeocello, Heotges have a bidding war-we thought it Nancy Sullivan has left Scoop was sweet to be back in the Univer- Marketing to become a senior VP NEW YORK -Me'shell Ndegeocello crow," inspired by Matthew Shep- sal family." The first single, "Right- at Farmclub.com, heading up the and her Maverick opus "Bitter" dom- ard's death, received the GLAMA eous Love," which is also the title of Internet company's public rela- inated the fourth annual Gay /Les- for best out recording. the album, will go to radio in late tions efforts. bian American Music Awards Three -time GLAMA recipient July or early August. The track, BUT (GLAMA) on April 26, garnering Catie Curtis took home another this which is also featured on Lon- STUFF: David Sonenberg's three awards -including the top tro- year for "What's The Matter ?," from don /Sire's forthcoming "Sex And by Melinda Newman DAS Communications has signed phy, for album of the year. her Rykodisc recording "A Crash The City" soundtrack (The Beat, 98° for management representa- The artist was also cited as best Course In Roses." Curtis was previ- Billboard, May 6), will be the basis tion ... David Sanborn has left female artist, and she won the spe- ously honored in 1996 and 1998. "I've for an episode of the hit HBO program. "The producers Elektra Entertainment. Look for him to announce a new cial Outmusic Award for her ongoing been to many awards ceremonies," fell in love with that song, so they're writing an episode label affiliation shortly ... On May 30 Elektra will release commitment to being a visible "out" she said, accepting her GLAMA for about `Righteous Love,' and Joan will be performing in a "Mermaid Avenue Volume 2," the second collaboration artist in the gay/lesbian /bisexual out song. "But at GLAMA, I feel like club on the show," says Sonenberg. "We may even do a between Wilco and Billy Bragg. Similar to its 1998 pre- music community. I've found my video that would tie in with some of the cast." The episode decessor, the work features unreleased lyrics from Woody Other multiple musical home." is slated for a late August airing. Guthrie set to music written by Bragg and Wilco. The winners were Recently split Osborne's 1995 Mercury debut, "Relish," has been cer- 15 -song set includes guest appearances by Natalie Mer- Meg Hentges for Luscious Jack- tified triple -platinum by the Recording Industry Assn. of chant and blues artist Corey Harris ... The Who will her song "This son received the America. "Early Recordings," an album of her pre-Mer- appear at the Robin Hood Foundation benefit on June 6 Kind Of Love" best pop perfor- cury material released by the label in 1996, has sold 46,000 in New York. (rock/alternative mance GLAMA copies, according to SoundScan. performance and, for "Nervous IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO JOIN THE PARTY: Even with lyricist Jude O. Nym, song of Breakthrough," from their album SOWING THE SEEDS OF LOVE: Tears For Fears though I've casually followed her career since the early the year) and the off -Broadway rock "Electric Honey" (Capitol /Grand co-founders Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith are not '90s, I hadn't really paid close attention to Shelby Lynne musical "Hedwig & The Angry Royale). Dance diva Joi Cardwell only talking again for the first time in years- they're until April 28, when she performed at the House of Blues Inch" (cast recording and score for won a GLAMA for the Hidden, mix writing together again with an eye toward possibly mak- in Los Angeles. She's teetered between country (even las- film or theater for songwriter of "Last Chance For Love," from ing a new TFF album. soing the ACM Award for most promising female artist Stephen Trask). "Deliverance," on her No -Mad "We had dinner when I went back to England in Jan- in 1991) and swing and everything in between except rap Noted jazz pianist Fred Hersch label. uary," says Smith. "We hadn't spoken in nearly a decade. in the past decade, it seems, but has finally-clearly- received the GLAMA for best male In total, awards were handed out [Producer] Chris Hughes is the one person that both of come into her own with her latest album, "I Am Shelby artist, as well as the Michael Callen in 28 categories. The show was host- us still talk to [from the TFF days], and he said, `Why Lynne," which came out on Island Records in January. Medal of Achievement. ed by Hollywood writer and comic don't we all go out to dinner?' So we went out, and it was Bold, outspoken, and yet vulnerable and endearing, The oft -nominated Indigo Girls Bruce Vilanch. kind of cool. We started talking about music, and it was Lynne owned the Los Angeles (or Los Angeleeze, as she (seven nominations) and Sonia of Founded in 1995, GLAMA is the clear that we had some of the same ideas again and that pronounced it) audience from the moment she stepped Disappear Fear (six nods) carried first and only national music we had a lot in common musically." onstage.