*NSync News - April
(22/4) *NSYNC Sign Mics for Mics For Charity Auction
Source: mtv.com
Imagine your friends' reaction when at your next Sunday night no-holds-barred karaoke jam you not only perform a rockin' rendition of Ozzy's "Crazy Train," but you kick it out gripping a mic autographed by the self-proclaimed prince of darkness himself. Now that's the stuff of which local legends are made.
An array of artists including Osbourne, 'NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, the Dave Matthews Band and Moby have signed on to contribute their John Hancocks to "Bid for Hearing," a charity auction beginning April 29 on eBay which will feature microphones autographed by various musicians. Nelly Furtado, AC/DC, Hank Williams Jr. and the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde are also among the 20-plus musicians set to offer their signatures.
The auction is being held to help promote Better Hearing and Speech Month, and to raise money for the nonprofit hearing conservation organization House Ear Institute
(HEI).
(20/4) *NSYNC is coming to the Kentucky Derby!
Source: courier-journal.com, Yvonne
*NSYNC is coming to town for the Kentucky Derby as guests of the Barnstable Brown Gala.
Further proving that Oaks Day is indeed for fillies, young fans can see the Phat Five at the sold-out gala on Derby Eve. Fairly up close and personal too -- if you stake out a spot along the front line of barricades.
Expect the annual land grab at 1700 Spring Drive to be particularly impassioned this year. *NSYNC is America's boy band supreme, the American Music Association's Favorite Band in 2001 and the People's Choice Awards' Best Group.
(19/4) Justin in AIDS Awareness Public Service Announcement
Source: mtvASIA.com, Rosalie
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is getting *NSYNC with AIDS awareness as part of a new series of star-studded public service announcements, which you can see exclusively on ET tonight!
"You know, this [AIDS] isn't another thing where you can just sign a bill and it's going to go away," the 'N Sync-er explained. "It's still here and we still need help. We still need funding and we still need research."
Produced by Artists Against AIDS Worldwide, the PSA's also feature some of today's hottest pop and hip-hop stars -- like soul singer ALICIA KEYS, rapper NELLY and the sexy R&B trio DESTINY'S CHILD! They've teamed up with Population Service International (PSI), a leading non-profit health organization, and YouthAIDS to produce a series of segments targeting the youth of America. The focus is to raise awareness about one of the most devastating diseases out there -- and to promote preventive measures like abstinence, the use of condoms and HIV testing.
(19/4) *NSYNC: We're Getting Serious
Source: abcnews.com, Jayne
Boy Band Gives Up Special Effects, Looks to the Future
Just because you're in a boy band, doesn't mean you don't want to be a grown man — *NSYNC wants to be taken seriously.
With a handful of shows remaining on their current tour, the band's members are looking to the future — and they see themselves concentrating on the music.
If you haven't checked out the well-gelled quintet, you've missed some changes. They've gotten rid of the wild special effects. They're performing new arrangements of old songs. And they're getting pretty good reviews lately.
Timberlake to Make R&B Solo Album
Their current show even features a medley of Beatles and Temptations classics — a real treat for their pre-pubesent fans who've never heard them before and the parents who bring them to the show.
"To see the kids singing the songs that their parents know, that's really amazing," says band member Joey Fatone. "Then that brings that gap together, you know, with the parents having a relationship with their kids in listening to music."
After the tour winds down, Fatone, 25, says each member of the group will take some time off for individual projects. He's got a movie coming out called My Big Fat Greek Wedding and he just signed up for a new film.
Lance Bass, 22, is training to be the first pop star in outer space. J.C. Chasez is planning to work with other groups, and Chris Kirkpatrick will be busy with his clothing line.
Joey also confirms that Justin Timberlake is going to do a solo album, but the group isn't breaking up — he says a new *NSYNC CD is planned for next year.
"Justin's going to be writing an R&B solo album," Fatone says.
"I know we're going to start writing probably around November, December," he says. "So I'd say if anything, it'd probably be like March or maybe towards the middle of next year."
(19/4) At the Movies: 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'
Source: http://story.news.yahoo.com, AP
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding" is a big, fat romantic comedy full of obvious jokes and over-the-top characters with loud reactions. And yet it has enough laughs and is so lighthearted, it's hard not to be charmed.
Former Second City comedy troupe member Nia Vardalos, who wrote the script based on her one-woman show, stars as frumpy Toula Portakalos.
Toula is considered a freak of nature in the Chicago Greek community because she's still single at 30. And as she says in her sometimes stilted voiceovers, "Nice Greek girls are expected to do three things: Marry Greek boys, make Greek babies and feed everyone until the day we die."
One day, while working at her father's restaurant, she waits on a guy who's so gorgeous, he paralyzes her with awe — then inspires her to undergo a makeover.
Toula cuts her hair, starts wearing contact lenses, makeup and a new wardrobe, attends classes at a community college and takes a job at a travel agency. So when the mystery guy magically shows up again later, she's a little more prepared.
Ian Miller (John Corbett of "Sex and the City"), a high school teacher, naturally falls for her, too, and he's too good to be true: intelligent, thoughtful and engaging. But she has to keep the relationship a secret from her enormous family because he's not Greek.
When he asks her to marry him, though, all the expected cultural clashes ensue.
Her old-country parents (Michael Constantine and Lainie Kazan) don't approve of him at first, until he agrees to be baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church; his Waspy parents (Bruce Gray and Fiona Reid) treat her like she's from another planet.
But because both families love their children and want them to be happy, you know everything will work out in the end.
Director Joel Zwick has his roots in television comedy, which is obvious. Since the '70s, he's directed episodes of "Happy Days," "Mork & Mindy," "Full House" and "Bosom Buddies" — which starred Tom Hanks, who co-produced the movie with wife Rita Wilson, who's Greek.
There are some funny visual gags — such as the gaggle of bridesmaids in monstrous powder blue dresses who follow Toula around with cover-up when she gets a zit on her wedding day.
And there's strong but too infrequent supporting work from another Second City alumna, Andrea Martin, as Toula's perfectly coifed aunt, and Gia Carides as her tacky, big-haired cousin.
Joey Fatone of 'N Sync shows up in a couple scenes as another one of Toula's obnoxious cousins, but he's doesn't have enough screen time to earn the "and Joey Fatone" credits he receives in the movie's opening. (It is, however, a far more auspicious cinematic endeavor for him than last year's flop, "On the Line.")
But in the end, it's Vardalos and Corbett together who are likable enough to make this movie more tolerable than the typical romantic comedy.
"My Big Fat Greek Wedding," a IFC Films release, runs 95 minutes. Two and a half stars (out of four).
(19/4) *NSYNC Puppet Case Popped
Source: http://story.news.yahoo.com, E! Online Music
Looks like that long-awaited courtroom showdown pitting 'N Sync against H.R. Pufnstuf isn't going to happen. A judge has sent the case to the Land of the Lost lawsuits.
A federal judge in California has officially tossed a $1 million complaint brought by Sid and Marty Krofft Pictures (the folks behind such trippy '70s kids shows as H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost and The Bugaloos) against the boy band over some custom-made puppets.
Filed in November 2000, the lawsuit says the Kroffts were contracted to create special 25-foot gigantic puppets of 'N Syncers Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lance Bass and Joey Fatone Jr. specifically for the boy band's performance of "Bye Bye Bye" at the 2000 American Music Awards. (Why puppets, you may inquire: the song came from the band's No Strings Attached album, whose cover art featured the members dangling like marionettes.)
However, the suit contended that the boy band illegally used photos of the popster puppets in souvenir programs and backstage passes without the company's permission. The Kroffts said that by doing so, band manager Johnny Wright broke a verbal promise to cut the company a slice of the profits from sales of merchandise that included images of the Krofft creations. The brothers figured that amounted to at least $1 million.
But U.S. District Judge Robert Kelleher dismissed all claims against the band and Wright. According to court documents obtained Thursday by Los Angeles' City News Service, the judge found the Kroffts "cannot establish vicarious liability and no genuine issues remain for trial."
Translated to 'N Sync-ese: The case has gone bye bye bye.
(15/4) Celebrity Mission: Lance Bass
Source: signonsandiego.com, nsyncwebguide.com
Will he or won't he?
More specifically, will *NSYNC's Lance Bass blast off with a crew of Russian cosmonauts to visit the orbiting International Space Station?
Or will this would-be space tourist remain as earthbound as "On The Line," his recent flop feature film debut with *NSYNC colleague Joey
Fatone?
These are the pressing questions that have the whole world waiting with bated breath.
Well, OK, maybe not the whole world. But Pop Scene is anxiously awaiting word about Bass' quest to leave our planet. Bass, 22,
announced his quest on Feb. 20, although he was coy when we spoke by phone a day earlier.
"I wanted to be an astronaut," Bass said, recalling his childhood aspirations. Asked to cite a future goal, he began to warble the
vintage Frank Sinatra hit, "Fly Me to the Moon."
But no sooner did Bass go public with his quest to fly on a Soyuz mission, than the confusion began.
It turns out his invitation came not from the Russian space program, but from the Netherlands-based MirCorp (a leading space exploration
company) and Hollywood's William Morris Agency, which both hope to profit from Bass' proposed space odyssey.
How?
By making him the first private citizen to be placed on any space flight that would be filmed for commercial TV use, in this case as
the star of "Celebrity Mission: Lance Bass." Apparently, such a show would have more commercial potential than a Fox TV celebrity boxing
match pitting Bass against has-been rapper Vanilla Ice (who's already lost a bout to Todd Bridges of "Diff'rent Strokes").
The only snag is the Russians said they knew nothing of Bass' space plans, and that they hadn't received an application from him.
Undaunted, Bass visited Moscow late last month for a comprehensive physical exam, in the hope of following in the weightless footsteps
of American business magnate Dennis Tito (who paid a reported $20 million to fly on a 2001 Soyuz mission).
But Bass' Moscow physical didn't impress the Russians, who responded that they still hadn't received an application from him. Meantime,
Bass might be trumped by film director Steven Spielberg, who last month told Russian Commander Yuri I. Onufrienko and U.S. Flight
Engineer Carl Walz he's ready to accept their invitation to fly to the International Space Station.
(14/4) Nelly To Release 'Hot In Herre' Featuring Justin
Source: launch.com, JustJustin
Superstar rapper Nelly will release "Hot In Herre"--the first single from his upcoming sophomore album, Nellyville--to radio on April 16.
Nellyville, which is due June 25, features appearances by *NSYNC singer Justin Timberlake, Trina, the St. Lunatics, and Jacob, as well
as production by Basement Beats and the Neptunes.
Nelly told LAUNCH that he was going to stick to the same formula for his latest effort. "Producer wise, you know, I pretty much stayed
with my same fam--Basement Beats, you know, I don't want to change the sound of my whole album. I ain't one for having a lot of guest
appearances on my album because I like to go and I like to do whole songs," he said. "If I want to do my whole album, I should be able to
get on stage and do my whole album, and not be able not to do something because somebody ain't here."
(14/4) *NSYNC, Ally McBeal Cast Sued By Nonprofit Organization
Source: cdnow.com, JustJustin
*NSYNC and the cast of the Fox TV show Ally McBeal are the subject of a complaint for interpleader filed on Thursday (April 11) by the
Boston-based nonprofit organization the Giving Back Fund over distribution of funds to charities.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, is over an April 2001 event titled Family Celebration 2001 in Los Angeles that raised
approximately $606,639.18 for charity, in which the Giving Back Fund served as fiscal administrator.
According to the filing, the defendants have made various claims to the Giving Back Fund for distribution of the funds raised at the
event that conflict in amounts, and they claim to be unable to determine what precise amounts are to be distributed. "Plaintiff
seeks to avoid the reasonable probability of vexatious litigation against it based upon the conflicting demands made upon plaintiff by
defendants, and each of them, for distribution of funds raised in conflicting percentages," states the suit.
The organization is asking the court to order *NSYNC and the Ally McBeal camp to interplead and litigate their rights to these funds.
(14/4) *NSYNC Join American Bandstand Celebration
Source: cdnow.com, JustJustin
Brandy, Babyface, the Village People, KC & the Sunshine Band, and A Taste of Honey have joined the performance lineup for ABC's American
Bandstand's 50th: A Celebration on May 3.
According to a spokesperson for the event, Babyface will perform with the previously announced Stevie Wonder. Also already on board to
perform are Michael Jackson, Kiss, Alanis Morissette, and Cher. Not performing, but slated to appear on the show, are *NSYNC, Janet
Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lenny Kravitz, and Jennifer Lopez.
In addition, the artists for the supergroup performance of Little Richard's "Good Golly, Miss Molly" will be Jim Belushi (harmonica),
Stanley Clarke (bass), the E Street Band's Clarence Clemons (saxophone), Alabama's Jeff Cook, Leif Garrett, Spinal Tap's Michael
McKean, Ray Parker, Jr., Johnny Rivers, the Go-Gos' Jane Wiedlin, the Bangles' Susanna Hoffs and Debi Peterson (guitars), Sheila E
(percussion), Mick Fleetwood (drums), James Ingram and Billy Preston (organs), Chicago's horn section -- Lee Loughnane (trumpet), James
Pankow (trombone), and Walt Parazaider (saxophone) -- and Rickey Minor (guitar and musical director).
(14/4) Mr. Cheeks Joins *NSYNC On Tour
Source: sonicnet.com, JustJustin
Mr. Cheeks and P. Diddy performing the remix of "Lights, Camera, Action!" together at Tuesday's Urban Aid 2 was just a preview of
things to come, according to the Queens MC.
"We've been rolling since way back, but we have some time where we got to do some things together," Cheeks said of his relationship with
P. Diddy, who he may work with in the studio again. "We've got the tour coming with 'NSYNC and Diddy."
Cheeks said P.D. has invited him to perform as part of the opening act on 'NSYNC's current second leg of their Celebrity tour. From
there, Cheeks will kick things for off for another multiplatinum giant — he joins Usher's 8701 Evolution Tour in May.
"My manager was on his job," Cheeks said, explaining how he landed the slot on Usher's tour. "However it came about, I'm just glad to be
on it. I'm amped up. I've never really been on no main tours like that. That's crazy major. Heavy duty. I'm meeting a whole new
audience."
Cheeks said he's not switching up his stage steelo that much despite
having to rhyme in front of an unfamiliar demographic of children and teeny-boppers during both tours.
"I'm going to do the same thing," he said. "I bring me to the table. They may say we can't curse. We may flavor it up. That's mostly the
only thing we do, censor it up for the kids. We put it down like it was any other show."
(14/4) Joey Fatone Discusses Fatherhood
Source: dailynews.yahoo.com, JustJustin, Jayne
*NSYNC member Joey Fatone says that it seems like he is living his life backward. He already has a daughter and one of these days he
thinks he'll get married, but only when he knows can do it right. Fatone says that having a daughter is a huge source of joy in his
life. He says his daughter is always happy and he tries to spend as much time with her as he can.
"I try not to miss anything now that she's getting older," he says. "Being on the road makes you grow up fast and now being a dad
made me grow up even more."
(13/4) PopOdyssey Coming to Selected Theatres
Source: itEntertainment.com, Julie
San Antonio and Akron Get Sneak Preview:
Be among the first in the nation to experience a completely new form of entertainment as inTheater Entertainment transforms select Regal
Cinemas in Akron, Ohio, and San Antonio, Texas, into a high-energy, interactive concert setting, featuring 'NSync's PopOdyssey
performance. inTheater Entertainment is the fusion of dance clubs, live events and movie theaters for an electrifying experience that is
unlike any other type of entertainment today. 'NSync will be presented in all-digital audio and high-definition video, offering
close, sharp images of heartthrobs Justin, Lance, J.C., Joey and Chris with mind-blowing, 360-degree surround sound. These dynamic
happenings will be further enhanced with dancing, light shows, emcees, ushers and comfortable stadium seating.
For more info., check out itEntertainment.com.
(12/4) Justin's Tips for Stardom
Source: soundspike.com, Susie, JustJustin
Think you have what it takes to be a big star, like, say, Justin Timberlake?
The *NSYNC superstar has a few words of wisdom for those with stars in their eyes.
"It definitely is a business," Timberlake said in a recent interview. "And in remembering that, I'd say find yourself some good
representation, like a manager who can look out for you and (then) do what you want and do it tactfully. Other than that, practice,
practice, practice.
"It's like when you first come out you only have one chance I feel to hit," he continued. "If you don't hit, then you have to kind of re-evaluate what you're doing and I think when you come out you want to
be on top of your game."
The "Girlfriend" guy gave some examples.
"It's kind of like the same thing as (Michael) Jordan or Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds ... all these people who do extraordinary things
in different lines of work," Timberlake said. "They practice really hard to get there."
(12/4) Chris on Tour, Music and Cartoon Voices
Source: soundspike.com, Susie, JustJustin
Five years after the boy band phenomenon first caught on, *NSYNC has managed to keep selling records and avoid going the way of New Kids
on the Block.
Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC took time out to chat about the group's current tour, future expectations, what he's listening to and his
recent turn doing the voice of pop star Chip Skylark for the TV cartoon "The Fairly OddParents."
SoundSpike: How's the tour going?
Chris Kirkpatrick: It's almost like we're doing our very first theater tour. We actually have a really good time with the acts, too.
Ginuwine has been a good friend of ours for a while, and it was nice having him out. Last week, we picked up Smash Mouth, and we're
already starting to go back and forth with little tricks we're playing on each other. They came up to us and we were just talking to
them and they were like, "It's great to see another band that's like a bunch of idiots, just like us, making music."
How do you think *NSYNC will evolve over the next few years?
That's exactly what it is--it's an evolution. We grow with what we do. I can't predict what we're going to grow into next or we'd
probably already be there. We work really hard on staying on the cutting edge and staying on top of things. What's cutting edge to us
right now won't be cutting edge in five years. Hopefully, we'll still be pushing music further and further. I think the best compliment
that we could get is that maybe we weren't the best band ever, maybe we didn't have the best songs ever, but we did push the envelope of
music. We kept pushing it, and maybe inspired somebody that wrote the best song ever, or a group that is the best band ever. That's one of
our goals. We just love having fun. If we can inspire somebody with *NSYNC music, that's what we'd love to do.
What music is inspiring you right now?
I just got the NERD CD, the Neptunes. I like that one. I've always been a Busta Rhymes fan. What else do I have in my CD player that I
love? I actually have a big CD case that I keep filling up. I'll go back and find old music that I never listen to and try to get into
it. I listen to what the qualities in each piece of music are. I've got everything from Mystikal to Lynyrd Skynyrd. I just like the
diversity of music and finding something good. Every group that's got a CD has to have something good for that CD to be out, and I just
like to listen to music and find what that is, and find what I like in the music.
You recently taped the voice for a character named Chip Skylark for the cartoon "The Fairly OddParents." How did that come about?
I'd watched the show couple times--I'm a huge cartoon fan, I watch cartoons constantly--and "Fairly OddParents" were looking for
somebody to do a voice for their show, and they asked me if I was interested, and I said, "Heck, yeah." I'm not sure if they had it
written, or if that was something they did for me, but I just finished recording it again. It's so much fun. Any time they ever ask
me to do it, I'm up for it. Whether or not [my character] starts coming back and back and back, it would be cool with me. I'd be happy
to do it. I guess that's up to them and the writers, to see what they come up with.
What's it like doing voiceovers?
It really put things in a perspective, and I get an appreciation for the people that do voices. It's not like acting at all, because you
have absolutely nothing--you're in a vocal booth just like a musician with a microphone and you have to create a scene. I have to talk and
act like I'm really there. It's just fun because it's like playing make-believe. You don't have to hit a mark. You don't have a lot of
people standing there making sure you move your hand right or you look at the right direction when you say the right line. It's all
about the inflection in your voice and the vocality of the art of acting.
I was really nervous when I first did it, because I thought it would turn out corny, but then when friends of mine saw it, and they said
it was good--of course your friends are going to say it's good--but I was like, "I don't care if it's good. Was it believable? Did you get
into the show and did you get into Chip Skylark's character, or were you going, `Oh, that's funny. Chris is doing this voice?'" That's
what's important about doing that.
Are you watching the cartoon as you say the lines?
You just do it, and then they animate afterwards. They would tell me the total scenario. They had the script there, and then I would say
the lines according to how I thought that character would react.
How close is your real voice to the Chip Skylark character?
It's almost exactly the same. It's really just me being an obnoxious, rock-and-roll pop guy rather than being myself--I play this guy who
has other ideas than me--but it's almost my exact voice.
The first episode you taped, "The Boys in the Band," makes fun of the boy band phenomenon. Is it funny to you?
Honestly, that's what we've been doing from the beginning. We don't take ourselves seriously at all, and that's why we do all sorts of
crazy stuff like this-- because we want everybody to know we think it's a joke, too, the way everything gets built up and some things
get blown out of proportion. We're living it, so we see it every day. We know how funny it is.
I think every day is ridiculous. There's so many fan encounters that you just kind of laugh off. I can't believe somebody's that excited.
You want to say, "It's just me. It really isn't a big deal." There's a lot of craziness with famous people, or running into famous people.
Or you hear about stuff on the news that happened and you're like, "Oh, I was right there with them on that night." Being a part
of newsworthy events is kind of crazy.
(12/4) Joey Gets Greek Lessons
Source: launch.com, Emma
"*NSYNC singer Joey Fatone has a small role in the upcoming Joel Zwick-directed romantic comedy, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, due in
theaters April 19. The movie is about a young Greek girl named Toula (Nia Vardalos) who defies family tradition by falling for a non-Greek
high school teacher named Ian (John Corbett), while at the same time trying to come to grips with her heritage and her own cultural
identity. Fatone portrays Toula's handsome cousin in the film. Fatone, who is in fact of Italian heritage, told LAUNCH that his
fellow castmembers gave him a few Greek lessons while shooting the movie. "They were actually teaching me all dirty words, believe it or
not--some that I probably will not be able to say right now. It was interesting, though, to be able to pick that up," he said. "It's a
tough language, though. I mean, the line that I say in the movie is pretty easy, but there was some stuff that they were trying to teach
me. . .even some normal stuff that was. . .It was weird. It was hard--very tough."
(9/4) *NSYNC To Kick Off The WB's May Sweep
Source: thewb.com, Rachel.Chang@thewb.com
The WB Network will start off the May sweep in tune with the broadcast premiere of *NSYNC: BIGGER THAN LIVE, an IMAX theatrical
release of the group's electrifying "No Strings Attached" tour. Airing at 8 p.m. ET Thursday, April 25, the special will grant the
audience an all-access, up-close-and-personal look at one of the hottest bands in the world.
The one-hour special catapults fans directly into the frenzy of the lavish live performances, which are an *NSYNC trademark. The film
includes the group's most popular songs including "Tearing Up My Heart," "Bye Bye Bye," "It's Gonna Be Me" and "This I Promise You."
The concert special will also feature the group's phenomenal dance moves captured by seven special cameras, and interviews that were
conducted specifically for this film.
Filmed at four locations in the United States, the one-hour special *NSYNC: BIGGER THAN LIVE chronicles the tour from the group's
platinum album "No Strings Attached," which sold nearly 4 million copies in its first three weeks of release.
"*NSYNC is one of the most popular groups today, particularly with our target audience of teens and young adults," said Jordan Levin,
President, Entertainment of The WB. "We are fortunate to be able to acquire this exclusive television premiere IMAX film and believe it
reinforces our ability to connect with our audience through music."
(6/4) *NSYNC Nominated for Video Awards
Source: Launch.com
Videos including U2's "Stuck In A Moment, Alicia Keys's "Fallin'," *NSYNC's "Pop," and P.O.D.'s "Alive" are among the nominees announced
Thursday (April 4) for the 11th annual MVPA Awards. The MVPAs are produced by the Music Video Production Association and judged by
members of the industry with a goal of recognizing both artistic and technical merit in the year's clips.
Videos by countless big names across various music styles were singled out. Others include Elton John's "This Train Don't Stop There
Anymore," Weezer's "Hash Pipe," David Gray's "Please Forgive Me," Jay-Z's "Guilty Until Proven Innocent," and Alison Krauss's "Let Me Touch
You For Awhile."
Winners will be announced at ceremonies taking place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on May 22.
(6/4) Smash Talking: *NSYNC
Source: Nickelodeon Magazine (04/02), Just Justin
You may have heard Smash Mouth's new single "Holiday in My Head" from the movie Clockstoppers, or maybe you've noticed that they're
nominated in two categories for this year's Kids' Choice Awards. We talked to Steve Harwell, the band's front man, about being out in
front of so many projects.
NickMag: In Clockstoppers, the character Zak has a watch that alters time. Do you ever wish you could go back in time to undo something?
Steve: Every day. Sometimes I say the wrong thing and offend somebody, and I don't mean to. That happens more often than not for
me.
NickMag: Would you ever want to travel into the future?
Steve: I don't know if I'd want to see the future. If I could change it, it'd be pretty scary if it wasn't something good. I like living
day by day and seeing what life brings.
NickMag: When you were a kid, what did you want to grow up and be?
Steve: I wanted to be either a race-car driver or a musician.
NickMag: Would you be a race-car driver if you weren't in Smash Mouth?
Steve: Definitely. I'm beginning to race. All my friends are race-car drivers, and I love it. It's similar to the music industry because
it's so fast-paced- if you slack a little bit, you're two laps down. You really have to try to win every day.
NickMag: Smash Mouth is nominated for two Kids' Choice Awards this year. If you could create an award, what would it be and who would
receive it?
Steve: The Elvis Presley Award for Excellence. It would be for personality and performance, because Elvis was such a cool guy, and
he had so much style. I would give one to U2 and one to Aerosmith for still making awesome music. And I would give one to *NSYNC, because
of all the pop bands out there that are really, truly pop, they are the most talented group of guys I've ever seen.
NickMag: Does it ever get annoying to have to perform you hit songs all the time?
Steve: When we play a song live it doesn't annoy me at all., because it's always a new crowd, and they want to hear it. It makes me
psyched that they're still so excited about songs we did years ago. It just makes my day.
(5/4) Boy Band Member Pokes Fun at Phenomenon Through "Corny" Cartoon Role
Source: Rollingstone Magazine, Just Justin
Chris Kirkpatrick of *NSYNC has signed on for a recurring vocal guest spot for the Nickelodeon cartoon The Fairly OddParents. "I think it's
a funny show," says Kirkpatrick, an avowed cartoon fanatic. "There's so many cartoons that are out now that kind of talk down to kids, and
make kids feel like, 'This is a circle. This is my head. This is the body. This is me at school being a kid.' Fairly OddParents is one of
the cartoons they watch and just laugh at, because they're not afraid to make those fart jokes and they're not afraid to talk to the kids
on their level and say, 'This is funny. Of course you should laugh at this.'" Kirkpatrick's character for the series is a pop singer named
Chip Skylark. In the first episode he taped (titled "Boys in the Band," set to air April 6th), Skylark gets kidnapped by a crazed fan.
The show takes jabs at the boy band phenomenon throughout, something that appealed to Kirkpatrick. "The character Chip is just so corny,"
he says. "It poked so much fun, I couldn't pass it up. It was the perfect opportunity to say we know what the stereotype is and we know
what the joke is. The joke will be on everybody else, if five to ten years from now we're still making hit records."
In the episode set for broadcast May 5th, Kirkpatrick's role expanded. "I get into a fight with his alter-ego, whose name is
Skip," he says. "I did his voice too, but he only had a couple lines. All my character talks about are his teeth, his tiny white teeth. I'm
sure my acting abilities were amazing in this one because it's just mumbling."
Meanwhile, *NSYNC are in the midst of their Celebrity Tour, which features Smash Mouth and Ginuwine alternating as openers. "It's been
going really, really well," Kirkpatrick says. "We've had all sorts of great reviews. I haven't seen a bad review yet. Everybody who comes
to the show says this is our best tour because it's very interactive. We're all about making everybody feel welcome and like they're part
of the show, and you can see up there that we're just clowning each other and having a good time."
With four months off after the tour ends April 28th in Orlando -- and band mate Lance Bass determined to get shot into space -- Kirkpatrick
plans to use the time to write music for some outside projects. "I've written some stuff that's not exactly poppy," he says. "It would be
more something that a rock band would do, and I might maybe dabble with that a little bit. Like I said, this group comes before anything
for me. I love the group, I love the music. I love having a good time with the guys. That's the priority on my list. Everything else is
second. I don't know if I'd do a solo record. I think it would be more like just another rock album or something."
(4/4) Nelly Speaks About *NSYNC Collaboration
Source: ugo.com, Just Justin
Unless you've been living in a hole for the past couple of years listening to Yanni albums, you know who Nelly is. His debut album,
Country Grammar rocketed to the top of the charts upon its release, and has spawned its share of hit singles. This success is even more
impressive when it's considered that Nelly hails from Saint Louis, a Midwestern metropolis that was, at the time, a far cry from hip-hop
hotbeds like New York, Atlanta and L.A. The hard work and sacrifice paid off, and now Nelly is sitting at the apex of the hip-hop wave,
preparing to debut his new album, Nellyville. We caught up with the man who everybody wants to take a ride with between studio time with
the Neptunes, and got the scoop on everything from Xbox controllers to his opinion on Napster.
UGO: How did the collaboration with *NSYNC (on a remix of the boy
band's song, Girlfriend) come about?
Nelly: Basically, they just called me for the remix. I'd already met them a little bit before we did the Super Bowl, and then once we did
the Super Bowl, I got to know them a little better, obviously, 'cause you spend a little more time together as far as rehearsals and stuff
like that, just getting things crackin'. It was cool, man, you know? I found out a lot about them. They chill, they're regular people,
there ain't no ifs, ands, or no buts. "Garson!", you know what I'm saying, snapping their fingers at people or nothing like that. Just
basically what they do.
UGO: Do you think they get a bad rap with all the crap they get from a lot of music fans?
Nelly: I think, musically, and as far as their talents actually, you know, they might get a bad rap, because of what they already stamped.
But, I think, you know, they're comin' along with it, you know what I'm saying? Them guys do what they do. Obviously, there's about...oh,
I'd say, 13 million people who rollin' with 'em, you know what I'm saying? So, um, you know, um, for whatever that may be, give or take
a couple mill, that probably just bought it on the strength...you know, they got a pretty good fan base in what it is they're trying to
do. And I think they get a lot of respect, and now I think they're starting to get more respect for their singing ability now with
different songs such as the Gone song, such as the Girlfriend, just being more in tune with what's going on now. Kinda shattering that
little image I think they're getting, so to speak, as walkin' that thin line. You know, they're experimenting with it, and I'm
rollin' with it, you know what I'm saying? You know, it was something they wanted me to do, as long as I was able to get on the track and do my
thing. They didn't ask me to do nothing I was out of character with. They wanted me, Nelly, to come on and do Nelly. And that's what I
did. If it'd have been a point where they'd structured me to do something, or like, "Yo, we want you to do this!", then no, I can't
roll with that. But they asked me to come on and do my thing, and, you know, it's on.
UGO: If you had your choice of anyone else in music, who else would you want to collaborate with?
Nelly: I mean, pretty much now, you get a lot of offers to do stuff. I look forward to doing something with...such as a C-Lo, like from
Goodie Mob or something like that. Obviously, Outkast, no doubt, Jay, J-La...just various people, man. I'm a fan of the game, I appreciate
everybody, and I'm pretty cool with everybody as well, I ain't got no grudge with nobody. Anything's possible right now. I don't do too
many guest appearances on my album, 'cause, you know, I don't like to be the guest on the album. Or you go somewhere, and you can't really
perform the whole song, because you need certain people. But I'm definitely a fan of everybody, and I definitely look forward to
collaborating with a lot of people as I go along. But I just want to take my time with it, you know, don't burn myself out. You know, I
don't want to see myself with everybody every other week, you know what I'm saying? I'm just takin' my time with it.
News Archive:
April
Main credits to nsyncstudio.com, nsynclandonline.com, nsync-land.com and lbfc.net