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questions
and answers |
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whilst developing the site we thought what feature can
we have that includes everybody? we figured that it would be cool for
us all to be able to ask fleming and john their opinion on certain aspects
in their music and life. so, we asked you to send us any burning questions
that you had and then we sorted them, sent them off, and quickly got a
response from f&j. here is what you have been waiting for....we hope
you enjoy whjat you read and that you perhaps spot a question that you
asked! |
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What are your plans for the next six months? Especially
in light of the departure from Universal Records? |
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Right now we are finishing the "Headmint"
album. It is turning into sort of a side project (in the spirit of "Fear
Of Pop") with our friend Lindsay Jamieson (Drummer for Tim Keegan and Departure
Lounge...look them up they're cool!). We hope to have that album available
on the website in about 2 months. Also, we are working on new songs right
now while we negotiate a new record deal. |
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Any plans for touring in the near future? |
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No touring, but Belmont University is
giving Fleming an award on the evening of Wed. May 3rd in the Massey Auditorium,
and we are going to play 2 or 3 songs. Not a whole show, but if anyone is
in the area...drop by. |
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What are your thoughts on fans taping (either audio or video)
your shows? |
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As long as we don't have to see it or
hear it (and you don't SELL them) we love it. |
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Where is your favourite live venue? |
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The Ryman Auditorium (the old Grand
Ole Opry) in Nashville. We've gotten to play there a few times, and it was
great! |
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How big was the largest audience you have ever played to,
and how did it make you feel? |
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In a Nashville "Dancin' In The District"
show we had about 15,000... We felt lucky to be appreciated at home, and
we were the Headliners. We hope to do another one of those next year. In
San Francisco at Golden Gate Park, we played with Cake and Jewel and it
felt nice to hear that some people actually came just to see us! |
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What possessed you to do Winter Wonderland to the tune of
Misty Mountain Top? Is Led Zeppelin a big influence? |
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That was my fault! (John) We had played
the song live a few times already. Then a friend of ours (Jerry Dale McFadden...Accordion
player formerly with the Mavericks, recently with Sixpence) was putting
together a local Christmas tape every year. And somehow I noticed that the
lyrics fit. We recorded that version live (I think in '94). We like Led
Zep, and have also played "What is and What shall never Be" and also, "Ramble
On" combined with "Sunshine On My Shoulders" (John Denver), and also "Black
Dog" combined with "I Got You Babe"! Shawn is obviously a big Bonham fan,
Flem's voice sounds really good in the same range as Plant's, and I have
always liked John Paul's String Arrangements. |
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Why did you decide to re-release "Delusions of Grandeur"? |
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Some people from Universal Records (before
it was even in business) heard us on the radio, and arranged a buy-out with
REX Records. It was more of re-packaging than a re-release. |
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Was there any specific reasons for rearranging the order of
some songs on the re-release? |
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Major labels like for you to have your
single early in the album sequence (or FIRST). We also remixed a few songs
("I'm Not Afraid" and "Love Songs" and "A Place Called Love" got a new but
not very different intro) |
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Why was there such a long gap between the re-release of "Delusions
of Grandeur" and "The Way We Are"? |
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We were pretty burned out when we got
off the road on "Delusions" since we had promoted it twice...Then when we
finally did make the album, the release got delayed for 9 months (but during
that time, we wrote "Comfortable" and "Ugly Girl"!). I worked on the second
BF5 album, Sixpence's Album, "Rich Creamy Paint", "Fear Of Pop", "October
Project", and what was Jewel's first attempt at her second album (no, I
can't give out any tapes!! but it was an interesting experience...and yes,
she was very nice). Also, Fleming did alot of Yoga. And I pursued my Martial
Arts addiction (http://www.vanderbilt.edu/jkd/). Any other Kung Fu nerds
out there?? |
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Why did you decide to rerecord "Rain All Day"? |
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Our publisher wanted to have it to pitch
for Film Soundtrack use (it was his favorite song). We are thinking about
making it a tradition to redo a song on every album...any suggestions? |
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What is the most prized instrument you own? |
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It would be a tie between my '74 Les
Paul Deluxe featured on "I'm Not Afraid" (Leather Bound Body with Red Sparkle
finish!) and '52 Gibson CF 100E Acoustic featured on "Suppressed Emotions"
and "Don't Let It Fade Away". |
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How did you become friends with Ben Folds? |
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Ben was living in Nashville, and his
publisher told him that he need to find a producer to work with on his demos.
Ben and his wife had been coming to our shows, and Ben gave some 4 track
recordings to our Manager. Needless to say they were REALLY good. I ended
up working with Ben on an album's worth of songs. He played piano, and his
wife played violin with us for about 7 or 8 shows. Since then we always
try to work together when possible...and also get together to whine about
the Music Biz... |
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Did Fleming ever make any appearances on any Bus Stop albums,
as it has been dicussed on AListCalledLove? |
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Yes she did... Ben's brother (Chuck)
played Bass for them. And Ben and I went to NC to record an album for them
( I engineered). Fleming sang backgrounds on a strange song called "Marathon
Man". And you probably know that the lead singer was Evan Olsen (who recently
had an album out on Universal. OH YEAH...the drummer was Eddie Walker (who
was fictionalised in the BF5 song by the same name). He was also the drummer
when we played on Conan with William Shatner! |
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Did Stan Rawlings leave the band...if so why? |
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It was just normal personal tension...we
are friends now. |
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Getting a little more personal... What do you have in your
pockets right now? |
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My Kershaw "Talon" pocket knife that
I got Fleming's Dad (who inspired "That's All I Know") he always gives me
knives and bullets for Christmas (hey, that would be a cool song title!).
Fleming doesn't have any pockets, but her purse is full of junk! Empty tubes
of Hand Cream, Herbal Tea, Lysol Anti-Bacterial Gel, Herbal Cough Drops,
an old tour pass, a map of the London Tube, wadded up gum etc.... |
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What did you do on New Years Eve...Millenium 2000? |
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We were in East Prairie, MO at her parent's
house playing Darts. |
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Any plans for little Flemings or Johns? |
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Yes, before too long...We already have
Shawn (Fleming's brother)! as well as a new album to make.. |
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John, is Fleming a good cook? |
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Fabulous! Sometime we'll post some her
favorite recipes. We just had baked Trout with Garlic & Cheese Grits for
dinner...MMMMMM |
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What are your birth dates? |
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John 9/20 and Fleming 10/23 |
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When were you married, and where?? |
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We were married 8/18/91 in Nashville
at Percy Warner Park (outdoors). Our String section (The Love Sponge Strings)
played, and Kevin Monroe (who was playing acoustic guitar with us at the
time). My Father did the ceremony, and the wedding was just announced on
the radio...it was perfect! |
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What are each others most annoying habits? |
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I won't stop working at night....Fleming
always has to drag me out of the studio. Fleming won't quit asking me to
stop working at night! |
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Please keep us updated on your plans for the UK because we
are very excited. (The original release of DoG was released here, or at
least in Europe, why weren't your subsequent albums?) |
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Actually, that was one our biggest complaints
with Universal. They stopped us from having international releases....whatever....
We are working on getting "Headmint" released in the UK. We love travelling
and are always looking for a good excuse! |
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Thanks....we're glad you care! F&J |
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