Interview: Melissa Etheridge Coming To Tulalip

Interview with Melissa Etheridge – Part 1 by Earle Dutton

Melissa Etheridge –
photo by James Minchin III

Etheridge, the Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter took time out of her schedule to give us this amazing phone interview. Catch her current show at the Tulalip Amphitheatre in Marysville, WA this Sunday, August 18th. Get tickets here.

Watch for the conclusion of this interview with pics from her concert on Monday, August 19, right here on equality365.com.

Earle Dutton: How are things going for you?
Melissa Etheridge: Ahh, they are going really well. I have been really enjoying myself. Enjoying the process of the box set, actually. I have learned a lot about myself working on that. I have played some shows in between and that’s fun too.

When is your 25 Year Anniversary Boxed Set coming out?
Hopefully, if I can get myself together, I tell everyone it is like landing a dirigible. It is just this massive collection of stuff that I am whittling through. It should be out at the end of November. This has been such a fun project. There are quite a few songs that never made it on albums. I didn’t know there were so many things that I could release. It is probably going to be about 6 CDs worth of stuff. It is crazy. There is some live stuff, some covers, and some solo stuff it is pretty amazing.

Everyone will be getting it for Christmas.
Oh, yeah I hope so. Yes, that is a good plan

Are you working on anything new? I know that your last album, 4th Street Feeling, is just coming up on the one year mark.
No, I haven’t started writing yet. Well, little things here and there. Well with the box set, I actually went back into the studio with my original musicians, Kevin and Fritz. I recorded old songs new. That I am probably going to release next year after the box set. All kinds of stuff, just been having fun.

Any favorite songs that you are reworking that just hit you and meant a lot? Maybe a wow moment?
Well, yeah. There is one from 1995 called “One Way Out.” It is just so rockin’. I just love it. It is fun because sometimes when I got too rocking I would scare myself and back off. That is what I am finding like these great songs and crazy rock tunes that I just backed away from. Not anymore, they are gonna be rockin’. I am redoing them with the old musicians so it has that old feeling but I am not holding anything back. So they will be great new songs.

I promised my partner that I would tell you that he saw you in 1988 at the Starry Night in Portland. I think you opened for Huey Lewis and the News.
Oh God Yes, (laughter).

They went to see you but stayed for Huey Lewis.
Ahh, that’s nice. Wow, that was a long time ago. 25 years ago. Wow.

We saw you last year when you were in Seattle and you had a slight wardrobe malfunction. Your belt broke on stage and your assistant brought you a new one and actually put it on you while you spoke.
Oh god, I remember that.

It was pretty funny because your assistant brought out a new belt. And you commented that you knew he picked it out because it was so sparkly. You were so calm and collected during the entire thing. You just kept talking and seemed to have a cool head the entire time. I guess you knew that nothing was falling down or going south of the border, so to speak.

Have you had any other memorable wardrobe malfunctions?
I have had quite a few wardrobe malfunctions over the years. Remember I have been performing for 25 years. Let’s see, I remember the time, it was the first song in fact, I was singing and playing. At the end of the song, my hands are wide out and I go to bend down and my shirt is completely open all the way to my belly. I was like, really?!? The buttons just flew off. I had a black bra so it wasn’t so bad but still. It was like yikes! I have done the low deep knee bend and ripped the entire back out of my pants. I’ve done that more than once actually. Nice tight leather pants, too. You just have to run off and go, I’ll be right back.

Are there any new or up and coming artist you are enjoying right now?
My daughter is always brings home interesting music but I always forget the names. Personally, I have been really enjoying Delta Rae.

Are you planning anything special or exciting for your show at the Tulalip Amphitheatre?
Ha, you know me. It is all going to be fun and exciting. I am planning for high energy and amazing.

Part 2 of this interview should be available Monday, August 19th. We will be discussing social issues and current events with a couple surprise announcements and pics from the concert.

We love Melissa Etheridge!

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