Blind Melon: Patience Pays Off [1994 Article, lots of GNR, Axl Mentions)

[Eeebs]

It's an oldie, but a goodie, as the saying goes.  I recently came into possession of approximately 75 Metal Edge / Hit Parader magazines, dating from 1992 - 1995.  

I found an article, about Shannon Hoon, speaking about Guns n' Roses and Axl Rose, in Hit Parader's January 1994 issue.  It was an interesting read, so I thought I would repost parts of it here for others to enjoy.

Enjoy!!

***

Blind Melon: Patience Pays Off
Hit Parader, January 1994

by Jodi Summers

The record company knew they'd stumbled onto something juicy when they signed Blind Melon.  The group was a bunch of unknown rockers from various villages in the south and Midwest.  And a year before their self titled debut album was released, vocalist Shannon Hoon had shown up singing backup in Guns n' Roses' Don't Cry video.

"I met Axl at a party in Indiana I don't know how many years ago," recalls Shannon.  "It was raining and it was winter, and Axl, a guy named Dave Lank and I went for a walk.  There were people who were just getting messed up at this party and I didn't want to be around them, and I don't think they did, either.  That was the first time I really rapped with him."

They never met before, because Axl had a few years on Shannon, meaning he ran with an older crowd.  "Axl was friends with my big sister when I was young.  When I ran into him, he was like, 'Oh, you're Anna's brother,'" reminisces Shannon.  "My sister was a cheerleader and Axl was the rowdy kid who played drums with his pencils.  They were from two totally different circles of friends, but they got along.  They met when Axl caught the teacher looking up my sister's cheerleading skirt.  He was like, 'Hey, Anna, Mr. So-and-So is looking up your skirt.'"

There's an old cliche about how it doesn't matter what you know, but who you know.  You've got to give him credit:  Axl is kind enough to remember and reward people who knew him before everybody wanted to know him.  He helped his friend Shannon create a buzz on Blind Melon.  The word was out on them long before Shannon, guitarist Rogers Stevens and Christopher om, bassist Brad Smith and drummer Glen Graham released their now platinum album.  And when their self-titled debut album was released, the scene was set.  Poignaint, innovative tunes like Soak the Sin, and Dear Ol' Dad slowly - make that very slowly - elevated Blind Melon from the mire of new releases into the heights of accepted popularity.

According to Shannon, Blind Melon's being is, in spirit, inspired by Axl.  "The success of Guns n' Roses pulled a lot of kids off the street and put them into the rehersal halls and into the garages, it helped a lot of kids who were punks," notes Shannon.  "They realized you could come from here and really do something.  Guns n' Roses nourished kids mentally and let them know you can find something at the end of the rainbow.  You can write a song and sign it and let the whole world hear it, the possibilities are there."

True.  Guns n' Roses have influenced young rockers everywhere, but they've also inspired a nation of young Americans, giving them hope, encouraging them to pursue their passions and make their dreams come true.

[Butch Français]

a really cool piece you have dug up there man, Shannon was such an awesome guy and musician!

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Eeebs, that was an awesome article!

I wish Axl would show that side of himself more often.  GNR did inspire a lot of people everywhere, and we shouldnt forget that.  

[Slashly]

Man, I wanna cary when I think that Shanon is dead now........
Awsome interview


Baby Slash//

[sergejg]

That article rules man! you know, I have always felt so lucky  that I had the chance to see GNR and Blind Melon the same day (here in Mexico city back in 93 at the end of the Illusions tour Blind Melon was the opening act for GNR). We had never heard back then about Blind Melon but still Shannon kicked ass. When they played No rain he started keeping the beat of the song with his fingers and sudenly it was thousands doing the same thing. It really rocked.

[moreblack]

on the Making of Don't Cry you get to see the kind of guy he was, free, open, loving, he seemed so innocent at the time...

Too bad drugs got a hold of him.

[ChristineP]

It's an oldie, but a goodie, as the saying goes. ?I recently came into possession of approximately 75 Metal Edge / Hit Parader magazines, dating from 1992 - 1995. ?

I found an article, about Shannon Hoon, speaking about Guns n' Roses and Axl Rose, in Hit Parader's January 1994 issue. ?It was an interesting read, so I thought I would repost parts of it here for others to enjoy.

Enjoy!!

***

Blind Melon: Patience Pays Off
Hit Parader, January 1994

by Jodi Summers

The record company knew they'd stumbled onto something juicy when they signed Blind Melon. ?The group was a bunch of unknown rockers from various villages in the south and Midwest. ?And a year before their self titled debut album was released, vocalist Shannon Hoon had shown up singing backup in Guns n' Roses' Don't Cry video.

"I met Axl at a party in Indiana I don't know how many years ago," recalls Shannon. ?"It was raining and it was winter, and Axl, a guy named Dave Lank and I went for a walk. ?There were people who were just getting messed up at this party and I didn't want to be around them, and I don't think they did, either. ?That was the first time I really rapped with him."

They never met before, because Axl had a few years on Shannon, meaning he ran with an older crowd. ?"Axl was friends with my big sister when I was young. ?When I ran into him, he was like, 'Oh, you're Anna's brother,'" reminisces Shannon. ?"My sister was a cheerleader and Axl was the rowdy kid who played drums with his pencils. ?They were from two totally different circles of friends, but they got along. ?They met when Axl caught the teacher looking up my sister's cheerleading skirt. ?He was like, 'Hey, Anna, Mr. So-and-So is looking up your skirt.'"

There's an old cliche about how it doesn't matter what you know, but who you know. ?You've got to give him credit: ?Axl is kind enough to remember and reward people who knew him before everybody wanted to know him. ?He helped his friend Shannon create a buzz on Blind Melon. ?The word was out on them long before Shannon, guitarist Rogers Stevens and Christopher om, bassist Brad Smith and drummer Glen Graham released their now platinum album. ?And when their self-titled debut album was released, the scene was set. ?Poignaint, innovative tunes like Soak the Sin, and Dear Ol' Dad slowly - make that very slowly - elevated Blind Melon from the mire of new releases into the heights of accepted popularity.

According to Shannon, Blind Melon's being is, in spirit, inspired by Axl. ?"The success of Guns n' Roses pulled a lot of kids off the street and put them into the rehersal halls and into the garages, it helped a lot of kids who were punks," notes Shannon. ?"They realized you could come from here and really do something. ?Guns n' Roses nourished kids mentally and let them know you can find something at the end of the rainbow. ?You can write a song and sign it and let the whole world hear it, the possibilities are there."

True. ?Guns n' Roses have influenced young rockers everywhere, but they've also inspired a nation of young Americans, giving them hope, encouraging them to pursue their passions and make their dreams come true.

Ya I see that about Axl.? Very outward and honest, almost to a fault!? He seems very cool, but holy temper!

Holy-one L-Have to start using spell check or go back to school!

I think I have a worse temper though!

[GregMan]

Shannon could very well be the most underrated singer of his time. He had an amazing voice and truly unique style of writting. Anyone whos never heard the album Soup should go to the CD store today.

[Butch Français]

Shannon could very well be the most underrated singer of his time. He had an amazing voice and truly unique style of writting. Anyone whos never heard the album Soup should go to the CD store today.

yes, I agree 167%!