AUGUST 15, 2008
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justput Í 21
MELISSA'S SECRET
pened had you not experienced
keep myself in a shell
there and 1 could be
breast cancer?
because of their fear of
different, I could be
ME: Well, I would like to think
sexuality? Am 1 gonna
unusual and crazy and I
that 1 would’ve gotten where 1 am,
make myself small be
could be in that, and I
but 1 do know that the experience
cause of their fear?”
just really thought that
Jl/rr
nf
of having breast cancer and going
So 1 kind of had
it was Emerald City
tht h:tiur
through the chemotherapy and
that going for me any
and we’re just all gonna
thr
M'¡kirt¡í
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that whole thing—I look at that
way and really was be
be tra-la-la and happy
. u New
as a huge gift, just an incredible
lieving in that and was
there.
.1 ri'f-riiAiii
gift of forcing me to be completely
having my own spiri
Hollywood is like
still, to examine my whole life in
tual path, but I didn’t
a machine with this
this wonderful stillness, to experi
ever say “God” much.
big maze, and you just
ence my spirit apart from my body
“God” and that whole
keep thinking, “OK, if 1
and my mind, to really have a
spiritual thing 1 sort of
just get to that thing or
Etheridge became the poster child for
physical and spiritual awakening.
left to those that wear
that award or that show
nontraditional families in 2000 when she
I
do
credit my experience with
it.
[Laughs]
And
that
’
s
or that party or if I just
Still bald from chemotherapy treatment, Etheridge blew the
talked to Rolling Stone about her two children
cancer
as
bringing
that
about.
what
really
changed
know that person, then
roof off the 2005 Grammys belting out Janis Joplin’s "Piece of
with Julie Cypher, using sperm donated by
And so now, 1 feel I want to
My Heart** with Joss Stone.
with cancer: “Why do
it’ll all make sense and
fellow rocker David Crosby.
help bring that about in other
they own God? 1 have
1’11 be in that place, 1’11
Jim Radosta: You obviously have a huge fol
people without them having to go through can God! I am God, and you are God, and God is in
be there.” And 1 kept going, “There is no ‘there’
lowing here in Portland. What do you think of
cer. [Pauses] But don’t wait—you can do it before
all of us, and I’m going to start saying God.”
here—it doesn’t exist.” And 1 found out that what
the city?
then.
Because you know what? You can’t say you’re
I created every day—my own life with my family,
Melissa Etheridge: I love to walk around
a Christian and then you own God. You don’t.
my friends—is the life I have!
Portland every time I’m there. It grows and grows.
JR: Your lyrics share a really beautiful per [Laughs] God is everywhere, and that’s the mes
There’s this illusion called Hollywood—and
What I love about Oregon is it’s such a paradox:
spective on spirituality, which is often a difficult
sage that has to get out.
it’s only an illusion—it’s just a big machine that
You’ve got the most liberal liberals—you guys
subject with gay folks. So I’m curious: What
people keep going and churning out on television
are way ahead on all the environmental scales
were your views like before the cancer?
JR: The album also presents two very dif
and film, but it doesn’t exist. That was a huge free
of everything—and then you also have the most
ME: People would say, “Are you religious?”
ferent perspectives on Los Angeles, from the
dom; that was a big thing when 1 finally stopped
conservative people [laughs], the ones that are sort
I thought, “Oh, goodness, no, I’m spiritual,
hopeful “California” to the jaded “Map of the
sort of running on that hamster wheel. I stepped
of pulling and dragging and putting their feet in.
though.” The gay community in general—we
off
of it.
Stars.” How have your views on fame changed
So I’ve always appreciated the people of Portland,
fight these things that are telling us we can’t love,
since you moved west?
And now 1 see these people that are still on
Oregon, especially because they seem to be trying
and yet we be
ME:
Yeah,
it—ugh—and they’re getting skinnier and skin
to lift everybody up.
lieve in love
that’s one of the
nier, you know, and they shave their heads and
and our right
things
that I
they go crazy. It’s crazy-making because it doesn’t
JR: How goes preparation for The Revival
to love who
wanted to really
exist, it’s an illusion, and people treat you like it
Tour? Should fans expect anything different
we love, even
get through on
does exist. You go insane.
this time around?
though
it’s
this album. That
ft
ME: It’s not different in that you’re still gonna
hard and differ
journey of mine
JR: I really appreciate the frank sexuality of
hear your favorite songs—I’m gonna do what I
“Threesome.” [“I don’t want to be a swinger/I’d
ent. So I think
was that I grew up
do—but I have organized the show a little differ
in the Midwest,
we are ahead of
rather keep you all to myself.”] Since you’re in
ently than I usually do. With The Awakening, it’s
everyone else
1 completely
a very truth-telling mode, was that based on an
sort of a chronicling of my journey, so what I’ve
believed every
sometimes on
actual incident?
song and movie
done is arrange the show in that I’m telling a story
this journey be
ME: Well, yeah! Absolutely. I made a promise
of this journey. The show moves more chronolog cause we have
and
television
to myself with this album that if 1 feared anything,
show 1 saw that
I would see it through, I wouldn’t back off of it. So
ically than before. It’s a little bit more expository.
had this sort
Hollywood was
1 went ahead and did it.
of resistance to
this
great
place
I wanted to make my monogamy and my mar
JR: I would like to ask you some questions
love. And you
riage and my true love for my wife—I wanted that
where everyone
about The Awakening. To start with, do you
just realize as
was there, and
think this fearless album—and the profound
you grow up:
Etheridge's wife, 33-year-old actress Tammy Lynn
I wanted to be
Continued on Page 22
messages contained within it—could have hap
“Am I gonna
Michaels, gave birth to twins in 2006.
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