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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:12:32 GMT -5
22A. Kaufman, Gil. "Adam Lambert's Early Theater Years Give Him 'American Idol' Edge." MTV News 23 April 2009. www.mtv.com/news/articles/1609895/20090423/story.jhtmlVideo Link: www.mtv.com/videos/news/376040/adam-lamberts-theatrical-upbringing.jhtml#id=1609638Kathie Urban, executive producer of MET2, talks about Adam Lambert's apprenticeship at the Children's Theatre Network. There's a really good reason why Adam Lambert looks so comfortable on the "American Idol" stage: He's been there almost his entire life.
Not the actual "Idol" stage, but ones like it. The 28-year-old began his theater career at the Children's Theatre Network (now known as the Metropolitan Educational Theatre, or MET2) in his hometown of San Diego when he was just 8-years-old.
"He came in as a little squirt, maybe a third-grader and stayed with us through his teens," said Kathie Urban, the non-profit theater's executive producer, whose late husband, Alex H. Urban, was the first to spot and nurture Lambert's budding talents. The organization, which runs four children's theaters in Southern California, accepts aspiring young thespians with no auditions and puts on two to four full musicals a year.
"My husband was good at recognizing young talent and when he did he poured more of himself into those kids," said Urban. "There's a sparkle and a passion you see in the young people [like Lambert] that's in their eyes and body language, where you can tell they want to please you, and you can see they get a joy and excitement from doing it."
Over an eight-year stint at the children's theater, Lambert started out in the chorus of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," then graduated to the lead in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He starred as Huckleberry Finn in "Big River" and played both male leads in "The Secret Garden," which the theater produced after the Urbans saw the show on Broadway and Alex immediately thought of casting Lambert.
"I think he was always very comfortable in his skin and with who he was," Urban said. "On the stage, he always had great confidence. He was very focused and directed at what he wanted to do and being the best and excelling. ... I absolutely believe he was born to perform. He had that talent as a young man, and it just grew and grew as he grew up."
Though "Garden" was vocally challenging, Kathie said her husband was confident Lambert could handle it. And once he hit the stage, she recalled, the reaction was, "Oh my God, we had tears in our eyes."
The theater holds its young charges to a high standard, and Urban said Lambert always seemed very comfortable being on stage and loved doing the shows, which required him to sing in a variety of musical styles while honing his acting skills as well. And though he'd probably prefer she not mention it, Lambert was so versatile that he even played Peter Pan in a production, flying around the stage in a rigging for a part that's typically reserved for a woman with a much smaller frame.
Urban said that lots of performers who appeared on Broadway and in national tours, have graduated from her program, but Lambert is by far the most famous alumnus they've produced so far. Given the wealth of experience Lambert soaked up under the tutelage on the MET2 stage, Urban said the jump to "Idol" was a natural one, even if not everyone initially agreed.
"I know in the beginning, there was talk about how he's too musical theater and too over the top," she said. "And every week, I had to disagree, because I think his musical-theater background has helped to make him the incredible performer he is — and have the physicality onstage that's necessary to engage and audience."
Perhaps she's a bit biased. OK, she's admittedly way biased, but Urban thinks Lambert's finely honed talents are going to help him get to the winners' circle.
"I think there are some very talented young people in the running on 'American Idol,' " Urban said. "But Adam's whole physicality and his ability to draw you in and just everything he does — just exudes performance and entertaining ... and that's what I feel some of the other ones don't do. And his personality just beams of who he is."
22B. Kaufman, Gil. "Adam Lambert Supporters Can See The 'American Idol' Finish Line." MTV News 14 May 2009. www.mtv.com/news/articles/1611415/20090514/story.jhtml Adam Lambert fans and friends hope that he will win American Idol Season 8. Video Link: www.mtv.com/videos/news/381496/the-people-react-to-danny-gokeys-elimination.jhtml#id=1611697Video Link: www.mtv.com/videos/news/393557/adam-lambert-talks-to-the-press.jhtml#id=1611697Although much of the finals have seemed like a formality on the way to crowning Adam Lambert this year's "American Idol" champ, to hear one of the singer's friends tell it, Lambert wasn't so sure he was going to make it to next week.
"I knew he would be there; it wasn't an issue at all," said Lee Cherry, one of the co-creators of "The Zodiac Show," a Los Angeles cabaret revue that has frequently featured Lambert. "It was just a question of whether it would be Danny [Gokey] or Kris [Allen]. But I talked to Adam last night, and he's over the moon. He can't believe it ... but he genuinely didn't know how this was going to go. For all he knew, he was going to go home last night."Cherry, who is hoping to go to next Wednesday's finale to cheer Lambert on, said he's happy that Allen is the other finalist. "At this point, it's just a demographics contest," he said. "As far as pure vocals, it's not a contest, but it's just a question of people's taste. Kris represents one kind of person, and Adam represents a different kind of person. My personal opinion is that Adam will win."
Though he spent time hanging out with Lambert on Wednesday, Cherry said he didn't watch his DVR recording of the show until later, when he caught Katy Perry's sneaky shout-out to Lambert in the guise of his name plastered across her satiny Elvis cape. "I don't know if he knew that was going to happen," he said. "But that's what Adam has going for him: All the legit people in the business really like him, and that's definitely a first for 'American Idol.' "
Another person who was overjoyed at the news and very proud of Lambert's advancement was Kathie Urban, executive producer of San Diego's Metropolitan Educational Theatre, where Lambert got his start on the stage as a child and which was featured in the home-visit segment on Wednesday's show.
"I think it's hard to know what will happen," Urban said. "The West Coast and East Coast seem like they're Adam fans, but then for middle America, Adam's a bit edgy and rock and roll, so that makes me a little nervous."
Urban said friends of hers who have never voted for or even watched "Idol" have pledged to get behind Lambert, who she praised for spending time with the MET kids last week. "Those kids will remember that for the rest of their lives," she said. "He told me one thing he realized as this has gone on and exploded is that he has a great responsibility as a role model to young people. He told them to not be afraid to be who you are and be one of those creative, artistic kids."
Lambert's legion of fans, the self-proclaimed "glamberts," responded in force to his advancement as well, posting numerous comments on MTV's report about Wednesday's results show.
"Adam fans have GOT to rally!!!" wrote Guinea. "Kris fans are doing that. That's why he's where he is. He's got more talent than Danny. But Adam's got more talent in his little finger than both of the other 2 put together. I think Gokey fans will back Kris. This could be another Daughtry upset. BEWARE!!! Adam Lambert is #1. We gotta get it together and vote next week! Adam has GOT TO win!"
Dmitch had a more reflective take on the showdown, pointing out Lambert's long theater career and experience on the stage. "Adam in my opinion will last much longer, his entire life has been devoted to what he loves and reflects upon him as an artist," the commenter wrote. " ... There's that line between good and GREATNESS and Kris does not (in my opinion) have what it takes to be a musical legend. Adam is one of the only people I've ever heard in my life be able to sing a Michael Jackson song and actually own it ... his vocal range is astounding."
While a number of respondents said they were hoping for a tie, MCarpo had no doubt how things were going to end up: "Talent-wise, this is the most lopsided finale since Fantasia/ Diana DeGarmo," Carpo wrote. "Kris will be playing the county-fair circuit this time next year."
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:13:03 GMT -5
23. Kaye, Kimberly. "They Knew Him When: Broadway Stars Cheer On American Idol Hopeful Adam Lambert." Broadway.com March 13 2009. www.broadway.com/shows/wicked/buzz/5988/they-knew-him-when-broadway-stars-cheer-on-american-idol-hopeful-adam-lambert/atop.proboards.com/post/90953/threadInterview with several of Adam's Broadway friends who worked with him in various musicals. Interviews: ALISAN PORTER, EDEN ESPINOSA, LAUREN KENNEDY, KEVIN EARLEY, and MEGAN HILTY. It’s no longer a secret: we love Adam Lambert, the emo-haired, rock-styled, self-assured Californian with the stratospheric range now making headlines and winning millions of votes as one of the front-runners on hit FOX mega-series American Idol. So why do we dote besides the obvious talent crush? The 27-year-old San Diego native is a veteran of the stage, a former community theater kid who’s gone on to play roles in the European tour of Hair, the cast of Los Angeles musical The Ten Commandments opposite film star Val Kilmer, and the touring and Los Angeles casts of Wicked “I was the understudy for Fiyero so… basically, I was in the back,” he recently joked to Idol producers. So how did the former super trouper step off the stage and into the AI limelight?
“I decided to audition for American Idol after my castmates at Wicked wouldn’t leave me alone about it. They suggested it, and I thought, ‘Yeah, that would be cool.’ Then everyday they kept going, ‘Well, you’re going to audition.’” And audition he did, sailing through to Hollywood and, most recently, into the show’s Top 11, with the judges crowing their approval.
“From day one that we saw you I loved you, because I think you’re one of the most current artists we’ve ever had on this show. It’s like Stephen Tyler meets Fall Out Boy meets Robert Pattinson from Twilight meets My Chemical Romance. You’ve got it going,” judge Randy Jackson told the competitor after a recent performance.
So what does the theater community think of being repped by the versatile stage veteran and what is he like offstage? We talked to the people who know him best, getting the scoop on this rising star and taking personal song requests from a group of stage vets who all have one thing in common: a lot of love for Lambert.
ALISAN PORTER Porter, known for playing Bebe in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, appeared alongside Lambert in The Ten Commandments.
How did you meet? I was actually onstage. I was doing The Zodiac Show [in Los Angeles], and there was this guy in the audience screaming for me and making me feel amazing. Best audience member of all time! It happened to be Adam. We hit it off backstage after the show, and soon after that were both cast in The Ten Commandments. We’ve been the best of friends ever since then.
Has he always been so stylish? I’ve never seen him with the same hair twice or without cutting edge style. He’s a chameleon. He can be or do anything.
Favorite memory? I remember being backstage at the Kodak Theatre [during The Ten Commandments] and hearing his vocal warm-ups through the air conditioning vents. These loud screams would come through the vents and you’d know Adam was ready to go.
Favorite performance? He and I do The Upright Cabaret, a local cabaret show, together a lot. Last time he did it he sang “How Come You Don’t Call Me,” the Prince song. People’s shoes were flying onstage they were so excited! Every time I see him I expect him to be brilliant and then he’s a million times better than in my head.
Will he come to Broadway? I think that theater is where his roots are and isn’t necessarily something he’d turn down, but right now his focus is on music and should be. Sometimes you have to live your dreams, and American Idol is the ultimate dream, which is to be a rock star. And he is!
Personal Song Request: “Dream On,” by Aerosmith. But he could sing the phonebook and it would be amazing.
EDEN ESPINOSA Espinosa, known for her Broadway credits in Wicked, Brooklyn and Rent, appeared with Lambert in Wicked. She can be seen in concert at Joe's Pub from March 22 to March 24
How did you meet? Adam and I actually met through a friend of mine who I moved to New York with, but we really got to be friends when I did six weeks on the first national tour of Wicked with him, as well as time in the L.A. cast.
What did you think the first time you heard him sing? In L.A., he was one of my favorite Fiyeros to sing “As Long As You’re Mine” with, because his voice is obviously just so gorgeous. He was one of only two Fiyeros I know who would do optional notes higher than Elphaba’s in the song!
Favorite memory? I always teased him about is his eyeliner. It’s funny because he’s not wearing much on Idol yet, but I’m sure it’ll come back. During Wicked in the Shiz University scenes, I’d look over and Adam would always be the student with all this dark, smudgy, edgy eyeliner. And he would just be like, ‘Yup, that’s right.’
What kind of artist do you see him as? Adam had a band in L.A. a long time ago. He’s just so versatile. He can sing a beautiful Styx ballad, or Janis Joplin or R&B, so I see him as a throwback to soul and rock with an avante garde, punk fashion edge. We don’t have anyone who has the guts to do that, so I hope the doors open for him.
What do you think when people say he’s too “theatrical” for Idol? It’s silly! The judges are always asking for personality and individuality and showmanship, and that’s exactly what Adam gives every time. Before, the judges threw [his theater roots] in his face, but they’re not saying it anymore! Besides, being “Broadway” isn’t a bad thing—the pop performers who do come here all say how hard it is to do eight shows a week.
Personal Song Request: I want to hear him sing “What’s Up” by Four Non-Blondes. I think he’d rock it.
LAUREN KENNEDY Kennedy, who appeared with Lambert in The Ten Commandments, was most recently seen on Broadway in Spamalot.
What did you think the first time you heard him sing? Holy #@% was my first impression! This was in a cast [The Ten Commandments] of sick and ridiculous singers, and he was a real stand-out.
Favorite memory? I remember how he took really good care of himself as an artist—took it all into consideration. He had an idea of a dreadlock-like wig for his character, and I think he even sketched it out. He seemed to really understand how to present his own talent, but was effortless about his voice. He just showed up and sang his face off. Ah, youth!
What do you think when people say he is too “theatrical” for Idol? I don't think he is Broadway at all... rock-inspired Broadway shows would be lucky to have him, but he is not out there singing "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning." I remember thinking even back in The Ten Commandments days he should be on American Idol. He is a true pop artist and will certainly have his place on the top of the charts!
What kind of artist do you see him as? Straight-up pop. I love his retro Duran Duran look. I hope he stays true to that!
Personal Song Request: It would make me so happy if he gave us some “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran, or Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." Actually? I think I would like to see him rock out "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!"
KEVIN EARLEY Earley appeared in The Ten Commandments with Lambert. He was most recently seen on Broadway in A Tale of Two Cities.
How did you meet? Doing The Ten Commandments, which was a really fun experience. Adam was probably head of the class as far as what he did and what he would bring to the table. It was extraordinary what he could do every night on that stage.
What did you think the first time you heard him sing? It was in rehearsal for the show. When I first heard his big song it was a lot like what he’s doing on American Idol now. He’s just a freak—amazing voice that goes up and on for days. His main song in the show was one where I was onstage—I actually had to whip him with a whip, because I was the pharaoh and he was a slave—and there would be times where I was like, “Whoa! Did he seriously just sing that?”
Favorite memory? The one thing I do remember is we were doing the show and he got offered the tour of Wicked. He was asking Lauren Kennedy and myself if he should do it because he didn’t know what to think of a tour. We were like, “YOU HAVE TO TAKE THIS JOB!” And I’m so glad he did.
What do you think when people say he is too “theatrical” for Idol? People give him flak about being too “musical theater,” but almost every single Idol except Kelly Clarkson has done either a Broadway show or national tour. Even Ruben Studdard went on the road [in Ain't Misbehavin']! So no more flak about musical theater. As long as you’re good, you’re good.
Personal Song Request: “Defying Gravity.” I think he’d be baddass at that! And he could raise it up a third. So I’d say "Defying Gravity," up a third.
MEGAN HILTY Hilty, who appeared with Lambert in Wicked, stars in the new Broadway musical 9 to 5.
How did you meet? We met on tour with Wicked, and then worked together again in the L.A. company [of the show]. Since he was the Fiyero understudy we got to have our little moments together onstage, whenever I was lucky enough.
What did you think the first time you heard him sing? The first time he went on as Fiyero, I couldn’t believe it. I was warned before how amazing he was, but you can only be prepared for so much. It’s funny because we’d go out and do karaoke for fun, and the whole party would stop when he got up to sing. It was kind of, like, ‘He’s too good, I can’t go after that!’ He’s a joy to be around, so they’re very lucky to be around him out there in Hollywood.
Favorite performance of his? It was always during karaoke. There’s a DVD of it somewhere. Oh, God. It was some rock song I’ll never remember the name of, but the whole bar—people we didn’t even know—just stopped. No one could believe what they were hearing. His voice is in a different stratosphere.
Favorite memory? Oh, gosh. We were always doing silly things. What I can say is he’s an excellent board game player, and we always wanted him on our team. He always won everything.
What kind of artist do you see him as? One of the great things about Adam is I can’t say he’s the next so-and-so. He’s so unique, and has such a special talent that I think he’s going to be the next Adam Lambert.
What do you think when people say he is too “theatrical” for Idol? I think saying someone’s too musical theater is b.s.! Frankly, that’s offensive. It’s the easy way out to try and find something wrong with him when there’s nothing wrong. It also gives a stigma about who “Broadway” people are. I mean, we’re not people that overly indicate and put on a show wherever we go. I’m tired of people putting the “Broadway label” on someone as if it were a bad thing.
Personal Song Request: He’s done so much rock stuff, I’d love him to show off any slow tunes in general. People think they’ve seen what he can do, but you haven’t seen anything yet. I think he’ll show it off. He’s a smart cookie!
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:13:37 GMT -5
24. Keiper, Kristin. "1-on-1 with Adam Lambert." Out & About Newspaper 31 July 2009. www.outandaboutnewspaper.com/article/3604Interview with Adam Lambert where he talks about the importance of being a dreamer. You can’t help but notice him as he chats up the different press outlets at the Memphis FedEx Forum. Adam Lambert and the other top American Idol contestants have just wrapped their Memphis performance of the American Idols Live tour. Even here, Lambert stands out from the rest of the pack. The runner-up on Season 9 of American Idol is kind, gracious, honest, attractive, gay - someone you'd want to befriend.
O&AN: Hi Adam, I’m with Nashville's Out & About Newspaper, a GLBT paper.
Lambert: Cool! Perfect. We love that.
O&AN: And I love you. (Giggles from both sides.) But I’ll get past that. What advice do you have for dreamers—whether it’s acting, writing, singing—just dreamers?
Lambert: Hmmm, I like that question. I think it’s hard because being a dreamer isn’t always the easiest thing in the world because we have to exist in a space that is not reality.
We have to exist in that ‘what if’ or ‘imagination’ world, and I think that with all the pressures of everyday life, you can constantly be thrown out of that, and it’s almost a fight to stay in that ‘dreamer’ space. My advice would be to try to find a new angle, a new perspective on something, and that’s in my opinion, the best way to take your dreams and make them come true.
Find a way to be new and fresh with your ideas, and just to keep dreaming. Find your safe space that is conducive to that. Find a way to tap into that part of yourself and not be thrown out of that dreamer space. Stay on the cloud!
O&AN: How did you stay? How did you do it?
Lambert: You know... I kind of tuned a lot of it out, as much as I could. I knew every night I would go out there for the show, that there would be judges, and there was an audience watching on the other side of the camera, and I kind of just said, ‘You know what? When you get out on stage, just do your thing; You’ve been performing for a long time, Adam. Get out there and perform for the people in the studio,’ and the audience wasn’t that large in the studio, so I wasn’t too intimidated by that.
If I started thinking too much and getting in my head about ‘oh there’s judges, judging me, oh my gosh, there’s 30 million people on the other side of that camera,’ that’s when I would start to get a little nervous. So, it was like mind over matter.
O&AN: What about before Idol when you were on stage?
Lambert: Well, I’ve been on stage since I was like 10 years old, so that’s helped me a lot. It’s a pretty comfortable place for me. Sometimes - it sounds a little cliché - but sometimes being on stage is almost more comfortable than certain aspects of real life.
Although that’s gotten better for me, but I think in my twenties, I’ve gotten more comfortable in my own skin, and in who I am as a real person. I think that’s part of the reason why I transitioned out of theatre—which is pretending to be somebody else—and into this art form, which is being myself, maybe in a heightened form. Maybe it’s more of a persona, but it’s based on who I really am. So, I think that reflects my personal growth.
O&AN: Any chance you’ll be in Nashville in the next year?
Lambert: You know, there’s always a chance. I think Nashville has now become a huge music scene, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up there for some project or another.
The support that I’ve seen out here has meant a lot to me, and it’s been surprising, because I didn’t realize that was the case. I kind of figured, ‘Oh, I’m maybe more supported in the metropolitan, liberal areas.’
O&AN: Not the South?
Lambert: I didn’t think the South, and there was also so much support in Utah. There had been areas in my head that I thought were more conservative areas, and the support has been unbelievable. So far in the South, I’ve found the fans have been wilder than they were in California.
I mean... people are really enthusiastic and passionate down here. It’s kind of all hitting me all at once, that it’s universal, and that means a lot to me. That means I did something right, and I’m really happy about that.
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:15:17 GMT -5
ADAM
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:15:48 GMT -5
arts.nationalpost.com/2012/07/10/scenes-from-a-life-adam-lambert/ July 10, 2012 Scenes from a Life: Adam Lambert By Ben Kaplan Adam Lambert shares his autobiography through singles - a jukebox of how he arrived at his own sound"I had the 'N Sync album, but I wasn't into the Backstreet Boys," says Adam Lambert, 30, the American Idol runner-up whose second album, Trespassing, was the No. 1 record in North America earlier this spring. Here, the pop star gives the Post's Ben Kaplan his autobiography through singles - a jukebox of how a child of the '90s finally arrived at his own sound. Truckin', Grateful Dead, 1970 "My dad was a Deadhead and my mom was into the Stones. Things like Bob Marley, Zeppelin and Credence Clearwater Revival were always playing. I guess I thought it was cool. I didn't know any better." Hold On, Wilson Phillips, 1990 "The cornerstone of my first collection of CDs. There was four of them - Emotions by Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Madonna. I appreciated the dance stuff and the drama of Mariah Carey's vocal. I don't know where the Wilson Phillips love came from, usually I was more on the urban kick." Opposites Attract, Paula Abdul, 1991 "I was into '90s dance stuff, and at this point I was watching MTV, seeing music videos and getting my head wrapped around tying the visual with the music. Paula had that Opposites Attract video with the cartoon cat and us kids we're all like, 'What is that?' She got a lot of kids with that." You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, written 1967; performed by Lambert, 1991 "When I started dressing up in a hat and suit jacket and listening to Thriller, my parents got me into theatre. We did You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and I played Linus. It was stressful. There were a handful of kids all in the same role and you had to compete because at the end of rehearsal, they ranked you: If you had the best performance, you got Friday night. Saturday night went to the second best. In a way, it was f–ked up, but it planted a seed. I wanted it badly - that fight stuck with me ever since." Black Hole Sun, Soundgarden, 1994 "I liked alternative. I had Nirvana, I had Pearl Jam and my brother and I would borrow that black album by Metallica back and forth. Prodigy, though, that was really cool, the really hard-edged techno, but there was something about Soundgarden and Chris Cornell, the attitude. I loved trying to sing that way." Angels, Robbie Williams, 1997 "I started gravitating more to European and British stuff and when I heard Robbie, I dug the sensibility. He didn't give a f–k. At that point, I liked a lot of female artists, but it was nice to see a male artist go there. I always thought Robbie was cool." Immigrant Song, Led Zeppelin, released, 1970; an influence on Lambert in 2001 "I was smoking weed for the first time and you know how weed is with music. It correlates with this kind of music quite nicely." Get Ur Freak On, Missy Elliot, 2001 "I was into Britney and Christina, but I was really into Missy - I was always drawn to the kookier stuff. With Missy, I liked how left-of-centre she was, how out there she was with her concepts. For me, it's always the person trying to be different that I like." Just Dance, Lady Gaga, 2008 "I had a lot of respect for Justin Timberlake, but I didn't feel like I wanted to do what he did. When I auditioned for Idol is when Lady Gaga and Katy Petty hit the scene and I remember thinking these artists were much more theatrical and I recognized the campiness. At my audition, a producer said, 'You're very theatrical.' I told him: 'This is the way things are about to go.' " Another One Bites the Dust, Queen, released, 1980; an influence on Lambert in 2010 "My first album was more Bohemian Rhapsody, the melodramatic, theatrical side of Queen, but Trespassing is more like their funkier side. I bring it back to when I used to imitate Michael Jackson in The Wiz." Tresspassing by Adam Lambert is available now from Sony Music Canada. For tour dates and more information, visit adamofficial.com1.
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:16:19 GMT -5
Adam - The Idol Era Page 15. Adam Lambert Bibliography Page 16. Articles #01 - 12 From The Adam Lambert BibliographyPage 17. Articles #13 - 24 From The Adam Lambert BibliographyPage 18. Articles #25 - 36 From The Adam Lambert BibliographyPage 19. Articles #37 - 48 From The Adam Lambert BibliographyPage 20. Articles #49 - 60 From The Adam Lambert Bibliography25A. Kragen, Pam. "Adam Lambert: North County friends, mentors say homegrown 'Idol' worked diligently to reach stardom." U ~ T San Diego www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/jun/02/adam-lambert-north-county-friends-mentors-say/all/Article based on interviews with Adam's former teachers, mentors and friends, outlining the fact that his success is the result of hard work and years of stage experience. 25B. Kragen, Pam. "Lambert's No. 1 fan, his mom, gives the backstory on 'Idol' runner-up." North County Times online edition. 15 July 2009. nctimes.com/articles/2009/07/15/entertainment/music/ze7c43910daaad6a5882575eb00579d92.txtLeila Lambert, Adam's mother, talks about her son's journey and reveals that she is moving to L.A. to work for him. 25C. Kragen, Pam. "PREVIEW: San Diego-raised Adam Lambert comes home again with first solo tour" North County Times online edition. 28 July 2010 www.nctimes.com/entertainment/music/article_4502fe5c-291a-57e8-a341-d422e0700024.htmlRecap of Adam's success after Idol show, mentions of Idol Live! Tour, AMA, FYE and GNT in general, at to the San Diego Glam Nation Concert. Includes: Six Things You May Not Know About AdamSources: Adam & Eber Lambert and Donors Choose. 27. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Slideshow" OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 www.out.com/Out100/slideshow.asp?slideshow_title=Out100%202009&theID=1#TopThe Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. 28. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Part One Page 1" OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 www.out.com/detail.asp?page=1&id=26191The Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. 29. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Part One Page 2" OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 www.out.com/detail.asp?page=2&id=26191The Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. 30. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Part One Page 3" OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 www.out.com/detail.asp?page=3&id=26191The Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. 31. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Part Two" Page 1 - 3 OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 www.out.com/detail.asp?page=1&id=26192www.out.com/detail.asp?page=2&id=26192www.out.com/detail.asp?page=3&id=26192The Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. 32. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "An Open Letter Regarding an Open Letter to Adam Lambert" OUT Magazine: Popnography 17 November 2009 www.popnography.com/2009/11/an-open-letter-regarding-an-open-letter-to-adam-lambert.htmlShana Naomi responds to the hoopla over her boss' "Dear Adam" letter. 33. Kuchwara, Michael. "Adam Lambert had a 'Wicked,' pre-'Idol' stage life." The Associated Press 17 May 2009 This AP story was carried, in whole or in part, by a multitude of sites. Here are a few: www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/may/17/us-tv-lambert-pre-idol-051709/?features&zIndex=100915www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9884TA80&show_article=1www.accesshollywood.com/adam-lambert-had-a-wicked-pre-idol-stage-life_article_18036www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2009/05/18/entertainment/doc4a117e8f789d0109856636.txtwww.gay.net/entertainment/2009/05/adam-lambert-wicked.html?cid=153054427english.sina.com/entertainment/2009/0517/241901.htmlInterview with "...casting guru, Bernard Telsey, who auditioned Lambert for 'Wicked.' 34. Laidman, Brad. "American Idol's Adam Lambert: Balls of Steel!" Blogcritics 6 May 2009. blogcritics.org/video/article/american-idols-adam-lambert-balls-of/In-depth review of Adam Lambert's outstanding performance on American Idol's rock music week. 35. Lambert, Eber. "True North Speech" Speech: True North Tavern, San Diego, CA 13 December 2009 Posted: DECEMBER 15, 2009, 12:29 pm www.adamofficial.com/us/blog/true-north-tavern-12132009www.sdpix.com/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=8427&month=12&year=2009Eber Lambert talks about raising his son, Adam. 36. Lambert, Neil. "A Trip to the Land of Locusts" Negative Neil Blog 01 January 2009 adam-lambert.org/neil-lambert-adam-lamberts-brother/www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/769243/negative-neilwww.myspace.com/adamlambertfans4life/blog/483284882atop.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=preidolperformances&action=display&thread=21&page=15#19155Neil blogs about life in general and occasionally his brother, Adam Lambert.
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:27:23 GMT -5
25A. Kragen, Pam. "Adam Lambert: North County friends, mentors say homegrown 'Idol' worked diligently to reach stardom." U ~ T San Diego www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/jun/02/adam-lambert-north-county-friends-mentors-say/all/The Idol Era - Page 18 Bibliography atop.proboards.com/post/90961/threadArticle based on interviews with Adam's former teachers, mentors and friends, outlining the fact that his success is the result of hard work and years of stage experience. "… Backing them up are … talented young actors who we're sure to see more of in the future. Adam Lambert, who just graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in June, is a big surprise with his lovely and powerful tenor voice in the part of Doody. He stands out in 'Those Magic Changes' and in 'Rock 'n' Roll Party Queen'. …"
-- Excerpt from a review of "Grease" at Moonlight Amphitheatre, Vista, published in a September 2000 edition of Preview.
Adam Lambert may now be a household name, but the fearless Hollywood glam-rocker -- who came in second in last week's "American Idol" finale -- grew up in anonymity (other than the occasional critic's rave review, see above) in Rancho Penasquitos during the 1980s and '90s. Over the past week, local friends and colleagues who've known the charismatic 27-year-old singer for a decade or more reminisced about the Adam they knew, both as a young boy and as a fiercely talented young musical theater actor, who packed his bags for L.A. nine years ago and has been making music (and theater) there ever since. Those who know Lambert say that his seeming ease onstage and his effortless high notes didn't come out of nowhere. He has been working diligently toward this goal for nearly two decades. "He has invested his entire life in music and performing, and that means working at it. His talent didn't just happen overnight as some people think," said Kathie Bretches-Urban, who has known Lambert since he showed up -- as a boisterous, likable 10-year-old -- to audition for Metropolitan Educational Theatre, a San Diego-based youth theater company founded by her late husband, Alex Urban. Born in a trunk"He'd just come out onstage, and it popped," said Bretches-Urban, who now lives in Long Beach. "You'd see that sparkle in his eye. That gift is a passion. It's something in (his) soul that just exudes from every pore. You know that this child has discovered his chosen path, even if he doesn't know it yet." Lambert was a self-professed "hyperactive kid" whose now-divorced parents, Eber and Leila Lambert, enrolled him in theater to channel his energy. His first role in 1991 was as Linus in "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at San Diego's Lyceum Theatre. Like his father, Lambert's coloring was fair -- a thick head of strawberry blond hair, fair skin and freckles. He took to acting, singing and dancing quickly and formed a tight circle of friends in the theater community. "Music and performing were the only things I ever knew Adam doing," Bretches-Urban said. "He was not a kid that did sports. That was just not his thing. I do know that he worked, much like an athlete would do, on his singing with voice lessons for his entire life." She said that Lambert's family were big fans of his talent from the start. Lambert's father helped build sets, his mother volunteered her time, and his younger brother, Neil, also performed with Metropolitan from an early age (in his online blog a few months ago, Neil Lambert said Adam constantly annoyed him while they were growing up by wildly improvising while singing along with every song on the radio). "He had great parenting, but his parents were never 'stage parents.' They let him be who he was and they supported him wholeheartedly," Bretches-Urban said. (Lambert's father now lives in North Park, his brother -- a recent UC Santa Cruz grad -- is moving to New York City and his mother lives in San Francisco). Lambert did three or four shows a year with Metropolitan from age 10-17, often as the star, but not always -- and that was intentional. Bretches-Urban said the Metropolitan credo is to develop talent, not create "stars," so during Lambert's teen years, he mentored younger actors (which she said involved everything from "teaching them a dance step to wiping a runny nose"). And he was cast as often in the ensemble as in the lead -- even though he had the kind of talent she said "you only see once in a lifetime."
"It grounds them. It's like being part of a team or a family. It teaches you humility," she said. "Adam truly is as genuine as he looks on television. His family gave him a great foundation, and I like to think we helped give him a lot of good values. Did you see on every 'Idol' episode how he thanked the orchestra or the band? Those are the things we still teach our kids today. You get what you give. What you put out there in the universe comes back to you. And you see that sense of kindness and generosity in Adam's persona."During Lambert's well-publicized "hometown visit" to San Diego with the "American Idol" camera crew a few weeks ago, his whirlwind tour of North County included a stop in Poway to visit Bretches-Urban and her Metropolitan students. Lambert watched the students perform, critiqued their performances and talked to them about the need to give back and be a responsible role model. "I was very touched by that," Bretches-Urban said. "Coming to see us, and sitting on the stage and talking to these kids, he'd really come full circle." Building his stage presenceYet while Lambert was always humble, he never lacked for confidence, Bretches-Urban said. He had an innate comfort onstage, and he knew he had a voice that would one day take him places. At a press conference last week, Lambert said he conquered his fears by slowly pushing the envelope every time he took the stage, beginning when he was a teen-ager, so that now he's not afraid of anything. While attending Mt. Carmel High School, Lambert sang in the choir (and at his class graduation) and played the lead in several school musicals. Last week, Mt. Carmel's former choir director Nancy Gray told the North County Times: "I've taught for 30 years, and Adam was by far the most talented boy ever." While in high school, Lambert also did several youth- and adult-cast shows at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, including playing Captain Hook in a youth-cast "Peter Pan" and playing Doody in Moonlight's 2000 adult-cast production of "Grease." Joshua Carr, his director for both productions, remembers Lambert's laserlike attention to detail. "You could see the focus in his eyes and the drive to be the best he could be," said Carr, the new theater manager/producer at Welk Resort Theatre in Escondido. "He started with me in the youth theater program and immediately displayed commitment and drive even at that young age, and he quickly moved into the leading roles." Kathy Brombacher, Moonlight's producing artistic director, remembers Lambert's upbeat personality and exceptional voice. "He is bright, friendly, funny, down to earth and grounded," Brombacher said. "Despite his talent, he doesn't have an inflated head, and he's so articulate and professional in the way he conducts himself." Brombacher said Lambert's flamboyant stage personality was already developing in his teens, particularly in the role of, what else, the flamboyant pirate Captain Hook. "He was an adventuresome performer as Captain Hook," she said. "He was always out there for the journey. He wanted to be different and put his own stamp on it -- and he did." After graduating from Mt. Carmel in 2000, Lambert attended Cal State Fullerton, then dropped out to pursue performing full time, Bretches-Urban said. He did regional musical theater, toured with the musical "Hair," fronted the rock band Citizen Vein and became a regular featured performer in the L.A. glam-rock stage spectacle "The Zodiac Show" -- where he honed his stage swagger and experimented with outrageous makeup, hair, costumes, jewelry and fingernail polish. His breakthrough came in the 2004 L.A. rock opera "The Ten Commandments" starring Val Kilmer. Critics panned virtually everything in the show -- except Lambert's scene-stealing vocals. "I went up to see him in that show, and I was amazed," Brombacher said. "The solos they gave him were stratospheric, and he nailed them. He took the town by storm." Lambert joined the national tour of "Wicked" in 2005 and was the understudy for Fiyero (the male lead) in the L.A. production from February 2007 until it closed last fall. In an interview last week with the Associated Press, "Wicked" casting agent Bernard Telsey said of Lambert's audition: "He came in and had that amazing voice -- or as I like to say, 'instrument,' because he has this incredible range. I literally remember saying, 'Oh my God, this guy has the highest range.' " Breaking throughMusical theater work may have been steady, but by 2007 Lambert admits that he was at a crisis point. In a teleconference last week, he said that his decision to audition for "Idol" grew out of frustration with the lack of progress he was making in his theater career. "I was in the ensemble of 'Wicked' in LA. It was a great job. It was paying the bills, but I wasn't satisfied artistically. I wondered, is this it? Is this my life? I want more. There's more that I should be doing," he said. "Then this presented itself to me, and the timing was right. I didn't audition before because I didn't think I was ready. I think things happen when they're supposed to happen." As for his almost other-worldly singing voice and effortless high notes? Lambert says they now come naturally. "I don't really think about it. I try to figure out beforehand how I'm going to sing a song, but then I just go. I've been doing it for a long time, so I just do it." When Lambert lost the "American Idol" title last week in a stunning upset to soft-spoken Arkansas native Kris Allen, much of the speculation over Lambert's defeat centered on whether his sexual orientation (Lambert has been playfully coy with the press on the subject) hurt him in the voting. Lambert answers simply, "Probably." But he isn't dwelling on the controversy, or on his No. 2 finish. "I feel like I won by getting to the final," he said. "It's not about the title. It was about the experience. I made music. I got to do a different performance every week. I was able to use 'American Idol' as a platform to get myself out there. There's no need to dwell on the negative. I am looking forward to the rest of my career." What's next?Lambert said his future is likely to include an album produced later this year by 19 Recordings (the "American Idol" label). Negotiations are already under way, and Lambert wants his first album to reflect his diverse interests and his versatility as a singer (on "Idol," he sang rock, pop, disco, musical theater, country, Motown and swing with equal ease). "My thing is, I don't want to do one specific genre. I'm more about fusion," he said. "We want an album to have a cohesive sound, but it could be a collection of different styles." And while many of the "American Idol" winners' first albums have been criticized for being bland, overproduced and rushed to market, Lambert said he wants more control of his debut CD. "I've expressed my desire to have a lot of involvement in the process. I'm a collaborator. I don't like to be told what to do. I'm hoping they pair me with some amazing producers, and I plan on being present and involved in it." Lambert says he'd like to work again with guitarist Slash, who mentored the "Idol" contestants in one episode ("I felt so at home with him onstage. That guy is so rad"). He felt "honored" to share the stage with Queen guitarist Brian May (many music critics have compared Lambert's voice and stage persona with that of the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury). And he says it "blew my mind" to perform with Kiss in the "Idol" finale. He has also said he'd like to collaborate with singers including Katy Perry, Madonna and Lady GaGa. As for the future, Lambert said he'll focus on music. Maybe one day he'll consider a trip to Broadway or even movies or television if the opportunity presents itself, but now he's eager to get out on the road with the "Idol" tour (which arrives at the San Diego Sports Arena on July 18). Tour audiences can expect him to perform in his own, unique theatrical way."It's all in the name of good entertainment. It's about the music, but it kind of packages it in a more flashy, dynamic way," he said. "Theatricality is one way of performing. It's not a better way, but it's my way. David Bowie is a great example of someone who did it, and Michael Jackson and Madonna. There's a slew of artists who do it, and I'm just lucky 'American Idol' embraced it." Carr said he's not surprised at Lambert's success, because he's been working so steadily toward that goal since he was a boy. "He makes smart choices all the time; and regardless of the outcome of 'Idol,' this young man is going to be a superstar."
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 11:31:13 GMT -5
25B. Kragen, Pam. "Lambert's No. 1 fan, his mom, gives the backstory on 'Idol' runner-up." North County Times online edition 15 July 2009. nctimes.com/articles/2009/07/15/entertainment/music/ze7c43910daaad6a5882575eb00579d92.txtatop.proboards.com/post/90962/threadLeila Lambert, Adam's mother, talks about her son's journey and reveals that she is moving to L.A. to work for him. If you want to know how much Adam Lambert's life has changed since the "American Idol" finale two months ago, just ask his mom, Leila, who is moving to L.A. this summer to help her son manage his rapidly expanding career.
Adam Lambert -- who grew up in Rancho Penasquitos and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School -- is headlining the "American Idols Live!" tour, which arrives in San Diego on Saturday for a concert at the San Diego Sports Arena. The tour kicked off July 5 in Portland, Ore., and although this season's "Idol" winner, Kris Allen, closes each concert with an acoustic set, it is runner-up Lambert who is stopping the show each night, and whom music critics are proclaiming a superstar-in-the-making. Leila Lambert -- who took time out last week for a telephone interview while fielding offers on her Bay Area home -- said she's flabbergasted by her 27-year-old son's rapid rise to fame. All she ever wanted was for her son to be able to support himself financially. But with a Rolling Stone cover story, the tour, an album in production and a fast-growing global fan base already under his belt, the former North County resident said she thinks her days of mailing Trader Joe's and Whole Food gift cards to her son, to ensure he's not starving, are over.
As open, friendly and humble as her glam-rocker son, the onetime dental hygienist-turned-interior decorator shared some of her insights on a wide range of subjects including Adam's childhood, his "Idol" journey, his homosexuality and flamboyant style, his ardent female fans, his oversharing in Rolling Stone, the tour and more. Q: You got to see some of the tour's first concerts over the weekend in the Bay area. What were they like?A: The show is so great. Every "Idol" is in their own element and it is apparent they're having the time of their lives. I had the opportunity to speak with each one of them and … they're a bit tired but definitely having fun. I spoke with Adam about it and he said it's tough but worthwhile. He loves being up onstage and so much appreciates the amazing response that he's receiving from the audience. Q: Several reviews I've read say about three-quarters of the audience appear to be there to see Adam, and they go crazy when he comes onstage. Is that true?A: Just before Adam was to appear onstage,the crowd went wild. The energy was so powerful. I was asked last night by one of the fans "What was your favorite part?" and I would definitely say that as I stood there it appeared that everyone was on their feet. Watching Adam perform, I took a moment to do a 360-degree turn to take in the crowd and realized at that moment that Adam's dream had come true. He was singing "Starlight" and I just started to cry. That was my favorite moment. Q: Tell me about your move to L.A.A: I'm moving because of Adam. He thought it would be great for me to start a new life in L.A. I will be working for him. I'm not sure what I'll do. I'll help with the fan mail, I think, and we'll play it by ear. I think I'll just be a mom; that's always been the best job in the world. Q: Won't that be strange working for your son?A: No, it'll be easy. We're very close, but we won't live together. He doesn't need his mommy living with him, I'm quite sure. But there are a lot of things I could help him with because he's not going to be around a lot. The hardest part for me is moving. I love my house and it's hard to give it up, but I'm totally amazed that he wants me there. He wants me to be a part of it, and to meet the people he's meeting. There aren't a lot of kids out there who would want that. I'm so blessed. He's got a really big heart. Q: I've heard he wants to buy a house?A: Yes, the poor kid has been living in a hotel for so long and he'll be on the road all summer. What I'd love to do is help him find a place and get it ready, so as soon as the tour is over he'll have a real home when he gets back. Q: How has Adam's life changed since the finale?A: It's been wonderful for him with so many opportunities. But he's just so busy now. I hardly hear from him except a text or two here and there. He'll have to give up a good deal of his privacy, but that goes with the territory. Q: What was the 'Idol' experience like for you?A: It was so fun for all of us to be together and enjoy the ride (the family includes Adam's dad and Leila's ex-husband, Eber Lambert of San Diego, and brother Neil Lambert, a 24-year-old aspiring journalist in New York). I was there every week, traveling back and forth. That was a little tough, but I wouldn't have missed it for a minute. Also, the notoriety of it is kind of fun. I've been recognized a few times and I consider that an honor and a compliment. Q: What was the best part of the experience?A: All of it, but I guess it was after it was over and "20/20" was doing a story on Adam. We were riding in a car somewhere and Neil and Adam were on the phone together, and when they were ready to hang up, they said "I love you" to each other. They hadn't been unbelievably close because of distance, but this whole experience brought them closer together. For a mom to hear that, it was really amazing. Q: What was the worst part of the experience?A: There wasn't really a bad part. It's all been pretty great. Q: But what about when the racy photos (of him in drag and kissing another man) flooded the Internet a few weeks into the competition?A: I have a ritual of "Googling" Adam every morning when I get up and every night before I go to bed. I'd seen those photos before and I'd told him to get the stuff off the Internet after he made it through the auditions. But there was one place he forgot (a social networking page for fans of the free-spirited Burning Man festival). I remember going on the Internet one morning and seeing these photos and saying to myself there's no way this is ever going to be able to fly. He's history. I remember I couldn't reach him so I called his dad, and then when I finally got Adam on the phone, he wasn't upset at all. He said, "You know, Mom, it is what it is. Whatever happens, happens. I don't care." The "Idol" people said, "Do what you want to do and we'll support it." And Adam just said, "I'm not going to give a dissertation on it, we'll just go with the flow." Q: Surprisingly, the photos and the questions about his sexuality didn't seem to slow him down at all.A: No, in fact Adam thought it was funny that there were pictures of him online kissing girls, too, so there was some mystery that he enjoyed. Q: Were you nervous every time he sang on "Idol"?A: Not that he wouldn't perform well, because he has that gift and ability to do that well. But there were times I was worried that he'd picked the wrong song. Like when he did "Ring of Fire" (performed during "Country Week" in a sitar-heavy psychedelic style). That was risky. I didn't like it because it was eerie and strange. Q: I remember the horrified look on Randy Travis's face.A: You should've seen his wife's face. It was 10 times worse. Q: Did you think he went too far with the provocative nature of his performances?A: Yes, I definitely thought he was pushing the envelope. I told him he needed to appeal to middle America, and he said, "I'm not going to do the Cheez Whiz and compromise." Q: But he did switch gears after "Ring of Fire," putting on a suit, combing back his hair and singing "Tracks of My Tears" like Frank Sinatra during Motown Week.A: When I saw him come out in that suit, I couldn't believe it. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was mixing things up and showing people another side. Q: Was there a point in the competition where you thought your son just might win this thing?A: No, I just took it week by week and didn't think beyond that. In fact, I had been coming down only on Tuesdays for the competition, but as time went by I started staying down through Wednesdays because if he got voted off, I wanted to be there to console him. Q: There were rumors of a rift or rivalry between Adam and third-place finisher Danny Gokey. Any truth to that?A: Absolutely not. That's a myth. They're good friends. Q: When it came down to the finale between Adam and Kris, was there any sense of competition between them?A: No, they have developed an amazing friendship. Adam and Kris will be friends forever. Neither one of them has a mean bone in his body, and they are so supportive of each other. Q: And I've read that you and Kris' mom have become friends.A: I was so happy that our families got along so well. The night after the finale was my birthday and the Allens came to my birthday party, not just Kris and his wife, but his brother and his parents. We're also planning to meet up at one of the tour stops this summer and go see the concert together. When the Rolling Stone article came out (featuring Lambert lying on his back with a large python coiled near his crotch), she called me and said, "I love your son but I don't like the Rolling Stone cover, only because I don't like snakes." Q: Landing the Rolling Stone cover was quite a coup.A: Adam was blown away that they came to him with that, because he didn't win the competition and he didn't have a hit record out. He thought it was amazingly cool. It was his idea to pose with the snake. At first he wanted to have an apple and a snake but he thought that would offend people, so he just went with the snake. What was really neat about it was that after it came out, you couldn't find a copy anywhere because it was mostly sold out. Q: The Rolling Stone article was very in-depth, and Adam didn't hold a lot back on his drug and sexual experiences. Was that hard for you to read as a mom?A: That was extremely hard. Everything in the article that was negative jumped out at me. I wanted him to be a little more discreet. Ever since he was 17, I've been telling him to be discreet. Not everyone needs to know your business. But he is very honest and open, and that's just Adam being Adam. Q: It was in the Rolling Stone article when Adam confirmed to the world that he's gay and that he came out to you first.A: When he was 17, I went to a gay and lesbian center in Hillcrest to talk to a counselor and find out how to approach the subject with Adam, and they told me not to do it. One man there said he was 27 and still hadn't told his parents. I couldn't imagine that because Adam and I talked about everything, so I decided that I had to broach the subject, and it turned out to be the right decision. I've read on blogs and have read his fan letters where mothers have said "I have a son like your son, I think he's gay, and I'm so amazed at how close you are to Adam." Maybe the Rolling Stone article will open doors for parents to talk to their kids about the subject. Q: Do you think him talking about experimenting with drugs sends the wrong message to kids?A: Yes, I was upset about that. I told him "You have these 13-year-old fans and their parents want you to be a role model. How is that going to look to them?" And he said: "I didn't say I DO drugs, I said I DID drugs." And maybe it's a good avenue for parents to talk about drugs with their kids. Q: Although he's openly gay, much of his fan base is women who call themselves "glamberts" and are romantically obsessed with him. What does he think of that?A: He finds it very flattering. He says "I like to flirt, and I flirt with women all the time." I think the attraction is that he's so likable. He's got fans from 8 to 80, from little girls to grandmas. I've read the fan letters. They're so sincere. It's endearing how they reach out and how they love him and can't get enough of him. Q: Going back to his childhood, Adam said in an interview that when he was growing up in Rancho Penasquitos that he was a "hyper kid" who got into musical theater to channel his energy.A: No, he wasn't hyperactive, but during a checkup when he was little, I did ask his doctor about Adam's behavior because he was just nonstop. The doctor said "No, he's not hyper, he's precocious. He's just very aware of everything around him." Q: When Adam's singing voice began to develop, was there ever a point where you thought, "Oh my gosh, my son is going to be a star some day"?A: No, I never took anything for granted. I would compare him to the other kids and I could see that he could sing better than some others, but I never looked at him as being so unique. There was never a point where I thought, "He's going to make it and he'll never have any worries." Q: One of his musical theater teachers described you as the perfect theater parent, but not a stage mom.A: I supported him and his brother Neil (who also performed when he was young) 101 percent, so did their father, but I didn't get overly involved. I did fundraising dinners and helped out behind the scenes, but I didn't sneak into rehearsals like some of the other parents. Q: He started performing when he was 10 years old. Was it a good foundation for where he is today?A: It was unbelievably competitive, and his teacher was so tough on the kids. It broke my heart hearing some of the brutal things he would say to the boys, but both of my boys say it helped them in so many ways. Q: After Adam graduated from Mt. Carmel, he went away to Cal State Fullerton, but that didn't last long …A: He was in college for three weeks, but he didn't even go to class. He called me and said, "Mom, college is not for me," and that he'd gotten a job as a lead singer on a cruise ship for a year. I wasn't sure about it, but he was the youngest person to ever get a lead role on Holland America and it would allow him to see the world in a structured environment. When he came home from that, he was 19 years old and he said, "I'm moving to L.A." Q: His musical theater years in "Wicked," "The Ten Commandments" and other shows have been well-documented, but were there some pretty lean times for Adam?A: When he first moved up there, he found this apartment and it was so awful. We went up to help him move and there were bugs everywhere. I opened a curtain and the window was completely cracked. I remember I cried all the way home that day because it was a very scary place. Q: Did he ever get depressed or say he wanted to throw in the towel?A: He was always committed. I never heard him say, "I can't do this anymore." He just kept saying that maybe he hadn't been in the right place at the right time, or maybe he needed to move to New York. Q: Adam's "guyliner" and glam-rock look gets a lot of attention. When did he start experimenting with his look?A: He was always experimented with his hair. I remember one time he came down the stairs after a bad home dye job and his hair was carrot orange. We had to call his friend Danielle's mother, who's a hairstylist, for a hair emergency. When he first dyed his hair black several years ago I thought it was too dark, but now I can't imagine him any different. Q: What about the nail polish?A: He's been wearing nail polish for several years. I remember one time at Thanksgiving my stepdad and his wife were coming over for dinner and I asked Adam if maybe he could take it off, but he wouldn't do it. Q: One thing that is new is the tattoo on his wrist.A: Yes, it's the eye of Horus and he says it means protection. When he was 16 he wanted a tattoo. He wanted to have the Cantonese word for "creative" tattooed on him. I told him, you don't need to label yourself to be creative. Instead, I got a canvas and got a neighbor to spell out the word in Cantonese, and I painted it for him and gave it to him for his 17th birthday. He still has it in his bedroom. Q: Will there be more tattoos?A: Yes, he wants more. Q: Looking back on the past seven months, what's the one thing about Adam that you're most proud of?A: I'm so blown away by how well he conducts himself in interviews. He always seems to say the right thing. And a mom always loves to hear people say how impressed they are with his ability to be a true, real person and how sincere he is when he talks to people. He doesn't love TMZ or the paparazzi, but he loves his fans. Q: Did Adam's fans recognize you at the concert last weekend?A: I was surprised how many people actually recognized me, congratulated me and asked to have their picture taken with me during intermission. I loved how genuine and supportive they all were. I could really feel the love for Adam, and it was heartwarming. I am a very lucky mom, and so proud. Adam has found his place.
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 12:51:55 GMT -5
25C. Kragen, Pam. "PREVIEW: San Diego-raised Adam Lambert comes home again with first solo tour"North County Times online edition. 28 July 2010 www.nctimes.com/entertainment/music/article_4502fe5c-291a-57e8-a341-d422e0700024.htmlm.nctimes.com/mobile/entertainment/music/article_4502fe5c-291a-57e8-a341-d422e0700024.htmlatop.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=idolpreformances&thread=23&page=18#90974Recap of Adam's success after Idol show, mentions of Idol Live! Tour, AMA, FYE and GNT in general, at to the San Diego Glam Nation Concert. Sources: Adam & Eber Lambert and Donors Choose Adam Lambert grew up in North San Diego County and returns home to San Diego for a sold-out show on July 29. Before that, he'll play sold-out concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa.Adam Lambert performs a sold-out show July 30 at Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego. Lambert grew up in San Diego before moving to L.A. in the early 2000s. One year ago this week, the "American Idol" concert tour ---- led by homegrown singing sensation Adam Lambert ---- played to a near-capacity crowd at the San Diego Sports Arena. This summer, the star-starved "Idol" tour is limping so badly that it's shutting down two weeks early.Summer concert revenues are down 16 percent this year, and even major artists (Rihanna, the Eagles, the Jonas Brothers, Christina Aguilera, to name a few) have been forced to cancel dates.
But one tour that has sold out virtually every stop since it hit the road last month is Glam Nation ---- Lambert's first solo tour, which arrives in San Diego for another sold-out show Friday (after two sold-out dates Tuesday and Wednesday in Costa Mesa). Since his visit last July, the flamboyant glam-rocker ---- who grew up in Rancho Penasquitos and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 2000 ---- has solidified his pop star status by selling more than 1 million albums worldwide.
Lambert says he's "blown away" by his success, but his friends, family and tourmates aren't. They say the combination of his one-of-a-kind voice, showmanship, humble personality, iconic style and dogged work ethic have positioned him for a long and successful career.
As his father, South Park San Diego resident Eber Lambert, explained during an interview, Adam spent 10 years struggling to make it in L.A. and has no intention of taking things easy.
"He never stops. He's always saying yes to interviews, photo shoots, radio promotion," said the elder Lambert, a program manager for Novatel Wireless in Sorrento Valley. "My impression is that he thinks he's only halfway there. 'American Idol' was just the doorway to get his foot into the industry, but he feels he's got a long way to go. He doesn't want to be remembered as just the runner-up from 'Idol.'"
The rise
Lambert may have finished second to Kris Allen in the "Idol" voting last year, but he's the one who got the Rolling Stone cover story (in which he confirmed his homosexuality); he's the one rapturous crowds and music critics anointed the "Idol" tour's star; and it was his debut album that attracted some of the world's top music producers and songwriters.
And no matter how much makeup, rhinestones, glitter and jewelry Lambert adorned himself with, his female fan base skyrocketed. "Women have always found Adam attractive," said Courtney Corey, an Escondido actress who spent two years with him in the L.A. company of "Wicked" in 2007-'08 (where they understudied the roles of lovers Elphaba and Fiyero together). "Even when it came out that he was gay, his allure only increased. What's attractive about him is that he's confident in who he is, and he's a very nice, down-to-earth, easy-to-get-along-with guy who happens to be a great singer."
Lambert's sexuality may have cost him the "Idol" crown, but it also made him a trailblazer as America's first openly gay pop star ---- a label he said he accepts with some ambivalence. He hopes that his openness helps others struggling with their identity, but he wants to be known for more than his sexual orientation.
"I think the level of my success is a reflection of where we are as a society," he said in a teleconference last month. "I'm really excited that we have gotten to a point where it's acceptable to some people ---- to enough people."
The fall
But just as suddenly as he exploded into the public consciousness, Lambert stumbled last fall. His glam-pop-dance album, "For Your Entertainment" (with a campy, over-the-top CD cover that elicited much head-scratching), failed to sell the millions of copies some industry analysts predicted. Some critics said he should have stuck to the straight-up, high-note-filled rock that distinguished him on "Idol," but Lambert responded that "conformity isn't my thing."
"To do a bunch of derivative-sounding rock music would've been too much of an expected choice. I wanted to do my brand of pop music, something a little different," he said, adding that his vision of "glam pop" is "tongue-in-cheek with a campiness to it ... that should put a smile on your face and should make you feel like dancing and dressing up."
Then came the American Music Awards telecast, where some raunchy dance moves and a kiss with his male bassist led to broad condemnation in the media and the cancellation of several TV appearances. Lambert called his AMA performance an "artistic experiment," where he simply got carried away.
"I learned a lot from it --- what my limitations were and what my audience wants to see."
Eber Lambert said the most notable thing to him about Adam's AMA performance wasn't the kiss ---- after all, female pop stars have been doing the same theatrics for years ---- but that his son's nerves and adrenaline affected his usually flawless voice.
"It was the worst live performance I'd ever heard from him, but in all the stories that came out afterward, nobody mentioned his singing."
In a subsequent phone call, Eber said he suggested to Adam that he write a "gently worded apology," but he said Adam decided that would only make things worse.
"I don't think he was really hurt by the backlash, just surprised by it, and he didn't realize it would be talked about for three months."
Lambert was also criticized by some "Idol" watchers who thought he'd strayed too far outside the show's squeaky-clean boundaries, but his "Wicked" castmate Corey said these fans hadn't been paying very close attention.
"I found it funny when I read people complaining that he'd 'changed' since 'Idol,'" said Corey, who first worked with Lambert at San Diego's Starlight theater when he was a redheaded 13-year-old.
"Adam has always been Adam. He always loved the crazy makeup, the jewelry and spiky hair. He could be wild and crazy, and he was always into the glam thing. He's a very open, honest and straightforward guy."
The return
The AMA fallout doomed Lambert's first single (the S&M-themed "For Your Entertainment"), but he quickly rebounded with a follow-up, the heartbreak ballad "Whataya Want From Me," which became a Top 10 hit worldwide. His third single, the upbeat dance/pop song "If I Had You," is at 28 on the Billboard pop chart, and its psychedelic video (inspired by Lambert's Burning Man Festival experiences) has been No. 1 or 2 all month on VH1, where he's the network's most visited artist.
Lambert said his first three singles are an apt reflection of his life during the past eight months.
"The first single was about sexuality ---- it ended up scaring a lot of people, as sexuality often does. 'Whataya Want From Me' was me saying I'm human and I'm doing the best I can, thank you for believing in me, this is me being honest and scared.'"
"If I Had You," by contrast, is about coping with the loneliness bred by stardom.
"The sentiment is that no matter how much success and fame and glamour you have in life, it doesn't really mean anything unless you have love and connectivity," he said.
Lambert has spread that love and connectivity around by constantly promoting fellow artists on his Twitter page (546,000 followers and climbing fast), hiring longtime friends to dance and play music on his tour, and putting family members on the payroll (his mother, Leila, is his estate manager and younger brother Neil is a tour production assistant).
"I'm a firm believer in the idea that if you receive success in your life, you try to spread it around a little bit," he said.
The tour
The Glam Nation tour represents the culmination of Lambert's nearly two decades of stage experience. He helped design the costumes (New Orleans black magic/steampunk-meets-Boy George), picked the slide projections (a mix of voodoo, Dia de los Muertos and mystical imagery), and crafted an "emotional throughline" that starts out "dark and mysterious," moves into an acoustic, emotionally bare midsection, then ends on a high-energy celebratory note. His hourlong set list (relatively short by concert standards, because all the high notes put great strain on his voice) includes most of the songs from his album, a couple of unreleased tracks and a few "Idol" favorites ("Ring of Fire," "Mad World," "Whole Lotta Love"). The highly theatrical show has lasers, four dancers and several costume changes. Tour venues range from 2,000-seat theaters to 16,000-seat amphitheaters.
Opening the show are Orianthi, the Australian guitarist/pop singer seen in Michael Jackson's posthumous "This Is It" concert documentary, and Allison Iraheta, Lambert's young "Idol" tourmate from last year, who said she looks up to Lambert as both a big brother and a mentor.
"One night I went out in the crowd to watch him perform, and it's so crazy to see how he captivates everyone's attention," Iraheta said last week. "Every set of eyes was on him. Every word that comes out of his mouth, there's such meaning. He feels every single word. Dude, it's so good."
Orianthi said Glam Nation audiences ---- who break out blue glowsticks during one song and have choreographed "flash mob" group dance numbers ---- have been unlike any she's seen before.
"They're such a happy group of people. They're all there to have a good time, they're so supportive of the music, and they're all covered in sparkles. It's a very glittery crowd." For his part, Lambert said he's excited to see the diversity in the audience.
"The main fan base I was exposed to were mostly middle-aged women, like from 40 to 60, and they've been so sweet and so great with this amazing, almost maternal-type energy," Lambert said. "But at the shows, I've been really surprised to see teenagers, both female and male. I've seen husbands. I've seen grandpas. I've seen a mix of men and women ---- and different ethnicities. You know, it's really exciting."
The tour continues through the fall and then heads overseas, a market that accounts for a third of Lambert's record sales.
The future
He'll start work on a new record next year and his wish list includes working again with Max Martin (who co-wrote "Whataya Want From Me") and perhaps a collaboration with some of his own idols, Christina Aguilera and David Bowie. He's also expressed an interest in appearing on one of his favorite TV shows, the HBO vampire saga "True Blood."
Eber Lambert said the near-constant traveling and promotion have taken a toll on his son. Adam came home exhausted from a European promotional tour last spring and has privately lamented the loss of privacy and "hangout time" with his friends.
"I don't think he realized how much work it would be," Eber Lambert said. "That's what he told the 'American Idol' contestants this year when he was mentoring them ---- how it doesn't stop. 'You think this is tough? Just wait.' He once said, 'I wish I was back on "Idol," where I could just hang around the mansion and sing once a week.'"
One 'Idol' alumnus who shares Lambert's opinion is 2007 season winner Jordin Sparks.
"I would have to agree with Adam," Sparks said in an e-mail interview last month. "It's actually a lot more work than people think. I would say about 10 percent of it is actually the red carpets and free stuff. The other 90 percent is traveling, meetings, interviews, recording, writing, rehearsing, marketing, not getting any sleep and missing your family. Loneliness creeps in sometimes."
This sort of pressure-cooker lifestyle has cracked up many artists or led them to cope with drugs and alcohol. But don't expect this to happen to Lambert. Corey said she's sure Lambert will handle the career demands well. His rock-solid reputation for stability, reliability and consistency is what kept him an understudy in "Wicked" for so long.
"Not many people can be a good understudy," she said. "Everyone knew Adam was great. When he finally went on and he hit those notes in the stratosphere, oh my God, everybody just froze and listed for a moment in amazement. But when you're Old Reliable, they don't move you up because it's hard to find people that can do two parts at once."
Lambert said he does get run-down sometimes, but once he hits the stage each night, he's re-energized by the fans, who can be heard in YouTube videos shrieking at his every hip swivel, shoulder shrug and booty shake (along with an occasional replay of the infamous boy-on-boy kiss).
"I am extreme," he admitted. "Sometimes for certain people, that's not what they're looking for. But if you're looking for it, look this way."
Six things you may not know about Adam Lambert
1. Lambert's female following started early. A group of Mormon girls in the choir with Lambert at Mt. Carmel High so idolized him, they were like a virtual harem. Yet while he was the star of chorus and drama, Lambert was not a very good math student. "Adam wasn't born with the math gene," his father, Eber Lambert, said.
2. Between musical theater jobs in 2003, Lambert worked at a cosmetics counter in an L.A. department store. His makeup and people skills were so admired, the cosmetics company offered him a $50,000-a-year job as a cosmetics demonstrator/trainer, but he turned it down to follow his performance dreams. A year later, he hit a career low when his father declined to lend him money to record an album and they had a brief falling-out. He eventually found work as a blond-haired football player in the execrable "Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical" in Lake Tahoe. The show was so bad, Lambert wouldn't let anyone in his family come see it.
3. When Lambert called his father to say he was quitting the musical "Wicked" to take part in "American Idol" last year, his father was shocked. He'd never heard of the Fox series and couldn't understand why his son would quit his job "to go on a game show."
4. Lambert is known for his rich vocabulary and articulate interviews, even though he never attended college. His father attributes Adam's speaking skills to being a voracious reader (particularly during the "Idol" tour) and his "attraction to people he can have good conversations with."
5. To give back to the public schools where he first trained in voice and theater, Lambert created a charity through donorschoose.org that has raised more than $315,000 to date for school arts programs.
6. When his hairstylist shaved clean a three-inch square of hair on one side of Lambert's head last month ("it was air-conditioning because some of these cities' concert halls are really hot"), the resulting fan furor (dubbed "Hairgate") was written up on the Web sites for People magazine and E and MTV networks. Relax, everyone; the hair has since grown back.
Sources: Eber Lambert, Adam Lambert, donorschoose.org.
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Post by 4Ms on Sept 10, 2011 12:52:12 GMT -5
27. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Slideshow"OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 atop.proboards.com/post/90975/threadThe Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. Out 100: 2009 Adam Lambert - Breakout of the Year
“I’m doing the best I fucking can, you know?” Adam Lambert asks, as if there’s any way to satisfy all his critics or fans, none of whom even knew his name a year ago. In 2009, he catapulted from Wicked chorus boy to American Idol cover boy, all before his debut album even had a track list. For Rolling Stone he dallied with a snake; in Details he got frisky with a naked woman. “I’m the same guy doing the same thing on a larger scale,” he says now. “I’ve always been an entertainer.”
Lambert, 27, was a rare catch for Idol: a professional performer. “I’ve lived in L.A. for eight years,” he says. “It’s about making a good TV show. I just wanted to be really careful that it didn’t turn into a fucking pageant. I can sing my face off. All this other stuff is part of a personality, a persona.”
During the show, Lambert’s strategy was to play hot and cold, camping it up one week and dressing down the next. “To me, it’s not that different,” he says. “I’m just wearing a suit.” But when photos of him kissing an ex-boyfriend made the media rounds, Lambert freaked out. “I was like, ‘Great, that’s gonna fuck things up.’ It was the first time since I’d come out of the closet at 18 that I had to think about it.” He confirmed the pictures were real but didn’t explicitly say he was gay until after the finale. “I didn’t want to acknowledge it as a mistake or something I was ashamed of—I’m not. It’s part of who I am, but because our nation is the way it is, it’s an announcement. If I lose some fans, fuck it. I need to be happy too.”
And though Lambert’s comfortable speaking his mind with industry suits, navigating a new relationship with boyfriend Drake LaBry scares him. “I’ve only been in love twice,” he says. “I have a lot of life experience, but I don’t know shit about love.”
28. Krochmal, Shana Naomi. "Adam Lambert: The Out Interview, Part One" Page 1 OUT Magazine 12 November 2009 www.out.com/detail.asp?page=1&id=26191The Out 100 Breakout of the Year on life inside the Idol machine, out in the real world, and in the love game. In early October, Out sat down with Adam Lambert for an hour-long talk about his upcoming album, life inside the American Idol machine, and how carving out a career in the music industry is still easier for him than being in love. (Lambert and then-boyfriend Drake LaBry broke up following that interview, after Out went to press.)
In the first half of our extended interview transcript (read part two here), Lambert gives us a play-by-play from the center of Fox’s PR storm, talks about his taste in men (hint: “pretty” is pretty important), and gets graphic about just how far curiosity can carry you.
Out: Let’s start off by talking about Lady Gaga. Adam Lambert: I saw those pictures in Out, the Halloween pictures. They were incredible! I’m so refreshed by her. I think she’s finally taking risks. Like where are those people? You know what I mean? I’m inspired by it. I’m like, “Yeah, fuck yeah. Let’s take risks.”
We all wanted those rumors that you would take Kanye’s place on that tour to be true. [Laughs.] Not true. It would be really fun.
Would it be the gayest tour ever? It would probably be. The audience would be amazing, probably, at that tour. It’s really funny to me because a lot of my core fans -- people that went to the Idol concerts, and I glance at the messages boards once in a while -- there is a surprising amount of them that don’t like her.
Really? And I’m like, but -- her way of approaching music is not that far off from what I’m trying to do. She’s doing what the club kids are doing and making it like, Top 40.
What has that inspired you to do? Definitely just to take risks. Sonically, the actual style of her music is, like, club music. It’s not necessarily as avant garde as she’s presenting visually, but that’s what makes it so genius. It’s a song that everybody loves and she’s getting to play dress up and doing whatever the hell she wants. Which, I think, is what it should be. It’s how you interpret it.
Is what you learned on Idol applicable to the real world of the music industry? I think so, yeah.
Do you feel like you’re having a different level of conversation with music execs? When I stop and realize who it is that I’m talking to and what they’ve done, I’m like, holy shit. These people are powerful and they have a resume like…whew. I try to not to think about it. It’s the same way I dealt with the show. Just don’t think about the fact that there are 30 million people watching right now, just do your thing. Just stand on stage, sing for the people in the television audience, and don’t think about the cameras.
How did you manage that? I think that what I did on Idol was me thinking to myself, OK, I want to stay on the show as long as possible, so what do I have to do to keep people interested? For me, that was kind of going into slightly chameleon-like situations where this week, I’m going to do more like this, and sound like this. I was always me, but now I’m going to go here, now I’m going to go there. Because we had different themes, and that’s what you kind of have to do. Trying to give it a through-line with me at the center of it, but playing different types of music. This week I’m not going to have any rocker style. I’m going to do Motown. I’m not going to wear any makeup, and I’m going to do my cleaned-up classic retro look. And people were like, “Wow!” And I’m like, “To me it’s not really that different. I’m just wearing a suit, I just brushed my hair.”
Watching your performance on Idol, it was almost like you were using an old-fashioned code to say, “We’re all in on this.” Tell me which parts of that were deliberate. There was never any deliberate, like, “I’m going to hint now…” because I was never in the closet. The funny thing about dealing with all that was… [Long pause.] When those pictures came out online, I got freaked out. I was like, “Great, that’s gonna fuck things up.” ’Cause I just figured, you know, this is a national television program and people are conservative in our country, aside from L.A. and New York and a couple of other places.
I think for a lot of people, no matter how out you’ve been, you have these moments where you’re like, “How are people going to react?” To be honest with you, it was a really weird moment, because I’ve been living in L.A. for eight years like, yeah, I’m gay. I go out to gay clubs and bars and I go out to straight clubs and bars too. I don’t think twice about it. And it was the first time since I’d come out of the closet at 18 that I had to think about it.
During the audition process, it didn’t come up? Like, “Okay, I’m going to maybe pull this back a little…” I was just going to make it a non-issue, because to me, it really isn’t about that. It’s about the entertainment factor. And I don’t understand why it has to be about my sexuality. I’m just not going to talk about it one way or another. It doesn’t matter. And then when those pictures came out, I was like, you know what? I thought maybe I’ll just own it and say, “Yeah, I’m gay.” But I didn’t want to label myself. What I did was, I said, “I’m not ashamed of the pictures.” I didn’t do the thing that some people do and say, “I made mistakes in the past.” I didn’t want to acknowledge it as a mistake or something I was ashamed of, because I’m not.
It wasn’t like it was some hardcore sex tape that anyone, gay or straight, would’ve been kicked off of Idol for. I was making out with my ex-boyfriend.
But that fear, that there’s a queer double standard -- it’s not always wrong. It’s a hard thing that everybody’s gonna have their opinion about. You know? Some people in the gay community might look at it like, “You really should’ve owned that. You didn’t hide it, but you didn’t admit it and that’s weak.” My whole point is, I’m not trying to lead the fucking way for the civil rights movement that we’re in right now. I just happen to be a gay man -- and I’m not ashamed of that at all. Regardless of how I handled it, it became a huge issue. And I knew it would. So I figured, you know what, I’m just not going to label myself, I’m going to own the pictures, I’m going to get past it and just keep being myself on the show. And then I waited until after because I was finally given the opportunity. I mean, on the show, we’re not really [allowed to talk to press].
You’ve said it was your choice how to handle that. Even the most savvy gay people I know are dubious about you having that much control. How did it happen? Did you get called into a meeting? Literally, the minute the pictures came out, the publicist for the show called me up and was like, “So? Did you hear about these pictures?” And I was like, “Yeah.” And she goes, “What do you want to do about it?” She was really cool.
This is the publicist from Fox? The publicist from Fox, [Jill Hudson]. She was like, “You know, stuff like this has happened before, and this is usually what happens…” And I was like, “Jill, I don’t want to deny it, and I’m not ashamed of it. And I don’t want to seem like I’m ashamed of it. Because that’s not me. That’s just not how I am. But, at the same time I really want this opportunity and I want to stay on the show as long as possible. So, I kinda have to come up with a compromise.” And she was like, “Well, is it a big deal to you?” And I’m like, “No.” And she’s like, “Well, then let’s not make a big deal out of it.” And that’s what we did. She was like, “You know, own it. Tell them who you are, and just move forward.” And that’s what we did. And I’m glad that I handled it that way, because I think that had I immediately said the words and labeled myself -- you know, said “I am gay” -- I think that it would’ve been more about that, initially, than anything else. And the fact that we didn’t come out and make a big announcement or anything like that -- that doesn’t make any sense to me anyway. It’s not an announcement. It’s just, it’s part of who I am. But because our nation is the way it is, it’s an announcement. And also, there are very few gay celebrities. [Long pause.] It’s really cool, now, looking back, because I think that without saying it, and making that part of my identity, I think I allowed viewers to be more open to me. I think, had I put it out there that I was gay right off the bat, I think that people would’ve closed their minds right away.
But wouldn’t you say that it was a minority of people who were actually surprised that you were gay? Yeah, I would hope. If somehow this can open people’s minds or whatever, then great. I’m not sitting here thinking about ways to open people’s minds. That’s the thing people have to understand.
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