USA Today Chat Transcript
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001
8 p.m. ET

Talk to musical group Unified Theory (2 parts Blind Melon, one part Pearl Jam, one part new) about picking up the pieces after dealing with tragedy; how they're establishing their own identity; what their band name means; and their plans for the
future.

Comment from USATODAY.com Host: We've got Brad Smith with us.  Let's go.

Sherman Oaks, CA: If you could tour with one of the popular bands of today, who would it be?

Brad Smith: I think I'd want to tour with Live again. Their audience and ours is pretty much the same, and we really related to those types of people.


Los Angeles, CA: What are some of the things that you would have on your tour rider, i.e. what would you insist on having backstage at each stop along your tour route?

Brad Smith: If I could guarantee something, it would be Red Bull and vodka. Those shots kept us going through the last tour.


Valley Village, CA: Who's your favorite member of 'N Sync and why?

Brad Smith: I'd want to be Justin Timberlake -- he goes out with Britney   Spears. I saw him in US wearing a dope denim jacket.


Memphis, TN: Hi Chris! Wanted to wish you the best of luck on your  upcoming tour. And, want to tell all the listeners what a totally unique, hypnotic, mesmerizing sound you guys have. If you don't have their CD yet, you don't know what you're missing. GO BUY IT! Love from Memphis, Cindy

Brad Smith: Yeah. Do that. Listen to her.


Las Vegas, Nevada: Are you boys planning on coming through Vegas anytime soon? -Whitney

Comment from Unified Theory: We're trying to book a date before March 1st. It might be 3 or days before. Check on our website. I don't book the band, unfortunately, which is probably a good thing.

Las Vegas, Nevada: So what's the word on South By Soutwest in March?  -Whitney

Brad Smith: We're playing there on March 15th. We're driving to Austin.  We'll be there with bells on.

Las Vegas, Nevada: What does it feel like to have such a strong fan following?

Brad Smith: It feels great. I feel that a lot of the fans who missed Blind Melon as much as I did come out to the shows. It's flattering, as well as a sense of closure.


Vancouver, B.C.: Hey guys, Nikki here... How do you feel about all those  reality TV shows??? (Ex. "Making the Band", "Survivor", "Real World", etc.) Would you ever let your lives be filmed 24 hours? And if so what would the show be like?

Brad Smith: It wouldn't get an R rating (probably an X). We have really bad mouths. It's like the boy's club -- nonstop ridiculous jokes and banter. Real tv would be cool. If they followed us around for a few hours it would be enough.

Comment from Unified Theory: Nikki -- Brad says hello. We'll be up soon.


Starkville, MS: Do you guys have plans to extend the upcoming tour over the Eastern side of the US?? Jason Goode

Brad Smith: Yes. After March 15th we'll be doing the east coast for four weeks, all the way from Jacksonville, Florida to Toronto.


Starkville, MS: Mr. Bradley Smith, what is the current position of your solo record, Abandoned Jalopy? When can fans expect to get a listen? Jason Goode

Brad Smith: My record's going to be coming out on my Web site (abandonjalopy.com) at the end of February.


Starkville, MS: What are your thoughts on a possible college tour, considering that airplay of your music is quite high on many campuses around the country?? Jason Goode

Brad Smith: That's one of the focuses we'll have on the east coast. Hopefully we'll be playing a lot of colleges and schools. We're trying to focus on the smaller bars college kids go to as it is.


Starkville, MS: Are there plans in the making for a possible video shoot for the new single "Wither"?? Jason Goode

Brad Smith: There's not any plans right now.


Fayetteville, AR: How does gravity fit in with the electro-weak force?

Brad Smith: Such a sophisticated question for a bass player.


Seattle, WA: I know The End in Seattle pumped your guys' first single "California" but I haven't heard ANYTHING about "Wither" being played yet! Do you have any idea why that is???

Brad Smith: I think it's another one of those songs that shows how different this band is, and it's hard to find the right format. Can you imagine us after Eminem or Britney?


Vancouver, BC: Hey Brad, Nikki here... what's the first cd's you EVER bought?

Brad Smith: The first record was ELO "Don't Bring Me Down/2000 Man", and the Grease soundtrack.


Atlanta, GA: Brad, have you figured out if you'll be getting together to jam with Earthdog anytime soon?

Brad Smith: I would LOVE to. Our booking agent has to get in touch with their promoter of booking agent. I'd love to play with them. The other band I'd like to play with is Puddle.


Concord, CA: Don't have any questions. Just wanted to say what's up. I'm gonna see your show in Santa Cruz on Monday. Really looking forward to it!  You guys are amazing. Don't be too surprised if I say what's up at the show.   My name is Mike Rogers and I've met you guys at a few shows in the Bay Area before. See ya and good luck! Mike Rogers

Brad Smith: Thanks. See you there.


Portland, Oregon: Are you guys looking at all into touring with Extra Virgin?

Brad Smith: I don't think they're in tour mode right now. I think they're shopping a record deal right now. But I'd LOVE to play with them.


Vancouver, BC: I'll be seeing you guys in 9 days at Richard's on Richards...  I've been trying to find out who your opening band will be... perhaps you can tell me??? --Nikki

Brad Smith: It's going to be a local band. Every city we roll into will have the best local band from that area opening up for us. I hope they're good....


Atlanta, GA: Are you guys recording more stuff in the near future? Pretty please?

Brad Smith: Yes, we've been recording since we've been off this last tour.  We've got lots of new songs to choose from. That's what musicians do. We write whenever we get the chance.


Los Angeles, CA: Tell us about "Wither," please...I love that song.

Brad Smith: It's about watching a friend waste away to an addiction, and wishing you could say the right thing to pull him out of it.

Comment from Unified Theory: It's a horrible thing to write about, but someone's got to say it.


Los Angeles, CA: Brad, you have been seen all over town at various sushi restaurants... Any favorites?

Brad Smith: Sushi Ika, Yamashiro, and Katzu Sushi.


Sherman Oaks, CA: Do they think the end of the "boy band" and "rap metal" crazes are on a downward spiral?

Brad Smith: No, absolutely not. It's not bad for the people who are into it, but cool people don't like it, and the world's not got enough cool people.


Los Angeles, CA: Any plans on playing in Los Angeles anytime soon? We love your record.

Brad Smith: Troubador, February 28th. It's going to be a madhouse.


Portland, Or: Guys, other than the pink floyd cover, what other covers are you playing on this tour?

Brad Smith: You gotta come out to the live show to see.


Concord, CA: Don't mean to touch on Blind Melon cause I know this is about UT, (which is amazing!), but if things hadn't turned out the way they did, what would BM be doing right now, or you guys personally? -Mike Rogers

Brad Smith: We would be recording our third or fourth record and progressing musically. I miss Shannon and wish he were with us.


Portland, Oregon: How many demo's and B-sides were left from the recording session? And will they be out on any upcoming singles? Chris & Alexa

Brad Smith: Upcoming singles? Maybe on an upcoming album. We wrote 23 songs, finished 18, and recorded 12. I'm sure the remaining six songs will turn up somewhere.


Starkville, MS: How much truth is there to the rumors of a re-release of "Letters from the Porcupine" on DVD this year??

Brad Smith: Chris Jones, our manager, said that was going down, but I haven't heard anything about it.


Starkville, MS: what is in your cd player at the moment??

Brad Smith: Drums and Tuba, "Flatheads and Spoonies"; U2's "Pop"; the Beatles "Let it Be"; the Puddle demo; and I'm about to put in the demo of a song I wrote last night.


Comment from USATODAY.com Host: Thanks to Brad Smith and to everyone who joined in today!