Soul Woman

Friday, Aug. 23, 2002 | 1:47 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: August 25, 2002

Melissa Etheridge has bared her soul plenty.

While other celebrities work to hide their private lives, Etheridge lays it out there.

The 41-year-old rocker has shared personal life in song and in her best-selling autobiography, "The Truth Is: My Life in Love and Music" (reprinted in 2002 by Random House).

Etheridge's latest CD "Skin" (2001) chronicled her painful breakup with longtime girlfriend Julie Cypher (with whom Etheridge has two children, fathered by David Crosby).

Musically, Etheridge's fans have ridden the waves. Her heartaches, desires and betrayals have helped sell more than 25 million CDs. After a 2001-'02 solo acoustic tour following the release of "Skin," Etheridge is on the road again. This time she is backed by a band and celebrating her new life by singing a collection of old and new songs.

Etheridge, who performs tonight at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel, talked with the Las Vegas Sun about her tour, her life and how being in love with girlfriend actress Tammy Lynn Michaels has given her a new creative spark.

Las Vegas Sun: I hear this is a pretty exciting tour. You've been saying that fans deserved a little fun following the intensity of "Skin" and the acoustic tour.

Melissa Etheridge: Yeah, and that's what's been happening. It's been a real celebration.

Sun: Your book has been a hot topic. In it you disclosed a lot of personal information -- your sister sexually abusing you, your breakup with Cypher and her sleeping with singer k.d. lang. How did your friends and family react to that?

ME: Not everybody was happy. Everybody understood it was the truth. The way they handle it versus the way I handle it may be different ... That whole part of my life is something I put out there and it enabled me to move on ... That way I don't carry it around with me.

Sun: Have you talked to your sister since the book came out?

ME: We have a comfortable silence between the both of us.

Sun: What inspired the book?

ME: It started with my sexuality. The energy it takes to hide things is enormous. Once you put it out there you have more energy to yourself.

Sun: Did it surprise you that your book became a best seller?

ME: Nothing surprises me in this world (laughs).

Sun: How was your solo tour received by fans?

ME: It was fun for the fans and it was fun for me. I learned about my strengths as a performer ... And I was completely vulnerable. The possibility of failure was so huge.

Sun: You pretty much recorded all of the instruments heard on "Skin" by yourself. Any reason?

ME: It was a very intimate project. It wasn't a celebration. It wasn't fun. It was very personal.

Sun: You've channeled your heartaches and relationship blues into a lot of beautiful and powerful songs. How would a healthy, fulfilling relationship affect your music?

ME: Well, we'll find out on the next album (laughs).

Sun: So you're in love?

ME: Oh, yeah. In a very healthy way ... So the music coming out is very exciting, very edgy. But coming out from a rock 'n' roll place. Not a dark place.

Sun: I hear that you've been performing a new song called "Secret Agent."

ME: Yeah. It's more like "Your Little Secret." It's just a straight-ahead fun rock 'n' roll song.

Sun: And it's inspired by Tammy?

ME: Yeah (laughs).

Sun: Why do you laugh?

ME: I'm just giddy from how it came about.

Sun: How did it come about?

ME: I wanted to write about how Tammy is a very beautiful and attractive woman -- and she's gay, like me! When I'm with her, guys just see her and hang their tongues out.

Sun: You mentioned your coming out in 1993 and it's often talked about. But didn't most people already know?

ME: Absolutely. And I was signed playing in the lesbian bars. It's just that I hadn't stepped out to the general public.

Sun: Since then, you've been recognized as an activist almost as much as you've been recognized as a musician. Any comments on that?

ME: I think people understand that my personal life can be activism. But when they go to the show they're going to see the performer or the entertainer.

Sun: Do you bring your kids along on the tours?

ME: I do. But I only did a couple of times this tour.

Sun: Is it fun to have them along?

ME: It's delightful. But it's hard because the traveling is hard. They start to miss their toys at home. They wake up and don't know where they are.

Sun: I guess it can be like that for you once in a while.

ME: It gets tough.

Sun: You sing Joan Armatrading's "Weakness In Me." Regarding infidelity and temptation, it's from a different point than your songs. Why "Weakness In Me"?

ME: I've been a huge fan of Joan for years and years and I used to sing the song in the clubs, in the bars. I played it again on my solo tour. I got such a huge response that I did it every night.

Sun: You're also a big fan of Bruce Springsteen. Are you happy to see him back on the charts and touring?

ME: Of course! Are you kidding? I'm happy to see him in the grocery store. I love this tour. I love what he's singing.

Sun: Springsteen has been around a long time and you've paid your dues. How do you feel about Fox's "American Idol" and all the pre-packaged teenagers coming into the industry?

ME: It's getting younger and younger. I hope someone is telling them it's a short up-and-down or a long hard road. It's hard work. The market is fickle.

Sun: You recorded a song last year on "Earl Scruggs and Friends." Are you also an Earl Scruggs fan?

ME: No. I certainly respect the man. Kenny (Aronoff), my drummer, called me and asked, can you do this? I'd do anything for Kenny.

Sun: Two guitar-shaped signs were recently unveiled in your hometown of Leavenworth, Kans., in your honor. Are you pretty excited about that?

ME: Yeah. C'mon, that's great! I really thought that after everything -- not that I'm controversial but I'm alternative -- I was just really honored that they would step forward and claim me.