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[editor’s note: For best listening results, press play after the jump to avoid interruption]
It's wonderfully weird to have a friend like Jane Wiedlin. Her resume is mind-blowing and a lot of it I wasn't even aware of until I did a little homework after she agreed to make an appearance on this Podcast. You know, sometimes when a friend has done so much stuff you only hear about it in head-spinning tidbits.
I've always been a fan and her work with The Go Go's was an inspiration for my band L7. And just in case you didn't know this, The Go Go's made rock and roll history by being the first all female band who wrote and performed their own material to top the Billboard charts with their #1 album Beauty And The Beat. However, there is so much more to Jane Wiedlin: solo artist, songwriter, actress, playwright, The Surreal Life star, record producer, activist, animal lover, hardest working woman in show business.
Jane didn't really want to have an "interview" so she came over to my place for a couple of beers, and I got some questions in anyway. In fact we blabbed so much that I'm making this Podcast "conversation" a two part-er. This episode includes topics such as punk rock backlash, fat pets, political candidates, Nashville backlash, and masturbation slang.
We also devised a CONTEST exclusively for the Firedoglake community. You'll hear more about this in the Podcast but the Cliff Notes version for the technically challenged is this…
Contest Question: What is the common thread between Jane Wiedlin and Donita Sparks? (and it's not professional). The most accurate or most creative answer in the comments section will win. I will announce the winner in next week's podcast, Part 2 with Jane Wiedlin.
Photo courtesy of JaneWiedlin.com
I've included the following links to some of the organizations that are near and dear to Jane's bleeding heart that we will also be discussing in Part 2.
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general dog & cat rescue, education, etc. |
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rescue for greyhound dogs |
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rescue for Chinese Crested dogs |
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raises money for women battling breast cancer |
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www.theanimalrescuesite.com |
animal rescue |
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The Spin I'm In – Podcast 4: Blue Kisses From Jane Wiedlin |
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Song |
Artist |
iTunes |
Napster |
AMG |
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Feeling Like Flying |
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I'd Believe In God For You |
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Smash |
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88 Comments
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When Black Friday comes…
Well you can never have too many Jane’s I suppose. This is great, Donita.
Donita – and Jane!
Am I the only one having trouble connecting to the podcast?
We have an abundance of Janes at the Lake today.
Hmm it was working several minutes ago, I will investigate the technical difficulty and make any changes necessary.
There appears to be something wrong at the Odeo site but I am not sure what the glitch is because I cannot get to the editing control panel so maybe their site is having some issues. I will keep trying to get to the bottom of the issue and will keep everyone posted here on what I find out.
REALLY nice song… great to hear from (and see) my personal favorite Go Go again…
It’s Jane’s day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7zNyXEwCHs
Jane Hamsher @ 4
Hi Jane! This was a blast.
The darn Podcast was working this morning.
Jane! (d’uo!)
Fiance’s submission for the contest:
Donita also made out with Mrs. Peter Brady from The Surreal Life?
ThatSinger @ 8
I know, that Blue Kiss song has been stuck in my head for days.
I fell asleep with it in my head and woke up with it in my head.
The video is cool too.
Woot!
A buddy gave me a cd of an Irish punk band,
They are called ‘Dropkick Murphy’s’.
A total kick in the head!
Bagpipes and rock-n-roll, a match made in heaven.
I’m just JAMMIN’!
The Podcast is working for me now. Everybody try it again
I have an angry email off to the folks at Odeo expressing my dissapointment. It appears their toobz are clogged or the trucks didn’t back up to the podcast servers this morning. Maybe with the holiday yesterday someone sent an Internets on Wednesday that they won’t get until Tuesday that is causing the problem, but everything appears in order from my end.
I have no good explanation for why the player is freezing up and hopefully it will uncork in a few minutes and start playing. Meantime, I will try a workaround solution and report back in a few.
Donita Sparks @
15
Yay! For me too now, try it again everybody.
podcast working!
TeddySanFran @ 18
Yay! Teddy, I’m so proud, a few months ago you were not enjoying the mp3 revolution and now you’re a podcast listening madman! This warms my geekheart so much you have no idea!
The Po-Go’s and their puppetmasters, the Go-Go’s !!
Donita Sparks @
13
Yeah… I’ve had it bouncing around mine for about half an hour now with no signs of dissipating… of course, there’s plenty of room in this head…
Thanks for posting it!!!
Hey Donita, this song Feeling Like Flying sounds much better today coming out of my monitors than it did last night in the headphones while I was mixing this. Funny that. Great song too, very impressive, I can see why she considers it a favorite song.
Yay!! Donita and Jane-squared!!
Fini — left you something in FDL-Late Nite. Eat your collards, they’re good for you, loaded with excellent nutrients and fiber for the cholesterol compromised (just use lean ham instead). BTW, Jane’s voice sounds fine, you tweaked it just right.
Since there is, at least in part, an animal lover theme in this thread, I thought I’d mention this. Now that I’ve finally (kind of) figured out the trick to creating images with a transparent background, I’m going through some of our graphics to see which ones would work well for black/dark shirts. The section I was *just* working on is the humane/dog rescue section.
Some of the images are available as printable PDFs here. Please excuse the fact that I haven’t updated the featured link, which still says “summer pet safety”. I’m sure it’s true for a lot of people–political stuff kind of took over for a while and I fell behind on some other things.
Rayne @ 23
Thank you very much for the compliment, but Donita deserves credit for a great source recording as well. We’re finally getting there with this thing!
As for the collard greens thread, that sounds veeeeeery yummy and I will try that the next time I make them. I copy and pasted that into my recipe database, that method is similar to how I cook spinach except for the ham cubes. I bet it would work with SPAM too which I have a freakish addiction to.
Anybody have any guesses for the contest question? What is the common link between Donita and Jane Wiedlin that is not a professional link? Winner will be determined by accuracy first, creativity second. So if you don’t know the answer, make up something sufficiently creative and you still could win! Post your guesses in the comments here and Donita will announce the winner in Part 2 of her conversation with Jane Wiedlin next Friday, December 1st.
Oh Fini…SPAM? jeepers…174 calories, 137 of which are from fat in a single 2-oz. serving. Seriously, switch to lean ham. Much less fat and cholesterol.
/food nag
/mom-wife tag
Sorry, have a cholesterol-challenged diabetic that I live with for whom I cook. Hard to shut off the food nag-mom-wife thing.
Where can one hear Jane’s jazz project??? Having recently made the migration from rock to jazz myself (to paraphrase Jane Hamsher, I’ve decided to start “dating” songs my own age) I’d really like to hear her take on the Standards…
TeddySanFran @ 12
No way Jose, but a good guess.
Fini — well, old dogs, new tricks, maybe there’s hope after all. (*blushing*)
While mastering the listening technology has been fun, there’s also this: After months of fruitless tests, MRIs, and brainscans, I finally have an EarDr. appointment for this coming week, having convinced the medical establishment that my tinnitus is a) real and b) disabling and c) their business.
Truly, these Friday FDL music threads — and my growing frustration that I can no longer enjoy listening to anything any more — motivated me to make the establishment attend to my needs, damnit! Thanks for the inspiration — and for the great things worth hearing!
========
Who’s Next?
========
Fini sez:
TeddySanFran @
12
Behind every great man is a great woman……….? Can’t wait to hear part two!
Sid
Too many interruptions here, have to wait to finish the interview.
Hard to think of non-professional links between Donita and Jane — other than they’re both solid midwestern girls who left for places far more nurturing to female guitarists. Will have to give it another go after I listen to the last of the interview.
Rayne @ 27
I know, it’s ok, I don’t eat SPAM regular anymore, just the Lite stuff which I know is still not good. And I only eat it once in a long while because I have turned my diet around tremendously in the last couple of years. My cholestorol was very good last check by my doctor who was impressed with my progress.
Having said that, there is something tasty about a SPAMburger with sauteed onions and swiss cheese that I cannot resist from time to time. Serve with a pickle and potato salad and it’s a meal.
The Jane/Donita Connexion:
Both strong, talented, willful women who saw what they wanted in a man’s world (and mostly adolescent men, at that! NO offense, anyone), went after it and got it.
Plus, they both knew Jane Hamsher?
both from chicago?
TeddySanFran @ 30
Oh man, I’m sorry about your tinnitus. That is a total bummer.
Fiance wonders if Belinda Carlisle is part of the Po-Go’s project. Is everyone chummy again?
PS Anyone who has not yet clicked on bowling for boobies is missing out on some kinda fun….
Mommybrain @ 35
I don’t think that the two Sweet Janes know each other
Meanwhile, back downstairs in the prevous thread, we are talking about both constitutional confrontations over subpoenas and campaign finance reform.
Take yer pick.
TeddySanFran @ 30
Have you tried the House Ear Clinic in L.A.?
http://www.houseearclinic.com/index.htm
They do wonderful work, and helped me tremendously with a non-noise related ear issue.
Donita, it might be fun to do a podcast sometime of Jane
DranoWiedlin, Jane Hamsher, and Jane Harman….TeddySanFran @ 42
A trifecta of Janeness!
gotta run out and enjoy the last day of sun this weekend….
Thanks, TS, I shall check it out — newly bookmarked.
later, gators.
TeddySanFran @ 38
Yes, Belinda is on board The Po Go’s project. “chummy” is a tricky word.
“I finally have an EarDr. appointment for this coming week, having convinced the medical establishment that my tinnitus is a) real and b) disabling and c) their business.”
Teddy, do you have low blood pressure by any chance? I do, and tinnitus is a symptom of it. Answered alot of life long questions for me to come across that info, now I can only give concerts half the blame.
DonitaJaneSparks = beautiful eyes and love dogs
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @
26
They met as adolescents in Summer/Church Camp. Fell madly in love and had a torrid (for summer and/or church camp) affaire` that lasted for the entire two weeks…
Later on in “rock ‘n roll” life they ran into each other again and both briefly considered starting right back up again, but the Go-Go’s were “Touring” and their Homophobic PR rep was horrified and nixxed it right in the bud. Bummer (imho)
What do I win?!?!
happy day after thanksgiving Donita & Jane! cheers to you, fellow animal lovers! could that be your connection?
my head is aching from too much merlot at thanksgiving dinner….ha ha! and my kitten is climbing all over my keyboard!
can’t wait till part 2.
love,
nora
Jane: “Feeling Like Flying” is a spiritual experience, indeed.
Bless you.
Ladies,
Thank you for the beautiful time and smiles today.
Jacqrat @ 48
Fini my friend. That is not an answer, that is a male fantasy (well female too I guess)
Bruno @ 47
Hi Bruno!!
I like that answer
Jacqrat @ 50
I will pass this on to Ms. Wiedlin. thanks for listening.
Jane W. and Donita!
I have the answer to your prayers! (will it help me win that album? I notice it’s not on iTunes and I was disparate.)
MUSIC ROW DEMOCRATS EXIST.
Rodney Crowell, among others.
wonderful way to celebrate today … thanks Donita and Fini and Jane and Jane!
Ha! Fini got in trouble for my guess.
Sorry, Dude.
Jacqrat @ 54
Right On! Great link. thanks so much.
Jacqrat @ 56
I only kid Fini, I only kid.
Donita Sparks @ 58
Donita I could listen to your midwestern twang all day long… But then, the neighbors would complain. Thanks for all you do here to make me smile.
LOL, I turn away for a phone call for a few and I get in trouble? Thanks jacqrat! Hurumph!
Happy Thanksgiving Jane, Jane, Fini and Donita,
Good queston ……..I can’t think of a non professional link either…..
my theories are still formulating.
I’m abstaining from guessing the connection, I could probably figure it out with some Google-fu digging but I’d rather see someone from comments win the prize package.
What was the package again, Donita? A signed photo, CD and FDL tshirt?
Jacqrat @ 59
My pleasure Jacqrat. I’m glad you dig it.
Huuhhhhhhnnnnh… It seems that there is a need to investigate a certain non-professional link between one Ms. Donita Sparks and, hrrhm, Ms. Jane Wiedlin, sometime of the Go Go’s.
I have procured photographic evidence of this link, but I find it provides insufficient incentive to bring this investigation to a climax.
Therefore, I call upon ALL PATRIOTIC AMERICANS to forward to my office any photographs, videos, or underwear that may…
*SCUFFLE* WHAT!? WHAT!? *SCUFFLE* I’m just trying to investigate a nonprofessional link!
(Apologies to Jim Ward, Stephanie Miller, and anyone reading this comment.)
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 62
Don’t abstain, you’re currently in the lead!
Package includes: Signed pin-up photo of Jane Wieldlin, Firedoglake T-shirt (I haven’t really told Jane Hamsher about this yet….)
and I’ll even throw in a Donita Sparks T-shirt and stickers. (there I go in the third person again)
Perhaps a hint is in order Donita? Does a person, place or thing make the connection?
Donita Sparks @ 65
That was Jacqrat’s guess, I haven’t made a guess. She quoted me from earlier in the thread while making her guess. But now we have a hint!
Rep. Squeezy McFeelpants @ 64
wait a minute, that’s Dita Von Tease in that photo, not moi
Fini FiniTOOBZ! @ 67
Ha. How did I screw that up? Sorry for the perv insinuation, I just remember that you said Jane was cute last week.
Here’s the only clue thus far……person
Speaking of “male fantasies”, just found “Treat Me Rough” and accompanying photographic image(s)… Is that Jane’s guitar solo as well?
No worries hon, and you are not wrong, I am a total perv, I just don’t bother this crowd with it! Jane is way cute and I’ve always had a minor celebrity crush on her since my adolescence so we don’t need to go there in a public thread. Keep in mind I used to work at a strip club so I’m no angel.
Yeah, that’s me. The PERV.
:)
Chalk it up to an Kristy McNichol obsession early on (Little Darlings) and being a huge kd lang fan (back in the day when Warners and Larry Wanagas made her wear skirts and forbade her to talk about her sexual orientation.)
Jacqrat @ 72
YEAH BABY! Pervs of the world untie!
donitaaa love fromm chileee
the last place un the world
ultra @ 74
Heya… im all confused
donita the fucking queen
Common thread = sexy eyes and sexy lives
donita and jane are related, both from the midwest??? donita you are the most rockin guitar player! i’m so glad your here!!!
It’s a person….
And “chummy” is a tricky word….
Does it have to do with Lamar St. John?
Saw the Go-Go’s at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville NJ in May. Excellent. Thanks Jane (and Belinda, Charlotte, Kathy, Gina).
I’m going to take as wild guess that you both have similar tattoos. ;)
Back when I had a massive school-boy crush on her, Jane appeared in a few songs with the Mael brothers’ band “Sparks”, including (if memory serves…) “cool places”. So… that’s my guess.
Okay, I still have a crush on Jane…
Donita Sparks @
68
Huuhhhhhhnnnnh…I’m willing to consider evidence that you and Dita Von Tease are not the same person… that she is not your nom de plume…
Please submit evidence, photographic or video, of the two of you together in the same place, at the same time… preferably en deshabille as that allows for *SCUFFLE* WHAT!? WHAT!? *SCUFFLE* I’m just trying to verify the good lady’s alibi!
Contest Answer: Jane was president of the Sparks fan club (in L.A., many moons ago), and Donita is, well… Donita Sparks.
Close?
I should add: If Jane were to go back to her stage name of ‘Jane Go-Go’, then, between her & Donita, we would have Go-Go & Sparks, further cementing the bond between the bands created through videos, songwriting, and concerts (not to mention Jane with Sparks on American Bandstand!),
No, I have no life, other than Sparks and the Go-Gos, I guess.
http://kelly-blue-book-n.blogspot.com
Both from Omaha?
Peoria?
Indianapolis?
Milwaukee?
Akron?