Question
for Rodney: Have you quit smoking yet (considering
the health of Campbell)?
Rodney:
An occasional cigar…never around the kid.
Question for Rodney:
My
name is Cameron and I come from Melbourne, Australia and I
went and seen the guys play with "Live", I also play in a
band, bass in fact and I write a lot of the music. My question
for
Rodney is: When writing your music do you just start with
a basic lick and then make up the lyrics as you
go along or do you have your lyrics already written, then
just put the band behind it? And how does that affect on the
"feeling" that you get from writing and playing the song?
Rodney:
We usually start with the music first, and then apply lyrics.
Sometimes we'll start writing a song
to a big drum loop by DJ.
Question for Rodney: Hey
Rodney, if you could be an M&M which one would you be and
why?
Rodney:
An orange one. Orange is such a vibrant color. It's a very
"showy" color. So I can relate to its
happy vibe.
Question for Rodney: Hey
Rodney! I've been a fan for about five years, and Sugar Ray
has always been
my favorite band, whatever the genre of music. You are my
favorite member, and I absolutely love your
style with clothes, decoration for guitar, etc. My question
for you is one that I've been wondering about
for a while: how do you feel about Napster? Thanks for your
time, and you and Sugar Ray kick ass!
-Michelle Cristaldi
Rodney:
The only way I see Napster being a real negative thing is
if a record is downloaded before it is released to the public.
That should be against he law. Besides that I have no problem
with it.
Question for Rodney: How's
the new record coming? What's the style like, more pop or
rock? Also how is your baby? Congratulations! Jessica, New
Hampshire
Rodney: Jessica, the new
record is coming along very well. It' still a little early
to tell what its like. We
have about 7 songs almost finished. We'll be recording from
the middle of October till finished. The new
record will probably be out February 2001. My baby is so great!
The new love of my life!
Question for Rodney: Knowing
everything you know now about how successful the band would
be & how your life would turn out, if you could go back &
pick a different career would you? Or would you follow the
same path you have already chosen? Thanks! Darci
Rodney: Hello Darci, I'm
doing exactly what I've always wanted to do. I knew I wanted
to play guitar in a band since I was in the 5th grade. Maybe
I would have tried to be an actor, I love movies.
Question for Rodney: I
just wanna say first that I am a BIG Sugar Ray fan and I love
your music! I'm
always listening to your CDs. That's why my friends nicknamed
"Sugar Freak." Okay now here's my
questions:
1. How was it being on "Hollywood Squares?"
2. I heard that Sugar Ray is coming out with a new CD by the
end of the year. Is there a certain
date on when the CD is in stores?
3. Also was it harder coming out with a 4th CD?
4. Are you expecting the new CD to do as well as 14:59?
5. And last but on least, do you have a title for it?
I will understand if you can't answer all the questions, but
if you can.... please?
Thank you! Your #1 Fan Jessica
RODNEY: 1) It was a blast!
It almost didn't feel real.
2) Hopefully Valentines Day Feb 14, 2001
3) They are all equally hard.
4) Hopefully Better
5) No title yet
Bye Jessica, Rodney
Question for Rodney: What
direction is the band going in now musically and how do you
feel about it?
Also do you ever feel Sugar Ray will become loyal to one genre
of music or will they always be known
for the multi-genre music? P.S. Congratulations on the birth
of Campbell, best wishes to Yourself,
Gretchen, and Campbell.
RODNEY: Sugar Ray will
always be experimenting with different styles of music because
that is the way
we started, and it's all we know. We all write the songs so
there will always be a variety.
Question for Rodney: Rodney
~ why the guitar?
RODNEY: When I was in
Junior High my school offered guitar as an elective. Plus
I always loved The
Beatles and wanted to be them.
Question for Rodney: Rodney,
Do you collect anything? Baseball cards etc? Thank you very
much.
-BRIAN, the sugarraystar
RODNEY: I collect all
3 stooges stuff, Bruce Lee stuff and records and guitars.
Question for Rodney: Hi
Rodney!! Well I know Rodney must be sick of me by now, this
is Michele Kline,
One of the creators of Rod Is God. I have so many questions
for Rodney but I wont waste your time. I
really hope Rodney knows how much he means to me, we are driving
3 hours to San Diego for the Street Scene to see him. He is
the person I look up to and would do anything to hang out
with him. But my
question is this.... I love "Lemonade and Brownies", that
was the album that changed my life. Sugar Ray seemed so kicked
back and fun loving. Don't get me wrong, I love the other
albums too, but I really miss
the old Sugar Ray. I know that since the pop stuff is selling
you more records, but sometimes it feels like
you have forgotten the old Sugar Ray fans. Will there be a
chance of the old style on the new record? It's depressing
to think that the next album will be ALL pop, so will you
consider what I said and put some old Sugar Ray back in to
please every Sugar Ray Fan out there? Thanks guys! ROD IS
GOD! Luv Always!!!
Michele K.
RODNEY: Hi Michele, thanks
for the nice letter you wrote me. Yes we will be having some
more hard rock
type stuff on the new album. The main difference between the
"Lemonade" CD and the rest is the fact that we changed producers.
Our present producer sometimes changes our songs. Sometimes
for better and sometimes for worse. We co-produced Lemonade
& Brownies so it had a more daring feel to it. We were learning
as we went. So now were just trying to write songs that are
meaningful to us. Bye for now, Rodney
Question for Rodney: HEY
ROD WHATS UP MAN? I JUST WANNA SAY YOU ARE LIKE MY IDEAL!!I
LOVE YOU
SO MUCH YOUR MY FAV OF THE WHOLE BAND. YOU INSPIRED ME TO
START PLAYING GUITAR. I WANNA
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS I WANNA ASK YOU.
CONGRATS WITH CAMPBELL LEE HE MUST BE A BEAUTIFUL BABY. O
MY BAD HE IS HES LIKE THE BOMB AN AWESOME BABY!!MABE I COULD
JAM WITH HIM ONE DAY THAT WOULD BE SO COOL. ANYWAYS MY QUESTION:
HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH
THESE GREAT SONGS ON THE GUITAR? HOW YOU CAME UP W/ EVERY
MORNING IS AWESOME I LOVE IT. I WANNA START MAKING MY OWN
MUSIC. I EVEN NAMED MY GUITAR AFTER YOU. I HAVE A WHITE ELECTRIC
GUITAR W/ STICKERS OF YOU GUYS ALL OVER THEM, THEN I HAVE
A BLACK ACOUSTIC THAT I NAME AFTER STAN CAUSE HE ALSO HAS
A BLACK ACOUSTIC AND A ELECTRIC/ACOUSTIC WHICH I NAMED IT
AFTER YOU. I LOVE TO PLAY GUITAR. I CAN PLAY LIKE A BUNCH
OF YOU GUYS SONGS ALREADY. MY DREAM IS TO PLAY GUITAR WITH
YOU EVEN FOR THE SMALLEST MOMENT. THANKS A BUNCH AND KEEP
UP THE GREAT WORK MAN. TELL MARK AND THEM HEY FOR ME. WRITE
BACK. PEACE # 1 SUGAR RAY AND RODNEY SHEPPARD FAN EVER, SUGAR
RAYS GIRL A.K.A. MARISSA
RODNEY: Hi Marrisa! Thanks
for the cool letter. Isn't playing guitar fun? I started playing
casually when
I was 13 years old and I never stopped. Have you played with
other people yet? That's the most satisfying thing. It helps
you learn a lot too! I wrote most of our songs just fiddling
about on my couch at home.
Question for Rodney: Here
are my questions for Rodney.
1. How has the success of Sugar Ray changed your life?
2. What are the pros and cons of being rich and famous?
3. Is the baby sleeping all night yet? If not, how are you
and your wife holding up?
4. Oh, and who does he look like?
Thanks, June (old_enough)
RODNEY: 1) Its made all
my dreams come true and way more.
2) All pros - no cons.
3) He wakes up just once for a feeding. We're holding up great!
4) I think me - poor kid!
Thanks for writing...Rodney
Question for Rodney: First
of all a big congratulations to Rodney and Gretchen on the
birth of Baby
Campbell! Here is my question, which of the guys in the band
would Rodney and Gretchen be most likely
to let baby-sit and least likely, why? Thanks!!! Kyla
RODNEY: Hi Kyla, Great
question! Most likely: Stan (very responsible) least likely:
Craig: (no experience
and barely takes care of his dog!) Thanks, Rodney
Question for Rodney: 1)
Now that you're a father, how do you think that'll change
things? Do you think
it'll change things? 2) Have you ever thought about auctioning
off your Patch Pants? They are *the*
coolest things I've ever seen. Erin
RODNEY: I donated my patch
pants to the Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. They're hanging
on the wall in a glass case. Thanks, Rodney
Question for Rodney: First
of all, I'd like to congratulate you, Rodney, on your new
addition to the family! Rodney, I was wondering if your baby
and Mike's would be friends when they get older, since they
are
close in age. Have the babies met yet? I wish you both the
best of luck in the future, Rachel
RODNEY: Hi Rachel, yes
I hope our babies will be friends because Mike and me will
always be. They
haven't met yet. Thanks, Rodney
Question for Rodney: Hi!
I am a huge sugar ray fan! I love you guys!!! And I am dying
to go to a concert!! But you don't have any tour dates yet
=(. when do you think you will be touring again? and, when/if
you do, do you think you could play a show in Florida??!!
that would be so great!!! I can't wait for your CD to come
out! I'll be the 1st person in line at the store =). bye!!!
~michy
RODNEY: Hello Michy, we
are currently writing and recording our songs for the new
CD. We won't be done until November or later. We'll tour again
when it comes out after the first of the year 2001. Bye, Rodney
Question for Rodney: Do
you ever regret allowing your music to go more towards pop
than hardcore? Erin H.
RODNEY: No we don't regret our pop music because
we still write and play both styles. We played hard
music from 1988 till about 1997. That's a long time. It's
natural to want to use your capabilities to the
fullest. So we just do what type of music the song calls for.
It's great to have that freedom. So long, Rodney
Question for Rodney: Hey
Rodney! How Austin? Anyway, my question is, if you were a
woman for a day, what would you do for the whole day? I know
it's not really a question about sugar ray but your answer
would tell me what kind of person you are! Luv, Aya
RODNEY: Hello Aya, Austin
is doing great! He just turned 6 years old. If I were a woman
I'd go shopping all day long then go home and do laundry...wait
a minute! That's what I do now...ha! Rodney
Question for Rodney: Hey!
I have a question for Rodney. Why do you always have your
Bulldog in every Sugar Ray video? I know he was missing from
the Someday one, but that's ok. I mean that dog could be a
superstar! Why don't you put him in movies or something? Okay
well I hope you answer my question. Say a
big 'ol "HELLO" to all the other guys too! :) Jenny from Phoenix,
AZ
RODNEY: Hi Jenny, We put
Austin in our videos because bulldogs are me and Mark's favorite
dogs. We
shot the Someday video in Miami and Austin doesn't fly. Bye,
Rodney
Question for Rodney: Are
there two dime guitars? How many patches are on Rod's patch
pants? Where is Austin in the "Iron Mic" video? How much would
it cost for Craig to write a personal scratchy thing for someone?
(that question is from Sarah) Did Rodney glue the dimes on
his guitar himself? If not, where did he get it? Ok, well,
bye Mike!! Thanks a bunch!!! Nuala }*{ Colleen }*{ Sarah }*{
Lindsey Bobby Teenagers
RODNEY: There are two
dime guitars. There use to be 3 but I smashed the original
one in Hollywood years ago. I don't know how many patches
there were. Iron Mic was filmed in Paris, Austin won't fly.
Yes, I glued them all on, 224 dimes then my guitar tech made
2 more. Craig charges $10,000 a track!
