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Bass caught between success and identity

media.www.universitychronicle.com
4.10.08

Most of the media attention 'N Sync band member Lance Bass has been getting since the initial and progressive success of the band has been due to his announcement in July 2006 to People Magazine that he is gay

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While Bass' sexuality should be the last item on the list of information people want to know about him, it seemed to be the most wanted explanation during his lecture Tuesday night in Halenbeck Hall at SCSU.

The lecture was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., but began shortly after 7:45 and included in the two-hour session was a lecture, question and answer time slot and a book signing.

Bass visited SCSU to promote his book, "Out of Sync," and discuss his preparation in Russia for space and his experience as a gay male in the midst of success in the band 'N Sync. Bass answered each question proposed to him in a confident and surprisingly casual demeanor.

Raised in two parts of Mississippi, Bass said he grew up in a small town where no one in the entertainment industry came to perform. He said he grew up as a sports fan initially and was introduced to music when he moved to southern, central Mississippi.

"I didn't have much inspiration to be in the entertainment industry mostly because I was unfamiliar with it," Bass said. "I got into it by singing at church and by having a best friend who sang."

When he was 16-years-old, Bass received a phone call from a then 14-year-old Justin Timberlake who asked him to be the bass vocalist for a band he was putting together. The offer stemmed from Bass and Timberlake sharing the same vocal coach.

Bass said he flew to Orlando the next day, believing it would at least be a nice trip to Disney World, but expected nothing more.

"I ended up falling in love with the guys and it was amazing," Bass said. "We just hit it off and it just hit me that this is what I'm going to do the rest of my life."

Bass said the band's biggest goal right off the bat was to perform at Universal Studios or Disney World. He said their first year was really slow while they sat on an independent record label in Orlando.

"We had done Mickey Mouse club, which is where we got our initial fan base, and we thought things were going to really take off but no one wanted to sign us to a record label," Bass said.

'N Sync belonged to Transcontinental Records, owned by Lou Pearlman. Pearlman is now in jail for embezzlement of $300 million.

Coincidentally, it was the same label the Backstreet Boys belonged to. Bass said he can now admit he likes the Backstreet Boys, but was indirectly competing with them in the beginning.

'N Sync did a lot of performances, but still did not produce any record label offers. A German record label made the first offer and 'N Sync went with it.

"We spent a couple of years in Munich perfecting our craft because we were not good," Bass said. "We learned a lot about the crazy music industry as we were being flown everywhere and taken to fancy dinners and had limos everywhere. We had a little crash course lesson on the entertainment industry after we learned everything they gave us had to be paid back."

Bass said the band came back to America and did a Disney special but didn't expect anything to happen from it.

He said the band even questioned if they wanted to do it, but was glad they did when it ended up getting air time three times a day. It was then the band surpassed the Backstreet Boys, stunning them all.

"It was such a great moment for us," Bass said. "Throughout the next touring years, I was such a fan of everyone and we got to do a lot of amazing things that I had never even dreamed of doing."

SPACE TRAINING

Bass received a call from his manager with news that a producer wanted him to go to space and film a documentary to go along with it in Russia.

"From one big dream to another, I couldn't believe this was happening. Because it was my dream to go to space, I thought it must have meant I was being punk'd by Ashton Kutcher, but sure enough, it was true," Bass said.

The space program Bass attended in Moscow required him to be put through a four-day, extensive physical examination, which he said was very different from NASA.

"It wasn't fun, but I found out I had an irregular heartbeat, which I went to Boston to get fixed. They took metal rods and put them through my arteries to study my heart and they burned certain places," Bass said. "It didn't feel good at all. I spoke no Russian at this time at all so I had no clue what was going on."

Bass had a translator throughout the experience. He said during an appointment he endured an endoscopy followed by a colonoscopy, as the doctor used the same instrument.

He said he had tears rolling down his face because it hurt so badly. He said he noticed the doctors laughing and asked for clarity from his translator.

"I asked my translator why they were laughing and he said, 'They know now that you're not gay,'" Bass said. "After that, I went into the training without anyone to experience it. Toward the end of my training, about a month before the launch, one of the rockets that held the clothes and experiments blew up on the launch pad, which scared the producers of the documentary we were working on."

Following the explosion, the producers could not get insurance to back the trip, so the entire mission got scrapped. Bass said he was devastated, but stayed to complete his training.

"Even though I couldn't go then, I'm definitely going to go one day for sure," Bass said.

ON BEING GAY

"My whole life I knew I was gay," Bass said. "It's just something you know, but it's something I also knew I would have to hide because the business tells you not to even be seen with a girlfriend or with a beer in your hand. If you're gay, you're definitely not going to say anything about it."

Bass said it was when the band members took a break (what was supposed to be a few months but later turned into an extended break) that he actually started thinking about his life, relationships and love, and how they were in front of him. He said he had been so busy before that he didn't have time to face any of these issues.

"After a few months I started meeting people, but had to keep my relationships secret, which totally sucked," Bass said. "I wish I would have been able to come out earlier."

Bass said as crushing as it was to hear there would be no 'N Sync album in the near future (because Justin Timberlake had put out a solo album that garnered him huge success), the other part of him thought now was the time for him to be true to himself and not worry about what other people thought.

"A few months later, I became more relaxed with dating and I began telling my friends I was gay. People talk and rumors began floating around, but I was thinking 'who cares anymore,'" Bass said. "I went to a small town in Rhode Island and photographers had taken some pictures of me with another man. I began getting phone calls from magazines saying they were going to run a story that I was gay. I had 24 hours to decide whether or not I wanted to come out to the world."

Bass said his family did not know he was gay at the time. He also said when he told his family, they were very understanding and he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

SITTING DOWN WITH LANCE BASS

With your experience with the media essentially outing you, what are your thoughts on the outing issue in media?

I don't think it's anyone's business to out anyone. I think everyone should do it on their own terms and time because everyone's an individual.

Everyone has to deal with it on their own. It was a blessing in disguise for me though because it really pushed me into an area where I needed to be personally in my life, but still I think it's not good to publicly out someone.

Is there resentment built up toward the media?

No, not at all. The media has always been good to me. I've never had a problem where they've just attacked me so I have no problem with them whatsoever. I know they are just doing their job.

How did the People Magazine article come about? Did they contact you and say they were going to run the story regardless of if you agreed to it or?

They did contact me. They wanted to do the story. They knew what was up, they knew the truth and they wanted to make sure I told my story in a positive way.

I felt like that would be the perfect way to do it with such a magazine that was respectful. I think they did a great job.

You mentioned during tonight's presentation this fear celebrities have about coming out in Hollywood, has your experience nullified those fears? Have you suffered consequences like you thought you would?

No, I thought it would be a lot worse. I think it has all been positive. There is always going be that role they are never going to give me because of how public my outing was, but that's business and unfortunately that's their views and their choice also because producers and casting directors do it for people who watch the movies.

But that's changing, right now though there are so many great actors and musicians that are being themselves and admitting to everyone they are gay and it's not affecting their career at all.

Do you think that landscape is changing in Hollywood? Is it from seeing a lack of negative media attention?

Oh, definitely. I think the biggest fear for any artist is that backlash of negativity because they don't want to be stereotyped into what everyone thinks is a gay stereotype. I know tons of actors and musicians who haven't come out because they are still dealing with those issues.

Do the media know who is gay and who is not?

No one knows anything. They can speculate and guess, but unless you have a picture of someone doing something to prove it, it's hard to say.

Do the media pick and choose who they out?

I think they pick and choose their battles, but I also think if they are going to out someone, it has to be a story for them and something that's going to get attention for their outlet.

I don't think they are going to target any particular person, but if there are rumors about someone, they are going to investigate and find out as much as they can.

How has your interaction with the media changed since you came out?

There is a lot more paparazzi following me around because I guess it was such a big deal. Truthfully, it has been bad with gossip and paparazzi everywhere just in the last couple of years.

You see those roles in entertainment always start strong and then fizzle away. It can be crazy.

In light of the paparazzi explosion, especially with Britney Spears highlighting it, how do you deal with it?

You just try to lead as much of a normal life as you can and know when you go out, you are going to be photographed.

It sucks to know every move you make is going to be scrutinized. I think it's sad and also especially worse for women celebrities because they tear women apart for their weight.

Do you think they treat gay celebrities differently?

No, I don't think so. I think it's a very touchy issue for media. If there is any outlet out there that would do anything remotely negative toward the gay community, I think they would be chastised. I think they really do watch out for that.

Do you ever wish you could revert back to a low-key lifestyle without paparazzi following you everywhere?

Of course there are days when you wish you could just go be yourself when no one identifies you, but there are places you can go. I went to Sydney for the last six weeks and they knew who I was but they were just way laid back and cool about it.

I didn't take maybe but two pictures my entire trip so I mean there are places you can go and just get peace and feel like your old self again.

Comments (0) 04.14.2008. 18:22

Justin Timberlake Adds ASCAP Honors to Awards Collection

www.actressarchives.com
Thursday, April 10, 2008

Justin Timberlake won two ASCAP Pop Music Awards on Wednesday night, for writing the songs “My Love” and “Until the End of Time”, a duet with Beyoncé.

At the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers held their 25th annual award ceremony and honored the former ‘N Sync singer as well as other band members-gone-solo: the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie and No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani, who both won Song of the Year, for “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “The Sweet Escape”, respectively.

Justin Timberlake’s awards supplement a long list of accolades the 27-year-old has amassed. Since 2002, he’s won six Grammys, and has been nominated for 16 – twice as many nods as when he was with N’Sync.

Timberlake also won three American Music Awards and two World Music Awards, Video Music Awards and even an Emmy, in 2007. Timberlake’s “Saturday Night Live” skit entitled “Dick in a Box” won him the prize for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

Is there any award Justin Timberlake hasn’t won?

Well, there’s still the granddaddy of all golden statues – the Oscar.

Seems laughable now, with his wannabe tough-guy appearances in forgettable films like Alpha Dog and Black Snake Moan. But JT’s shtick on “SNL” and vocal work on Shrek the Third may lead him to his true cinematic calling – comedy.

This summer, he’ll play a sleazy French Canadian hockey player in The Love Guru. And Timberlake is “hilarious” according to the film’s star Mike Myers. “Justin Timberlake is the single most talented human being I've ever met in my life,” Myers told MTV, “and it sickens me.”

If all this so-called sickening behavior continues, Justin Timberlake better make more room in his trophy case.

Comments (0) 04.10.2008. 19:55

A Healthy Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake Reunited?

www.nationalledger.com
By Cyndi James
Apr 10, 2008

Will Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears be reunited soon? The big sister of pregnant seventeen-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears really seems to be getting better with her dad Jamie pulling the strings and now there is a report that the former pop wreck will meet with her former flame Justin Timberlake. The whole meeting will be set up by Jamie Lynn and Britney's dad Jamie, the report claims.

The reunion meeting will take place this summer at a family barbecue where Britney and Justin can get together for a little one on one time and talk. Wait - over the summer, that's quite a ways off. Apparently the hope for some is that now that Britney has seemed to work through many of the mental issues that have plagued her for the past eighteen months, there hope for a reconciliation for the former lovers.

That seems highly unlikely, but there are reports that Britney Spears has reached out to her ex husband Kevin Federline and perhaps they might have a shot at getting back together for the sake of their children.

Kevin has had custody of their two young sons for several months now and Sean Preston and Jayden James could surely benefit from a toned down mom Britney and dad Kevin getting along and behaving like an actual family. Kevin or Justin, who would be better for Britney?

Comments (0) 04.10.2008. 19:36

Jamie Spears Convinces Justin Timberlake to Visit Britney

www.fashion.ie
Posted April 10th, 2008 by fashiongossip

Britney Spears‘ father, Jamie Spears, has reportedly reached out to ex-flame Justin Timberlake for help with his daughter’s mental issues. According to Life & Style magazine, Britney’s dad is planning a low key summer barbecue where Britney and Justin can talk and…probably feel a little awkward.

A source said, “Jamie reached out to Justin and asked if he’d be willing to come over to Britney’s house to talk to her face-to-face, and Justin said yes. Jamie’s hoping that by finally seeing him, she’ll be able to get some real closure, some resolution. He thinks that might be a huge help to her.”

Can someone explain to me how this is supposed to help her? Geeze, poor JT, he can’t get away from this crazy family! He’ll never live down the fact that he was Britney Spears’ first boyfriend, and it seems like her family will never let him forget it either! Move ON bitches! Leave the guy alone!

Like getting together and talking with Justin will make Britney feel better. It will probably make her feel even worse! He actually has a career, a love interest and a LIFE! Everything she is lacking. Brilliant thinking Dad!

Comments (0) 04.10.2008. 19:29

Justin Timberlake’s Disappointing Night

celebrity-gossip.com
4.8.08

It was oh so close to being a celebratory night, but Justin Timberlake was left disappointed after cheering on his hometown Memphis Tigers in the NCAA Championship game last night (April 7).

Memphis was up against the Kansas Jayhawks in a tough matchup played at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Kansas won the game in overtime, 75-68, after Memphis squandered a 9 point lead with two minutes to go in regulation.

Meanwhile, JT’s girlfriend Jessica Biel and her pit bull pup were busy receiving the VIP treatment at Los Angeles International airport while catching a late night flight.

Sporting a white Fedora hat, a green wool mac and ugg boots, the Powder Blue babe did her best to avoid photographers as she was accompanied by a bodyguard, a personal assistant and an airport greeter to check her dog in and jump on the airplane.

Comments (0) 04.08.2008. 17:10

Madonna reveals 'psychoanalytical' sessions with Justin Timberlake

NME.com
4.7.08

Madonna has opened up about her collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Timbaland on her forthcoming album 'Hard Candy'.

The album, which will be the singer's 11th studio effort, will be released on April 28, with first single '4 Minutes' out on physical release a week before.

"I really enjoy writing with Justin, he's a fun person to write with," she said of her collaboration with Timberlake on the single.

"We kind of of had psychoanalytic sessions whenever we wrote songs. We'd start talking about relationships with people. That was the only way because you know, writing together with somebody is intimate.

"I haven't worked with a lot of songwriters where I'm instantly connected and started riffing and playing with the rhythm of words. He's as interested in the rhythm of words as the meaning of words."

The singer also revealed how her collaboration with Kanye West on 'Beat Goes On' was rush recorded so that he could make a flight and how she briefly picked up a guitar during her recording with Timbaland.

She told Interview Magazine: "There was this big sense of urgency. Kanye only had four hours and I had to finish it before he had to catch an aeroplane. On 'Miles Away' I did play the guitar, but I got double tracked by one of Timbaland's musicians.

"Right now I'm operating in the mode, 'Live everyday like it's your last day'. So there's a sense of urgency in everything I do."

Comments (0) 04.07.2008. 18:19

Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel’s Saturday Wedding

justjared.buzznet.com
Sun, 06 April 2008 at 11:50 am

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel walk hand-in-hand after attending the wedding of Hollywood stylist Estee Stanley at the Oviatt Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Also at the wedding: Eva Mendes, Scott Speedman, Jason Bateman, Nia Long, Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen and Tobey Maguire and his wife Jennifer Meyer.

Comments (0) 04.07.2008. 17:37

Joey Fatone, Mel B. to Co-Host TLC Show

AP
By DERRIK J. LANG – 4.7.08

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Melanie Brown and Joey Fatone have a new role to add to their scarily similar resumes: TLC host.

The duo will co-host "The Singing Office," a tongue-in-cheek singing competition that pits different groups of employees against each other.

Both Brown and Fatone were members of chart-topping pop quintets; both finished in second place on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"; and both have starred in "Rent" on Broadway.

"It's not like `American Idol' or `Dancing With the Stars,'" Brown told The Associated Press while filming at the Long Beach Airport. "It's not a serious competition. It gives people a break from their everyday lives to have some fun with their co-workers."

In each episode, Brown, 32, and Fatone, 31, surprise employees at two separate workplaces with impromptu vocal auditions. They then pick the five best singers. The makeshift groups are trained by pros to perform a song-and-dance routine and compete in front of a studio audience.

"I couldn't have thought of a better pair to do this," said executive producer Scott Sternberg. "Both of them did really well on `Dancing With the Stars,' so I think America really knows them and is rooting for them now."

Brown recently wrapped up the Spice Girls reunion tour. Fatone, who performed with `N Sync, has been hosting NBC's "The Singing Bee," which wasn't included on the network's fall schedule.

There's one more thing they have in common: Brown said they're both scheduled to return to the "Dancing With the Stars" ballroom May 6 to dance for the show's 100th episode.

Comments (0) 04.07.2008. 17:31

Joey Fatone And Mel B. Co-Host Singing Competition

tv.hollyscoop.com
4.7.08

Joey Fatone and Mel B. have both turned into reality whores. The have a new gig on the horizon that they're co-hosting together, called The Singing Office. The show pits different groups of employees against each other in a sing-off. Doesn't sound quite as cool as a dance-off, but there are already enough dancing show on TV right now.

Mel B. reminded viewers that the show is not a serious competition, and it just gives people a break from their everyday lives to have fun with their co-workers.

In each episode, the pair will surprise employees at two separate workplaces with impromptu vocal auditions. The five best singers will be separated into groups and trained by professionals to perform a song-and-dance routine and compete in front of a studio audience.

Comments (0) 04.07.2008. 17:26

'N Sync member encourages students to read and realize a dream

www.the-daily-record.com
3.21.08
By RACHEL JACKSON

DALTON DISTRICT -- School is so important that a big-time star returned to his small-town roots Thursday to encourage students to stick with their studies.

Chris Kirkpatrick, a member of 'N Sync and a voice on "The Fairly OddParents," spoke with classes at Dalton Elementary and Intermediate schools as part of Right to Read Week. The 1990 DHS graduate also met with the show choir at a downtown cafe.

He described his experiences as a teenager -- he too was in show choir -- and told of his efforts to make a living through music.

"It all started here," he said.

Kirkpatrick acknowledged it's easy to get discouraged in a small town such as Dalton.

"I always thought, famous people, they come from Hollywood and New York. I didn't think they actually came from Dalton," he said.

He used to walk through the alley and think, "I'm going to be famous -- and then I'd laugh at myself," he said.

"God works in mysterious ways, and here we are," he said.

He sought to encourage the students to persevere, and to keep learning.

"The more you start to figure out what you want to do and where you belong ... you can focus on what you love. You can specialize a lot more," he said.

Music always was something he loved to do, so he learned everything he could about it and continues to take classes, he said.

"I immersed myself in it. I swam in it," he said.

Although he's returned to Dalton many times, Thursday was the first time he visited classes.

"It's weird because that's it -- I was in that same place. ... I'm an idiot kid who grew up in Dalton and barely graduated," he said.

And he knows what it's like to not quite fit in, he said. Even now, he prefers to ride with the crew than with other celebrities, he said.

"I don't hang out with celebrities because they make me nervous," Kirkpatrick said.

He felt it was important to spend time with the students to give them a wider perspective on their studies.

"You don't get, why do I have to read or why do I have to do math. You need all the basics and then you can specialize," he said

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Musicians need to be able to read music and read various industry publications, for example.

"You need the whole bubble of education. A little of everything," he said.

And although he joked about how school can be a "pain," he hoped students would take seriously the message that reading and learning are important.

"It's cool to come back to see how excited they are," he said. "... The littlest thing can mean a lot to people."

Students were excited to spend their lunch break with Kirkpatrick.

"Anytime someone that grew up where you did makes it big-time somewhere, that's cool," said senior Katelyn Pike, whose sister sent a folder to be autographed.

Senior Scott Geiser said it's good to know Kirkpatrick was willing to come back to his hometown.

"It's cool to know he's from a small town and is able to do a lot with music," Geiser said.

Juniors Hannah Smith and Brittany Gardner and sophomore Hannah Wald said they didn't realize Kirkpatrick was a Dalton grad.

Media outlets often give his hometown as being in Pennsylvania because that's where he was born and went to elementary school, he said.

"It's a unique experience, getting to see someone that grew up in your hometown," junior Sven Isaacson said.

Students need good role models, particularly to remind them that being from a small town shouldn't stand in the way of their goals, Superintendent Scott Beatty said.

"Anything you want to do in your life is possible," Beatty said.

Comments (0) 04.06.2008. 18:38