New! Melissa Etheridge (July 15, 2011 show — 8 pm, Price: $35 – $150) *Approved photo attached
Melissa Etheridge was born on May 29, in Leavenworth, Kansas. She was still only a teenager when she began playing piano and guitar in various covers bands around Kansas. After this grounding she had a more formal training at the Berklee College Of Music before playing the club circuit around Boston.
However, her career took off after relocating to Los Angeles, where Island Records chief Chris Blackwell discovered her. Signed in 1986, her first break was writing the music for the movie Weeds. She had recruited one band to work with her but when this did not work out, she settled for a simple trio with Kevin McCormick on bass and Craig Krampf on drums. The first album was recorded live in the studio and spawned the single “Bring Me Some Water.” A turntable hit, it took some time to pick up sales but ended up a Grammy nominee. Former Iggy Pop sideman Scott Thurston made a guest appearance on the first album and returned for the second, along with U2’s Bono.
Etheridge won a Grammy in the best female rock vocal performance in 1992 and 1994, and scored several mainstream hits, such as “Come to My Window,” “I’m the Only One” and “I Wanna Come Over.” She won the 1996 ASCAP songwriter of the year award, but took a lengthy break from the music business to concentrate on her domestic arrangements. She returned in 1999 with the intimate, low-key Breakdown, followed by Skin in 2001.
Easily one of the greatest all-time female rock icons, Melissa Etheridge is also a mother and a cancer survivor. She is an outspoken cultural, political and human rights activist, a thought-provoker and a longtime truth-seeker. With Fearless Love, which comes out April 27th, 2010 on Island Records, she is at the top of her game.
Must be 21+ to attend, no exceptions. www.thevenue-chicago.com.