MTVixen: Welcome to MTV Chat this event with Blind Melon. The members of Blind Melon are here to chat about their recent and final album, "NICO," and their documentary home video, "LETTERS FROM A PORCUPINE."

MTVixen: Allow me to provide some background info! "NICO," dedicated to Shannon Hoon's infant daughter, is an enhanced CD that contains unreleased tracks tunes that were recorded on the road ("Life Ain't So Shitty"), or songs that were taken raw in a moment of spontaneous inspiration, like the Mammoth Cabin recording of Hoon's version of "The Pusher" by Steppenwolf and "Letters from a Porcupine," which was captured on an answering machine tape and transferred to DAT. Besides offering a rare musical view into the creative forces behind Blind Melon's popular face, "NICO" is a CD Rom owners dream. It includes over thirty videos (from full length to never seen before clips of concert footage), and a collage of previously unreleased photos and interviews. The full-length documentary home video, "Letters from a Porcupine," chronicles Blind Melon's genesis and evolution. It contains concert footage of shows from the early days up to and beyond Woodstock '94. Fortunately the video does not contain that same footage that the enhanced CD does, making "Letters from a Porcupine" and "Nico" perfect partners. This may be your last chance EVER to hear the members speak about Blind Melon as Blind Melon. So let's get this party started NOW! The members of Blind Melon:Rogers Stevens - guitar; Brad Smith - bass; Christopher Thorn - guitar; Glen Graham - drummer.

MTVixen: Welcome, Glen, Rogers, Brad and Christopher!
Rogers: Hi everyone!
Christoper & Brad: Hello

MTVHipChik: Here's the first question... Shamrok70 asks: There are so many different messages about God in all your songs. Did Shannon follow any organized religion?
Rogers: No he didn't but he was a spiritual none the less.

MTVog: DaZEd1164 asks: Do you guys see any other bands making the impact on the music scene that Nirvana and Pearl Jam did about 6 years ago?
Rogers: There are things that interest me now but those sort of things usually happen in hindsight for me and I am not a good barometer of public taste.

MTVHipChik: Slowbirds asks: What does the tattoo on the cover of nico say?..and who's is it?
Rogers: It's the poem that is at the end of the song "God's Presence" from the soup record it was written by Shannen's great grandmother

MTVog: RHCPgrl asks: So.. are you guys splitting up to form your own bands, or getting a new singer or what? Do any of you have new projects planned?
Christoper & Brad: Don't forget it's Shannons arm taken by our friend Danny Clinch
Glen: NO. YES. YES.
Rogers: If the right singer fell in our lap we would continue forward but it has to be spontaneous or it's not worth doing.

MTVHipChik: Next question is... BONOU256 asks: Did you ever or still have any pre-gig rituals?? Did Shannon???
Rogers: not really, everything was done pretty randomly.

MTVog: In line with that last question, COrkney31 asks: Why did Shannon feel the need to consistently be naked?
Rogers: He was a born exhibitionist, and that's it.

MTVHipChik: This one is from Drain YourK: What music did you guys listen to when you were young that you wouldn't like to admit?
Rogers: Styx "Paradise Theater" and Andy Gibb "Shadow Dancing"
Glen: I'm not about to admit to it now.

MTVHipChik: Phisimiji asks: DO YOU PREFER BOXERS OR BREIFS?
Rogers: That's ridiculous!!!
Glen: Breifsers.

MTVog: Dementsha asks: what were the 4 songs on the demo that got you signed?
Rogers: I haven't worn boxers since I was in the army
Rogers: Mother, Soul One, Tones of Home and Change I think
Glen: Mother, Soul One,Tones Of Home, and something else.

MTVHipChik: Vinman823 asks: Where did you meet the other members of your band?
Rogers: Glen and Brad and I grew up together and we met Shannon and
Christopher in Los Angeles
Glen: I met rogers on the swim team, Brad through Rogers, christopher and Shannon in LA where I was affectionately known as the moped cowboy.

MTVog: Mar00N asks: For y'all, what's your best memory of a live show, where was it, why was it so great?
Rogers: I liked playing in a monsoon at Jones Beach in New York with Neil Young & Soundgarden.

MTVHipChik: Here's one from Miss Ping... If you had to describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Rogers: Confused
Glen: yauum

MTVHipChik: FioreD asks: Do all of you guys have girlfriends?
Glen: no, some of us have wives
Rogers: Yes I have a girlfriend
Rogers: Hi, Verina

MTVHipChik: BONOU256 asks:
MTVHipChik: If you could've toured with any band in history that you haven't toured with before, Who would it be and why?
Rogers: The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Christoper & Brad: Liberace
Rogers: or maybe Lawrence Welk
Glen: THE VILLAGE PEOPLE
Christoper & Brad: BAY CITY ROLLERS!
Rogers: Dokken

MTVixen: How did you meet Shannon?
Rogers: In a pay toilet. Seriously through a friend in L.A
MTVog: BASSY SUI asks: What are some of your inspirations for writing music? Did Shannon have any inspirations which guided him?
Rogers: It comes from odd places that aren't necessarily musical

MTVHipChik: Pea241730 asks... How did you come up with the name Blind Melon?
Glen: ask BRAD
Rogers: Ask Brad, he's good at answering that
Christoper & Brad: my dad used to use the phrase "he's just a 'blind melon' to describe people he thought "were right."

MTVog: Outsane6 asks: While his talents and contributions are undeniable, was Shannon "different," by far, from the rest of you? I get the impression that he was.
Rogers: Yes, Shannon was different from anyone I ever knew just from a purely energetic standpoint. We are all on different planes, be that good or bad. The differences seem a bit more subtle.

MTVixen: This question has two parts.....Boosti asks: How did you get the idea, to make the home video? Where did you get the footage, to make it?
Christoper & Brad: Sometimes it's just how intense you are on that plane
Rogers: Relatives of employees are not eligible for prizes in the state of New York or New Jersey. Got it Alia!!!

MTVog: BONOU256 asks: Who or what inspired you to pick up your instruments??
Rogers: The need for excercise
Glen: KISS

MTVHipChik: EZ2CME123 asks: Is it true Shannon Hoon was in the Guns & Roses Video "Don't Cry"? Was the rest of the group?
Glen: si, nay
Rogers: No but I was the key grip for the film crew on that video

MTVog: CMBAULER asks: what was your experience of playing at woodstock like?
Rogers: It was a failure, but fun anyway
Glen: Horrifying...we went on after Joe Cocker, one Of my favorite artists

MTVHipChik: Baer Greg wants to know if you guys are going to tour this year...
Rogers: I am going to take a tour on the subway back to 14th street
MTVog: RiccarMa asks: it is definitely great to hear from you guys again. what have you been up to musically?
Rogers: I've been painting
Christoper & Brad: Yeah, his paintings are amazing.

MTVHipChik: Next question... Sublime31 asks: How did Blind Melon choose "Three is a magic number" for the School House Rock compilation. Did you ever play it live?
Glen: We claimed it first. Quite a bit.

MTVixen: HeadGoober asks: Why did you decide to make NICO a enhanced CD? What can one expect when they play it?
Rogers: It's much cooler to make an enhanced cd rather than an un-enhanced cd
Rogers: wouldn't you rather be enhanced than un-enhanced?

MTVixen: For a real experience, check out the "NICO" enhanced CD release, it is extra cool.

MTVog: Well, everyone has wanted to know this, so I s'pose it must be asked- CMBAULER poses the question: whats with the bee chick?
Rogers: The ant chick wasn't as cute
Glen: She's typing for me right now

MTVHipChik: JCurr944 asks: What was the best and worst thing about Shannon???
Rogers: the best and the worst was that he talked alot

MTVog: DrainYouK asks: For all- What was the absolute BEST book any of you ever read?
Rogers: Invitation to a Beheading by Nabakov

MTVHipChik: MNJO13 asks...how many albums do you have out?
Rogers: 62 considering the Elvis records

MTVog: SmDOUBT31 asks: What does "NICO" mean?
Rogers: That's the name of Shannon's daughter and we wanted to send her a message from him
Glen: new information concerning offspring

MTVHipChik: CMBAULER asks: What do you guys think about star wars?
Rogers: A geniously flawed movie
Christoper & Brad: It's a highly spiritual story now sold by Pepsi

MTVog: Cheesnood asks: Who were you Idols when you were growing up?
Rogers: Spider Man, The Daredevil, and Billy Graham
MTVHipChik: BONOU256 asks: What kind of musical influences did you have??

Glen: John Brown
Christoper & Brad: Bob Dylan
Rogers: No Doubt
Christoper & Brad: Parliament

MTVixen: Scrpulator asks: I noticed that you are donating money to MAP, what is this about?
Rogers: It seems to hit home with us. It helps musicians who can't afford it, to pay for rehab

MTVHipChik: CMBAULER asks: What is up with the yellow strat in "no rain"---did it have any significance?
Rogers: I accidently smashed it on stage in england, and Shannon finished the job

MTVixen: We have time for one last question

MTVog: Slepyhous asks nico is a masterpiece what song are you most proud of on it and in your career as Blind Melon?
Rogers: I like Glitch and Hell.

MTVixen: Thanks to the members of Blind Melon (Rogers, Glen, Chris and Brad) for joining us here in MTV Chat.
Rogers: Thank You everyone for considering us, and it's been a pleasure typing with you.
Christoper & Brad: Thank you all for coming to the rows to sit & visit
Rogers: Good Night.

MTVixen: And thanks to our audience for their questions, and participation.
Christoper & Brad: and have a pleasant tomorrow