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r tM.! 4 This Day In USC History /1 /"VTOctober 6, 1977 - USC tallies that it received more than 1 1 if—“If—"I /^| $200,000 of bad checks during the 1976-77 school Page 6 UPlC (BaiTOCk Wednesday, October 6,1999 Behind the Music # ' by Shelby Bone Staff Writer ** . , * p^ ehind the Music” is a VH1 production that * * p^gives behind-the-scenes views of rock ’n’ ^✓roll superstars out of their public spheres. Fans often don’t know much about their favorite performers, and the show provides a way for them to learn tidbits about the stars they idolize. “Behind the Music” gives a look at the artists’ lives and how they got where they are. Many or tne stars lives involve long paths full of hardships and tribulations, which are often overcome by the determination and motivation to succeed in the goal to enter tain. A prime example of this kind of artist is Cher. in ner cenuiu me Music” program, she said that when the world ends, there will still be “cockroaches and Cher.” Unfortunately, some performers haven’t lived t< tell their stories on VH1. These artists include Janis Joplin, Mama Cass Andy Gibb and Karen Carpenter. Their families am close friends tell the stories of their careers and downfalls in their places. By telling stories such as these, “Behind the Mu sic” lets viewers see that not all famous and suc cessful artists live up to their picture-perfect images. In addition to profiling individual artists or groups, “Behind the Music” documents events like the orig inal Woodstock. The Woodstock segment was shown as part of an entire week dedicated to the ‘60s. It featured the four men who made Woodstock possible, the financial problems they had pri or to the festival and what they are doing now. Unfortunately for students living on cam pus, Gamecock Cable vision doesn’t carry VH1, although two oth > er major music stations, MTV and BET, are available. i College radio show offers insight on books, authors by Minerva Canto Associated Press Santa Monica, Caue,—The two men could be best friends sitting in a college cafe, chatting about the merits of a book and laughing as they talk of life, love and writing. Except that these aren’t typical guys and their talk is anything but the usual banter. Novelist Salman Rushdie and host Michael Sil verblatt sit across from one another at a small table in KCRW-FM’s basement offices at Santa Monica College. They wait for their cue as the show’s theme song plays, “You are a human animal. You are a very special breed, for you are the only animal who can think, who can reason, who can read! ” Silverblatt nods to his guest and begins “Book worm,” the nation’s only syndicated literary radio show, broadcast to nearly half a million listeners at more than 40 radio stations nationwide. The half-hour show features interviews with a roster of authors, from literary icon Norman Mail er to Pulitzer prize-winning author Toni Morri son to acclaimed contemporary fiction writer Lor rie Moore. For more than 10 years, “Bookworm” has weath ered the uncertainties that come with the financial instability of public radio. And it has thrived in Los Angeles, a town that has long battled a lowly rep utation for its arts and culture. “To be honest with you, the first time we presented the show to a station in New York, they were like, ‘A literary show from Los Angeles? Are you kidding?’” said Silverblatt, 46, a graduate of the State University of New York in Buffalo. The secret to the show’s endurance is provid ing literary insight that few other radio shows can offer. “I think most of us who do the book tour cir cuit look forward to ‘coming on Michael’s show be cause he asks thought-provoking questions,” Rushdie said. Silverblatt prepares for each show by reading not only the book he plans to discuss, but also the author’s entire works. The daunting research some times calls for reading more than a dozen books in a week, but allows Silverblatt to lead an incisive discussion rare in a media world dominated by sound bites. “There really isn’t anyone like Michael. He’s just completely immersed in literature and so knowl edgeable that he really doesn’t have any competi tion,” said Pamela Henstell, Wfest Coast promotion director for.Alfred A. Knopf publishers. “I think he’s got a very casual interview style,” said Trey Giles, publicity director of the Los An geles bookstore Book Soup. “I think people be come relaxed around Michael. They go to areas where they might otherwise not go.” Ruth Seymour, KCRW-FM’s general manager, discovered Silverblatt, a former film industry pub licist and free-lance writer, at a dinner in Los An geles for entertainment industry figures. She recalls being so captivated by Silverblatt’s talk about Russian poetry that she offered him his own radio show on the spot. “I think it’s his intel ligence, coupled with his humor,” Seymour said. “He is a literary person, but he’s not an academic person, so that makes him accessible, and he’s gen uinely charming.” i lo ms interview wun Kusncne, mivermau wings only a soft drink and a copy of Rushdie’s latest nov el, “The Ground Beneath Her Feet.” Silverblatt doesn’t believe in using notes during his interviews. “I believe that the best interviews are con versations,” Silverblatt said. During the hour-long talk, the two men discuss the difficulties of writing about love in a novel in which one of the main characters has trouble be lieving in love. Silverblatt confessed after the Rushdie inter view that he read the 500-page book twice. The first was three months ago, then again just before the interview, finishing as he arrived at the studio. “I want to come into an interview vibrating from the book,” Silverblatt said. His research is so meticulous that he’s able to make on-the-spot, well-articulated observations that authors say often hit their mark. “It becomes a real conversation with someone who loves books and who knows how to read them,” Rushdie said. * Campus Notes S.C. History Day to have speakers South Carolina History Day 1999 will bring together historians and experts to examine the African influence on S.C. culture from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to day at the S.C. Archives and History Cen ter. For more information, call Kathy Johnson at (803)896-6177 or visit their website at www.state.sc.us/scdah. Phi Beta Sigma offers community service, knowledge session Phi Beta Sigma is offering a knowledge session at 7 p.m. today in Gambrell 006. Attire is casual. The fraternity is also of fering a chance for community service with Meals-On-Wheels on Saturday. The group will leave at 10:30 a.m. from in front of the RH. For more information, contact Rona Smith at 544-1193. OXFAM Carolina to meet OXFAM Carolina Antihunger Coalition will meet at 4 p.m. Thursday at the PALM center to plan for the annual Hunger Ban quet and Day of Fast. All interested in hunger and poverty issues are invited to attend. For more information, call 799 7363 or 799-0212. Coliseum to offer ice skating Free ice skating and skate rental will be available Saturday and Sunday at the Car olina Coliseum. The skating and rentals will be available for all USC students, faculty, staff and dependents. Lecture offered for Hispanic History Month Sandra Guzman, an Emmy Award-win nipg journalist, will be speaking at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 in Gambrell Auditorium. Guz man will lecture as part of Hispanic His tory Month on "Latino(a) Leadership in the New Millennium." Carolina Campus Cleanup to be held Carolina Campus Cleanup, a campuswide cleanup event for faculty, staff and stu dents, will be held October 15. Sign ups for the event will be held in front of the RH. Contra Dance to be offered Columbia Old Time Music and Dance is offering a Contra dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Oct.9 at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center. Traditional dancing from New England with caller Seth Tepfer and live music by Cabin Fever will be provided. A workshop will also be offered at 7:30 p.m. for new dancers. All dances taught, no partner necessary. For more infor mation, call 796-8935. Briefs for Campus Notes can be submit ted to RH 333. Please include a contact name and phone number. Say yes to study abroad in [yes to kangaroos] [yes to kultur] Study Abroad Fair October 6, 1999 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Russell House Patio Rain location: Russell House Ballroom International Programs for Students • Department of Student Development • Division of Student & Alumni Services ' Handcrafted ^ Salads ^oV\^ < Unique blends r Cafe and Pizzeria ^CVV^p PaAtA In Five Points V) V-^ / 'OtdUCU ^ From scratch Mon-Wed. 10:30-12:30am Thurs-Sat 10:30-2am Sun 5-12pm Hot and different Dine in . Carryout. Catering Lunch . Dinner. Late Night ^ j • / Z><z*tdovicneA, Signature and Traditional 2009 Greene St. #106 The Perfect Beginning or Ending |