[Tori walks in at about 8:05a.m. and the audience starts screaming]
KB (Kevin or Bean): Oh, what an amazing coincidence, we were just playing one of her songs.
[audience screams more]
KB: And totally not unexpected, the crowd goes wild...
[audience continues screaming]
KB: Do you wanna come over here?
KB: Ok, we're out of time, thank you all for coming. Goodnight!
KB: Tori, can you hear us ok over there, or do you wanna come over here? Can you hear us ok?
Tori: No, I can't hear you.
KB: You can hear us.
Tori: Uh, no, I need to...
KB: Why don't you come over here. Let's bring her over here.
Tori: ...mic and - Do you want me to come there?
KB: Yeah, come over here.
Tori: Ok.
KB: Come over here.
[Tori walks over to sit with Kevin and Bean]
KB: We need this microphone on right here, too. Yeah, that'll be, that way we can wrap it down a little bit before we... You need some help? Tad, lift the lady up, would ya? How are you this morning, my dear?
Tori: I'm really... [Tori can barely heard speaking]
KB: Oh, is the microphone on? Is the microphone on? We think it would be best if we could hear her. Hello, hello.
Tori: Testing... Maybe I should go back to where I was.
KB: How about that microphone right there. Hello, hello. How about this one?
Tori: Okay.
KB: There we go, there's Tori.
Tori: Hi everybody. Can they [the audience] hear?
[audience is still screaming]
KB: Yeah, they should be able to hear you. Hey, Drew, alright let's just take care of an engineering problem right at first. She's Tori Amos. We would like to be able to hear her. We would like, first of all, for her microphone to be on and second of all, for her fans to be able to hear her, how about that? Alright, there we go. Sometimes we have to start right with the basics, Tori, when it comes to the KROQ engineering department.
Tori: Fair enough.
KB: So how are you this morning?
Tori: Well, I'm pretty good.
KB: Now, you were just saying backstage that you have had, you have been very busy. You have had this last, I guess, what? How long you been out on in promoting this album? A month, maybe? Something like that?
Tori: Yeah.
KB: And you've just been running ragged. Just going everywhere, doing everything.
Tori: Done 500 interviews.
KB: Wow. This is not going to be one of the best, let me just say that right up front. You know, for 500 interviews, you should be leading in New Hampshire right now. [laughs]
Tori: [laughs] Yeah, I should, actually.
KB: Now I read that you're schedule is 180 shows that you're gonna do around the world this year.
Tori: Yeah.
[audience cheers]
KB: Is that an economic decision; you go, well we got the crew together and we're on the road, we might as well make some money on the thing? Or did you have a desire to play that much? Or do you just feel bad if you miss some countries? Or how do you make that decision?
Tori: Well, you can't miss Italy, 'cause that's your linguine, right?
KB: Yes, right. [laughs]
Tori: You can't miss Spain, 'cause they're gorgeous.
KB: [laughs] Right.
Tori: Uh, you can't miss Sweden because of the Vikings. You know, I was a Viking like a thousand years ago, so I have to go there.
KB: Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that, Tori.
Tori: So this is the thing, Bean, when you start going, "Well, I'm not gonna go there." You're not gonna go to Ireland? How can you not go to Ireland?
KB: You can't do that, yeah.
Tori: You know, because let's be honest. The record companies want you to do America, Canada, Germany and England. They always want you to do that because they're the big territories. And I'm going, "Yeah, but the cutie-pies are in Italy and Spain, I'm going there!"
[audience screams more]
KB: You get - my guess is you do - but do you get this same kind of reaction all over the world? Is every country as plugged into you as the United States?
Tori: Well, I think that they, you guys should come to Europe, it would be fun.
[audience screams with joy]
KB: Ah, I think you'd have a hard time.
Tori: Because, you know, they might express it a little differently, but what it is is people are showing up to just, you know, light some fires. That's where they want to - whether they're from Ireland or whether they're from, you know, Italy - they've got their little, you know," ooma-ooma-ooma," out. They're ready to go. They want their heart to be chocolate covered. It's good.
KB: By the way, I'm glad there's gonna be a transcript of this on America Online cause I'd like to read it later and go, "What is that? What is the deal?" Tell me about being a Viking a thousand years ago, because there are a lot of people who have a sense of a past life. Is that what it is with you, a past life?
Tori: Yeah.
KB: How do you know you were a Viking?
Tori: Because...
KB: Man, it's a shame Jerry Springer already left, isn't it.
[everyone laughs]
KB: Wouldn't this be a great topic for his show?
Tori: No, it's just, look - I think if you have any bit of intelligence at all, you have to figure that living this little life just doesn't get you to sit with Jesus and discuss. I mean, it's about soul-growth, as far as I'm concerned. You keep just traveling around and matter keeps reforming, and that just makes a lot of logical sense.
KB: What were you? Do you really think you were a Viking or do you have any idea what you might have been?
Tori: Well Kevin, maybe you were the beautiful Irish maiden that I stole and put in my longboat, honey.
KB: It's possible. It is possible. Sometimes I feel pretty. If that has anything to do with it. Do you have actual, I mean, do you have memories of it or does it come to you in a dream?
Tori: Oh Bean, let's not get dramatic about it.
KB: No, I'm just trying to figure it out, I don't understand it. I am not... Hey, you tell us you're a Viking, we have questions. We do, because that is so foreign... Look, let me just, let me say this, and you Tori Amos fans are way out ahead of us. We were talking about this earlier today, in that there are things that you all understand, like the faeries, we don't get.
Tori: Yes, but...
KB: We don't get the faeries. You know what I mean? I mean, I...
Tori: Well let me tell you something about the faeries.
KB: Alright.
Tori: You go to Ireland.
KB: Mmhmm.
Tori: You go someplace like County Cork, where the guys are maybe twice as big as you. And you diss the faeries.
KB: Well, no, not to them, I don't.
Tori: No, you won't have a face left. Because the thing is, those people understand. If you have a modicum of intelligence, you'd understand that the faeries -- I'm sorry, Bean, but -- were a civilization that they believe was exterminated.
KB: Alright.
Tori: So it's, that's just a term they've put to it, but it was a race of people. It was a people - the Tuatha de Danaan.
KB: What you're basically saying is that Kevin and me do not have the modicum of intelligence to follow.
Tori: No, Bean, you just have to read a little bit, that's all.
KB: I guess that's it.
Tori: It ain't on the TV.
KB: If it ain't on the TV, we ain't seen it.
[everyone laughs]
KB: Is it on the Jeff Foxworthy show?
Tori: No, it ain't on the TV, honey. Sorry. You have to go read. But go to Ireland. I mean, that's one of my favorite places, and I just think that that place is one of the most creative and exciting for artists right now. So if you wanna just take a little trip somewhere, and it doesn't cost that much. It's a really great place to go.
KB: Ireland is where this record was made?
Tori: Yep, most of the record was recorded in a church in County Wicklow.
KB: That's gotta be a good vibe.
Tori: Good vibe.
someone in audience: You go, girl!
KB: Go on, girl. [laughs] Alright, listen, we got Tori Amos, we got the House of Blues, we got a terrific audience here. What I think we might want to do is take a break, take care of a little business, and we come back and you'll put this beautiful piano to use.
Tori: Yeah, I'll go play.
KB: Alright, sounds good. Tori Amos will play next, live at the House of Blues. It's 8:11 and we'll come right back live on the world-famous KROQ.
[commericals]
KB: Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, how about a song from Tori Amos. Live on KROQ.
[Tori performs Doughnut Song and Take to the Sky]
KB: Tori Amos, live on the world-famous KROQ, 106.7 KROQ. How about that? We know how tough it is to sing in the eight o'clock hour, that was amazing. Most people can't pull that off. Hey, you know, we do have something we need to ask Tori before we break and, by the way, you folks in the House of Blues, we're gonna get a chance for some of you to ask some questions in just a few minutes. So stand back. Are these flash photographers bothering you?
Tori: No, no, no, no. You're fine.
KB: Cause I am on an LSD trip right now.
Tori: Maybe that's not a bad thing for you, Bean.
[everyone laughs]
KB: Well thank you very much. I can tell it's love. Speaking of LSD trips, let's talk about the thing that perhaps caught our eye about this album first. Not our ear, but our eye. This is you dating Babe. The little photo book. You guys have all seen the photo book, right?
[audience screams, "Yeah!"]
KB: And Tori has a little baby piglet that she's uh, well she's breast-feeding it, to be honest. You were breast-feeding the pig, weren't you?
Tori: Yeah.
KB: Is there any kind of story that you'd like to explain to the audience that's listening right now about that, or...
someone in audience: Demonstrate!
Tori: Well, it's about - no, I don't do demonstrations.
KB: "Demonstrate," somebody shouted.
Tori: Um, maybe Bean will demonstrate for us a little later.
KB: Yes.
Tori: But the thing is, in truth, it's about the hidden. The picture represents that which we hide, that's non-kosher. And so it's really about bringing what's hidden out in the open. That, whatever that is.
KB: Represented by the little piglet.
Tori: Yeah.
Kevin: Now, did you have a gift that you wanted to give to Bean?
Tori: There's something that I really am interested in.
Bean: Uh-oh, what's that? What's going on?
Kevin: Bring out the gift.
Bean: There's a pig.
Kevin: There you go, a little piglet. A chance for Bean... Look at the little piglet.
[everyone laughs and claps and says, "awww"]
Kevin: Tori has handed the piglet to Bean, Bean is holding the piglet. Bean, it's a piglet.
Bean: [holding the piglet] I'll see you guys later.
[everyone laughs]
Kevin: Now I think at this point what we should do is we should have Bean re-create the photo of the pig... Now Tori, are you traveling with a pig or what's the story here?
Tori: Spare the pig, Bean
Bean: Spare the pig. Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I got two of these guys at home, too, so...
Tori: Aren't they great?
Kevin: It's a good-looking pig. If this is just a stunt pig and you don't expect Bean to go home with it, you're in trrouble, let me tell you that right now. 'Cause he will take the pig home.
Tori: No, this is Dosey the Pig.
Kevin: Look at the little piglet.
Tori: Isn't he cute?
Bean: Let me ask you this, Tori, as I stand here trying to actually look serious conducting an interview while holding pork. Your album is number 2 in America, number 1 in Los Angeles, this week - Boys for Pele. Is that, you didn't go into making the kind of music you make for the success, I'm sure, but does it bother you? Is it scary? Do you love it? How do you feel about that?
Tori: Well, what feels good is that when you just do what you believe in that sometimes people are interested. And I just kept playing this piano, going from town to town. Sometimes I feel like, you know, we show up and people just show up and it's, you keep going to the next town.
KB: And so it's nice when people appreciate what you're doing from your heart.
Tori: Yeah. It's groovy.
KB: Very nice. Alright, how many of you would like to ask some questions of Tori in a couple of minutes? Let's take a break. You're gonna perform some more for us, too, right?
Tori: But if you wanna, as far as questions go, I'll answer 'em if you organize it.
KB: Sure, we'll organize it and I'll go down there with a microphone.
Tori: Okay.
KB: We'll do this when we come back in a second. We'll take a quick break, we'll come back, and when we come back we'll have you answer some questions and then you'll perform another song, perhaps, or two?
Tori: Yeah.
KB: Alright, more of Breakfast with Tori Amos in a couple of minutes on the world-famous KROQ.
[commercials]
KB: It's the world-famous KROQ, 106.7 KROQ. We're back, live inside the House of Blues and we're doing Breakfast with Tori Amos. And we're gonna have some questions from the audience here. A lot of people are big, huge, monster fans of Tori Amos and don't get a chance to ask her a lot of questions. Tori, are you even aware of how we selected the audience this morning for this broadcast?
Tori: No.
KB: These people, they would have horror stories to tell you, but we would go out to a location in the KROQ van and we would announce, "Ok, for the next ten people who can come down and show me a Tori Amos cd or Tori Amos t-shirt or something from you, we'll give you tickets to this thing." How many people went over 100 miles an hour to get your tickets today?
[audience screams]
KB: And at every location, you know, they'd get ten people within like, 3 minutes. These people, I don't know how, they were like psychic to know where the KROQ van was gonna be. And then, of course, the poor guy who was doing it had to explain to the next hundred people that showed up, "I'm sorry, the tickets are gone." So these people really jumped through hoops to be here this morning. So it's uh, I'm glad they all get a chance to see ya.
Bean: Alright, we're gonna take a few questions from the audience. Tori's gonna play for us again, too, you're listening to 106.7 KROQ and Kevin is out in the crowd.
Kevin: Ok, your name is?
Adriana: Adriana.
Tori: Hi.
Adriana: Hi. I just wanted to say that I admire you so much and um, I wanted to ask you, I know you came from a classical background and I was wondering what classical composers you're interested in and if you still play at all classically.
Tori: Bartok was one of my favorites. Because I took up the harpsichord, I began to study those Bach preludes and fugues again. You know, because you have to sit and get those hands up. Um, and then once I studied, then I usually put them aside and dive off into stuff that's very very different than that. 'Cause I'm trying to bring polarities together. So, more Jamaican music with Bach. The idea of some booty. Some serious booty, but with the chops.
[everyone laughs & screams]
Tori: I'm trying, I'm working on it.
Bean: You know, it's a shame you weren't here on a Monday because Kevin and I do an hour of Bach preludes and fugues every Monday on KROQ, and unfortunately you missed it. That's too bad.
Kevin: Step right on up here, your name is?
Sarah: Sarah.
Tori: Hi, Sarah.
Sarah: Tori, you rip.
Bean: That's Southern California speak for she likes you, Tori.
Tori: Thank you, Bean.
Bean: Ok.
Sarah: I was wondering when you were gonna be touring here in LA again and if you were going to be having a backup band or an orchestra with you. And if so, can I get two tickets?
Tori: I think we hope to be doing something at the Greek. I'd love to play an outdoor kinda venue, I'd love to do that. But I think we're coming in June and the trucks start rolling in the UK February 23rd. And they roll across the Atlantic, of course, to Florida April 8th and then we move north and we move west quickly, and then we backtrack to the mid-west. So we should be here around June. I'm bringing the harpsichord, the Bosey, and maybe guest musicians are gonna pop up along the way.
Sarah: Great, I can't wait. Thank you.
KB: You like collaborating with other artists, I've heard.
Tori: I do.
KB: And I know you did one piece with Trent Reznor.
Tori: Yes.
KB: Are there some other people you're eager to work with?
Tori: Fat Albert.
KB: Fat Albert.
Tori: I always liked him. He was my fav.
KB: Well, we'll look for that.
Tori: Yeah, go find him, Bean.
KB: Yes, your name is?
Shauna: Shauna.
Tori: Hi, Shauna.
Shauna: Hi, Tori. Um, you're such an inspiration to me. I just wanted to know um, what do you hope for in your next life?
Tori: You mean after this one?
Shauna: Uh-huh.
Tori: Sleep.
[everyone laughs]
Tori: Yeah. Loads of it.
KB: I think I hope to be a pig in the next life.
KB: Come on up. And a pig on your farm. What is your name? Go ahead.
Bonnie: Hi, I'm Bonnie. Um, I was just wondering how it makes you feel, if it scares you to know that um, many people have tatoos of you all over their bodies.
KB: This might be a good minute, come on up here. To bring up our friend, yeah. Can he get up on the stage right there and show everybody those tatoos? We talked to him on the phone, uh, metal detector, please. Security. We talked to him on the phone this week and he told us he had all these tatoos and frankly, it was frightening on the phone, I can't imagine what it's gonna be like in person. Alright, let's see some of those tatoos...
Tori: And he's quick to get an autograph, isn't he?
Bean: Uh, Kevin, can you jump up so we can mic him?
Tori: Oh my god.
Bean: That is quite a likeness right there on his chest. Alright, hold on, let him explain what they are because we can't see 'em. Alright, explain to her what they are.
guy with Tori tatoos: They're just portraits and Tori Amos and I've got one on my calf, it's under the boot, that's a hand with smoke coming off of piano keys.
Tori: Well you do realise that these girls have an appetite, so you have to feed them, you know. They like Italian food. Asian food. So you're gonna be a busy little eater.
KB: How many Tori Amos tatoos do you have there.
guy with Tori tatoos: Um, five.
KB: Now, at any point have you stopped and went, "Well, ten years from now, how am I gonna feel about this? Twenty years from now, how am I gonna feel about this?" Is it enough?
guy with Tori tatoos: No.
KB: Are you gonna get more?
guy with Tori tatoos: Yes.
KB: How many?
guy with Tori tatoos: Um, I'm not sure.
Tori: Well, you know what? Maybe five is good. Odd numbers are good. Five is good. That's a lot of um, food bills.
KB: You know, one of these days you're gonna wake up, Tori will be involved in a horrible scandal with driving around in a BMW, and you're gonna regret, and you're not gonna be able to show your face... That is what you call a fan, right there. He's getting an autograph now, from Tori. There you go, waving to the crowd. Frank, you got some more questions down there? Tori, do you get a lot of fan-mail, I bet you do?
Tori: Well, yeah.
KB: Do you get a chance to read much of it?
Tori: I read a bit of it.
KB: Mmhmm.
Tori: Um, usually the letters that get backstage get to me because um, you know, when they go to the different writing places around the world - there's one in England - they're wonderful people - there's two in America - and they answer a lot of them. 'Cause if I did, to be honest with you, I'd never, I'd never have time to go to the show and play. So it's really about the concerts.
KB: You know, it's funny, some artists come, they come to town and people go to see them and they clap and they leave. For some reason, everybody wants to give you something. Have you noticed that? They all have a gift of something that means something to them, or they want to give you flowers.
Tori: Well, I think it's about exchange, the concerts, people that haven't been to the concerts don't understand that it's very much about an exchange. The audience gives something, I give something back, and it's not about, - I hope it isn't - about a voyeur thing. It's really about a conversation. That's what I hope.
KB: Is that right, everybody?
[audience cheers]
KB: We have some more people here that want to ask some questions. 8:36, world-famous KROQ, who do you got? Your name is?
Erin: Erin.
Tori: Hi, Erin.
Erin: Hi, Tori.
Tori: Hi.
Erin: I just want you to know that I admire you beyond your music and I volunteer for RAINN, I did a big project on them for school. I sent you a copy of my paper, I don't know if you ever got it.
Tori: I haven't received it yet.
Erin: Oh. I just want to know what's happening with RAINN now, 'cause this was like about a year ago that I did this stuff.
Tori: Well, we hope to be doing a benefit concert in line with a major cable network, cross-fingers, so that RAINN can get some kind of attention to keep that phone line going so that the survivors have a place to call and that there'll be somebody on the other end of that phone line. So hopefully in September, and you'll be hearing about it. Spin is helping us out a lot by putting out the word, when and where. Spin has really been great about that. They're coming through.
KB: There's a terrific cover story on Tori on the current Spin magazine, which just hit newsstands now, it's the March issue, she's on the cover, and there's an odd article inside with Tori, too. Do you remember the reporter who came to the castle?
Tori: Well, it wasn't a castle, actually. Um, but you know, whatever you'd like to think. If you want to come and hang out, you can see however you want to see it.
KB: What is she saying, is she mocking me?
KB: No, no. She's just saying the reporter was there and the reporter saw what the reporter saw.
Tori: Yes, that's what I...
KB: Is this another "modicum of intelligence" remark?
Tori: No, no. I'm saying, she was absolutely lovely. But I'm saying that when people come and hang out, they see what they see. And everybody sees it very differently. And I think that's when you're reading anybody's article, you know, I didn't write them, that's just their point of view.
KB: Well, she was obviously as very big fan, too. It's a very complimentary article.
Tori: Well, she was a lovely lady. Just lovely.
KB: We're doing a Breakfast with Tori Amos at the House of Blues. Your name is?
Justin: My name is Justin.
Tori: Hello, Justin.
Justin: I'd like to thank you, I was just down here and you shook my hand, um, thanks for that.
[people laugh]
Tori: Well, you know, that's the polite thing to do though, isn't it, Justin? If you reach your hand out, I am supposed to sh-, that's the way that we do things.
Justin: Thanks.
KB: Good comment, Justin.
Justin: Um, I was wondering, on like, Little Earthquakes, your first one, on Precious Things you say "Nine Inch Nails" in it.
Tori: Yeah.
Justin: Then, on the next album, Trent Reznor did vocals.
Tori: Yeah.
Justin: Then, on this new album, you mention "Pretty Hate Machine." Is there some kind of connection?
KB: Does he win a prize for putting all the clues together?
Tori: No. Trent has been very inspirational, and I think he does what he does wonderfully.
Justin: Ok. Can you sign this now?
KB: I don't think we have time, 'cause we wanna get more questions in. Your name is?
Michelle: Michelle, hi.
Tori: Hello, Michelle.
Michelle: I know that you have an obsession with shoes and I wanted to know if you had a favorite pair.
Tori: I do have a favorite pair. Um, and you might find this funny, but they're these old, old olive beat-up green boots that I got in an old bazaar in um, Paris, that are 25 years old. And I keep trtying to re-patch them so they don't fall apart.
KB: That's a question that I don't think anyone has ever asked one of our guests before - "do you have a favorite pair of shoes?"
KB: She had a good answer, though.
KB: I know, she really did. Hey, don't we have Motorhead tickets for her for that question?
KB: Oh yeah, we have Motorhead tickets for...
KB: Motorhead, coming to the House of Blues. Alright, why don't we do this, Tori. I know it's early, but we'd love to take another quick break and have you play some more.
Tori: Okay.
KB: Would that be okay?
Tori: Yeah.
KB: We got this beautiful piano, why the heck not? Alright, we'll come right back. We're live from the House of Blues, it's Kevin and Bean, Breakfast with Tori Amos on the world-famous KROQ.
[commercials]
KB: This is a very special morning to be listening to 106.7 KROQ, it is 8:43. We are not in the studio today, we are live at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard having a terrific time on our Breakfast with Tori Amos, this morning. A bunch of Tori Amos fans here in the house who couldn't be asking for a better time, more up close and personal chancec to talk, chance to listen. If you are not gonna be anywhere near a radio and you want to follow what's being said by Tori today, you can check out the America Online keyword HOB for House of Blues, and there'll be a transcript of the interview available for you all day today.
KB: Tori, we're gonna get a song from you in just a minute. I wanted to ask you a question about the fan, I don't know if the word is adoration or devotion or what it is that seems to be, it's both, right. Seems to be above what most artists... it,how do you react to that?
Tori: Well, I think the main thing is um, it's about everybody honoring themselves. It's not about, you know, them honoring me, it's about them honoring them. And once they do that, and I honor me, then we can exchange. And I think it's really important that sometimes um, you know, when things get a little like, over the top um, it's real important that you guys know that I respect you claiming your self. And that's so important because in the music side of things, it can be a bit of a hierarchy, and that's not good. It's about equals. Just 'cause I do this, you know, in ten years from now we might have to go door-to-door and you feed us some peanut butter sandwiches because nobody buys records anymore. Like the troubadours in the old days. So, it's not about hierarchy; it's really about, we're equals and everybody just is claiming their own soul.
guy in audience: I'll buy your records, Tori.
KB: There you go. That guy right there will buy your records 'til he dies. Uh, how about a song?
Tori: Okay, well let me play something that I know, because um, I'm forgetting all my words. What, Amsterdam? Oh...
KB: People are shouting out different song titles, Tori is gonna play a song at the piano, live at the House of Blues on KROQ. You couldn't see her, but as you were preparing to ask her a question, she was running through lyrics in her mind, you could see her lips moving. So let's see if she remembers the words.
[Tori plays Marianne]
KB: In the House of Blues on the world-famous KROQ, 106.7 KROQ. Tori Amos, everybody.
[lots of applause]
KB: Wow. Do you wanna find out from Tori, do you want us to take a break or should we take some more questions?
KB: Do you want us to take a break or some more questions?
Tori: More questions.
KB: More questions. Ok, teriffic. Alright. Frank, line up some more questions, I'm coming down, excuse me. Hey, Tori, let me ask you this, Tori.
Tori: Always, I wear them all the time.
KB: If she can hear me.
KB: She's talking to somebody in the audience right now.
Tori: Yeah.
KB: Asking about her earrings, I believe.
Tori: In London, yeah.
KB: Hey, Tori, let me ask you this.
Tori: Yeah, babe.
KB: We talked to a bunch of these people on the phone this week. One of the ways that they were trying to prove to us how big of fans they were of yours is that they have all of your albums and all of your singles and all of your imports, and tons of live recordings. Tons of Tori Amos bootlegs. You're very heavily bootlegged, as you know.
Tori: Yeah, I got, what do I have, 67 boots? Yeah.
KB: Wow. I was wondering how you feel about that. Some artists love it, some artists do everything they can to shut 'em down.
Tori: Well, the main thing about boots is, if they got the sound quality right, then fair enough. But I think a lot of the boots, somebody was sitting in the third balcony with their cassette player, so it sounds like garbage and they just waste their money. And that's the drag. And, you know, I think it's about if they get it right, then fair enough.
KB: Well, these people are very happy with their bootlegs, I don't mind telling you that.
Tori: Okay, good. Well good, it's whatever gets you off.
KB: It's Breakfast with Tori Amos, we're at the House of Blues, and the audience members want to ask a few more questions. What's your name?
Matt: Hi, Tori, my name is Matt.
Tori: Hello, Matt.
Matt: Yeah, I always enjoyed listening to your versions of other people's songs, like Angie and Sugar. And I was wondering if we can look forward to anymore bootlegs coming out, or cover versions, I should say.
Tori: I'm sure there'll be plenty of boots and um, I always try and do some cover versions that are different. I was really interested in this pub band in England that um, America doesn't really know much about - Chas 'N' Dave. Do any of you know them? They were like, a pub band. And I thought, "I did Nirvana, I did Zeppelin, I did the Stones, it was time to do Chas 'N' Dave."
someone in audienceLondon Girls!
Tori: Exactly.
KB: Thank you very much. Step right up to the microphone here. Your name is?
Tina: Tina.
Tori: Hi, Tina.
Tina: Hi. Um, I just wanted to say that you are a woman in a business that's pretty much male-dominated.
Tori: Not anymore.
Tina: You're right, right. [laughs] But um, I just wanted to say that I know you're an inspiration to many women trying to break into this business, and it's a wonderful thing, wonderful.
Tori: Well, good. I hope I'm an inspiration to the guys, too, because the thing for the guys is, it's real important that the guys know that they can get, in their music -- and it's being shown by other guys right now, obviously -- but to the emotional side, too. As you can see, there are a lot of quote-unquote "female singer-songwriters." I'm waiting to see some of the male singer-songwriters come forth, too. Like the Neil Youngs and the Dylans. I mean, it's time to hear that, you know, now.
KB: Tori Amos, thank you. Step right up, sir. Your name is?
Todd: Todd.
Tori: Hi, Todd.
Todd: Hi, Tori. Cool music. Um, most of your songs seem to be written for women. Are you gonna write any songs maybe more for um, men.
Tori: I don't think they're written for women. I think because um, because last time I checked I was one, I do have a certain perspective. But, when you're going and crawling behind the heart -- you know, where you hid that plate of spaghetti seven years ago -- you don't have to be a girl to do that. Do you see? We all have hidden things behind the heart. So I don't think it's just for women. I do, I will say that some girls can relate to the fact that, you know when you're on the phone and you go, "I really need to talk about this now, it's just, I am very emotional about it but I need to talk." And sometimes the guy, sometimes goes, "Well, now is not really a good time." That's when girls relate to me because it's when the phone goes down. And women have been encouraged to be more emotional. So that's why you think sometimes it's more for women, but it's not.
Todd: Alright, thanks.
KB: Breakfast with Tori Amos on KROQ at the House of Blues. Your name is?
Jack: My name's Jack and my girlfriend Melanie says hi. I wanted to know, Tori, are you through with guys?
Tori: No, what gives you that idea?!?
Jack: Well, you said that you were just, like, tired of sucking their blood or something like that.
Tori: That's right, I am tired of sucking their blood. I'd rather have a cup of tea with them, now.
Jack: Oh, man.
Tori: Do you see what I'm saying? The idea about um, you know, being equals with them, not putting them up here and not having their throat under my heel. It's these extremes. It's having a place of, "Hi. Just you, just me, hanging out." No "Somebody's got to have the power," "somebody's gotta be the one that's got the uhh, mm, mm, mm. No, we both can have the mm, mm, mm.
KB: Right on.
Tori: And that's groovy.
Jack: This is the third time I've met you, and I'm still very, very, very, very, very much in love with your music.
Tori: Thank you.
Jack: Pleasure.
KB: Thank you very much, step right up. Your name is?
Elena: Elena.
Tori: Hi, Elena.
Elena: Hi. Um, I read somewhere that you were a PK, a preacher's kid.
Tori: Yes.
Elena: And so am I.
Tori: Congratulations.
Elena: And I was wondering how you felt about growing up with that... with your father in that role.
Tori: Well, it showed me a lot. The one thing that it did show, and I've said this before. You know when you're getting baptised? Well, I got my head held under that water for 21 years. So the thing is, once you're underwater for 21 years, if you want to see the little crabs crawling on the bottom of the ocean, you can. And it really became about exposing that which is controlling. And most of the religions are, have a lot of control in them. And I'm not interested in control, being controled, or controling. I'm not interested in that anymore. So I'm trying to break that program inside myself.
Elena: Ok, thanks.
KB: Hey, Tori, did you hear from a lot of religious people when you put out your song God? And was it misinterpreted?
Tori: Oh, we hear from them periodically, yes. We get our little fan mail from the Christians. But that's alright. You know what, it's a free place and if they want to write to me, they're welcome to write to me.
KB: It's a free place until Pat Robertson is elected, by the way... No comment, there. Did Bean steal your question just there?
Katie: Sort of. My name's Katie. I was gonna ask you if you practice any type of religion.
Tori: Um, I practice... I think, if we were gonna name it, more akin the the Native American beliefs that Spirit's in all things. And I think there have been some medicine women in my life that have brought me to a place of really respecting everybody's choice, everybody's path. And I didn't used to do that. I was like, "Well, ok, I respect your path, but have you ever thought about doing it this way." Especially with relationships in my life, some of the guys in my life I really put through their paces because I'd be like, "Fine, fine, I know you want to do what you want to do, so have you thought about doing this, too?" And it's really about freedom and letting them have their freedom. And that's been a big thing for me, respecting that.
KB: Alright, why don't we do, we got one more question, then we got to take a break. You have one more? Ok, great. Your name is?
Alexis: Alexis, and this is a comment and a question. My comment is to your song Leather, I occassionally will do a strip-tease for both my male and female friends, and...
KB: No applause, what the hell's wrong with you people?
Alexis: And my question is -- how do you deal with the stresses of life? Depression, anxiety, you know, if you get those feelings. I mean, I'm sure you do, but...
Tori: Well, you know, it's kind of like... a walk in the rain isn't a bad thing to do. It's good to take a walk in the rain. I'm just learning to sometimes um, I don't care how busy the day is, there have to be a few minutes when you just sit there and say, "Ok, I have no idea what I'm gonna do right now, but I'm gonna go outside and I'll figure it out. And it'll be fine, and it'll be good."
Alexis: Thank you.
Tori: Yep.
KB: Thank you very much. Alright, very good. I can honestly say, very different questions we get for Tori than for most of our other guests.
KB: Yeah, that's true. That's for sure. We're gonna take a break again, we're at the House of Blues, we have Tori Amos for a few more minutes, folks, and those listening at home, stick around. We'll come right back on the world-famous KROQ.
[commercials]
KB: Who wants to hear another live song from Tori Amos? From the House of Blues on KROQ.
Tori: Ok, ok, ok, ok, so. Um, I'm just gonna do this song because it was one of my favorites growing up and I haven't played this, I don't play this much.
[Tori plays Landslide and Hey Jupiter]
[transcribed by jason/yessaid]
t o r i p h o r i a tori amos digital archive yessaid.com
