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ALICIA WARRINGTON: Creates Her Own Constellation Article & Photos by Sean Michael McIntyre Additional questions by Robert E. Martin Alicia Warrington is moving fast in L.A. these days, even if the traffic doesn't. The Saginaw native has gone from living homeless there to being enlisted last year as drummer for the Kelly Osbourne Band at the age of 23. Talking with her at the Red Eye Coffee House after a fashion photo session while home for the holidays, she is soft-spoken but extremely confident. Graduating from Mackinaw Academy in 1999 and attending Delta College for a couple years studying graphic design & business, she has gone from playing death metal in her teens in various bands to touring across Europe with Kelly and currently working on her own cd where she will do vocals. Knowing she wanted to be a musician at seven years old her mother, Karen Warrington and uncle, Kevin Szafirowski supported her desire. Her uncle would lift her up to sit on a seat so she could play drums to his tapes. Originally starting on guitar when she first played drums, she knew that would be her instrument. Coming from a biracial family her father was adamant about playing "black people's music." She revolted. "I would have none of that. I just wanted to play. You have to listen to everything to be a good musician." She broke off contact with her father and had not heard from him for 11 years until he called her this year. She harbors no ill feeling. "You can't hate someone who wasn't around." While attending Delta and playing in local bands she knew she had to try to move up to the next level. She packed her car and with $700 drove to L.A. living out of her car. Sleeping at night in motels or empty recording studios "was a bit scary." It became the lowest point of her life with no steady income or living arrangement and her mother wanted her to come home. While playing with small bands an agent contacted her about an audition, not saying whom it was for. The auditions were videotaped and Kelly selected Alicia from eight other drummers. They have become good friends with Alicia appearing a few times on the TV show, notably in an upcoming episode celebrating Kelly's birthday. Preparing with the band for tour stabilized her living situation, and she currently shares a house with three roommates a mile from Hollywood. The first tour date was at New York's Nassau Coliseum in front of 18,000 fans. "I took my prescription glasses off because I didn't want to see anyone, I was so nervous." Europe followed where Kelly is especially popular. Kelly is known as a prankster with Alicia drawn in to the escapades, but only as an observer she says. Kelly likes to videotape pranks in hotels so the videos look like "running down the halls in COPS" with Alicia videotaping. Prank phone calls to other bands in early morning is another favorite. Traveling through Europe she was particularly struck by Scotland and its scenery and looks to vacation there in the future, but still would only live in the U.S. "You miss the silly everyday conveniences in the U.S." Working on her own cd, modeling and session drumming for different musicians, including Zac Wild, Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist, while on break from her band, Alicia's music tastes are very eclectic. Some of her favorite bands are Sleater-Kinney, En Vogue and Fugazi. She even lists Queensryche as a favorite, and will even put on some polka music once in a while. Her cd will have a pop flavor to it and will come out in 2004 in EP format. While it is true that Sony dropped Kelly's band from their label a while ago, she has signed a new multi-album deal with Sanctuary Records. (www.sanctuaryrecordsgroups.com) "The last tour that we did was June through the end of August. It was amazing. We performed in about 13 countries around Europe, opening for Robbie Williams. He's only had 2 singles here (in the states) but he's Michael Jackson/Madonna status in Europe. The crowds at those shows ranged from 60,000 to 135,000 people." "We did a live DVD while in Camden, England, that should be released through Sanctuary within the next couple of months. Kelly's second cd, "Changes", was released in October. I play on 4 tracks on the album." "Right now, the band is working on other things and all of us are working on other projects, while Kelly writes music for her next album. She is writing with Linda Perry (Christina Aguilera/Pink/4-Non Blondes) and The Matrix (Avril LaVigne)."
Does Alicia find her musical 'visions' or interests evolving and changing, and if so in which direction? "I am constantly changing my thoughts and goals with music. I think that eventually, I would like to have a music management company and/or a label. I would like to make a career as a solo artist, and maybe get a publishing deal." "Instead of doing session work and playing for other people, or being a part of a band, I am heading more towards me being the person to hire people to play my music with me, you know?" What new groups or fresh music has Alicia been listening to that's piqued her interest? Does she predict any musical trends or advancements for 2004? "As for newer groups, I really like what Interpol is doing. I have their album, "Turn on the Bright Lights". There is also a 7-member group from Los Angeles, that I have seen a few times that just blows me away every time. They are called 4th Avenue Jones. I think that they describe their music best as "Hip-Hop, Rock, Soul". They mix intelligent lyrics with just that...hip-hop, rock, and soul. Their live show is amazing. I hope to see them reach many more people this year. Their website is http://www.hiprocksoul.com " "For 2004, I think that we will see more artists like Avril LaVigne. EMO music seems to be very popular these days...hopefully we'll see a lot less of bands like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park. I like Linkin Park but all of their albums sound exactly the same. The sound is rehashed and old. I've seen a lot of bands try to imitate their sound and they usually do a terrible job of it."
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