THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409240051
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Interview
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
SPIN DOCTORS: What happened?
A year ago, the New York City bar band-gone-superstars were winding down the MTV Alternative Nation tour, headlining over two other big groups, Soul Asylum and Screaming Trees.
In '94, they're still at the top of the bill, but two of their opening acts on the present tour, which arrives in Williamsburg on Tuesday, are looking healthier than the Doctors. Gin Blossoms' ``New Miserable Experience'' is at 2 million-plus sales, while Cracker's ``Kerosene Hat'' is gold.
``Turn It Upside Down,'' Spin Doctors' first studio album since the triple-platinum ``Pocket Full of Kryptonite'' tossed out a bunch of love-'em-or-hate-'em hit singles like ``Little Miss Can't Be Wrong'' and ``Two Princes,'' seemed a sure candidate for the top of the charts this summer. But the disc debuted at a weak No. 28 in Billboard and now sits outside the Top 100 just 14 weeks after reaching that peak. And the fine ``You Let Your Heart Go Too Fast'' didn't win radio programmers over.
That track had yet to nose dive when singer Chris Barron called from Scranton, Pa., early last month, although there were already signs that ``Turn'' was less than a smash.
No matter. Barron is one of the most ebullient frontmen in rock, and he was taking the record's relative failure as a challenge. After all, ``Kryptonite'' wasn't exactly an overnight rage, having stalled out shortly after its release. And the press reception to ``Turn'' was Spin Doctors' best yet.
``Yeah, I mean, the reviews have just been great,'' Barron said.
The album is a little looser than their breakthrough was, too. The first track to go to stations was the loopy ``Cleopatra's Cat.''
``Pocket Full,'' he notes, ``raised serious expectations. Radio is saying, `This isn't ``Little Miss'' or ``Two Princes.'' Well, no. It's the Spin Doctors throwing kind of like a teaser at you. People wanted that quick hit, and when they didn't get it, they said, `Where's the ear candy?' Well, we're not gonna give it to you. You gotta eat your broccoli first.''
Hmm. Sure that's the analogy you want, Chris? Barron is more on target when contemplating Spin Doctors' luminous status.
``This band, we really worked for the success,'' he said. ``I can sincerely say this is one of the things I've worked for hardest in my life.''
What about reports that after a couple of years of road work behind ``Kryptonite,'' the group is sick of its ubiquitous smashes?
``I don't get tired of doin' those tunes. I enjoyed singing them last night. We do about 50-50 new stuff; we're mixing 'em up in such a way that it keeps it interesting.
``I'm just havin' so much fun. I've got cuts and bruises all over, and I can't even feel them.''
He talks up the warm-up acts, well, warmly, remembering past tours with Gin Blossoms and saying he is delighted at Cracker's inclusion: ``I just think their songs are great. I'm really psyched to have them aboard. And Vinx, in my opinion, adds a lot of class to the whole show.''
And Spin Doctors, after time off the bus, are rested and ready.
``We were pretty tired by the end'' of the MTV tour, he said. ``We took a good break to figure a few things out, to freshen up, and when we got back together, everybody had come so far in what they're doing. We cut down on some of the useless sort of jamming, so there were fewer digressions. We're staying on the songs.''
Somebody out there still loves them, Barron said. While discussing taking chances with the music - ``Please the fans and the rest will follow'' - and the material from their early club days that makes up about half of ``Turn,'' he mentions ``answering fan mail this morning. We have the coolest fans. They're so kind. And the letters are so sweet, simple stuff, like `What's your favorite color?' and stuff like that. It's so loving.''
That's how you've gotta feel about a rock star who actually likes to be asked the classic Tiger Beat questions. Whatever might be happening to Spin Doctors, they sure haven't lost their sunniness. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Paula Laraia
The Spin Doctors will play in Williamsburg Tuesday night at 7.
KEYWORDS: INTERVIEW PROFILE by CNB