A Friendly Free Spirit With A Rock n Roll Attitude

Michelle Meldrum, leader of the band Meldrum and former Phantom Blue founder/guitarist, passed away late afternoon Wednesday, May 21, 2008 as a result of a cystic growth on her brain that had restricted oxygen and blood flow to her brain rendering her brain dead.  

 

 

According to a press release by VQPR, Michelle had been admitted to St Joseph's Hospital in Burbank on May 18th, and had slipped into a coma before passing.

Meldrum had recently announced a new band line-up, and had just completed the bands soon to be released album with drummer Gene Hoglan, Michele Madden (vocals) and Laura Christine (bass). The surviving band members plan to release the album later this year in tribute to their fallen band-mate.

 

As someone who personally knew Michelle as a friend and business associate, I can say that Meldrum was known in many circles, not only for her ground-breaking strides as a female musician in the Metal world, but for her compassion, and love. Never one to gossip or talk sh*t, Michelle was a shining example as a musician, friend, and most of all a mother to her three year old son Jake Thomas Norum.

 

Meldrum, 39 is survived by her parents, and three year old son, Jake Thomas. 

Meldrum's Management, Dark Moon Entertainment will announce a memorial tribute benefit in the following weeks, and an education fund will be set up for Michelle's son Jake. Immediate Cash Donations to assist the family in this time of need can be made via pay-pal MichelleMeldrumFund@Gmail.com

About Michelle (Excerpt From Meldrum’s website):

Michelle Meldrum was born on Sept 28, 1968 in Detroit, Michigan to a family of musicians and actors. At 13, Meldrum moved to Los Angeles, California and started her career in music by forming the thrash metal band Wargod with drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, and Strapping Young Lad). When Wargod disbanded Meldrum continued her search for a band and become both co-founder and lead guitarist in the all female  metal/rock band Phantom Blue. Phantom Blue released their self-titled debut album on Shrapnel Records as well as Roadrunner Records, and eventually landed a deal with major label Geffen.
 
Once Phantom Blue disbanded after a successful run at fame, Michelle Meldrum moved to Sweden and formed her current band Meldrum. After many triumphant tours with such acts as Motorhead and Black Label Society, she reunited with Hoglan in 2006. Hoglan had appeared as a special guest on the Meldrum album prior and played several events. Inspired to once again collaborate, Meldrum moved back to America where she and Hoglan began writing the aforementioned (completed) third Meldrum album together.
 

 

Yup, it's true.  I want to be the next Velvet Revolver singer.  I decided this the other night, as I drove home in my Mustang convertible, hair blowing in the wind, and Guns n Roses playing continuously on my boyfriend's ipod.

I let loose, and tried to belt out every lyric note for note with Axl Rose.  It's a competition I've held with Axl for years now.  I have a pretty healthy lung capacity and have always gotten a thrill trying to keep up with Axl's ability to sustain a note beyond most rock singers' abilities (Sebastian Bach withstanding of course).

I'm not a singer.  I'd like to be.  I believe we each have the gift of song within us.  I've sung in church & school choirs, I've sung back-ups for friends' live shows and recordings, and I even put a cover band together for my 29th birthday,but I'm not a singer.

So as I'm listening, or rather belting out GnR songs with all my heart, I come back to a thought that has been eating at me for a few weeks now. Velvet Revolver is looking for a new singer.  Axl Rose is still 'experiencing technical difficulties' with the release of Chinese Democracy, not to mention his guitarist, Robin Finck is currently back with NIN and on tour.  Why not give it a shot?

 

I've been a fan since my first GnR concert in 1988--they opened for Aerosmith.  I've also followed each of the side projects, (Izzy's JuJu Hounds, Slash's Snakepit, and Duff's Loaded), that have emerged thru the years. Then came Velvet Revolver.  I've had the opportunity to see VR live 3x, and even Co-Hosted a benefit concert they performed at in '06 for an injured Deputy (Jim Mulay), in Malibu, CA.  Velvet Revolver Rocks.  No doubt about it, there is magic on that stage.....

 

Yet...nothing quite compares to the magic that the world witnessed in 1986, and remained hypnotized by, for roughly a decade of music and touring.   I mean c'mon, we're talking about a band that experienced so much mojo together that they released two albums at once and even gave us two (lyrical) versions of the hit single "Don't Cry." Some of that mojo must still exist, or at least be able to be salvaged?

 

The band doesn’t need to be Velvet Revolver or Guns n Roses-- it can be an entirely new project-- Rose Velvet, Velvet Guns, whatever!   Axl can continue to work on Chinese Democracy; while Slash, Duff, and Matt audition singers thru the internet and give some unknown kid a chance at rock stardom, I'm all for it!

 

I recently had an opportunity to interview drummer Matt Sorum (for www.Buzznet.com), and when during the course of the interview Axl's name was brought up, there was a twinkle in his eye and a grin in his smile--for a moment-- I saw a lot of love for his former singer.  http://buzzbot.buzznet.com/user/video/play/3101631/

 

Eh, maybe I'm being nostalgic- I'm getting older and nothing seems to be as exciting as being a teenager and seeing your favorite band play live.  Guns n Roses meant so much to me, that reckless abandon, the courage to live life with no fear of consequences.... we sometimes lose that feeling when we become grown-ups.

That’s what I mean when I say I want to be the next Velvet Revolver singer.  I want to go for it, I want to live fully and grasp all of the possibilities that life presents to me.  I want to love and be loved, and most importantly I want to listen to my heart.

 

So, I ask you--Axl, Duff, Matt, Slash, and Izzy--are you listening to your heart?  What does it say?  Is the mojo still there? Are you willing to let bygones be bygones?  I leave you with your own words, "When I find out all the reasons, maybe I'll find another way, find another day, with all the changing seasons of my life, maybe I'll get it right next time......"

 

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