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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 20 > Entry
Braves, Elton talk lineups in online video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Any Elton John fan who’s ever attended one of his concerts in the spring, summer or fall knows that if the Atlanta Braves are playing, you can count on score updates from the stage courtesy of the Peachtree Road resident.
Now, Major League Baseball Entertainment finally has put the consummate Braves fan in the same room with Braves general manager John Schuerholz, Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, and former second baseman Mark Lemke and filmed the free-wheeling discussion for an exclusive fan experience.
During the extensive chat recorded at Silent Sound Studios in Atlanta, Sir Elton, sporting a Braves jacket and tinted glasses, talks baseball and how he got interested in his new hometown team when he purchased a home here in 1991.
“I not only became a Braves fan, but I really fell in love with the game of baseball,” explains the pop star. During the chat, John also disclosed that the very first venue he played in Atlanta was the old Braves field, Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, in the early 1970s. The singer recalls that legendary soul singer James Brown was also on the bill.
The singer also took time to praise Schuerholz’s many ingenious roster moves.
The Braves GM explains: “We wanted to build a grand franchise [and one] that has sustained itself.”
Lemke tells Sir Elton that growing up, the singer’s “Bennie and the Jets” was his favorite song and that he has performed “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” as a karaoke selection.
Niekro, meanwhile, could have a fine second career as a celebrity interviewer. He asks Elton his batting average at picking his songs as hit singles. “Artists are usually the worst at those decisions,” John responds. “I’ve been completely and utterly wrong.” The singer then discloses that he fought against having three of his biggest hits — “Bennie,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “Sacrifice” — from being released as singles.
After Niekro humbly suggests letting Braves manager Bobby Cox set the singer’s musical lineup, John replies: “He would probably do a better job!”
[an error occurred while processing this directive]The exclusive video clips can be viewed at braves.com, mlb.com/entertainment or eltonjohn.com.
Lowe down on gallery move
Buzz got word on Thursday that after nearly 20 successful years on Bennett Street, the Bill Lowe Gallery is moving into Midtown next year. We’re told that the new gallery will be a “12,000-square-foot, two-story showplace in the soon-to-be-opened Two Peachtree Pointe building.” The redeveloping corner at Peachtree and West Peachtree is set “to be home to a number of arts and entertainment establishments.”
Explains Lowe: “Our gallery was at a crossroad. We could expand and grow in our current location or make a bold move and statement for Atlanta. Our crossroad led us to another famous intersection: Peachtree and West Peachtree and the end result will be part temple, part museum and part MTV.”
The new Bill Lowe Gallery is being designed by Gensler, a global architectural and interior design firm. The multilevel space “will feature architecturally provocative design elements, including: 18-foot high loft-style cement ceilings, and interior catwalks, mezzanines and bridges.”
Look for the gallery to bow in February.
Guests named for Vick town hall
Given the panelist lineup, next Tuesday’s “SportsCenter Special: The Vick Divide — An ESPN Town Meeting,” focusing on Atlanta Falcons Michael Vick, should be extremely interesting. The special, hosted by Bob Ley from the Georgia World Congress Center’s Sydney J. Marcus Auditorium, will feature WSB radio’s Neal Boortz; Terrence Mathis, former Falcons wide receiver and a teammate who remains close to the embattled quarterback; New York Times columnist Selena Roberts; and the AJC’s own Terence Moore.
The free event open to the public will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and ESPN Radio will present an audio simulcast of the televised meeting while ESPN.com will produce a live Web cast of the debate.
Clear winner
With much credit going to a legion of online voting supporters, Georgia indie rock band Midnight Clear was declared the winner of a 12-week battle of the bands on CBS’ “Early Show” on Thursday. The band, with members hailing from Dahlonega, Savannah and Cleveland, will play live on the show Monday.
The band received 46 percent of the vote, a plurality over bands from Chicago and Richmond.
“It’s kind of surreal at the moment,” said guitarist Derrick Gaddis from the Gainesville dental lab where he works part time. “It’s definitely a relief.”
The band entered the competition on a lark, its video one of thousands received by CBS. The foursome’s video won two rounds to reach the final, including a semifinal win despite the show’s goof of showing a different band’s video on the air.
Dozens of supporters swamped the CBS News Web site to vote repeatedly for Midnight Clear. Gaddis’ grandmother, Millie Hardy of Dahlonega, said she was online for about 22 hours from Monday morning until the ballot box closed Wednesday at noon.
The band will have to practice before performing on TV. Because they’re spread across the state, Gaddis said the members haven’t jammed together in about a month and a half, when they made the video they sent to CBS.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“You’ve heard of Spanx? Well, I love to get Spanx-ed!”
Singer Gloria Estefan, 50, discussing her beauty secrets while giving Atlanta businesswoman and Spanx hosiery founder Sara Blakely a plug on “The View.”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Larry Hagman is 76. Poet-songwriter Leonard Cohen is 73. Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 63. Author Stephen King is 60. Nicole Richie (“The Simple Life”) is 26. Actress Maggie Grace (“Lost”) is 24.
Contributing: Ken Sugiura and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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