In late 2004, Coldplay sent word to VH1 that they wanted to perform on the network's Storytellers -- which was a tricky request, since the show had been off the air for three years. The show's executive producer, Bill Flanagan, says, "It was like, 'Well, jeez, should we tell them we don't do it anymore?'"
But instead of turning down one of the world's hottest bands, VH1 brought Storytellers back to life. And as word spread of the show's revival, some of rock's biggest names -- Bruce Springsteen, Green Day and Dave Matthews Band -- all signed up to shoot episodes of their own. "We've raised the bar for the level of artist that does this show," says Rick Krim, VH1's executive vice president for music and talent. "To have these bands for the first four is pretty damn strong."
During Coldplay's performance, which was taped in Brooklyn in May and airs June 8th, frontman Chris Martin revealed the origins of the band's career-making 2000 hit "Yellow." "Originally, it sounded like a Neil Young song," Martin said. "And it was missing a key word, so I looked to the nearest book: It was the Yellow Pages. In an alternate universe, this song could be called 'Playboy.'"At the Dave Matthews Band's Storytellers (also taped in May, but not airing until September), Matthews explained that the funky, Cajun-flavored new song "Louisiana Bayou" came from a haunting tale he heard while on location for the film Because of Winn-Dixie. "A lady down in Louisiana told me about seeing two young boys lying on the side of the road," he said. "She thought they were sleeping, but as she got closer, it turned out they were both dead."
Springsteen's and Green Day's episodes are already in regular rotation, and Flanagan says VH1 is negotiating with other major artists for future shows. Along the way, Storytellers -- which aired sixty-nine episodes between 1996 and 2002, with artists ranging from Elvis Costello to Robert Plant singing songs and telling tales -- is broadening its reach. Green Day's show was "the hardest-rocking Storytellers ever," says Krim.
And in addition to the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, U2 and Prince, the show's wish list includes an unlikely artist. Says Flanagan, "We'd all love to stretch out and have Eminem do the show."
Source: Rolling Stone
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