Shane Evans to play and address youth at Alice Cooper's Rock Teen Center

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Photo courtesy of Michael Montes

Collective Soul’s former drummer Shane Evans is “Better Now”

Shane Evans, the former drummer of Collective Soul and a member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, will play a mini-concert and discuss with Phoenix-area teens about the consequences of lifestyle choices, fame and his descent and eventual recovery from drug addiction.

Evans, 42, will play a handful of songs from Collective Soul and then address a group of youth at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 at The Rock Teen Center, 13625 N. 32^nd St, Phoenix. The event is sponsored by Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation, a Phoenix-based non-profit organization that allows teens to build confidence and discover their passion through music, dance, self-expression and creativity.   

Evans’ speech, “Rock, Recovery and Redemption” will touch upon the meteoric rise of Collective Soul, his departure from the group, his substance abuse problem and the long road to recovery.

“I've been clean and sober for three years and I'm finally at a point where I can discuss my triumphs and tragedies in public,” Evans said. “So if I am to tell my story, I want to tell it to someone who will listen and learn from my mistakes.”

Almost two decades ago, Evans was riding high as the drummer for Collective Soul. The Stockbridge-based quintet shot to international fame with their 1994 release “Hints, Allegations and Things Left Unsaid”, and their mega-hit, “Shine.” In the span of seven years, they tallied a total seven #1 radio hits, 19 Top 40 singles, and sold more than 10 million albums and CDs worldwide. Evans says with fame came the spoils of success and lifestyle choices that almost killed him.

“It's nothing short of a miracle that I'm still alive. Drugs robbed me of almost everything including my family, friends, my home, and my dignity,” Evans said. “Through sobriety I've gained all of those things back and more. My life today is blessed and I want to share my experiences to help others.”

Evans said he was dismissed from the group in 2005 because of his excessive drug use. His mother's demise from complications of diabetes, the accidental death of a girlfriend and a pair of DUI arrests pushed him further into despair. Evans said he hit rock bottom while living on the run from police at a run-down motel in Atlanta, Ga. He says he was two days away from being homeless when he finally made the decision to get clean and sober in August 2009. Weeks after Evans’ sobriety anniversary, Collective Soul was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

“I still love all of the guys in Collective Soul because they are my brothers and we shared a lot of wonderful and life-changing experiences,” Evans said. “Me getting kicked out of the group was entirely my fault because of my addiction. It’s something I’ve finally come to terms with and must own up to in order to remain sober.”

After completing a yearlong recovery program at Waypoint Center in Dahlonega, Ga., Evans became a substance abuse counselor, helping others to overcome their addictions.

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Solid Rock was founded in 1995 by long-time Arizona residents and devoted fathers Alice Cooper and Chuck Savale who envisioned a faith-based organization dedicated to make an everlasting difference in the lives of kids and teens in the community. Originally, Solid Rock existed to raise money for other organizations with like-minded missions, however, the dream went well beyond its original fundraising foundation. With the opening of The Rock Teen Center at 32nd Street in the Spring 2012, the dream has finally become a reality.

If you go:

What: “Rock, Redemption and Recovery” by Shane Evans

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013

Where: The Rock Teen Center, 13625 N. 32^nd St., Phoenix

Cost: Free to all local area teens

Information: 602-522-9200 or www.alicecoopersolidrock.com

Q & A with Stage 32 owner Curt Blakeney

Every day, there are thousands of talented individuals searching for like minded souls with which they can collaborate. They join writing or acting classes, theater groups, and on line forums. They act in student films, direct and submit short subject films to festivals, and enter screenplay contests. They take the first step and fight for the second. They search for answers to the never ending "hows" and "whys." Some take pride in bucking the relentless frustrations and challenges, many more succumb to them. Almost all wonder: "How can I make my dream a reality? How can I increase my odds and give myself the greatest chance to succeed?"

Welcome to Stage 32 – a community for people working in or with a desire to work in film or theater. It’s a place to gather, to discuss and develop projects, to join actor with director, director with producer, producer with cast and crew. As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.

Let's get to know Curt Blakeney, the co-founder of Stage 32

Q: Curt, you're a well-known sports personality in Phoenix, tell me about your love for cinema as a kid?

CB: I’ve always been a film buff. I really enjoyed watching movies as a kid; especially summer matinees. Nothing like the thrill of a movie doubleheader with a tub of popcorn and a box of M&Ms. I was also a fan of the drive-in … many good memories there. My awareness of film was heightened by my brother Eric, who is a writer and director in Hollywood.

Q: Who were some of your favorite actors, directors and movies?

CB: I’ve always been a big fan of Spielberg movies: Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET, Saving Private Ryan. He’s one of the great storytellers in the business. As far as actors, certainly on my top 10 list all-time are Paul Newman, Gene Hackman, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Daniel Day-Lewis. There are so many…too many to list. More recently, I think Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Downey Jr. and Brad Pitt are exceptional.

Q: Your family is no stranger to Hollywood success. Your brother wrote the screenplay for Gunshy, a successful feature film starring Liam Neeson and was a producer/show runner for "21 Jump Street, the TV series that put Johnny Depp on the map.What did you learn about the movie industry through his eyes?

CB: Just how important it is to work tirelessly and network, network, network. It’s so important to build those relationships in the industry. It’s no industry to be shy.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Stage 32?

CB: Two years ago, my business partner, Richard Botto, and I were in Los Angeles for the American Film Market (AFM). At the time, we had our own film production company, Fair Warning Productions, and had a few projects in development. AFM is a gathering place for filmmakers, sales reps, distributors, financiers and others from around the globe. Everyone is in town for one week pitching their projects, pitching their craft, trying to find funding, etc. The most vibrant place was the bar at the Loews Santa Monica Hotel. There we witnessed so many projects being discussed and so many filmmakers with completed films begging to be heard. And once AFM was over, those people went back to their respective cities and waited another 12 months for the next AFM. On the flight back from LA, a light bulb went off. We thought it would be great to create a virtual meeting place so that people could discuss film projects and connect year round, anywhere in the world.

Q: What are some of the success stories that have emerged from Stage 32?

CB: There are so many examples of success stories, that we created a forum for it: http://www.stage32.com/lounge/stage_32_success_stories But a couple that stand out. Matt E. Hudson, a director, producer and screenwriter from London, became the first of several to shoot a film (called “Reduction”) using crew found entirely from Stage 32. And Persephone Vandegrift, a screenwriter from Seattle who has been tirelessly networking through Stage 32 since she joined, was hired to write the pilot for a historical miniseries “The Vanquished.” The numbers keep growing as directors find actors, filmmakers find screen writers, producers find crew.  

Q: What is your goal for yourself and the participants who network on Stage 32?

CB: The goal of the site is to bring together like-minded individuals who collaborate to promote creative growth in film… and television and theater as well. So members can upload their projects, resumes, loglines, scripts, photos and videos – anything that shows off their skills and talents. People can private message other members, post on their walls, chat live or post on our message board – called the Stage 32 Lounge. It’s a very open and friendly community. Film students can get advice from seasoned professionals, screenwriters can get tips from other screenwriters, people can share their experiences. We’ve also had guest blogs from award-winning writers such as Danny Rubin (Groundhog Day), Rex Pickett (Sideways) and Doug Richardson (Bad Boys), whose “tales from the trenches” have really resonated with Stage 32 members.

It’s a social network to not only communicate with others, but learn, teach, share and foster.

We have a saying, that sums ups the site. Stage 32 is the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth. That’s our mantra…we’re trying to build this amazing global network of incredibly talented people and let the sparks fly.

For more information, visit www.stage32.com

Pang to headline Denver's Peace Paint-In

May Pang heads to Denver for Imagine Peace Paint-In

May Pang will be painting the town on John Lennon's birthday.

Pang, who was John Lennon's long-time personal assistant and lover, will be the featured guest at Denver's Imagine Peace Paint-In on Thursday, October 9. The one-day event will be held in Civic Center Park starts at 10 a.m. and runs to 6 p.m. The celebration commemorating the life of John Lennon's life is free and open to the public. Hundreds are expected to gather to paint, play music and celebrate peace.

“John and I came through Denver in 1974 on our way to Caribou Ranch to join Elton and the boys for the Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds recording session,” Pang said. “He was amazed at the mountains and the clean air at 9000 feet up. This is where he got his first pair of Frye boots, which he wore all the time.”

Civic Center Park, located between Broadway and Colofax Avenue, is over a city block of landscaped park connecting the Denver Art Museum and the State Capitol.

Art classes, from all grade levels, will also be participating. In addition to the art and music, the Paint-In will feature various local and national peace groups, food and drink vendors and a few other vendors who fit in with the themes of peace, art and music.

In addition to speaking about her decade-long relationship with the icon, Pang will be on hand to sign copies of her best-selling photo book, Instamatic Karma. The book shows Lennon from 1973 to 1975 in a variety of settings: at work, at play, at home, and away.

The Imagine Peace Paint-In will benefit the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Student Peace Alliance, Colorado Department of Peace Campaign and ImaginePeace.com.

For more information, visit www.paint-in.org or www.maypang.com.

Marshall Terrill appears in Palm Springs Feb. 13

Author to talk about Steve McQueen

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10:00 PM PST on Saturday, February 2, 2008
By MONIQUE H. HENDERSON
Special to The Press-Enterprise

A journalist and author who has written a best-selling biography on actor Steve McQueen is set to discuss his work during an appearance at the Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs.

Marshall Terrill will speak at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Melvyn's inside the inn.

The inn is at 200 W. Ramon Road in Palm Springs. Tickets are $35 and reservations are required. The event is part of the inn's "Dinner With ..." series.

Terrill is the author of more than 10 books, including the biography, "Steve McQueen: Portrait of an American Rebel."

In 2006, he published a biography of basketball legend "Pistol" Pete Maravich.

He also is the author of "Elvis: Still Taking Care of Business," which was published in 2007, and "Skywalker: The David Thompson Story."

Terrill also edited several books on subjects including history, baseball and the film and music industry.

He teaches a college course title How to Get Your Book Published.

Terrill, who lives in Tempe, Ariz., with his wife, Zoe, also is a reporter for Tribune Newspapers and does public relations consulting.

His books have been reviewed in publications including People, Cosmopolitan, Playboy, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Hollywood Reporter and Readers Digest.

The Ingleside Inn was built as a private residence in 1925, and was converted to an inn in 1935. The inn, which features a classic, old world style, is a Palm Springs Historic Landmark.

Call (760) 325-2323 for tickets or more information.

Two thumbs up for "The Worlds Greatest Email"

Two thumbs up for Sue Shifrin-Cassidy

What readers are saying about The World's Greatest Email

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The World's Greatest Email is a unique and entertaining compilation of emails from all over the world. Subjects include Fun-E's, inspirational, political and life-saving information.
Sue Shifrin-Cassidy is a noted songwriter, philanthropist, founder of Kids.Charities.org and co-founder of EAT'M (Emerging Artists, Talent and Technology in Music). She is a licensed pilot, enjoys traveling, scuba diving and thoroughbred breeding and racing.

To order The World's Greatest Email, go to www.amazon.com or www.authorhouse.com. To purchase an autographed copy for $15.95, go to www.TheWorldsGreatestEMail.com.