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America Online forum
with Ben Folds Five

(This is an edited transcript of an online forum with a band called Ben Folds Five. The forum took place on America Online in late April, 1997, and is (c) 1997 by America Online & Rolling Stone.)

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Your emcees for tonight are Katie (1) and Melanie (4).

AOLiveMC1: Welcome to AOL Live!

RS BF5: Darren: Hello Cleveland

RS BF5: Ben: Good morning America... Pass the salt

AOLiveMC1: We're talking with the members of "Ben Folds Five" (actually 3) this evening. Let's get right to our first question for the group.

Question: Hi, I'm 41. I hear many different styles in your music. I bought Elton John's 11-17-70 a long time ago. If you heard it,can you relate to the "vibe" on that record? Would you prefer not be compared to Elton, Dee and Nigel? Saw ya'll 4/17 in SA,TX. LUV!

RS BF5: Ben: I think that's really cool to be compared to them. I hope we've taken that another step.

Question: I think you guys are great. Any news on the single being released in the US.

RS BF5: Darren: The single is released. It's called "Battle of Who Could Care Less." It's on the radio but it's not for sale as for as I know.

Question: you guys playing "Battle" on Conan tonight?

RS BF5: Ben: No, we're not playing on Conan tonight.

RS BF5: Darren: We were supposed to play but Conan bumped us because they wanted a platinum selling country band because it's ratings week...

Question: Michael Bluejay here, maybe you remember me? Anyway, I know sometimes Ben doesn't play piano on Best Imitation during shows, so sometime at a show can I play Best Imitation while Ben sings it from atop the piano? As a pianist, I hardly suck at all. :-)

RS BF5: Ben: Hello Michael, I just opened my fortune cookie. I have something to read you..It says, "A cheerful letter or message is on the way to you." [Ed. note: I never received anything from them, but they did let me sit in with them at a later show.]

Question: What is the song "Brick" about??

RS BF5: Ben: I don't talk about that song but I'm opening someone else's fortune cookie and I'll read it to you...there's three in one. "The philosophy of one century is the common sense of the next." "Our first and last love is...self-love." "Avert misunderstanding by calm, poise and balance."

Question: who wrote the little note on the "Whatever" liner notes? its funny!

RS BF5: Ben: Thank you for asking. That was me.

Question: Will you all be comfortable in larger venues if and when the demand comes?

RS BF5: Ben: How larger? We're playing up to 1,000 seaters. Those are scary. Ask us again when we're fat.  [I don't know the largest venues they played, but I know that many of the venues in their 2012 tour are 2000- to 3600-seat capacity. —Ed.]

Question: Do you like any of the groups out there today?

RS BF5: Ben: There are a lot great band out there...

Question: Whats your record in the UFC? Can you beet Dan sevrens?

RS BF5: Darren: Undefeated, yes. Ben: We're the welt or wart champions. We like to watch wrestling.

Question: Are you tired of the fact that in every mag article in parenthesis after your name it says (There are actually only 3 members)?

RS BF5: Darren: Yes. Ben: That ought to f--- them up this summer when we add four string players this summer.

Question: I just saw you in concert saturday and i thought you guys were great. Do you prefer playing live to an audience?

RS BF5: Ben: We prefer an audience to playing live.

Question: Any chance 200 Somber Faces....will get any air play?...Great tune.

RS BF5: Ben: It's the next single.

Question: Are you fans of XTC or Todd Rundgren?

RS BF5: Ben: Yeah. Just not together.

Question: Just saw the show last night at Irving Plaza, excellent job, especially "The Ultimate Sacrifice" :). Wanted to know what the inspiration was behind "Selfless, Cold and Composed"?

RS BF5: Ben: I don't know. Three too many breakups.

Question: Where are you all from? When did you get together?

RS BF5: Ben: North Carolina. We got together three years ago.

Question: If someone held a gun to your head and said "You have to hire a fourth member for the band!" who would it be?

RS BF5: Ben: Yngwie Malmsteen

Question: When did you start playing the piano?

RS BF5: Ben: When I was 9.

Question: Hi! i am a piano player and would love to get my hands on some sheet music by you guys! (although i could never play as well as you!) Any plans for a sheet music book comming out? (I'm going to be at the Music Midtown Festival..can't wait!!)

RS BF5: Ben: Yeah, actually you can get it if you sign onto the Sony (BF5) web page.

Question: Are you planning a trip or gig in Memphis anytime soon?

RS BF5: Ben: Possibly on the H.O.R.D.E. tour.

Question: my brother introduced me to your cool sound,and i thank him eternally for it, what do you have to say to all your young fans out here??

RS BF5: Ben: Love your brother.

Question: Do you think you gain more fans through commercial radio, eMpTV, college radio, or word of mouth? I first heard you guys on REV105 in Minneapolis (before they were sadly sold to ABC) and now the only place I hear you is on Radio K (U of M). 'Kate' is getting major airplay here! We love ya! :)

RS BF5: Ben: I think for us it's probably been word of mouth because radio generates word of mouth and we're just not a huge radio band yet. We tour a lot.

Question: Hi BF5- I heard a rumor that you originally were five people, but two of them died in bizarre gardening accidents. Is this true?

RS BF5: Robert: I'll kill the $%#@ who said that.

Question: What is your greatest inspiration?

RS BF5: Darren: Feel my love pump.

RS BF5: Ben: Lick my love pump.

Question: Michael Bluejay again, w/a question for Robert & Darren: Your live harmonies blew me away. I was reminded of the Beatles' "Because" on Anth. 3, where has ONLY the vocals. Paul, John, & George each laid down three tracks, for 9 parts! Any comments on that? Were the Beatles a harmony influence?

RS BF5: Darren: The Beatles influenced everybody.

AOLiveMC4: Ain't that the truth! :D

Question: Are you gonna have a live CD out anytime soon? Any covers gonna be on it?

RS BF5: Ben: Next year, there will be a live CD with a lot of live tracks.

RS BF5: Darren: There are bootleg CDs in Japan. If you were really crafty you could get a hold of them.

Question: When is your next LA gig?

RS BF5: Darren: H.O.R.D.E I guess.

RS BF5: Ben: Check in on our web site...

Question: Why the difference in attitudes toward x- girlfriends in song for the dumped and selfless cold and composed?

RS BF5: Ben: Darren wrote the words to one and I wrote the words to the other.

Question: Where do you get your fortune cookies?

RS BF5: Darren: Stanley's Chinese.

Question: How were the shows with Counting Crows?

RS BF5: Ben: Great.

Question: Who do you draw upon as your jazz influence?

RS BF5: Ben: Kenny G and Yanni

Question: How did you get discovered?

RS BF5: Ben: We were playing a skating rink and a disc jockey was broadcasting from the rink and we were supposed to be playing country music but we played one of our originals, the song got requested a lot and became a hit. "That'll Be the Day" was the song.

Question: Where is Steven from? Is he still hanging around or did he go home?

RS BF5: Ben: He's from England. He went home to L.A.

Question: Are you guys working on any exciting covers to perform?

RS BF5: Ben: We did "She Don't Use Jelly" a few times...

Question: What impact do you think the "battle' video had on your success?

RS BF5: Ben: None so far...

Question: Yeah...i was wondering....is there a bassist in yer band...if not..how do you compensate for the lack of one with piano and guitar?

RS BF5: Darren: My feet stink, so does your question.

Question: How'd you get so big in the UK?

RS BF5: Ben: We played a skating rink in the UK.

Question: Are you guys playing the entire HORDE tour?

RS BF5: Ben: Our web site address is: www.BFFWEB.com.  No, we cut off a month before it's over.

Question: Are any of you Crowded House fans?

RS BF5: Robert: The singles are good.

AOLiveMC1: We have time for just one more question for the guys tonight....

Question: How much $$ did you save by not recording in a studio? Would you recommend it?

RS BF5: Ben: Saved no money at all. Would not recommend it.

AOLiveMC1: Okay, let's squeeze in one more question for the guys....we have lots left here.

Question: How would you compare the new album to the old one?

RS BF5: Ben: If you have the first record, the second record is better...if you have the second record, the first is better...

AOLiveMC4: Great news, folks! Ben Folds Five is giving away four autographed CD's tonight! We will be picking names at random from the audience. You will be e-mailed if you are a winner! Okay...lets see who gets the first CD!

: YodaOne105. Congrats!

: DoogV! You're a winner, too.

: NeonGod! Congrats!

: Morella la!!! :)

WTG, everyone! YodaOne105, DoogV, NeonGod and Morellala! You are all winners!

Okay...okay, the guys are bugging me for some more questions...(They love ya'll sooo much!)

Question: You guys have been called a "leader in the resurgense of Pop Music". Feel good about that?

RS BF5: Darren: We have? Yes, I prefer astroglide.

AOLiveMC1: And I'm afraid that's all the time we have, guys! Thanks for being here and answering all the audience questions! Any parting words for the audience?

RS BF5: Ben: This was raving success. Sorry to those of you that asked reasonable questions that got weeded out. We love you all.

RS BF5: Darren: Part it in the middle, man.

RS BF5: Robert: Astroglide is one of my favorites as well.

RS BF5: Ben: Why does Mr. Pibb come in a can?

RS BF5: Ben: His wife died.

AOLiveMC1: LOL! Goodnight boys!

Ben Folds Five studio albums
1st album (July 25, 1995)	2nd album (Mar. 18, 1997)	3rd album (Apr. 27, 1999)	4th album (Sep. 18, 2012)
Compilation albums
Naked Baby Photos (Jan. 13, 1998) live tracks, alternate versions, obscure covers	The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective (Oct. 11, 2011)
Sheet Music
Keyboard Signature Licks Sheet Music Order for $23. Expertly written note-for-note sheet music for selected songs from all four BF5 albums, plus commentary, interviews with Ben about the songs, and a practice CD!  Read my review.	Whatever & Ever Amen Sheet Music Order for $20	The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner Sheet Music Order for $20.	Naked Baby Photos. This is a collection of live & alternate versions and some covers. This is a good source for songs from the first album since the sheet music for the debut album is long out of print. Order for $20.