Cantrell, accompanied by new singer/guitarist William DuVall, bass player Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney, performed a three-song acoustic including “Your Decision,” Black Gives Way To Blue” and “Down in a Hole,” from its 1992 breakthrough “Dirt” at the Montalban Theatre from their first studio album in 14 years, due in stores on Sept. 29.

Cantrell described “Black Gives Way To Blue,” the title track to the new album, as a “deep” tribute to DuVall’s predecessor, Layne Staley, who lost his lengthy battle with drugs in 2002.

Beforehand, guests were treated to an open bar and In & Out Burgers and were later seated whole they heard the entire album on the PA system after checking in their cell phones at the door to prevent piracy. The new video, “A Looking in View,” also played in a loop.

During the 1990s when Seattle was at the epicenter of the “grunge rock” phase, Alice in Chains spearheaded the gloomy genre with a string of dark, druggy albums. Four of them hit the top 10 of the Billboard 200, including the chart-toppers “Jar of Flies” (1994) and its self-titled studio swan song the following year.

“Black Gives Way To Blue” marks the band’s first release for Virgin/EMI; all its previous albums were handled by Columbia Records. Virgin will also host a listening party in New York next Tuesday.

The telecast opens with Alicia Keyes singing a duet with Frank Sinatra, singing along with her as he appears from a television set. “From the moment you first fall in love with making music you dream of being a part of this show,” said Keyes as she opened the show. 

Musicians from yesterday and today gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight to celebrate yet another year of music, despite previous fears the show would not go on due to the writers’ strike. 

Last years best new artist winner, Carrie Underwood, performs “Before He Cheats,” a song that although overplayed, still gets my attention long enough to stare at the television through the entire 4 minutes. 

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
* Mary J. Blige, “Just Fine”
* Fantasia, “When I See You”
* Chrisette Michele, “If I Have My Way”
* Jill Scott, “Hate on Me”
WINNER: Alicia Keys, “No One”

Rihanna pops open her “Umbrella” as I cringe at the thought of having to hear that song for the millionth time. Halfway through, she turns her performance into “Please Don’t Stop the Music,” which seems to me like a rip off of Miami Sound Machine. 

Cirque Du Soleil’s “Love” performs the Beatles, followed by a little boy who sings “Let It Be” – no word on who he is. Despite this, audiences rise to their feet. 

Best New Artist
* Feist
* Ledisi
* Paramore
* Taylor Swift
WINNER: Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse, Lauper says, is not present to receive her award but will later perform via satellite from London. Audiences were expecting her to perform since rumors said she was getting a visa to the US after her recent rehab stay – I guess she never got that ontime. 

Kanye West is glowing in the dark, fire erupts from the stage as his glasses light up. I start to feel like I am at some show at Epcot Center. However, he makes up for the startling performing by performing “Hey Mama” as a tribute for his late mother. Some audience members are brought to tears.

Fergie bored everyone to tears as she tried to sing some heart-felt song with John Legend. I don’t think anyone cares about Fergie anymore unless she’s rapping and peeing her pants.

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
* Across the Universe
* Dreamgirls
* Hairspray
* Once
WINNER: Love

Beyonce looks like some type of Tinkerbel as she joins Tina Turner to sing an array of songs, but as I sing along to “What’s Love Got To Do With It”, I just keep wondering if I will get to see Beyonce will fall from the stage again.

Song of the Year
* Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats”
* Plain White T’s, “Hey There Delilah”
* Corinne Bailey Rae, “Like a Star”
* Rihanna, “Umbrella”
WINNER: Amy Winehouse, “Rehab”

Alas!! Is that rock music that I hear?? The Foo Fighters take the stage with the winner of My Grammy Moment contest, Anne Marie Calhoun, to sing “The Pretender.” I find myself waking up from all the boredom that the Grammys has been so far….now why can’t all acts be this cool, I wonder?

Brad Praisley was beyond painful to watch, but maybe I was just too pumped up from seeing the Foos perform. 

Best Rap Album
* Common, Finding Forever
* Jay-Z, Kingdom Come
* Nas, Hip Hop Is Dead
* T.I., T.I. vs T.I.P.
WINNER: Kanye West, Graduation

“It will be on good taste to stop the music then,” said Kanye West as he attempts to thank his mother after winning his award and the producers are trying to get him off the stage. 

I stare at the clock and only 43 minutes have gone by….I still have about an hour and 15 minutes to go. Am I going to be able to make it? Oh wait, I just remembered Kid Rock is going to be presenting an award. I guess I will wait just a little longer. 

Wait, why does it look like the audience is literally falling asleep by this point? They don’t even play along with the presenters when asked (i.e. Ludacris).

Aretha Franklin and Bebe Winans perform. I know Aretha is a legend and everything but yawn. I really think I am starting to loose my attention span at this point. 

Is it just me or are these people not funny? I haven’t laughed at a single joke at this telecast. Maybe CBS is hurting from the writers being on strike, despite best efforts to come up for material. 

Feist, up and coming artist from Canada performs. The song catches my attention, although it feels like something that should be playing during a tv commercial. 

Keely Smith, winner of the first Grammy award for Best Performance By A Vocal Group in 1959 performs with Kid Row, and later introduce nominees for the Best Rock Album nominee. 

Best Rock Album
* Daughtry, Daughtry
* John Fogerty, Revival
* Bruce Springsteen, Magic
* Wilco, Sky Blue Sky 
WINNER* Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

The Foos just won. I think I about pissed my pants with excitement.

There is Alicia Keyes again with that irritating song that just makes me think of the theme to “Laguna Beach.” Where’s Lauren Conrad? Oh wait, there’s John Mayer playing guitar. 

Best Country Album
* Dierks Bentley, Long Trip Alone
* Tim McGraw, Let It Go
* Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
* George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
WINNER Vince Gill, These Days

Vince Gill gets his award from Ringo Star. “I just had my award handed to me by a Beatle,” he says starstruck. “Have you had that happen yet Kanye?” he says. Someone got told (after Kanye’s acceptance speech arrogantly said how his new home were the Grammys). 

Who is the presenter that looks like Steve Carell?

Best Rap/Song Collaboration
* I Wanna Love You, Akon feat. Snoop Dog
* Kiss, Kiss, Chris Brown & T-Pain
* Let It Go, Keyshia Cole feat Missy Elliott & Lil’ Kim
* Umbrella, Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
* Good Life, Kanye West feat. T-Pain
WINNER: Rihanna and Jay Z with Umbrella

Ah, finally. There’s Amy Winehouse singing “No Good” and “Rehab.” People were so hyped up about seeing Winehouse performing tonight, but are you for real? Her performance looked effortless, like she’d rather be doing something else with her time - and you know exactly what’s on my mind, right people?

Record of the Year
* Beyoncé, “Irreplaceable”
* Foo Fighters, “The Pretender”
* Rihanna, “Umbrella”
* Justin Timberlake, “What Goes Around…Comes Around”
WINNER* Amy Winehouse, “Rehab”

Are you kidding me? Did you see her face when she won? That was not genuine, despite reading various blogs that say it was the most “honest speech” of the night. It looked real fake to me, and trust me I have nothing against the girl. Either way, my husband starts singing “Gonna make Amy Winehouse go to rehab,” which sends me to a laughing fit that lasts longer than the commercial break.

Josh Groban and Andrea Borcelli play a heart-felt tribute to the late Luciano Pavarotti during a tearful montage to artists that died this past year.

Rock N’ Roll veterans and former Grammy winners, John Fogerty, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard play an homage to rock and roll, including “Great Balls of Fire.” Kinda wishing Jerry Lee Lewis would go crazy jumping on the piano like on the good old days.

Album of the Year
* Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
* Vince Gill, These Days
* Kanye West, Graduation
* Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
WINNER* Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters

I think the audience is surprised, but pleasantly applauses. “It’s been 43 yrs since the first and only time that a jazz artist won for the album of the year award,” Hancock said. “I’d like to thank the academy for courageously breaking the mold this time.”

Photo by © Getty Images/AFP/Robyn Beck

Thing is…if I had to do it again I would – I would just wear better shoes.

It took 3 and a half hours until Vince Neil took the stage (he was 2hrs late), one additional hour for the concert, and then a whole lot of waiting in line to get into the club that had people literally crammed in there like a pack of sardines.

It was about time that South Florida got a little taste of the rock and roll scene, as everyone knows that the city is best known for Latin music, not rock. But many were willing to drive hours from nearby counties to try out this new nightclub, one that promises to bring rock back to the area. 

And whom better than Motley Crue’s front man Vince Neil to host the most rockin’ party for his fans on Saturday night for the public opening of his anticipated restaurant and nightclub, Dr. Feelgood’s.

The 200 block of Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach was blocked as hundreds of fans crowded the streets to attend a free show, with Neil performing an array of Motley Crue classics such as “Live Wire,” “Dr. Feelgood” and “Girls, Girls, Girls.” 

But the anticipation of the fans transformed into frustration, as two hours had gone by since the advertised time and Neil still had not taken the stage. Fans grew anxious wondering what was taking so long, and when the show would begin. 

“Someone could have told us the show wasn’t going to start for another two hours,” said a frustrated fan “I could have gone get a drink or two while I waited.” 

As cameramen walked through the crowd, fans could throw horns in the air, girls would seductively stare at the camera, and others would chant the words that we are all too familiar with “Crue! Crue! Crue!” 

All frustration however, went out the window the minute Neil stepped onstage, with the roaring applause from fans as the singer gave a charismatic smile and started singing the tunes that everybody knows. The party was back on and everyone wanted to be a part of it. 

“Thanks everyone for coming out tonight,” Neil said as he shook hands with fans in the audience “I know where a lot of you will be after the show.” 

Neil gave it his all as he sang the tunes perfectly, shook hangs with the males and winked and blew kisses to the female fans. What a charmer he is, always knows the way to be cool with the guys and melt the heart of girls.

Other songs included “Wild Side,” “Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)”, a Led Zeppelin medley, and “Kickstart My Heart.”

The celebration continued at Dr. Feelgoods, which had reached capacity before the show was over. But devoted fans waited in a monstrous line as they were let in small groups to check out the new happening bar in the downtown district.

The 8,500 sq. ft. Dr. Feelgood’s features memorabilia from Neil, including his Count Kustoms choppers, autographed guitars and Crue platinum albums. The venue features a small stage, go-go dancer platforms, multiple bars with booths made of faux snakeskin, a DJ booth built behind the front end of a ’57 Chevy, and a giant eight feet snake that slithers around a column in the center of the stage. 

I will definitely be going again. Sadly I won’t become a regular since I don’t live very close but it’s definitely a club that I will be going to whenever I can. Perhaps when the madness dies down a little and it doesn’t take me an hour to get through the door. 

What makes Dr. Feelgood’s so special, you may ask? The décor is definitely cool and unique. It’s very “rock and roll” (think cliché here), with the albums, the snakeskin and motorcycles. The music is obviously very loud and in your face. It’s almost like you are listening to the Monsters of Rock album while chilling at a bar that entails what the rock and roll scene is all about: Booze, loud music, and go-go dancers swaying around a metal pole. 

But hey, that’s the same way that I thought about Rokbar (Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee’s bar) when it first opened and now they play nothing but hip-hop. I hope Vince sticks to this original idea and keeps this format for the bar, because it is something fans would definitely appreciate.

Washington Redskins offensive tackle Todd Wade, former University of Florida quarterback Bob Hewko, and South Florida nightlife visionaries Cleve Mash and Rodney Mayo are joining Neil in this new venture.

Dr. Feelgoods is located at 219 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach and is open from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. from Tuesday to Thursday and 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. 

Photos by © Erika Remlinger. Do not use without permission.

Definitely a highlight for me to be able to be a part of it all! My best friend and I got there very early this morning and stood right in front of the barricade, which was cool. Started talking to some of the fans in there and even ran into a couple friends who said to me “I knew you’d be here.” The band showed up about an hour before the event and the people from Third Street management and bodyguards were lingering around the star.

The mayor came out and started talking to us, he is such a nice guy! About an hour later, Motley Crue comes out and hangs out on the side of the stage as the mayor does his speech. Tommy was being a goofball and jumped on the stage and grabs the mayor’s behind as he’s doing his speech, which brought everyone to massive laughter - including the mayor.

Celebrity sightings included Lemmy from Motorhead, Mr. Balding from “Saved By The Bell”, and Mighty Mike. 

The band stepped onstage and got presented with a plaque and each one went on the microphone and thanked the fans and said how happy and proud they were. Nikki said how appropriate it was to get a star on that location since Fredricks of Hollywood (lingerie store for those who dont know) was across the street. Vince also said how he was from California and he never imagined one day he’d get a star there. Everyone started chanting for Mick to go up and he thanked everyone for their support. They were all smiles and in great spirits! 

They went down the stage and posed in front of the star to a massive amt of photographers and press that were there. They did about an hour of press (tv interview) and they were taking forever, some of the fans were really getting annoyed!! This one fan was seriously pissing me off, he kept yelling “Hey Nikki I hope you are writting good shit for a new record or are you gonna put like a 4th greatest hits album” and he then yelled to Vince “Vince you look hungover dude!” He was really getting on my nerves! Good thing Nikki and Vince played dumb and didnt even give attention to him. 

After press, they came over to the barracades and all of them took the time to talk to fans and sign autograph and pose for pictures. It was really nice to be able to talk to them in person and congratulate them. Felt like a moment in history to be a part of it all. 

Photos by © Erika Remlinger. Do not use without permission.

Of course, our line was in the shade which just made it feel like it was even colder out. We are in line and moved around closer and closer to the studio door, but we had to wait until close to 6pm to finally make it inside. I tell you waiting around sucks,and all I could think of was I hope this thing is worth it because my feet and my back were hurting badly, not to mention the cold wasn’t helping. 

We get in and they sit us in the front very close to the stage, but they warn us that these were celebrity seats and some of them arrive late, some arrive just for their camera shot, and a lot of them don’t even go, so if we were sitting at a place where a celebrity came for their seat, we had to move to an empty seat and rotate throughout the entire show. We would also have to split from our party in order to find an empty seat. We were okay with that. I just wanted to see Def Leppard so I could care less where I sat. 

So we are sitting around and we start seeing celebrities arriving and taking their seats. I didnt see anyone major, although the person right in front of me got booted by some Orange County chopper guys and they had to move to another chair. Then I saw this girl that looked like Lindsey Lohan kick someone out. 

Just minutes before the show is about to start, sure enough someone takes my seat. It was a talent guest so I had to get up and move. The usher is looking for an empty seat but sure enough there are none, so I am guided to wait behind the bleachers on the bottom floor until another seat opens up. Minutes later, my friend comes down cuz he was booted as well so we’re hanging out in line with a bunch of other people who have no seats also. As we wait, I saw Bo Bice from American Idol walk by. He waved and said hello to everyone and walked to the seats to sit down.

Right as the host was doing the intro, the usher comes to get us and brings us back inside and we all take our seats, with out luck, we were sat back where the celebs seats were and no one ever came for the remainder of the show, so we were able to sit there all night and watch the show. The show started and Jessica Simpson went onstage to take the award for icon of the year. I love Jessica and she was sooo adorable. I remember going “awwwww look how cute she is!” to my friend when she went onstage. 

The show went on and on and to tell you the truth I can’t remember much details cuz I was just trying to absorb everything and I only cared about seeind Def Leppard. I remember telling that to one of the guys next in line to me, who happened to be sitting on one of the chairs across the isle from mine (more on that later) so I just sat there and watched. Show goes on INXS performed. They were incredible, and the lead singer was awesome, he went down to the audience and sang with them and said how they were really beautiful people down there and he kept running around the stage dancing all sexual and shit. Audioslave was awesome too, although they are not my cup of tea (I’d rather see Chris Cornell with Soundgarden) but they did an amazing performance. Fall Out Boy got everyone up on their feet and they played really loud! Their guitar player went up to the pit area where the balconies were and towards the end of the song he jumps all the way down. Everyone who was sitting down went WOW. Green Day….amazing. The fact that I was sitting close enough where I could see them sitting down was unbelievable. The presenters made this entire reference on how sexy/ cool it was to have eyeliner on. When they announced Scott Weiland as the presenter for the rock award, my chin dropped because I had no idea he was even gonna be there! The man walks out onstage wearing a beautiful suit. He looked amazing. All I can say is that was one hell of a surprise to see him just walk out of there like that. Green Day wins an award for something rock and Billy walks down and when he does his acceptance speech says something about how strange it was to win the award when he felt he was in the middle of the pop world. I love his sarcastic remarks. 

Lindsey Lohan won for the “it” girl of 05. She tries to be all cute and girlie, but she comes off as a major snob. It was classic to see the look on the girl from Laguna Beach when Lindsey went onstage. She was rolling her eyes all over the place - now that should have been one of the nominees for the Feuds of 2005.

So more awards are given out and I don’t even remember what they were….I problably will when I watch the show tonight but as soon as the night was almost over and I saw them set up Def Leppards drums I started getting excited. The announcer says “40 seconds till showtime, please take your seats…..30 seconds…..20 seconds…..” and Def Leppard went onstage and take their place until the announcer says its show time and the lights go on. Next thing you know, Ellan Gold from “Stacked” introduced Def Leppard as a band that caused “Hysteria” and they start playing “Pour Some Sugar On Me” which was the song that won since people could have voted for which song Def Leppard would perform. The band did AMAZING and they all loooked great!!! Towards the end of the song, confetti started to pour down on us and it was like a dream. I sat there being showered in confetti, listening to Def Leppard and company just a few feet away from me. Minutes later, the host says goodbye and Def Leppard remains onstage as the show wraps up. 

On my way out the studio and to the parking lot, we walked by the red carpet and saw a bunch of celebs walking out to their limos and that’s where I saw Scott Weiland with his wife get into the car. 

Photo by © ViewImages

The Winners

Gwen Stefani received the Rock Style award for her unique looks both on stage and her music videos. Stefani was also at the center of attention when the Goo Goo Dolls presented Moby with the Visionary Video Award for “South Side.” 

P. Diddy, um, Puffy? Sean John? Whatever. That guy, you know, J. Lo’s ex. The rapper? I mean, fashion designer? Whatever. He looks good. And he took home the award for Sharply Dressed Man. As he did, he thanked his mother for teaching him at an early age that “fashion had no restrictions.” 

Model Niki Taylor, who suffered liver damage after a car accident in April, received a standing ovation as she appeared onstage with Latin singer Marc Anthony to present the Newcomer Award to teen heartthrob Josh Hartnett, who hopes, he said, “to be stylish in the future.” He received the award wearing jeans and a corduroy jacket.

Actor Jim Carrey picked up his Leading Man Award from one of rock’s leading men, Mick Jagger, while his ex Renee Zellweger received the Red Carpet Award for her appearance in a stunning yellow Lily et Cie gown at the 2001 Academy Awards in March. Sarah Jessica Parker, known fashionista, accepted the Best Dressed TV Show Award for Sex and the City.

Actress Hilary Swank, whose fashion sense was first noted at the 2000 Oscars when she won for Best Actress wearing Randolph Duke, presented Marc Jacobs his Designer of the Year Award. “I am honored to receive this award; it’s a privilege to get this,” he said. John Galliano received, aptly enough, the Rebel Designer award.

In one of the evening’s more original moments, Ben Stiller’s fictional character, Derek Zoolander, presented himself with the Derek Zoolander Achievement Award for Male Model. Acting surprised, Stiller scrunched his face into his character’s unforgettable frown as he thanked God for “making me so incredibly good looking.”

That’s Entertainment 

Lenny Kravitz started the party off on the Hammerstein’s roof, where he performed “Dig In” from his upcoming album Lenny, due out Oct.30. His performance was perhaps less memorable than his hair, which he wore in a massive Afro.

If Kravitz had lots of hair, Mariah Carey had lots of “bare.” Wearing a black dress and visible bra, Carey started of her rendition of “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life” astride a motorcycle. Pink balloons with the letter “M” on them fell onto the audience. In a further display of lingerie, Macy Gray sang her latest tune “Sexual Revolution” as dancers did their thing, and displayed their thongs in the process. 

John Mellencamp and India.Arie’s “Peaceful World” received warm applause, but not quite as energetic a reaction as the one that greeted singer Alicia Keys after her a cappella version of “Respect.”

And in one of the night’s odder displays, models, impersonating some well know music industry faces such as Bjork, Marilyn Manson, Jim Morrison, Prince and Blondie, walked down the runway to show the music world’s impact on the fashion industry.

Speeches and Such

The VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards were, thankfully, fairly long on looks and short on speeches. Nonetheless, presenters and winners–including Galliano, Zellweger, Hillary Clinton and Sandra Bullock-seemed compelled to talk about their pride in New York and the importance of living life as normally as possible after the events of Sept. 11.

Rudolph Giuliani, meanwhile, thanked fashion designers for keeping New York open for business, and in a continuing show of support, designers Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger and others wore Fashion for America T-shirts to the event. The audience was encouraged to buy the shirts, which go on sale Nov. 1, to benefit the mayor’s Twin Tower Relief Fund.

Below is a list of the winners for the 2001 VH-1/Vogue Fashion Awards:

 Visionary Video–Moby 

Designer of the Year–Marc Jacobs

Model of the Year–Stella Tennant

Rebel Designer–John Galliano

Best Dressed TV Show–Sex and the City

Red Carpet Award–Renee Zellweger

Leading Man–Jim Carrey

Outrageous Group–Destiny’s Child

Sharp Dressed Man–P. Diddy

Rock Style–Gwen Stefani

Newcomer Award–Josh Hartnett

When the Santa Barbara quartet formed in 1998, singer Tim Pagnotta, guitarist Marko 72, bassist Airin and drummer Ben Davis never thought their careers would skyrocket so quickly.

With the release of their debut album Start Static on Aug. 21, the single “Stuck in America” has rapidly risen on the charts: The tune reached No. 1 on R&R, Album Network, Hits and has now entered the Top 40 Modern Rock charts. The video for their hit single is currently playing on the Canadian music channel Much Music and has been added to the MTV rotation.

Maybe it’s the sweet power-punk riffs, the teen angst songs or how they resemble early ’80s British mod bands like The Jam and Madness, but once the group steps onstage wearing those oh-so-fashionable punk suits–decorated with colorful buttons–the audience can’t help but sing along with their contagious tunes.

After one of their latest gigs we sat down with singer/songwriter Tim Pagnotta, who shed light on the Warped Tour, on ‘N Sync and on his desire to get back home to sample his girlfriend’s goodies.

I heard that the name Sugarcult was chosen in honor of seven lesbians that lived near you. Tell me a little more about that?

Tim Pagnotta: Well, I was living in my first place away from home and when I moved in, these girls that lived across the way from me…all of them were lesbians. There were like five of them that lived there and two of their friends that always came over. Their little nickname was Sugarcult and we needed a band name. It kinda stuck and it hasn’t changed ever since.

Do you know why did they called themselves Sugarcult?

Pagnotta: I think it’s an old beatnik name for a group of lesbians back from like the ’60s, so…

Your music has been called pop, punk and power-pop How would you describe your music?

Pagnotta: How would we describe our music? Um, I would describe our music having elements of some punk bands but mostly I think we are more of like a power-pop kinda band, more song-oriented. Our influences are more from older bands [The Clash, Cheap Trick], but you know, to each their own. I don’t think there is anything wrong with bands like ‘N Sync and Limp Bizkit and stuff, I mean, its not my cup of tea, but whoever you can reach with your songs it’s the most important….I think we are more of a power-pop band.

The song “Daddy’s Little Defect” is one of my favorites on the album. What is that about?

Pagnotta: “Daddy’s Little Defect” is about sort of a specific person, but it’s really what a lot of people go through where they feel like they are a disappointment to their parents, you know. And this song is particularly about a girl where she was kind of a disappointment to her parents. She was pretty much a total freak and she was totally insane so, the song kinda came around on Valentine’s Day, so that’s what that song is about.

The song “Stuck in America,” is gaining airtime on radio stations nationwide, despite its lyrics about “blowing up the neighborhood” and “trying to get away.” Do you think that’s how teenagers feel growing up? Does that relate to how you grew up?

Pagnotta: I think everybody feels a little trapped in their neighborhood or in their small town, and that song is definitely about growing up as a kid. I lived in a lot of different houses and moved around a lot of different schools. I could relate to being bored always being in the same town, or always being branded as “the new guy.” I guess it was a way for me to break away from that feeling.

Tell me a little bit about your childhood, moving homes back and forth. Did that affect your songwriting at all?

Pagnotta: I moved a lot as a kid and I was always the new guy, and I think that it affected my songwriting because I know what it’s like to feel confused and young and not really knowing where you fit it and it affects you. Now, I am a big kid and I still really don’t know what I’m doing, you know. I am writing songs right now and I am on tour, but for me I don’t know if I ever will know what I am doing. You just have different chapters in your life and it just sort of changes. But moving around a lot kinda has made me a little bit of a chameleon, where I have been able to fit into a lot of different situations.

Sugarcult embarked on the 2001 Vans Warped Tour, and played with Blink 182 on several East Coast dates. How does the audience at a big punk festival differ to those who come to see you at smaller opening gigs? 

Pagnotta: The Warped Tour was just an opportunity for us to play 60 shows all over the U.S. that we wouldn’t have been able to do before, with the bills and audience. You know, like, sometimes when you go on a tour as a band, you’ll go out and travel and it’s just you playing your shows and 10 people can show up in the middle of nowhere, or maybe one person in the middle of nowhere. But in the Warped Tour, there are so many different bands drawing huge audiences, so we were able to draw a lot of people.

How is life on the road? You know, people that dream of becoming big rock stars picture it as being all glamor and girls and tour buses. Is that how it really is? 

Pagnotta: Um, no. It’s not like that at all. Well, right now it’s kinda weird because we have one more show before we go home, and you get home sick. You know, you can’t help it. I need a break. Being on tour you really feel like you are in outer space. I am really looking forward to going home and having my girlfriend’s guacamole.

That’s cute [Laughs.]

Pagnotta: But yeah, it’s not the glamorous life that you think it’s all cracked up to be. You ride in a van all day long, then you play a show for 30 minutes and then you go to a hotel. You kind of feel that you are working 24 hours a day. Like normal jobs, you have your time where you can sleep in your own bed and stuff and with touring you are just doing this all day long, so I am definitely looking forward to a break and then going out and playing more shows.

Tell me about the run-ins with the cops you guys have every once in a while…

Pagnotta: Oh yeah. [Laughs.] God, it’s so funny. Cops love rock ‘n’ roll bands, they love to hang out and search bands.

Do they spy for vans on the highway?

Pagnotta: I think so. [Laughs.] We’ve had a couple of run-ins with police officers and it’s always a little bit fun and a little bit scary too because we’re a couple of miles away from home and I have a whole bunch of outstanding parking tickets. I am always afraid that if a cop pulls me over or runs my license through anything that I am gonna go to jail, so it’s kind of funny. But cops definitely love rock bands.

But they always just kinda play around with you and let you go at the end, don’t they?

Pagnotta: Yeah, at the end they just want free stickers.

The show, which brings together the best the worlds of music and fashion have to offer, will air live from New York on Oct. 23 at 9 p.m. EST.

As we wait for the festivities with much anticipation, here’s a quick look back at the highlights of the previous five shows. 

2000

The 2000 VH-1/Vogue Fashion Awards were hosted by Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen and actor Cuba Gooding Jr., and full of surprises. Designer John Galliano rocked the runway with his Indian headdress getup. Music superstars Destiny’s Child, Kid Rock and Lenny Kravitz made live performances.

Hollywood gals Uma Thurman, Renee Zellweger and Jennifer Lopez (the Versace Award winner) were resplendent. One notable pleasant surprise was seeing Stella McCartney, who won Designer of the Year, receive the award from her famous father, former Beatle Paul McCartney.

1999

Heather Locklear awed viewers in 1999, as she changed her outfit during each and every commercial break. Rap mogul Puff Daddy, co-hosted, but nobody was looking at him. Beck, Foo Fighters and Jennifer Lopez performed. Among the celebrity presenters at the event were Cindy Crawford, Rupert Everett, Matt LeBlanc and Charlize Theron.

1998

Music was certainly the reason 1998’s incarnation holds the title as “most watched,” with its premiere and encore seen by 36 million households, a 24% increase from the previous year. Madonna, Janet Jackson, the Smashing Pumpkins, the Goo Goo Dolls and Lenny Kravitz and Iggy Pop’s duet of David Bowie’s classic “Rebel Rebel” rocked the runways of New York City.

Naomi Campbell, Matt Dillon, Chris Issak, and Tyra Banks were among the presenters and Sting and Donatella Versace, sister of late designer Gianni Versace, presented Madonna with the coveted Versace Award.

1997

 Jim Carrey strolling down the runway wearing just a fig leaf over his groin area in the 1997 VH-1 Fashion Awards show was the defining moment from that year’s show.

Hosted by Harry Cornick Jr., and Ashley Judd, the show included appearances by Mariah Carey, Claudia Schiffer, RuPaul and Sarah Jessica Parker. Fiona Apple, Jamiroquai, En Vogue, ZZ Top and The Rolling Stones served as musical guests.

1996

Jean Paul Gaultier, Herb Ritts, Iman, and Stephanie Seymour were only some of the celebrities present at the inaugural ceremony.

Bryan Adams earned the Most Stylish Music Video Award, as he featured a fashion show in his video “The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You.” And proving that she can be a fashion diva as well as a glam rocker, Courtney Love won the Best Female Personal Style Award.