Volume 124 Issue 58
Thursday, November 10, 2011
kansan.com
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Q&A// WALLPAPER'S RICKY REED
NOTICE
> Because we have questions, celebrities have answers.
When Wallpaper first started in 2005, it was Eric Frederic and his computer, bringing autotune into mainstream music. Now led by Ricky Reed on vocals, Wallpaper is a pop quartet consisting of two drummers, Eric Frederic and Arjun Singh, and another vocalist, Novena Carmel.
Their biggest hit song "#STUPIDFACEDD" ignited a Twitter movement with hashtags and put the band on Top 40 radio stations around the country. In August, MTV selected Wallpaper for MTV's PUSH Artist of the Week, a campaign featuring new buzzworthy artists each week, and Wallpaper was on the red carpet of the VMAs. Their music even played on this year's season of "Jersey Shore."
Wallpaper performed at the Midland Theater in Kansas City on Sunday, Nov. 6 and Jayplay's Nadia Imafidon was able to attend the show.
Jayplay: Last year one of our writers interviewed with Eric Frederic and he mentioned that you don't do very many interviews. Why is that?
Ricky Reed: He used to do more work with the band, but now I am doing all of the interviews. With that being said, I was in a place last year where I wanted to be secretive. Now I want the people to hear my voice and hear me talk. I've got things to say.
JP In all your pictures,you always wear a hat and sunglasses. Do you ever take them off?
BB: No. I can think of think of a few times when my hat has been knocked off and stolen by some crazy ladies, and I had to scramble to get it back. But my sunglasses have never once
come on. I people don't need to see my eyes If people could see my eyes they would know what I was really thinking and that would be way too much vulnerability.
JP: What influences Wallpaper's overall sound?
RR: I'm really influenced by all sorts of greats from Michael Jackson to Prince to Dr. Dre or more recently the West Coast rap stuff.
JP: Does satire still play a role in your music?
RR: Our music definitely used to be perceived as satirical pop music, but your guess is really as good as mine. I make the records and I let people figure the rest out.
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JP: How did you feel about having your music on "Jersey Shore?"
RR: It was so weird when I first heard it, but it's pretty incredible though to hear your music on TV. It was real special and everything. I didn't watch much of the show before but once our music was on it, I started getting into the show and figuring it all out.
JP: Who's your hero or biggest inspiration?
RR: I would probably have to say Michael Jackson circa 1983. Before hit got weird.
JP: What was it like being on the red carpet at the VMAs this year?
RR: All of it was weird. People were talking about fashion and all sorts of causes like vegetarianism, and asking me about Twilight and shit, and I don't know anything about that stuff. But it was fun and exciting with Chris Brown flying around and the Rick Ross and Kreayshawn confrontation. Weird is the only way to describe these kinds of events.
JP: Explain what #STUPIDFACEDD is?
RR: #STUPIDFACEDD is a state of mind. It's a very specific sort of window when you hit that perfect level of intoxication before you black
out or pass out or whatever. It's when everything is perfect and beautiful and you aren't worried about people looking at you. Truth be told, you don't have to have alcohol or drugs to get to that place. You could get to that real nice, blissful, special place without those things too. JP: What's an example of sober #STUPiD-FACEDD?
JP: What goal do you have for yourself as a musician?
RR: Like if you are out with all your besties and some members of the opposite sex or same sex, [it's all good], and things are going so right. Maybe you just had a Red Bull or you were exercising really good that day, like jogging or yoga, and you are like 'yeah, I'm so buff and so good looking.' It's just when everything is right.
RR: I am definitely trying to get a lot of people to hear my shit. I want people to know who I am. I think my legacy will be making a cultural footprint with some mainstream [stuff] and some real weird shit.
JP: What should students expect from Wallpaper show?
RR: A Wallpaper show is tight. We have two live drummers and myself and another singer and we just bring this powerhouse of dance and funk. It doesn't sound like the record; it sounds like more of a band. It's for people who like rock music, people who like rap music, and it's just for all walks of life. It's simply undeniable.
NADIA IMAFIDON
Contributed Photo
Contributed Photo Shady Character: Wallpaper's lead vocalist, Ricky Reed, says he never takes off his hat and sunglasses. "If people could see my eyes, they would know what I was really thinking and that would be way too much vulnerability."
to "prove" they don't care reveal their bluff.
Kansas officials and coaches have said they have no interest in playing Missouri beyond this season, and many fans feel the same way. There's probably a lot of truth in that, too. Kansas certainly doesn't benefit financially from playing Missouri in basketball, where an annual game in Kansas City would mean a 50-50 split of ticket money. Kansas will make much more than that when they play Davidson there next month.
Paterno, Spanier fired after Sandusky scandal
But in seven or eight years, when both schools are settled in their respective conferences, some business will try to sponsor a reunion in Kansas City of football, basketball, or both. It will be just enough time to cool off from the messy divorce, and both sides will realize hating someone else isn't quite the same.
Edited by Mandy Matney
MCCLATCHY TRIBUNE
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The longest and one of the most distinguished coaching careers in college football history ended suddenly with the firing of Joe Paterno by Penn State's Board of Trustees on Wednesday night. Paterno, who offered his resignation in the morning but said he wanted to finish this season, was joined on the unemployment line by university president Graham Spanier.
The move was in response to the arrest on Saturday of Paterno's longtime former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and the release of a grand jury report alleging he sexually abused at least eight young boys. Although neither Paterno nor Spanier has been charged with any criminal wrongdoing,
Paterno received an eyewitness report of one alleged sexual assault in 2002 and just passed it up the chain of command. No one at Penn State pursued a criminal prosecution of Sandusky for that incident.
Speaking for the board, vicechairman John Surma said. "The past several days have been terrible, but the outrage we feel is nothing compared to the physical and psychological abuse that allegedly took place."
Surma was pressed repeatedly for an explanation of why Paterno, who is tied with Amos Alonzo Stagg for most games ever coached at 448, was not given a chance to coach the final home game against Nebraska on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Instead, defensive coordinator Tom Bradley was appointed to replace Paterno on an
interim basis.
"With the difficulties engulfing this university — and they are grave as you all have documented," Surma said, "it was necessary to make a change now."
Speaking at his house to students, Paterno said, "Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to."
Perhaps fearing the worst, the 84-year-old Paterno, who has a record 409 wins, attempted to make an end run around the board of trustees in the hope of going out with a shred of dignity. In his statement, which was released through a Washington-area public relations firm as opposed to being approved by Penn State, Paterno expressed regret that he didn't do more to prevent Sandusky's alleged crimes.
MATT ROURKE/AP PHOTO
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno arrives home yesterday in State College, Pa. Paterno and university president Graham Spanier were fired yesterday evening, brought down by their failure to do more about an allegation of child sex abuse against a former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who is accused of molesting eight boys over 15 years.
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