The release of Prey for Rock & Roll continues to change; at last report, it is expected to open in Chicago this Friday, Oct. 24.
As Jacki, the lead singer of the all-female rock band Clam Dandy, Gina Gershon is a formidable presence. She's all sneer and rock 'n roll swagger. She sings like a cross between Chrissie Hynde and Patti Smith. She also deals with issues ranging from her sexuality (she's bi, and begins the movie with a girlfriend, but winds up with a guy in the end), her age (she's turning 40), the politics of being in a band (she does and doesn't play well with others), sleazy management people (wait until you see what happens when she gets 'pissed off'), and revenge (you won't believe what happens to a rapist).
Gershon is taking her role in this independent feature very seriously, and to promote the film she has been performing live concerts with the members of the band Girls Against Boys. Having caught her act, both on screen and on stage, I can attest to the fact that Gina Gershon rocks. I recently spoke with her while she was in town promoting both projects.
Gregg Shapiro: You are currently on the cover of an interesting array of magazines, including The Advocate, Girlfriends and Maxim, to name a few. How does it feel to be such a popular cover girl?
Gina Gershon: (Laughs) I didn't really look at it that way. I guess it's nice. Just trying to sell the movie. I'm just doing my job.
GS: Shortly before seeing Prey For Rock & Roll, I heard you sing on the Denis Leary Roast on Comedy Central. How did you become involved with that?
GG: Denis is a really good friend of mine. Or else I wouldn't have done that. It was so chaotic. Everyday they were like, 'We're changing it (the song) to punk. We're changing to lounge.' Three days before, I'm like, 'Guys, I need to know what I'm going to be doing. I'm singing this live, in front of people.' I love Denis. I would do anything for him.
GS: Prey For Rock & Roll deals with some fascinating topics, including the issue of age in the rock music industry. Do you think that if Jacki was a man she would be dealing with those same issues?
GG: It seems to me that my guy friends who are in the business, if they haven't broken in yet, I think that age (40) is an issue, as well. Everyone seems to have to lie about their age in the music world. Unless you're 19 or 20 these days, it's hard to get a break, which is really unfortunate. To me, it's all about the music if you listen to it. MTV has ruined so many things. To me it should be timeless, ageless. You like it or you don't.
GS: Jacki says that seeing an Ike & Tina Turner concert was a life-changing experience for her when she was a child and inspired her to pursue music. Did you have a similar experience as a child, with either a musician or an actor, who inspired you?
GG: I remember, in junior high school, being in awe of actors. Musicians, I was a little more used to because I have a lot of musicians in my family. I was used to going to concerts and seeing the people that I know playing the music. But I remember going to a play at school and there were people that I knew, my friends, doing the play. I remember watching and thinking, 'I know those people. Why are they up there?' It was the first time that I thought, 'Wait a minute, that means that I can do that.'
GS: They were your contemporaries, as opposed to someone in a movie.
GG: Right. They were my contemporaries and it made me think, 'Oh, I could do that. In fact, I think I could do it even better than those people up there.' (Laughs)
GS: So, then, did you start doing it?
GG: Yes, right away.
GS: Prey For Rock & Roll also touches on the presence of queer musicians in the music business. Two of the women in the band, Faith (played by Lori Petty) and Sally (played by Shelly Cole) are a couple. Your character, Jacki, also has a girlfriend named Jessica (Shakara Ledard). Since music is such a universal language, does it surprise you that the sexuality of a musician should still be an issue to their fans?
GG: I think with musicians, it's ridiculous. I always joke with my friends when they ask, 'Do you like being a musician or being an actor?' I say, I'll tell you. If you go out and you do something kind of shady as an actor, forget it, your career is over. People freak out. If you're a musician, everyone is like, 'Yeah, right on. That's cool.' I don't think the sexuality should have anything to do with anything; whether you're a musician or an actor or a politician. It just shouldn't matter.
GS: You have established cinematic diva status within the queer community …
GG: (Laughs) … that's good …
GS: … for having played a lesbian in Bound, and your performance as Jacki in Prey For Rock & Roll only serves to cement your iconic bond with your LGBT fans. What does that mean to you?
GG: I think it's cool. I think they're a tough community. They either really like you or they really don't like you. I'm much happier to be really liked than not.
GS: On Saturday night (Oct. 4), I attended your concert with the members of Girls Against Boys at the House of Blues. What does it mean to you to have the opportunity to perform songs from the movie in front of a live audience?
GG: It's awesome. In the movie, I sang everything live, but I didn't get to play live because we had to have the music recorded. So, playing with these guys in Girls Against Boys—they're a really cool band. When they asked me to promote the film by doing this, I was like, 'Yeah! It's fun!' I figured, 'Wow, it's a show,' so I could do what I like, and I actually do five of my own songs and I do a couple of covers.
GS: The Ozzy Osbourne cover.
GG: Yeah, 'Paranoid.' It's a cool version. People seem to like it.
GS: Between your appearances in music videos (The Cars in 1984 and Lenny Kravitz in 2001) and Prey For Rock & Roll, rock music seems to be in your DNA. Do you foresee releasing an album under your own name?
GG: Yeah, definitely. I've been working on a lot of music. If it's approached in the right way, why not?
GS: You have worked with an amazing assortment of directors, including Robert Altman, John Sayles, John Woo, The Wachowski Brothers, and Audrey Wells, who most recently did Under The Tuscan Sun, to mention a few. Do you have the desire to direct?
GG: Yeah, I'm sure at some point I'll direct.
GS: And what about writing a screenplay?
GG: In my head I keep writing stuff. My actually writing on paper, because I have the (concert) tour, has been just music lately. It takes a lot of discipline (to write a screenplay) and I don't quite have that yet. I have the discipline for songs. I'm working up to a whole screenplay.
