Ice capades

>> Vanilla Ice is back--and he's not a novelty act!

by SCOTT C

As with many childhood stars gone wrong, Vanilla Ice even made a cool million by giving the OK to a few raggy biographies, but he insists that the emotional metamorphosis that he's endured has been for the better. Offering a far cry from '91's multi-million selling To the Extreme--which bore a song you may remember called "Ice Ice Baby"--Ice rolls into town this week ready to rock out with his brand new band.

Mirror: So how's the new Vanilla Ice being received? You guys are way into your tour dates, right?

Vanilla Ice: With over 100 shows behind us and every one of them sold out, it's a fucking blessing to have people embrace it the way they have.

M: I understand you're playing to the tattooed, bodypierced crowd these days.

VI: That's right. I'm keeping it real. I was never designed to be a novelty act, but that's what I turned into with my first record. It had huge success and tremendous record sales, but this is different. Backstreet Boys and N-Sync and shit, those guys were designed to be novelty acts--I wasn't.

M: So you had no intention of becoming a million-selling "rap joke," if you'll pardon the expression?

VI: For three years before To the Extreme, I was opening for Ice-T, Stetsasonic and EPMD. I did the whole Stop the Violence tour. My whole audience was mostly black hip hop fans, but I sold out and took the money that was being offered. I couldn't tell what the consequences would be back then.

M: It must have affected you to have sold millions upon millions of records and have people pointing and laughing at you.

VI: Well, I tried to commit suicide in '94. I had millions in the bank, a Porsche in the garage, the boat, the house, you name it. But I always regretted selling out and dreamed of going back and doing things different. I realized it wasn't about the money.

M: So why have you gone "to the extreme" you have with this new album?

VI: I originally turned down the offer to make this record. The only reason it got made was because I was given complete freedom. Complete freedom. Financially I could care less, I still have all the money from "Ice Ice Baby," believe it or not. I just didn't want to be a puppet or a record company whore anymore.

M: But why this heavy stuff? I think they call it "pummelling skateboard rock" in the bio.

VI: This record contains the anger, depression and anxiety that's exactly what I've been through for the last 10 years. I wouldn't wish my life on anybody. It was a fucking complete hell and it almost killed me.

M: Why not a legitimate hip hop album?

VI: I'm not turning my back on hip hop, but honestly, I'm totally bored with it. Everything's starting to sound the same to me. How many times am I gonna hear the same loop, sample or breakbeat? I'm not feeling anything from a drum machine--I'm feeling much more from my band.

M: What do you think about what Everlast is doing?

VI: I like it.

M: Aside from both of you being white and having sold a few million rap records, you both turned over a new leaf after a traumatic experience. For him it was a heart attack and you an overdose.

VI: This is my diary, and like I said, there's no way I could express myself over a drum machine or any shit like that this time out.

With Jar and Third Decay at Foufounes Electriques, Monday, April 5, 7pm, $15