JOHN DENVER was on America Online's CENTER STAGE on 8/2/95 This is the text of the question and answer session ========================================================== And now, please welcome John Denver! LindaSG: Welcome, Mr. Denver! JohnDLive: I'm very happy to have a chance to do this, my first time on America Online and I'll be answering as many questions as I can. Question: John, the RMH fan club now has over 700 members. What do you think about having your fans all online this way? Also, have you seen the WWW page and what do you think about it? JohnDLive: I saw the Web page for the first time today -- it's great! I think it's great that all of my fans will have a much easier way to communicate with each other through the net. Question: John, I am a twenty-something fan. I was fortunate enough to attend the taping of the Wildlife Concert. Why was El Paso omitted from the video and CD -- you sang it beautifully both nights? JohnDLive: Well, it was tough, I think we did more than 30 songs in the 2 nights. We had to narrow it down and there were a lot of people from all the emphases involved who thought of their favorites and this is how it ended up. Question: At the taping in NYC you spoke about "Marty". Did you ever get back to Alaska to play "A Song For All Lovers" for her? ... Kate from Michigan. JohnDLive: Actually she lives in Jackson Hole, WY, and in May I got to go up there and sing that song for her. A very special woman. Question: When did you start writing music? JohnDLive: I wrote my first song when I was 13 years old; it was called "Lazy Little Stream". From the very beginning, nature was a part of my self-expression. Question: Hi John! What kind of music do you like to listen to when you relax? Excited to see you Saturday in Mankato. Linda JohnDLive: I listen to all kinds of music and I'm looking forward to singing in Mankato. Question: I met you a few years ago in Massachusetts and you said that "Rhymes and Reason" was your favorite song. Is it still and if so, why? JohnDLive: My favorite song is usually the most recent one that I've written and although I think that Rhymes and Reasons is a very special song, prophetic, I can't say that it's my very favorite. Question: What are your future projects? JohnDLive: Well, right now all the work that I'm doing is to support the Wildlife Concert, we have the Windstar Choices for the Future Symposium coming up the end of this month, this is our 10th one. The end of Sept. I'm going to Japan for an environmental concert and the international conference. Just before I leave for that I'm going to attend Mikhail Gorbachev's State of our World concerts in SF. All of Oct. I'll be on tour in Europe and most of Nov. on tour in China. Question: Rocky Mountain High: where did the inspiration for the song come from? JohnDLive: It came out of my first camping experiences the year that I moved to Aspen, and most specifically one night camping out -- especially Perseid meteor shower. It also had to do with the effort that year to bring the winter Olympics to Denver Colorado. A lot of us thought that was a big mistake. Question: Hello there, John. Absolutely love your music and am a practicing musician myself. What kind of acoustic guitars are you playing now? Both 6 and 12 string, I'm assuming? JohnDLive: Yes and they are Taylor guitars -- at least the ones that I'm using onstage -- and a Gibson Chet Atkins Classical guitar. Question: Hi. Have been a fan as long as you have been around! Do you think hunters should be allowed electronic devices in hunting cougars out west or anywhere? I sponsor wolves and cougars and want my grandchildren to see the wilderness as I have. JohnDLive: I feel the same way, and no, I don't think they should be allowed to use those devices. Question: I love all your music. When is your next album coming out? JohnDLive: There's no plans for a new album right now, although, I hope to do a really new album next spring. Question: John: Do you plan on making any more movies in the future and can you tell me how to get a copy of your "Higher Ground " movie? JohnDLive: I don't know how to get Higher Ground, except through CBS, and though I would like very much to make another film there's nothing in the works just now. Question: John: Are you pleased with the sales of your book? How is that going? JohnDLive: I really don't know the figures on the book. Question: John, with the spiritually uplifting music you have created, what do you think about today's "MTV" grunge rock? JohnDLive: Well, I really don't watch MTV. Question: How do you feel about the current popularity of country music? JohnDLive: Oh, it's just the music that's hot at the moment. There's not a lot of it -- country music has changed so much, there's really not a lot of it that appeals to me. Question: How did you get involved with the world wildlife fund? JohnDLive: It's the Wildlife Conservation Society. I've known about them for a long time, a supporter, I think they do some of the best and most far-reaching work in the field for any environmental organization, especially in regard to wildlife and wildlife habitat. I was really happy to use this concert as part of the celebration of their 100th anniversary and to do all I can to bring greater attention to the good work they're doing and hopefully honor ever greater support for their good work. Question: How did you find working with Placido Domingo? Are you still in touch with him? JohnDLive: I'm not really in touch with Placido, but it was a great experience to meet him and to work with him. He's a brilliant artist. Question: Which state is the most picturesque, in your opinion? JohnDLive: Alaska! Question: The Wildlife Concert at Radio City Music Hall on June 17 was absolutely the best! Thank you for this new Sony concert release! Will there be a release of brand new music in the next year or two? JohnDLive: Hopefully next year yes. Question: John: what are your thoughts on the population growth that Colorado has experienced in the last 10 years or so? JohnDLive: Well, it's not always something that I'm pleased about, but I sure understand how people would more and more like to live and work in a place as beautiful as Colorado. Question: John -- My son loved the Christmas movie where you played the architect/developer. He's 5 yrs. old. I loved it too. Are you going to do more of that kind of work? JohnDLive: I would love to do more acting. Question: Mr. Denver, who is your favorite recording artist? JohnDLive: Gee, that's tough one. There are a lot of artists whose work I constantly appreciate. Many of them are inspiring to me, people like James Taylor, Sting, Jennifer Warrens, many others. Question: Is there any way to get your older material on CD? All of my records are warped. You are amazing! JohnDLive: Several of the old RCA albums are available on CD, not all of them. And there is the Heartlands double CD, but I sure hope they'll buy this new album because I think I'm singing better than I ever have before. Question: Mr. Denver, years ago Hal Blaine played with you on tour -- have you played together since or will you in the future? JohnDLive: I enjoyed working with Hal all of the years that he was with me, although at this time we have no plans to unite. Question: John, do you read all of your fan mail and if so, what is the mailing address to send it to? JohnDLive: I get an awful lot of fan mail, and I read all that I can. Question: Where did you get the inspiration for "Annie's Song?" My husband and I feel like the chorus was written about us. JohnDLive: The song came to me one day when I was skiing. I tell the whole story in my autobiography "Take Me Home". Question: What can I do, as only one person to help the environment? JohnDLive: I suppose that's a question most often asked me by people who would like to make a positive contribution towards a sustainable future and a healthy environment. There are so many things that need to be done that sometimes it seems overwhelming. I try to remind everyone that no one person has to do it all, but if each one of us follows our heart and our own inclinations we will find the small things that we can do and together we will come up with enough to create a sustainable future and a healthy environment. Question: What can we do to help ensure that the ESA is not gutted in the upcoming congressional reauthorization of the Act? JohnDLive: I would say that the question isn't quite clear -- there are several things that they could be alluding to. I think that it's of critical importance that this congress be reminded of the democracy that we live in, and that many of these issues -- which were worked on and supported by a vast majority of American people -- that set aside land that was a precious part of our national heritage, regulations that have improved the quality of living for many people in our country and a restrained approach to some aspects of our economic development, should be reminded that these things occurred because a vast majority of the American people. JohnDLive: The Bipartisan majority of both the house and the senate thought they were that important and that they should not be acted on without a full dialogue among the American people. That is what democracy is all about, that is what our government is for, and that is how we want the people who work in government to serve us. Question: Years ago, I read about your interest in photography. I also saw a photo of yours in Am. Photo's Celeb issue. With all the traveling you do, you must have a vast collection of photos. Have you ever thought of publishing a book of your nature photos and personal essays on the environment? JohnDLive: Oh, we thought about that and I'm not sure it's going to happen as a book of photo nature essays; but I'm not really sure I ever want to do another book. Question: I think "Boy From The Country" is about your best. How do you rate it with respect to your other songs? JohnDLive: Boy From the Country is one of my favorite songs, it was written by Michael Martin Murphy who wrote it about St. Francis of Assisi. I was going to write that song. At least I wish I had. Question: Did you write the words and music to "Country Roads"? JohnDLive: Bill Danoff and Taffy Neivert wrote it all together. Question: Do you feel the "info superhighway" can be useful to environmental causes? JohnDLive: I think it has uses we've not even imagined yet. Question: Mr. Denver, I am a U.S. Park Ranger. What do you think of the present reduction to our National Parks budget? JohnDLive: I'm personally sorry that the reductions are affecting so many things that I care deeply about. I hope that corporate America and the American people will stand up and find a way to make up the difference. Question: John, thanks for all the great years of music. Please keep them coming. Also, loved the new Wildlife CD. Question about an old one though. Any plans to release Windsong as a CD. If yes, great. If not, anything we fans can do to help the process along. JohnDLive: I don't know, you'd have to write RCA or BMG. Question: Thank you for bringing sailing music back to America. Formerly we had to look to Ireland for ballads with the sounds of the sea in them. Have you any albums/CDs that are made up of just such music? JohnDLive: No, but I'd like to do something like that in the future. Question: Who is the "Uncle name of Matthew"? anyone in your life, or purely fictional? JohnDLive: It was written about my Uncle Dean, the 2nd youngest of my dad's brothers. Question: Everyone is the Denver area is curious -- how did "Rocky Mountain High" end up in a Coors commercial? JohnDLive: They approached me about a year ago about using it. JohnDLive: I think we have time for one more question. Question: John, of all the environmental programs you work with and belong to, is there any one in particular that means the most to you? JohnDLive: No, I think all of them are an opportunity for people out of their own interest and their own inclinations to make a contribution to a better world, better quality of life for all living things. I think it's so important that we always remember that nature, environment, wild places and wild things are a big part of what makes us who and what we are as human beings. To deny this is to deny our own heritage, our own spirit, and our own souls. We must learn to live in a sustainable fashion in a way that promotes the incredible diversity of life in this world rather than decreasing it mindlessly. We must not allow people to destroy those things which are so precious and cannot be replaced. OnlineHost: All good things must come to an end. Time is up for this event. LindaSG: Thank you so much for being here Mr. Denver. Thank you for joining us audience! JohnDLive: It was a great pleasure! I wish I had time to answer all the questions. Hopefully there will be another opportunity in the future. OnlineHost: Our thanks to John Denver for taking time from his busy schedule to visit with us. If you missed any portion of this event, please be sure to check back within 24 hours for a complete edited transcript. Thank you and good night! OnlineHost: Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc. Transmitted: 95-08-03 09:26:38 EDT