AOLiveMC9: Welcome, Semisonic!

Dan Wilson: Thank you! If everybody wants to know, I'm transmitting from our tour bus in a parking lot in Salt Lake City. John and Jake are here with me too, if you have specific questions for them.

AOLiveMC9: This is great to have you all with us. Where will your tour be taking you?

Dan Wilson: We're going to spend the next month with Sheryl Crow on tour. We'll be in Chicago, Boston, New York, and lots of other places. Check our website if you want more details, www.semisonic.com.

AOLiveMC9: LOL, that website answer was my next question. Here is our first audience question:

Question: First off, let me just say I love you guys! Now, here's the question! Do you write your own songs?

Dan Wilson: Yeah. Between the three of us, we write all the songs on our albums. But on the singles, we often cover European, Australian and UK singles, we put on others like Prince.

Question: What is it like working with Sheryl Crow? Is she the crazy or down-to-earth type?

Dan Wilson: It's hard for me to judge. I'm a musician, so my standards of crazy might be different than yours, but she's been really nice to us so far.

AOLiveMC9: *Ahem* we have gotten quite a few questions like this next one:

Question: How old are you guys and are any of you single?

Dan Wilson: We're all in the prime of our lives. :) John and Jake are single, especially Jake.

Question: I love you, Semisonic. I love "Closing Time." How did you make that one?

Dan Wilson: I was trying to write a song for the band to play at the end of our shows, and that's what came out.

Question: Are you planning on making more music videos in the future and what song will they be?

Jake Slichter: Yes, we plan to make videos in the future. I'm not sure if there are any plans to make any more for this record.

Question: Who do you guys like to listen to?

Jake Slichter: Swerve Driver, York, Teenage Fan Club, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Radiohead and many more.

Question: How long has Semisonic been together?

Jake Slichter: We got together in 1993 to play a party for a friend. We've been rocking ever since.

Question: How did you come up with your name?

Jake Slichter: A friend of ours used it as an insult when describing another band's music. He said, "What is this semisonic crap we're listening to?" And then Dan, upon hearing the word semisonic, thought it was really cool and suggested to me and John that we name our band that.

Question: How do you deal with the excitement and pressure of becoming a huge sensation?

Jake Slichter: That's the easy part, the hard part is waiting to become a big sensation.

Question: How old were each of you when you started playing your respective instruments?

Jake Slichter: I started playing the drums in the 5th grade. John was 15 when he started playing the bass. Dan was 13.

Question: What do you do in your spare time?

Jake Slichter: We read, write songs, and watch reruns of "Law and Order" on the bus.

Question: If you were on a deserted island and could bring one thing, what would it be?

Jake Slichter: I don't want to tell you her name, because I'd get in trouble. ;)

Question: Anything weird happen to you while performing?

Jake Slichter: John fell off the stage into the crowd in Kansas city once. Another time the bar was on fire and we had to leave. It seems we're used to creating a lot of heat. We were unaware that there was an actual fire going on. We were wondering why all the firemen were coming in.

Question: How do you make that sound in the song "Gain"? Question: I just wanted to say that I absolutely love you guys. When I saw you with Matchbox20, I had to run out and buy the CD after the concert. My question is, what was your inspiration to use the piano in "Never You Mind" and what is that song exactly about?

Dan Wilson: You must be referring to Everclear on that last question. :) We rented a piano to put it in the studio because I had the idea that I wanted to play some piano during off hours. I ended up writing most of the song on the piano in the studio. It was like Mount Everest. It was on the album because it was there.

Question: How long is this tour going last, until you go back into the studio?

Dan Wilson: The song is about a fight that lasts so long that neither of the two people can remember what the point was about. This tour lasts until May 8. As for the studio, I don't know.

Question: What made you want to become a group?

Dan Wilson: The radio.

Question: Do any of you have any kids?

Dan Wilson: I have one daughter, two years old.

Question: "Secret Smile" has a ‘70s sound to it; were you influenced by any ‘70s groups?

Dan Wilson: Yeah. Lenny Kravitz. Just kidding. ;) We all have a pretty big collection of ‘70s albums like Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, Joni Mitchell.

Question: What's the largest crowd you have ever played in front of?

Dan Wilson: All kidding aside, I do think "Secret Smile" was influenced by Lenny Kravitz. John says 70,000. Jake says 80,000.

John Munson: At Wavefest there were like 70 or 80 thousand people. There were enough people to crush all the garbage juice that this landfill we were on came behind the stage from people jumping in front of the stage. That was a lot of people!

Question: What is your favorite movie?

John Munson: Wow! "Wizard of Oz" has got to be up there; "Citizen Kane," old movies, of course. "Godfather," "Apocalypse Now," "Taxi Driver."

AOLiveMC9: Wait, do you mean you won't go see the new "Star Wars" movie? :D Semisonic: I'm going to be there. I've got people waiting in front of Mann's Chinese waiting for my ticket right now. :)

Question: What was the first gig you ever got, accepted and performed, and where was it?

John Munson: To get on, the graduation theme continues. The first gig I ever played was a graduation party when I was a junior, I guess. We didn't get paid any money though.

Question: Were you scared the first time you went on stage as a group to perform?

John Munson: Yeah, because we didn't know any of the songs very well. It was just a matter of "can I actually remember how this goes?" :)

Question: Who played the flute in "Secret Smile"?

John Munson: I guess you could say I played the flute. It was a faux flute. It wasn't really a flute.

Question: If you could pick just one of your songs that inspire you the most, which one would it be?

Dan Wilson: I would say "Made to Last."

Question: How do you deal with all the fans that you have?

Dan Wilson: It hasn't really been a problem, if that's what you mean. On tour we play shows for the fans and we spend time signing autographs. I read a lot of e-mail from the fans. Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming because there are so many of them.

Question: I am a big fan of Semisonic. Were your parents supportive of your career decision before you hit it big, or were they against it?

Dan Wilson: I think my parents were worried that I would be unhappy because it's so difficult to succeed in music or even make a living; other than that, they were very supportive.

AOLiveMC9: We have time for one more question: And it will put you on the spot. :) Here it is:

Semisonic: I can't believe none of you have asked when John's mustache is coming back! :D

Question: So, what's you're favorite town to perform in?

Dan Wilson: Minneapolis! Although to be honest, we've never done a show in Honolulu or Nassau, Bahamas. Maybe I would change my mind if we did.

AOLiveMC9: It was terrific of you to be with us, Semisonic! Thanks so much.

Dan Wilson: Anybody who has more questions or wants to find out more about the band should visit our website. It's www.semisonic.com.

AOLiveMC9: It really was a pleasure to have you all as our guests. Thank you and good luck! Thanks, audience! Goodbye for now.

Portions of this transcript may be edited by AOL to correct spelling, punctuation and/or remove any material that violates AOL's Terms of Service.

Copyright 1999 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved.