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    Poe Returns After 10 Years of Legal Battles

    • Posted on Jan 28th 2010 11:00AM by Steve Baltin
    • Comments (35)
    Email This
    PoeRemember Poe? The erudite singer-songwriter burst on the scene in the late-'90s, scoring a massive hit with the single 'Angry Johnny,' the catchy track with the refrain, "I wanna kill you/I wanna blow you ... away." She followed that up a few years later with the critically-acclaimed album, 'Haunted,' a superb concept record about her relationship with her late father. With two albums, a hit single and strong reviews, Poe seemed to be on her way. And then, poof -- she seemilngly disappeared.

    So what happened? "What I would say, in a nutshell, is very short and sweet: Myself as an artist was purchased as if a slave by a Texas oilman," she tells Spinner, adding her first contract was bought out by this businessman. "I have not gone a day without doing music. I've just done it anonymously. It's not like I haven't been playing -- I've played parties and this and that -- but anything that was way under the radar. I lived like an illegal immigrant for 10 years. I couldn't make any money, couldn't do anything."

    Nearly a decade later, after a legal battle to match any music industry horror story, she is finally ready to re-emerge. "I feel as though I have been in a grave, not dead, but I've been spitting dirt out of my mouth for 10 years. I would say a month ago I saw the first ray of sunlight," she says. What was that sunlight? "Honestly, the key element [is] out of complete accident I played with my old band again. I'd been in the studio writing and recording and it was like that missing piece of 'I got my bros back, I remember what this feels like and I'm alive again.'"

    She will reunite with her original 'Hello'-era band at L.A.'s Club Lingerie on Thursday, Jan. 28 as part of a benefit, 'An Evening of Higher Consciousness,' where she, Ben Lee and others will gather for an organization run by the Gyalwang Drupka. What is the organization? "Essentially the foundation was created by this guy called the Gyalwang Drukpa, which in a small part of Tibet this guys represents their Dalai Lama. He's a Buddhist," she says. "What I like about him is his focus is education. He's created a school up in the Himalayas, providing an education particularly to girls, which I love." The night will also donate money to Haiti relief through Live to Love International.

    For Poe, though, it means just getting to play again in public. "It feels good to be playing again. The fact I can shortly be doing this with new material is pretty damn exciting," she says. And while she won't play new material tonight, she does say, "I'm not gonna give a firm deadline, but within the next month or so we'll create a release date for something new."

    On top of that, she promises to explain in much greater detail where she's been for the last decade. "I could give you 10 years of facts and figures, but my job as an artist is to show you the footprints that were left on my soul," she says. "And that I can show you in music, so the best recount of really what transpired is ultimately in these songs."
    • Filed under: Concerts and Tours, News, New Music, Exclusive
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    Reader Comments(1 of 2)

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    handsomeat 1-28-2010

    Welcome back, many of us did miss you.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    Dustin Wernerat 1-28-2010

    Long live Poe!!!

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    joshat 1-28-2010

    YEOW!! I'm so happy to hear she's back. Her two projects were far cooler than Jewel, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, or any of her other contemporaries. Welcome back, Poe......

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    SRat 1-28-2010

    I love that I chose today, out of the blue, to look into what Poe's been up to. And here's actual news. :) This is great.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    johnat 2-15-2010

    this is no coincidence. for some reason i also choose to look into "what" Poe's been upto. i've always admired and loved those two albums but after all this time I just figured that was "all she wrote" so to say. but for some reason I choose to look her up today and like many of you I found the news that she is coming back. Poe, if you read this, just let me say "hey pretty" "hello".

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    evanoahat 1-28-2010

    This is such great news, I am completely blown away. I too, out of the blue was prompted to look at what she's been up to. Something wonderful is about to come from her.... and I can't wait. Already inspired by her force.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    superfanat 1-28-2010

    that "angry johnny" song should've been used for a recent storyline arc for a character (named "johnny")on the soap opera "general hospital"

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportLow Ranked

    Edat 1-28-2010

    Who?

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    sp00kat 1-29-2010

    It's hard to believe that this day has finally come... not really knowing a date when the rumored 10 years would end WOW!

    How many fans have a star that they can really be proud of ?

    Poe is the real deal.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Colinat 1-29-2010

    I was devastated when Poe's legal troubles began and didn't know how I would wait for them to end... I can't believe the light at the tunnel is finally visible! Poe got me through a lot of rough times and I revisit her music often -- I'm SO FREAKIN' EXCITED (said à la Kristen Wiig's "Sue" character) to see what she does next! Welcome back, Poe!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Kenat 1-29-2010

    This is awesome. I actually teared up while reading this. I missed her music so much.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Kristenat 1-29-2010

    I had wondered what happened to her. I loved her music back in the day. Two albums and then, as the article says, she seemingly vanished. I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    IRISHat 1-29-2010

    As the raven said...NEVER MORE!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    LostLenoreat 1-29-2010

    I still listen to the old Poe cassette I have, and the biggest mistake I ever made was letting a friend talk me into going to a Depeche Mode concert late when she was the opening act. I SO wish I had seen her live, and maybe now I'll get a chance. Poe, your music was outstanding in the golden age of Alternative artists, and I'm sure you have MUCH to say. Welcome back, beautiful!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    robertat 1-29-2010

    did she play dr. quinn

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Crickitat 1-29-2010

    Wahoo!!! It is very exciting to know she will be coming out with new material soon....and the idea of a new tour is beyond exciting!! Welcome back, P+E!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    East Coastat 1-29-2010

    (Ahem) WHO???

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Gregat 1-29-2010

    I remember when she played at the Hard Rock Cafe in Myrtle Beach. She was GREAT!!!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Dave C.at 1-29-2010

    It's so GREAT to hear that Poe's "exile" is over & that new material is forthcoming! Like LostLenore, I missed the opening act for Depeche Mode back in 2001. When I found out that it was Poe, I was SO angry (like Johnny) that I missed her! While "waiting out the storm" for a 3rd album, I have enjoyed immensely her collaborations with Rhys Fulber (Conjure One) under the moniker "Jane/Poe". I hope that there'll be future collaborations between the two; definately some of my favorite material of hers!!! Glad to hear you're back Poe; can I get a "HELLO"?

    PS. For those fans that haven't already heard, she's got a new fan page started up at:
    http://realpoe.ning.com

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Jayat 1-29-2010

    OMG I am sooo happy!!! I been waiting for this since she disapeared...! I caught her stuf with Circle One and it was great but I cant wait for another Poe album and hopefully a tour!!!!

    Reply
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