Letters To Cleo Starring All Over

October 9, 1998 - MTV News Online

Letters to Cleo are label-less, at least for the moment, but that hasn't kept them from popping up in almost every music industry scenario possible this month -- movie soundtracks, a tribute project, a benefit record, a vintage reissue and 'b'sides-type release, other artists' albums, production work, a movie cameo and even live theater.

Singer Kay Hanley is starring in a three-weekend run of "Preservation," the famed rock opera written by the Kinks' Ray (Kinks) Davies' that opened in Boston last weekend to strong reviews. This isn't Hanley's first stint with the Boston Rock Opera troupe--she previously starred in Jesus Christ Superstar.

Meanwhile bassist Scott Riebling has been producing and playing on demos for former Veruca Salt singer Nina Gordon's new solo album. He's been re-teamed with former drummer Stacy Jones, who originally left Letters to Cleo to join Veruca Salt only to depart hand-in-hand with Gordon not long after. Letters to Cleo guitarist Mike Eisenstein is on some tracks as well. Sources close to the band say it's a very good bet that both Riebling and Eisenstein will join Gordon and Jones in Hawaii next month when they record the full album with producer Bob Rock.

On the band front, Letters To Cleo parted company with Revolution Records in May and are currently negotiating with several labels, according to their spokesperson. In the interim, they'll be issuing a record on their own label with re-released material from a rare cassette called "Sister." The cassette was first issued in 1992 and featured an earlier incarnation of the band. The initial run was very limited and the tape has been sought after by collectors. A spokesperson confirms that the new CD will include the seven cuts from "Sister" as well as other previously unreleased tracks from roughly the same era. They're hoping to have it out before Christmas.

As previously reported by MTV News, Letters To Cleo is currently mixing their performance of the song "Debaser" for a Pixies tribute album, due out in March. Additionally, they've recorded a song called "Let's Get High" for the pending pot-friendly "Hempilation II: Free The Weed" benefit album. The band will also be making a cameo appearance in the movie "TEN THINGS i hate about you" with Larisa Oleynik ("Secret World of Alex Mack").

Next up for the band is a new song to be included on the soundtrack to "Jawbreaker," a movie starring Rose McGowan, Carol Kane and Pam Grier.

And, reliable sources tell us they may well be making a surprise appearance opening for Cheap Trick in Boston on October 15.