We may not need another talent show creating more instant celebrities out of mediocre Americans, but The Next Great American Band might be the one that actually finds real artists. Taking the American Idol format, American Band is looking for musical groups instead of solo artists. They've got a solid panel of judges too, including musicians John Rzeznick and Sheila E. Frankly, any opportunity to speak with Sheila E is worth it, so thank you, Next Great American Band.
CraveOnline: Are bands better than solo artists?
Sheila E: I wouldn't say so, really because a solo artist needs a band to perform. A lot of times if you don't have a band, you can't perform. I don't think so. It's just a little more challenging for us because we're going to have to look at not just one individual but many individuals as a whole, as a unit. So that's going to be a little bit more challenging for us.
CraveOnline: How do you audition a whole group of people?
Sheila E: You audition as a group and that's the key. We really want to find the next band and we have to make sure that they come in as a group, as a band and that we believe that wow, you guys play great together as a band. Sometimes bands will come in and they're not together. There's one or two people that you can tell that they want to be a solo artist and they're not playing together with the band. It doesn't look like they belong together. Those are the ones that are not going to make it.
CraveOnline: Can you take personal attention with each band member or only comment on the dynamic as a whole?
Sheila E: No, we can take the time to. By the time they perform their song, absolutely we have to, in that allotted amount of time, look at every single person individually as well. Look at the musicianship, look at how they're interacting with each other as a unit, as a band. And being able to have them do maybe different types of music, maybe challenge them. If they came in and played pop, maybe we would have them change it and play something Latin or jazz or country. So we're going to challenge them with musicianship because we're looking for the next band. Back in the days, the groups and the bands that we listened to were like Earth, Wind and Fire, Santana and Grateful Dead. We don't have a lot of those bands anymore. Santana's still around which is great but that's what we're looking for. We're looking for a unit.
CraveOnline: Is it important for bands to be able to crossover stylistically?
Sheila E: Well, it also comes down to marketing. You're going to have to be able to market the group and again, we had a polka band audition. They were really good but again, it's like is America going to accept a polka band as the next great American band? I don't know. It's very difficult. The great thing about it is we're showing you a wide range, variety of different types of music so it wasn't just one specific group. It wasn't just rock or alternative. And also there was no limit on age, which was great because it started at an early age of group of kids that came in to an older group that came in, so it opens up the field to a lot of different people and I think that's what's really exciting about it.
CraveOnline: Do you think these talent shows are a good way to discover new talent?
Sheila E: Absolutely. I wish I had that opportunity. Even though I kind of did, but this is a great avenue for anyone. When you think about the years that I've toured and you go to each city and you take years and years out of your life to go and tour and travel around the world so that you can go to one city and play for these people, whether it be a club for 500 people or a stadium of 80,000 or 20,000. If you are on television, that one night that someone is able to see you, you're talking about millions of people in one day. That's pretty awesome because then it helps you to jumpstart your career, and if you're the one to go out there and perform, people are going to come see you because those millions saw you on the television.
CraveOnline: How would you have reacted to being judged in your early development?
Sheila E: I think that the experience that I've had is a lot of people have given me great criticism and things that could help me in my career. The thing about it is you have to take it and use it, if you can, as opposed to people getting mad and upset that you would offer something or tell them you should do this or do that and I think we should adjust it. This or that, your playing or your look. Some people get offended and they're just saying, "I don't want to change it. This is how I am and you have to accept it." Well, those are the people that don't sometimes make it. And sometimes they aren't. Sometimes those are the ones that are a little quirky. Those are the ones that stuck to their guns and said, "This is how I want to be." So that's on them.
Bad Religion 
