A chance encounter fueled the convergence of members of Hole, Smashing Pumpkins , Blondie and the Go-Go's as Tube Tops 2000, a one-off alternative supergroup who went glam for an upcoming tribute album, Blockbuster (out Jan. 30). "I was just at the studio, hanging out," Go-Go's bassist Kathy Valentine says. "And the next thing I know, I'm recruited to play guitar and sing backup. It was late at night, in the way wee hours, and we did it in one take. The worst part was the handclaps, because that's always a big drag -- they hurt!"

Joining Valentine on group vocals, handclaps and various instruments on Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll Part II" were Hole guitarist Eric Erlandson, Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Mar and Blondie drummer Clem Burke. "I'd met Eric before, and I knew Clem really well, but it was my first time to meet Melissa. I thought she was really, really cool, a goddess. I guess she'll be looking for something to do . . ." Does that mean the Tube Tops will go beyond Glitter and take on other material? Valentine says the group has no immediate plans, "but that doesn't mean a world domination tour isn't in the works. I mean, we are the ultimate coed band."

Since Glitter's arrest and incarceration for child porn charges earlier this year, the cover choice seemed, well, a little odd, considering the tune has been subsequently banned at many American and Canadian hockey stadiums. Were the Tube Tops making some sort of statement, perhaps a bid to have the song reinstated as a sports anthem? "No!" Valentine laughs. "I'm sorry to laugh, but I had totally forgotten about that, I wasn't thinking of him, so it wasn't a statement by any means. I mean, I didn't even pick the song. There just aren't that many classic glitter or glam songs."

In the meantime, Valentine's more concerned with finishing up the next Go-Go's record, which should be done by the end of the year. "It's funny," she says, "the producers were telling us that they've never done an album where so many people have submitted songs, 'I have a great Go-Go's song.' But then they heard ours, and they realize nobody could write a song for us. It's just such an inherent, organic that makes us who we are, that it just can't be reproduced." Valentine says the band has written just under forty songs, but won't say which ones will make it to the record, since "I don't want to give away too much." She will say, however, that she doesn't think "anyone will be disappointed or wish this hadn't been done, that we stayed in the past. People will be glad we're back, like, 'Oh, we missed them.'"

JENNIFER VINEYARD
(October 28, 2000)