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The Roots' ?uestlove Talks Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

February 13, 2009 12:48 PM

Photo: Kisby/Getty

It's always a learning experience to chat with the Roots bad-ass drummer ?uestlove. Last night we chatted with him about the Grammys -- where he, by extension, won two Grammys for his production work on Al Green's 2008 disc, Lay It Down -- and ?uesto also gave us the scoop on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which hits NBC on March 2nd. As you probably know, the Roots will be the house band, and ?uestlove will follow in the footsteps of Paul Shaffer and Max Weinberg, as a bandleader and comedic foil. Here ya go:

• Grammy producers were desperate to find a replacement for their Chris Brown/Rihanna slot: "It was very interesting watching them run around the audience," he says. "Initially they were trying to get Justin, Kenny Chesney and Al Green, but Kenny was too nervous, so he dropped out at the last minute."

• The Roots will commute to New York City from Philly to tape their Fallon segments: "Were commuting via tour bus every morning at 8 am," he says. "I have to do adult shit now, like go to bed before 11, which I've yet to do."
• NBC will no longer pay for published music: That means, the only thing that the Roots can play are original songs. "We have to write 200 new songs, which will probably last about a year," he says. "We've written about 55 so far."

• ?uestlove gives each piece of music a special name: "Some people call them beds or bumpers," he says, about the musical interludes that tie a late night show together. "I call them sandwiches. If the song sounds like the Meters, then we call it a po boy sandwich. If it's pop, i call it the Subway sandwich. Disco or Philly soul, we call it a cheese steak. When we're referencing some UK rock shit, that's the Marmite sandwich. If it has a didgeridoo, then it's a Vegemite sandwich."

• The Roots will not be retiring from the road!: "We didn't tell anybody we were retiring! I never want to pull some Eagles/Kiss shit where it's like, 'Okay, this is the last time you'll see us.' "They'll allow us ten weeks of touring time every year. We'll start with five shows each week night, but I'm certain that Jimmy will want to do it Letterman-style, taping two shows one night so we can get Fridays off. That's an extra 52 days so I'm sure we'll fill those up with shows." Roots are also planning to host a regular late-night residency at New York's Highline Ballroom, beginning March 5th.

• The Roots are booked for five years: "I think if Jimmy turns on the charm like he did on Saturday Night Live, I'm almost certain that this show will work. Anything can happen. Knock on wood that this isn't the Chevy Chase Show or the Magic Hour.

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4 Comments

Sephtical | February 18, 2009 7:08 PM

I take it Black Thought won't be there right? If Quest is filling the speaking role.

mr merrick | February 15, 2009 12:11 AM

questo and tariq will save the day. just as long as questo doesnt talk tooo much.

wrap it up b

TheCoz | February 13, 2009 5:31 PM

I never used to mind Jimmy Fallon until he started making movies. I always considered him a poor man's Adam Sandler. Starring in "Fever Pitch" should have landed Fallon at least 30 days in jail.

jon | February 13, 2009 3:29 PM

Jimmy Fallon blows. But I will watch on March 2nd to see the Roots.

DAMN YOU NBC!!!!!!!!

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