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12/13/06, 8:27 am EST

Meet Russell Morse

russell morse i'm from rolling stone

AGE 26
HOMETOWN San Francisco
COLLEGE San Francisco State
FAVORITE BOOKS Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises; Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions
FAVORITE MOVIES One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
FAVORITE MUSIC Ghostface Killah, Fiona Apple

What kind of music did you hear around the house?
My dad’s a guitar player. He played in a country-rock band. Around the house he played the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash and Stevie Wonder. He subscribed to Rolling Stone.

Did you go to shows?
My first real concert that I went to alone was Color Me Badd. I sang along to “I Wanna Sex You Up.” I was eleven. After that, I saw Beck, and smaller rap concerts like De La Soul and the Alkoholics. Growing up, I was listening to 2 Live Crew and Run DMC and Bay Area rap. Then, when Tupac was dead, I started getting into East Coast. I liked Nas, Mobb Deep and Wu-Tang a lot.

Did you get into trouble as a kid?
I got kicked out of every school I ever went to — about seven. I just had a problem with authority. When I was a teenager, I got into drugs and graffiti and stolen cars, and I ended up in juvenile hall. Finally I went to the Walden House in San Francisco, where I learned that I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life being a retard.

And that’s when you began writing?
There was a writers’ workshop at juvenile hall. I wrote about my experiences in the juvenile justice system and about foster care, public housing and crime, for a magazine called Youth Outlook.

Are you inspired by Hunter Thompson?
I covered the presidential campaign of 2004, and I read Campaign Trail over and over again. I really liked writing and drugs.

How did you find out about the I’m From Rolling Stone contest?
My editor at Pacific News Service found out about it online, and he thought, “Wow, there’s really only one person I can think of to do this.” He was looking at it as kind of an assignment for me, to go out there and see what it was about. So I finished the application and sent it in. I almost forgot about it. I didn’t think it was going to happen until they called me up and told me, “Oh, you’re getting on a plane tomorrow.”

It was literally the day before?
Yeah. When they told us, we were on camera. Jann called me on my cell phone and said, “Hey, I’m calling to say congratulations.” I told him, “Yeah, I don’t think it’s for me.” He was like, ‘”What do you mean?” He was all flustered. I had to hurry up and say, “Nah, I’m kidding. It’s great.”

So what did you think when you met the other five contestants?
We were friends right away. We all met in L.A. when they brought us down for casting. We were in the same casting pool. So many of us were from California. I hadn’t met Tika. She was the only person I didn’t know. But everyone else, I met and hung with. We kicked it together. We partied pretty hard in L.A. at the casting. We all went into the pool and everything. It was fun. We made friends right away.

What were your first impressions of the Rolling Stone offices?
I guess I had this romantic idea in my head of people under their desks shooting heroin in their eyeballs, like, “Whoa they must be on a deadline.” Which is not very realistic cause they actually manage to put out a magazine every two weeks. I got in there, like, “Man, it’s looking like Enron in here.” But it’s a newsroom like any other newsroom. But I love the art. The art was amazing.

Which stuff in particular?
The big illustrations: Elvis Costello, Axl Rose. And the Steadman stuff. I love Ralph Steadman. So that was amazing to see the originals with all his little notes, “Don’t fuck this up, grey scale, blah blah blah.” That was cool.

How did you feel about having the cameras around?
It was bizarre. I guess at a certain point, what would make me a good Rolling Stone employee would not make me a good subject of a television show. If I was at my desk being productive, for instance, making telephone calls, responding to e-mails. . . It’s hard to have a built-in audience all the time. It makes you act like an asshole. A big part of being a journalist is being a paid observer, being mindful of everything, and doing your best to be invisible. And you can’t really be invisible when you have a camera crew with you. Thankfully, the people that I interviewed [during the course of the show] were celebrities, so they’re used to cameras. But the way that I conduct interviews generally is that I try to make intimate conversation. And it’s hard to have intimate conversation with cameras and mikes. It kinda cramped me a little bit professionally — made it hard to be just an observer, which is one of my favorite things to do.

-- Rolling Stone

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Comments

me | 5/2/2007, 2:31 am EST

yo, i talked to you at a bar last night. you’re pretty fly and i liked your style. plus you’re a good dancer. we should date.

ANONYMOUS | 3/31/2007, 4:29 pm EST

jIve oNe WiLL hAuNt YoUr sTePs fOrEvEr

Lila | 3/23/2007, 1:47 am EST

Russell, I miss your hands and tongue on me! Come Home

Amber | 3/1/2007, 6:29 pm EST

Hey Russel!! WOW When I seen your crazy ass in a Mag. I thought WOW he is really writing BIG!! I remember when we (Tito, Coob, Fiona, you, Me, Francisco and there was 1 more couple) and we went to the river!! WOW we had fun you were hella talking about what you have accomplished! So I watched the show a few times!! You still crack me up!!

S.Thompson | 3/1/2007, 6:06 am EST

I don’t know why yall feel it necessary to keep repeating about how Russell looks old or hard; have you ever been in any kind of correctional facility, foster home, or even in the custody of the California Law Enforcement System? Shit hardens you pretty fast. I think he’s a good looking cat, and it’s nice to see an educated man from the streets for a change (especially one formerly into bombing-not only can he write prose but he can write a mean piece as well!?)Anyway, How many of you landed a spot writing for one of the most well-known and read magazines in the country?

Angel | 2/24/2007, 6:54 pm EST

This Comment isn’t so much on the contestent but the interview.I love watching Im from Rolling stone it’s something i love to do aswell. Write. Although when i saw the “meeting” That tika had with Jay Z, i was more than fucking pissed when i saw that shit, I loved Jay Z and when she asked him “How his music Changed hip hop” and he said “i dunno ask someone else” WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT SHIT Grow the fuck up jay z, maybe you can look back years ago when you weren’t famous and remember what if feels like to be human, all this fame is going to your head, and to think it thought you were the realest one left. HA, now you just proved just as well that there isnt, it all comes down that you guys are the sell outs.

P. | 2/18/2007, 11:53 pm EST

win this mannn…do it 4 chidi!!!!!!!!!

tsf | 2/16/2007, 1:03 am EST

tough lookin pic. win this thing. that clip sayin maybe u screw up cuz its just what u know & its comfortable, feel you on that

Madtown Maniac | 1/31/2007, 10:08 pm EST

Nah, he could easily be 27. I used to baby sit his older brother and this one wasn’t born 30 years ago!

nikki | 1/31/2007, 9:02 am EST

im so proud of my cousin russel i love the show i think he sould win……

Dowls | 1/30/2007, 3:50 pm EST

X-treme office chairs! That’s all that needs to be said. Throw in a pinch of the elevator dancing and you have a twisted dude…but a good twisted!

Sonia Mia | 1/27/2007, 8:31 pm EST

He’s Just a sick guy who loves writing…I like em

estrada | 1/21/2007, 3:41 am EST

this guy definitely needs to win this competition. he seems real and genuine.

bianca | 1/21/2007, 3:17 am EST

i actually started watching the show today, the first thing i thought was yet another reality show. i dont watch a lot of television, but i must admit this kept me entertained. rusell was the reason why i stayed tuned he is a good looking guy, cute,and smart. his mini bio is awesome reminds me a lot of a friend of mine, who i know has as much talent as rusell obviously has.

Ace Moon | 1/19/2007, 3:24 pm EST

LOL! You got these bitch boys talkin’ bout you Russ! That’s a good sign homie.

Temi | 1/15/2007, 2:54 pm EST

There seems to be a lot of ramdom discussion concerning the current state of music today, the consequent disillusionment caused my this realization, the size of Russel’s lips, how much MTV sucks, etc. etc. There is no point in commenting on the media “machine” and the capitalist system b/c here, it’s relevant, but not essential to our conversation about the interns. Who cares if you think they may be posers or archetypes. Read their compositions. If you think it’s shit, then you think it’s shit. If you think it’s amazing, then you think it’s amazing. Simple. Bye.

adamirizarry@hotmail.com | 1/8/2007, 6:59 pm EST

alright. i shouldn’t have said that. how negative of me. look, he’s a good writer, i just have a hard time overcoming my own disillusionment with the modern musical landscape. that’s all. there’s just not much going on i respect. but who gives a shit about MY opinion, I’M not on TV. so fuck it, nevermind. it’s just… uggghhh… all so much capitalistic BS. who gives a shit, really? i’m going to go crawl back into my hole. peace.

adamirizarry@hotmail.com... :) | 1/8/2007, 6:48 pm EST

he’s clever, and will win because the others are not nearly as much so. i hope he realizes, for his own sake, that he’s merely part of the machine, perpetuating. there’s nothing honest in his article about the oakland music scene. it’s a product. all this bullshit about the latest bullshit trend. no soul, or ministry of musical heritage. he’s a damn good salesman, shallow and self-obsessed. perfect for the magazine. just not my bag, baby. and mike is right, really.. who gives a fuck? it’s just more propaganda. i’m depressed that it pissed me off enough to rant on this website. lol. jeez.

Anonymous | 1/8/2007, 3:59 pm EST

I’m sorry dipshit, but thats everything OPPOSITE of Russell. You obviously don’t know what the fuck your talkin about.

Anonymous | 1/8/2007, 1:30 pm EST

Please!!! All these “people” are obvious character archetypes. There has already been a Hunter Thompson and there will never be another one. The moment I saw Russel I knew his had to have a Vonnegut book listed as one of his favorite. He is trying to hard to fit a mold, just like that wanna be hippie chick Kristie. No one knows how to be themselves anymore. It’s just sad.

turk | 1/4/2007, 1:13 pm EST

i first met Rus when he was 15. He is a very nice guy and he is gonna win..

mjgt from the sucka free... | 12/28/2006, 3:01 am EST

I’ve been in the same classes and kicked it with this kid in the past… I’ve always known since middle school (RMS) that he was gifted. Russell Morse is a smart young man. I’m proud that he’s here to represent the 415 with his unique experience, style, intelligence, and creativity. peace & blessings…

urgeone | 12/24/2006, 1:44 pm EST

jive one haha…good luck CUT brotha

Fa Sho | 12/22/2006, 5:00 pm EST

I found some old video of this dude acting an ass. Go to google video and type in YO!TV — there’s hella clips.

Nikki | 12/22/2006, 1:47 pm EST

i have to agree with my lil cousin jordan on this one this man is my cousin and enought with the disrespect he has workd hard to get where he is and he is gunna win and everyone knows it……i am so proud of you!!!!!!

Kwest On | 12/21/2006, 2:23 pm EST

That Russell character is a hack. I just read something from him on newamericamedia.org
http://new s.newamericamedia.org/news/vie w_article.html?article_id=4ab1 3dbeafea01c7a2e94c60ea38cb9e
s ome shht about the border. I dunno…

Wilder | 12/20/2006, 2:20 pm EST

Hm…potential, but I have to check out his work. Viewers may not follow this show very well this isn’t top model, but then again I’m sure it’ll be dumbed down a bit.

Hyundai | 12/19/2006, 6:07 pm EST

We have our winner

someone | 12/19/2006, 6:05 pm EST

So…who was your inspiration at walden house…someone must have guided you this way???

Silvano | 12/19/2006, 6:02 pm EST

Awright bywatches, this guy would fuck you all left, right, up, down and around. In any category. Thats all need be said mayn.

nickjobs@hotmail.com | 12/18/2006, 5:47 pm EST

I hope your pic has nothing to do with “livin the dream”. You look like the guy from Fargo. Congrats on your 15 Jiver.

Jordan | 12/17/2006, 12:27 pm EST

This guy is my cuzn…. so enough with the disrespect…. He’s gonna win and you all know it…. love the interview… this boy is a comical genius and has worked hard….
your my boy russel

CAPTAIN SAVE A TOE | 12/14/2006, 11:36 pm EST

DE FEET is not an option.

Stay on your TOES.

“FUCK WHAT IT COST!
I’M A BOSS!
TYCOON!”

Anonymous | 12/14/2006, 10:54 pm EST

That last message obviously wasn’t about Rusell, or his skills, more about bashing the other contestants backhandedly…and about a blowhard hiding behind a few large words, and a computer screen full of cliches. Get a life you poor jealous loser.

Anonymous | 12/14/2006, 10:53 pm EST

That last message obviously wasn’t about Rusell, or his skills, more about bashing the other contestants backhandedly…and about a blowhard hiding behind a few large words, and a computer screen full of cliches. Get a life loser.

..;... | 12/14/2006, 6:28 pm EST

I know Krystal, and I would like to cheer for her, but I really think this guy will blow Ms. ‘Jagger’ Simpson and the other contestants to the wall. Granted, my prediction is based solely on his interview answers and myspace blogs, but to be eloquent and creative in restrictive forums requires skill that the other interns don’t display (please, read Krystal’s articles, poetry, and blogs).

Rolling Stone is starving for naked talent, harsh reality, and old fashioned anarchy, San Francisco style. This guy will bring it.

Jeepers | 12/14/2006, 7:08 am EST

Jeepers! Is he related to Angelina Jolie??? His lips are a tell-tale sign

Andrew | 12/13/2006, 9:10 pm EST

This guy will win for sure. Loves the drugs and loves being a professional. Fuck everybody else.

Ross | 12/13/2006, 4:29 pm EST

sicko

the izza | 12/13/2006, 2:18 pm EST

Does he have a set of uppers or was he soaking them at the time? Looks like he may have worn a wig in and Kool AId lipstick in Juvie. Hey-Zeus McGillicutty.

martino | 12/13/2006, 1:52 pm EST

I didn’t know sharks could jump so high. Well done, RollingStone. I bet the blonde chick’s got a lot of interesting things to say.

Brian Fantana | 12/13/2006, 1:40 pm EST

hahaha you guys make fun of mtv so much. rolling stone sucks now. go back to your roots.

why | 12/13/2006, 1:23 pm EST

rollingstone i have been a fan of the magazine for some time and i like the part you guyes have in music scene. You guyes should really stick to music and not be another MTV. Reality is the music. Even though your show might make it big your guyes heart is not where it should be. I guess that is what music is about, making money.

michael graham | 12/13/2006, 1:18 pm EST

this dude is 26?!?!?! he looks like he’s about 37 …

Mike | 12/13/2006, 12:22 pm EST

Oh honestly, who gives a fuck?

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