I was checking out this article about Jessica Sierra and whadduya know, there's Jon's picture and half the article was about him!! They even have a link to his website.
Here's the article: Sierra Goes to Rehab! Pen Boy Lives! By Daniel Fienberg January 09, 10:18 AM
"Oh Jessica Sierra. Are you finally on the road to recovery? Ah Jon Peter Lewis. When did we last think of you?
One of the things I hope to do with this blog -- in addition to the standard task of chronicling the seventh season of American Idol -- is providing occasional updates on past Idol contestants, at least the ones who give evidence of being alive.
Jessica Sierra, for example, is still alive. The frequently arrested, sex tape-pending, baby-having singer was sentenced on Monday to a year in a California rehab facility. This should be good for her well-being, plus it will somewhat increase her chances of popping up in the Idol audience. We still wish her the best.
We also wish Jon Peter Lewis the best, even if he once snubbed our humble interview request at a FOX-sponsored party. By "our," I mean "my," incidentally. Nobody snubs the collective power of Zap2it. My own collective power? Very easily snubbed.
Lewis, you'll recall, finished in eighth place on the third season of American Idol. He's perhaps most memorable for having been compared to a pen salesman or for being the contestant eliminated immediately before future Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.
Anyway, JPL -- or Pen Boy, as I preferred to call him -- is still alive and, if the press release I received today is accurate, he's still making music. The release -- which makes the semi-accurate claim that Lewis was "the first singer to bring rock 'n' soul to American Idol" -- says that JPL's second album will be released this spring. The release boasts that Lewis will be writing or co-writing several tracks on Don Grierson-produced album.
Don't feel bad if you hadn't realized that Lewis had released a previous album. His Stories From Hollywood was a "limited release distributed through independent roots rock label Authentic Records."
Lewis will certainly have more information in the future on his personal website."
Awe Jon .. you snubbed her? Well, here's your chance to make it up to her Jon. You can grant her an interview about your new CD.
My guess is Jon was just too busy at the time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Thanks Lisa! You know, "snub" has such negative connotations. It implies a deliberate and distainful ignoring. Since I don't want anyone to feel snubbed, I replied to Mr. Daniel Fienberg, the author, and asked HIM for an interview.
He seems to be a funny and interesting guy and a good writer too. I read some of his other stuff on Zap2it. So yes, I really do want to interview him. Daniel! Mr. Fienberg! I'd like an interview!
**************************** California Christmas this year.
"I think any person who's themself has no problems in standing out, because there's only one of you in the world," says Jon Peter Lewis somewhat enigmatically. Depending on how you look at the statement, it's either vapidly obvious or blissfully Zen. Somewhere in between lies the perplexing or gratifying cult of JPL. --Daniel Fienberg
The Fien Print blog description reads, "Topics may include new movie releases, popular boob tube programming, sports, politics, or, well, anything. In season, there may even be "American Idol" recaps." That has to be the same guy.
I get the feeling this guy is a fan of Jons, in his own way.
I doubt if Jon actually snubbed him, doesn't seem like Jon would do that, perhaps he was tired or distracted the day the interview was offered.
Anyhow, I think it's a good thing that he's remembered and people still write about him. The guy also listed this site and who knows, more people might see that and want to check out his album.
I'm part of a perplexing or gratifying cult????? Woohoo!
But lookie! That link you posted, iris, IS an interview, so Jon did grant Daniel an interview at some point.
Daniel has wit, and he would be great to interview. I interviewed Jon in his first Idaho Falls concert, so I do have credentials for conducting an interview with a talented person.
It's hard to say whether Daniel likes Jon or not. I think Jon perplexed Daniel. Early on, he seemed to have bought into the idea that only teenage girls were keeping Jon on the show. He must have missed the fact that many of Jon's biggest fans when he was on the show were college-gradute professionals and many even held advanced degrees. For some reason, medical doctors seemed particularly attuned to Jon's talents.
Later in the season, in the article iris posted, Daniel says that Jon is an ultimate Rorschach Test, a tabula rasa. Those are apt comparisons since Jon does have many facets to both his personality and his music. Many people would be surprised to hear and see what Jon is doing these days. Jon has grown as a singer, song writer, and performer. And he has shown marvelous work ethic in pursuing his musical career.
**************************** California Christmas this year.
Thanks iris. Actually, I wrote to him last night at that address, but I was hesitant to mention that so he would have a face-saving way out if he didn't want to do it. I have heard nothing back yet. Being the interviewee and having the tables turned on him may not be something he is prepared for, but folks here would be interested to see him interviewed. I'd treat him really well too. He wouldn't have to feel highly pressured to answer any questions he didn't want to address. I figure it would be great publicity for his work. He could set the ground rules himself.
**************************** California Christmas this year.
Iris, Arts .. you two are great! I hope you get the interview Arts. lol.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Originally posted by artslvr: Thanks iris. Actually, I wrote to him last night at that address, but I was hesitant to mention that so he would have a face-saving way out if he didn't want to do it. I have heard nothing back yet. Being the interviewee and having the tables turned on him may not be something he is prepared for, but folks here would be interested to see him interviewed. I'd treat him really well too. He wouldn't have to feel highly pressured to answer any questions he didn't want to address. I figure it would be great publicity for his work. He could set the ground rules himself.
Aha... I didn't think you would have missed that address being there. I hope he replies soon.
