Various Artists News

(7/27/98, 6 p.m. PDT) - How's this for a blind date--Shirley Manson and Anthony Kiedis? Well, that's what approximately 1,500 lucky winners got Friday night, when Miller Genuine Draft's second annual Blind Date stopped at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.

The venue, which usually holds approximately 3,000, was cut in half to make the evening even more intimate. Winners had to check in at 6 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott before they were whisked away by bus to a top-secret location, which turned out to be the Aragon Ballroom.

The festivities started even before the music, as winners were treated to a performance by onetime Lollapalooza attraction the Jim Rose Circus Sideshow. After the gross-out act came red-hot swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, who, according to our man on the spot, were well-received by the crowd.

The next surprise of the evening was Garbage, fronted by the ever-lovely Ms. Manson. Surprisingly enough, a lot of the crowd did not know what to make of the band, but the mood changed dramatically when the headliners appeared. The Red Hot Chili Peppers knocked the socks off the crowd, making one of their first live appearances since former guitarist John Frusciante rejoined the band.

Overall, a good time was had by all. Apparently the Chili Peppers were in such a fine mood that Kiedis and fellow Pepper Flea stopped by the V.I.P. party to schmooze with guests.

The next MGD Blind Date is scheduled for October in London. For details about how you can enter and win a trip for two for London, check out issue No. 19 of the LAUNCH CD-ROM, but you better act fast. Entries have to be in by July 31.

Last year's MGD Blind Dates featured performances by Bush, David Bowie, the Foo Fighters, Supergrass and the Chemical Brothers.