Melissa Etheridge Goes on Tour With New Album

When it comes to LGBT celebrities, American singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge is as iconic as they come. This straight-shooting rocker came out as gay way back in the beginning of her career, as she told the world in her 1993 mainstream breakthrough album, "Yes I Am." That album featured three Top 40 hits and nabbed her second Grammy Award.

Fans followed Etheridge's life and career, through 17 Grammy noms, her marriages and divorces from Julie Cypher and Tammy Lynn Michaels to her 2004 battle with breast cancer. At 53 years old, she's rocking just as hard as ever.

Etheridge has released her 12th studio album, "This is M.E." It's one of her best works in a while, with a sound like her early cut, "Ain't it Heavy." EDGE talked with Etheridge about her life, her album and Pride.

EDGE: Your new album "This is M.E." seems to bring your career full-circle, back to the intensity of your early work, like my personal favorite, "Chrome Plated Heart." What was the driving force behind this intensity?

Etheridge: It is about making the music that I love and that I love to perform live, and sharing it. What makes it so fun to perform live is when there is that energy exchange with the audience, that comes from those songs people want to throw their hands in the air and sing at the top of their lungs. I went into it with that kind of energy to collaborate and create stuff that was coming from me, and that's why I call it "This is M.E."

EDGE: You also have an accompanying DVD to go with it, "A Little Bit of Me: Live in LA." From your December 12, 2014 performance at the Orpheum Theater in L.A. How have fans responded to this?

Etheridge: They love it! It's a well-known fact is what I do best is live performing. When I present a live product it's always exciting because I love to show people what I do. And this new DVD is made with my new band, with Jerry Wonda on bass (who used to be with The Fugees). He and the studio band came out with me and just rocked it, and they are one of the tightest, coolest bands I've ever played with, that I just wanted to make sure it's on video so we can share it with fans.

EDGE: In "Who Are You Waiting For," the lyrics go, "I'm through with love, isn't it clear my friend/ you said, who are you waiting for?" This is a heartbreaking song that turns around. What's the story behind it?

Etheridge: It's about my relationship with my wife Linda. It was six years ago, and I was coming to the end of my last relationship, and it was awful. I said, 'That's it I'm done, I'm no good at this obviously.' And Linda was my best friend for eight years, so I actually asked her to come help me with the kids because I was a single mom again. She came into our home to begin helping me because the kids knew and loved her. So day after day, week after week we lived together like married couple (without benefits), until one day I looked across room and thought, 'Who am I waiting for?' I told myself I would never look for love again... but love came and found me, right in my home.

EDGE: In 2004, you battled breast cancer and performed Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" while still bald from chemo. What kind of response did you get from other cancer survivors and patients going through what you went through?

Etheridge: I'm now 10 years cancer-free, and happier and healthier than ever. But in this 10 years I've had hundreds of thousands of people who have gone through cancer, lost loved ones to cancer, survived, or are going through it now reach out to me, and unfortunately, there are still way too many of us dealing with this thing called cancer. But it was the most rewarding journey of life because it's about understanding and being responsible for our health. I'm all too willing for those who want to listen to tell them what I know and inspire them.

EDGE: In September 2011, you got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Do you ever visit it?

Etheridge: I've been there a couple times. Some nights we eat at a restaurant a couple of blocks away, and we'll go look at the star. I'll stand with my star but everyone's looking down so they don't even see me. It's right in front of the Hard Rock so I imagine it's been puked on a few times, but they keep it clean.

EDGE: You are well-known for your support to charitable organizations. What is your favorite charitable cause that you want people to know about?

Etheridge: I am a huge believer in taking care of one's self first. Especially the women out there: sometimes we give so much of ourselves away and do so much for others that we don't take care of ourselves. And I believe very deeply that we are no good for anyone else unless we're good for ourselves. Right now, instead of pushing any of the numerous charitable causes that are on my website, I hope women will first look on themself, their health and happiness, and then once they get that, will see how to spread it.

EDGE: Your Wikipedia page has a funny line about how in 1985, lesbian record label Olivia Records rejected you. You feature this in your Lifetime movie, "Intimate Portrait: Melissa Etheridge." You know they are kicking themselves; do you still get a laugh from this?

Etheridge: Oh yeah! Every now and then I'll do something for Olivia Cruises, and we'll laugh about it. I'll sing to their Mexican Riviera cruise before they leave in December, and I'll see the gals who run Olivia, and they'll laugh and say, 'Yeah, we missed that one but it's okay,' and we have a good laugh from it. It worked out for the best all around.

EDGE: In an interview with Anderson Cooper, you admitted that you still use medical marijuana to alleviate health issues, which is legal in California. Are you an advocate for legalization?

Etheridge: Yes, absolutely. I see the cannabis movement as a part of this whole health and wellness and balancing of sacred feminism. Understanding cannabis as medicine is understanding more about earth and what she has to offer us, about nature and whole foods -- they all go together. I think states that understand and embrace this are ones who will be at forefront of the movement. I foresee complete legalization of cannabis, and think it can be a change for the better.

EDGE: Your single "Monster" is a bad-ass rock tune with lyrics, "I'm a Monster, full of desire, full of love." What's the story behind this one?

Etheridge: That's a long story, kind of. I was at Jerry Wonda's Platinum Sound studio on the first day of recording, and we were working on other song, so I pulled out my guitar to play a little slide on it. I was messing around with a beat and having fun, when he said 'Stop, what are you playing?' He recorded it, and instantly put a beat to it, and we said, 'That is the coolest track.' So I took it home and thought, 'This has got to be something powerful, something you want to scream at the top of your lungs.' So that day, before I went back into the studio, I was in NYC to go to the United Nations, because for the first time ever, they were having a meeting recognizing LGBT rights as human rights. It was a big deal -- Martina and Jason Collins there, and I got to speak and was so honored. It was such a powerful feeling, like we really made strides, and now it's international. So leaving, I saw a large statue of military machines made into a dragon, and left there thinking 'I'm a monster full of desire and love.' That's what it is: embrace differences and being strong through it.

EDGE: You and your partner Linda Wallem got hitched last May in Montecito. Can you share one thing about your new wife that fans would be surprised to know?

Etheridge: She is just becoming an amazing cook/chef. She loves to cook, watches all the shows, just enjoys amazing cuisine, and is starting to really make some wonderful food. And another thing, if fans don't know, my wife and I were both born on exact same day. May 29, 1961. We share a birthday.

EDGE: It's Pride week in NYC and across the U.S. What will you be doing, and what does Pride mean to you?

Etheridge: I'm actually on tour, and I love being on tour during Pride because city to city I see amazing Prides in small and large towns, and I'm on the road and enjoying it. Pride is about loving yourself, and it just goes back to taking care of yourself first, feeling powerful and strong in ourselves is the best we can do for our community.

EDGE: The cover art for "This is M.E." is composed of photos from fans. As we close this interview, tell your fans what they mean to you.

Etheridge: My fans are the beautiful reflection back to me of my work. When we share the energy of the music and performance, there is nothing else like that. I would not be what I am, or do what I do without the fans.

"This is M.E.", via her indie label ME Records, is available for purchase on iTunes or http://www.melissaetheridge.com. She's on tour now, hitting venues from the East Coast to Canada before heading to Europe on July 11, and returning in late July to the West Coast. After that, she'll return for another go at the East Coast and Canada in the fall. Catch her show when she comes to your town!