Susan Boyle's overnight fame looks likely to last long term after the singer received a standing ovation on an American TV show. The Britain's Got Talent runner-up was mobbed by fans and photographers when she arrived in Los Angeles to appear on the final of the US version of the show that turned her into a global superstar. The live audience of America's Got Talent, one of the country's highest-rating shows, rose to their feet as the previously unemployed 48-year-old Scot delivered a soaring version of the Rolling Stones classic Wild Horses.
Susan Boyle's overnight fame looks likely to last long term after the singer received a standing ovation on an American TV show.
The Britain's Got Talent runner-up was mobbed by fans and photographers when she arrived in Los Angeles to appear on the final of the US version of the show that turned her into a global superstar.
The live audience of America's Got Talent, one of the country's highest-rating shows, rose to their feet as the previously unemployed 48-year-old Scot delivered a soaring version of the Rolling Stones classic Wild Horses.
Frankly this lounge core version is blah blah. It's what she does, it's all she does. N E X T keep to the Fen Causeway
Here's what Chris Byrne keeps telling herself: He was going away anyway. Her oldest child, 19-year-old Mike, was going to head off to school this fall, leaving Beaverton and home for Boston and the Berklee College of Music... But instead of a dorm room, Mike was checked into an extended-stay hotel. Instead of Boston, he was settling in outside of Chicago, near a recording studio. Instead of college, Chris Byrne helped move her son into the Smashing Pumpkins, one of the pre-eminent bands of the 1990s alternative rock boom -- a band that has sold more than 15 million records.
But instead of a dorm room, Mike was checked into an extended-stay hotel. Instead of Boston, he was settling in outside of Chicago, near a recording studio. Instead of college, Chris Byrne helped move her son into the Smashing Pumpkins, one of the pre-eminent bands of the 1990s alternative rock boom -- a band that has sold more than 15 million records.
From more than 1,000 submissions, 12 drummers auditioned. From those, the 42-year-old [Billy] Corgan chose Byrne, but he wanted to make sure it was cool with the teenager's parents. Chris Byrne thinks Corgan also wanted to know Mike had the support of his family, which also includes Elise, a junior at Beaverton High School and the "real super-achiever," according to Mom... In June, he headed back to Los Angeles to work with the band. It began to feel real in that way a dream does when you wake up and you wonder, "Did that really happen?" It had really happened. He really had visited the Zildjian headquarters, where he had his pick of the finest drum equipment available -- the best cymbals imaginable. "Cymbals that are typically so far out of my price range it's ridiculous," he says. "It was a really, really good day to say the least."
In June, he headed back to Los Angeles to work with the band.
It began to feel real in that way a dream does when you wake up and you wonder, "Did that really happen?" It had really happened.
He really had visited the Zildjian headquarters, where he had his pick of the finest drum equipment available -- the best cymbals imaginable. "Cymbals that are typically so far out of my price range it's ridiculous," he says. "It was a really, really good day to say the least."
Byrne joined Corgan on a short tour in August that earned solid reviews and -- what do you know? -- he really did have someone whose job it was to care for and carry his drum kit. "We hire people to do it," he was told. Byrne spent some time in Beaverton just before Labor Day. He slept in his own bed. He played with his old band. He got ready to head to Chicago to begin recording the new Smashing Pumpkins record. He caught the flu, and arrived later than scheduled. When he was well enough to head to the airport, he looked at the ticket and realized it was first class. Maybe, his mother suggested, it was because he had to re-book on late notice. No coach left, so he had to go in style. Turns out, no, that wasn't it. Byrne flies first class now. He called his parents when he landed to declare the flight attendants had served him warm cookies and milk. "I'm such a rock star," he told his mom.
"We hire people to do it," he was told.
Byrne spent some time in Beaverton just before Labor Day. He slept in his own bed. He played with his old band. He got ready to head to Chicago to begin recording the new Smashing Pumpkins record. He caught the flu, and arrived later than scheduled.
When he was well enough to head to the airport, he looked at the ticket and realized it was first class.
Maybe, his mother suggested, it was because he had to re-book on late notice. No coach left, so he had to go in style. Turns out, no, that wasn't it. Byrne flies first class now. He called his parents when he landed to declare the flight attendants had served him warm cookies and milk.
"I'm such a rock star," he told his mom.
