Until recently, Perez Hilton’s musical adventures chiefly involved getting in fights with the Black Eyed Peas or championing Lady Gaga, but the famous blogger wants you to know he can do more than just write about his new favourite band.
“I’m crazy about music,” he says. “It’s my passion.”
You wouldn’t be the only wondering how music became more of a passion than trashing stars on his website.
However, because Hilton enjoys the bands he likes as much as the Hollywood stars he hates, he’s decided to start a label and promote a tour.
The Perez Hilton Presents Tour 2009, which features Ida Maria, Ladyhawke and Semi Precious Weapons, arrives in Toronto tonight and, Hilton says, it should be a memorable show. “People are going to walk away feeling that they’ve just been part of something cool,” he says. “It’s going to be experimental, but I don’t want to say what will happen just yet.”
“The Toronto show will be more acoustic,” reveals Norway-based rocker Ida Maria. “That’s because our guitar player has to do another gig with another band at the same time, so we’re one short.”
While Maria will likely be a big draw — her debut disc Fortress Round My Heart broke the top 40 on the U.K. charts — it’s Hilton’s name that will bring in the most fans.
But, the gossip writer doesn’t always elicit positive emotions — you either like him or hate him. He says whatever you think shouldn’t matter. Go see the show because of the artists.
“Don’t say I don’t want to go because I don’t want to support Perez,” he says. “You’re not supporting me, you’re supporting the musicians. I’m not making money on this tour. I’m pouring it all into the acts, the production and things that we’ll make this different.”
Hilton’s divisive reputation isn’t a problem for Maria.“I don’t have any problems being associated with his fame,” she says. “My music speaks for itself.”
While his name didn’t make her think twice about joining his tour, his lack of musical industry experience did.
Before she agreed to hit the road with him she had to find out if this was a joke or not. It didn’t take long before she knew he was being serious. “I realized he had some of the best people in the country on board,” she reveals. “When I saw that it was a solid plan it made it more attractive to me to do it.”
Hilton admits that putting on a tour and setting up his own record label has been a learning process, but he says, “I don’t think I’ve fallen on my face just yet.”
Time will tell if Hilton will become the next big music mogul — French pop artist Sliimy, his label’s first artist, released Paint Your Face this week — but at least Hilton thinks his new musical journey will be successful.
“I did this because I know I will do it well,” he says. “I don’t want to undertake anything I won’t be good at.
“I’ve really been able to help musicians in the past so I wanted to kick it up a notch and help my own artists.”
• The Perez Hilton Presents Tour 2009 plays the Opera House tonight.
