Coolest, Most Spectacular Interviews of 2011

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AC Weekly had chats with Cee Lo Green, Jamie Foxx, the Arctic Monkeys, Terry Winter, Steven Wright and more in the past year.

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Dec. 21, 2011

As we continue our countdown of “Best-of Lists of 2011” at Atlantic City Weekly, here are the 10 best interviews we had in 2011, in alphabetical order. Hit the links to read what these stars had to say.

1. Arctic Monkeys (Oct. 12) — One of the hottest bands on the planet had a chat with our Ed Condran about their youthful beginnings and their new directions. The band’s debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, became and still is the best-selling debut disc in British history.

2. John Fogerty (Nov. 16) — A rare interview with the man who founded Creedence Clearwater Revival, then had to spend decades not singing his CCR songs because of a dispute with his record label. He overcame this battle and continued to earn acclaim for his work as a solo artist.

3. Jamie Foxx (June 30) — Jamie Foxx hit town July 4 weekend for both a comedy show and a musical performance, not to mention hosting several parties in between the gigs. The multi-tasking star talked about his roots, working with Ray Charles and his plans for the future.

4. Tia Fuller (Aug. 10) — Sax woman Tia Fuller performed at the Chicken Bone Beach this past summer and discussed her career, including touring for several years with Beyonce, and what it is like for a female player in the male dominated world of jazz.

5. Cee Lo Green (July 13) — The popular singer turned judge/mentor for the popular reality series The Voice, Cee Lo Green dropped into town as the special guest star for Rihanna’s tour hot off his smash hit “Forget You” (the sanitized version of the real title “Fuck You.”) Green talked about his tough childhood and how he is an “old soul” when it comes to classic soul music.

6. Larry King (May 10) — Larry King stepped down from his decades long perch on CNN and went on tour … as a stand-up comic and storyteller. WTF? AC Weekly columnist David Spatz got the scoop on King’s longtime love of comedy.

7. Huey Lewis (July 13) — The popular leader of the 1980s bar band-turned-hit-makers, Huey Lewis and the News, took a new direction with his most recent album Soulville, real hardcore Memphis blues, and according to his insightful interview with AC Weekly’s Michael Pritchard, surprised even himself with the results.

8. Seth Rogan (Sept. 28) — Comedian, actor and writer Seth Rogan arrived at the Toronto Film Festival with two new movies that were a major departure from his usual goofy comedy performances in Judd Apatow movies. In this interview he talked about how his friendship with writing partner and cancer survivor Will Reiser led to their collaboration on the acclaimed comedy 50/50.

9. Terence Winter (Sept. 15) — The writer behind the adaptation of Nelson Johnson’s Boardwalk Empire into the smash hit HBO series produced by Martin Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg, is more than happy that the series has revived interest in Atlantic City at a time when the city could use some good publicity. He talks about how the creative team decided the 1920s was the best period to explore.

10. Steven Wright (Nov. 3) — You never know where an interview with comedian Steven Wright is going to wind up and AC Weekly’s Jeff Schwachter found himself talking about the Red Sox and the possibility of death by falling satellite debris in this November 2011 chat.