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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

It’s Not Heavy, Alanis, It’s Just Your Grammy

Compiled By Staff Writer Rick Bo

Some stray notes from the Grammy awards: John Popper of Blues Traveler (best rock performance with vocal) explained to a reporter that the hit “Run-Around” was inspired by a fight with a female friend, then added: “Thanks for dredging it all up again.”

Bassist Robert Reynolds of the Mavericks (best country group), who were up against his wife Trisha Yearwood for best country album, was relieved when Shania Twain won: “Now Trisha and I are on speaking terms again.”

In accepting his award for best country male vocalist, Vince Gill tweaked colleague Garth Brooks by saying: “Hootie and the Blowfish, you did not deserve this.”

Triple winner Alanis Morissette declined to pose for photographers, saying the trophy was too heavy to pick up.

Loose talk

Hootie & the Blowfish singer Darius Rucker, on the group’s double Grammy nod: “Winning a Grammy is one thing, but to be awarded one by Kiss’ Gene Simmons in full makeup is I think the greatest moment of our lives.”

He’s almost ready for a walker on the wild side

Lou Reed turns 54 today.

He knows all about rock - from the Stone Age

Sen. Strom Thurmond, told that his new campaign headquarters was once occupied by Hootie and the Blowfish, said he hadn’t heard of the band but added, “If they are from South Carolina, I’m sure they’re competent.” Said a spokesman for Atlantic Records, Hootie’s label: “He’s 93. He probably doesn’t know the Beatles.”

Help me, Rhonda, make it through the night

The Beach Boys are mixing a little twang with their surf sounds in the new album they’re recording, with the help of such country stars as Lorrie Morgan, Toby Keith, Junior Brown, Steve Earle and Willie Nelson.

Guess he’ll end up as a major musical figurine

The first wife and son of late jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan are none too thrilled with what they say are his widow’s plans to have his ashes blessed and made into little Buddhas for a shrine in her spare bedroom. Reed Mulligan, pointing out that his father was Roman Catholic, told the New York Daily News the idea was “just a little too weird.”

It’s certainly enough to make our skin crawl

According to Buzz magazine, the latest rage among young tourists on the Sunset Strip is posing for photos sprawled on the sidewalk outside the Viper Room, where River Phoenix convulsed in the throes of a fatal drug overdose in 1993.

She must not have had enough hits lately

Grammy nominee Bjork (“Human Behavior”) displayed some aberrant behavior by beating up a female TV journalist in a Thai airport. “All I said was ‘Welcome to Thailand,’ and she just hit me, lost control and went crazy,” the reporter said. Bjork called to apologize the following day, explaining: “I’ve had a lot of problems.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Color Photos

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled by staff writer Rick Bonino