Listen up, kids. This is where we kept the weirdos, the geniuses, and the people who were way too smart for daytime television. Back when the "Alternative" label actually meant something (and wasn't just a clearance rack at the mall), I spent my nights in the MTV trenches with the icons of the era. Whether I was trying to get a straight answer out of a stone-faced Rivers Cuomo, dodging chaos with the Beastie Boys, or getting way too deep into the psyche of Tori Amos, it was always unpredictable, usually irreverent, and 100% unscripted. These are the raw sessions from Alternative Nation—no filters, no corporate hand-holding, just me and a microphone trying to survive the 90s.
Check out this blast from the past where I grill the Duran Duran boys about why on earth they covered Public Enemy and how I basically spent my youth traveling the world with a photo of Nick Rhodes in my suitcase.
Ska meets snark in this 1996 clip as Kennedy grills No Doubt on everything from their "Spiderwebs" stardom to the ultimate grunge-era debate of who reigns supreme: Suggs or Gavin Rossdale.
Kennedy tackles the 'alternative to the alternative' with Blues Traveler, trading jabs with John Popper about motorcycle mishaps, the H.O.R.D.E. tour’s true acronym, and why being a professional harmonica player is a 'persecuted breed' in the era of grunge.
Kennedy and Tori Amos bypass the typical interview banter to dive into the raw complexities of Under the Pink, discussing the betrayal of 'Cornflake Girls,' the healing power of confrontation, and a bizarrely detailed fantasy involving Henry Rollins and a lighthouse.
Kennedy explores the midwestern roots and 'miserable experiences' of the Gin Blossoms, playfully clashing with Robin Wilson and Bill Leen over their Arizona sound and the surprisingly dark themes hidden behind their hit-making melodies.
Kennedy attempts to host a coherent interview with director Spike Jonze, only to be hijacked by the Beastie Boys in various disguises—including a phone-in from Mike D and a bizarre 'Swiss filmmaker' persona from Adam Yauch—resulting in five minutes of pure, unadulterated alt-MTV chaos.
Kennedy takes a deep dive into the 'Transistor' era with 311 frontman Nick Hexum, blending her sharp wit with a surprisingly candid discussion about the band's experimental new sound and their rising status in the alternative scene.
Kennedy hits the Reading Festival to grill the Smashing Pumpkins about their upcoming double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, resulting in a hilariously combative and chaotic exchange with a particularly evasive Billy Corgan.
Kennedy holds her own against Marilyn Manson in this surreal 1996 interview, playfully navigating rumors of 'demonic' behavior and party drug legends while maintaining her trademark irreverence in the face of shock rock's reigning king.
Kennedy masters the art of the deadpan interview as she navigates a hilariously dry encounter with Rivers Cuomo and Matt Sharp of Weezer, turning a decade-defining video countdown into a masterclass in deadpan humor.
Kennedy sits down with a 21-year-old Alanis Morissette in San Francisco to deconstruct the 'Jagged Little Pill' era, exploring the raw inspirations behind 'You Ought to Know' and the intellectual evolution of an alternative icon."