By Brian Dear
Staff Writer

    Blind Melon guitarist Rogers Stevens hasn't let the death of frontman Shannon Hoon deter his artisticefforts. During the band's search for a new singer, Stevens began to take his painting hobby seriously and will soon be featured in a New York art show.

    Stevens has his time filled with his painting endeavors, but the search for a singer continues.

    "We're still looking for a singer, and received quite a few tapes, but unless something just blows us away, we're just going to do our own thing," Stevens said. He added that a band needs to have a chemistry that can not be determined by just listening to an audition tape.

    "Shannon and us had a great bond, and we can never replace him, as a singer, a friend or whatever.  If we did find someone that would work with the band, it wouldn't be Blind Melon. Blind Melon is pretty much dead," Stevens said.

    Stevens admits that he's received tapes of Hoon imitators, but Blind Melon is not looking to continue Hoon's sound.

    "Whoever ends up with the band should have their own style. We will never play Blind Melon songs again," Stevens said.

    Responding to Blind Melon's last release, Nico, Stevens explained the album's purpose and importance to the band and to Hoon's daughter, after whom the album was named.

    "Nico was released to provide for Shannon's daughter," Stevens said. "It is kind of a lasting tribute to Shannon. It lets his daughter know her father and know that he cared for her."

    The music industry often generalizes performers' personalities and feelings. Stevens did not dispute the image created by the media, but he suggested a less visible Shannon Hoon that the press failed to know.

    "Shannon was like a ray of sunshine for the band," Stevens said. "He was always thinking of others, but in his own way. He'd do something nice for a person, but it would be in a way that would be Shannon's. Concern for others was big with Shannon even though some of his gestures of kindness weren't always understood."

Blind Melon has moved beyond Hoon's death and has pressed on with being artists. Members of the band are scattered across the country, but music remains their top priority.

    "If we found a singer tomorrow, I'd drop everything pretty much and go for it, but until someone comes along and just blows us away, we aren't dwelling on it. I've got other things going on," Stevens said.

    Hoon's legacy lives on in the music of Blind Melon and in the hearts of the fans. But as good fathers, Hoon's daughter remains the important thing. Nico was not about making a farewell album or extra money. It was about a father's love for his family. That's what Shannon was about.