From 1991 – 2002 R&B you could not turn on pop radio or MuchMusic without hearing or seeing TLC. Ten top 10 billboard singles and four number 1 hits make the Atlanta based R&B trio of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas the top selling American girl group of all time with 65 million albums sold.
With great success has come challenges such as bankruptcy and in group friction. The biggest blow to TLC happened April 25th, 2002 when Lisa Lopes was killed in a car accident in Honduras.
Although the surviving members had some concert appearances and a reality show – R U The Girl in 2005 – it is in the last year that T-Boz and Chilli have really regrouped including a spot on the 2015 Main Event Tour with Nelly and The New Kids On The Block and work on a new album. GayCalgary spoke with the iconic ladies of TLC backstage prior to a packed house at Cowboys Nightclub’s Iced event in January.
"It is surreal. We have been in this business over 20 years and we don’t take any of it for granted," Chilli said about being back on stage. "When we are on stage whether it is 20,000 people or 10,000 or any crowd seeing the love on people’s faces for us there aren’t words to describe it. We are very blessed."
Being on the Main Event tour was special for fans and the band alike.
"That tour was awesome. It was one of my favourites and easy breezy. There was no drama, and can I just say no drama? Every tour has had drama but this one was drama free. Everyone was mature in the New Kids. They are seasoned," T-Boz said. Their performances have featured Lopes on screen performing her parts of songs during arena shows, and her vocals are tracked for smaller venues. It is both a tribute and highly emotional during the shows. "In the beginning we couldn’t do it, it was really, really tough. Sometimes it is cool, sometimes it just hits us. We can be reminiscing and then it’s right down. Chilli is always trying to make me cry."
"I turn the other way so I don’t start crying," Chilli added.
In January 2015 TLC launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their new album. High profile donors like the New Kids, Katy Perry, Soulja Boy and Justin Timberlake contributed along with fans to raise nearly triple the goal - $400,000. Being on the Main Event Tour along with making sure they get it right means the album has not been released yet but is planned for some time this year.
"It means we better get that album out! They want some music!" T-Boz said, adding that some fans lack of patience can be frustrating. "Most people who got common sense understand. There are some unique people out there who just don’t get it. The industry is so different people do stuff so fast but we have never been like that. Timeless music and real subject matters, that takes time."
"We have been working really hard on it and now that we have a direction everything should fall into place and it should be out soon," added Chilli. "We are out in LA working on the album. I am going to be out there as long as I need to be until we get it all together. It is definitely the number one priority. We are bringing interludes back!"
"Oh Oh Oh! One of the interludes is the shit! We have some cool songs already" T-Boz exclaimed. It is important to get what has been reported to be the final TLC album right. It can be easy to second guess yourself and be surprised, such as with 1995’s Waterfalls. It’s frank lyrics about topics like HIV and drugs were groundbreaking at the time and it was the fans – and video – that made it a hit.
"It’s funny because when we did the songs (producer) Clive (Davis) didn’t believe in Waterfalls. We went to LA and we all nearly begged him to give us a chance. I think it was a song that some people couldn’t understand until they saw it attached to the video. The first time we saw the video we were crying. It was such a good video," recalled T-Boz. Chilli agreed that the video was what connected the song, an art form that is lacking in pop music today.
"It really told the story. I think that is what is missing today. Even before we came out, videos helped to tell the story and would take the song to another level. Radio didn’t get Waterfalls; it didn’t connect for some reason. That video changed everything."
Waterfalls was selected by Bette Midler to be on her 2014 album of all-female covers It’s The Girls.
"That was such an honor, she is such an icon," said Chilli, with T-Boz adding "She did great we were like Whoa go ahead Mama."
I saw TLC both in Chicago on The Main Event Tour and at Cowboys and a few things remain clear. They still put it all on stage with backup dancers, full choreography and singing live. Also evident is how much the songs still are as applicable today as they were 15 years ago. Massive sing alongs to classics like Unpretty, No Scrubs and Creep shows that TLC has not and will not be forgotten.
"It is still so weird for us when we meet people and they get emotional. It’s like Why are you crying? It is still so funny, but I think sometimes when you are working you don’t realize all of the things that you’ve done until you sit back and reflect or someone shows you. It is a blessing to have a dream and fulfill it and seeing it really make a difference in the world," T-Boz said. "I want TLC to be remember for the true essence of who we are. The records we broke, being the biggest selling girls group. Even burning down the house is the truth. The lives we’ve changed, people who have wanted to commit suicide but didn’t because of something we sang or said. I don’t care if you push the bad in there because it made us who we are."
Added Chilli
"I remember growing up and artists that I looked up to and inspired me. When you are in that place, the best way for me to remember how it really feels when another artist comes up and gives a compliment or fans that say different things, I think about how much I learned from being around Hammer. I think about idolizing Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and Jody Watley and Madonna and all these people that were just great. I am like ‘wow I get it.’ Because sometimes I don’t understand people’s reactions but then I remember. The first time I saw Sade I couldn’t speak, I didn’t say a thing. I couldn’t believe I didn’t say a word. The second time was a little bit better but still overwhelming. So it is an honor to be in the position we are in and I am so proud of my group. We want to be remembered as those girls who weren’t afraid to push the envelope. I think we are doing what God would want us to do, being very authentic and encouraging people to believe in themselves and have that security in loving yourself. It is just naturally there and it is good to know we have left positive vibes on people."
