This is a story about Shannon Hoon. It's a story with a moral. There is no happy ending. Shannon died last year while Blind Melon was on tour. When Kurt Cobain died a few years before, we never heard the end of it. We still haven't. With Shannon, we hardly even heard the beginning.

Not only did the media fail to give any real coverage of Shannon's death, they failed to give him any respect as a person. Well, that's what "Nico" is here to correct.

"Nico" is the name of Shannon's daughter, who was only 13 1/2 weeks old when her father died. It is also the name of Blind Melon's latest, and final release. "Shannon's greatest creation was [his daughter] Nico, so it seems like a perfect title," said guitarist Christopher Thorn. On this enhanced CD you will find many things. There are two full videos, including the one MTV decided wasn't worth their time. There are additional video clips. There's documentary footage of the band, including interviews with Shannon which give insight into his life. There's lyrics and pictures, and there is a transcription of Chris Heath's article on Shannon from Details magazine. It is the only article that ever stopped to look at who this man really was. It is a beautiful and powerful piece. And, of course, there are the songs. Don't worry if you don't have a computer, because it's the songs that really matter. It's the music that counts.

There are thirteen tracks on "Nico". Three of these are outtakes from the "Soup" sessions, including what was to be the title track, until it was pulled. "Soup" (the song) is both desperate and uplifting, an example of Blind Melon's best songwriting. There is a demo version of "St. Andrew's Fall", and a version of "No Rain" that's so different, so torn down, that even those who can no longer stand to hear the orginal again can enjoy it. There are covers of John Lennon's "John Sinclair", and Steppenwolf's "The Pusher". There are songs recorded out of the studio, that show the true essence of the band, and the man behind them. Shannon recorded "Life Ain't So Shitty" in a hotel room on tour, and you can hear the cars honking in the background. The final track, "Letters From A Porcupine" was recorded on guitarist Christopher Thorn's answering machine as a message from Shannon. It's haunting to listen to, because without the studio, without the band, with just the sound of an acoustic guitar following the beep, it sounds so spontaneous, so alive. Like if we could just pick up the phone at that moment, Shannon would be there on the other end, laughing and telling us about his new song.

We could ask him about "Soul One", one of the band's original demo tracks, written before they even formed. It is perhaps the most beautiful song they've ever recorded. Shannon was a man with a voice that was so powerful, so capable of conveying emotion, and it was never more apparent than here. Even though Shannon didn't write this one, he made it what it is. And the rest of this album, as well as the other Blind Melon releases are more than capable of showing what Shannon could create. "Every song is like a piece of his gut that he ripped out and put on to tape," said guitarist Rogers.

"He had a real gift for words, a real simple way of saying things a lot of people can relate to. It's hard to be simple, direct, honest and powerful at the same time."

"It was really frustrating for me to read the press after Shannon died," said Christopher. "Everything focused on his troubles, his addiction. And I just kept thinking to myself, 'Jesus Christ, man, listen to the songs. The guy wrote some amazing songs."

Yes. Listen to the songs. Listen, and think about the man. Think about his words. Think about anything but that God damn bee-girl. Listen carefully and openly and you'll be able to understand what MTV never could. You'll understand what it was we had. And what we lost.

A percentage of the sales from "Nico" will go to the Musician's Assistance Program, which offers drug treatment to musicians who can't afford it on their own.

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