Dan Gross: Yes' Anderson on Big Talker

3.5.08

YES FRONTMAN Jon Anderson praised the C-word to The Big Talker 1210-AM morning host Michael Smerconish during an interview taped Monday and available on the Daily News columnist's radio-show Web site.

Smerconish, who just launched a petition at mastalk.com to try to get Yes nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, aired an Anderson interview on his show yesterday, but not included was Anderson's description of the hunt-rhyming word as "a beautiful word meant to define the flower of the woman." He said men had gone and "f---ed it up."

The comments were made while discussing the poor treatment of women in Saudi Arabia.

The full Anderson interview, is available at thebigtalker1210. com/pages/1755377.php.

Anderson was in town performing Tuesday at the Trocadero (1003 Arch) with the Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars.

Speaking of Green's students . . .

Fairmount natives and Masterman grads Eric and Julie Slick will be back in town March 12, when they'll perform as two-thirds of the Adrian Belew Power Trio at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut).

Eric, 20, and Julie, 22, were two of Paul Green's first graduates in 1998, and have been the drummer and bassist of the prog-rock guitarist's group since 2006, recently recording "Side Four Live" with Belew, who played in King Crimson and with David Bowie.

'Runway' Jay here for film fest

Jay McCarroll, the Philadelphia University grad who won the first season of Bravo's "Project Runway," will be in town April 5 for the world premiere of "Eleven Minutes" by director Michael Selditch, which follows the eccentric and erratic

actions of McCarroll as he prepares to launch his own clothing line. He'll also attend another screening April 7. Both are part of the 17th annual Philadelphia Film Festival, April 3-15.

Fumo typing as ticker heals

State Sen. Vince Fumo has been keeping in touch with friends by e-mail, while he remains in a hospital room at Hahnemann recuperating from a heart attack. Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal, a longtime Fumo pal, says he's been e-mailing back and forth with Fumo and offered to visit "when the doctors think you're capable of being able to handle a visit from me," said the high-energy activist and journalist.

Rooney honored last night

Screen legend Mickey Rooney went for a wedge salad with anchovies and a bowl of bison chili yesterday while lunching with Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, his old friend, at Ted's Montana Grill (Broad & Spruce).

Rooney was here to be honored by the Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation last night at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center, where he was to be introduced by Auditor General Jack Wagner.

Guests add up for Gracie CD

Herman's Hermits frontman

Peter Noone just popped by Lancaster's Lanark Records, where owner/producer Quentin Jones is recording the new album by South Philly-born rocker Charlie Gracie. Noone, Graham Nash (who's collaborated with Gracie before), Al Kooper, Robert Gordon and the amazing Sleepy LaBeef are all contributing to Gracie's upcoming recording.

Pint-size power luncher at Palm

Former City Controller Jonathan Saidel sent a Shirley Temple over to Gracie Sylvester, a third-grader at St. Peter's School, who picked the bald brain of Philadelphia magazine editor Larry Platt yesterday over lunch at the Palm (200 S. Broad).

Gracie, accompanied by her mom, PR exec Kelly Boyd, interviewed Platt for a school project.

Runyan to host St. Jude event

Eagles tackle Jon Runyan is honorary chairman of the 5th annual Four Stars Gala to benefit the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, to be held March 13 at the Loews Hotel. The event features food from 20 of the city's best restaurants and begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.stjude.org. *

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest stories. Havea tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.