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Dave Grohl Admires His Led Zeppelin Band Member

Sara Harowitz — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:50:47 +0000

Dave Grohl is admired by many. The Nirvana drummer, turned Foo Fighters lead singer, and most recently, Them Crooked Vultures drummer, has had quite the music career. Still, he has his idols too. And one of them is in his new band.

Playing with Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones in his new super-group Them Crooked Vultures is a dream come true for Grohl, reports rollingstone.com.

Grohl’s Led Zeppelin love goes all the way back to when he was just a teenager. He’s got three Led Zeppelin-inspired tattoos – the John Bonham three-circle Led Zeppelin IV logo in three places – the first of which he did himself when he was just a teen.

“I did the first one myself when I was 16,” said Grohl. “I tried to get different coloured ink to make it seem pro, but now it looks like someone put a cigarette out on my fucking arm.”

The second tattoo was a bit more professional: he had it done at an illegal squat in Amsterdam.

“It was done by an Italian guy named Andrea whose tattoo gun was made out of a doorbell machine,” he said. “When my mother saw it, she was like, ‘David!’ I was like, ‘Mom, I’ve done a lot worse shit than this, believe me. Look at my other arm.’”

And Grohl paid for his third and final Led Zeppelin tattoo with his first cheque, $400 U.S., from being in Nirvana.

“Kurt and I were living with each other in Olympia,” he said. “The place was so depressing.”

“I took the $400 and bought a Nintendo, a BB gun – mind you, I was 21, not 12 – and got that tattoo,” Grohl continued. “One of my fondest memories of living in that rat-shit-hole apartment was buying a dozen eggs at the A&P, bringing them to Kurt’s backyard, and me and Kurt and Buzz [Osbourne] from the Melvins shooting at the eggs. Those were the days.”

Grohl says that playing with Them Crooked Vultures is like “being in the most incredible luxury car, driving on the Autobahn, flying by the seat of my pants.”

Their self-titled debut album is now out.

Oasis is Back… Sort Of

Sara Harowitz — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:05:39 +0000

Now that the long-time popular band Oasis are officially finished, lead singer Liam Gallagher is finally free to start a new band. And he’s doing so… with the members of Oasis who aren’t his brother Noel, reports rollingstone.com.

Bassist Andy Bell, drummer Chris Sharrock, and guitarist Gem Archer are currently working with Liam on new songs. In an interview with an Italian radio station, Liam promised fans that this new revamp of “Oasis,” which will perform under a different name, will return with music and performances soon.

“I’ll be back doing that, playing live, within a couple of months,” Liam said. “I’ve just done a tour, I always miss singing songs. I miss the people.”

Noel Gallagher left Oasis in late August, following a backstage fight with his brother before a performance at a French music festival. In the Italian interview, Liam revealed that the argument started when Noel poorly treated a guitar that was given to Liam as a present from his wife. In angry response, Liam took one of Noel’s guitars and smashed it.

“I didn’t smash the guitar on him,” Liam said. “I wish I had, man.”

“To be quite honest, I think Noel wanted out,” Liam continued. “We had an argument – but we’ve had bigger ones, about more important people. Basically, I think he wanted out, wanted something different, but he hadn’t got the bollocks to tell the band or the fans.”

Liam singularly wrote Oasis songs such as “Songbird,” “I’m Outta Time,” and “Little James,” but the music he creates in his new band will definitely be different without the intense yet creatively brilliant song relationship with his brother.

To really drive home the point, Liam repeated one more time, “Oasis is done.”

Hawksley Workman Back to Work

Stephen Baldwin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:25:05 +0000

Canadian rocker Hawksley Workman (Ryan Corrigan) has set his upcoming album, Meat, to be released January 19th. He will also release Meat’s follow up album, Milk, later in the year, according to Chartattack.com.

Corrigan will start a cross Canada tour that will kick off in B.C. on March 6th and conclude in Toronto on April 24th. Tickets will eventually be sold through Ticketmaster, with a presale starting today and ending Thursday through Six Shooter Records’ website.

Workman’s debut album, For Him and the Girls, was released on 1999, and will go on sale today in the U.S. for the first time.

No Doubt Sue Activision for Band Hero Manipulation

Emma Renda — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:30:00 +0000

In yet another case of The Music vs. Acitivision, No Doubt are filing a lawsuit against the makers of Band Hero.

The suit contends the game “transformed No Doubt band members into a virtual karaoke circus act,” and the use of the band members’ avatars far exceeded anything agreed upon in the contract, according to the Los Angeles Times. One aspect of the game allows players to manipulate their characters into singing songs by other artists, for example having lead singer Gwen Stefani sing “Honky Tonk Woman” by the Rolling Stones.

“While No Doubt are avid fans of the Rolling Stones and even have performed in concerts with the Rolling Stones, the Character Manipulation Feature results in an unauthorized performance by the Gwen Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes,” the complaint reads.

The complaint also claims Activision withheld information on the Character Manipulation Feature, and allegedly told the band after they had requested to the have the function disabled that it would be too expensive to do so.

Initially, No Doubt signed on to having their likenesses used for only three of their own songs in the game, but wound up appearing in more than 60 songs either as a band or solo. The lawsuit asks for actual and punitive damages that are as yet unspecified, a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction stopping the distribution of Band Hero, as well as a recall of any existing copies.

The complaint argues the songs No Doubt appear on “include lyrics, contained in iconic songs, which are not appropriate for No Doubt and have not been chosen by No Doubt for recordings or public performances.”

“The band [members] are bitterly disappointed that their name and likeness was taken and used without their permission,” band manager Jim Guerinot told the Los Angeles Times. “They agreed to play three No Doubt songs as a band. . . . Activision then went and put them in 62 other songs and broke the band up [and] never even asked.”

As for Activision, they must be getting used to this sort of thing after coming under fire from both Dave Grohl and Courtney Love on behalf of Kurt Cobain when his likeness was used with the same Character Manipulation Feature.

Activision is claiming No Doubt’s suit is “without merit” and the company is now exploring its own legal options with respect to No Doubt’s obligations under the agreement.”

Kings of Leon Drummer Weds

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:23:10 +0000

Kings of Leon drummer Nathan Followill married singer Jessie Baylin Saturday at a ceremony in Brentwood, Tennessee, reports Perez Hilton. The pair had been dating for three years.

“I woke up with a married woman in my bed this morning,” Tweeted Followill on Sunday. “Luckily she was mine.”

Bravado Sues Over Rights To Major Artists

Vanessa Baker — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:53:02 +0000

Bravado International Group is suing Dollar Days International, Alan Shrem and Kennedy-Shrem International for millions, claiming they are illegally using the names of Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, Guns N’ Roses, Led Zeppelin and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, reports TMZ.

Bravado says they have the exclusive right to merchandise related to these artists, and the other companies have violated this right by selling shirts, watches, posters and other items. They are seeking $2 million per violation.

Solange, Beyonce’s Cool Kid Sister covers Dirty Projectors

Emma Renda — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:00:54 +0000

It’s difficult to say if Solange Knowles’ hip factor is real, or if it’s just the cause of hanging out with her uber-cool older sister. But she sure seems to be harnessing it nicely. O Friday, her cover of The Dirty Projectors’ “Stillness is the Move” surfaced on Pitchfork.com before being yanked by Universal at the label’s behest.

Unimpressed, Solange took to Twitter to voice her frustrations.

“So fucking crazy universal has been taking down a COVER I’m NOT selling or trying to publish. Never heard of that shit in my life! Not to mention Dirty Projectors, LOVED the cover& all parties are happy Doesn’t Lil Wayne a Universal artist rap over other folks records?”

Solange has certainly stepped up her media presence since her days as the Disney version of Beyonce.

Not only is she credited with introducing B and hubby Jay-Z to Grizzly Bear (which resulted in a frenzy of media coverage when the two attended their New York show), she has also started her own band to some legitimate critical acclaim. Solange and the Hadley Street Dreams performed at SXSW on the same night as scene legends Dinosaur Jr. and Tinted Windows (the world’s weirdest side project featuring members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Hanson, Cheap Trick and Fountains of Wayne.)

Her sophomore album, Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams, was “endorsed with trepidation” by the perpetually skeptical Pitchfork, even warranting a 7.3 rating (which is practically a high-five in their books). Solange drew Motown comparisons on the one hand, and the keen ear picked up a Boards of Canada sample that could swoon any indie kid.

Today’s Universal debacle is still being sorted out, but hopefully this won’t be the last of Solange’s forays into sampling because it seems this informed persona is working out for her.

Elvis Presley CDs to Be Released For His 75th Birthday

Sara Harowitz — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:39:08 +0000

A collection of Elvis Presley tunes is set to be released to celebrate what would have been the King’s 75th birthday, according to NME.com.

Elvis 75, as it is called, contains 75 of Presley’s songs, from his earliest hits like “Heartbreak Hotel” to JXL’s remix from 2002 of “A Little Less Conversation.” The three-disc set will be released on Jan. 4, 2010, which is four days before Presley’s birthday.

A four-CD package will be released simultaneously, named Elvis 75 – Good Rockin’ Tonight, and will feature 100 of Presley’s songs, as well as an 80-page booklet of rare photographs and an essay on the singer.

Presley died on Aug. 16, 1977 in his Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 42.

The track list for Elvis 75 is:

CD 1:
“Heartbreak Hotel”
“Blue Suede Shoes”
“I Want You I Need You I Love You”
“Hound Dog”
“Blue Moon”
“Love Me Tender”
“Too Much”
“All Shook Up”
“(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear”
“Paralysed”
“Party”
“Got A Lot O’ Livin’ To Do”
“Lawdy Miss Clawdy”
“Trying To Get To You”
“Jailhouse Rock”
“Don’t”
“Wear My Ring Around Your Neck”
“Hard Headed Woman”
“King Creole”
“One Night”
“A Fool Such As I”
“A Big Hunk O’ Love”
“Stuck On You”
“A Mess Of Blues”
“It’s Now Or Never”

CD 2:
“Are You Lonesome Tonight?”
“Wooden Heart”
“Surrender (Torna Surriento)”
“Wild In The Country”
“(Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame”
“Rock A Hula Baby”
“Can’t Help Falling In Love”
“Good Luck Charm”
“She’s Not You”
“Return To Sender”
“One Broken Heart For Sale”
“(You’re The) Devil In Disguise”
“Bossa Nova Baby”
“Kiss Me Quick”
“Viva Las Vegas”
“Kissin’ Cousins”
“Such A Night”
“Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby”
“Crying In The Chapel”
“Tell Me Why”
“Love Letters”
“All That I Am”
‘Guitar Man’
‘US Male’
‘If I Can Dream’

CD 3:
“In The Ghetto”
“Suspicious Minds”
“Don’t Cry Daddy”
“The Wonder Of You”
“I’ve Lost You”
“You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me”
“There Goes My Everything”
“Rags To Riches”
“I Just Can’t Help Believing”
“Until It’s Time For You To Go”
“An American Trilogy”
“Burning Love”
“Always On My Mind”
“Fool”
“My Boy”
“Promised Land”
“The Girl Of My Best Friend”
“Suspicion”
“Moody Blue”
‘Way Down’
‘My Way’
‘It’s Only Love’/'Beyond The Reef’
‘A Little Less Conversation’ (JXL Remix)
‘Rubberneckin” (Remix)
‘That’s All Right’

Travis Barker Promises New Blink Song on Solo Album

Sara Harowitz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:06:47 +0000

With a high-energy reunion tour wrapped up, 90’s punk band Blink-182 is taking some time to rest. Still, according to their drummer Travis Barker, a new song is on the way.

Barker announced that Blink-182 will create a brand new song that will go on his solo album, reports MTVNews.com.

“There’s some stuff on my record that’s not going to have a bunch of guitars, that are just straight-up hip hop records,” he told MTV News. “We got a new Blink song on there, I think I’m going to do something with Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. Hopefully a guest appearance from Slash, I’m doing his big fundraiser that happens in a month. I think there’s going to be a collaboration with [Kanye West's touring DJ] A-Track, so it’s gonna be really in all directions.”

Barker does not have any details about the new Blink-182 tune, mostly due to the fact that the band hasn’t written it yet. But one thing is for sure: the song will be brand new. While the band wrote a new song recently, entitled “Up All Night,” it wasn’t played on their tour and so far does not have a home. Still, “Up All Night” will not be the track on Barker’s solo album.

“No, ‘Up All Night’ will have its own home, and it won’t be on my record,” he said. “That will continue to be part of a new Blink record or will be released through Blink182.com or something, it’s going to be a surprise. The new song that we record for my record is just going to be something from scratch, and just us doing our thing.”

Barker said the plan is to have music on his solo album completed in January or February. He also hopes to support the disc with a tour, but that’s a pretty loose idea since he and his bandmates are taking it easy after their time on the road.

“We’re kind of taking the rest of the year off, for everyone to finish up other stuff they have going on,” said Barker. “We want to re-group next year and start getting together once a week or once every two weeks to start doing the beginning work on our record.”

Barker has also worked hard at remixing. He premiered his version of the Drake/Eminem/Kanye West/Lil Wayne collaboration “Forever” on Wednesday on MTVNews.com.

Maserati Drummer Dies After Falling Down Elevator Shaft

Sara Harowitz — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:15:38 +0000

Jerry Fuch, a drummer who played with bands such as Maserati, !!!, and The Juan MacLean, died on Sunday, Nov. 8 after falling down an elevator shaft, according to CHARTattack.

Fuch and a friend were invited to a posh benefit party in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighbourhood, and were in the building’s elevator trying to get to the fifth floor. The elevator stopped three or four feet above the fifth floor.

The two men opened the elevator door and decided to jump the few feet down to the fifth floor. Fuchs’ friend made the jump, but when Fuch tried, his clothing got caught on the elevator. He was yanked backward, falling into the space between the elevator and the fifth floor.

Fuchs fell down five stories and landed at the bottom of the elevator shaft. He was taken to Brooklyn’s Bellevue Hospital but died at 3:30 a.m.

Maserati published a tribute to Fuchs on their website.

“It is with overwhelming sadness that we bid farewell to our drummer and dearest friend Gerhardt (Jerry) Fuchs,” it reads. “We are humbled to have been able to create music with you for all these years, Jerry. You will be missed more than words can express. We love you, bro.”

John MacLean of The Juan MacLean also paid tribute to his late friend on his website.

“Jerry was one of my best and most loyal friends,” he wrote. “He was hands-down the best drummer I have ever played with or seen for that matter. Jerry was with me from the start of The Juan MacLean, and we had countless adventures together all over the world. He was utterly sincere and fiercely loyal.”

Unfortunately for Maserati, this is not the first time the band has lost a drummer. In 2005, Mikel Gius died when he was hit by a car while riding his bike in Sacramento, CA.