Sunday, May 28, 2006

Jessica Simpson slamed by Kristin Cavallari

Kristin Cavallari has lashed out at Jessica Simpson and sources say she has blasted her as a bad actress and called her "delusional."

"Kristin thinks Jessica's pathetic," a pal of Kristin's told The ENQUIRER.

"She says that Jessica is delusional for wearing her wedding band on a chain around her neck like she's in high school or something.

"She says that Nick is through with Jessica and she needs to realize that it's over and move on."

"Kristin believes that Jessica is foolish for holding out hope that she and Nick can rekindle their relationship. Kristin says Nick finally realized that Jessica was never his true love and he'll never take her back."

Kristin, 19, who stars on TV's Laguna Beach, began dating the 32-year-old former boy band singer shortly after Jessica filed for divorce in December 2005. Their relationship only lasted about a month.

"It was nothing more than a rebound romance for Nick. But Kristin fell hard for him," said the pal. "She obviously still has a soft spot for Nick and some bitter, unresolved feelings for Jessica.

According to Post Chronicle, Kristin Cavallari may be taking over Simpson's movie role.

Cavallari is reportedly being considered to play the role of Daisy Duke, made famous first by Katerine Bach and then recently by Jessica Simpson on the big screen, in producer Bill Gerber's prequel to the "The Dukes of Hazzard," People magazine reported on Friday.
Gerber told People that Cavallari, 19, is "at the top of the list" for the role of a young Daisy Duke.

"I like her innocence and her beauty," he tells the mag, adding Simpson, 25, would be too old for a prequel, which will feature a "whole new cast."

Jaguar on Thrash Till Death festival

NWOBHM veterans JAGUAR have been confirmed as the headliners of the Thrash Till Death festival, set to take place June 30 – July 1 in Wolfenbuttal, Germany. JAGUAR will perform on July 1. The festival billing is shaping up as follows:

ABANDONED
BULLSHIT
EURE ERBEN
CRIPPER
HATEFUL AGONY
INQUIRING BLOOD
JAGUAR
MORE THE HEAD
PUMPGUN
SPELLBOUND
SUICIDAL ANGELS
SILVER FIST
TALES OF HORROR
VORTEX
VENDETTA
WRETCHED SPAWN
WASTELAND

For more information, visit thrashtilldeath.com.

JAGUAR are currently writing material for a new studio album, which they plan on recording later in the year. No further information is currently available.

JAGUAR teamed up with DIAMOND HEAD, WITCHFYNDE, PRAYING MANTIS and BRONZ for the "The 25th Anniversary of NWOBHM" concert last November at the Astoria in London, England.

JAGUAR's most recent studio album, "Run Ragged", was released in July 2003 through Angel Air Records.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Led Zeppelin awarded from Swedish King

Led Zepelin
Led Zeppelin received the Polar Music Prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm on Monday, May 24, 2006

The king of Sweden has presented Led Zepelin with a prestigious award honoring them as "great pioneers" of popular music.

Surviving band members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones picked up the Polar Music Prize from King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm on Monday.

Late drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980, was represented at the ceremony by his daughter.

Accepting the award, singer Plant talked about how Led Zeppelin recorded "In Through The Out Door" in Stockholm in 1979.

He said, "It's a long time ago. Music has been a fantastic passport to us all."

Led Zeppelin shared the award with Russian conductor Valery Gergiev. The Polar Music Prize, founded in 1989 by ABBA manager Stig Anderson, is split between pop and classical artists.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

ANGRA, VIPER, SHAAMAN, DR. SIN, KORZUS, ...

Members of some of the biggest bands on the Brazilian heavy metal scene — including ANGRA, VIPER, SHAAMAN, DR. SIN, KORZUS, TORTURE SQUAD, TUATHA DE DANANN, CLAUSTROFOBIA, ANDRALLS, BARANGA, MONSTER, BARANGA, SUNSETH MIDNIGHT, HARD ROCKET, and HOLY SAGGA — will join forces for a special performance at the "1st Stay Heavy Metal Stars", set to take place May 25 in São Paulo, Brazil. The musicians will gather to perform classic songs from the heavyweights of the heavy metal/rock scene, including BLACK SABBATH, SLAYER, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, JUDAS PRIEST, AC/DC and DEATH. The event will also feature an appearance by the French band SHADYON, who are scheduled to play several gigs in Brazil. It promises to be a historical event that will include several surprises for the audience.

The "1st Stay Heavy Metal Stars" show was organized by the Brazilian TV show "Stay Heavy", which specializes in heavy metal. More information is available at www.stayheavy.com.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

R.E.M. and Moby for Internet Freedom

R.E.M. and Moby speak out against corporate web takeover

Rock group R.E.M. is joining Moby and a growing list of musicians pushing Congress to protect the Internet from corporate takeover by AT&T, Verizon, and other telecommunications giants.

Major artists and musicians are signing the Artists and Musicians for Internet Freedom petition -- joining Internet advocates, political groups on the right and left, consumer advocates, and over 600 diverse organizations on the SavetheInternet.com Coalition. This coalition is uniting Internet users against a congressional proposal to gut Net Neutrality-the Internet's First Amendment.

"This is yet another attempt by corporations and their congressional buddies to pull our society backwards rather than moving us forward," Michael Stipe of R.E.M declared. "These corporations are trying to set up tollbooths on the information superhighway. We need to keep Net Neutrality so the Internet remains a free and level playing field."

R.E.M. also blogged about this issue as the top item on their Web site, http://www.remhq.com.

Red Hot Chili Peppers on Billboard 200 chart

NEW YORK, May 17 (UPI) -- Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Stadium Arcadian" has become the veteran rock band's first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.

Five of the Chili Peppers' nine albums hit the top five, but the double-disc CD is the California's funk/rock outfit's first No. 1 in its 22 year years together, Billboard.com reported.

Pop divorcee Nick Lachey grabbed the No. 2 spot with "What's Left of Me" followed by last week's No. 1 album, Tool's "10,000 Days," which held onto the No. 1 on the Top Rock albums chart for a second week.

Jagged Edge's self-titled album entered the Billboard 200 at No. 4 while R&B veterans The Isley Brothers' "Baby Makin' Music" entered the Top 200 at No. 5 and No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Rascal Flatts' "Me and My Gang" fell to No. 6 on the Billboard 200 but ruled the Top Country Albums chart for a sixth week.

The soundtrack to the Disney Channel's "High School Musical" dropped to No. 7 and Pearl Jam's self-titled album dropped from No. 4 last week to No. 8 on the main albums chart.

The 21st "NOW! That's What I Call Music" installment was No. 9 and the top tier of the Billboard 200 was filled out by the return of James Blunt's "Back to Bedlam."

Overall U.S. album sales rose 10 percent over the previous week at 11 million units but lagged 2 percent behind the 2005 overall with 203.2 million CDs sold.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

ALICE IN CHAINS in Seattle

ALICE IN CHAINS will be playing a free show tonight (May 16) at Seattle's Moore Theater.

To get tickets all you have to do is show up at the Moore box office. The staff there will start giving out tickets at 6:00 p.m. PST today so try to get over there as soon as possible if you want one.

The Moore box office is located at: 1932 Second Avenue, Seattle WA. Tickets are limited to two per person. This is a general admission, all-ages show.

As previously reported, a half-hour interview with ALICE IN CHAINS members Jerry Cantrell (guitar), Sean Kinney (drums) and Mike Inez (bass) — which aired earlier in the month on the HDNet (High Definition TV) channel as part of the "Sound Off" program with host Matt Pinfield — has been posted online at this location.

ALICE IN CHAINS recently confirmed the five dates and cities for its U.S. mini-tour, beginning on May 18 in Los Angeles and ending on May 23 in New York City. The shows will all take place in either small clubs or theatres.

These gigs and a previously announced date at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August are the only announced North American shows for the reunited group so far, with European festival dates on tap for June and July.

ALICE IN CHAINS will be joined on vocals by COMES WITH THE FALL frontman William DuVall. However, surprise guest vocalists and musicians are expected to show up at each of the five U.S. dates.

Monday, May 15, 2006

The Elms "The Chess Hotel."



"The town I live in just isn't 'the scene,'" says The Elms' singer Owen Thomas. "Nobody's wearing leather pants, and it's not the hipster part of America. It's the real-life, non-delusional part of the States."
The Elms, a foursome of brothers and best friends, claim the same hometown as John Cougar Mellencamp, namely Seymour, Indiana. Whereas the Coug painted his own pictures of Midwest life in the songs "Pink Houses" and "Small Town," the Elms reflect their heartland experience through the prism of youthful angst and elusive opportunities.
Fortunately, their rookie release, "Truth, Soul, Rock & Roll," struck such a chord with today's "small town" teens that opportunity came to the band. The Hoosier State sons landed a major label deal with Universal South Records and recently released their sophomore disc, "The Chess Hotel." Moreover, the new album not only retains that Elms sound – classic rock mixed with Brit-pop sophistication – but it also digs deeper into their powerful perspective.
"There are millions of American people who, by and large, are victims of circumstance," Thomas explains. "Where Mellencamp celebrated small town life, I think we expose it a little bit."
The Elms capture these feelings throughout the album, from the title track to the lead single "Nothin' to Do With Love." The band does this lyrically, of course, but also sonically.
The singer concludes, "Listen to songs like 'The Chess Hotel' about blue-collar burnout, or songs like 'Makes Good Sense' or 'The Towers & The Trains.' For those songs to come at you from 50 sonic angles makes no sense. We wanted people to feel the raw sentiments of our town and the raw sentiments of real life for the bulk of Americans. The sound needed to come right up the middle of the speakers."

Friday, May 12, 2006

Pearl Jam returns sounding

Pearl Jam picure

'Pearl Jam' (J), 3 stars -- After a four-year absence and a general withdrawal from the rock-star business, Pearl Jam returns sounding renewed and refreshed.

It helps that there's a war going on. The Seattle band has always drawn inspiration from the turbulence in the air, and its re-emergence at a time of heated debate seems like perfect timing.

Considering the unambiguous Bush-bashing in which Eddie Vedder has indulged in the past, the commentary on 'Pearl Jam' is surprisingly restrained but powerful. Backed by raging guitars on 'World Wide Suicide,' he laments a fallen soldier and lashes out: 'a handsome face that the president took for granted / Writing checks that others pay.'

'Army Reserve' depicts a family deprived by war of its husband and father, and in 'Marker in the Sand' Vedder calls out to the God whose support is claimed by both sides. 'A sickness is coming over me,' he intones, surveying the psychic damage in personal terms rather than political polemic.

The album addresses other areas of discontent as well, as its initial hard-rocking attack eases into a series of affecting ballads. The music is leaner and more concise than we're used to from Pearl Jam, the performances brisk, frisky and light on their feet.

Pearl Jam still has its musical limitations. It's a utilitarian, lunch-pail kind of band, but while it can't really storm the heavens, it's perfect for manning the barricades.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Keith Richards surgery delay tour



Keith Richards had surgery in New Zealand to relieve pressure in his head following a fall, his representative said.
The Rolling Stones guitarist was "up and talking" soon after surgery Monday at the Ascot Hospital in Auckland, but he was expected to take several weeks to recuperate, LD Communications said.
The Stones' A Bigger Bang European tour, which had been scheduled to start in Barcelona, Spain, this month, will be postponed until June, the agency said.
Richards, age 62, suffered the injury April 27. News reports have variously claimed that he fell out of a palm tree or from a jet ski.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

TAZ TAYLOR BAND

TAZ TAYLOR BAND Seek New Drummer

The San-Diego based TAZ TAYLOR BAND, whose album "Welcome to America" features the legendary Graham Bonnet (RAINBOW, MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, ALCATRAZZ, IMPELLITTERI) on vocals, are currently auditioning for a new drummer.

THE TAZ TAYLOR BAND are looking for someone with a proven track record of experience, reliabilty and commitment — a drummer who is confident of being able to work with a signed band who have prospects for working in the USA and Europe during 2006/2007 and beyond.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Depeche Mode live

Depeche Mode have teamed up with Live Here Now, a company that records shows and makes them available for purchase immediately afterwards, to do just that for their current tour.

Shows are already available on the Depeche Mode Live website, where you can also pre-order upcoming concerts, including a May 17 performance at Montreal's Bell Centre and a gig at Toronto's Air Canada Centre the next evening.

Each show can be purchased as either a two-CD set or a digital download with a printable cover and digital artwork that includes exclusive shots from noted photographer Anton Corbijn.

If you'd rather hear Depeche Mode from the studio instead of on stage, Rhino is reissuing the electro-pop-rock group's 1981 debut, Speak & Spell, as well as 1987's Music For The Masses and 1990's Violator, on May 16. Each album will come with a bonus DVD featuring a 5.1 audio mix, B-sides, remixes and new interviews.

Speak & Spell will be bolstered by the addition of "Ice Machine," "Shout," "Any Second Now" and the schizo mix of "Just Can't Get Enough."

Music For The Masses' bonus tracks are "Route 66," "Agent Orange," "Pleasure, Little Treasure," "Stjarna" and "Sonata No. 14 In C#m (Moonlight Sonata)."

Violator is augmented by "Dangerous," "Memphisto," "Sibeling," "Kaleid" and alternate mixes of "Happiest Girl" and "Sea Of Sin."

Friday, May 05, 2006

Britney Spears - baby

Britney not ready to talk baby yet

One of these days, we'll remember why we keep writing about Britney Spears. We're pretty sure, as of now, she used to be ... a person we thought did something worth writing about.

Never mind. This is getting really confusing. All that matters is that, for some reason, she's important. And she's apparently having another child with dancer supreme/king of R&B/worldly scholar Kevin Federline. And that child will be a girl, according to In Touch magazine.

Spears was supposed to have a press conference to announce the happy news, to which all the reporters in Southern California -- none of whom actually remember why they care either -- would flock. As of 5 p.m., there was no word concerning the grand media event. Perhaps they were delayed by Mr. Spears tutoring UCLA grad students after physics class.

In Touch says the 24-year-old Spears and Mr. Spears are painting a room in their Malibu mansion all pink. Sources tell the magazine Spears discovered she was pregnant with her second child during a routine ultrasound exam. The singer gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston, last year.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Moonspell - 'A Heavy Metal Moment Of Victory'

MOONSPELL's latest CD, "Memorial", has entered the Portuguese album chart at position No. 1. "Only METALLICA and [IRON] MAIDEN did the same with their albums and for a country such as Portugal this is more than a MOONSPELL achievement, [it is] a truly heavy metal moment of victory," said lead singer Fernando Ribeiro in a statement. "Memorial" also entered the charts at Nr. 68 in Germany and Nr. 181 in France, with many more countries expected to report in the next 10 days. The album was produced by Waldemar Sorychta (LACUNA COIL, THE GATHERING, SAMAEL) at Woodhouse Studios in Hagen, Germany.

MOONSPELL are expected to release a DVD, entitled "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", via Century Media later in the year.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Rolling Stones will resume their world tour in Spain

The well-known guitarist Keith Richards, 62, is making "a speedy recovery" in a New Zealand hospital after an unexplained accident. Richards was airlifted to the New Zealand city of Auckland last week for examination after sustaining a "mild concussion" while he was vacationing in Fiji. The Stones camp has not disclosed as to what happened or when Richards would be released. However they did state that the European leg of their tour would go on as scheduled, on May 27 in Barcelona.

Since the 1960s, along with lead singer Mick Jagger, Richards has been the backbone of the Rolling Stones. In his younger years of arrests and drug abuse he received the reputation of rock 'n' roll's ultimate survivor. He has most certainly suffered his fair share of freak accidents.

Starting in 1998 when he broke three ribs and punctured a lung after falling from a ladder while reaching for a book in his library. Then injured again in 1990, when one of his fingers got infected after he punctured it on a guitar string. In both of these cases the Stones had yo postpone their concerts.

The doctors at the Melbourne Herald Sun described Richards as having been "seriously injured" in what it said was a 5-meter--nearly 16 and a half feet--palm-tree plunge. But the paper also said the rock 'n' roll survivor "could be discharged early this week."

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Bands From '70s and digital music

Two of the biggest-selling rock bands of the 1970s have filed suit against their onetime label saying the royalties reaching them from digitally downloaded versions of their songs are too low.

The Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick filed suit against Sony BMG in U.S. District Court in New York, claiming that a higher percentage of royalties from digital music should go to the artists themselves.

Licensing vs. Sales

At issue is how much of the cost to download a song -- typically around 99 US cents for a single track from major sites such as iTunes -- should go to the artists.

The two bands claim that Sony is violating a contract agreement made with them and say digital music should be treated as licensing rather than sales, which would mean more royalties for artists -- they are seeking half the net licensing revenues from each song, or about 30 cents for each download.

Currently, the two bands see 4.5 cents, or less than 5 percent, of the download price for a song. That includes deductions, the suit contends, that Sony is making for "packaging costs."

Industry estimates peg the label's take at about 70 percent of the download price, with Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) Latest News about Apple or other download-store managers getting a small cut along with the artists.

more on
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/Ii1ICKiJ9pPrJj/Bands-From-70s-Seek-More-Digital-Music-Royalties.xhtml

Monday, May 01, 2006

Snoop Dogg Out On Bail after London arrest

Snoop Dogg was released on bail Thursday (April 27) after being arrested the night before following a brawl at London's Heathrow Airport.

The rapper has not been charged and will return at a later date, his attorney, Peter Binning, told



The Associated Press in London.

Binning declined to reveal the amount posted for bail and police did not immediately comment, but the attorney said Snoop left straight for South Africa to honor concert commitments.

Snoop and five other men were arrested after a fight broke out as police were escorting the rapper and his entourage through the airport.

Seven police officers suffered minor injuries, including a fractured hand, while answering the call to deal with a disturbance in the British Airways lounge.

"At approximately [6 p.m.] on Wednesday, police were alerted to a group of approximately 30 people causing a disturbance in a business lounge at Terminal 1 of Heathrow Airport," reads a police report on the incident, supplied to MTV News by Scotland Yard. "We understand that the group had been told by an airline that they would not be permitted to board a flight. Officers attended the scene and attempted to direct the group to baggage reclaim. Members of the group then became abusive and pushed officers."

Richard Goodfellow, a spokesperson for British Airways, told AP that the fracas started when members of Snoop's entourage were denied entry into the first-class lounge because some of them were flying economy class.

"We took the decision to offload the party and refuse them travel," Goodfellow said, noting that Snoop and the entourage have been forever banned by the airline. "That sort of behavior will not be tolerated."

Snoop's appearance Thursday will be rescheduled, Binning said, but the rapper will join Sean Paul, Rihanna and Marion at the other Peoples' Celebration Concerts on Saturday in Durban and Monday in Capetown.

[This story was originally published at MTV news]

— Corey Moss
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