by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Lizard King Poses For Fan Picture…. In 1997
Jim Morrison's 1997 Encore
I know your mileage will vary on this one…. I’m a natural born skeptic myself…. That said it’s pretty creepy.
Bonus Coverage:
Flaming Lips To Do Dark Side With Henry Rollins
The follow up to The Flaming Lips new and very Floydish “Embryonic” is ambitious to say the least. The band is planning to cover Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” with guests Henry Rollins and Peaches.
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
WTF?
Some guy punched Leona Lewis during a UK book signing. Why? Not sure.
Oh My God You Guys
Avril Lavigne has filed for divorce. Isn’t she like 15?
Bonus Coverage. She’s petitioned the court to deny her estranged husband spousal support. That’s ok he doesn’t need the money, he’s in Sum 41. Oh that’s cold Avril.
More bonus coverage. Here’s something to ponder…. Who’s the bigger Canadian music star now? Avril or Anvil?
Bizarro Chart
Some clown named Michael Buble is Number 1. Good for him. Number 2? Kiss! Say what you will, but for some bands the Wal-Mart exclusive is career Viagra. The entire Billboard 200 is here. If you dig down far enough you can find out how much people don’t give a shit about Scarlett Johansson as a singer.
But What About Chris Gaines?!
Garth Brooks says he’s putting on his cowgirdle, and coming out of retirement.
Bonus Coverage. My theory is he’s waited this long to give the public time to forget about Chris Gaines. Think again pardner:
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Lady Gaga Wants You To Buy Her Debut Again For The First Time
It does have eight new tracks if you’re into that sort of thing.
Bonus Coverage. Lady Gaga pre-fame. If I were a girl I would say she looked like that one chick on your dorm floor who would get really drunk and sleep with your boyfriend then deny it the next day in the dining hall:
There’s A Gene Simmons In Depends Joke In Here Somewhere, But I’m Too Lazy To Find It
Rolling Stone reports on the arrest of a Kiss concert goer. He’s been accused of pissing on someone during the show. Don’t give Gene any ideas. You think he’s above bottling his urine and marketing it as “Kiss Piss?” No he is not.
Can I Buy Tickets For The Oasis Reunion Tour Yet?
Do you really believe Oasis are done? Yeah me neither. Anyway here’s what Liam says he’s doing next.
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Now Is The Time On Sprockets When We Sue
Guns-N-Roses (Axl Rose Inc) and their record company have been slapped with a copyright suit. German electronic musician Ulrich Schnauss says two of his songs were lifted for “Chinese Democracy.” He wants $1,000,000. Manager Irving Azoff, one of music’s biggest pricks, says his camp vigorously contests. Me? Please don’t make me listen to German electronic music… or “Chinese Democracy” for that matter.
Bonus Coverage. Ulrich Schnauss sounds like a character on the classic TV show “Hogan’s Heroes.” Nothing’s funnier than a German prison camp.
Bon Bon Bon Auf Der Autobahn
Speaking of German electronic music, here come The Kraftwerk remasters.
Bonus Coverage. My gay, alcoholic high school German teacher used to play Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn” for us. Hey you try teaching a bunch of creepy teenagers German with a hangover. That ate up a solid ten minutes of class time. If he was still drunk, he’d whip out the Nina Hagen.
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Please Help Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
The Chicago band was in a horrific van accident last week. They need your help. We’ll keep you posted on the hospitalized member’s conditions as updates become available.
Lady Sov Spits At Doorman, Fined
Is there anything worse you can do to a person than spitting on them? Really I’d rather be kicked in the nuts.
And The Moon Landings Were Faked Too
The album that made Kiss’ career, “Alive” was said to have been recorded at Detroit’s Cobo Hall. There may be some crowd noise on there from Cobo, but trust me, that was a studio creation (as are more live albums than you care to know). Anyway Kiss recreated the recreated “Alive” over the weekend in Detroit and Billboard was there.
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Kiss, Peppers, Genesis Head Rock Hall Nominees
Longest shot? Probably Kiss, though in my opinion, their influence on what a rock show can be, is incalculable. That said I think the industry sorts holding those votes have always tended to look down their noses at Kiss. Yes Gene is an insufferable, money grubbing pervert. Yes Paul’s chest hair looks like John Holmes’ sex dungeon shag carpet. Sure Peter Criss couldn’t play. Of course their last great song was recorded in 1977. And my God they’ve treated the only true genius in the band Ace Frehley like garbage……. You know what, just induct Ace.
Also nominated…. Red Hot Chili Peppers (don’t ask me, I spent too many years playing them on the radio. If I never hear another Peppers song, that would be more than fine.) Genesis (yeah I guess you have to let them in, but it would be better in my mind to just induct Peter Gabriel for his far more worthwhile solo career. Phil Collins? Do you remember “Sussidio? The prosecution rests) Jimmy Cliff (yes absolutely), The Hollies (great pop band, who probably deserve more respect than they’ve enjoyed) and LL Cool J (“Mama Said Knock You Out” kicks ass, but I’m not sure his career as a whole has been that weighty, though I’ll listen to arguments)
Returning nominees include The Stooges. I’m not saying another word. I’m on record everywhere as saying The Stooges should not only be in, but have their own building out back. Iggy could live there and we could visit. Instead I give you Bonus Coverage:
Yes, “the kids” do seem to enjoy it.
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
As I write I’m listening to my new favorite band The Spits. The fact that they’ve been around since the turn of the century means that I’ve wasted many years not listening to them. Bloody hell! If you like The Ramones, Wire, Devo, and The Rezillos then you’ve found your new favorite band too.
Beatles Remasters Out
The Beatles "Abbey Road" Remaster
Back in the 80′s The Beatles were, as I remember it, alone. Every other major artist had seen their catalogs reissued on CD. The Beatles held out until 1987, and with great fanfare released their hallowed albums in digital form. As the years have gone by and mastering technology improved many generations, The Beatles again waited. Today is the day. The newly remastered Beatles have been released along with Beatles Rock Band.
Meanwhile Paul McCartney blames EMI for The Beatles not being available for legal download. Sounds like it will happen soon.
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
NIN Hollywood Show Features Gary Numan
Argh! Nine Inch Nails keep pulling up inspired guests on their farewell tour and I’m not there to dig it. Wednesday in LA it was industrial music pioneer and ace pilot Gary Numan. “Cars” was an obvious choice. Even better was “Metal.” Numan I fear is largely forgotten, but for Reznor he is a huge influence. Check out Numan’s “Metal”:
So I Was Sitting In The Parking Lot Of A Dentist Office
That’s what Stooges guitar player James Williamson told Rolling Stone of Iggy’s invitation to rejoin the band. He was getting ready to see the dentist when Iggy rang him up.
Williamson left music in 1974, and eventually ended up in a shitty little no future business called personal computers. It almost sounds like a movie:
“I was about to take an early retirement from my job in Silicon Valley, so I figured ‘What the hell, let’s do it.”
Williamson replaces Ron Asheton who died of a heart attack this past winter. James was in the band for their 1973 smokin’ shoot out “Raw Power.”
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
You knew this was coming. Live Leak has the proof! Michael Jackson…. ALIVE:
Spin is reporting on the return of Wolfmother… Now with all new, not the old guys. Judging from the photos in the article, Andrew Stockdale hired his hair dopplegangers. Bonus! One of the new Wolfmothers looks like a Geico Caveman:
by Brian Phillips (@BrianBlahg)
Our own Jill Menze fought her way into the now infamous Girl Talk show over the weekend in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Vegan were there as well. I wish people still went this nuts for people who play instruments. That would be cool.
Chewbacca Dancing To Girl Talk At Bonnaroo
Cameron Crowe’s new clip for Pearl Jam’s “The Fixer” is out. The bits and pieces of the album I’ve heard are encouraging.
Kiss have announced their 35th anniversary tour. They’ve actually been together longer than that, but why quibble. And now the funniest Kiss video ever “World Without Heroes” from their concept album Music From The Elder. Watch to the end and see Gene cry from all the money they spent making this truly goofy record:
