Monday, December 02, 2002
Frontman Peter Garrett departs Midnight Oil
Peter Garrett, longtime frontman of the politically charged Australian rock group Midnight Oil, is leaving the band to pursue other interests.
Peter Garrett, longtime frontman of the politically charged Australian rock group Midnight Oil, is leaving the band to pursue other interests.
“The last 25 years have been incredibly fulfilling for me, and I leave with the greatest respect for the whole of Midnight Oil,” he said in a statement posted on the band’s official website. “The band has brought a lot of pleasure and meaning to people’s lives, including my own. Who could ask for more? But it is time for me to move on and immerse myself in those things which are of deep concern to me and which I have been unable to fully apply myself up to now.”
The band’s other members--Bones Hilman, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey and Gary Morris--"plan to continue making music together in another guise at some point down the track,” the statement said. “We’ve had a unique relationship and special chemistry for many years, one too good to lose.”
Midnight Oil is best known for its late 1980s albums “Diesel and Dust” (which produced the hit “Beds are Burning") and “Blue Sky Mining.”
The group’s 14th studio album, “Capricornia,” hit stores in February.
Stewart Copeland’s injury puts The Doors on hold
Drummer Stewart Copeland suffered a broken arm over the Thanksgiving holiday, forcing re-formed rockers The Doors to postpone a planned Dec. 8 concert in Las Vegas.
Drummer Stewart Copeland suffered a broken arm over the Thanksgiving holiday, forcing re-formed rockers The Doors to postpone a planned Dec. 8 concert in Las Vegas.
The concert at The Palms in Las Vegas has been pushed back more than a month, to Jan. 19. Those holding tickets for the Dec. 8 show can use them for admission to the Jan. 19 show, or can obtain a refund at their point of purchase.
Copeland, formerly of The Police, fell while bicycle riding on a path near his Los Angeles home, according to The Doors’ publicist. He is expected to recover in time to join the band for the rescheduled performance.
The Doors have been resurrected by original keyboardist Ray Manzarek and lead guitarist Robby Krieger, who recruited Copeland and The Cult’s vocalist Ian Astbury to round out the group.
Original Doors drummer John Densmore was unable to participate in the reunion because he suffers from severe tinnitus, a hearing disorder. Legendary Doors vocalist Jim Morrison died at the age of 27 in 1971.
The new Doors lineup debuted on Sept. 6, playing a nearly 2-hour set at the Harley-Davidson Open Road Tour in the Los Angeles area.
The Doors are expected to embark on a U.S. tour in the spring, and to play the U.S. and European festival circuits in the summer. A new album release is planned for the fall.
Billy Joel and Elton John team up again
Billy Joel and Elton John kick off the New Year with more co-headlining shows.
Billy Joel and Elton John kick off the New Year with more co-headlining shows.
The duo is set to resume its ongoing Face to Face tour in late February. Only a handful of dates have been scheduled, and John--who is currently on a European headlining tour of his own--is set to precede the jaunt with a Jan. 18 solo date at Centennial Garden Arena in Bakersfield, Calif.
Joel and John’s most-recent round of co-headlining performances took place in September and October, when the pair played several make-up dates that were originally scheduled for earlier this year; the 10 March and April dates were scrapped so that Joel could tend to some personal issues, which included a stint in rehab.
The piano men’s latest Face to Face tour kicked off in January of this year, and marks the pair’s fifth such outing since 1994. The two limited the 2002 tour to the East Coast, opting to perform numerous consecutive shows in only a handful of cities, including a six-night run in Philadelphia.
John continues to support his 2001 album, “Songs from the West Coast,” which spawned the hit singles “I Want Love” and “This Train Don’t Stop Here Anymore.”
Joel has not released a new pop album since 1993’s “River of Dreams.” Instead, the native New Yorker has focused on classical composing, and last year released “Fantasies & Delusions: Music for Solo Piano.” The album features pianist Richard Joo performing 10 original piano compositions that Joel penned.
Sunday, December 01, 2002
Street Date Dec. 3: ‘More Music from 8 Mile,’ Mariah Carey
Also: Josh Groban, ‘Analyze That’ soundtrack, Great White.
Also: Josh Groban, ‘Analyze That’ soundtrack, Great White.
_________________________
Mariah Carey - “Charmbracelet” (MonarC/Island)
Carey took a nearly $30 million buyout and parted ways with Virgin Records in January after her first album for the label, “Glitter,” sold poorly and a Carey-starring motion picture of the same name flopped. She quickly signed a new deal with Island, and this is her first release for the label. The album’s first single, the ballad “Through the Rain,” hasn’t found much success on radio, so her label is resting its hopes on the follow-up, “The One” (produced by Jermaine Dupri).
_________________________
Various artists - “More Music from ‘8 Mile’” (Interscope)
After seeing its first “8 Mile” soundtrack--which surfaced in late October--move about 1.9 million copies during its first four weeks in stores, Interscope strikes while the iron is hot. Unlike its hot-selling predecessor, however, this follow-up does not feature any tracks--new or otherwise--from the film’s star, Eminem. Rappers who do appear on the new album include Mobb Deep, OutKast, Method Man, Wu-Tang Clan and the late Tupac Shakur, among others.
_________________________
Josh Groban - “Josh Groban In Concert” (Warner Bros.)
With last year’s platinum selling, self-titled debut under his belt, Groban returns with this CD/DVD package. The set features his performance on the Nov. 23 episode of PBS’s concert series, “Great Performances.” Tracks include “You’re Still You,” “Cinema Paradiso (Se),” “Alla Luce Del Sole” and more. A streaming-video sample from the album’s companion DVD is posted at Groban’s official website.
_________________________
“Analyze That: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” (TVT)
Belfast-born DJ, producer and remixer David Holmes created the soundtrack to this new film, which stars Robert DeNiro, Billy Crystal and Lisa Kudrow. According to the label, the “upbeat jazzy score has a wink and smirk feel similar to [Holmes’] previous soundtrack, “Oceans Eleven.”
_________________________
Great White - “Thank You ... Goodnight” (Knight Records)
One of several still-breathing holdovers from the hair-metal days, Great White offers up this live recording of its New Years Eve 2001 performance. The set features “all the classic hits,” as well as two new tracks--’Play On’ and ‘Back on the Rhythm’--according to Knight Records’ official website. The site also features the album’s complete track list.
Santana returns to the U.S. tour circuit this winter
Santana is set to open a new series of U.S. concert dates in February, when the band focuses its efforts on Texas and Florida.
Santana is set to open a new series of U.S. concert dates in February, when the band focuses its efforts on Texas and Florida.
Led by guitar ace Carlos Santana, the group is touring in support of “Shaman,” an album that has been certified double platinum just one month after its release.
“Shaman" uses the same formula that helped move 14 million copies of Santana’s massive comeback album, 1999’s “Supernatural”: Carlos Santana teamed with a roster of high-powered guest artists. Among others, guests this time around include Seal, Dido, Macy Gray, P.O.D. and Michelle Branch, who is featured on the album’s first single, “Game of Love.”
Santana dominated the 2000 Grammy Awards ceremony, claiming eight trophies (tying a record set by Michael Jackson in 1983); prior to that, Carlos Santana’s much-lauded career had netted just one Grammy.
Five of Santana’s earlier albums—his band’s self-titled debut, “Santana III,” two best-of sets, and “Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles Live"--have sold more than a million copies, according to the RIAA.