Thursday, February 27, 2003
The Matrix at work with Britney Spears
The Matrix--the team that co-wrote the Avril Lavigne hits “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi” and “I’m With You"--is currently at work with Britney Spears on that former teen queen’s album, RollingStone.com reports.
The Matrix--the team that co-wrote the Avril Lavigne hits “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi” and “I’m With You"--is currently at work with Britney Spears on that former teen queen’s album, RollingStone.com reports.
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Great White singer seeks immunity in blaze proceedings
An attorney for Great White singer Jack Russell told the Associated Press on Friday (2/28) that Russell will ask for immunity from prosecution before testifying in front of a grand jury that is investigating last week’s deadly fire at a Rhode Island nightclub. The inferno, which killed 97 people (the 97th victim died in the hospital on Friday morning), was ignited by Great White’s pyrotechnics display.
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Depeche Mode’s David Gahan goes solo
Depeche Mode frontman David Gahan plans to release a debut solo album titled “Paper Monsters” on June 3, Billboard.com reports. Gahan has launched a new website in advance of the album’s release. According to the site, the singer will kick off a European tour in early June, and will head to the U.S. from July 18 through the end of August, though the U.S. dates have not yet been announced.
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Michael Jackson blocks outtakes special
Self-proclaimed King of Pop Michael Jackson scored a victory on Friday (2/28) when British company Granada Television agreed--for the time being--to not air outtakes from its recent “Living With Michael Jackson” documentary, according to the BBC News. Jackson had sought an injunction against the company, but the agreement was reached out of court. Under terms of the agreement, Granada will not air the footage until or unless it wins its legal dispute with Jackson, who claims that the company breached the terms of its agreement with him and that the documentary’s maker--journalist Martin Bashir--betrayed his trust. A hearing in the case is set for April.
In related news, everyone still thinks Jackson’s weird.
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Rapper Keith Murray injured in bus accident
Rapper Keith Murray suffered minor injuries when his tour bus flipped over twice on a North Carolina highway, the AP reports. Murray is best known for his hit “The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World.”
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Eagles keep flapping their wings
Classic rockers the Eagles--whom drummer Don Henley once said would reunite and tour when hell froze over--are going out on their second U.S. run in as many years, Billboard.com reports. The tour announcement is accompanied by the launch of the group’s official fan club, which entitles members--who pay a $60 annual fee to join--access to ticket pre-sales for the upcoming tour. The first batch of pre-sale tickets hit the box office today (2/27), and prices top out at a $175, according to Ticketmaster.
Classic rockers the Eagles--whom drummer Don Henley once said would reunite and tour when hell froze over--are going out on their second U.S. run in as many years, Billboard.com reports. The tour announcement is accompanied by the launch of the group’s official fan club, which entitles members--who pay a $60 annual fee to join--access to ticket pre-sales for the upcoming tour. The first batch of pre-sale tickets hit the box office today (2/27), and prices top out at a $175, according to Ticketmaster.
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Irv Gotti presents ... a self-inflicted gunshot wound?
New York City police aren’t buying the story that rap producer Chris Gotti (real name Chris Lorenzo), brother of Murder Inc. record-label head Irv Gotti, gave them after he was shot in the left leg on Monday evening, the New York Daily News reports. Lorenzo said that the shot was fired from about 50 feet away and that he didn’t see the shooter, but a police source told the Daily News that the shooting had to have occurred “upclose and personal. If he didn’t shoot himself, he had to know who did.”
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Ozzy looks to recruit former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted
Ozzy Osbourne, who on Monday (2/24) officially lost longtime bassist Robert Trujillo to Metallica, is apparently hoping to fill the vacancy with former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, who left the band more than two years ago, according to a VH1.com report. The report, which cites an unnamed source close to Newsted, claims that Newsted is expected to travel to Los Angeles next week in order to jam with Ozzy and his remaining band members, guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Mike Bordin.
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Give peace a chance. . .
Jay-Z, Nas, Natalie Merchant, Sheryl Crow, Wilco, Dave Matthews, George Clinton, R.E.M., and Lou Reed are among the names listed under the headline “War On Iraq Is Wrong And We Know It” in an advertisement that ran in Wednesday’s edition (2/26) of the New York Times, Billboard.com reports. The ad is credited to Musicians United to Win Without War, an organization reportedly founded by by former Talking Head David Byrne and rap impresario Russell Simmons.
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. . . But don’t record a song about it
Former manufactured pop star George Michael told the BBC that a group of young British pop stars who are planning to record a new Band Aid-style charity song should abandon their plan.
“I’m begging, I’m hoping that there will not be Band Aid 2 because the reality is that very, very few people in the industry now that you’re hearing on the radio make their money from their own hearts and minds,” Michael reportedly said. “They make their money from singing the words of others, and so therefore the weight of something called Band Aid 2 would be incredibly slight.”
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Perks flow to Linkin Park fan club members
Members of Linkin Park’s fan club will be given free admission to the band’s upcoming March club dates, LiveDaily.com reports. The band’s new album, “Meteora,” hits stores on March 25.
Members of Linkin Park’s fan club will be given free admission to the band’s upcoming March club dates, LiveDaily.com reports. The band’s new album, “Meteora,” hits stores on March 25.
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Good Charlotte, New Found Glory and Honda Civics
Good Charlotte and New Found Glory will headline the third Honda-sponsored Civic Tour, which gets underway in April, Pollstar.com reports. The tour visits more than 50 cities.
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The Cure signs to ArtistDirect
British mope-rockers The Cure have signed a three-album deal with I Am Records, the ArtistDirect imprint headed by producer Ross Robinson. The group is expected to begin work on a new album in July.
“The Cure has been my favorite band for years and years,” Robinson said in a statement. “They were instrumental in my approach to production. It was the Cure that opened me up to a more sensitive, heartfelt type of music, and I’ve been extremely loyal to that feeling in every project I’ve done since then.”
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David Gray plans summer tour
Singer-songwriter David Gray is planning to embark on a summer tour to back last November’s “A New Day at Midnight,” which debut at No. 200 on the album chart, Billboard.com reports.
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Suge Knight released from jail
Rap mogul Suge Knight, who has spent the last two months in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles for alleged parole violations, has been ordered released by the California Board of Prison Terms, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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Meet John Doe
John Doe talks about his new album, life on the road and X in a new interview posted at LiveDaily.com.
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Avril Lavigne: Not Britney, not a girl, not yet a woman
Canadian pop princess Avril Lavigne, 18, is on the cover of the new Rolling Stone. In the story, Lavigne--who is polishing off a pitcher of beer when the piece opens--says her devout Christian upbringing has kept her grounded.
“My mom wouldn’t even let me sing [the country song] ‘Strawberry Wine,’ because it said ‘wine’ in it and I was this little kid,” Lavigne says in the story. “She protected my image. And that’s not the only reason why I don’t dance around like a ho onstage, but it definitely has something to do with being brought up with tons of morals. And I’m not saying I’ll never write a song with a curse word, because there’s definitely been times when it’s like, ‘Aww, man, “fuck” would sound so good there!’ But then I think about my mom, and how it would probably hurt her. So I just say ‘frig’ instead.”
Album Chart: Despite legal woes, R. Kelly is No. 1
Affirming the old saying that “any publicity is good publicity,” the latest release from R&B crooner R. Kelly--who for months has been ensnared in a child-pornography controversy--was the nation’s top-selling album last week.
Affirming the old saying that “any publicity is good publicity,” the latest release from R&B crooner R. Kelly--who for months has been ensnared in a child-pornography controversy--was the nation’s top-selling album last week.
Titled “Chocolate Factory,” Kelly’s new set sold about 532,000 copies during its first week out, according to industry sources, and will debut at No. 1 on the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart. The album’s first single, “Ignition,” has been riding near the top of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts.
Kelly is the target of multiple investigations and lawsuits stemming from allegations that he had sex with underage girls. The singer has maintained his claim of innocence.
Rapper 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which spent its first two weeks of release at No. 1, slips to No. 2 after selling about 12,000 fewer copies than “Chocolate Factory.”
Coming in at a distant third is Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me,” for which the singer/pianist received the Album of the Year Grammy on Sunday (2/24). The album, which sold about 144,000 copies during the week leading up to the Grammys, will likely see a spike in sales after winning Jones Grammy awards for all five categories in which she was nominated, plus three non-artist Grammys for its producer, engineers and writer of its hit single, “Don’t Know Why.”
The Dixie Chicks’ Grammy-winning “Home” slips two spots to No. 4 this week, and Kid Rock’s “Cocky” falls one spot to No. 5.
Debuting at No. 6 is the “Cradle 2 the Grave” soundtrack, which moved about 98,000 copies during its first week in stores. The album features a number of tracks from DMX, who also stars in the film, as well as cuts (or guest appearances on DMX tracks) from Eminem, 50 Cent, Clipse, Drag-On, Fat Joe and others.
Avril Lavigne--who got shut out at the Grammys despite five nominations--sees her multi-platinum “Let Go” slip one spot to No. 7 this week, where it’s trailed by the “Chicago” soundtrack, down three spots to No. 8.
Closing out the top is the “Daredevil” soundtrack, which jumps six places to No. 9; and the “Grammy Nominees 2003” compilation, which is also up six spots to No. 10.
Taking a tumble this week is George Strait’s “For the Last Time--Live from the Astrodome,” which plummets 21 spots to No. 28 after debuting at No. 7 last week. Also free-falling--though likely to rebound thanks to its creator’s Grammy win--is singer-songwriter John Mayer’s live set, “Any Given Thursday,” which drops 17 places to No. 34.
Other second-week sinkers include Yanni’s “Ethnicity,” down 22 places to No. 49; and Vince Gill’s “Next Big Thing,” which tucks and dives 41 places to No. 55.
Outside of the Top 10, no new albums surface in the Top 100 this week; Cat Power’s “You Are Free” just misses by debuting at No. 105.
Monday, February 24, 2003
New Radiohead album to drop in June?
Details are sketchy and the story’s source seems a bit squishy, but Billboard.com reports that a new Radiohead studio album will hit stores on June 10. Rumored titles: “2+2=5” and “Are You Listening.” NME.com reports that the album’s UK release will be on June 9.
Details are sketchy and the story’s source seems a bit squishy, but Billboard.com reports that a new Radiohead studio album will hit stores on June 10. Rumored titles: “2+2=5” and “Are You Listening.” NME.com reports that the album’s UK release will be on June 9.
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Great White subpoenaed to grand jury hearing for club blaze
The surviving members of rock outfit Great White have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury that will investigate last week’s fire at a Rhode Island nightclub that killed 97 people, the Associated Press reports. Among the victims was Great White guitarist Ty Longley.
Reuters, meanwhile,
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Michael Jackson seeks injunction to block documentary
Michael Jackson’s ongoing tantrum--started by the recent airing of a documentary that widely cemented public opinion that the pop star is unimaginably bizarre--continues with his latest request that a London court grant an injunction that would stop a television company from releasing the documentary’s unused footage, AP reports.
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Layne Staley’s last interview surfaces
Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley, who last year died of a drug overdose, before his death gave an interview that is the subject of a recently released book titled “Layne Staley: Angry Chair--A Look Inside the Heart and Soul of an Incredible Musician,” VH1.com reports.
Quoted in the VH1.com article are excerpts from the book, in which a drug-sick Staley, whom the author said spoke in a rasp through missing teeth, said he knew he was “near death,” and that his drug addiction had completely ravaged his body.
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Howie Epstein dead of apparent overdose
Former Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers bassist Howie Epstein--who was fired from the group last year--died on Sunday night (2/25) of an apparent drug overdose, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
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Macy Gray tests new material on tour
R&B singer Macy Gray will preview material from her forthcoming third album, “The Trouble with Being Myself,” with a tour that gets underway in March, LiveDaily.com reports. The new album hits stores on April 29.
Sunday, February 23, 2003
Norah Jones goes five for five at Grammy Awards
Pianist-singer Norah Jones, one of eight artists nominated in five different Grammy categories this year, won all five trophies, according to LiveDaily.com’s Grammy wrap-up. The newcomer’s slew of Grammys included top-honor Album of the Year for her 2002 debut, “Come Away With Me.” Click here for a complete list of winners.
Pianist-singer Norah Jones, one of eight artists nominated in five different Grammy categories this year, won all five trophies, according to LiveDaily.com’s Grammy wrap-up. The newcomer’s slew of Grammys included top-honor Album of the Year for her 2002 debut, “Come Away With Me.” Click here for a complete list of winners.
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We have ways of keeping you quiet
Some artists claim that Grammy officials “warned them not to use the Grammy podium to make anti-war statements,” ABCNews.com reports. Grammy President Neil Portnow and a CBS official reportedly denied the allegations.
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Metallica fills bassist vacancy
Bassist Robert Trujillo--whose résumé includes positions with Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves and, most recently, Ozzy Osbourne--is Metallica’s new permanent bassist, LiveDaily.com reports. A candid picture of the group’s new lineup is posted at the band’s official website.
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Club inferno death toll rises to 97
Officials in West Warwick, R.I., report that the death toll in the wake of the Thursday night (2/20) fire at The Station nightclub has reached 97, CNN.com reports. Among the victims is Great White guitarist Ty Longley.
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Bullets fired at Busta Rhymes’ car
Busta Rhymes--who was a presenter at Sunday night’s (2/23) Grammy Awards in New York City--narrowly missed being in the line of fire when a drive-by shooter sprayed the passenger side of the rapper’s SUV with at least six bullets, according to a VH1.com report. Several minutes before the shooting, Rhymes had parked the vehicle and entered the building that houses his management’s offices.
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Johnny Cash’s uncensored ‘Hurt’
Mark Romanek, director of the compelling new video to Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt,” talks of the clip on RollingStone.com, where the video is streaming. NIN’s Trent Reznor says the video--which makes no effort to dress up Cash’s age and frailty--nearly brought him to tears. Us, too.
Winners list: 45th Annual Grammy Awards
The following is a complete list of winners at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, which were presented during a Feb. 23 ceremony in New York.
The following is a complete list of winners at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, which were presented during a Feb. 23 ceremony in New York.
Album of the Year
“Come Away With Me,” Norah Jones
New Artist
Norah Jones
Record of the Year
“Don’t Know Why,” Norah Jones
Song of the Year
“Don’t Know Why,” Jesse Harris (Norah Jones)
Hard Rock Performance
“All My Life,” Foo Fighters
Spoken Comedy Album
“Robin Williams – Live 2002,” Robin Williams
Country Album
“Home," The Dixie Chicks
Rap Album
“The Eminem Show,” Eminem
Male Pop Vocal Performance
“Your Body is a Wonderland,” John Mayer
Pop Vocal Album
“Come Away With Me,” Norah Jones
Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group
“Hey Baby,” No Doubt
Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
“Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” Various Artists
Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” Howard Shore, composer
Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
“If I Didn’t Have You,” Randy Newman, songwriter, track from “Monsters, Inc.”
Classical Album
“Vaughan Williams: A Sea of Symphony (Sym. No. 1),” Robert Spano, conductor, Norman Mackenzie, chorus director
Orchestral Performance
“Mahler: Symphony No. 6,” Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
Opera Recording
“Wagner: Tannhauser,” Daniel Barenboim, conductor, Jane Eaglen, Thomas Hampson, Waltraud Meier, Rene Pape and Peter Seiffert; Christoph Classen, producer (Chor der Deutschen Staatsoper Berlin; Staatskapelle Berlin)
Choral Performance
“Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Sym. No. 1),” Robert Spano, conductor; Norman Mackenzie, chorus director (Christine Goerke, soprano; Brett Polegato, baritone; Atlanta Sym. Orch. Cho.; Atlanta Sym. Orch.)
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
“Brahms/Stravinsky: Violin Concertos,” Neville Marriner, conductor; Hilary Hahn, violin (Academy of St. Martin in the Fields)
Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)
“Chopin: Etudes, Op. 10 & Op. 25,” Murray Perahia, piano
Chamber Music Performance
“Beethoven: String Quartets ("Razumovsky" Op. 59, 1-3; “Harp” Op. 74),” Takacs Quartet
Small Ensemble Performance (with or without conductor)
“Tavener: Lamentations and Praises Joseph Jennings, conductor; Chanticleer (Handel & Haydn Society of Boston)
Classical Vocal Performance
“Bel Canto (Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, etc.),” Renee Fleming, soprano
Classical Contemporary Composition
“Tavener: Lamentations and Praises,” John Tavener (Chanticleer; Joseph Jennings; Handel & Haydn Society of Boston)
Classical Crossover Album
“Previn Conducts Korngold (Sea Hawk; Captain Blood, etc.),” Andre Previn, conductor (London Sym. Orch.)
Engineered Album, Classical
“Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (Sym. No. 1),” Michael Bishop, engineer (Robert Spano & Norman Mackenzie)
Producer of the Year, Classical
Robert Woods
Traditional Folk Album
“Legacy," Doc Watson and David Holt
Contemporary Folk Album
“This Side,” Nickel Creek
Native American Music Album
“Beneath the Raven Moon,” Mary Youngblood
Reggae Album
“Jamaican E.T.,” Lee “Scratch” Perry
World Music Album
“Mundo," Ruben Blades
Musical Album for Children
“Monsters, Inc. — Scream Factory Favorites,” Riders in the Sky
Spoken Word Album for Children
“There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” Tom Chapin
Spoken Word Album
“A Song Flung up to Heaven (Maya Angelou),” Maya Angelou
Musical Show Album
“Hairspray"
Instrumental Composition
“Six Feet Under Title Theme,” Thomas Newman, composer (Thomas Newman), from “Six Feet Under”
Instrumental Arrangement
“Six Feet Under Title Theme,” Thomas Newman, arranger (Thomas Newman), from “Six Feet Under”
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
“Mean Old Man,” Dave Grusin, arranger (James Taylor), from “October Road”
Recording Package
“Home," Kevin Reagan, art director (Dixie Chicks)
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
“Screamin’ and Hollerin’ The Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton,” Susan Archie, art director (Charley Patton)
Album Notes
David Evans, album notes writer (Charley Patton)
Historical Album
“Screamin’ and Hollerin’ The Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton,” Charley Patton
Engineered Album, Non-Classical
“Come Away With Me,” Husky Huskolds, Arif Mardin and Jay Newland, engineers (Norah Jones)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Arif Mardin
Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
“Hella Good (Roger Sanchez Remix Main),” Roger Sanchez, remixer (No Doubt)
Short Form Music Video
“Without Me,” Eminem
Long Form Music Video
“Westway to the World,” The Clash
Rock Gospel Album
“Come Together,” Third Day
Pop-Contemporary Gospel Album
“The Eleventh Hour,” Jars of Clay
Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album
“We Called Him Mr. Gospel Music: The James Blackwood Tribute Album,” The Jordanaires, Larry Ford and The Light Crust Doughboys
Traditional Soul Gospel Album
“Higher Ground,” The Blind Boys of Alabama
Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
“Sidebars," Eartha
Gospel Choir or Chorus Album
“Be Glad,” The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Traditional Blues Album
“A Christmas Celebration of Hope,” B.B. King
Contemporary Blues Album
“Don’t Give up on Me,” Solomon Burke
Latin Pop Album
“Caraluna," Bacilos
Latin Rock-Alternative Album
“Revolucion de Amor,” Mana
Traditional Tropical Latin Album
“El Arte del Sabor,” Bebo Valdes Trio with Israel Lopez “Cachao” and Carlos “Patato” Valdes.
Salsa Album: “La Negra Tiene Tumbao,” Celia Cruz
Merengue Album
“Latino," Grupo Mania
Mexican-Mexican-American Album
“Lo Dijo el Corazon,” Joan Sebastian
Tejano Album
“Acuerdate," Emilio Navaira
Polka Album
“Top of the World,” Jimmy Sturr
New Age Album
“Acoustic Garden,” Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel
Contemporary Jazz Album
“Speaking of Now,” Pat Metheny Group
Jazz Vocal Album
“Live in Paris,” Diana Krall
Jazz Instrumental Solo
“My Ship,” Herbie Hancock
Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
“Directions in Music,” Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove
Large Jazz Ensemble Album
“What Goes Around,” Dave Holland Big Band
Latin Jazz Album
“The Gathering,” Caribbean Jazz Project
Female R&B Performance
“He Think I Don’t Know,” Mary J. Blige
Male R&B Performance
“U Don’t Have to Call,” Usher
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group
“Love’s in Need of Love Today,” Stevie Wonder and Take Six
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
“What’s Going On,” Chaka Khan & The Funk Brothers
Urban/Alternative Performance
“Little Things,” India.Arie
R&B Song
“Love of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop),” Erykah Badu, Robert Ozuna, James Poyser, Raphael Saadiq & Glen Standridge (Erykah Badu featuring Common)
R&B Album
“Voyage To India,” India.Arie
Contemporary R&B Album
“Ashanti," Ashanti
Female Country Vocal Performance
“Cry," Faith Hill
Male Country Vocal Performance
“Give My Love To Rose,” Johnny Cash
Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“Long Time Gone,” The Dixie Chicks
Country Collaboration with Vocals
“Mendocino County Line,” Willie Nelson with Lee Ann Womack
Country Instrumental Performance
“Lil’ Jack Slade,” The Dixie Chicks
Country Song
“Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” Alan Jackson (Alan Jackson)
Bluegrass Album
“Lost in the Lonesome Pines,” Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys
Female Pop Vocal Performance
“Don’t Know Why,” Norah Jones
Pop Collaboration with Vocals
“The Game of Love,” Santana and Michelle Branch
Pop Instrumental Performance
“Auld Lang Syne,” B.B. King
Pop Instrumental Album
“Just Chillin’,” Norman Brown
Dance Recording
“Days Go By,” Dirty Vegas
Traditional Pop Vocal Album
“Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues,” Tony Bennett
Female Rap Solo Performance
“Scream a.k.a. Itchin’,” Missy Elliott
Male Rap Solo Performance
“Hot in Herre,” Nelly
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
“The Whole World,” OutKast featuring Killer Mike
Rap/Sung Collaboration
“Dilemma," Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
Alternative Music Album
“A Rush of Blood to the Head,” Coldplay
Female Rock Vocal Performance
“Steve McQueen,” Sheryl Crow
Male Rock Vocal Performance
“The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
“In My Place,” Coldplay
Metal Performance
“Here to Stay,” Korn
Rock Instrumental Performance
“Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia),” The Flaming Lips
Rock Song
“The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen (Bruce Springsteen)
Rock Album
“The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen
Friday, February 21, 2003
Q&A: Emerson Hart of Tonic
When Emerson Hart, lead singer of Tonic, found out that his band’s album “Head on Straight” picked up two Grammy nominations, he immediately thought it was a joke.
When Emerson Hart, lead singer of Tonic, found out that his band’s album “Head on Straight” picked up two Grammy nominations, he immediately thought it was a joke.
“I was changing planes in Miami. I was actually on vacation and my manager called me and told me. I said, ‘That’s really funny.’ He said, ‘No, you’ve been nominated for two Grammys.’ I was shocked. Luckily I was sitting down.”
The only person he told was his wife. He didn’t share the news with any fellow passengers.
“If I said anything out loud, then it wouldn’t be real,” Hart said with a laugh.
Hart spoke to SoundSpike about the nominations--for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group for the song “Take Me As I Am” and Best Rock Album for “Head on Straight"--and what’s next for the band that brought us the songs “Open Up Your Eyes” and “If You Could Only See.”
Your latest album, “Head on Straight,” had barely been pushed by the label when it was nominated for the Grammys. Were you surprised that the Grammy voters noticed your record?
This is true. There has not been huge publicity on this record. You know what this really said to me? The people on the Grammy board are real people. It’s not always about the hype and the machine. It’s about the music. It gave me a little bit of hope about the music that’s out right now.
What do you think it was about your album and “Take Me As I Am” that persuaded the committee to vote for you?
Hopefully it was about the songwriting. It’s the most personal record that I feel we’ve done to date. It’s the most personal for me. I think it got to some people. They just responded to it.
Was it difficult to write such a personal record?
No, I think that’s the whole reason you do art. You create art so you can help people change or help them feel something. If I’m not putting myself at risk or emotionally putting myself out there, I’m not doing the musical community a service. I’m not being an artist. I’m being a liar. The last thing I want to do is to be full of shit.
What was it like to work with producer Bob Rock on the album?
He’s an amazing producer. He’s an honest, straightforward guy. We did the album in Maui at his studio. That was a lot of fun. We did nothing but focus on music. [But] he’s the man. No doubt about it. I would love to work with him again. He had everything. He had this huge warehouse [of instruments]. I played Malcolm Young’s guitar. I love that guitar.
What’s next for Tonic?
We’re going on an acoustic tour. It’s kind of like [VH1’s] “Storytellers,” but not that hokey. We just want to let [the fans] come and enjoy the songs in their little birthing stage. I know that’s kind of a weird way to put it. Then we’ll go out in the spring and summer and do a full electric tour. I really wanted to give the fans the opportunity to see us that way in a really intimate setting. That’s what it should be about. It’s not about what you wear. It’s about how the music wears you.
Thursday, February 20, 2003
Springsteen to play for the masses at Giants Stadium
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band have booked three shows at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for July 15, 17 and 18, LiveDaily.com reports. Tickets hit the market on March 1.
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band have booked three shows at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for July 15, 17 and 18, LiveDaily.com reports. Tickets hit the market on March 1.
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Nightclub inferno kills at least 95, injures 180
At least 95 people were killed and 180 injured when The Station nightclub in the suburban Providence town of West Warwick, R.I., went up in flames during a Thursday night (1/20) performance by Great White, CNN.com reports. The fire was started when the band’s pyrotechnics ignited soundproofing behind the stage, and flames quickly spread to the ceiling.
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Simon and Garfunkel aren’t talking tour
Rumors that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are considering a reunion tour are just that, according to a statement issued by Manhattan Records. “Despite speculation that there is a reunion tour in the works, there have been no discussions--either with their respective managers or with Paul and Art themselves--about a tour,” the statement said.
Then there’s the other rumor--that Simon and Garfunkel will perform at Sunday’s Grammy Awards ceremony, where they are scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award. The Manhattan press release address that possibility.
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Bono speaks
U2’s Bono, who is scheduled to be awarded the MusiCares Person of the Year Award tonight (2/21), talks of his activism and how it relates to his music in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter.
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Juvenile pleads guilty to battery
Rapper Juvenile, who was “accused of hitting a man in the head with a champagne bottle and grabbing a police officer” during a fight outside a comedy club last March, pleaded guilty to felony battery on Friday (2/21). He was sentenced to 75 hours of community service, the Associated Press reports.
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Marilyn Manson ushers in ‘The Golden Age of Grotesque’
Marilyn Manson’s fifth studio album, titled “The Golden Age of Grotesque,” will hit stores on May 13, RollingStone.com reports. Needless to say, he still intends to shock.
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Dixie Chicks ready to fly the coop
For the first time in three years, the Dixie Chicks are taking to the road. Their 50-plus city North American tour gets underway in May and will run for three months, LiveDaily.com reports.
For the first time in three years, the Dixie Chicks are taking to the road. Their 50-plus city North American tour gets underway in May and will run for three months, LiveDaily.com reports.
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Nine could face charges stemming Guns N’ Roses riot
Nine fans who allegedly participated in a mini-riot that took place when Guns N’ Roses canceled a Vancouver show at the last minute could face criminal charges, MTV News reports. Vancouver police reportedly recommended that charges of mischief and participating in unlawful assembly be filed against three adults and six youths.
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Limp Bizkit’s ‘Lessismore’ becomes ‘Bipolar’
The title of Limp Bizkit’s forthcoming album, due to hit stores on May 13, has been changed to “Bipolar,” frontman Fred Durst writes on the band’s official website. It originally was to be dubbed “Lessismore.”
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Simon and Garfunkel to cash in?
CBS News reports that Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are expected perform on Sunday night (2/23) at the Grammys, when they are to be presented with lifetime achievement awards. Simon and Garfunkel are reportedly also discussing the possibility of embarking on a reunion tour.
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Phish on the cover of the Rolling Stone
David Fricke reports “the inside story” on why Phish went on hiatus two years ago in his Rolling Stone cover story that’s also posted at RollingStone.com. Short answer: the band found that the responsibilities of serving as heirs to the Grateful Dead sucked too much of its energy.
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Nelly postpones U.K. tour
Nelly, who was scheduled to open a tour of the U.K. in March, has postponed the outing until the fall due to a “personal matter,” NME.com reports. Fans are asked to either retain the tickets for use on the rescheduled dates or to get a refund from the point of purchase.
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Protest songs ain’t breakin’ into the Top 40 no more blues
Brent Staples, in an op-ed piece that ran in the New York Times, writes that if Gulf War II creates a great protest song, it couldn’t possibly crack corporate-controlled radio station playlists.