Friday, July 18, 2003
BBC: Jackson 5 to reunite for album, tour
Jermaine Jackson told the BBC that Michael Jackson has begun work on a new Jackson 5 album with the other four original members of the legendary Motown group. The BBC report said that the release of the album would coincide with a world tour. The group last performed with Michael as the Jackson 5 in 2001 during a concert celebrating Michael Jackson’s 30th anniversary in show business.
Read more at BBC.co.uk
Jermaine Jackson told the BBC that Michael Jackson has begun work on a new Jackson 5 album with the other four original members of the legendary Motown group. The BBC report said that the release of the album would coincide with a world tour. The group last performed with Michael as the Jackson 5 in 2001 during a concert celebrating Michael Jackson’s 30th anniversary in show business.
Read more at BBC.co.uk
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RIAA wins subpoenas to take action against file sharers
On Friday (7/18), RIAA prosecutors noted that they had won some 871 subpoenas forcing ISP’s and other Internet services to turn over contact information about alleged file sharers on their servers. The RIAA has vowed to pursue lawsuits against home file sharers, and current laws allow them to seek damages of $750 to $150,000 per song made available on a file sharer’s computer. Prosecutors say they are clearing about 75 more subpoenas each day.
Read more at Yahoo! news
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Bob Dylan to preview SACD remixes of catalog
Columbia Records announced that SACD remixes of several of Bob Dylan’s classic tracks will be made available in super audio and 5.1 surround formats as part of a special edition of the soundtrack to Dylan’s upcoming movie, “masked and anonymous.” The audiophile-quality mixes of tracks including “All I Really Want To Do,” “Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again” and “Tangled Up in Blue” are a preview to the re-release of Dylan’s catalog in the new format.
Read more about “masked and anonymous”
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Lollapalooza loses another date to slow ticket sales
Lollapalooza organizers have pulled the plug on the tour’s July 26th stop in Vernon Downs, NY, citing “mounting production costs.” Sources close to the show note that only 4,000 tickets had been sold for the 25,000-capacity venue at the time of the cancellation. The tour opener on July 3rd was canned over a similar set of circumstances.
Read more at E! Online
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
Cake taps Cheap Trick, others for second Unlimited Sunshine Tour
The second edition of the Cake-led Unlimited Sunshine tour will feature Cheap Trick, The Detroit Cobras, The Hackensaw Boys and Charlie Louvin, 73, of the legendary country group The Louvin Brothers.
The second edition of the Cake-led Unlimited Sunshine tour will feature Cheap Trick, The Detroit Cobras, The Hackensaw Boys and Charlie Louvin, 73, of the legendary country group The Louvin Brothers.
This year’s tour is set to take place during the first two weeks of September, and will focus on major markets. A confirmed itinerary hasn’t been issued.
Read more at Cake’s website
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Cancer claims Latin music icon Celia Cruz
Cuban-born singer Celia Cruz, known as the “Queen of Salsa,” died of cancer at her home in Ft. Lee, N.J., on Wednesday (7/16). She was believed to be about 79 years old.
Cruz fled to the U.S. in 1960, and refused to return to Cuba as long as Fidel Castro was in power. In the U.S., she joined forces with legendary drummer Tito Puente, with whom she helped to popularize Latin music for U.S. and European audiences.
Read the story at CNN.com
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The White Stripes cancel U.S. dates
The White Stripes have postponed all of their upcoming shows through Aug. 10 due to a hand injury that frontman and guitarist Jack White suffered in a July 9 car accident.
“Every effort if being made to reschedule these shows as soon as possible,” said a V2 Records statement. “The White Stripes deeply value the relationship they have with their fans and regret any inconvenience caused by these current events and are thankful for their patience and understanding.”
Read more at The White Stripes’ website
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Scott Stapp says ‘drunken’ Chicago show was an act
Creed frontman Scott Stapp--in two voice mail messages left with an Orlando, Fla., columnist--reportedly said that a lawsuit alleging that he was too intoxicated to perform during a show last year in Chicago is bogus.
For instance, when fans said he appeared to have passed out onstage, Stapp said, he was making a dramatic statement during the song “Who’s Got My Back?”
“It was a symbolic, personal gesture. I had some things going on in my life. I kind of felt alone. And it was a symbol that I didn’t think anybody had my back at the time.
“Some people get it. Some people don’t.”
Read the story at the Orlando Sentinel
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Ashanti, Beyonce remain atop album chart
Ashanti’s “Chapter II,” which sold 135,000 copies in the last week, will be in the No. 1 slot on the forthcoming Billboard 200 album chart. The R&B singer’s set debuted at No. 1 last week.
Clocking in at No. 2 is Beyonce’s solo debut, “Dangerously in Love.”
Read the story at Billboard.com
Monday, July 14, 2003
White Stripes cancel shows as U.S. tour beckons
The White Stripes canceled a pair of weekend music festivals in Scotland and Ireland after frontman Jack White broke a finger in a reportedly minor car accident in Detroit. The launch of the band’s U.S. tour--scheduled to begin Saturday (7/19) in Providence, RI--is in question, pending the recovery of the injured digit.
Updated tour dates at Whitestripes.com
The White Stripes canceled a pair of weekend music festivals in Scotland and Ireland after frontman Jack White broke a finger in a reportedly minor car accident in Detroit. The launch of the band’s U.S. tour--scheduled to begin Saturday (7/19) in Providence, RI--is in question, pending the recovery of the injured digit.
Updated tour dates at Whitestripes.com
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Pearl Jam winds up song marathon in Boston
Making good on their vow to perform every song in their reportoire during their three-night stand at Boston’s Tweeter Center, Pearl Jam performed a 50 minute “sit down” set prior to opening act Sleater-Kinney on night #3. The band played a total of 44 songs over three and a half hours.
Read the full review at liveDaily.com
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Report: Elton John considers Las Vegas performance residence
E! Online reports that Elton John is in discussions with Ceasar’s Palace Las Vegas over a possible long-term residence at the casino’s Colosseum venue, built to host a three-year run of Celine Dion dates. According to Billboard, the deal could net John a payday of $54 million.
Read more at E! Online
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Springsteen’s record-setting stadium run spawns ticket fire sale
Enterprising ticket buyers who hoarded extra tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s record-setting ten-show stand at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium in hopes of a quick profit are dumping them for pennies on the dollar via eBay and other resale channels. The resale market has been flooded with large releases of seats for the entire stand in recent days, a strategy long used by Springsteen to deflate scalping prices prior to shows. At press time, floor seats within hours of auction close via eBay were available for bids as low as $5.
More information at eBay
Avril Lavigne releases EP exclusively through Apple’s iTunes
Teen rocker Avril Lavigne is offering for sale exclusively through Apple Computer’s recently launched iTunes Music Store a downloadable live EP. Lavigne recorded the set in Dublin on March 23, during her “Try to Shut Me Up” world tour.
Teen rocker Avril Lavigne is offering for sale exclusively through Apple Computer’s recently launched iTunes Music Store a downloadable live EP. Lavigne recorded the set in Dublin on March 23, during her “Try to Shut Me Up” world tour.
Cuts featured on the set are: “Sk8ter Boi,” “Losing Grip,” “Unwanted,” “Nobody’s Fool” and a cover of Green Day’s “Basket Case.” The iTunes Music Store is selling the EP for $4.95, and is also offering each individual track for 99 cents apiece.
Read more at Lavigne’s website
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Hurricane forces Staind to postpone Texas show
Staind has postponed its Wednesday (7/15) performance at San Antonio’s Sunken Gardens due to Hurricane Claudette. The show will instead take place on Oct. 10, and all tickets for the original concert will be honored on the make-up date, according to Staind’s publicist.
The group’s current tour will resume as scheduled on Thursday (7/17) in Denver.
Get tour details at Staind’s website
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Neil Young nails down release date for new album
Grizzled rock veteran Neil Young will release a new album titled “Greendale” on Aug. 19. The album’s material focuses on a fictional family who live in the fictional town of Greendale. The set will include a bonus DVD of Young performing the album in its entirety.
Read the full story at Billboard.com
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Beanie Sigel to remain in jail, miss Rock the Mic Tour
A federal court in Philadelphia on Monday (7/14) denied bail for rapper Beanie Sigel, who was arrested last week in Philadelphia and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. That arrest followed his July 3 arrest in Philly for allegedly shooting a man in the stomach and foot.
Sigel will remain in a jail cell while the Rock the Mic Tour continues on without him.
Read the full story at VH1.com
Wednesday, July 09, 2003
50 Cent to take the reigns of Rock the Mic tour
Jay-Z will exit the Rock the Mic tour on Aug. 5--when the tour was originally scheduled to end--but the outing will forge ahead with 50 Cent at the helm.
Jay-Z will exit the Rock the Mic tour on Aug. 5--when the tour was originally scheduled to end--but the outing will forge ahead with 50 Cent at the helm.
Thirteen new dates have been scheduled with 50 Cent serving as the soul headliner, a move that takes the tour into late August.
Read the story from MTV.com
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Dylan’s ‘Love and Theft’ lyrics pilfered?
Fans of Bob Dylan are abuzz with reports that some tracks from Bob Dylan’s “Love and Theft” album feature lyrics that are very similar to passages contained in “Confessions of a Yakuza,” a little-known book by little-known Japanese author Junichi Saga.
The author says he’s flattered; Dylan hasn’t commented.
Read the story from the Los Angeles Times
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Cracker spotlights its brand of country
Alt-rock act Cracker will release a new album titled “Countrysides” on July 28 in the U.K., and a U.S. release will follow on Oct. 14.
Last year, the group--playing under the name Ironic Mullet--toured honky tonks and trucker bars. The nine-track set--which includes covers of Bruce Springsteen’s “Sinaloa Cowboys” and Ray Wylie Hubbard’s “Up Against the Wall Redneck Mothers” --was inspired by the experience.
Read the story at Billboard.com
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John Mayer’s sophomore album due in September
John Mayer’s second full-length album, titled “Heavier Things,” is scheduled to hit stores on Sept. 9. The album was produced by Jack Joseph Puig (Sheryl Crow, No Doubt), and its first single is titled “Bigger Than My Body.”
Read the story at RollingStone.com
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Pixies reunion a possibility?
Former Pixies frontman Frank Black (a.k.a. Black Francis) told London radio station XFM that he’s not ruling out a Pixies reunion at some point.
“Well, I don’t know. We might. We [Pixies bassist Kim Deal, drummer David Lovering and guitarist Joey Santiago] do get together and have private jams together, but not for public consumption.”
Read the story at XFM Online
Tuesday, July 08, 2003
John Mellencamp sets Los Angeles, New York showcase dates
John Mellencamp will kick off tour activity behind his “Trouble No More” album with just a handful of shows. Mellencamp will put two shows on sale this weekend; July 29 at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus and July 31 at Town Hall in New York. Members of Mellencamp’s mailing list at Columbia Records will receive a password for a special Ticketmaster.com presale on Wednesday evening, and remaining seats are tentatively scheduled to go on sale Sunday.
Read more at Mellencamp.com
John Mellencamp will kick off tour activity behind his “Trouble No More” album with just a handful of shows. Mellencamp will put two shows on sale this weekend; July 29 at Royce Hall on the UCLA campus and July 31 at Town Hall in New York. Members of Mellencamp’s mailing list at Columbia Records will receive a password for a special Ticketmaster.com presale on Wednesday evening, and remaining seats are tentatively scheduled to go on sale Sunday.
Read more at Mellencamp.com
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Godsmack cancels European tour
Godsmack has pulled out of their European tour, citing scheduling conflicts. The tour was to have begun July 13th in Manchester, England. The band will honor their booking at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival on July 26th.
Read more at Billboard.com
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Radio network executive faces Senate grilling over Dixie Chicks ban
Cumulus Media CEO Lew Dickey faced heated questioning before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Tuesday over the radio network’s decision to ban Dixie Chicks music from all of its 50 country stations following comments criticizing President Bush made by singer Natalie Maines in March. Committee Chairman John McCain told the executive, “I was more offended, or as offended, as anyone by the statements of The Dixie Chicks. But to restrain their trade because they exercised their right of free speech, to me, is remarkable. It’s a strong argument about what media concentration has the possibility of doing.”
Read more at the Hollywood Reporter
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Tommy Mottola to revive Casablanca label
Former Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola, who left Sony earlier this year after 14 years with the company, has emerged at rival mega-company Universal Music. Motolla will helm Casablanca Records, an imprint that has been shelved for nearly a decade after launching the careers of KISS, the Village People and Donna Summer. Mottolla is said to be primarily focused on signing new talent.
Read more at Rolling Stone
A Perfect Circle sets release date for second album
A Perfect Circle, the alt-metal outfit that features Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, will release the follow-up to its 2000 debut “Mer de Noms” on Sept. 16, according to Virgin Records. Titled “Thirteenth Step,” the new album is the group’s first with former Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez--now going by Jeordie White--who replaced original bassist Paz Lechantin after Lechantin left to join Billy Corgan’s Zwan.
A Perfect Circle, the alt-metal outfit that features Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, will release the follow-up to its 2000 debut “Mer de Noms” on Sept. 16, according to Virgin Records. Titled “Thirteenth Step,” the new album is the group’s first with former Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez--now going by Jeordie White--who replaced original bassist Paz Lechantin after Lechantin left to join Billy Corgan’s Zwan.
Prior to releasing “Thirteenth Step,” A Perfect Circle will mount a two-week club tour that kicks off in late July.
Read more at VirginRecords.com
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Ashanti makes second No. 1 debut on album chart
Ashanti, whose self-titled debut entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in April of last year, has repeated the feat with her sophomore set, “Chapter II.” The new album moved about 326,000 copies during its first week in stores.
Read the story from Billboard.com
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LL Cool J stays put at Def Jam, readies new album
Veteran rapper LL Cool J, whose contract with Def Jam expired following the release of his tenth album, 2002’s “X,” has re-signed with the label, and plans to offer up his next album in December.
“I have been with Def Jam from the very beginning and am proud to be a part of their ongoing growth and success,” he said in a statement. “Together, we paved the way for an entire hip-hop community and I am blessed to continue to call Def Jam my home.”
Read the story from Reuters
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Parking valet says Suge Knight didn’t punch him
Things are looking up for Marion “Suge” Knight, who has been in a Los Angeles County jail since late last month after being arrested for allegedly punching a parking valet; the valet has told officials that Knight didn’t punch him.
Read the story from MTV.com
Sunday, July 06, 2003
R&B baritone Barry White dead at 58
Barry White, known for his deep voice and sexy songs, died on Friday (7/4). He had been hospitalized since suffering a stroke in September.
Barry White, known for his deep voice and sexy songs, died on Friday (7/4). He had been hospitalized since suffering a stroke in September.
According to a statement issued by his manager, the cause of death was kidney failure due to high blood pressure.
Read the story from the New York Times
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Eight injured by lightning at Dave Matthews Band concert
A lightning bolt struck the parking lot at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wis., on Sunday (7/6) afternoon, injuring eight concert goers. Five of the injured were hospitalized.
Read the full story from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Beanie Sigel arrested on attempted murder charge
Rapper Beanie Sigel, who is accused of shooting a man in Philadelphia on July 2, turned himself in to police on Friday (7/4). After posting a $150,000 bond, the rapper rejoined the summer Rock the Mic tour, which also features Jay-Z.
Read the story from MTV News
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Eminem tackles various new projects
Rapper Eminem is at work on a follow-up to “The Eminem Show,” and is also contributing to new releases from his Shady Records artists Obie Trice and D12. Songwriter Luis Resto, who co-wrote “Lose Yourself,” is also working on the projects.
Read the story from Billboard.com
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Trade group to represent peer-to-peer software companies
Grokster president Wayne Rosso says that he’s planning to launch a trade group in September that aims to educate Congress about the legitimate uses of peer-to-peer file trading.
Rosso said his group would serve as a counter-balance to claims of the powerful Recording Industry Association of America, and that it would encourage peer-to-peer companies to “take responsibility and clean up our own house.”
Read the story at CNET News
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Stones, Justin Timberlake move over 240,000 tickets for benefit show
Initial ticket sales for a June 30th benefit concert aimed at bringing tourist back into Toronto following the SARS scare of recent months are surpassing expectations. Concert organizers say that more than 240,000 tickets have been sold in the first few days of limited sales. Tickets go on sale through broader channels on Friday. Organizers project the final sales total could reach 600,000. Funds from the concert will benefit local medical and hospitality workers.
Read the full story at the Globe and Mail
Initial ticket sales for a June 30th benefit concert aimed at bringing tourist back into Toronto following the SARS scare of recent months are surpassing expectations. Concert organizers say that more than 240,000 tickets have been sold in the first few days of limited sales. Tickets go on sale through broader channels on Friday. Organizers project the final sales total could reach 600,000. Funds from the concert will benefit local medical and hospitality workers.
Read the full story at the Globe and Mail
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“Let The Music PLay” campaign responds to RIAA
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) launched a media campaign on Tuesday (7/1) in response to the RIAA’s strategyof filing lawsuits against online file swappers. The campaign, involving magazine ads and the EFF website, notes that “Today, more U.S. citizens use file-sharing software than voted for President Bush,” according to EFF Senior Staff Attorney Fred von Lohmann. Included in the site are tips for swappers on how not to be caught in RIAA sweeps of online file swapping services.
More information at EFF.org
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Townshend mulls final Who album
Pete Townshend tells Reuters that work on his autobiography came to an abrupt halt at the point where he was to begin writing about his years with The Who.
He’s also tentatively preparing to work with Who singer Roger Daltrey on what would be the final studio album of the group, going forward with material that had been rehearsed with John Entwistle prior to his death in June of 2002. Townshend says of Daltrey, who is urging him into the project, “I’m in no mood really to turn away from his friendship. He’s been such a fantastic support to me in my recent troubles.”
Read more at CNN.com
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R. Kelly wins court approval to tour while on bail
R. Kelly was granted permission Wednesday (7/2) to leave the Chicago area for a series of concerts and public appearances. Kelly is currently free on bail and facing trial on 21 counts of child pornography, stemming from a videotape that prosecutors claim shows the singer having sex with underage girls. Kelly is due back in court July 14th.
Read more at WBBM
Man shot to death outside 50 Cent/Jay-Z concert
Msemaji Granger, a 24-year-old Canadian resident, died after being “shot at close range in the upper body and head” in the parking lot of Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre on Tuesday night (7/1). The shooting took place during a co-headlining show at the venue from rappers 50 Cent and Jay-Z.
Msemaji Granger, a 24-year-old Canadian resident, died after being “shot at close range in the upper body and head” in the parking lot of Toronto’s Molson Amphitheatre on Tuesday night (7/1). The shooting took place during a co-headlining show at the venue from rappers 50 Cent and Jay-Z.
Read the story from Much Music
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Beyonce takes over the album and singles charts
Beyonce need not hurry back to her Destiny’s Child gig; the singer’s solo debut, “Dangerously in Love,” and its hit single “Crazy in Love"--featuring Jay-Z--have taken over the top slots on the Billboard 200 album chart and Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart, respectively.
Read the story from Billboard.com
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Sheryl Crow, Rolling Stones, others pick songs for mix CDs
Ever wonder what Sheryl Crow, the Rolling Stones, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Lucinda Williams and Yo Yo Ma like to listen to when they’re not making music of their own? Starbucks has answered the question by teaming with a company named Hear Music, which has put together CDs comprising tracks selected by the aforementioned artists.
Read more at Starbucks’ Hear Music website
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Target offers exclusive Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera CD
Pop favorites Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera, who are currently on tour together, turn up on a new six-track CD that they’ve released exclusively through Target. The set includes one new track from each artist, and remixes of some of their previously released material.
Read the story from Reuters