SoundSpike Blog: Paul McCartney, Joe Strummer
Also: Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, CD sales, The Strokes, unessential albums, Clear Channel, Wesley Willis, Steve Earle vs. Charlie Daniels.
Also: Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, CD sales, The Strokes, unessential albums, Clear Channel, Wesley Willis, Steve Earle vs. Charlie Daniels.
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Brave knight Paul McCartney has been granted a unique coat of arms by the College of Arms, according to British press reports. It reportedly features a Liver Bird--a nod to his Liverpool, England, birthplace--holding a guitar in its claw.
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In remembrance of the late, great Joe Strummer, RollingStone.com republishes a 1979 Mikal Gilmore feature on The Clash.
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Metallica is booked to play Britain’s Reading and Leeds festivals, NME reports.
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The Denver Post’s G. Brown runs down some of the major tours in the works for 2003. Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Metallica lead the list.
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Holiday season CD sales are down 12.9 percent compared to the same period in 2001, reports the New York Times. The recording industry, as usual, blames illegal Internet file swapping. I blame smart consumers, who are resisting ridiculously high CD prices.
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The Strokes are Spin magazine’s band of the year.
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The Onion A.V. Club has posted its ”Least Essential Albums of 2002” list.
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This one almost fell through the cracks: Concert promotions giant Clear Channel Communications acquired Metropolitan Entertainment Group, its major competitor in the New York City area. “How many times has Clear Channel touched you today?” goes their slogan. Unspoken: Will it never release you from its death grip?
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Schizophrenic singer Wesley Willis is suffering from a treatable form of leukemia, according to Alternative Tenticles Records.
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The L.A. Weekly’s Michael Simmons catches up with country maverick Steve Earle.
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Earle’s polar opposite, Charlie Daniels, has released a book titled “Soapbox Collection Volume One,” which comprises 100 scary right-wing rants that were first posted on his website. A sample from Charlie’s current, uplifting Christmas posting: “I believe [the ACLU] will be cringing in horror when they see the one they have fought against for so long coming with the armies of heaven. And if you don’t believe that is going to happen you are in for a rude awakening. It makes no difference what man does or says, it will all come to pass just like the Holy Bible says it will.”
Oh. And the book (apparently only sold via Daniels’ website) comes with a CD single of the Charlie Daniels Band track “This Ain’t No Rag It’s A Flag.” Take that, Osama.
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