Rock-N-Roll Forever

2007-10-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yoko's Birthday Present To John

On a day that should have been John Lennon's 67th birthday, Yoko Ono dedicated the Image Peace Tower in Iceland. Attendees included Sean Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison's widow. Paul McCartney was invited, but no word on his attendance. "This is the biggest birthday present I gave to John," Ono told the press last month. "He's very, very happy about it, I know." (Source)

Click here to check out a Lennon photo gallery on NME.com.

2007-10-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

How Much Is Radiohead Worth To You?

Radiohead's long awaited albume, In Rainbows, is being released next week - and you get to decide how much you will pay for it. There is also a deluxe version available that comes with CD and vinyl, plus a second disc of new songs and a lyric book. The deluxe edition runs about $81. You can purchase both on their website starting October 10th. (Source)

2007-09-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

Johnny Cash Receives Pardon
Starkville, MS has finally decided to pardon Johnny Cash 42 years after he was arrested for picking flowers from someone's garden. Cash would go on to write a song about the experience, "Starkville City Jail", that he eventually performed at San Quentin. The most ironic twist is that he will be honored at the first annual Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival. I'm sure he would get a kick out of that. (Source)

2007-09-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

White Stripes Cancel Upcoming Tour Dates

There were a flurry of rumors going away yesterday, but now it's confirmed. Due to Meg White's "acute anxiety", the White Stripes have decided to cancel upcoming shows for the next month...which means my Chicago date is canned. The White Stripes released a statement saying, "We hate to let people down and are very sorry." I'm really bummed for many reasons. 1) White Stripes is my favorite band and I've been counting down the days to the show 2) they haven't rescheduled the concert - refunds only 3) it was a miracle I even got these tix because they sold out instantly, meaning I will have to hope for another miracle if they do reschedule. Oh well, what can you do, but hope for Meg's quick recovery. (Source)

2007-09-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

Watch The Mamas And The Papas Cover "Nowhere Man"
This clip is from the show "Hulabaloo" in 1965. The Mamas And The Papas show their love for the Beatles. Enjoy. (Source)

2007-09-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

Watch Kid Rock and Tommy Lee Throw Down
I'm sure you've heard about the fight between Kid Rock and Tommy Lee at the VMAs, but now you can watch some of the drama unfold. Click here to watch it all go down. Kid Rock could face up to six months in jail for a misdemeanor, but we all know that won't happen.

2007-09-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

Shocking Report Reveals Rock Stars Live Fast, Die Young
The study looked at artists ranging from Elvis Presley to Eminem. In all, 100 of the stars studied had died — 7.3% of women and 9.6% of men. They included Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. The average age of death was 42 for North American stars and 35 for European stars. You can read the full study here. (Source)

2007-09-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Robert Plant Supposed Confirmation of Led Zeppelin Reunion

A fan had a run-in with Robert Plant where he confirmed there would be a reunion show for Led Zeppelin. He also confirmed it would be a one-off gig for charity. The rumor is that the show will be on November 2nd. (Source)

2007-08-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

CBGB Founder Dead at 75
The man that founded the birthplace of punk, Hilly Krystal, lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 75. Hilly founded CBGB, Country Blue Grass Blues, in 1973. He had a hard time finding country or blues bands to book, so eventually it became a punk bar with bands such as the Ramones, Blondie and Talking Heads. (Source)

2007-08-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

The Killers Duet With Lou Reed
The new song "Tranquilize" will be featured on an upcoming B side album the Killers will be released by the end of the year. Brandon Flowers describes the song as a "rollercoaster". He added, "There's a desperation to it. It's one of our more depressing songs, but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel." (Source)

2007-08-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Queen Rocker Gets Doctorate

Brian May received his doctorate, not in music theory, but in astrophysics 30 years after he left school to start Queen. He received his diploma from London's Imperial College after submitting his thesis on "Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud". (Source)

2007-08-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Watch The New Video From The Eagles
"How Long" is the first video from their upcoming album.

2007-08-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

Chinese Democracy Be Damned

Axl Rose is taking time out from his epic (supposedly) record to be a part of Sebastian Bach's new album. Rose joins Bach on two tracks. "Angel Down" will be released in November. (Source)

2007-08-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

Preview Scorsese's Rolling Stones Documentary
The new Stones documentary, "Shine A Light", isn't released until April 2008. Check out the trailer.

2007-08-21T18:04:00.000-07:00

Elvis Gun Stolen, Then Found In A Toilet
A gun that was stolen during the 30th commemoration of Elvis' death was recovered in a toilet. Yes, a toilet. A janitor found it as he was cleaning a portable toilet behind the museum from which it was stolen. The culprit was caught on film at around midnight on the last night of Elvis week. Officials say the person accidentally dropped it in the toilet. Does anyone believe the janitor just happened upon it? Sorry, but something stinks about this story. No pun intended. (Source)

2007-08-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

A New Elvis / Lisa Marie Duet
Lisa Marie has joined her daddy for a duet of "In The Ghetto". All proceeds will go to set up a new Presley place transitional house in New Orleans. Click here to read an interview with Lisa Marie. (Source)

2007-08-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

Long Live The King
Today is the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death. To commemorate, enjoy a little Heartbreak Hotel.

2007-08-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

John Lennon's Catalogue Now Available On iTunes
You can now download Lennon's solo work, along with exclusive video content. The videos will only be available for the next 30 days. (Source)

2007-08-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

Van Halen To Reunite With David Lee Roth
This was announced today in a press conference with Wolfgang in tow. Does anyone believe it will actually happen? Let's start the over / under bets. If it does happen, it will the first time in 22 years. (Source)

2007-08-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

AT&T Censors Pearl Jam
Remember when I said Eddie got on his political soap box at Lollapalooza? It went a little something like this:

(to the tune of "Another Brick In The Wall")
“George Bush, leave this world alone.”
“George Bush find yourself another home.”

Brilliant, right? Well, AT&T didn't think so. They went silent during this ad lib on their live telecast at the Blue Room website. They are claiming it was a mistake by one of their editors.

2007-08-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

Highlights From Bob Dylan's Biopic
Click here to read some highlights from Dylan's biopic, "I'm Not There". The film features Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale and Jim James (!).

2007-08-06T21:28:00.000-07:00

Lollapalooza: Day 3

We got the party started early with the 1900s (not to be confused with the 1990s). This is my favorite Chicago band. Beatle Bob introduced them by saying, "In my opinion, this next band should be headlining Lollapalooza in the near future." That sounds like a ringing endorsement to me. I recommend their first disc - Plume Delivery. The band barreled through those tunes and debuted some new stuff. Their new discus, Cold & Kind, comes out in October.

Next up was David Vandervede. Sorry, no pics for this show. I loved it though. I was new to DV and wasn't sure what to expect. It was kick-ass. I'll be downloading his stuff pronto. We busted out of that show to make it to an impromptu Ben Harper performance at Kidzapalooza. His first song was "Steal My Kisses", where he told the crowd that he wrote that song for his eldest son. He didn't like his beard and so he would have to go in for the smooch.

After Ben Harper, we bounced around from Amy Winehouse to Blue October. Really, I was getting antsy for one the show I had been looking for all weekend. No not Pearl Jam, although I was definitely looking forward to that, but My Morning Jacket. They performed with Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. They looked great, in their tuxes, and sounded even better. I could have stopped the weekend there.

But then, there was Pearl Jam. These pics are terrible, but then again, there were 250,000 people there that I had to fight for a space. Eddie was in top form. He got on a political soapbox, but it didn't polarize the audience at all. No one was moving until the fat lady sang.

Oddly, that fat lady happened to be Ben Harper. He came out for the encore like he did on Thursday. It was the perfect end to the perfect weekend and the perfect festival. I had the best time. Thank you Lollapalooza for bringing fantastic music to Chicago.

2007-08-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

Lollapalooza: Day 2

The second day of Lollapalooza was definitely more packed than the first. I was able to get close pics for some shows and wasn't able to get any for others. The first show I caught was Pete Yorn. He was on top of his game for this show. It was a nice way to start the day. The crowd turned out in large numbers, so I was unable to get a pic of this performance.

Next up was Stephen Marley. Okay, this turned out to be one of my favorites of the weekend. Stephen Marley kicked ass. He mixed his own tunes, which stayed true to the soulful 70s reggae sound his dad made so popular, with Buffalo Soldier and No Woman, No Cry. It gave me goosebumps because he looks so much like Bob Marley and sounds exactly like him as well. This show had the most energy from the crowd than any other I saw throughout the weekend.

Unfortunately, I had to cut out towards the end of the performance to make it over to the Kidzapalooza tent to see Jim James from My Morning Jacket perform. I only saw one song - Rainbow Connection. Think for a moment of James' voice and the beauty of that song. It was denitely worth hauling ass across the park to see. I heart Jim James. Check out his new look. He's hot w/o all that hair.

After Jim was done, Perry Farrell appeared to introduce the next performer.

Which was Patti Smith. She was more PC this time around. No rant & raves here. She kept it PG.

I hiked back to the Marley stage to see The Roots. This was a very cool performance for a couple of reasons 1) the Roots brought much-needed hip-hop to the festival which it desperately needed and 2) the guys from My Morning Jacket were standing about 10 feet to my left. The Roots kept up the energy from the crowd that Marley built. They did a little medley of old school hip-hop that rocked the house. I now consider myself a Roots fan. Sorry for the blurry pic. P.S. I decided not to blow MMJ's cover. So I gave them their space.

We were up close and personal with Snow Patrol. Apparently, Chicago is a big Snow Patrol fan. Fans were singing every word to every song. Definitely a cool show.

So I skipped out on Interpol, which am now kicking myself for. But I wanted to be well-rested for the final day. More pics to follow.

2007-08-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Lollapalooza: Day 1
I kicked off my '07 Lollapalooza experience with being baptized by Polyphonic Spree. I would gladly go to church every Sunday if it sounded like that. They are one of my faves and they got the crowd going. They played new and old stuff, including an amazing cover of "Lithium".

They even busted out the customary robes.

Next up was the Black Keys. I was on my way to see Satellite Pary when a friend convinced me to stick around to see them. One person on drums, another on guitar - and they were as energetic and loud as another drum/guitar duo we know. Their sound was like a bluesy southern rock. I was happy I listened to my friend.

Finally, I opted for Ben Harper at the end of the night. Why is he so good? It was my first time seeing him live. I'll be on the lookout for another Chicago visit.

Towards the end of his set he introduced a "friend and brother", which turned out to be Eddie Vedder. He was paying back a favor to Ben Harper for joining Pearl Jam at a warm-up show on Thursday night. I'm still trying to forget that show ever happend. It was in a 1,300 capacity theater here in Chicago. I would have given my right arm to attend.

I'm looking forward to today. Stay tuned!

2007-08-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

Graceland To Be Renovated
$250 million is being socked into Elvis' home. New additions will include a visitors center, a hotel, and a museum with all the digital bells & whistles. A timeline hasn't been announced. August 16th is the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death. (Source)

2007-08-02T22:41:00.000-07:00

Lollapalooza Is Here!!!
Tomorrow kicks off the beginning of Lolla in my very own hometown. I will be there all three days and I can't wait. The bands I'm looking forward to are The 1900s, Ben Harper, Interpol, My Morning Jacket and, of course, Peal Jam. Just heard today that Pearl Jam performed at the Vic Theater tonight for members of Pearl Jam club members. How do I describe the Vic...imagine the most intimate theater in your city and that's it. Needless to say, I'm kicking myself for not being a member.

You can watch Lollapalooza performances live thanks to our friends at AT&T Blue Room. Click here throughout the weekend to check it out.

2007-07-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Take A Virtual Tour Of NYC Inspired Rockers
In the latest installment of Rolling Stone's 60 second rock tour, we take a tour of NYC locations that inspired the likes of New York Dolls, Ramones, Velvet Underground and REM. Click here to check it out. (Source)

2007-07-11T17:48:00.000-07:00

Will There Be A Yellow Submarine iPod?
Beat on the streets is that Apple will keep the new products rolling by releasing a Yellow Submarine iPod filled with every Beatles album. (Source)

2007-07-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

Watch The New Video For Ben Harper’s “In The Colors”
Click here to watch the new video on Rolling Stone.

2007-07-10T15:36:00.000-07:00

Beatles Monument To Be Erected In Hamburg

Hamburg will dedicate a statue of the Beatles to commemorate the launch of their career. In addition to the Fab Four, Stuart Sutcliffe who died in in 1962 will also be part of the monument. It will be located on the corner of the St. Pauli district near the clubs they played. (Source)

2007-07-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

Jim Morrison's Cause Of Death May Be Re-Opened
New reports have surfaced that Morrison did not die of natural causes in his Parisian tub, but actually died of a heroin overdose in a bathroom at Rock 'N' Roll circus club. According to a new book (The End - Jim Morrison) written by the club owner, Jim went to the club to score heroin for his girlfriend. He then went into the bathroom and never emerged. The club owner had the door kicked in to find Jim with foam and blood coming out of his mouth. The book claims the drug dealers insisted he was just passed out and carried him away. Could it have been a huge cover up??? (Source)

2007-07-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

Dave Matthews Interview

Dave recently sat down with Billboard to talk about the future of the Band, their humble beginnings, and his thoughts on being only second to the Stones for ticket sales. Click here to read.

2007-07-09T20:27:00.000-07:00

Slash To Star In Guitar Hero III
Guitar Hero fans will be able to live vicariously through Slash in the new addition. In order to unlock Slash, the player will have to go up against Slash himself. (Source)

2007-07-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

Listen To The New Interpol Album Online
"Our Love To Admire" is streaming on Spinner. Click here to listen.

2007-07-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

Watch An Unofficial Trailer For The New Bob Dylan Biopic "I'm Not There"

2007-07-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

My Evening With The Police

It's commonly known in Chicago that going to Wrigely for a game is more of a party than a sporting event. Sometimes you get so caught up in socializing (and beer), you forget there is a game on field until something spectacular happens. I experienced something spectacular at Wrigley on Thursday in the form of the Police. After hearing about Stewart Copeland's comments after their first reunion show in Canada, I was nervous they wouldn't keep it together long enough to last until this show. But they did..and without incident...and unfortunately without much emotion or energy. They started losing the crowd by the third song, "Don't Stand So Close To Me", when they slowed it down to a sleepy pace. And that's all it took. The great people of Chicago went back to their socializing and beer. Take a look at the set list below. The Police played everything we could have asked for. When Sting would ask the crowd to get involved we did...all he had to do was ask. But the three of them just plowed through their set with little emotion or spunk. Ah well, Chicago is known to love the home team when they're doing well and hate them when their not.

Message in a Bottle

Synchronicity II

Don't Stand So Close to Me

Voices Inside My Head

When the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around

Spirits in the Material World

Driven to Tears

Walking on the Moon

Truth Hits Everybody

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

Wrapped Around Your Finger

The Bed's Too Big Without You

Murder by Numbers

De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da

Invisible Sun

Walking in Your Footsteps

Can't Stand Losing You

Roxanne

Encore:

King of Pain

So Lonely

Every Breath You Take

Next to You

2007-07-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

Live Earth Rio de Janeiro Saved
A judge overturned a ruling that would cancel the show over security concerns. (Source)

2007-07-06T10:13:00.000-07:00

Watch Live Earth...Live Online
Click here to watch Live Earth starting tonight 7/6 at 9pm EST. Sydney kicks off the festivities with Wolfmother, Jack Johnson and others. Below is the schedule for all Live Earth cities.

Live Earth New York: 2:30pm EST 7/7
Live Earth London: 8:30am EST 7/7
Live Earth Sydney: 9:10pm EST 7/6
Live Earth Rio de Janeiro: 3:00pm EST 7/7
Live Earth Tokyo: 11:00pm EST 7/6
Live Earth Shanghai: 7:00am EST 7/7
Live Earth Johannesburg: 12:00pm EST 7/7
Live Earth Hamburg: 8:00am EST 7/7

2007-07-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

Take A Virtual Tour Of Rock Star Death Sites
Morbid, isn't it? Oh well, that's what Rolling Stone is calling it so I'm running with it. Click here to see where Ol' Dirty Bastard, John Entwistle, Sid Vicious and Bob Marley passed away.

2007-07-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

Listen To Rolling Stone's 1968 Interview With Eric Clapton
Click here to listen to Eric Clapton speak about Bob Dylan's hair, his idols, and Jimi Hendrix.

2007-07-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Rolling Stone's 40 Essential Albums of the Summer Of Love
Click here to find the 40 album recommendations Rolling Stone has from the Summer Of Love. The anniversary celebration continues.

2007-07-04T11:56:00.000-07:00

Check Out The Yeah Yeah Yeahs New Track "Is Is"
Here is the first single, "Is Is", from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album. It's set to be released on July 24th.

2007-07-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th! Celebrate With Jimi Hendrix

At it's core, it is patriotic. However the melancholic and tortered version of The Star Spangled Banner comes from Jimi's feelings on the Vietnam War - making it more relevant than ever.

2007-07-04T10:39:00.000-07:00

The White Stripe Surprise A Candadian Bus By Hitching A Ride To Their Show
Click here to see a (somewhat shaky) video of Meg & Jack playing for a bus load of Canadians. F limos. Who needs them? Certainly not the White Stripes. (Source)

2007-07-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Listen To The New Smashing Pumpkins Album
Click here to check out the entire Zeitgeist cd on Spinner. Also, you can watch the new video to Tarantula below.

2007-06-29T14:19:00.001-07:00

Check Out The 1967 Summer Of Love Interactive Map
The 40th anniversary of the Summer Of Love is here. To commemorate, Rolling Stone has posted an interactive map that illustrates how 1967 affected the artists in London, LA, San Francisco, Detroit, Memphis, NYC, and London. Also check out the Summer Of Love edition of Rolling Stone. Click here to view the map.

2007-06-29T13:32:00.000-07:00

Watch The Concert For Diana Online

Click here to watch the entire concert on VH1 on Sunday, July 1st at 11AM EST/8AM PST. The full concert will also be available following the live streaming broadcast.

Official Web Site: http://www.concertfordiana.com/

2007-06-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

Rod Stewart Injured After Slipping During A Show
Last night Rod Stewart took a spill during a concert in Manchester. After falling on a step, Stewart finished his performance. Today he received 10 stitches and approval to perform at the Concert For Diana as planned on July 1st. (Source)

2007-06-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

Check Out This Audio Interview With Pete Townsend From 1968
Rolling Stone just posted a snippet of the vintage Jann Wenner's interview with Pete Townsend after a show in 1968. Click here to listen as he talks about why he began smashing his guitars.

2007-06-29T08:55:00.000-07:00

Prince May Give New Album Away For Free In UK

Rumors are floating around that Prince's new album, "Planet Earth", will be bundled (for free) with a Sunday edition of the Daily Mail. The ERA (Entertainment Retailers Association) had this to say:

"If it turns out to be the case - and we're still trying to get to the bottom of it - The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday."

What a bunch of aholes. I think it's brilliant! (Source)

2007-06-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

Bon Jovi Scores First No. 1 Album Since 1988
And they did it with a "country" album. "Lost Highway" is the third #1 album for the band right behind "New Jersey" and "Slippery When Wet". (Source)

2007-06-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

Robert Plant Denies Zeppelin Reunion Rumors

Over the last week there have been many rumors flying around on the internet that Led Zeppelin were doing a reunion tour. I didn't post it because I actually didn't believe it. And now, Robert Plant has confirmed my doubts. Part of me would love to see a Led Zeppelin show and part of me truly respects the fact that they are not going to ruin their glory like a certain basketball player. (Source)

2007-06-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

George Harrison Gets A Star On Hollywood's Walk Of Fame

George is one of the inductees announced for 2008's ceremony. John Lennon is the only other Beatle to have a star. Other inductees include Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I guess Beatles members only get a star after they pass away...but thank god Ricky Martin is finally getting one.(Source)

2007-06-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Awkward Moments During the Larry King / Surviving Beatles Interview
Larry King interviewed Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison last night on the occasion of the first anniversary of Cirque du Soleil Love. Besides asking the most banal questions ever, Larry King asked Paul where he was when John died. Then he turned to Ringo and said, "George, where were you?". Yikes. Here is the exerpt below. Someone has also posted nearly the entire interview on YouTube.

KING: Where were you when — when John passed?
MCCARTNEY: When John passed I was in Sussex, at my home in Sussex. That’s where I was.
KING: Did somebody call you?
MCCARTNEY: Yes, my manager at the time called me. And it was just the shock of all shocks, you know?
KING: George, where were you?
MCCARTNEY: George!
KING: Ringo.
MCCARTNEY: No, this is Ringo here.
KING: Ringo, where were you?
STARR: I was in the Bahamas.
KING: I was getting to (INAUDIBLE) George.
STARR: I was…
MCCARTNEY: No, you weren’t, Larry. You said his name wrong.
STARR: Shut up, it’s my turn.
MCCARTNEY: I know, but he got your name wrong, Ringo, on national television.
STARR: I know. Give him a break.
MCCARTNEY: We can’t cut it. It’s live.
STARR: Anyway, I was in the Bahamas and the kids called and they said we’ve heard something, like John has been hurt.

(Source)

2007-06-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Get A Free MP3 Of Bob Marley’s “Soul Shakedown Party” Remix
Click here to download "Soul Shakedown Party" from the new Bob Marly remix album called Roots, Rock, Remixed. (Source)

2007-06-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

Take A Virtual Tour Of The Beatles' NYC
Rolling Stone's latest 60 second rock tour focuses on The Beatles in NYC. Click here to see John & Yoko's apartments, where The Beatles took off and where they crumbled.

2007-06-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Internet Radio Day Of Silence

Today most internet radio stations are observing a day of silence in protest to the increasing licensing fees (tripling the cost!) for radio sites. Click here to check out Pandora founder's, Tom Westergren, open letter calling for action.

2007-06-26T06:59:00.000-07:00

Paul McCartney To Play Secret Show In LA
Just got this email:

Paul McCartney secret show - Wednesday night, 27th June at Amoeba Music in Los Angeles to celebrate the release of his new album 'Memory Almost Full'.Limited number of free wristbands available from 12.30pm (LA local time) at Amoeba Music. First come, first served.Doors for the show open at 6.30pm.5 pairs of wristbands are to be given away through www.paulmccartney.com - please check the news section for details.

2007-06-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Jack White Stars As Elvis In New Movie
He's all over the news. What can I say. Jack recently wrapped production on a movie where he will play The King. Not sure I can picture Jack as Elvis, but we'll see. It's a parody of a fictional character, Dewey Cox, who becomes a musical legend. The movie is set to be released this December. (Source)

2007-06-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

Watch A Goat Puppet Interview The White Stripes At Bonnaroo
Rufus Leaking, a goat puppet, and the fine folks at Pancake Mountain interview several artists during Bonnaroo. Both clips below feature the White Stripes. Other artists in these videos are Flaming Lips and Lewis Black. (Source)

2007-06-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Julian & Sean Hug It Out

Julian recently surprised Sean on his tour through Eastern Europe. The two haven't spoken in 8 years due to some comment Julian made about Yoko. In his first interview since 1999, Julian says, "I thought it time to make big changes in my own life. Part of that has been to get Sean back in to my life, because I love him so much." I'm so happy these two have reconciled. If the sons of John Lennon can't have peace, then who can? (Source)

2007-06-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

Paul McCartney Likely To Sign A Long-Term Deal With Starbucks
Based on the success of his first album for Starbucks, Sir Paul is reportedly ready to sign on to the label long-term. Memory Almost Full served as a test and it looks like Starbucks aced it, sending the album to #3 on the US charts. (Source)

2007-06-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

The White Stripes Re-Open Tower Records In LA
In the beginning of the year, Tower Records closed their doors for good. Jack & Meg White held a revival in LA on the store's makeshift stage. Jack Black introduced the duo who proceeded to rock the house. The interesting thing is that Jack White said, "Welcome to the grand opening of our new record store, specializing in tangible records. Can I get an amen for records you can hold in your hand? Can I get an amen for non-disposable music?" Didn't they just release their new album on flash drives? I suppose that is tangible.... (Source)

2007-06-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Exploitation of Kurt Cobain's Soul Continues
F! They just won't stop. Since Courtney Love sold the rights to Kurt's name and likeness, his soul has been bled dry. Now you can buy Kurt Cobain lunchboxes, action figure, and there’s even a key chain that doubles as a liquor flask. You can buy them here.
(Source)

2007-06-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Take A Virtual Tour Of Bob Dylan's NYC

Rolling Stone is having some fun with Google Street Maps. Click here to see some quintessential landmarks from Bob Dylan's early years.

2007-06-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

New Order Breaks Up
Yeah...so...that's all I have to say about that. They haven't given a reason for the split. (Source)

2007-06-19T09:09:00.000-07:00

Elvis Presley's Vices Auctioned Off
Over the weekend, some of Elvis' personal possessions went up on the auction block in LA. Some of the items included were a gold-plated gun with simulated ivory grips that Presley gave to actor Jack Lord of the television series "Hawaii Five-0" in 1973. Also, on the block was a pill bottle prescribed by his doctor, "Dr. Nick", that held his narcotics once upon a time. This doctor was the one that wrote 199 prescriptions for the singer in the eight months leading up to his death. (Source)

2007-06-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

Ringo Goes Digital
Ringo is following Paul into the digital age. His solo catalog will be released on August 28th. He will also release a greatest hits collection the same day. (Source)

2007-06-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Paul!

Paul McCartney turns 65 today. Check out his new album, Memory Almost Full, in celebration of the Macca.

2007-06-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Random & Sad Story Of Badfinger
I never knew the back story to Badfinger, other than their affiliation to the Beatles. Click here for an interesting article on the band that brought us "Baby Blue". You can find Paul's demo for "Come And Get It" on the Beatles Anthology III (discs 2).

2007-06-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

New Ramones Converse - Cool & Red
Actually, they're gray. But it's a Red Product and the proceeds will go to The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. You can pre-order them here.

2007-06-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Noel Gallagher Continues His Bitchy Ways

After Oasis worked on a Sgt Pepper tribute album, Noel has this to say on the other artists involved in the project: "I was watching Kaiser Chiefs and Razorlight on the documentary and with the greatest respect to those two bands, it was embarrassing. I was embarrassed for them." It must be nice making a living out of being a dick. (Source)

2007-06-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Watch Bonnaroo Live!
You can watch live Bonnaroo performances throughout the weekend at this site.

2007-06-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

Pink Floyd To Re-Release First Album
To honor the 40th anniversary of the first Pink Floyd album, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, they will release a special edition. It will look like a cloth covered book that holds 3 cds with stereo and mono versions, as well as bonus tracks. There will also be a reproduction of Syd Barrett's notebook. It will be available Aug. 28th.

2007-06-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Funny Video On Misheard Lyrics From Yellow Ledbetter
Misheard Lyrics Guy has posted a great video that unveils the secrets to Pearl Jam's Yellow Ledbetter. (Source)

2007-06-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Beastie Boys Set Summer Concert Dates
The Beastie Boys will play a few dates this summer. Some of them will be hip hop, while the others will be instrumental to promote their new album The Mix-Up". See the dates below. (Source)

Aug. 1: Philadelphia (Festival Pier)
Aug. 4: Baltimore (Virgin Festival)
Aug. 6: Boston (Bank of America Pavilion)
Aug. 8: New York (Central Park SummerStage)
Aug. 9: Brooklyn, N.Y. (McCarren Park Pool)
Aug. 16: Morrison, Colo. (Red Rocks)
Aug. 23: Santa Barbara, Calif. (County Bowl)
Aug. 25: Berkeley, Calif. (Greek Theatre)

2007-06-12T18:23:00.001-07:00

Stream White Stripes New Album - Icky Thump
Click here to stream the full album at MTV. Take it in and love it.

2007-06-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

White Stripes To Release Icky Thump On USB Drives

For the first time ever, White Stripes will release their new album on 512 MB USB 2.0 flash drives. There will be two to pick from - Meg or Jack as illustrated to the right. I love this quote from Pitchfork: Jack White shocks world by embracing technology invented after 19th century. (Source)

2007-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Lollapalooza Schedule Set
Click here for the full schedule. I will be attending since it is my neck of the woods. Some of the bands I'm excited to see are My Morning Jacket, Polyphonic Spree, Ben Harper, Cold War Kids, Interpol, Iggy and the Stooges, 1900s, and of course Pearl Jam. Tickets are still available!

2007-06-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Paul McCartney's Secret NYC Show

Just got this email from McCartney's website:

PAUL McCARTNEY SECRET SHOW - NEW YORK CITY Wednedsay night 13th June at the Highline Ballroom in New York City to celebrate the release of his new album 'Memory Almost Full'. Limited number of free wristbands available from 12.30pm (EDT) at the Highline Ballroom box office only. First come, first served. Doors for the show open at 7pm.

Check it out if you are NYC!

2007-06-12T07:59:00.000-07:00

Correction: Rage Against The Machine Clock Counts Down To A Gig
So unfortunately, what was thought to be a new album release is now a new show. The Rage website has now updated to reveal the purpose behend the countdown clock. And that purpose is to announce a show at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin. It's not too far from Chicago, so I'm going to try to score tix this Saturday.

2007-06-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Courtney Love Hires Kurt Look-Alike For Tour

On a recent blog entry, Love says she hired a guitar player that resembles Kurt Cobain. Apparently, his skills didn't blow her away but she couldn't resist his looks. Let's hope it works out. She also went on to hint that she will be playing surprise gigs in London on 7/9, which happens to be her birthday, and in the NYC on 7/12 & 7/13. (Source)

2007-06-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Traveling Wilburys CDs Reissued
It's amazing to think these guys actually performed together on one album...as one band. But lucky for us, they did. Their cds, two in total, are being released next week along with a documentary of the band. Click here to find out how the Traveling Wilburys got started (it involves a joint) and George Harrison's tour plans for the band (it involves his witty sarcasm).

2007-06-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Yoko Talks About John's Last Day
In a recent interview, Yoko says that John was on his way home to the Dakota building so he could see Sean before he went to bed. When given the option of going for dinner after finishing up in the studio and going home to his son, he picked home. She also said he didn't have any dying words. (Source)

2007-06-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

Mick Jagger Onstage With Brother Chris
Mick Jagger reluctantly joined his brother, Chris, onstage in a small pub recently. Atcha!, Chris Jagger's band, had Mick step up to the mic to sing "Dead Flowers". See the brothers rock it out in this (somewhat grainy) video.

2007-06-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

My Evening With Stevie Nicks & Chris Isaak
Last night I saw these two at the Charter One Pavillion in Chicago. This was my first time at this venue and I was pleasantly suprised. It's literally out on an island overlooking the downtown harbor. You are facing the stage, the harbor, and the beautiful skyline. Made me appreciate Chicago....the weather could have been a tad warmer....but what can you do.

Anyway the concert was suppose to start at 8pm, as you can see above, but when we arrived at 7:45 Chris Isaak had already taken the stage. Luckily, I didn't miss his great songs such as Somebody's Crying (my favorite), Wicked Game, Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing, Forever Blue, and One Day (which I fell in love with last night). He's a funny guy on stage, although sometimes it felt slapstick-ish. At one point he ran out into the crowd and up into the stands - you gotta love that. His influences are clear - the hair, the loud suit, pelvic thrusts (shot out to The King) and his cover of Only The Lonely and vocals (nod to Roy Orbison). After his show he signed autographs and you know I was there. Now we didn't get any quality time, but he was very nice to everyone that he signed for. Then I had to sprint back to my seat for:

Stevie Nicks. I just love her. Fleetwood Mac is one of my all-time favorites and her songs are some of the best. Not to mention the fact that she went on to have the most successful career beyond the group. She busted out Stand Back to get things going. She sounded fantastic! I've always thought that all of the members of Fleetwood Mac sound better now than they did way back when and even better live. She was chatty with the audience, which you don't really get if you see a Fleetwood Mac show. She gave background on some of her songs, at one point explaining that Landslide isn't about who you think it is (Lindsey) as pictures of her and her father flashed on screen. But you knew that from The Dance cd, right? She went on to play a combo of FM and solo stuff...and...she...was...rocking...out. Towards the end of the show she went to the edge of the stage and grabbed every flower and shook hands with her fans. Stevie Nicks! Do many big stars do that? Below is the set list - I think I got it right. Go see this show if it comes to your city!

- Stand Back
- Dreams
- If Anyone Falls
- Rhiannon
- Enchanted
- Gold Dust Woman
- I Need to Know
- Landslide
- Fall From Grace
- Sorcerer
- How Still My Love
- Edge of 17
- Rock and Roll
- Beauty and the Beast

2007-06-08T12:05:00.001-07:00

Cold War Kids Team Up With The White Stripes

I love the Cold War Kids...and I love Cold War Kids + White Stripes even more. They've signed on to open for the White Stripes for their upcoming tour. I don't know if I can wait until 10/7. See the dates below:

9/19/07 Inglewood, CA @ The Forum
9/21/07 Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre

9/24/07 Anchorage, AK @ William A. Egan Civic Center

9/26/07 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom

9/27/07 Seattle, WA @ Paramount Ballroom
9/28/07 Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Theater

9/29/07 Salt Lake City, UT @ The E Center

9/30/07 Jackson Hole, WY @ Snowking Center

10/2/07 Rapid City, SC @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

10/3/07 Fargo, ND @ Fargo Civic Auditorium

10/4/07 Lincoln, NE @ Pershing Center Auditorium

10/6/07 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom

10/7/07 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom

10/11/07 Albuquerque, NM @ Kivs Auditorium

2007-06-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

Jack White Puts The Smack Down On Chicago DJ

I'm not going to lie - I'm sorry I missed it. In my hometown of Chicago, a Q101 DJ and program director decided it would be a good idea to play the new White Stripes album uninterrupted. Turned out to be a bad idea. Jack called in from Spain to lay down the hammer. He basically said she is the reason the music industry is dying. That, I'm sure Q101, could get over (and actually enjoyed). However, now that Warner Bros. and the RIAA are involved, I bet they are singing a different tune altogether. Click here for a nice opinion piece on what went down.

2007-06-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

U2 Surprise At G8 Concert
U2 was a last minute addition to the G8 Summit concert. The concert, organized by Bob Geldof, is aimed at raising awareness of world poverty. The Summit is being held in Heiligendamm, Germany. Click here to watch a live feed on AOL Germany. (Source)

2007-06-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

Rage Against The Machine Counts Down
They're getting the band back together! The official band website has a countown to the release of their new album on Aug. 25th.

2007-06-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

The Police Make Up

After the first Police concert in 23 years, Stewart Copeland's blogged his thoughts on the reunion (in which he called Sting a "petulant pansy"). Seriously, this was the first time they played together in forever and he's already pissed off. But alas, beat on the street is that the guys made up after their Edmonton concert on Tuesday night. I'm supose to see them on July 5th in Wrigley Stadium. Let's hope they can keep it together until then. (Source)

2007-06-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

Watch The New Polyphonic Spree Video
Here the video for the first single, "Running Away", from the new Polyphonic Spree album. It's made of over 70,000 still photos.

2007-06-05T12:35:00.000-07:00

Take the Sgt. Pepper's Quiz
The anniversary celebration continutes. Click here to test your knowledge on Sgt. Pepper's.

2007-06-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

Listen To Paul McCartney's New Album
You can listen to the entire album, "Memory Almost Full", on AOL. Click here.

2007-06-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Sgt. Pepper

I believe the album/song starts off with, "It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play". It was actually 40 years ago today and it inspired countless bands ever since. If you haven't (shame on you), pick it up and listen to it straight thru. It was the first concept album introduced to mainstream music.

2007-05-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Meaning of American Pie
Ever wonder about the meaning of the metaphors in American Pie? The video below explains it all. It will give you goose bumps. Enjoy.

2007-05-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

Prince To Play Department Store In Minneapolis
The Purple One is set to play a gig at the Minneapolis Macy's on July 7th to promote his new fragrance, 3121. The tickets are $250 and will also grant you access to his concert that night at the Target Center. (Source)

2007-05-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Rock Hall Of Fame Opens Doors Exhibit

An exhibit that highlights the legacy of the Doors opens this Friday at the Rock Hall of Fame. It will include rare photographs, guitars, tour programs, posters, letters and stage clothing, as well as handwritten lyrics by Morrison. Check it out thru Oct. 7th. (Source)

2007-05-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Ramones Are Also Peeved Over Dr. Marten Ad
Apparently the ad agency behind the hideous campaign featuring dead rock stars are the dumbest people ever. The Ramones have also chimed in to say they were not asked for permission to use Joey's likeness for this campaign.

"Obviously, we are in the same position as Courtney Love, as well as the Estates of the others depicted [in the ad]," said Mickey Leigh. "We were never consulted about this ad. We were never asked for permission to use Joey's image, or paid for the use of it. As executor of my brother's estate I never would have approved this ad as Joey never wore these shoes. And, not that my brother was terribly religious, but the fact that he was Jewish, and this ad is not exactly Kosher, makes it that much more inappropriate, inconsiderate and contemptible." (Source)

2007-05-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Courtney Love Has Something To Say
Love shoots back at the criticism she's received from the Dr. Marten campaign. She says she had no idea that they were going to use his likeness. Dr. Marten claims they did not approve this campaign...which is a crock of sh**...and they have since fired the responsible ad agency. (Source)