News Round Up: Week Ending 11th November 2005

[Revan]

No Doubts about No Doubt
Despite her massive success as a solo artist, Gwen Stefani is planning to head back into the studio with No Doubt to record the follow up to 2002’s Rock Steady, which spawned the Top 10 ARIA singles “Hey Baby” and “Hella Good”. Stefani said she never planned for such a long hiatus from No Doubt. “I really didn't know that it would take so long to make Love Angel Music Baby. Then we ended up putting a greatest hits record out and that took up time. We went on tour. It was amazing. I never intended for this record to take so long, but I want to ride this wave while it's out there."


Peter Gabriel weighs in on Genesis reunion
Further to our report on a possible Genesis reunion, the band’s former singer Peter Gabriel has said, "There's a movement to put us all together again. I do think it will happen”. The band reformed briefly in 1982, but says Gabriel, “I don’t think we rehearsed… to really do it properly, we'd have to take more time. It's quite a commitment."


Hear Eminem for free!
Eminem, who’s set to release his greatest hits album Curtain Call next month, is currently previewing a brand new track taken from it called “When I’m Gone” on his official website. To hear the track, head to www.eminem.com. Em’s official website reports the track is one of “at least two” new tracks that will be available on the album. Describing song choices for the album, Eminem says, "I have some songs that a lot of people like," commented Eminem. "I have some songs that only I like. This album is obviously for the first group."


Kiss Guitarist’s Second Solo
Kiss vocalist and guitarist Paul Stanley is set to release his second solo album - his first since 1978, when all four members of KISS simultaneously released solo albums. Stanley is joined on the album by Beck’s father, string arranger David Campbell, as well as former KISS axeman Bruce Kulick and former Marilyn Manson guitarist John5. Although Stanley wouldn’t hint at the album’s direction, he did say, “it’s not 1978 anymore”, adding “So far everybody that's heard [the album] thinks it's great, so I'm real pleased with it, If it sells 100 copies or 100,000 copies or 10,000,000 copies, it won't change my life either way. All it's about is doing what I want to do and what I have the freedom to do”.


American Idiot On The Silver Screen
In an interview on UK radio station XFM, Green Day have revealed they are developing a film based on their multi-platinum seventh album, American Idiot. Drummer Tre Cool said the film will take its cues from The Who’s Tommy and Quadrophenia, describing it as “a rock opera”. But unlike Tommy, Green Day will work behind the scenes on the film. “I'm not an actor at all”, said singer Billie Joe Armstrong. “I'd rather be behind the writing and the production, and leave the acting to the actors."


Snoop Does The Dogg!
In hindsight, it seems the most natural thing in the world. But 12 years after releasing his first album Snoop Dogg is finally lending his name to - wait for it! - The Snoop Dogg, a foot-long hotdog that his manager (and brother) Bing Worthington describes as “a long skinny hotdog just like Snoop”! The Snoop Dogg will hit stores in the US in January.


John Lennon Catalgoue To Go Online
For the first time ever, the whole of John Lennon’s solo catalogue will be available for digital download, starting with the new greatest hits album Working Class Hero. The entire Lennon solo catalogue will then be made available digitally. Yoko Ono said today: “I am very happy that John’s music is now available to a new generation of music fans. New technology is something he always embraced and this is something he would have loved. I always say that he would have been very excited by all the opportunities offered by the development of new means of communication. At this time I think it’s important that we remember John for what he contributed to the world. For people who still love John’s music and for those now getting into John’s music, this opens up a whole new world in which they can appreciate John’s music again.


Simple Plan Join Drink Driving Campaign
Simple Plan have lent their support to RADD Australia - Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes against Drink Driving - by donating exclusive use of the UNTITLED (How Could this Happen to Me?) video to the campaign. The video is an emotional look at how a family is torn apart by drink driving. In an open letter to their fans, Simple Plan said: "This song is a very personal look at what happens when tragedy hits close to home and we wanted to make a video that was as powerful and special as the song was to the five of us. Over the last few years, a lot of people we know have been involved in tragic accidents caused by drinking and driving. One of the students at our high school crashed his car driving back from a weekend trip and killed his best friend. It was a very sad time that none of us will ever forget. When an accident happens many lives are changed forever - parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, grandparents...everyone feels the impact. This is the story we wanted to tell with this video: the story of all the innocent victims caused by drinking and driving. We hope you will take the time to watch the video. Thanks for all your support."


Perry Farrell: The Drugs Do Work
Former Jane’s Addiction singer Perry Farrell claims that a reluctance by today’s music stars to dabble in drugs has led to staleness in the music industry. "If you look at the great art movements, everyone's dabbled and experimented... I'm going to preface that by saying addiction is stupid. But the lack of experimentation is affecting the music today, and, as a result, the music is stale. They need to break on through." Farrell also revealed that he had no idea Jane’s Addiction were splitting up until he read about it on guitarist Dave Navarro’s website in June 2004. “There I was, a fellow who loves to keep himself busy. I had these beautiful projects, and then, within a week, I found myself with nothing."


The Corrs Score MBEs
The Queen has awarded Ireland’s The Corrs MBEs but because the band are not UK citizens, the award is only honorary. Speaking at the ceremony in Dublin, the British Ambassador said, "I am delighted that The Corrs' immense musical contribution has been highlighted in this way. I am sure their many fans around the world will be delighted to hear that they are getting the recognition they so richly deserve". The award recognizes the band’s commitment to charity work.


INXS Extend US Tour
INXS’s Rock Star gamble appears to have paid off: first single “Pretty Vegas” debuted (and peaked) at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. Now it seems their shows are selling out too. The band have already sold out 14 of the 22 shows (including shows in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago) on their Jan / Feb 06 Tour, and have just added another seven shows to their itinerary. The band’s new album Switch will be released later this month.


Early 21st century Junkies
The Cowboy Junkies are releasing an album of anti-war protest songs. "One of the things that surprises us is that not many artists out there are commenting on [war] musically, which is one of the reasons we decided to go back to the songs of the '70s, because it seemed every artist was doing it back then," says bassist alan Anton. “Music has become so commercialized and corporate now that a lot of artists would be pressured not to get involved in this sort of thing”. Avoiding obvious anti-war covers, Early 21st Century Blues sees the Junkies stamp their understated style on tracks like John Lennon’s “I Don’t Want To Be A Soldier”, Springsteen’s "Brothers Under The Bridge" and "You're Missing", Dylan’s “Licensed To Kill”, George Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity” and U2’s “One”.


Amos Boxes Up Bootlegs
Cornflake Girl Tori Amos is set to release a sixth and final CD in her Original Bootlegs series, and the whole collection will now be available as a box set. Songs covered here include Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer”, Madonna’s “Like A Prayer”, Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne”, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”, George Michael’s “Father Figure”, Aerosmith’s “Dream On” and Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back In Anger”.


a Flowers On Amarantine
Ethereal Irish chanteuse Enya is to release Amarantine, her seventh studio album later this month. "We called the album Amarantine to mean everlasting. Poets use the word to describe an everlasting flower and I loved the image of that." The album has been two years in the making. The track listing for Amarantine is:
"Less Than a Pearl"
"Amarantine"
"It's in the Rain"
"If I Could Be Where You Are"
"The River Sings"
"Long Long Journey"
"Sumiregusa"
"Somebody Said Goodbye"
"A Moment Lost"
"Drifting"
"Amid the Falling Snow"
"Water Shows the Hidden Heart"


Fred Durst on the defensive
Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst claims that despite the dismal reaction to The Unquestionable Truth - the band’s first release without guitarist, songwriter and founding member Wes Borland - the band are in great shape. “Musically I don't think we could be in a better place than we are right now. It's an exciting time, definitely a time to make an impact with the unexpected." Which must be why they’re releasing a Greatest Hits…


Mike Love Loses His Smile
Mike Love, the cousin of Brian Wilson who owns the rights to use the Beach Boys name, is suing his former band-mate over Brian's Smile, the long-shelved Beach Boys recording that he re-recorded and released last year as a solo album. AP reports that Love accuses Wilson of misappropriating his “songs, likeness and the Beach Boys trademark, as well as the Smile album itself." Love is seeking US$1 million in damages.


Human Nature Reach Out To Motown
It’s hard to think of Human Nature as a boy band, especially since most of them are now in their 30s. To be fair, they were never manufactured nor untalented. Pitched now as ‘Australia’s premier male vocal group’, the Nature have just released a fifth album, a Motown tribute entitled Reach Out. “We’ve been in love with the music of Motown since we started singing together at high school”, said the band. “Even our first name - The 4 Trax - was a gentle yet youthfully obvious nod to Motown legends The Four Tops and recording a Motown set is something we’ve talked about together for years.” The album’s 12 tracks were all US No. 1 singles, and include “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, “Tracks Of My Tears”, “My Girl”, and “Stop! In The Name Of Love”.


Britney’s Husband’s Hip Hop Career
It had to happen. Britney Spears’ 27-year-old husband Kevin Federline is launching a hip-hop career. “Y’All Ain’t Ready”, a track off his debut album The Truth, was briefly posted on the internet by the album’s producer Disco D before being swiftly removed. Those who have heard the track are already comparing Federline to Vanilla Ice, though Federline seems to have anticipated the backlash, singing “My prediction is that y'all gonna hate on the style we create, straight 2008." What that means is anyone’s guess. The album is also believed to contain a duet with Britney, appropriately titled “Tell Us Why”.


Beth Orton Taps Into Youth
Singer songwriter Beth Orton is set to release Comfort Of Strangers in February next year. The 14-track album, the follow up to 2002’s Daybreaker, has been produced by Jim O’Rourke, who also helmed Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born. O’Rourke also plays bass, piano and marimba on the album, with drums provided by acclaimed NYC sound designer and percussionist Tim Barnes.


For Love, Not Money
We reported two months ago rumours that Jack White was recording a theme song for cola giant Coke. Now the deed has been done. "I've written a song really quickly and it's an interesting commercial that's been made”, White said. “We get offered commercials all the time, but it doesn't really ever interest me very much. But to be asked to write something along the theme of love, in a form that I'm not really used to, appealed to me. I was inspired by the commercial." White reportedly used to drink six cans of Coke a day, and has been quoted calling it “the greatest drink ever made by man”.


Bloc Party Sound Alarm Again
The Bloc Party are heading back to the studio in January to record the follow up to their debut Silent Alarm. The band has 20 to 30 new songs in various states of completion that singer Keke Okereke is keen to get nailed down. “We tend to work very quickly and get bored very quickly, so it's in our best interests to get things done as soon as possible," he said. "As of right now, a lot of it is unfinished, but it sounds more sophisticated. I think we're all a lot more knowing when it comes to recording now. A lot of these new songs have been written with the idea of recording in mind."


Beastie Boys Fan’s Shoot Official Documentary
The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch has finished work on a Beasties Boys concert documentary that was largely filmed by 50 fans armed with hand held hi-8 cameras. The film, Awesome: I F_____’ Shot That, was shot at the band’s performance at Madison Square Gardens in October last year. Yauch said he got the idea for the film when he noticed kids were using their mobile video phones to post concert footage on their website. As for the 50 cameras he gave the fans to shoot the film, Yauch says he got them all back. “But granted, we took their drivers licences”.


Busy? Yes.I.Am Date published
Black Eyed Peas singer Will.I.Am isn’t wasting his time away from the band. In addition to production duties for the likes of Santana, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bob Marley, the Isley Brothers, Sly & the Family Stone and The Rolling Stones, the singer is also producing a number of tracks for Justin Timberlake’s second solo album. The pair have completed two of the four songs they’re working on, and Will.I.Am is impressed. "It's fresh. It's a different direction, but at the same time it's his persona and voice, it's still Justin Timberlake. Rhythmically and sonically it's all new stuff, but it's still gonna make you dance. Chicks are gonna love it. That's what's important."


Concert For Bangladesh heads To DVD
George Harrison’s all-star Concert For Bangladesh, recorded in 1971, was the precursor for both the Live Aid and Live 8 charity concerts, and is finally being released on DVD this month. Besides George, the concert features Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell and Billy Preston. The two-disc set includes the original 99-minute film restored and remixed in 5.1, as well as 72-minutes of extras. The extras feature a 45-minute documentary The Concert For Bangladesh Revisited with George Harrison & Friends about the background to the two shows with exclusive interviews with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Sir Bob Geldof. There is also previously unseen footage: “If Not For You”, featuring George and Bob Dylan from rehearsals, “Come On In My Kitchen” featuring George, Eric Clapton and Leon Russell at the sound check, and a Bob Dylan performance of “Love Minus Zero/No Limit”, not included in the original film. A double CD is also being released in conjunction with the DVD. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to UNICEF.


Lemmy To Enter Parliament
Legendary hard-living Motorhead singer Lemmy has joined forces with MP William Graham to head an anti-drugs campaign in the UK. Graham approached Lemmy after catching a recent documentary on Motorhead, Live Fast Die Old, that revealed Lemmy’s deep hatred of heroin. It’s a subject Lemmy also addresses in Motorhead’s “Dead Men Tell No Tales”. Lemmy’s maiden speech to the Welsh Assembly will take place in Cardiff this Thursday night. For once, no earplugs required!


Audioslavin’ Away A Song A Day
Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello says the band has written more than 20 new songs over the past month, averaging a song a day. He described the new songs as “diverse, and very groove-heavy. There are some really heavy rockers as well as some more off-the-cuff stuff that heads in different directions. I think that one of the strengths of the band is to be able to play a variety of music and have it all sound like Audioslave, and we continue to explore that." Morello added that recording the new material is a priority over the coming months.


Meg at the Movies
The White Stripes drummer Meg White is contributing unadorned drums to the soundtrack for the comedy film You Are Going To Prison. White was asked to collaborate by director Bob Odenkirk, who says of White’s drumming, “It's really powerful stuff when you're sitting right next to it. If you don’t get why she’s great crank up the Toto!”


Steve Jones Fires His Pistol!
Former Sex Pistol guitarist Steve Jones has let rip at today’s crop of punk acts. “Knuckleheads like Simple Plan and Good Charlotte are told what to do, and they do it, you know? It's a shame that they're disguising it under the word 'punk.' It's a bunch of ****ing sh#t, you know?" Go Steve!


Bits of Pumpkins come together
Former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur has enlisted the help of Billy Corgan for her second solo album. Speaking wih US Rolling Stone Der Maur says, "It's really symbolic for me to have this opportunity with Billy, who is one of my main musical mentors. It's an amazing full circle for me, because his music is directly related to why I picked up a bass. Gish inspired me to play rock music, and then I was able to be in his band ten years later. But in all of this time, I've never actually written a song with him”. Der Maur also mentions she’s hoping to collaborate with Ryan Adams on the record - God knows he could use the distraction; 13, Adams THIRD album for 2005, will be released at Christmas


Wilco Ditch Live DVD
Wilco, who we previously reported as releasing a live DVD to accompany their live disc Kicking Television have ditched the filmed component. Singer Jeff Tweedy told the Chicago Reader that "Some of the reasons were technical, some of it had to do with the way it was shot. The footage ended up being really claustrophobic. Basically, it gets down to my feeling that the audience should be a part of any live document. You should get a sense of the audience, a sense of the time and place. And the footage didn't do that." In good news for fans, the band has laid down 13 tracks for a new studio album due next year.


Lennon’s White Suit Sells At Auction
Something in the clothes he wears attracts bids like no other rocker… OK, so it was a George song, but who cares because the white suit John Lennon was wearing when he was crossing the road for The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover (which featured “Something”, OK!) has sold at auction in the UK for $157,041. The Austin Prince hearse he drove in the film Imagine also sold at auction for $199,575. Proceeds from the sale are being donated to Amnesty International.


Big Day Out Sold Out… Sorta!
Tickets to the Sydney leg of the Big Day Out 2006 have sold out in a record two weeks! But there is still hope for fans who missed out on tickets. In an attempt to create an even playing field for punters and to limit the impact of scalpers operating through online auction sites, the Big Day Out has withheld 5000 tickets for the Sydney show. These tickets will be available for purchase through the official BDO website, with 500 tickets released each week for 10 weeks starting this Thursday November 3. Organisers advise there won’t be a second Sydney show, so if you want to catch The White Stripes, Iggy & The Stooges, Franz Ferdinand, Kings Of Leon and more, get crackin’!


Madonna Quits Acting For Directing?
A collective sigh of relief reverberated around the movie world when Madonna - the recipient of a number of Raspberries (the alternative Oscars) for her performances in celluloid abominations Swept Away and Body of Evidence - revealed to New York’s Daily News that she’s not interested in acting in films anymore. Unfortunately, the relief was short lived. “I want to direct,” she told the paper. We want her to sing.
For The Record: Matt Groening
Former rock crit and Simpsons creator Matt Groening is re-embracing his rock roots with a compilation CD, All Tomorrow's Parties: Pacific 2003. The album pays homage to the music festival All Tomorrow’s Parties that Groening curated in 1993. The album includes a version of The Simpsons theme by Sonic Youth, which Groening calls “the best version ever”. Commenting on the current sate of music, Groening says, “We're inundated with pseudo-hipness, and if I had to write about the big bands, I'd quit. But there's still great music out there, if you search for it." Track listing for the album is:
1. Sonic Youth: Simpsons Theme
2. Iggy and the Stooges: Fun House
3. The Magic Band: Dropout Boogie
4. Spoon: The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine
5. The Shins: Young Pilgrims
6. Modest Mouse: Bukowski
7. Elliott Smith: Pictures of Me
8. Daniel Johnston: Syrup of Tears
9. American Analog Set: Come Home Baby Julie, Come Home
10. Electrelane: The Valleys
11. Deerhoof: Desapareceré
12. Jackie-O Motherf**ker: Drake Hotel


Moby Gets Punk’d
Electronic artist Moby, who started his career in punk band called Vatican Commandos, has revealed in a journal entry on his official website that he’s returning to his musical roots. “Today I'm going into a studio to record a bunch of punk rock songs”, he writes. “Over the last year I've written lots and lots of punk rock songs and now I’m going to record them with [drummer] Scott [Frasetto]. The punk rock songs are definitely in the 'fun but very rough' camp ”. Unfortunately for fans, Moby adds, “I have no idea when/if they'll ever be released”.


Vince Neil busts a leg
Motley Crue were forced to cancel a show in Atlanta midway through their set when singer Vince Neil tore the medial ligament in his calf muscle. "I just felt something snap in my leg and I couldn't go on." Motley Crue are scheduled to arrive in Australia in December for a national tour, and at this stage it appears touring plans won’t be affected. "He will be able to perform, but can't really jump around until it heals. Luckily, we have a few days off here and there for him to recover", says bass player Nikki Sixx. This is the second on-stage injury to the reformed hellraisers, with drummer Tommy Lee suffering minor burns a fortnight ago when some pyrotechnics exploded while he was suspended 30 feet above the stage. Who mentioned Spinal Tap?


Gorillaz Demon Days
For five nights this week in Manchester, the Gorillaz will take residence at Manchester’s Opera House for what singer Damon Albarn says will be the only live performance of the band’s second album, Demon Days. Speaking with Radio 4 in the UK, Albarn says “It is the only time we're ever going to play this record in its entirety. We felt that Demon Days was such a complete record that it could really be played in one sitting. Almost in the same way you'd recreate a film score”. He also revealed the show will feature more than 80 performers – including a 30 piece children’s choir, string section and guests – and incorporate 3D animation. “If it works,” he went on to say, “it’s going to be magic”.


Elvis… Still the King
It’s been 28 years since he passed away, but Elvis Presley is still king when it comes to raking in the posthumous bucks. Business magazine Forbes revealed that Presley, who earned US $43 million over the past year, is the world’s highest earning dead celebrity. His place at the top of the pile is partly due to Lisa Marie Presley’s recent sale of the controlling stake in Elvis Presley Inc. Johnny Cash and Ray Charles, both of whom have been the subject of recent bio-pics, have also made the list for the first time. The Forbes ‘Lucky’ 13 are:
1. Elvis Presley, US $45 million
2. Charles M. Schulz, US $35 million
3. John Lennon, US $22 million
4. Andy Warhol, US $16 million
5. Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, US $10 million
6. Marlon Brando, US $9 million
7. Marilyn Monroe, US $8 million
8. J.R.R. Tolkien, US $8 million
9. George Harrison, US $7 million
10. Johnny Cash, US $7 million
11. Irving Berlin, US $7 million
12. Bob Marley, US $6 million
13. Ray Charles, US $6 million


Sharon Osbourne Tackles Pete Doherty
Sharon Osbourne has served it up to troubled Brit rocker Pete Doherty, as well as delivering a subtle backhander to his even more troubled partner Kate Moss. Speaking with Attitude magazine, Osbourne said, “Pete Doherty needs a bleedin’ good slap, that’s what. He needs to ditch the hangers-on and find someone who really loves him enough to tell him the truth. He needs to go through some hardcore rehab. That will strip him of any notion of celebrity. They should be telling him, 'You're the same as everybody else. You're an addict." Osbourne also admitted she is “terrified the poor little thing’s gonna overdose”.


It’s The All Ages Crusade!
Three of Australia’s hottest young bands - Gyroscope, Kisschasy and After The Fall – have just announced a November all ages national tour that will see the bands venture into the burbs. Reaching out to areas rarely touched by touring bands of this size, the shows provide a unique opportunity for younger music fans sick of missing out on shows because they are too far away or not old enough to gain admission. Fans should check the bands’ official sites for dates and venues.