Notables

After a long layoff, I'm back. I brought back some exotic Illinois flu with me only to have it activate when I stepped off the plane. Needless to say, I was entirely incapacitated yesterday AND today. Let's see what's transpired in the music world since I've been gone.

PollStar reports that CSNY has reworked some dates due to Neil Young's sickness, a flu bug. Illinois strain?....Similarly Billy Joel and Elton John has postponed remaining shows on their tour due to laryngitis. Shows tentatively rescheduled for October....The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame happens today with a two song set by Talking Heads. Inductees were Ramones, Talking Heads, Tom Petty, Brenda Lee, Isaac Hayes along with Chet Atkins, Jimmy Stewart and Gene Pitney. Congrats to all of the inductees, well deserved. Watch for the VH1 airing 9p and 11p PST. Worth the watch for the Talking Heads reunion set.....Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame was arrested for disorderly conduct, drug possession and for making terrorist threats (that oughta make it stick right there, terrorist threats) in a bar in Middletown, New Jersey....Good O J-Lo! Adding to her string of successes, she will unleash a perfume company with its first fragrance due this fall....NSync's Joey Fatone will be in another movie come April, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", a Tom Hanks produced effort. OK, Sarah, we'll go.....REM's Peter Buck goes on trial today in the UK for incidents occuring last April on a British Airways flight....The Waterboys first two LPs, 'Waterboys' and 'A Pagan Place', will be re-released in remastered form and including 13 unreleased songs....Strokes had a song pulled from the US release of their CD due to its controversy after the infamous 9/11 attack. The song, 'New York City Cops' will be the B-Side to 'Hard to Explain'. The single will be released in April....And after realizing their blunder, The Dave Matthews Band will release their Lillywhite Sessions CD. The CD, widely pirated, was a better choice than the eventually released 'Everyday'...Did anyone catch the stunningly beautiful statue of John Lennon unveiled in London's new John Lennon Airport, formerly known as Liverpool Airport?....The Big Man, Clarence Clemens confirms rumours of E Street and Bruce Springsteen recording tracks in Atlanta. Clemens says.."Springsteen, Brand New.".....251 Menlove, the address of John Lennon as a child was purchased by Yoko Ono Lennon, and then donated to the British National Trust as a historical landmark....Jon Bon Jovi is in the studio with the old band recording....'O Brother, Where Art Thou' is in the numero uno spot on Billboard followed by Brandy's debut at 2. They are trailed by Alanis Morissette, Linkin Park and Alan Jackson respectively in the 3, 4 and 5 slots.... The Top 10 Radio stations in America are dominated by New York and Los Angeles with KIIS/LA getting the top honour....In the 'Who Cares' section, Britney Spears will open a restaurant in Manhattan...The latest in what I'm sure will be a string of wannabes is Michael Jackson who wants to go into space. Allegedly in talks to pull this off, we'll see just how far this goes....Madonna is doing the theme to the next James Bond film.... Puddle of Mudd's singer, Wes Scantlin, is off the hook for abuse charges....Talk about fun, Sammy Hagar and Diamond Dave, both of Van Halen (any one heard what's happened to VH? Let me know) fame have begun talks that will pair them for a summer tour together....Coldplay is presently working on a new CD with about 5 songs completed. Hopeful release at end of year 2002....Finally, hats off and a moment of silence for Marc Moreland of Wall of Voodoo, who died Wednesday, March 13th of kidney failure.

Ramblings

I know that I have promised to get some reviews up but having had some setbacks, I am back to do what I have promised. Look for them very soon. Any unsigned band wanting to get that spot as featured band need only to contact me at mattrowe@musictap.net and I will contact you. I will provide you with an address to send CD and material to... Til Tomorrow.............

March 19 2002

Notables

The Damned pull out of Rob Zombie's tour due to incompatibility between thier decidely Gothic flavours vs Rob's overt metal tones....The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's three song set by Talking Heads was a rousing success. Everyone involved said that they felt as if they never left. Doesn't sound as if they'll reform but at least it wasn't a disaster. The VH1 show airs Wednesday 9p EST. Don't miss it!....Deana Carter's trial for drunken driving has been postponed for a month....Yesterday's story on Sebastian Bach, Skid Row's singer, gets a lift today because Mr Bach says that we shouldn't pass guilt or condemn until we hear his side of the story. OK, I'll wait.....Another weird turn on the induction of Talking Heads. Anthony Keidis of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame says that the Heads made him feel smart, made him want to have sex with "lots of librarians", and other troves of praise. Way to go, Anthony...I hear ya!!....Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and the three remaining members of Rage Against The Machine form a new band and will play at OzzFest. CD upcoming....Lou Reed's infamous "Metal Machine Music" is being performed in Germany by Ensemble Zeitkratzer. The work, a contractual fulfilling by Reed and acknowledged as such by him for years assisted in the performance.....Patti Smith's Lands CD, a retrospective and collection of hits, demos, rare live cuts and such in a 2 CD offering is available today. There is a hidden track in the release as well as the 'Farewell Friends' ending in the liner notes. End perhaps? Please, NO!...That's it for now!!

March 20 2002

Notables

Peter Buck of REM states, for the record, that he doesn't remember his actions that day on the flight. That's what happens when you consume lots and lots of alcohol. You slur, you stammer, you knock over breakfast carts and fight with flight crews.....The success of "O Brother, Where Art Thou" soundtrack has a few music publishers scrambing to the old catalogs to cash in on public awareness. One such re-release that I'm anxious for, having enjoyed it while growing up is "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band of "Mr Bojangles" fame. This CD will be released in an expanded version with much improved sound on March 26th.....The continuing fire that gets blown back n forth betwixt the RIAA's Hilary Rosen and Eagles' Don Henley is interesting to say the least. Both are neck deep in issues surrounding artists and their 'subservience' to the labels.....The Heads were definitely in the spotlight after their set. After the show, they were swamped by reporters wanting to know what everyone wants to know..namely, 'Coming back?' They all loved the feeling. I do too. Having missed their last tour waaayy back I salivate like a hungry dog at the thought of finally getting to see them live. Ohh and some new music too. Oh yeah.....Korn unleashes themselves to a ready America.....Alicia Keys also preps for a summer tour.....Weezer and label in a tizzy. Weezer asks radio to stop playing their music and their label, Interscope, tells them to stop putting their music up on their site for download. Seems that Interscope don't have the masters yet to even hear. Get along, now!.....I've heard that Jon Anderson and YES have recorded some songs for Lord of the Rings. Too late for "Fellowship of the Ring", the first installment of the series,some may make the second, "Two Towers".....EMI Records slices 1800 jobs amid tales of downturn. They blame a decline in CD purchases.....The latest Rolling Stone magazine lists the 50 coolest records and one of my personal favourites made the numero uno spot, Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat". Second went to Stones' "Aftermath" and third to James Brown's "Live at the Apollo". Cool to me.....Jon Lord, keyboardist for Deep Purple retires after 35 years with the band. He is being replaced by ex-Ozzy keyboardist Don Airey. Jon, thanks from all of us, your fans, for the spectacular time you gave us.....Roger Waters is releasing a retrospective of his solo years this spring called "Flickering Flame". The title is also the name of an unreleased song that will be featured on the set.....Bonnie Raitt got a star on the Walk of Fame today. Way to go, Bonnie....Morpheus, the tree in the garden, shows its vampiric fangs. It appears that they discreetly install a browser plugin without your knowledge. The plugin knows if you are going to Amazon or some vendor site and redirects you to a site of its choosing to gain affiliate points. Raise your cross and move on. How insidious!!.... Rock groupie, Pamela Anderson reveals that she has Hepatitis C, contracted by her former husband, Tommy Lee by sharing tattoo needles....finit, for now!

Ramblings

I received an absolutely impressive promo kit in the mail today from a Floridian band named Theoadore Muddfoot. It was lovingly assembled and contained the band's CD, which I'm listening to at the moment. Soon as I get a feel for the music, I believe they'll qualify for Featured Band. -mar

'This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around' I'm absolutely BLOWN away by the Heads set on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They started with "Burning Down The House" and looked/sounded as if they have never been apart. I really hope that many of you got the opportunity to hear what may be the swansong of one of the great bands of all time. -mar

March 21 2002

Notables

OzzFest is screeching to a city near you.....Can you believe that there are folks actually fighting over an Elvis-themed park? Hey, the King is worth money but theme parks??....An 18 year old without a right hand and yet plays a violin, a 300 year Stradivarius, wins a music award. He uses a spatula attached to a prosthetic arm......Marilyn Manson new CD, being worked on now has been tentatively titled "Golden Age of Grotesque".....Adam Ant pulls out of an 80's themed concert series....News level is down today but I'll keep my eyes peeled for something.....