Remember that plagiarism beef Satriani had with Coldplay awhile back? Well, '80s Australian rockers Men at Work have found themselves on the receiving end of a plagiarism suit of their own, and they're not getting away quite as easily as Chris Martin did.
Earlier this week, an Australian court ruled that the popular '80s rock group lifted the flute riff (a phrase we never thought we’d write) to their worldwide 1983 smash “Down Under” from the melody of a children’s campfire song known as “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.” The song, written in 1935 by school teacher Marion Sinclair, was originally intended for use by the Girl Guides, Australia’s version of Girl Scouts. Sinclair’s publishing company, Larrikin, took ownership of the rights after she died in 1988 and have since gone after the band.
Australian Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson said, “I have come to the view that the flute riff in ‘Down Under’…infringes on the copyright of 'Kookaburra' because it replicates in material form a substantial part of Ms. Sinclair's 1935 work.”
Men At Work’s lead singer Colin Hay actually admitted that band flautist Greg Ham unconsciously used two bars from the song for his riff. However, Hay claimed that the lifted notes were part of the "arrangement" as opposed to the "song," adding that, “I'll go to my grave knowing 'Down Under' is an original piece of work. It was a musical accident that happened.” Hay also acknowledged that the judgment could carry “some pretty serious financial repercussions.”
The parties will return to court February 25th, 2010 to discuss the terms of compensation. Larrikin claims they want up to 60% of royalties from the song, a sum that could reach into millions. (Though under Australian law, Larrikin can only claim royalties from the past six years.)
Take comfort Hay — at least you won’t lose 100% of the royalties like the Verve did for “Bittersweet Symphony.” Still, you might want to ring up Richard Ashcroft for moral support right about now.
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It’s appears that Frances Bean Cobain is following the musical footsteps of her parents, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love. The 17-year-old will make her singing debut on "My Space," a track that will appear on Evelyn Evelyn’s (a new side project from Dresden Dolls frontwoman Amanda Palmer) debut album. The track will feature My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, Andrew WK, Weird Al Yankovic and a host of other acts, as well. Give it a listen when the self-titled album drops on March 30th!
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Whew, that's a relief. The American Carnage Tour, which was recently cancelled due to Slayer bassist Tom Araya's need for intensive back surgery, is back on! This means that Slayer, Megadeth and special guests Testament will still be scorching the earth at a venue near you — only about half a year later than previously announced.
Originally scheduled to begin in mid-January, the 26-date jaunt will now kick off July 23rd in Quebec City, Canada. The tour marks the first time that the three legendary thrash ensembles have toured together since 1991's "Clash of the TItans," so we're stoked that Araya's back seems to be cooperating.
"The doctors said that Tom's surgery went very smoothly and was a resounding success," says Rick Sales, Slayer's manager. "He's home now, doing really well, and he said the numbness in his fingers had already diminished considerably."
We're also guessing this means that Slayer will still be on the bill for the Sonisphere festivals in Poland and the Czech Republic in mid-June, when thrash metal's "Big Four" — Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax — will play together for the first time in history. Not that we've ever been in a big hurry to visit Poland, but it's starting to sound like an appealing idea. Click here for an updated list of dates.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay celebrate Groundhog Day with new releases from Rob Zombie and Priestess. Hey, that's not Bill Murray in the background!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Within the last year, Chiodos has undergone a purge of sorts. Some survived; others did not, including frontman Craig Owens and drummer Derrick Frost. But the remaining members (guitarist Jason Hale, guitarist Pat McManaman, keyboardist Bradley Bell and bassist Matt Goddard) have trekked on determined to release a follow-up to Bone Palace Ballet. In fact, they’ve been writing some new material and are ready to enter the studio. We know that ex-Scary Kids Scaring Kids drummer Tanner Wayne has taken over as the backbeat, but who has acquired the coveted position of frontman? Well, Chiodos is keeping that one a secret until the band’s performance at Bamboozle California in Anaheim on March 27th. Who do you think it will be?
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And you thought that after Fall Out Boy disbanded you would never see Patrick Stump again! Fortunately, you thought wrong. The former frontman has just posted a video, letting his fans know that he’s not goin’ anywhere. In fact, he’s working on a solo album. We bet you thought he was just your typical singer/guitarist and occasional pianist. Again, you thought wrong. Stump intends on playing every instrument on the new album, as well as writing and producing the entire effort. Click here to check out the video of Stump in action. It’s very cool.
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This may be the most exciting news you’ll hear all week, if you’re an AC/DC and/or Iron Man fan, of course! The Aussie rockers will be providing the tracks for the upcoming Iron Man 2 movie, which is set to hit theaters on May 7th. The soundtrack will feature 15 songs from AC/DC’s back catalogue, including "Highway to Hell," "Thunderstruck," "Shoot to Thrill," "Back in Black" and "T.N.T." Plus, in conjunction with the film, a new video for "Shoot to Thrill" has been released online. Wanna check it out? Click here. Don’t forget to get your copy of AC/DC’s Iron Man 2 soundtrack on April 20th!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay get pumped for the "big game" with new records by Beach House and Tim Barry!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Alex Kapranos is so not "lovin' it" right now. The Franz Ferdinand frontman threw a whopper of a Twitter tantrum last week when he realized that Epic Records, the Scottish band's US label, had licensed one of their tracks for a McDonald's ad campaign without their permission.
"This...is an example of how a band falls out with their US label," Kapranos tweeted. "Did they think we'd approve this [stuff]?"
"Dirty bastards. Stupid arrogant mother[effin'] pig-brained arseholes," he continued ranting in a second tweet. "I'd rather eat a cow-pat on a bun than a bloody McDonalds."
Kapranos soon re-focused his ire upon the band's American label, tweeting that “I’m not really pissed off with McDonalds. They’re just the same as any other psychopathic corporation — no more evil, no less...The psychopathic corporation I am pissed off with is Sony who owns Epic who release our records in America. But not really surprised.”
Though the specific song and the exact nature of its use in the ad campaign have not been revealed, a McDonald's/Franz Ferdinand pairing is especially ironic, given that Kapranos was formerly a chef in his native Glasgow, and his writings about enjoying exotic world cuisine while on tour were collected a few years back in an acclaimed (and very amusing) book called Sound Bites. So it's not particularly surprising that he'd freak out upon finding his band paired up with the biggest name in fast-food crap.
Still, Kapranos eventually managed to regain his sense of humor about the situation, tweeting that, "I'm just pissed off because I had a sponsorship deal with White Castle on the cards which is now totally scuppered... was going to get a lifetime supply of those cute (much tastier than McD) burgers..."
"Cute burgers"? Um, Mr. Food Writer? Around these parts, we call 'em "sliders."
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Well, it’s been 20 weeks since the start of football’s regular season, and it’s all coming to an end this Sunday with the N.Y. Jets taking on the Indy Colts as they battle for the AFC Championship title and the Minn. Vikings taking on the N.O. Saints in the NFC matchup. You may be asking yourself, "What the heck does this have to do with music?" Plenty, if you’re a Vikings fan and/or a Prince fan. As some of you may know, the 80s phenomenon is a Minnesota native and a lifelong Vikings fan. So to pay homage to his team, he wrote and recorded a fight song that you just gotta hear. Mind you, it’s no "Purple Rain," but it is ummm...interesting. Unfortunately, the video is no longer available.
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It’s been over three years since My Chemical Romance released The Black Parade. Since then, the band has experienced a renaissance of sorts, and its members wanted to create an album that represented the band in its "purest, most distilled" form. So what does that mean? No more theatrics! This album is simply "stripped down." Frontman Gerard Way explained to NME, "It’s not going to be hiding behind a veil of fiction or uniforms and makeup anymore...This record’s about the truth and living and survival." He continued, "People just wanna [effin’] rock. I don’t know that people want to make statements right now...People just want the truth, and they don’t need a big story." This as-of-yet untitled work was written and recorded in L.A., with influences from Sex Pistols, MC5 and The Stooges. Some of the tracks that will be included are "Death before Disco," "Save Yourself," "The Only Hope for Me Is You" and "Light Behind Your Eyes," which was inspired by Way’s daughter, Bandit Lee. What about plans for an upcoming tour? Well, the guys are planning to hit smaller, more intimate venues rather than large arenas. The new album will be released sometime this year.
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Korn and Rob Zombie both have headlining duties at this summer's Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival! Who else will be coming along for the ride? Lamb of God and Five Finger Death Punch will round off the lineup for the Main Stage. Hatebreed, Chimaira, Shadows Fall and Winds of Plague will hit the Jagermeister Stage. Atreyu, Norma Jean, In This Moment and 3 Inches of Blood will own the Second Stage. The tour will hit 24 cities across North America, taking off on July 10th in San Bernardino, CA and landing on August 14th in Oklahoma City, OK. So do you want some tickets? Pre-sale tickets will be available April 2nd. General ticket sales will begin April 16th. Click here for all the info.
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It’s about that time of year - time for Peta2’s 4th Annual Libby Awards! This is your chance to exercise your voice and support those in the food, music, clothing, sports and entertainment industries who stand up against cruelty towards animals. From categories like Most Vegetarian-Friendly Book to Best Vegan Junk Food, Most Animal-Friendly Band to Favorite Animal-Friendly Celeb and Most Animal-Friendly Clothing Company to Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Company, you can choose your favorites from 38 unique groupings. But the most important category is Best Retail Store, which has Hot Topic as one of the choices. So we, along with Peta2, are inviting you to cast your votes for us and our many partners! Click here to get started.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n’ Jay prepare for glory with the assistance of new albums from Motion City Soundtrack and The Len Price 3. Together, they can not faulter!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Rivers Cuomo has been recovering from the three cracked ribs and the punctured lung he sustained in a bus accident this past December. Now, the Weezer frontman has been given "a cautionary clean bill of health" and is ready to hit the stage. The band has announced via Weezer’s MySpace page that Rivers’ comeback will take place at Florida State University on Wednesday, January 20th. Though he may "not be ready to fly through the air," he is "ready to play and sing."
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The rock n' roll death roll-call unfortunately continues: This afternoon, we received word that Memphis garage punk rocker Jay Reatard has passed away. According to police spokesman Jennifer Robinson, Reatard — born Jimmy Lee Lindsey — was found dead in the bed of his midtown Memphis home around 3:30 AM this morning; police are still investigating the cause of death. He was 29 years old.
A prolific and volatile musician, Reatard was known for both his manic work ethic — he put out dozens of singles, EPs and albums over the last fifteen years, under his own nom-du-punk as well as with the Reatards, the Lost Sounds, the Bad Times, the Final Solutions, Nervous Patterns, Angry Angles, Terror Visions and Destruction Unit — and his onstage temper tantrums. Brawls between Reatard and his audience members, if not a nightly occurence, were at least common enough that they ceased to be news-worthy. He also famously fired his band onstage late last year, and just days ago put a Twitter bounty on the van of New Jersey tour mates Liquor Store, after they'd allegedly slashed his tires. "I will give anyone a hundred bucks per tire that they pop on the band Liquor Store's van!" he tweeted. "Yes I'm serious.”
Reatard seemed poised to move closer to the mainstream in 2009, when he released the critically acclaimed Watch Me Fall. The album, which even received raves from the New York Times, showed Reatard trading in his usual lo-fi bluster for more of a '60s-influenced pop sound. "'It Ain’t Gonna Save Me,' the album's opener, is an upbeat, Nuggets-worthy rumination about bad luck, and is probably the most satisfying two minutes of power-pop you’ll hear all year," wrote ShockHound's Jonah Bayer.
Just like most of his songs, ShockHound's lone encounter with Reatard was brief and memorable. Having been booked in advance to tape a Shock Sessions performance, he showed up at our offices last August dressed in only a T-shirt and skivvies, drinking a beer and clearly feeling the effects of the extended binge he'd been on the night before. Though initially quite affable, he passed out on a nearby couch while his bandmates soundchecked; he awoke an hour later in an extremely foul mood, then stormed out before playing a single note, loudly complaining that the gig wasn't sufficiently "punk rock" enough for him.
But even if we weren't particularly sorry to say goodbye to him that day, we're still sorry to see him go, as are many other folks in the music world. "We are devastated by the death of Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., aka Jay Reatard," read a post on the blog of Matador Records, Reatard's most recent label home. "Jay was as full of life as anyone we’ve ever met, and responsible for so many memorable moments as a person and artist. We’re honored to have known and worked with him, and we will miss him terribly."
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The tracklisting for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland soundtrack, Almost Alice, has been revealed! But the tracklisting isn’t as exciting as those who recorded the re-imagined songs. As we already reported, Mark Hoppus and Pete Wentz had joined forces on a new song for the compilation, which features an interesting array of some other HT-friendly acts, including The All-American Rejects, Metro Station, Tokio Hotel, 3OH!3, Plain White T’s and more! You can view the full tracklisting below. Almost Alice is set to drop on March 2nd just in time for Alice in Wonderland to hit theaters on March 5th.
1. "Alice (Underground)" performed by Avril Lavigne
2. "The Poison" performed by The All-American Rejects
3. "The Technicolor Phase" performed by Owl City
4. "Her Name Is Alice" performed by Shinedown
5. "Painting Flowers" performed by All Time Low
6. "Where's My Angel" performed by Metro Station
7. "Strange" performed by Tokio Hotel and Kerli
8. "Follow Me Down" performed by 3OH!3 featuring Neon Hitch
9. "Very Good Advice" performed by Robert Smith
10. "In Transit" performed by Mark Hoppus with Pete Wentz
11. "Welcome to Mystery" performed by Plain White T's
12. "Tea Party" performed by Kerli
13. "The Lobster Quadrille" performed by Franz Ferdinand
14. "Running Out of Time" performed by Motion City Soundtrack
15. "Fell Down a Hole" performed by Wolfmother
16. "White Rabbit" performed by Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay get in touch with their fist-pumping inner guidos to the tune of the new Vampire Weekend and OK Go. Hey, where's Snooki?
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Nearly forty years after the untimely death of the legendary Jimi Hendrix, a collection of studio recordings entitled Valleys of Neptune is being released. Produced by his stepsister, Janie Hendrix, this posthumous album will feature previously unreleased tracks, including covers of Cream’s "Sunshine of Your Love" and blues artist Elmore James’ "Bleeding Heart." In addition, fans can expect the original version of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s "Hear My Train a Comin’," as well as alternate cuts of "Ships Passing through the Night" and "Lullaby for the Summer." The tracks were recorded in London and the US between 1968 and 1970. Janie Hendrix’s intention was for this album to offer a "deep insight into [Jimi’s] mastery of the recording process and demonstrates the fact that he was as unparalleled a recording innovator as he was a guitarist." Valleys of Neptune will be released March 9th.
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If you follow Blink-182 vocalist/bassist Mark Hoppus and/or Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz on Twitter, you may have noticed some cryptic messages between the pair, as of late. Well, Wentz has revealed that the two have just completed a song to be featured on the soundtrack to Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Wentz explained:
"We did a song [for the movie], [and we] might do a few more, depending on when [Hoppus] goes in [to the studio] with Blink. [The track] sounds nothing like Blink or Fall Out Boy. [Hoppus] understands songwriting on a completely different level. It’s awesome to have a chance to sit in a room with him and watch him work out a melody."
So will Wentz and Hoppus be the next super duo? Probably not. But we all can enjoy the collaboration while it lasts. Wentz continues:
"It’s just fun. It’s not a band or even a project at this state. I think between me getting Starbucks on TMZ and [Hoppus] gearing up for a summer of Blink we have a lot on our hands."
So what about the rest of the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack? We know that All Time Low has a song confirmed, but the full tracklisting has yet to be revealed. Stay tuned for further updates.
You’re never too old to rock, and actor Christopher Lee is proof of that. Most of you may not recognize his name, but you probably recognize his theatrical role as Count Dooku in both Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, as well as his portrayal of Saruman in the movie adaptations of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Yep, the 87-year-old actor is set to release a "symphonic metal" album entitled Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross on March 15th. Lee says of his upcoming release: "It's fascinating for me that at this stage in my life people are beginning to look upon me as a metal singer." Ah, age is indeed but a number.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay recover from their NYE revelry and talk about some of the upcoming records they're looking forward to in 2010. So grab some aspirin and tune your ears to this!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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A year ago this week, ShockHound reported on the untimely death of the Stooges’ legendary guitarist Ron Asheton. The axeman, who ranked #29 on Rolling Stone’s top 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time — and probably should have been higher up on the list — was a profoundly influential force on the sound of punk rock. Sadly, he succumbed to a sudden heart attack on January 6th, 2009.
This year, Asheton's friends and family have assembled an all-star tribute that will take place January 13 at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. The event is called “Jam For Ron Asheton — A Tribute to the Late Guitarist of The Stooges,” and was organized by Leanna Asheton, Ron'’s 18-year-old niece.
The tribute will include appearances by Clem Burke (Blondie), Derek Stanton, Detroit rockers Circus Boy and L.A.-based heavy hitters Night Horse. But the real draw is the massive jam session with Stooges Scott Asheton, Mike Watt and Steve Mackay, Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Jesse Hughes (Eagles of Death Metal) and others that's scheduled to close out the night. Although, what we would like to know is...where’s Iggy? Maybe it’s still a bit "too soon" for him?
Tickets for the event are a mere twenty bones and are on sale now. Since Asheton was an animal lover — who often said that in lean times (which were many), he'd always make sure his cats were fed even if it meant going without his own dinner — his family will be donating proceeds from the event to the Los Angeles Animal Welfare Trust Fund. Sounds like a good night for a good cause to remember a great rocker.
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Chris Cornell must have finally gotten fed up with everyone bagging on him about how crap-tacular his 2009 solo album Scream was. Because after spending the last year denying that a Soundgarden reunion was in the works, the former SG frontman broke the news of its impeding reality with a New Year's morning message on Twitter.
"The 12 year break is over & school is back in session," the singer tweeted, including a link to the band's new website, Soundgarden World. "Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!"
According to Billboard, the final lineup of the much-missed Seattle hard rock band — which also included guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron — will play shows together this year for the first time since 1997. The band, which originally formed in 1984 and scored a multi-platinum smash ten years later with Superunknown, is reportedly weighing offers from several major US and international festivals. Nothing has been finalized, however, since any tour routing would have to be arranged to accommodate Cameron's drum commitments with Pearl Jam, who will also be touring this spring and summer.
The full story behind the Soundgarden reunion has yet to be revealed, though sources say that plans began to fall into place this past October, after Cornell got up to sing Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike" with Pearl Jam in Los Angeles. Cornell, who had been estranged from his bandmates for years following their less than amicable 1997 breakup, had previously refused to take part in a reformation for Sub Pop's 20th anniversary concerts in 2008; nor did he participate in the impromptu March 24, 2009 performance at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe, when Thayil, Shepherd and Cameron played three SG songs as "Tadgarden," with Tad frontman Tad Doyle subbing on vocals for Cornell.
There's also no word yet on whether or not the band members, whose last album was 1996's Down On the Upside, have any plans to reconvene in the studio to record new material — either for a new album, or for additions to the long-rumored box set of b-sides and unreleased songs. But hey, if their Jet City brethren Alice In Chains can make a new record without Layne Staley, surely these guys can get it together while they're all still alive...right?
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Artists say the darndest things once you get them talking. Chris Martin admitted to ShockHound that his music embarrasses him, Lady Gaga gave us a glimpse of the real girl behind her party diva persona, Air aired their hatred for French women, RZA revealed that he actually has no rhythm — and that’s just a few of the highlights from our amazing 2009 Q&A sessions. From personal fears and struggles to unbridled optimism over upcoming epic albums, check out what some of the biggest names in music confided to us this year!
Lady GaGa
Bye bye Stefani Germanotta, hello GaGa: Lady GaGa sat down with ShockHound just as she was firming her grasp on the balls of the pop world with her first hit single, “Just Dance.” The now-infamous pop star gave our readers an intimate glimpse into her art, drug problems, and the insatiable desire to “shock” her audience.
30 Seconds to Mars
This Is War: 30 Seconds to Mars’s Jared Leto recounts his band's $30 million battle with EMI, the old Hollywood legal precedent that saved them, and enlisting his army of fans to participate on the band’s latest record.
Adam Lambert
The man who brought glam rock to American Idol talks about his Idol experience, taking risks, and coming out before his album did.
The Pixies
The legendary Black Francis expounds on the Pixies’ 20th Anniversary comeback, their epic Doolittle tour, and teases us with the prossibility of a new Pixies album on the horizon.
Pearl Jam
ShockHound visited with Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament to take a look back at his band’s two decades of rockin’ in the free world, and the reissue of their multi-platinum debut Ten.
Frank Turner
Thursday’s Geoff Rickly sits down with British hardcore frontman-turned-singer/songwriter Frank Turner for an artist-to-artist talk about Turner's solo album, his punk and acoustic inspirations, and why English girls will “defile anything with a pulse, a penis and a yank accent.”
Coldplay
“Whenever we do a record I always feel embarrassed about it.” Coldplay's Chris Martin shows his vulnerable — and quirky — side in this quippy Q&A.
Ghostface Killah
In this intense and revealing interview, Wu-Tang alum Ghostface Killah takes you down the yellow brick road of his album Ghostdini Wizard Of Poetry In Emerald City, and tells you why he thinks lip-synching rappers are "fucking the game up."
MGMT
Taking a brief breather from making the new MGMT album, Andrew VanWyngarden reflects upon his band’s surreal year, which included playing with Sir Paul McCartney and his run in with the President of France.
Spirits in the Sky
ShockHound was there as Billy Corgan and Dave Navarro got together for a side project to pay tribute to the late garage god Sky Saxon, and sat down with the talented dudes to discuss their collaboration and the future of their respective bands.
Depeche Mode
“We don't dance as much as we used to.” Three decades into their impressive and influential career, Depeche Mode keyboardist Andy Fletcher looks back on the evolution of the band, the family-like ties he shares with his bandmates, and life on the road.
Paramore
While fame was tearing Paramore apart, frontwoman Haley Williams exorcised her demons in her journal. In this revealing interview, the 21-year-old singer recounts the turmoil that nearly broke up her band apart, and growing up to see the world with Brand New Eyes.
Method Man & Redman
Meth & Red love haters — no, really. The hip-hop duo explains here how Internet shit-talking reignited the fire behind their music, as they remind the world why they’re still “smokin’” hot.
Phoenix
French buzz band Phoenix bring a whole new meaning to “retro” with their 19th century-inspired album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Guitarist Christian Mazzalai tells ShockHound how the band doesn’t get hung up on what’s considered “cool,” and maps out the free-wheeling adventure that was the creation of their fourth album.
RZA
Rapper, actor, director, animated character, the Wu-Tang’s RZA does it all…except dance.
Anvil
“At fourteen, they made a pact to rock together forever. They meant it.” ShockHound caught up with Anvil frontman Steve “Lips” Kudlow to talk about the struggling Canadian metal band’s breakout documentary, and what it's been like to finally realize their lifelong dream of rock ‘n’ roll stardom.
Lily Allen
The Brit-pop diva stays cheeky on her second album It’s Not Me, It’s You, battles the paparazzi, takes up baking, and Twitters about it all. "I'm a good person," she tells ShockHound.
Adele
One year older and sounding several years wiser, soulful UK songbird Adele admits that she’s in the market for a quality man, but assures that she’s “nowhere near the weakling I was when it comes to boys” as she was on her heart-wrenching debut 19.
The Pretenders
Her "Boots of Chinese Plastic" will walk all over you — and that's just the way we like it. Head Pretender Chrissie Hynde explains the concept behind her band's kick-ass Break Up the Concrete LP, and tells us why she much prefers a gorgeous Fender Telecaster over a Fendi handbag.
AIR
The French electro gods of AIR — Nicolas Godin and Jean Benoit-Dunckel — discuss the poetic side of love-making and Love 2 making, as well as why French women don't really do it for them.
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We've been privileged to bring you an unbelievable array of exclusive live performances this past year, filmed in locations ranging from our ShockHound stage to the canals of Venice, CA. Recent Grammy nominees Silversun Pickups, deathcore heavy hitters Suicide Silence and the dirty rock ‘n’ roll stylings of Eagles of Death Metal are just a few of the folks who rocked our (and hopefully your) socks off in grand fashion.
If you missed any of the fun, don't despair: just turn up the volume on your headphones or computer speakers, and scroll down for a list of our favorite Shock Sessions from 2009. Click any of the links to watch 'em rock!
Silversun Pickups
They started off as "the little band from Silver Lake that could," and now Silversun Pickups are nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy. We were glad to support them along the way, and they returned the favor by playing an incredible show for us this year.
Band of Skulls
When Band of Skulls first dropped by our studios, they were still flying under the radar. Since then, however, the Southampton trio has gained all kinds of acclaim, thanks in part to their inclusion on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. Check out the intimate studio session they played for us right here.
Eagles of Death Metal
Eagles of Death Metal not only rocked us, but Boots had all the ladies swoonin’ with his hip shakin’ and his form-fitting hot pink t-shirt. You can literally hear the screams when he lifts his sunglasses and stares the crowd down. One of our favorite in-house performances of the year, for sure!
Flyleaf
Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosley may look like a pretty princess in her ball gown — but make no mistake, this girl can rock. Flyleaf played us a rocking live set that included new material plus their hit, “All Around Me”. (And kudos to Lacey for not being remotely fazed when she got clocked in the head by Pat Seals’ bass at the end of the show.)
Thrice
Thrice fans set the interwebs on fire after our live session with the guys went online. This is one of the only places where you can see the dudes’ new material showcased in a high quality, live show setting. Hit it.
Cursive
They’re legends in the indie world and we were more than thrilled to have these Omaha gents pay us a visit. This stunning five-song performance is not to be missed!
Juliette Lewis
No longer content to hide behind the Juliette and the Licks moniker, the multi-talented actress and performer treated us to incendiary live versions of four songs from her new Terra Incognita LP.
Cage
Holy hell, this guy is talented. In a world of battle raps and video vixens, Cage tosses all the hype aside in favor of intelligent and emotive rhymes. Whether rap is your thing or not, this live performance in our ShockHound studio is truly a must-see.
White Lies
They earned the number 5 spot in our top 50 albums of 2009 and now you can see why. We were lucky enough to have London’s White Lies drop by and grace us with their spiraling post punk sound. (And in keeping with their dark style, we filmed their gripping performance in black and white.)
Suicide Silence
Deathcore luminaries Suicide Silence showed us they aren’t the least bit silent — as if we didn't know that already. See the dudes in all their headbanging glory in a four song, decibel-defying set that just might have frightened the crowd into standing completely still.
The Raveonettes
They rarely perform acoustic sets, but the Raveonettes were kind enough to play acoustic versions of four songs off their new album In and Out of Control for us. Somewhere between hearing their dreamy songs and getting an eyeful of Sharin’s jaw-dropping beauty, we fell completely in love.
Ed Harcourt
English singer-songwriter Ed Harcourt favored us with an intimate at-home performance that featured the vocal assistance of retro-pop trio the Langley Sisters (who include his wife, violinist Gita Langley Harcourt). The girls’ harmonies and his surly melodies made for quite the afternoon delight.
An Horse
Aussie duo An Horse took it to the canals of Venice, Italy — er, actually Venice, CA — for this exclusive performance. What could be better than three winsome acoustic numbers played while floating in a canoe?
Amazing Baby
Brooklyn’s dreamy psych rockers Amazing Baby dropped by the ShockHound stage this summer to play an unbelievable show. This exclusive appearance marked the first time the guys ever played “Roverfrenz” live, and also included jams like “Headdress,” “Bayonets” and “Invisible Palace.” We just can’t get enough of them.
Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through are known for their brutal sound, as well as for the presence of keyboardist Marta Peterson, Revolver magazine's two-time “Hottest Chick in Metal" winner. Check out the OC band's face-melting live set — and check out Marta, if you must — right over here.
Theresa Andersson
Talk about a one woman band, Theresa Andersson blew us all away with her ability to play, record and loop her voice and several instruments almost simultaneously. You really have to see it to believe it — so watch her phenomenal live performance here!
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After already having to say goodbye to Michael Jackson, Les Paul, Ron Asheton, Lux Interior, DJ AM and many others this year, we were really hoping to make it through the end of 2009 without another death in the music community. Sadly, the Grim Reaper chose to take another of our own — Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, the drummer for Avenged Sevenfold, was found dead yesterday in his Huntington Beach, CA home. He was 28 years old.
According to preliminary reports from the Huntington Beach police, the talented skinsman appears to have died from "natural causes." Police were notified by firefighters who had responded to a call from Sullivan's home about 1 pm, according to the report. The Orange Country Coroner's Office has launched an additional inquiry into the cause of Sullivan's death.
While this writer can't claim to have really known Sullivan, I did interview him several times, and I always came away with an impression of him as a sweet, funny and thoughtful guy who often cannily masked his sensitivity and intelligence with a facade of "party hardy" goofiness. The first time I interviewed The Rev, right before the release of their 2005 breakthrough City of Evil, he mostly talked about how he couldn't wait to get wasted with Billy Idol, who was supposed to be on Warped Tour that year. The last time we spoke, shortly before 2007's Avenged Sevenfold came out, he eloquently regaled me with hilarious tales of the band's recent adventures in Indonesia, which included visiting an establishment that served them the blood of a freshly-killed king cobra. “It was a bit of a letdown,” he admitted. “It was just like drinking something that tasted kind of bad and didn’t do anything for you. In the long run, I would have just rather let the king cobra live, you know? Because he was a cool-looking motherfucker.”
In addition to being monster of a drummer, The Rev was also a talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. "A Little Piece of Heaven," the eight-minute mini-opera on Avenged Sevenfold that sounded like the illegitimate love child of Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, sprang word for word and note for note from Sullivan's creative cranium.
“The Rev is very good at coming in with full songs,” Ax7 frontman M.Shadows told me. “That guy’s a piece of work; he’s badass and he’s a great writer. He walked in with ‘A Little Piece of Heaven,’ and it was like an eight-minute movie that he wrote and had in his brain; nothing was on a recorder — he just walked in, one-fingered it on the piano, played drums over it, and was like, ‘That’s the song. Let’s bring some string guys in to work on the string arrangements.’ And we were like, ‘Fuck yeah, dude!’”
“I can write in any style that I choose,” Sullivan told me. “And I’ve always been heavily been influenced by Danny Elfman, Oingo Boingo, Mr. Bungle, and bands like that. With all the different parts [of 'A Little Piece of Heaven'] and the cinematic feel, I thought it called for lyrics that told a story, too.
"Without giving too much away, it’s about a couple: First the boyfriend kills the girlfriend, and then the girlfriend comes back and repossesses her body and kills the boyfriend; then he comes back and repossesses his body and apologizes, and they get married. And then they start killing everyone at their wedding,” he chuckled. “I just had a lot of fun with that one!"
Having recently completed nearly two years of steady touring, Ax7 were in the process of writing the follow-up to their massively successful 2007 album, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and went on to sell over 500,000 copies in the US alone.
"I don’t think we sleep too much anymore because of the excitement we feel while writing this album," wrote guitarist Zacky Vengeance on the band's official website in November. "Only a world spinning out of control could inspire the music and vision we have now. Once again it is fucking exciting... We are also in the final stages of solidifying our production team, studios and engineers so that the second the axe falls and the album is written we will spend day and night in the studio until it is complete. This album will definitely take you on a very dark journey..."
Unfortunately, that journey just got a whole lot darker. While there's been no word from the Avenged camp on the status of the forthcoming album in the wake of Sullivan's desk, the band did post the following message on their website last night:
“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan. Jimmy was not only one of the world’s best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy’s family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time. Jimmy you are forever in our hearts. We love you.”
We at ShockHound would like to send sincere condolences of our own to Sullivan's bandmates, family, and friends. Rest in peace, Rev.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay stake out their spot in Times Square for New Year's Eve while discussing the best albums and biggest disappointments of 2009. Selections include albums from Phoenix, The Decemberists, Mastodon and Morrissey. Let the countdown begin!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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So you thought this was the end of Nine Inch Nails? Well, you thought wrong! Yes, it may appear from the band’s recent decisions to quite touring and sell its equipment via eBay that Trent Reznor’s outfit is throwing in the towel. We assure you that’s not the case. In fact, Reznor is looking towards the New Year with high hopes and anticipation:
"2010 has a number of things planned, including new material from Nine Inch Nails and something else that isn’t Nine Inch Nails. I am in a state of rediscovery and reinvention that feels unfamiliar, unsure and exactly what I need."
Hmmm...what does Reznor got up his sleeve? With bated breath, we wait. Click here to stay posted.
Quite a year 2009 was. We said hello to a new President and bade farewell to the King of Pop. Bands reunited, broke up, kicked out members…and some even opened burrito stands. And just when you thought you’d seen it all, Kurt Cobain was resurrected by Activision.
In case you missed any of it, we’ve selected 21 of the best, worst, most historic and downright crazist music news stories that truly defined the Year in Shock. (Click the headings to read the original stories.)
Michael Jackson Dies
Without a doubt, the top story of the year was the untimely death of Michael Jackson. While his health had been declining, MJ seemed poised for the greatest musical comeback of all time. Sadly, it never happened.
Stars Come Out To Play Obama Inauguration
The hottest tickets this year were for the festivities surrounding President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Big names ranging from Beyonce to U2 showed up to help usher in the United States’ first African-American president.
Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch Diagnosed With Cancer
The music community sighed heavily when Adam Yauch aka MCA announced he had cancer of the salivary gland. The dudes canceled all shows and pushed back the release of their much-anticipated Hot Sauce Committee Part 1 as he underwent treatment — which thankfully seems to be going well.
Chris Brown Assaults Rihanna Prior to Grammy Awards
Chris Brown earned the dubious nickname “Chris Beat-Her-Down” after he assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna following Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy bash. The incident left the songstress bruised and forced both to be no-shows at the event. Rihanna bounced back with the strong Rated R, while Brown has publicly expressed dismay that his album flopped, claiming that retailers weren't carrying it. Karma’s a bitch, dude.
DJ AM Found Dead In His Apartment
With his new MTV reality show about intervention set to premiere, DJ AM aka Adam Goldstein reminded us all how fragile life is. After surviving the same plane crash as Travis Barker, AM (who had over ten years of continuous sobriety under his belt) struggled with a new addiction to painkillers, and ultimately fell victim to drug overdose.
Against Me Drummer Leaves Band to Open Burrito Stand
Tom Gabel may have sounded like a jerk when he posted that Against Me!’s Warren Oakes was out of the band, but Oakes had the last laugh (and taco) when he opened Boca Fiesta burrito stand in Gainesville, Florida.
Blink-182 Reunite, Return to the Road
It took Travis Barker almost dying for Blink-182 to get it together and get back together. And that they did, with an epic arena tour that featured openers like Weezer and Fall Out Boy…the latter of whom have since broken up (excuse us, “gone on hiatus”).
Kristen Stewart Plays Joan Jett in Upcoming Runaways Biopic
In one of the weirder casting decisions of all time, it was announced that Twilight’s Kristin Stewart and Dakota Fanning will respectively play Joan Jett and Cherie Curie in the new self-titled Runaways biopic. But before you snap, Jett herself approved the move.
Twilight Dude Cast as Varg Vikernes in Black Metal Film
And in casting news that was even more unexpected than Kristin Stewart playing Joan Jett, Twilight's Jackson Rathbone was tapped to play the murderous Burzum frontman in a film based upon the book Lords of Chaos. Forget about burning churches — black metal fans are going to want to burn some movie theaters after this hits the silver screen!
Bret Michaels Gets Clocked by Set Piece at Tony Awards
The Poison frontman may rock the world of hoochie mamas from here to Vegas, but his world got rocked when a set piece at the Tony Awards popped him square on this cowboy-hatted noggin.
Craig Owens Gets Kicked Out of Chiodos
It’s bad enough to get kicked out of your band, but when band members announce it via Twitter…then it’s really bad. Craig Owens, we think you should keep up that solo career.
Lux Interior Dies
Decades before Lady Gaga preened half-naked on a stage in rubberized leather, Lux Interior was doing the exact same thing — only to far crazier music. This year, we bid a sad farewell to the legendary Cramps frontman of the Cramps.
Elvis’s Favorite Sandwich Inducted Into the Rock and Roll HoF
Does a sandwich deserve to be canonized as a rock artifact? Well, folks at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame believe it did, and inducted Elvis’ “Fool’s Gold Loaf” into the hall this year. (Actually, they didn't — but a whole lotta peeps did fall for our April Fool's joke.)
Kanye Upstages Taylor Swift, VMAs
If you thought Kanye West’s crazy days were behind him, you were wrong. ‘Ye won Jerk of the Year when he upstaged Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for “Best Female Video” with his now infamous “I’mma let you finish” interruption at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Ron Asheton Dies
Iggy Pop may have been the flash, but Ron Asheton was the raw power behind the Stooges’ in-your-face guitar sound. The influential guitarist, who Iggy referred to as “my best friend,” died of a heart attack early this year at the age of 60.
GG Allin Gets His Own Bobblehead Doll
Unquestionably the world’s filthiest bobblehead doll, GG Allin was immortalized this year in toy form. Thankfully, he’s not naked. Although there wouldn’t be much to see anyhow.
Kurt Cobain Returns From the Dead to Sing No Doubt, Bon Jovi
In one of the year's strangest stories, Nirvana leader Kurt Cobain was resurrected by Guitar Hero to sing songs of bands he probably never listened to. Bandmates Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were rightfully horrified. His widow Courtney Love claimed she was too, but we bet she still cashed that Activision check.
Charles Manson/Phil Spector Collabo In The Works?
What’s crazier than Phil Spector’s wig collection? How about the actress-killing producer being placed in the same prison as Charles Manson? Oh, and Manson writing letters to him about how they should collaborate — though Spector seems to have better things to do with his "time."
Les Paul Dies
His name became synonymous with the beautiful guitars that he helped create — but Les Paul's contributions to recording technology went far beyond strings and pickups. The Thomas Edison of modern music lived to the ripe old age of 94, before passing away this year.
Ozzy Dumps Zakk Wylde
Ozzy Osbourne sure was moody this year. The dark lord 86'ed this year’s Ozzfest, sued Black Sabbath co-founder Tony Iommi, and then announced in an interview that he was firing Zakk Wylde. Too bad he didn’t actually tell Wylde first. Oops.
Trent Reznor says Goodbye – to Twitter
In 2009's biggest (but most hilarious) non-story, the NIN frontman — who also put his band on hiatus this year — found love via Twitter, then quite the damn thing after his fans gave him too much shit about his choice of bride. (He has since rejoined Twitter but rarely tweets.)
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In the spirit of the season, a Christmas card designed by the late Joe Strummer of The Clash is now available. The hand-drawn card depicts a winter scene with a large decorated tree before the backdrop of a night sky. This is the last illustration the frontman designed before his untimely death on December 22nd, 2002. He intended for this card to be given to his family and friends who now wish to share it with you, his fans. Click here to check it out!
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Want to earn $208? Who doesn't? Well, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo can help you out with that, but first, you gotta do a little something for him. The frontman is calling upon fans to collaborate with him on a new song entitled "Sushi." Whether you're a novice to the music industry or a seasoned veteran, he wants your input. Cuomo posted, "I wrote this tune. Now, I want to write the lyrics. Before I do that, I'd like somebody to produce a better demo of the music. I'll pay you $208." So are you up for the challenge? If so, click here for all the details. And of course, feel better, Rivers!
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Straight from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, Taking Dawn is about to release their debut album, Time to Burn, via Roadrunner Records. This glam metal-infused record will drop on January 26th. View the band’s video for their first single, also entitled "Time to Burn," below. You’ll be screaming "Halle-[effin’]-lujah" in no time!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n’ Jay celebrate Christmas all pagan-like with some of their favorite records from 2009, including Chuck Ragan, Children, Andrew Jackson Jihad and The Orange Peels. With fists in the air, scream, "Halle-effin'-lujah!"
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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It’s finally here! Yep, the trailer for the highly anticipated film about the all-girl punk rock band, The Runaways, has just been released. The film stars some familiar faces: Twilight’s Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett and Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. As an added bonus, The Living Things will appear as the Ramones within the film’s theatrical cut. We’re pretty psyched! How ‘bout you? Click here to check it out.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay share some of their favorite records from 2009, including Amazing Baby, Banner Pilot, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, with a couple of giraffes. Did your favorite make their list? Watch n' find out!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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You can stop holding your breath ‘cause the release of Green Day: Rock Band has been confirmed. The interactive game will feature avatars of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool, as well as allow fans to visit venues and view artwork that’s pertinent to the band’s history. Plus, gamers will have the ability to export all of the tracks from the game to Rock Band and Rock Band 2. Here’s what Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos has to say about it:
"This game will feel like a natural extension of Green Day and their music that will deepen the fans' connection to the band and their history. Fans will be able to enjoy some of the greatest songs from the Green Day catalogue in this standalone game or via Rock Band due to full export capability. We are thrilled to work with Green Day to revisit key moments from their career, including their likenesses, content and imagery, through our innovative form of musical interaction."
Fans can expect Green Day: Rock Band to drop sometime in 2010. In the meantime, click here to watch the trailer, introduced by the guys themselves.
Mayday Parade, A Rocket to the Moon, There for Tomorrow and Stereo Skyline round out the rest of this year’s lineup. The annual trek, presented by Hot Topic, will launch on January 25th in Atlanta, GA and land on March 1st in Oklahoma City, OK. Click here for poster art, dates and more!
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Whoa! Talk about a string of bad luck. Yesterday, a van among Underoath’s convoy was involved in an accident, injuring the driver. In turn and as expected, the band was forced to cancel their show last night in Omaha, NE with August Burns Red. Here’s a brief explanation from the band’s blog:
"Our van carrying all our gear got into a very bad accident. The driver has some injuries but is stable. However, there is no possible way we [could have made] the show [last night]. Please pray for our friend Zack [who] was driving. He's in pain, but he survived, which is honestly a miracle if you would have seen the van."
Click here to take a gander at the demolished van.
Still, the band insisted on trudging along, until Mother Nature herself put a stop to that. It appears that the guys have found themselves trapped by snow in Newton, IA. Yep, that actually happens, especially in December in the Midwestern states. So with that said, the band was forced to cancel tonight’s show in Lawrence, KS.
They (whoever they may be) say that bad news comes in threes, so it may be best that the guys take it easy for a bit. No chance. Underoath is scheduled to join August Burns Red in Tulsa, OK tomorrow. We’ll let you know if plans change. In the meantime, be sure to drive carefully!
Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay play "spin the dreidel" and light their menorah to the sounds of new albums from 30 Seconds to Mars and We the Kings. Ah, how festive!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo remains hospitalized following a tour bus crash in upstate New York, causing the band to cancel the rest of their Raditude tour dates for December.
According to CNN, the accident occurred at approximately 7:30 AM on Sunday; the bus, which was traveling on the New York State Thruway en route to Boston from Toronto, skidded on a patch of black ice and hit several reflective road posts before jumping a guardrail and plunging into a muddy ravine.
Cuomo, who was sleeping alone in the back lounge of the bus at the time of the accident, was unable to leave the vehicle due to his injuries and had to be cut free from the wreckage by emergency responders who used the "jaws of life." First, he was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in nearby Amsterdam, New York. Then, he was transferred to a larger facility where he is currently being treated for three fractured ribs, "painful internal damage" and a lower leg injury.
Band assistant Sarah Kim was also briefly hospitalized with a fractured lower vertebrae and two broken ribs; the other passengers — Cuomo's wife Kyoko, their two-year-old daughter and their nanny — and the bus driver were not injured. The other members of the band were traveling separately; their part of the Weezer convoy rolled up to the scene about 20 minutes after the accident.
"The driver employed every ounce of skill he had in fighting to keep the bus upright, as the vehicle violently fishtailed over the highway," reports band friend Karl Koch on Weezer's official website. "And while the bus did indeed go off the road, plunging about 8-10 vertical feet into a muddy ravine off to the right of the Thruway thus coming to a very abrupt stop, it did not flip or roll, despite having plowed right over a guardrail, flattening it. Kudos to the driver for somehow keeping things as level as they could be - surely this story would have been far more tragic if not for his actions."
Koch goes on to report that Cuomo is "resting about as comfortably as could be expected now, and we were relieved to hear that surgery is unlikely. Hopefully tomorrow, the docs will have more info. You don't fool around with internal injury."
The remaining December dates on the tour will be rescheduled; no word yet on whether or not the band's January dates will have to be rescheduled as well. In the meantime, we're sending out good vibes and best wishes to Cuomo and Kim for a speedy and painless recovery.
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"Taylor Swift, I'mma let you finish, but Beyoncé made the album of the year!"
That's what we could be hearing on the night of January 31, when the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards are announced, at least if they let Kanye West anywhere near the stage. That's because Mrs. Jay-Z, along with nabbing nominations in nine other Grammy categories — including "Record of the Year" (for "Halo") — will be going up against Ms. Swift, the Black Eyed Peas, Lady GaGa and the Dave Matthews Band for "Album of the Year."
Though she led the field, Beyoncé wasn't the only one cleaning up on this year's Grammy nominations, which were announced last night during a Recording Academy-sponsored concert at LA's Club Nokia. Swift received eight; the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell and Kanye West (uh-oh) all received six; and David Guetta, Jay-Z and Lady GaGa received five apiece. And hey, it was nice to see ShockHound faves MGMT, the Ting Tings and Silversun Pickups all get "Best New Artist" nods!
There are 109 total Grammy categories, so we're not going to list 'em all, but here are 30 that you might actually care about. Check 'em out, marvel at the "taste" of the voting members of the Academy, and place your bets on who you think is going to win...
Album Of The Year
I Am…Sasha Fierce — Beyoncé
The E.N.D. — The Black Eyed Peas
The Fame — Lady GaGa
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King — Dave Matthews Band
Fearless — Taylor Swift
Record Of The Year
"Halo" — Beyoncé
"I Gotta Feeling" — The Black Eyed Peas
"Use Somebody" — Kings Of Leon
"Poker Face" — Lady Gaga
"You Belong With Me" — Taylor Swift
Best New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Keri Hilson
MGMT
Silversun Pickups
The Ting Tings
Song Of The Year
"Poker Face" — Lady GaGa & RedOne, songwriters (Lady GaGa)
"Pretty Wings" — Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
"Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" — Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart,
songwriters (Beyoncé)
"Use Somebody" — Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters
(Kings Of Leon)
"You Belong With Me" — Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"I Gotta Feeling" — The Black Eyed Peas
"We Weren't Born To Follow" — Bon Jovi
"Never Say Never" — The Fray
"Sara Smile" — Daryl Hall & John Oates
"Kids" — MGMT
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
"Sea Of Heartbreak" — Rosanne Cash & Bruce Springsteen
"Love Sex Magic" — Ciara & Justin Timberlake
"Lucky" — Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" — Willie Nelson & Norah Jones
"Breathe" — Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat
Best Pop Vocal Album
The E.N.D. — The Black Eyed Peas
Breakthrough — Colbie Caillat
All I Ever Wanted — Kelly Clarkson
The Fray — The Fray
Funhouse — P!nk
Best Dance Recording
"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed Peas
"When Love Takes Over" — David Guetta & Kelly Rowland
"Poker Face" — Lady GaGa
"Celebration" —Madonna
"Womanizer" — Britney Spears
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
"Beyond Here Lies Nothin'" — Bob Dylan
"Change In The Weather" — John Fogerty
"Dreamer" — Prince
"Working On A Dream" — Bruce Springsteen
"Fork In The Road" — Neil Young
Best Rock Song
"The Fixer" — Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready & Eddie Vedder, songwriters (Pearl Jam)
"I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" — Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge & Larry Mullen Jr., songwriters
(U2)
"21 Guns" — Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool, songwriters (Green Day)
"Use Somebody" — Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters
(Kings Of Leon)
"Working On A Dream" — Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen)
Best Rock Album
Black Ice — AC/DC
Live From Madison Square Garden — Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood
21st Century Breakdown — Green Day
Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King — Dave Matthews Band
No Line On The Horizon — U2
Best Alternative Music Album
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today — David Byrne & Brian Eno
The Open Door — Death Cab For Cutie
Sounds Of The Universe — Depeche Mode
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix
It's Blitz! — Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"Blame It" — Jamie Foxx & T-Pain
"Chocolate High" — Indie.Arie & Musiq Soulchild
"Ifuleave" — Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige
"Higher Ground" — Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters
"Love Has Finally Come At Last" — Calvin Richardson & Ann Nesby
Best R&B Album
The Point Of It All — Anthony Hamilton
Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics — India.Arie
Turn Me Loose — Ledisi
Blacksummers' Night — Maxwell
Uncle Charlie — Charlie Wilson
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Ego" — Beyoncé & Kanye West
"Knock You Down" — Keri Hilson, Kanye West & Ne-Yo
"Run This Town" — Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West
"I'm On A Boat" — The Lonely Island & T-Pain
"Dead & Gone" — T.I. & Justin Timberlake
Best Rap Song
"Best I Ever Had" — Aubrey Drake Graham, D. Hamilton & M. Samuels, songwriters (Drake)
"Day 'N' Nite" — S. Mescudi & O. Omishore, songwriters (Kid Cudi)
"Dead And Gone" — C. Harris, R. Tadross & J. Timberlake, songwriters (T.I. & Justin Timberlake)
"D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)" — Shawn Carter & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer,
Paul Leka, Janko Nilovic & Dave Sucky, songwriters) (Jay-Z)
"Run This Town" — Shawn Carter, R. Fenty, M. Riddick, Kanye West & E. Wilson, songwriters (Athanasios
Alatas, songwriter) (Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West)
Best Rap Album
Universal Mind Control — Common
Relapse — Eminem
R.O.O.T.S. — Flo Rida
The Ecstatic — Mos Def
The Renaissance — Q-Tip
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
"Cowgirls Don't Cry" — Brooks & Dunn
"Chicken Fried" — Zac Brown Band
"I Run To You" — Lady Antebellum
"Here Comes Goodbye" — Rascal Flatts
"It Happens" — Sugarland
Best Country Song
"All I Ask For Anymore" — Casey Beathard & Tim James, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
"High Cost Of Living" — Jamey Johnson & James Slater, songwriters (Jamey Johnson)
"I Run To You" — Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelly & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
"People Are Crazy" — Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones, songwriters (Billy Currington)
"White Horse" — Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
Best Country Album
The Foundation — Zac Brown Band
Twang — George Strait
Fearless — Taylor Swift
Defying Gravity — Keith Urban
Call Me Crazy — Lee Ann Womack
Best Americana Album
Together Through Life — Bob Dylan
Electric Dirt — Levon Helm
Willie And The Wheel — Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel
Wilco (The Album) — Wilco
Little Honey — Lucinda Williams
Best Contemporary Folk Album
Middle Cyclone — Neko Case
Our Bright Future — Tracy Chapman
Live — Shawn Colvin
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane — Elvis Costello
Townes — Steve Earle
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On December 4th, Kill Brand is releasing the Zack Merrick Collection, a line of clothing that’ll feature photographs shot by the All Time Low bassist. Kill Brand founder Jonathan Smith explains how the collaboration came about: "Zack and I were friends first, and he has always supported Kill Brand. I was looking at his computer one day, and I said, 'This picture is so sick. Who took it?' He said, 'Oh, I just mess around in my spare time and take photos while I'm on tour.' We thought that [merging] his prints [with] our clothing would be a great [way] for people to appreciate Zack's photos instead of just having them hung on a wall." Sweet!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay round up some of this year's best (belch) holiday albums, including classic Christmas reissues from the Jackson 5 and Phil Spector. Ummm...excuse you!
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Here’s your chance to get your hands on some NIN loot! As you may know, Nine Inch Nails bid a fond farewell to touring this past September, with their final show being played at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. What you may not know is that Trent Reznor’s band is in the process of putting the final nail (no pun intended) in the coffin by selling a slew of musical instruments and equipment that are just hanging around, looking for new homes. Can you find it in your heart to give these items, including guitars, keyboards, amps, drums, cables, effects pedals and more, a comfortable place to live out the rest of their musical lives? If so, head over to eBay. Here’s what the mastermind Trent Reznor posted on the band’s official site: “We've been going through the NIN touring and studio rigs and are getting rid of a large selection of gear and equipment the band is no longer in need of. We do not know which (if any) tour these items are from unless specified, nor can we get any items autographed, so please do not ask.” Consider yourself warned!
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The Clash’s London Calling is turning 30! In celebration, on December 14th, exactly 30 years after the album’s original release, a 30th anniversary set will hit the streets. But this anniversary set will differ slightly from the 25th anniversary set, which is now unavailable. The newest version will include the documentary The Last Testament: The Making of London Calling, three music videos and some raw footage. Unlike the 25th anniversary edition, The Vanilla Tapes, a 21-track set of demos and alternate takes from the original recording sessions, will not be included. Instead, a new 20-page booklet and vinyl "replica" sleeves, matching the original version, will be added. Awesome!
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ShockHound is deeply bummed to report that Ronnie James Dio, the legendary Dio frontman — who has also fronted Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Elf over the course of his long and glorious career — has been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Last week, the 67 year-old singer canceled his European tour after being taken ill, though the specifics behind his illness or the cancellation weren't disclosed at the time. But this morning, Wendy Dio, the singer's wife and manager, released the following statement via Blabbermouth:
"Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans. Long live rock and roll, long live Ronnie James Dio. Thanks to all the friends and fans from all over the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up."
The news of Dio's diagnosis comes as something of a shock, partly because he's always seemed pretty dang near indestructible; despite having played in rock bands for over 50 years, he remains one of the hardest-working guys in metal — and remains in great voice, as well. With the exception of an incident a few years back where he nearly lost his thumb in a bizarre gardening accident (a concrete gnome fell on his hand, severing his digit at the knuckle; it was later surgically re-attached), the man has been the very picture of rude good health.
It's also a bummer because Dio is widely known to be one of the nicest, most down-to-earth performers in the metal world. Despite offering cynics an easy target with his many hard-rocking tales of witches, wizards and noble knights, he's always exhibited a self-deprecating sense of humor about himself and his music, even making a brief but pivotal cameo as himself in the 2006 flick, Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny. (Shortly after the aforementioned gardening mishap, he joked to this reporter that the thing he'd worried most about was how weird it would look to "throw the horns" with no thumb.) We hear he makes a pretty mean pasta sauce, too. Simply put, we need more of his kind in the world, not less.
So hang in there, Dio; we're sending you our best wishes and most positive vibes for a quick and painless recovery. Slay that dragon, pal; we know you can do it. And in the meantime, to quote your own lyrics, you must sail on, sing a song, carry on. Because you rock.
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Pete Wentz may be selflessly limiting his public appearances to awards shows during Fall Out Boy's "indefinite break," but that doesn't mean his lesser-known, shaggier-haired bandmates are just sitting on their asses. According to a news story that broke Tuesday on the UK's Rock Sound magazine website, FOB guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley have formed the Damned Things, a metal-oriented side project that also includes Anthrax guitarists Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano, Every Time I Die frontman Keith Buckley, and a bassist named David Karon.
"It's super fun and it's something that we do totally take seriously because we love the music we've created," Ian told the magazine. "People think of Fall Out Boy and they think of Pete Wentz and Patrick [Stump]. These two guys [Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley], man, they're fucking hardcore dudes. Joe writes some amazing riffs."
Trohman, for his part, seems truly stoked to be working with Ian and Buckley. "Scott's right hand is the reason I got into playing punk rock, hardcore and metal! Having Keith as part of the mix is insane; we all know he writes incredible lyrics, but he is also a really good singer....we want him to go more into singing than screaming on this project."
According to Rock Sound, the group has already written and demoed 15 songs and are hoping to hit the studio in December to make an actual record. Ian told the magazine that the material is sounding like "Kyuss meeting Thin Lizzy," singling out one track in particular for special praise. "We have this song called 'A Great Reckoning' that, I swear to God, this song could be on any Thin Lizzy record," he said. "[Joe] fucking blew my mind with this song and I just can't wait for people to hear it." Actually, neither can we!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay celebrate Thanksgiving with new releases by Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert. Nice hats, guys!
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Talk about timing: Hot on the heels of their Believers Never Die: The Greatest Hits, which was released this past Tuesday, Fall Out Boy have announced that they’re dunzo…at least for now.
The band that declared “death to the emo haircut” during their tour with Blink-182 this year seem to be tired of all things emo, including themselves. Breakup rumors have swirled around the band for several months and seemed to catch fire this week when drummer Andy Hurley announced via Twitter that the band was "on hiatus." Hurley later changed this to the somewhat less incendiary "on break," while a rep for the band tersely added, “It's a break with an indefinite date when they're coming back.” All of which sounds, shall we say, rather open to interpretation.
Bassist Pete Wentz tried to clear things up a bit in an MTV interview explaining, “I don’t think I would use the word ‘hiatus’ because I think that word has gotten a dirty name, especially if you say ‘indefinite hiatus'…I wouldn’t use the word ‘breakup’ because that’s not true. It’s a break — we’re decompressing. I’m making a new term for it: we’re decompressing right now. We’ve been doing this for eight years straight, where it was pre-recording, record, promo, tour, tour, pre-recording, record, tour, tour and our band was going to imminently implode.”
While other band members have remained mum as to the reason for the “decompressing,” Wentz appears to be publicly taking the blame. “My biggest personal reason for taking a break," he explained in a recent interview with Kerrang! magazine, "is that I feel my name has become a hindrance for the band. [Frontman Patrick Stump] is a musical genius, and it's unfortunate that he gets reviewed based on whatever's going on in my personal life or how my hair looks. I think the world needs a little less Pete Wentz," he said, taking the words right out of our mouths — if perhaps also understating the case somewhat.
After all, between his clothing line, his record label, the "leaked" internet photos of his genitalia, his marriage to Ashlee Simpson, as well as endless mind-numbing and inane interviews about everything from his infant son to his bromance with Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship, Wentz has seemingly been on a one-man quest to get his boyishly grin on every mag and website in the country — and that's not even factoring in his constant mugging for the paparazzi. “People who read the tabloids probably think all I do is visit Starbucks and hang out in nightclubs,” Wentz complained to Kerrang! Well, yeah, dude; what did you expect?
In any case, while FOB fans are crushing message boards with their agonized cries, Fall Out Boy themselves are retreating into the shadows and will not be supporting their Greatest Hits release with a tour. They leave the playing field as one of the most successful pop-punk bands of the past decade; but there's no telling what will happen when, or if, they choose to return.
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Hell yeah! Move over, Barbie, because toymaker Mattel plans to release a series of Ladies of the 80s dolls, including the likes of Joan Jett, Blondie's Debbie Harry and Cyndi Lauper. These collector dolls will be released in December at a price point of around $35.
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Alkaline Trio are taking two steps forward and one step back in the coming year, with a new album, a new label, and a promised return to the punk rock sound of their early years. This coming February, the band will release their seventh studio effort — their first on their imprint Heart & Skull, a joint venture with legendary punk label Epitaph Records.
Over the past 13 years, the Illinois-spawned trio has progressively incorporated more melody and production into their music, but leader Matt Skiba promises a return to their punk roots this time out. "This record is a rock record but our punk rock upbringing definitely shines through, more so than our last few records," he told Spinner this week. "The vibe is similar to our humble beginnings. It's a step forward but I also think it has glimmers of our past in it."
While Skiba admitted that there is a little bit of synth (and one trumpet solo) looming in the yet-to-be-titled album’s 11 tracks, he said the band made a concerted effort to not overwork or overthink their music. "We went with a less-is-more approach on this record. A lot of it is just one guitar rather than overdubs or three or four guitars," he revealed. "We wanted a record that we could easily play live. For the most part, its pretty bare bones while still sounding full and big."
Skiba and his bandmates have obviously done some growing up since Goddamnit, their 1998 full-length debut, so it makes sense that — punk sonics aside — the new release will reflect a more personal side, touching on their real-life experiences.
"Another thing that makes it resemble our earlier records, especially our first record, is that it's really personal," said Skiba. "A couple of us have gone through some pretty serious life changes. We had a good friend of ours pass away since the last record. There's a song on the record, 'Dorothy,' that was really influenced by the film Blue Velvet, but it's a metaphor for someone and something else. Everything on the record is stuff that definitely hits close to home for us, and we tried to communicate that in the songs."
Skiba also dips his toe in political waters for the upcoming release. "There is a song on the record called 'The American Scream' that is political," he explained. "For a long time we were afraid to write overtly political songs, but I read this article about a US soldier that came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and blew his head off on his mother's grave, and I wrote a song about that."
Skiba is currently approving the final artwork for the album and is obviously really stoked for his fans to hear it." We're really excited to get back on the road and see everybody. We've been playing some of these songs live, but most of them nobody's heard, so we're really excited," he says. "We're very, very proud of the record, and we hope that everybody digs it."
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan n' Jay get in touch with their inner werewolf and vampire to the tune of new albums by Norah Jones and Them Crooked Vultures. Oh, how they sparkle!
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If so, they’re sure to be swinging! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) FOB fans, we don’t intend to cause panic, but we have some despairing news. According to a few tweets from drummer Andy Hurley, the band is on hiatus. Um, let me clarify: the band is "taking a break." Apparently, there's a difference. At least, fans seem to think so. Here's what Andy had to say to the disappointed, worried fans: "Everyone, when I said FOB was on hiatus, I didn’t mean hiatus. I meant break, which is what I understood hiatus to mean." Yep, you, Merriam-Webster and I seem to agree on that definition, Andy. But don't jump to conclusions, FOB fans. Who knows what the future has in store. Besides, Andy is taking this time to focus on his hardcore band, Burning Empires. So what are the remaining members doing? I dunno - enjoying their time off? Andy continued with, "I know we will come back sooner [rather] than later. I'm just staying busy [while] on the break." Don’t worry! They’ll be singing "The Take Over, the Breaks Over" in no time. Remember: Fall Out Boy’s greatest hits compilation, Believers Never Die, will be released tomorrow, November 17th.
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Experience the New Moon phenomenon and be apart of the most anticipated film of 2009! If you weren't able to attend any of the events, that's okay. Just click here to watch all the action.
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So Steven Tyler is not leaving Aerosmith? Apparently not. Reports on Monday by guitarist Joe Perry alluded to Tyler’s exit. But last night (November 10th), the frontman dispelled rumors during Perry's solo performance in New York. "I just want New York to know {that} I am not leaving Aerosmith," he said. Turning to Perry, he continued: "And Joe Perry, you are a man of many colors, but I, mother{beep}, am the rainbow!" With that said and in true frontman fashion, Tyler instructed Perry's band to play Aerosmith's 1975 classic, "Walk This Way." So is there bad blood between the two musicians? Again, apparently not. The song ended with an embrace. Ahhh...that's nice!
Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan and special guest co-host Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour) bring new albums by Flyleaf and Throwdown to the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC.
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After nearly four decades as America's answer to the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith may be about to try something the Stones have never needed to do: audition new lead singers.
In recent months, numerous media reports have painted a picture of serious tension in the 'Smith camp between lead singer Steven Tyler and the rest of the band. And now, as guitarist Joe Perry tells the Las Vegas Sun, "Steven has quit the band, as far as I can tell."
This isn't the first time that cracks have appeared in the New England-based rock institution's facade — both Perry and fellow guitarist Brad Whitford left the band at one point in the early 1980s — but a recent Classic Rock profile of the band made it pretty clear that Tyler is now just going through the (sweet e)motions. Following a gig in Abu Dhabi that Perry described as "one of the best shows of the year," Tyler told the magazine that he's looking forward to doing his own thing. "I don't know what I'm doing [next]," he said, "but it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler, working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler."
According to Perry's Las Vegas Sun interview, the rest of the band is upset, but not entirely surprised by their lead singer's ambivalence to all things Aerosmith. "He has had no contact with me or the other band members," Perry revealed. "I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don't know for how long, indefinitely or whatever."
"Obviously, he hasn't been giving 100% for a long time," Perry continued. "Frankly, the last few months I've been wanting not to rock the boat. I don't want him cancelling any more gigs. We really wanted to do these last four. We didn't want to call him out or get him pissed off, for whatever reason. So we just let things lie."
Still, it seems like Perry and his colleagues have finally had enough. "To disregard his brothers to the point where we have to find out about [his plans] on the internet," the guitarist explained, "it's like, 'See you later, Bud'. I still care for him as a person, or at least the person I used to know. But things change."
Of course, the argument could be made that Aerosmith hasn't made a decent record of original material in 20 years, not least because — by Perry's own admission — the classic Tyler-Perry songwriting partnership hasn't produced a new song in a decade. But while Tyler's defection to all things "Brand Tyler" might signal an opportune time to finally send the old warhorse to the glue factory, the band seems open to the idea of pressing on without him.
"It would largely depend on who we could get and who would want to do it," Whitford told Classic Rock. "[They are] big shoes to fill. Nobody could replace Steven or imitate him — he's one of a kind. But if somebody was willing to do it and the chemistry was right, why not?"
Perry, for his part, is confident that Aerosmith will continue. "We'll probably find somebody else and then we'll be able to move Aerosmith up a notch," he said.
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Remember a couple of months back when we reported that '90s SoCal reggae punks Sublime were "reuniting" — sans late junkie frontman Bradley Nowell, of course? Well, looks like that's going to go down one of the shortest-lived reunion tours in history.
Sure, the surviving rhythm section of Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh can continue to perform with new singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez — they just can't bill themselves as Sublime while doing it, or sell merch with the band's name on it.
This week in Los Angeles, a US District Court judge ruled that the estate of late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell, who died of a heroin overdose in 1996, was the sole owner of the "Sublime" trademark. The judge's ruling backed up the trademark infringement suit filed in October by Nowell's estate, which claimed that Nowell had personally trademarked the band's name, and never intended for any band to use it without him. (Until recently, Wilson and Gaugh had been performing under as the Long Beach Dub All Stars, a name that didn't have quite the same drawing power as Sublime.)
Though obviously disappointed by the ruling, Wilson and Gaugh posted a conciliatory response on their website: "Our goal continues to be sharing the music and message of Sublime with all of our fans around the world. We intend to take the court’s advice and work on a business solution to this issue. We hope the Estate follows suit so the music of Sublime can live on and be accessible to everyone.”
Hey, maybe they can go out instead as Sub Lime?
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This week, Dan and special guest Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour) make a run for the border with new records by Weezer and Slayer. Hey, where's Jay?
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When one door closes, another door opens. As you may already know, the upcoming Dashboard Confessional/New Found Glory tour has been cancelled due to unforeseen family circumstances. But don't fret, New Found Glory fans! The band has decided to join forces with Saves the Day for a pop punktastic trek. The tour will be in celebration of the 10th anniversary of NFG's self-titled album. Dates have yet to be revealed but keep checking back for all the latest.
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Now's the time to stop shaving your armpits, dust off those Birkenstocks and load up on some granola because Lilith Fair: A Celebration of Women in Music is making a comeback. Yep, you read that right. The late 90s, all-female music festival, which was founded by singer Sarah McLachlan, will be heading to a town near you in 2010. But this time, it's going global. A press release stated that "Lilith 2010 promises to be a much bigger summer festival than it was in the past, traveling for the first time overseas and celebrating a mix of international artists and local up-and-comers.” Previous acts include Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliot, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara and others. Performers for the 2010 tour have yet to be revealed, but you can click here to see the first round of festival stops.
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Sure, the holiday season is coming up fast, but the much-anticipated theatrical release of The Twilight Saga: New Moon on November 20 is coming up even faster. However, many of you Twilight fans won't even have to wait that long for your fix; beginning November 6, the Twilight Saga: New Moon Talent Tour — featuring appearances by cast members from the film, and performances by artists who appear on the film's critically-acclaimed soundtrack — will be hitting Hot Topic locations across the country.
The tour kicks off with a massive shindig at LA's Hollywood & Highland mall, featuring performances by Death Cab For Cutie, Band of Skulls, Sea Wolf and Anya Marina, as well as a Q&A session with some of the cast members. Musical performances and the Q&A session are open to the public; but if you want to get your Twilight goodies or various parts of your body signed by the cast members, you've got to go to the Hollywood & Highland Hot Topic at 8 AM on Saturday, October 31, where the purchase of a commemorative Twilight Saga: New Moon T-shirt will get you a non-transferable wristband that will guarantee your access to the November 6 signing.
The other dates on the tour will feature either Anya Marina or Hurricane Bells, as well as additional cast Q&A sessions and signings. Can we get an amen — or at least an OMG!?
Official dates and locations of the Twilight Saga: New Moon Talent Tour are as follows:
11/6 Hollywood — Hollywood & Highland Hot Topic (feat. Death Cab For Cutie, Band of Skulls, Sea Wolf, Anya Marina)
11/10 Chicago — Fox Valley Mall (Anya Marina)
11/10 Philadelphia — Cherry Hill Mall (Hurricane Bells)
11/11 Minneapolis — Mall of America (Anya Marina)
11/12 Boston — Natick Collection (Hurricane Bells)
11/12 Seattle — Westfield Southcenter (Anya Marina)
11/14 Salt Lake City — Fashion Place (Anya Marina)
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay hand out their opinions on the new Wolfmother and Tegan & Sara albums. There's a special guest appearance by the Grim Reaper. Is he coming for you?
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Hmmm…this makes me ponder the question, “What’s in a name?” Apparently, a lot. Christofer Drew (A.K.A. NeverShoutNever) was momentarily contemplating a name change. The one-man band was considering losing the NSN moniker and releasing the upcoming album under his birth name. What’s the fun in that? So as anyone would do, Drew took to his MySpace blog, asking fans for advice. You can imagine that they were none too pleased. So after much deliberation, Christofer Drew has decided to keep NeverShoutNever. Whew! A catastrophe has been avoided. That was a close one.
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Two months after entering a Los Angeles studio with producer Butch Vig, Against Me! have emerged victorious — or at least with a new album in the can.
After parting ways with longtime drummer Warren Oakes back in June, the Florida punk band quickly added former Hot Water Music skinsman George Rebelo to the fold and began pre-production with Vig, who also helmed 2007's critically-acclaimed New Wave. With plenty of material already on hand — some of frontman Tom Gabel's "new" songs date back as far as a year-and-a-half — the album apparently took shape at a rapid pace. On October 18th, two months to the day that the band began recording, Gabel posted the following update on his blog:
"Yesterday was our last day in the studio, and today Andrew, James, and George left for Florida. We had a drunken listening party before packing up the gear last night, twelve songs in a little over forty minutes. We’re calling the album White Crosses.
There's been no explanation of the album title yet — though as any trucker can tell ya, "White Crosses" are popular slang for amphetamine pills — nor has any official release date been mentioned. The record still needs to be mixed and mastered, which (if all goes according to typical industry timetables) means it should be coming out sometime in the first quarter of 2010. Against Me! have recently committed to a handful of Canadian dates with north-of-the-border pop-punk pals Billy Talent in March, so we're guessing that will probably be a warm-up stint for Gabel and Co.'s big album-supporting tour in the spring.
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Hey, Flyleaf fans! By now, you're probably already well aware that Memento Mori, Flyleaf's first new album in four years, will be dropping November 10, and that they'll be playing a tour of smaller venues this fall as a "thank you" to their patient followers.
But what you didn't know — because we're only just telling you now — is that Flyleaf and ShockHound are giving away 30 pairs of free tickets to Lacey and the boys' secret Shock Sessions performance, which will be taped somewhere in the Los Angeles area on the late afternoon of Tuesday, October 27.
To win your free pair of tickets to the taping, all you need to do is a) be a registered ShockHound user, and b) be among the first 30 people to correctly answer all five of the Flyleaf trivia questions (provided by the band) below.
If you're not already a registered ShockHound user, signing up is quick, easy and requires absolutely no commitment or obligation on your part. Just go HERE to set up your account. Okay, ready? Now answer these five Flyleaf-related questions:
1. Who did the album art for the new Flyleaf record?
2. What is the name of Jared's dog?
3. What two towns does Flyleaf call home?
4. What is the title of the song that Flyleaf wrote for the troops?
5. What was Flyleaf first called?
NOTE: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. Rather, email your answers, along with your ShockHound username, to contests@shockhound.com. The first 30 ShockHound users to correctly answer all five questions will win a pair of tickets to the Flyleaf Shock Sessions next Tuesday. We will notify the winners no later than this Friday, October 23.
Please bear in mind that we are not responsible for getting you to or from the show — and if you're not going to be in the LA area next Tuesday, or you don't think you can scare up the necessary transportation, don't bother entering this contest. Likewise, don't be one of those annoying trolls who enters ticket contests with no intention of actually attending — 'cuz that's just bad karma, people!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay pick a bumper crop of new releases, including albums by Converge and White Denim. So why are you just sitting there? Great music doesn't just mature on its own!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Discovering new music has never been easier, especially since all Hot Topic stores will be having concerts this week featuring up and coming bands from around the country!
That's right, it's an All-Store Local Static concert blitz, so you need to find a Hot Topic store near you, give 'em a call, see what their schedule is, and get there this Wednesday or Thursday!
I’m sure we’ve all heard this saying: "No good deed goes unpunished." However, with the assistance of mtvU’s Woodie Awards, no good deed goes unnoticed. The Good Woodie recognizes the artist whose commitment to a social cause has effected the greatest change throughout the year. This year’s nominees are John Legend of Show Me Campaign, Wyclef Jean of Yèle Haiti, Kenna of PlayPumps, Ra Ra Riot of John Ryan Pike Memorial Foundation, Alicia Keys of Keep a Child Alive and our friend Jamie Tworkowski of To Write Love on Her Arms.
Tworkowski says of being nominated, "I think it speaks to the passion of our audience [and] how a lot of small voices can add up to make a big noise. It would certainly be an honor to accept this award on behalf of folks and families affected by depression, addiction and suicide."
So support Tworkowski, the other nominees and their causes by clicking here to vote! You can do so as many times as you’d like. Who will win? Drum roll, please. And the Good Woodie goes to...well, you’ll just have to wait and see! The Woodie Awards will take place on December 4th at 10:00 PM ET on mtvU. Don’t miss it!
Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay visit the world's largest roll of toilet paper, where they are privy to new releases by Baroness and the Flaming Lips. Can you spare a square?
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Misfits would never disappoint their fans, especially not on Halloween. And to celebrate this frightful yet delightful occasion, the band has announced the release a two-song 12" LP maxi-single, which will include "Land of the Dead" and "Twilight of the Dead." The LP maxi-single is the band’s first new studio release since 2003’s Project 1950. Both songs were written by vocalist/bassist Jerry Only and were inspired by George Romero’s zombie films. Plus, the release will feature original artwork from artist Arthur Suydam of Marvel Comics’ Marvel Zombies fame. Visit the band’s website for all the info.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay celebrate the 517th anniversary of Columbus "discovering" America with new releases by Lucero and Air. Now, it's your turn to discover some new music!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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The Almost’s sophomore album Monster Monster is set to drop November 3rd; but for those of you who have been waiting over two years for the follow-up to 2007's Southern Weather, another four weeks probably sounds like an eternity. Happily, the ever-considerate Florida quintet has decided to release a little special something to tide you over.
At participating Hot Topic stores, you can purchase an exclusive new EP from The Almost — titled The Monster EP — which includes a code that will allow you to download the full album for free from ShockHound the day it is released. That means when the clock strikes midnight PST on November 3rd, Monster Monster will be yours for free with just the click of a mouse!
The EP, which is only available through Hot Topic, features five tracks, including the album single “Hands,” two album tracks “Lonely Wheel” and “Monster,” and "July” and “Birmingham” — two rare B-sides from the Monster Monster sessions that you cannot find anywhere else.
Lead singer Aaron Gillespie seemed pretty excited about the package deal on the band’s MySpace. “I’ve never seen this done before,” he said. “I think it’s pretty neat that with this preorder, instead of waiting for your mail man to bring [the album] to you, you get it and it’s tangible and you have some songs to hold you over. On top of that, it’s a record and an EP for the price of one record.”
Each Monster EP package will include two discs: the 5-track EP, and a blank CD-R, which you can use to burn your downloaded Monster Monster tracks onto. The limited-edition EP will also feature five different versions of album art — each featuring a different monster — upping the collector value even more.
This exclusive EP with the free ShockHound download code is only available in Hot Topic stores until November 3rd, or while supplies last. So be sure to pick up your own little Monster Monster before they’re all gone!
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Fall Out Boy will release a greatest hits compilation, appropriately entitled Greatest Hits Volume One. Fans can expect the album, which will include 14 tracks that span the band's eight-year career and two new songs, to be released in November. Here's the tracklisting:
1. Dead on Arrival
2. Grand Theft Autumn
3. Saturday
4. Sugar, We're Goin' Down
5. Dance, Dance
6. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More Touch Me
7. This Ain't a Scene; It's an Arms Race
8. Thnx fr th Mmrs
9. The Takeover, the Break's Over
10. I'm Like a Lawyer the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me and You)
11. Beat It
12. I Don't Care
13. America's Suitehearts
14. What a Catch, Donnie
15. New Song #1 (Title Unknown)
16. New Song #2 (Title Unknown)
Fatboy Slim — aka Norman Cook — has partnered with former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne for a club-ready album dedicated to one of politics’ most glamorously corrupt figures.
The DJ superstar is putting the final touches on Here Lies Love — expected to drop in the next six months — a concept album about the enchanting and controversial former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos (aka the “Iron Butterfly.”)
Marcos is known as much for her extravagant shoe collection as she is for her husband's (former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos) fleecing of the Filipino economy. The pair were overthrown in a revolt in 1986 and Marcos was found guilty of corruption in the mid-'90s, but her conviction was overturned on appeal. However, during her time in office, the First Lady seemed more concerned about life in the club rather than life in politics and was rumored to have a disco built in her NYC townhouse.
"The story is more about what was going on in Studio 54 than what went on in the Philippines,” Norman Cook said. “We wanted to reflect that, so it's kind of dance music based."
The idea was originally hatched four years ago with the intention of becoming a full stage production. However, as Norman Cook recently told the BBC, the duo had some issues getting the cast just right.
"David's been trying to get the stage show together, because the idea was that it would be the antithesis of Evita, but then we couldn't find our lead, so we didn't know who was going to sing it," he recently told the BBC.
Instead, they decided to go the album route, recruiting more than 20 guest vocalists for the project.
"Each track is sung by a different singer and there's some very interesting guests on there," he said.
Some of the special contributors revealed thus far for the dance-themed album include Martha Wainwright, Cyndi Lauper, Sharon Jones, Santigold, Tori Amos, and Candie Payne.
"It's a story-telling thing, like Evita, but coming at it from a different angle in that it tells the untold story that people didn't know about Imelda Marcos. It's not just about the shoes."
Well, maybe it’s about the dancing shoes.
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Step inside living cinematic terror at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights® as the latest incarnations of Saw and The Wolfman join with Chucky to lead a host of terrifying horrors torn from the most demented films of all time. See if you can survive the greatest exhibition of fear anywhere as Universal Studios® is transformed into the nation’s premier Halloween event. Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights will occur on select nights from September 25th thru October 31st. Purchase your tickets at any Florida Hot Topic store! Click here to find a location near you.
WARNING! EVENT MAY BE TOO INTENSE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13. NO COSTUMES OR MASKS ALLOWED.
Only Florida-based Hot Topic locations are participating. Event occurs rain or shine. No rain checks, returns or refunds. Prices, dates, times, attractions and entertainment subject to availability and to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. SAW – © 2004 Saw Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2009 Universal Studios. © 2009 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved.
Flyleaf will release Memento Mori, the follow-up to their 2005 self-titled debut, on November 10th! To commemorate the occasion, the band will be holding VIP listening parties throughout the country, inviting fans to be among the first to hear a selection of songs from the new album and to view a collection of new music videos before airing nationwide. But it gets even better! Frontwoman Lacey, guitarist Sameer and/or guitarist Jared will be attending these intimate gatherings. So where and when will these events be held? Click here to find out!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay celebrate the return of hockey season with new albums by The Avett Brothers and Alice in Chains. Go Penguins!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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As previously announced, Warped Tour is celebrating 15 years, but that’s not all! Founder Kevin Lyman has even more to be excited about; he will be named the honoree of the 2009 Humanitarian Award at the Billboard Touring Awards in New York on November 5th. Why? Because Lyman has been involved in a wide range of humanitarian and environmental efforts since the inception of Warped, such as promoting recycling in each city, allowing free table space for non-profit organizations, utilizing a solar stage and donating 25 cents of every ticket sold to Hollywood Heart, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization for at-risk youth. Let’s not forget the blood drives, which have branded the tour Best Independent Blood Drive for 2008 and 2009. Kevin Lyman is truly leading by example. So take heed, get out there and do something positive for your community!
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In the words of William Shakespeare, "Parting is such sweet sorrow!" It appears that Chiodos has fallen victim to the breakup curse. The band has severed ties with frontman Craig Owens, and timing is everything! This was announced just as we were about to report that Owens, the now former Chiodos frontman, will be releasing a free EP, which will include song covers from Counting Crows, Joy Division, Warren G, Usher and Ne-Yo. Yep, you read that right. Owens will stream the songs on his MySpace page and provide a link that'll lead fans to a website where they'll be able to download the EP for free! So when can fans expect this EP to be released? Don't know! But keep reading his blog for all the latest info. The better question is: will the breakup change the status of this free EP? Who knows? While we're waiting for that answer, read the band's statement:
"To all of our friends, family and fans: We would like to let you know that we have let Craig Owens go as the singer of Chiodos. This decision was a necessary one. Out of respect for all of the hard work that we have put in together for all of these years, we will not be discussing the specific reasons that this needed to happen. We wish Craig well. We will absolutely be continuing on as a band, and we will keep you informed as this next chapter unfolds. Chiodos fans are the best fans in the world, and all we can ask of you, after everything you have already given us, is to share in our excitement for this next album. We promise you will not be disappointed."
Ooo...sounds like some drama!
Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay pull new albums by Billy Talent and Brand New out of their trunk. Now, pay attention because an elephant never forgets.
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Stealing is bad, mmmkay? Just ask Poison the Well, the latest victims of thievery! The band is currently on tour with Billy Talent, and after their first show in Detroit, the band was robbed of their gear, van and trailer. What a bummer! Unfortunately, Poison the Well had to cancel their appearance in Chicago, but they will be trekking on. Here’s what they’ve got to say about it:
“We woke up at our delightful Marriot Courtyard hotel and walked outside to get in the van to head to Chicago for our second show of the tour. Only problem, it isn't there. Either someone is pulling some Merlin [stuff] on us and just waiting for the perfect moment to unveil it and calm our shot nerves, or a talented scumbag stole our van and trailer with literally everything we own inside. Needless to say, we're crushed. Our most beloved instruments are gone, and trust me, we're gear nerds.
After a great deal of scrambling and deliberation, we found a way to stay on tour, after a few days off to get some gear and a rental van together. Having something like this happen is the worst thing that can happen to any band short of someone dying, and we're incredibly stoked to finish this tour with Billy Talent and play every night doing what we love...”
So get out there and support 'em! Visit their MySpace page for tour dates.
Want to see unlimited shows at your favorite venue for the remainder of 2009? Of course, you do. Well, Live Nation is offering a Club Passport that will allow holders to see every show (excluding sold out shows) at the participating Live Nation Club in their city, all for only $49.99! This is a limited time offer, so if you want one, you better hurry. Click here to view a list of participating venues and purchase a Club Passport.
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This year, VANS Warped Tour turns 15, and to celebrate, music fans can see a two-hour compilation of the best performances from the 15th Anniversary Celebration recorded in Los Angeles on September 6th. For one night only, September 17th, you will experience it all on the big screen, featuring performances from The All-American Rejects, Bad Religion, Blink 182, Ice-T, NOFX, Pennywise, Rise Against and many more! Whether or not you’ve experienced the tour is incidental because this is the only time you’ll see special behind-the-scenes footage and red carpet clips. So what are you waiting for? Click here for all the details, including participating theaters and ticketing information. Seating is limited, so do it now!
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay celebrate the return of football season with new albums by The Black Dahlia Murder and Ace Frehley. Go Steelers!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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It’s a great day for Foxy Shazam, a personal favorite! Yep, the Cincinnati-based band has just signed a deal with Sire, a division of Warner Bros. Records. So what does this mean for fans of Foxy? It’s simple – you've got more spazztastic music coming your way! The band plans to release a new, currently untitled album in 2010. Here’s what frontman Eric Nally has to say about it all:
"We wanted to go places where nobody goes. We weren't afraid to take risks with this record, because as long as you take them with confidence it will work out. Nothing is cool until it's made cool."
Click here to listen to their latest song, “Wanna Be Angel.”
So the two remaining members of Nirvana – drummer Dave Grohl and bassist Krist Novoselic – are none too pleased about the portrayal of the late Kurt Cobain in Activision’s Guitar Hero 5. Through a released statement, they explain the reasoning behind their frustrations:
"We want people to know that we are dismayed and very disappointed in the way a facsimile of Kurt is used in the Guitar Hero game. The name and likeness of Kurt Cobain are the sole property of his estate - we have no control whatsoever in that area.
While we were aware of Kurt's image being used with two Nirvana songs, we didn't know players have the ability to unlock the character. This feature allows the character to be used with any kind of song the player wants. We urge Activision to do the right thing in ‘re-locking’ Kurt's character so that this won't continue in the future.
It's hard to watch an image of Kurt pantomiming other artists' music alongside cartoon characters. Kurt Cobain wrote songs that hold a lot of meaning to people all over the world. We feel he deserves better."
Of course, Activision has a rebuttal:
"Guitar Hero secured the necessary licensing rights from the Cobain estate in a written agreement signed by Courtney Love to use Kurt Cobain's likeness as a fully playable character in Guitar Hero 5."
That’s it? We’ll see what happens next, if anything.
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Everyone’s favorite alphanumeric rappin' pop punkers, 3OH!3 are re-releasing their album Want with a whole lot of perks, including a pop star!
Queen of cute, Katy Perry, became buds with the men of 3OH!3 earlier this year on the Warped Tour, and the dudes have decided to re-record their tune “Starstrukk” with Perry in the mix. The new version of the song can also be heard in the trailer for the new Josh Duhamel/Kristen Bell flick When In Rome. In addition, a video for the tune directed by Marc Klasfeld (Jay-Z, Coheed & Cambria, Foo Fighters) is set to be released in early October and will feature the cast of the movie.
If that weren’t enough, the band is re-releasing their smash album Want in a deluxe format (available on ShockHound). The new version of the album will include “Starstrukk (feat. Katy Perry)” plus the Kid Cudi remix of “Don't Trust Me” and a mix of “Still Around (Big Mix)” by beatmaster Nathaniel Motte and MC Sean Foreman.
In television land, keep your eyes peeled as 3OH!3 will be performing a reworked version of “Don’t Trust Me” on the VMAs. If you peep their MySpace page, you’ll notice they’re copping a little Obama steez in their campaign to get fans to vote for them as “Best New Artist.” If you’re one of the 12 people who still watche The Real World, keep an eye out for 3OH!3’s tune “Sex on the Beach” as the theme to the new season of The Real World: Cancun. We can’t wait to watch drunk girls catfight to that song.
Aside from those appearances, don’t expect to see the guys stateside too soon as they’re set to tour New Zealand, Australia and Europe through the rest of the year. – Tatiana Simonian
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay hang out with their new feathered friend as they review the latest from 3 Inches of Blood and The Cribs. So sit back, relax and prepare to shake your tail feather!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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As previously announced, Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg has decided to go solo, leaving the remaining members of the band scrabbling for a new vocalist. Well, they found one…temporarily. Yep, Ignite’s Zoli Teglas will be fronting the band for the two-day Smokeout Festival on October 23rd and 24th in San Bernardino, CA. Needless to say, Teglas is stoked about singing at the festival with Pennywise: “I’m a huge fan of the band and am super grateful to share the stage with my longtime friends Fletcher, Byron and Randy.”
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay return to the classroom with new releases by The Used and Insane Clown Posse in their bookbags. So sharpen your pencils because you're about to get schooled!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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On September 22nd, the Radiohead frontman will be releasing a 12-inch vinyl single that'll feature two new songs: "The Hollow Earth" and "Apart by Horses." Hey, we love new music; but what have we done to deserve this? It was believed that Yorke would contribute to the upcoming New Moon soundtrack. So will either or both of these songs appear in the movie? You'll have to wait and see.
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On November 3rd, the fighters of foo, as David Letterman affectionately calls the Foo Fighters, will release a greatest hits album that's appropriately entitled Greatest Hits. Go figure! The collection will include songs from their 14-year career, plus two new tracks: "Wheels" and "World Forward." Stay tuned because the full tracklist will be released soon.
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You probably know Mike Herrera as the frontman of MxPx. But did you know that there's a twangy side to Herrera's music? There is, and as the leader of Mike Herrera's Tumbledown, he's letting it emerge. The band's 2009 debut album, Tumbledown, features "Let's Drink," "Came Here to Fight" and "Secondhand High."
Now, ShockHound presents the world premiere video for "Butcher of San Antone," another killer track from the album. Herrera says he wrote the song as “a story about a vigilante priest that is out for revenge. It's a comic book, pulp-style story and is definitely set apart from our other songs. It's seedy and sleezy, just the way I like it. I think anyone can get into a story of murder and revenge. Don't you?”
Well, hell yes! Sit back, relax and see for yourself.
Want to learn more about Mike Herrera's Tumbledown? Then click here.
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Yep, it's time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay weigh in on the health care debate with new records from Municipal Waste and Mariachi El Bronx.
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Hey, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but lately, there’s a lot to dish out. Apparently, Pennywise has succumbed to the frustrations that plague every band at one time or another. Yep, they’re breaking up. Singer/songwriter Jim Lindberg has decided to go solo. So what are his plans? Currently, Lindberg is working on a documentary that’s based on his book, Punk Rock Dad: No Rules, Just Real Life. As for the future, he plans on returning to the studio in order to record some new material. How about the rest of the band: guitarist Fletcher Dragge, bassist Randy Bradbury and drummer Byron McMackin? Don’t fret, Pennywise fans! The remaining members of the band are determined to trek on, searching for a new vocalist.
Here’s Lindberg’s statement:
“After 20 years, nine albums and thousands of shows around the world, my time in Pennywise has come to an end. Being the singer for this band has been an amazing experience, and along the way, we made some of the best fans anyone could ask for. There are few things that made me more proud than seeing people at our shows singing our songs, and it's your support and encouragement that's kept me going this long. I would sincerely like to thank everyone who helped us along the way and wish everyone in the Pennywise family the best of luck and continued success.”
Here’s the band’s rebuttal:
"The band has always been about moving forward in life no matter what obstacles stand in front of you. We will begin our search for a new singer immediately. We will continue to tour the world, and we are looking forward to writing new music. We've had a lot of good times and survived the hard times thanks to the undying support of our fans. We're looking forward to what the future may bring."
So do you have what it takes to fill Lindberg’s shoes?
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You know what? Breaking up is hard to do. After four years of good times and bad, the members of Cute Is What We Aim For have decided to go their separate ways. Please say it ain’t so. (Yes, I used the word “ain’t.”) According to a Twitter post, it appears that vocalist Shaant Hacikyan will focus his efforts on a solo career. But bassist Dave Melillo will not remain silent, claiming that it was he who approached Hacikyan about leaving the band. To get the skinny on the band’s situation (in Melillo’s words), click here.
Geesh! Drama, drama, drama. Next thing you know, the bassist from The Cab will jump ship, too. OMG! You mean to tell me that actually happened? Yep, bassist Cash Colligan has parted ways with The Cab in order to pursue other projects. Click here to read Colligan’s blog, explaining the reasoning behind his departure.
So who’s next? We’ll have to wait and see.
If you’re among the mass of Beatles fans who are just biding time before the release of The Beatles: Rock Band on September 9th, Harmonix wants to share something with you that might tide you over for a bit. Yep, the playlist has been released, and it includes tracks from “Twist and Shout” to “Get Back.” Visit the official The Beatles: Rock Band site to view the list, see the replica instruments and watch the latest trailer. But don’t fret if you don’t see your favorite Beatles tune because there are more to come. Seriously, can you really pick just one?
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Yep, it’s time for another edition of Taco Tuesday, featuring ShockHound music experts Dan and Jay! What musical tales will they tell today?
This time, Dan n' Jay travel to the bonny hills of Scotland for haggis tacos and new albums by Jay Reatard and MuteMath. So mighty warrior, grab your shield and start dancing!
Want more? Click here to visit ShockHound now!
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Are you curious how Hey Monday's Hot Topic summer tour is going? Well wonder no more, 'cause the band made a video to tell you all about it. Click here to take a peek!
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Metalcore outfit The Bled has signed with Rise Records. Yes, the band has found a new home after their departure from Vagrant. But most importantly, fans will soon be feasting on some new sounds with the release of a new album. The label promises that “the band is going back to their roots, having a sound reminiscent of their debut album, Pass the Flask, but with a modern twist and far superior musicianship.” So do you want to hear these new tunes? Well, The Bled will be test driving the new material during their September tour with Alesana. So when can fans expect another The Bled album? The tentative release date is early 2010.
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Vocalist/guitarist Alex Gaskarth and drummer Rian Dawson of All Time Low play miniature golf, hang out and talk about how freakin’ great their new album, Nothing Personal, is. Check out the video below to hear what they've got to say.
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