- Alan Dershowitz threatened to sue the producers of Carlito’s Way [1993], as he felt the David Kleinfeld character (the crooked attorney played by Sean Penn) was based on him.
- Contrary to popular belief, Jack Nicholson has never had production companies schedule the filming of a movie he was in around Los Angeles Lakers home games.
- Although it was Ron Howard’s second time directing a full-length feature film, Night Shift [1982] was his first for a major Hollywood studio. It’s also the first starring role for Michael Keaton and features then-unknowns Kevin Costner and Shannon Doherty in very small roles.
- The mobsters hired as on-set consultants for Goodfellas [1990] gave Warner Bros. fake Social Security numbers.
- Despite the lack of any formal announcement regarding retirement, Gene Hackman has not made a movie since 2004.
4/30/2018
Liz Phair and Matador to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of 'Exile in Guyville'
On May 4th (aka "Star Wars Day") Matador Records will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Exile in Guyville's release with different iterations of the classic Liz Phair debut album including a 3-CD box set with elaborate artwork, essays, etc.
Meanwhile Ms. Phair has lined up a few live dates as part of the festivities.
The Girly-Sound to Guyville Tour Dates:
May 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge
June 1 - San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
June 2 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
June 4 - Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
June 6 - Boston, MA @ Sinclair
June 7 - Brooklyn, NY @ National Sawdust
June 8 - Wichita, KS @ Wichita Riverfest
June 9 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Exile in Guyville was originally released on June 22, 1993.
The Girly-Sound to Guyville Tour Dates:
May 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ Masonic Lodge
June 1 - San Francisco, CA @ Swedish American Hall
June 2 - Seattle, WA @ Crocodile
June 4 - Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
June 6 - Boston, MA @ Sinclair
June 7 - Brooklyn, NY @ National Sawdust
June 8 - Wichita, KS @ Wichita Riverfest
June 9 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Exile in Guyville was originally released on June 22, 1993.
4/29/2018
Dave Grohl Gets Political
In the new issue of British GQ, which hits newsstands this week, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl speaks about his time in Nirvana, missing Cobain, the evaporation of the American Dream and his thoughts on the current occupant of the White House.
Grohl is not the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to politics and it's doubtful that even the people who share his politics are taking their cues from him but, rest assured, the same "shut up and play" hypocrites who will bash him for criticizing the POTUS are the same folks who fail to utter a peep when it comes to the likes of Kid Rock or Ted Nugent spewing their divisive and often racist garbage. But hey, the haters can go listen to Kanye West now, right? Oh, wait—wrong color. Um, nevermind.
[GQ: Dave Grohl - Trump Just Seems Like A Massive Jerk]
“The American Dream was still tangible, still desirable. Today, the American Dream is broken. I’ve probably travelled internationally more than our current president and the one thing I understand that he doesn’t is that the world isn’t as big as you think it is. It is all in your neighborhood. India, Asia, Iceland aren’t other solar systems. I am ashamed of our president. I feel apologetic for it when I travel."The Dixie Chicks feel your pain, Dave.
Grohl is not the most knowledgeable guy when it comes to politics and it's doubtful that even the people who share his politics are taking their cues from him but, rest assured, the same "shut up and play" hypocrites who will bash him for criticizing the POTUS are the same folks who fail to utter a peep when it comes to the likes of Kid Rock or Ted Nugent spewing their divisive and often racist garbage. But hey, the haters can go listen to Kanye West now, right? Oh, wait—wrong color. Um, nevermind.
[GQ: Dave Grohl - Trump Just Seems Like A Massive Jerk]
Classic Bob Dylan Guitar Up For Auction
The guitar is expected to go for $400,000-$500,000.
Listen To What the Man Said: Steve Perry Warned Journey Bandmates of Becoming a Nostalgia Act
According to an upcoming book by Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, vocalist Steve Perry told bandmates in 1987 they should quit while on top and not become an oldies act.
In Don't Stop Believing: The Man, The Band and the Song That Inspired Generations, which will be released May 1st, Cain reveals that in a meeting between guitarist Neal Schon, Perry and himself, the singer told them “Guys, we’re done. We can’t get any bigger. If we keep going, we’re going to end up some classic rock nostalgia band. We’ll end up just being a memory--a shadow of what we used to be.”
They soldiered on but nearly a decade later, in 1996, while Perry was recovering from hip surgery, he made clear he would not return to the band if they toured under the Journey name without him. They did and he kept his word: Perry has not performed with Journey since.
If it weren't for the fact that even Stevie Wonder could see this outcome coming to pass, we'd call Perry a prophet. Regardless, the man was right.
In Don't Stop Believing: The Man, The Band and the Song That Inspired Generations, which will be released May 1st, Cain reveals that in a meeting between guitarist Neal Schon, Perry and himself, the singer told them “Guys, we’re done. We can’t get any bigger. If we keep going, we’re going to end up some classic rock nostalgia band. We’ll end up just being a memory--a shadow of what we used to be.”
They soldiered on but nearly a decade later, in 1996, while Perry was recovering from hip surgery, he made clear he would not return to the band if they toured under the Journey name without him. They did and he kept his word: Perry has not performed with Journey since.
If it weren't for the fact that even Stevie Wonder could see this outcome coming to pass, we'd call Perry a prophet. Regardless, the man was right.
Hey, John Legend: Bring It Down a Notch, Kanye West is NOT A Genius
We're not aware of any sort of consensus among those who create, chronicle or even consume and/or follow popular music, in so far as who the greatest artist of this generation may or may not be, but we firmly believe it is NOT West. And not only is that designation ludicrous but, unfortunately, variations on this have been carelessly repeated, bolstering West's own assumption that he is actually worthy of such a title.
So, for the record, in the nicest way possible and, in a language that everybody here can easily understand, as Malcolm X famously said, Mozart was a genius. Miles Davis was a genius. Frank Zappa was a genius. Kanye West? Please.
4/27/2018
Friday Factoids
• Although he eventually became a lauded and influential bassist, The Clash’s Paul Simonon did not know how to play the instrument—guitarist Mick Jones would show him what notes to play—up until the band started recording.
• David Nesta Marley, best known as Ziggy, got his nickname from being a huge fan of his namesake, David Bowie.
• Andy Summers’ “Behind My Camel” was so hated by Sting he not only refused to play bass on it, he actually buried the song’s master tapes in the garden of the studio where it was recorded. Summers dug it up, had it included on The Police’s Zenyatta Mondatta album [A&M-1980] and eventually won a Grammy for it.
• Soundgarden’s original drummer was…Chris Cornell.
• “Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein.” - Decca Records executive Dick Rowe to Beatles manager Brian Epstein on why he refused to sign the band in 1962.
• David Nesta Marley, best known as Ziggy, got his nickname from being a huge fan of his namesake, David Bowie.
• Andy Summers’ “Behind My Camel” was so hated by Sting he not only refused to play bass on it, he actually buried the song’s master tapes in the garden of the studio where it was recorded. Summers dug it up, had it included on The Police’s Zenyatta Mondatta album [A&M-1980] and eventually won a Grammy for it.
• Soundgarden’s original drummer was…Chris Cornell.
• “Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein.” - Decca Records executive Dick Rowe to Beatles manager Brian Epstein on why he refused to sign the band in 1962.
4/26/2018
Nils Lofgren Joins Crazy Horse Reunion
Current E Street Band guitarist Nils Lofgren, who played on Crazy Horse's self-titled debut album from 1971, will be rejoining the band as they embark on a series of dates backing Neil Young. Longtime Crazy Horse guitarist Frank "Poncho" Sampedro—who joined the band in 1975—will not be a part of the upcoming shows booked for May 1st and 2nd in Fresno, CA, and was said to be "unable to join us right now" by Young who seems hopeful Sampedro will be back in the fold at some point. The upcoming dates will be the first by Young and Crazy Horse since 2014.
[Ultimate Classic Rock]
[Ultimate Classic Rock]
Today in Music History (April 26)
1969 - During the band's second second of two nights at The Winterland Ballroom, in San Francisco, Led Zeppelin perform "Whole Lotta Love" live for the first time.
1980 - Blondie reach No.1 on the UK charts with "Call Me", the group's fourth UK No.1, featured in the Richard Gere movie American Gigolo. The song was also a No.1 in the US where it became the band's biggest selling single.
1988 - Mick Jagger appears in White Plains, New York, Federal Court in the copyright infringement case brought by reggae singer Patrick Alley, who claimed the Mick Jagger solo track "Just Another Night" was a plagiarism of his own song of the same name. Alley was claiming $7m in profits from the track. During the case Sly Dunbar (who played drums on both tracks) testified that the beats were different in each song and Jagger sang and played demos of his song to show the court the development of the track. At the end of the week-long trial, Jagger won the case.
1990 - Nirvana perform at the Pyramid Club in New York City. The band's label, Sub Pop, films the show and the performance of "In Bloom" is later used as a promo clip.
2008 - Amy Winehouse spends the night in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assault. Police said Winehouse had been "in no fit state" to be questioned when she arrived at the London station and was kept in a cell. The 24-year-old was to be questioned about an incident said to have occurred 3 days earlier after a 38-year-old man claimed he was assaulted.
Today's Birthdays include...influential rock and roll guitarist Duane Eddy (80); Italian singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer Giorgio Moroder (78); singer Bobby Rydell (76); former Troggs bassist Tony Murray (73); Neol Davies, guitarist, songwriter and founding member of 2 Tone ska revival band The Selecter (66); former Motley Cue singer/guitarist John Corabi (59); Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor (58); Chris Mars, former drummer for The Replacements and currently an acclaimed painter (57); Tionne Watkins, aka T- Boz, of TLC (48); and Incubus drummer Jose Antonio Pasillas II (42).
1980 - Blondie reach No.1 on the UK charts with "Call Me", the group's fourth UK No.1, featured in the Richard Gere movie American Gigolo. The song was also a No.1 in the US where it became the band's biggest selling single.
1988 - Mick Jagger appears in White Plains, New York, Federal Court in the copyright infringement case brought by reggae singer Patrick Alley, who claimed the Mick Jagger solo track "Just Another Night" was a plagiarism of his own song of the same name. Alley was claiming $7m in profits from the track. During the case Sly Dunbar (who played drums on both tracks) testified that the beats were different in each song and Jagger sang and played demos of his song to show the court the development of the track. At the end of the week-long trial, Jagger won the case.
1990 - Nirvana perform at the Pyramid Club in New York City. The band's label, Sub Pop, films the show and the performance of "In Bloom" is later used as a promo clip.
2008 - Amy Winehouse spends the night in custody after being arrested on suspicion of assault. Police said Winehouse had been "in no fit state" to be questioned when she arrived at the London station and was kept in a cell. The 24-year-old was to be questioned about an incident said to have occurred 3 days earlier after a 38-year-old man claimed he was assaulted.
Today's Birthdays include...influential rock and roll guitarist Duane Eddy (80); Italian singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer Giorgio Moroder (78); singer Bobby Rydell (76); former Troggs bassist Tony Murray (73); Neol Davies, guitarist, songwriter and founding member of 2 Tone ska revival band The Selecter (66); former Motley Cue singer/guitarist John Corabi (59); Duran Duran drummer Roger Taylor (58); Chris Mars, former drummer for The Replacements and currently an acclaimed painter (57); Tionne Watkins, aka T- Boz, of TLC (48); and Incubus drummer Jose Antonio Pasillas II (42).
4/25/2018
Hank Azaria Addresses Apu Controversy
The actor discussed with Stephen Colbert his feelings on voicing Apu and The Simpsons' recent jab at those offended by the show's portrayal of the character. (The show's recent response to the controversy was a dick move, btw.)
4/23/2018
Andy Summers + Robert Fripp - "Hardy Country"
Enjoying an old fave from their 1982 album I Advance Masked [A&M].
Monday Movie Trivia
- Due to budget restrictions and because he wanted to work with Terry Gilliam, Bruce Willis did Twelve Monkeys [1995] for free. It was only after the movie was released that he was paid.
- Laura Linney filmed her performances in Love, Actually and in Mystic River [both 2003] within the same time frame, traveling back and forth between London and Boston, respectively.
- Since her 1998-1999 world tour prevented her from accepting the lead female role in Dogma [1999], Alanis Morissette ended up playing the, ironically, smaller role of God in the movie.
- Because Gene Hackman got angry and was verbally abusive to director Wes Anderson (who could not deliver on his promise to Hackman of a laid back shoot) during the filming of The Royal Tenenbaums [2001], Bill Murray had to intervene, confront Hackman and then decided to go to the set on his days off in a show of solidarity to Anderson.
- There have been, to date, more than 50 film adaptations of the writings of Stephen King.
- Laura Linney filmed her performances in Love, Actually and in Mystic River [both 2003] within the same time frame, traveling back and forth between London and Boston, respectively.
- Since her 1998-1999 world tour prevented her from accepting the lead female role in Dogma [1999], Alanis Morissette ended up playing the, ironically, smaller role of God in the movie.
- Because Gene Hackman got angry and was verbally abusive to director Wes Anderson (who could not deliver on his promise to Hackman of a laid back shoot) during the filming of The Royal Tenenbaums [2001], Bill Murray had to intervene, confront Hackman and then decided to go to the set on his days off in a show of solidarity to Anderson.
- There have been, to date, more than 50 film adaptations of the writings of Stephen King.
New Prince Album in the Fall
The Prince estate is promising an album of unreleased music for late September. Warner Bros. will be handling the release which will likely be culled from material recorded during Prince's years with the label. Stay tuned.
4/22/2018
Guitar Center Reportedly on the Brink of Bankruptcy
"Earlier this year, creditors and analysts pointed to a deteriorating financial crisis at Gibson Guitar, with a bankruptcy anticipated as early as this summer. Now, you can add Guitar Center to the watch list. Just this week, leading rating agency S&P downgraded Guitar Center to a ‘CCC—’, indicating serious risk of bankruptcy."[Digital Music News: Guitar Center Faces Imminent Bankruptcy After 59 Years In Business]
4/21/2018
Record Store Day 2018
The annual edition of RSD is today, April 21st and there's plenty of goodies out there to choose from.
Among the curiosities available will be AC/DC's classic Back in Black on cassette (!); Living Colour Live at CBGB 12.19.89 on double vinyl; Rage Against the Machine's 2000 performance at the Democratic National Convention; and a bunch of singles by iconic acts such as Hendrix, Led Zep and the MC5, including a 7" picture disc of Motorhead's cover of David Bowie's "Heroes".
Also available for the first time on RSD will be Soundgarden's singles comp A-Sides on double vinyl and The Police's "Roxanne" on 7" picture disc.
Come out and show some love and spend some green, too.
[Record Store Day Official Site]
Among the curiosities available will be AC/DC's classic Back in Black on cassette (!); Living Colour Live at CBGB 12.19.89 on double vinyl; Rage Against the Machine's 2000 performance at the Democratic National Convention; and a bunch of singles by iconic acts such as Hendrix, Led Zep and the MC5, including a 7" picture disc of Motorhead's cover of David Bowie's "Heroes".
Also available for the first time on RSD will be Soundgarden's singles comp A-Sides on double vinyl and The Police's "Roxanne" on 7" picture disc.
Come out and show some love and spend some green, too.
[Record Store Day Official Site]
4/20/2018
Outside Amy Schumer
"The premise of I Feel Pretty is promising. The idea is not Shallow Hal—it’s not in principle an exercise in making fun of women who don’t look like supermodels. But there are three problems in the movie’s execution that robbed it of the Moonstruck magic that every surreal romantic comedy aspires to. First, the script is dire. There seems to be a lot of improvisation in the film, as when Zamata has to keep a straight face while Renée [played by Amy Schumer] acts like she’s Cindy Crawford. But otherwise there is zero Nora Ephron zing. I saw the movie in the kind of theater where people started dancing during the preview for Mamma Mia 2. We were so ready to laugh. Instead one of my friends kept leaning over to hiss objections, while the other fell asleep. The film wastes far too much time on workplace plot exposition and far too much time inside SoulCycle. There are simply not enough good jokes. A palpable chill drifted around the room."[The New Republic: Amy Schumer’s Head Injury]
Don't Call it a Comeback (yet): Louis CK
"[N]o quote has ever been proven false more often than F. Scott Fitzgerald’s declaration that there are no second acts American lives, so the question is not really whether C.K. will eventually come back but when, where and how. The consensus is that while his behavior was clearly wrong it was not at the level of a Harvey Weinstein, James Toback or Bill Cosby. Comics and club owners alike agree with Gilbert Gottfried's opinion that 'there are different levels of misbehavior and the public understands the difference'."[Hollywood Reporter: Louis C.K.'s Path to a Comeback Likely Runs Through Comedy Clubs]
Kanye West To Release Pair of Albums This Summer
Jellyfish and The Raconteurs, just to name two, left us with only a pair of albums. Meanwhile Kanye West is to torture with two of his own in June.
The world is a cold, unfair, unjust place.
[Pitchfork: Kanye Announces 2 New Albums, Including Kid Cudi Collaboration]
The world is a cold, unfair, unjust place.
[Pitchfork: Kanye Announces 2 New Albums, Including Kid Cudi Collaboration]
Prince Estate Releases Footage and Original "Nothing Compares 2 U"
On the eve of the second anniversary of Prince's passing his estate has shared previously unseen footage from 1984, including his original version of "Nothing Compares 2 U", written by Prince but taken to the top of the charts by Sinead O'Connor in 1990.
No disrespect intended but we'll stick with Sinead's version. Prince was a musical genius but you can't win 'em all.
No disrespect intended but we'll stick with Sinead's version. Prince was a musical genius but you can't win 'em all.
Friday Factoids
- Although AC/DC are Australian legends, the only member of their classic lineup—Bon Scott (and later Brian Johnson)/Angus Young/Malcolm Young/Cliff Williams/Phil Rudd—to have been born in Australia was drummer Phil Rudd.
- During the recording of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” [Epic-1983] the speakers in the studio’s control room caught fire.
- The lone track from the classic Jane’s Addiction album Ritual de lo Habitual [Warner Bros-1990] which does not feature bassist Eric Avery is “Of Course”, which he refused to play on. (The band’s guitar tech Ronnie Champagne played bass on the song.)
- “Touch of Grey” [Arista-1987] is The Grateful Dead’s lone Top 40 hit. (It peaked at #9.)
- Because of a then-burgeoning solo career, singer/songwriter Terry Reid turned down Jimmy Page’s offer to join what would become Led Zeppelin. Reid suggested vocalist Robert Plant, who in turn recommended his old pal, drummer John Bonham. And the rest is…
- During the recording of Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” [Epic-1983] the speakers in the studio’s control room caught fire.
- The lone track from the classic Jane’s Addiction album Ritual de lo Habitual [Warner Bros-1990] which does not feature bassist Eric Avery is “Of Course”, which he refused to play on. (The band’s guitar tech Ronnie Champagne played bass on the song.)
- “Touch of Grey” [Arista-1987] is The Grateful Dead’s lone Top 40 hit. (It peaked at #9.)
- Because of a then-burgeoning solo career, singer/songwriter Terry Reid turned down Jimmy Page’s offer to join what would become Led Zeppelin. Reid suggested vocalist Robert Plant, who in turn recommended his old pal, drummer John Bonham. And the rest is…
4/19/2018
Dire Straits and RRHoF Make History—For The Wrong Reasons
It has become an undeniable fact that for anything Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-related to be controversy and/or drama free is to find icebergs in the desert.
The most recent installment involves Dire Straits' induction—which we didn’t think they merited, but that’s now moot, obviously—and the incredibly awkward circumstances surrounding it.
Frontman Mark Knopfler declined to participate in the ceremony for reasons he has yet to disclose, while his brother, guitarist David, griping about the Hall not taking care of his travel expenses, also failed to appear. That left the remaining members of the band to be inducted in person. Lame, but no big deal and certainly not the first time it's gone down like this. But where it gets ridiculous is that, for the time ever, no one was available to induct the artist at hand. Yes, you read right: no one was there to induct Dire Straits. [faceplam] Word got out that Keith Urban and Neil Young were approached but reportedly turned it down due to Knopfler not being involved, which is understandable. But if no artists wanted to take the podium, shouldn't one of the Hall's execs have performed the induction, instead of leaving Straits bassist to do his own induction?
Van Halen got inducted without David Lee Roth or the Van Halen brothers; neither Axl Rose nor Izzy Stradlin showed up for the Guns N Roses induction, either. (Of course, the fact that both bands later reunited for highly lucrative tours makes their respective no-shows all the more petty and pathetic.) But for the first time in the RRHoF's history, still-living artists refused to show up for their induction AND the remaining members did not get the courtesy of a presenter to induct them. Ugh.
A big fuck you to the RRHoF for the Dire Straits fiasco—you welcomed the execrable Bon Jovi (among others) into the Hall but couldn't get someone to simply stand up and induct an honoree?
And a big fuck you to all the artists whose bullshit ego and pettiness have led them to rebuff an honor the vast majority of artists will never get but would humbly accept.
Frontman Mark Knopfler declined to participate in the ceremony for reasons he has yet to disclose, while his brother, guitarist David, griping about the Hall not taking care of his travel expenses, also failed to appear. That left the remaining members of the band to be inducted in person. Lame, but no big deal and certainly not the first time it's gone down like this. But where it gets ridiculous is that, for the time ever, no one was available to induct the artist at hand. Yes, you read right: no one was there to induct Dire Straits. [faceplam] Word got out that Keith Urban and Neil Young were approached but reportedly turned it down due to Knopfler not being involved, which is understandable. But if no artists wanted to take the podium, shouldn't one of the Hall's execs have performed the induction, instead of leaving Straits bassist to do his own induction?
Van Halen got inducted without David Lee Roth or the Van Halen brothers; neither Axl Rose nor Izzy Stradlin showed up for the Guns N Roses induction, either. (Of course, the fact that both bands later reunited for highly lucrative tours makes their respective no-shows all the more petty and pathetic.) But for the first time in the RRHoF's history, still-living artists refused to show up for their induction AND the remaining members did not get the courtesy of a presenter to induct them. Ugh.
A big fuck you to the RRHoF for the Dire Straits fiasco—you welcomed the execrable Bon Jovi (among others) into the Hall but couldn't get someone to simply stand up and induct an honoree?
And a big fuck you to all the artists whose bullshit ego and pettiness have led them to rebuff an honor the vast majority of artists will never get but would humbly accept.
4/18/2018
Today In Music History (April 18)
1985 - Wham! become the first-ever Western pop act to have an album released in China.
1987 - Aretha Franklin and George Michael hit No.1 on the US singles chart with "I Knew You Were Waiting". With this song Aretha set a record for the artist with the longest gap between US No.1 singles: it had been 19 years, 10 months from her last No.1 hit, "Respect", in June 1967.
1995 - Oasis drummer Tony McCarrol is fired from the band over the phone. McCarrol later sued Oasis for millions in unpaid royalties and in 1996 agreed to a one-off sum of close to $1 million.
1996 - Bernard Edwards, bass guitarist for Chic and producer for the likes of ABC, Power Station, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, and Debbie Harry, dies of pneumonia in a Tokyo Hotel room while touring Japan.
2006 - The line "One life, with each other, sisters, brothers" from U2's "One" was voted the UK's favorite song lyric in a poll by VH1.
Todays Birthdays include...Echo & the Bunnymen bassist Les Pattinson (60); Happy Mondays and Black Grape dancer Mark "Bez" Berry (54); former Everclear drummer Greg Eklund (48); and singer/songwriter Madeleine Peyroux (44).
1987 - Aretha Franklin and George Michael hit No.1 on the US singles chart with "I Knew You Were Waiting". With this song Aretha set a record for the artist with the longest gap between US No.1 singles: it had been 19 years, 10 months from her last No.1 hit, "Respect", in June 1967.
1995 - Oasis drummer Tony McCarrol is fired from the band over the phone. McCarrol later sued Oasis for millions in unpaid royalties and in 1996 agreed to a one-off sum of close to $1 million.
1996 - Bernard Edwards, bass guitarist for Chic and producer for the likes of ABC, Power Station, Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, and Debbie Harry, dies of pneumonia in a Tokyo Hotel room while touring Japan.
2006 - The line "One life, with each other, sisters, brothers" from U2's "One" was voted the UK's favorite song lyric in a poll by VH1.
Todays Birthdays include...Echo & the Bunnymen bassist Les Pattinson (60); Happy Mondays and Black Grape dancer Mark "Bez" Berry (54); former Everclear drummer Greg Eklund (48); and singer/songwriter Madeleine Peyroux (44).
4/17/2018
ICYMI: Bill & Ted 3
Looks like the third installment of the most excellent adventures is a thing. Bill and Ted Face the Music is the working title it seems.
Kendrick Lamar Nabs Pulitzer
"Kendrick Lamar has won a Pulitzer Prize for music for his album Damn, the organization announced Monday afternoon. It was the first win for a non-classical or jazz musician since the awards began including music some 75 years ago.
The Pulitzer board deemed the album 'a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life'.”
[Variety]
In Praise Of: Eric Avery
Few bands, even many of the greats, arrive fully formed right out of the gate on their first studio album like Jane’s Addiction did on Nothing’s Shocking [Warner Bros-1988]. Tying together the strands of Los Angeles-flavored art rock, funk, goth, metal, punk, and even a hint of psychedelia, it’s no surprise they appealed to both the underground nation and fans of the hair farmers, as well.
And in the midst of these of powerful, transcendent tunes was Eric Avery, weaving bass lines that managed to be propulsive and sublime, often in the same song. Case in point: his performance across the 10 minute epic “Three Days” from Ritual de lo Habitual [Warner Bros-1990], in which his attentive and nimble playing further elevates its majesty, is undoubtedly among the all-time greats.
It might be a tad petty and perhaps unfair to point out that the only essential Jane’s Addiction studio albums are the two they recorded with Avery. But as the folks over at Pitchfork once gushed, “there will never be a Jane’s without him.” Yeah…
[photo courtesy of alternativenation.net]
It might be a tad petty and perhaps unfair to point out that the only essential Jane’s Addiction studio albums are the two they recorded with Avery. But as the folks over at Pitchfork once gushed, “there will never be a Jane’s without him.” Yeah…
[photo courtesy of alternativenation.net]
Tuesday Television Trivia
- Laurence Fishburne and Jennifer Lewis, who play the parents of Anthony Anderson on Black•ish [2014] are only 9 and 13 years older than Anderson, repsectively.
- Until the death of John Spencer (who played Leo McGarry), The West Wing [1999]'s writers had planned for the Republican candidate, Arnold Vinick, to win the election, and not the Democratic candidate, Matthew Santos. After Spencer's death, the writers decided that it would be too sad for the audience if Santos lost both his running mate (Leo) and the election at the same time.
- Mindy Kaling was named after Pam Dawber's character on Mork and Mindy [1978].
- The production team on Mad Men [2007] was so adamant about historical accuracy, they would research not only news items and pop culture of the relevant period they were portraying but also look into reports on weather conditions, as well.
- Jon Cryer is the only actor to appear in every single episode of Two and a Half Men [2003]'s 12 year run.
- Until the death of John Spencer (who played Leo McGarry), The West Wing [1999]'s writers had planned for the Republican candidate, Arnold Vinick, to win the election, and not the Democratic candidate, Matthew Santos. After Spencer's death, the writers decided that it would be too sad for the audience if Santos lost both his running mate (Leo) and the election at the same time.
- Mindy Kaling was named after Pam Dawber's character on Mork and Mindy [1978].
- The production team on Mad Men [2007] was so adamant about historical accuracy, they would research not only news items and pop culture of the relevant period they were portraying but also look into reports on weather conditions, as well.
- Jon Cryer is the only actor to appear in every single episode of Two and a Half Men [2003]'s 12 year run.
4/16/2018
The Netflix 100
While the 20 year old (!!!) behemoth has become a monster at providing great original content, they haven't left behind their humble beginnings as a source of studio movies big and small. So, forget the rankings in this piece and just go through the list of great movies available on Netflix and complied by the folks at Time Out. Whether you're under the weather or dreading inclement weather outside, there's a treasure trove to choose and binge on. Dig in!
[Time Out: The 100 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now]
[Time Out: The 100 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now]
The Desecration of a Generation
The Gen-X Tour is a summer package featuring Buckcherry, POD, Lit and Alien Ant Farm. Good grief!
Yeah, after reading that go listen to Soundgarden as a palate cleanser.
Yeah, after reading that go listen to Soundgarden as a palate cleanser.
Monday Movie Trivia
- Former President Barack Obama told Entertainment Weekly that his favorite movie POTUS is Jackson Evans (played by Jeff Bridges) in The Contender [2000].
- To play Pvt. Pyle in Full Metal Jacket [1987] Vincent D'Onofrio gained 70 pounds, breaking Robert De Niro's movie weight-gain record (60 pounds) for Raging Bull [1980]. It took D'Onofrio seven months to put the weight on and nine months to take it off with physical training.
- No, not that Tom: Tom Hanks was director/writer Cameron Crowe's original choice for the titular role in Jerry Maguire [1995].
- Director Christopher Nolan has stated that each of the films in his Batman trilogy deal with a particular theme: for Batman Begins [2005] it's fear; The Dark Knight [2008] traffics in chaos; while The Dark Knight Rises [2012] is about pain.
- Despite only an 8-year age difference between them, Laurie Metcalf plays Artie Lange's mom in Beer League [2006].
- To play Pvt. Pyle in Full Metal Jacket [1987] Vincent D'Onofrio gained 70 pounds, breaking Robert De Niro's movie weight-gain record (60 pounds) for Raging Bull [1980]. It took D'Onofrio seven months to put the weight on and nine months to take it off with physical training.
- No, not that Tom: Tom Hanks was director/writer Cameron Crowe's original choice for the titular role in Jerry Maguire [1995].
- Director Christopher Nolan has stated that each of the films in his Batman trilogy deal with a particular theme: for Batman Begins [2005] it's fear; The Dark Knight [2008] traffics in chaos; while The Dark Knight Rises [2012] is about pain.
- Despite only an 8-year age difference between them, Laurie Metcalf plays Artie Lange's mom in Beer League [2006].
The C-Z List
Because reality TV and the internet have taken Andy Warhol from pop culture prophet to deity via his prescient declarations on the nature of ephemeral and vacuous celebrity (aka The 15 Minute Axiom), outlets that cover pop culture give coverage to a bunch of folks who the average person cannot name but are, regardless, the beneficiaries of some sort of following; one significant enough to warrant regular mention by these publications.
If you’re a regular reader of this space, chances are you don’t give a rat’s ass who these people are, despite an affinity or fondness for most pop culture. But in case you have a spouse, children or otherwise good friends who routinely mention or, God forbid, follow many of these famous-for-being-almost-famous, tabloid denizens, Kardashian worshippers and wannabes, here’s a handy guide designed to help tell them apart. And if you find it both exhausting and incredibly perplexing that these people attract some kind of spotlight, take solace in knowing you’re not alone.
[Vulture: Welcome to the Who-niverse: A guide to the many, many celebrities whose names make you say…"Who?"]
If you’re a regular reader of this space, chances are you don’t give a rat’s ass who these people are, despite an affinity or fondness for most pop culture. But in case you have a spouse, children or otherwise good friends who routinely mention or, God forbid, follow many of these famous-for-being-almost-famous, tabloid denizens, Kardashian worshippers and wannabes, here’s a handy guide designed to help tell them apart. And if you find it both exhausting and incredibly perplexing that these people attract some kind of spotlight, take solace in knowing you’re not alone.
[Vulture: Welcome to the Who-niverse: A guide to the many, many celebrities whose names make you say…"Who?"]
4/15/2018
What We're Binge Watching: Club de Cuervos
A dramedy and Netflix original series which debuted in 2015 and marked their first foray into Spanish-language content of its kind, Club de Cuervos (Club of Crows) is set in the fictional Mexican town of Nuevo Toledo, where Mariana Treviño and Luis Gerardo Mendez as the Iglesias siblings Isabel and Salvador Jr. who inherit their father's soccer team, Cuervos FC, after the patriarch suffers a sudden and fatal heart attack, fight for ownership and control of the team with often disastrous results.Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with The Huffington Post raving that the show "oscillates brilliantly from laugh-out-loud comedy to poignant drama, while never dipping into Latin stereotypes or telenovela melodrama."
Club de Cuervos's third season debuted this past September.
Dan Smith: Fender Guitars Visionary
Perhaps due to recent news of impending disaster over at Gibson Guitars, the folks at Reverb may have decided to make
the most recent installment of their series of unreleased interviews from the archives of guitar writer Tony Bacon, a conversation with former Fender Guitars executive
Dan Smith, who was instrumental in revitalizing the Fender brand during the 1980s when the company’s fortunes were at a low point and threatened the
survival of the iconic guitar maker.
Smith died at the age of 70 in 2016.
[Reverb - Interview: Fender Visionary Dan Smith on How to Turn Around a Faltering Guitar Brand]
Smith died at the age of 70 in 2016.
[Reverb - Interview: Fender Visionary Dan Smith on How to Turn Around a Faltering Guitar Brand]
Cardi B Is What You Really, Really Want
The rise of stripper cum rapper Cardi B (aka Belcalis Almanzar) plays like fodder for state-of-the-music business analysis on various levels. On the one hand, at a time when revenue from record sales is fast approaching dismal irrelevance, betting on the appeal of a transgressive female gangsta rapper (East Coast branch) who has no compunction about delivering graphically explicit rhymes, both sexual and violent, was probably not the riskiest of bets for Atlantic Records. Meanwhile, the mainstream response to someone who could be seen as an unholy mix of Nicki Minaj and early Katy Perry has alternated between amused bewilderment and the condescending and, frankly, offensive ‘noble savage’ takes on her overnight stardom from those who seemingly find themselves at a loss to explain her but don’t want to be considered devoid of cool or what passes for it in 2018.
Perhaps this is a stretch, but at a time in which a reality TV star has become president of the United States and could possibly have his presidency derailed by a porn star, that someone like Cardi B is all the rage and conquering the top of the charts—who, to her credit, is self aware enough to reference her own 15 minutes of fame on her recent album—is not one bit surprising: she is exactly the kind of pop star we both want and deserve at this point in time.
And so it goes…
Perhaps this is a stretch, but at a time in which a reality TV star has become president of the United States and could possibly have his presidency derailed by a porn star, that someone like Cardi B is all the rage and conquering the top of the charts—who, to her credit, is self aware enough to reference her own 15 minutes of fame on her recent album—is not one bit surprising: she is exactly the kind of pop star we both want and deserve at this point in time.
And so it goes…
4/13/2018
Coachella 2018 Kicks Off This Weekend
Arguably, the most popular music festival in the US, Coachella's 2018 edition featuring Cardi B (!!!), Beyonce, David Byrne, Eminem, Haim, A Perfect Circle, The Weekend, and many, many more, will take place today thru Sunday in Indio, CA, with a repeat performance the following weekend with virtually the same lineup.
Info on the participating artists and set times here.
Hillel Slovak (April 13, 1962 - June 27, 1988)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Fight Like A Brave" from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan [EMI-1987].
Black Sabbath - 'Black Sabbath'
The metal blueprint. None heavier. That is all.
Released on Friday the the 13th, February, 1970.
Released on Friday the the 13th, February, 1970.
New Alice in Chains Album This Summer
Much to the surprise of fans and press alike, Alice in Chains will release a new album this summer, their first recorded in Seattle since their 1995 self-titled album [Columbia]. In an interview given to Guitar World by guitarist Jerry Cantrell, he called the upcoming release "a record we haven’t done yet...But it’s also a record that has all the elements of anything you would expect from us. It’s got our fingerprint. And we’re really proud of the material that we wrote and the performances we captured. There’s some really heavy shit, some really ugly stuff, some real beautiful stuff, some weirdo trippy shit...it’s good!”
The band will hit the road later this year and will already be touring by the time the as-of-yet untitled new album is released.
4/12/2018
Knopfler RRHoF No Show
Longtime Dire Straits bassist and founding member John Illsley has confirmed singer/guitarist Mark Knopfler will not attend the band's upcoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. According to Illsley, Knopfler's absence (which Knopfler has not revealed publicly) means Dire Straits will not be performing at the event. "I wouldn't perform without Mark there, so it's as simple as that, really. If Mark's not there, there's no point."
The induction ceremony will be held this Saturday, April 14th in Cleveland.
[Ultimate Classic Rock: Dire Straits' John Illsley Confirms Mark Knopfler No-Show at Rock Hall Ceremony]
The induction ceremony will be held this Saturday, April 14th in Cleveland.
[Ultimate Classic Rock: Dire Straits' John Illsley Confirms Mark Knopfler No-Show at Rock Hall Ceremony]
Today in Music History (April 12)
1954 - Bill Haley records "Rock Around the Clock" at Pythian Temple studios in New York City. Considered by many to be the song that put rock and roll on the map around the world, it was used over the opening titles for the film Blackboard Jungle and went on to be a world-wide No.1 hit.
1963 - Bob Dylan performs his first major solo concert with a 24-song set at Town Hall in New York City.
1989 - After two DJs on Los Angeles station KLOS asked "What ever happened to David Cassidy?" on the air, the former teen idol calls the station up and is invited onto their show. Cassidy plays three songs live on air and is subsequently signed to a new record deal.
1995 - Two weeks after her death, then governor George W. Bush declares "Selena Day" in Texas. The Mexican American singer was murdered at the age of 23 by the president of her fan club Yolanda Saldivar on March 31st, 1995.
2000 - Metallica file a suit against Napster, Yale University, The University of Southern California and Indiana University for copyright infringement.
Today's Birthdays include...legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock (78); Steppenwolf frontman John Kay (74); Canadian rocker Pat Travers (64); country singer/songwriter and guitarist Vince Gill (61); Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant (60); Everclear frontman Art Alexakis (56); and singer/songwriter/guitarist Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls (54).
1963 - Bob Dylan performs his first major solo concert with a 24-song set at Town Hall in New York City.
1989 - After two DJs on Los Angeles station KLOS asked "What ever happened to David Cassidy?" on the air, the former teen idol calls the station up and is invited onto their show. Cassidy plays three songs live on air and is subsequently signed to a new record deal.
1995 - Two weeks after her death, then governor George W. Bush declares "Selena Day" in Texas. The Mexican American singer was murdered at the age of 23 by the president of her fan club Yolanda Saldivar on March 31st, 1995.
2000 - Metallica file a suit against Napster, Yale University, The University of Southern California and Indiana University for copyright infringement.
Today's Birthdays include...legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock (78); Steppenwolf frontman John Kay (74); Canadian rocker Pat Travers (64); country singer/songwriter and guitarist Vince Gill (61); Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant (60); Everclear frontman Art Alexakis (56); and singer/songwriter/guitarist Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls (54).
4/07/2018
The Shortest Ten Minutes: "Real Emotional Trash"
[Starting with John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things", this series of random postings will be about songs around the 10-minute mark in length that we highly enjoy. Thus, the title for the postings.]
The post-Pavement, 21st century version of Stephen Malkmus has put a greater focus on his guitar and made music with a lot more in common with, say, The Grateful Dead or, more to the point, Lou Reed or Television, than traditional indie rock. If, for example, one buys the premise that Wilco channeled Pavement on the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot track "Heavy Metal Drummer", then one can argue Malkmus repays the Chicago band in kind here on this, the title track from his fourth solo album [Matador-2008]. (Features the great Janet Weiss behind the drums on her lone album as a Jick.)
The post-Pavement, 21st century version of Stephen Malkmus has put a greater focus on his guitar and made music with a lot more in common with, say, The Grateful Dead or, more to the point, Lou Reed or Television, than traditional indie rock. If, for example, one buys the premise that Wilco channeled Pavement on the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot track "Heavy Metal Drummer", then one can argue Malkmus repays the Chicago band in kind here on this, the title track from his fourth solo album [Matador-2008]. (Features the great Janet Weiss behind the drums on her lone album as a Jick.)
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