Sex Pistols Fuel It Up

Sex Pistols are going to release a new concert DVD, which is planned to hit the stores on June 30, says Internet-issue Pitchfork Media.  Julien Temple who had previously produced a legendary film, “The Great Rock And Roll Swindle” is the director of this new DVD.

DVD contains footages that were made in November 2007 at the London’s Brixton Academy club. This place is quite familiar to those who saw AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” video.

Sex Pistols have decided to call this newborn release “There’ll Always Be an England” which incorporates sixteen songs and nearly 100 minutes of all kinds of material including a guide on London’s punk-rock places, archive footages etc. Besides that, viewers shall see a solo act performed by Sex Pistol’s vocalist, “John Lydon curses at inanimate objects”.

This summer will be marked by a Sex Pistol’s reunion, and their touring activity. They should visit numerous European music festivals and for the first time perform in Russia.

A Source: ThatJustMusic.com

Simple Minds Are Reuniting

The Scottish band Simple Minds is going to reunite in their original line-up in order to record two new songs, says Gigwise.

Brian McGee (drugms), Derek Forbes (bass), Mick MacNeil (keyboards), Charlie Burchill (guitar) and Jim Kerr (vocals) will play together for the first time in twenty seven years. The last record they’ve made was the double album “Sons of Fascination/Sister Feelings Call” in 1981.

Musicians are planning to enter the studio sometime during the next month. As the leader of Simple Minds Jim Kerr has said he always believed that someday they will make a reunion. Kerr is not denying that the band may record more than two songs.

Simple Minds were founded in 1977. During their career musicians have released fifteen studio albums. In current times only two members of the original line-up are participating in the band, and those are Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

The Cure Is Not Releasing A Double Disk

The new album of the legendary British band The Cure is not going to be released on two disks as it was previously planned, says Aversion.

In the beginning of working with their 13th album the band’s leader Robert Smith was saying that he has enough of musical conent to release the double album. Nevertheless, it’s going to look traditional. A release of the new album, which still has no name should take place on September 13, 2008 (produced by Geffen/Universal). On May 13 The Cure had released the first single (“The Only One”) from the upcoming album. They have promised to keep on releasing singles on every 13th day of the month before their new album is ready to hit the stores.

Also, Robert Smith has told that all the unreleased tracks shall not be lost, and definitely should be heard in the future. Possibly there will be another release before Christmas (2008).  The Cure’s last album was made in 2004.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Obama Is Behind The Music

     

Democratic presidential candidate Barak Obama will take part in recording of the new Q-Tip’s album (a former leader of A Tribe Called Quest), writes The Guardian.

A disk “The Renaissance” which should be released in July 2008 is going to be the first Q-Tip’s album in nine years. Besides Obama there shall be more interesting people who may participate in a recording process.  Those may include D’Angelo, Norah Jones, and a former Q-Tip’s partner Raphael Saadiq.

A rapper who is supporting Obama on the following elections didn’t reveal all the details about this candidate’s participation in his music project. The only thing which is known for sure is that Obama will read some text in one of the songs.

Barak Obama is having big popularity among various show-business representatives. In particular, that sympathy list can look like this: Bruce Springsteen, Rodger Waters, Snoop Doog, Black Eyed Peas, R.E.M and Arcade Fire. Music is pumping from all over the place for him.

As notes Gigwise, recently Obama was backed by the indie-rockers The Decemberists, who have made a joint speech in Portland. This public gathering incorporated seventy five thousand men, outnumbering all the Democratic rallies that took place during this presidential campaign.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

The Smashing Pumpkins Goes Twenty

The Smashing Pumpkins is planning to make a documentary DVD and play a few concerts around America in dedication to their twentieth anniversary, says Pitchfork.

According to the leader of the band Billy Corgan,  The Smashing Pumpkins shall play in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and in some other cities this autumn. The exact dates are not known yet. Besides that, Corgan has talked about their new single which is going to be released on Christmas this year. Following his words the recording of The Smashing Pumpkins’ new album may start early next year.

The Smashing Pumpkins was founded in 1988 by  Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist-vocals D’arsy Wretzki and a drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. The band had released six albums and fell apart in 2000.  After six years of silence Corgan and Chamberlin have decided to reinvent The Smashing Pumpkins. This time the band had created the album “Zeitgeist” that was released in 2007 without any participation of the former two members.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Ivor Novello Awards 2008

London’s twenty second night of May 2008 was marked with the 53^rd Ivor Novello Awards ceremony – the prize given out by the British Composer’s Academy to the best songwriters.

As it says on the Novello Awards’ website the best song of the year became “Love is a Losing Game” written by Amy Winehouse for the album “Back to Black”.  However, she was a little late, and Amy’s award was received by her father Mitch Winehouse, notes BBC News.

The album of the year prize went to Radiohead’s “In Rainbows”. Musicians did not arrive at the ceremony because of their intensive touring in the US.

The best author-performer of the previous year turned to be a singer Mika. The most popular radio play song now belongs to the band Take That (a song “Shine”). The best selling out song went to “Beautiful Liar” performed by Beyonce and Shakira. The coolest soundtrack was written by Dario Marianelli for a movie “Atonement”.

The most special prizes were awarded to David Gilmour of Pink Floyd for a great contribution done in the world of music (mainly historical contribution), and Phil Collins (Genesis drummer and vocalist) for his great achievement on the foreign scene.

Ivor Novello Awards was founded in 1955 in dedication to an actor, singer and composer Ivor Novello who was one of the most popular singers in Great Britain during the first half of XX century.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Napster Is Trying To Fit

Music service Napster began to sell it’s tracks (in mp3 format) according to a new fixed price only, said Associated Press.  Similar business-model is used by Apple iTunes Store and Amazon MP3 who have made numerous agreements with all major record labels.

A new price  is going to be 99 cents per track. At iTunes the same music (without digital protection) is way more expensive. Amazon MP3 is selling music under equal price, but catalogue possessed by Napster contains six million songs. In contrast, Amazon contains only “nearly five”. The whole album at Napster is sold for nine dollars 95 cents.

Napster was created in 1999 as the first file-sharing network. Nevertheless, due to various legal conflicts it was closed. Later, under the brand name Napster 2.0 it had appeared again allowing listeners to download music for a certain price.  As of March 31 (this year) Napster had 760,000 users wordwide.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Red Hot Chili Peppers Are Taking Some Rest

Red Hot Chili Peppers have decided to make a rest from their career for at least one year. This news was given by the band’s vocalist Anthony Kiedis in his recent interview to Rolling Stone.

If following a musician’s words, their last work with the album “Stadium Arcadium” and the featured tour in support of it had taken too much energy, so they’re going for intermission in order not to be involved with anything what relates to the band.

Also, Kiedis has told Rolling Stone that the bassist Flea is ready to work on his playing techniques, guitarist John Frusciante may try a few solo projects, and a drummer Chad Smith left for Japan with some jazz-band.

Himself Anthony Kiedis is totally absorbed by rasing his seven months old son, and organizing the New American Music Festival, which is going to take place in Pittsburgh on 8–9 of August this year. He said that Bob Dylan and The Raconteurs have already agreed to participate.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Neil Diamond Stays On Top

Sixty seven year old American singer Neil Diamond has crawled to the top of the British music-hits chart with his new album  “Home Before Dark”, said BBC News.  During the previous week this disk went first in the American charts. 

Rock veteran, who has released his  debut album in 1966 went on top of the music charts on both sides of the Atlantic for the first time. This looks like some sort of the running race that took maximum time to reach a certain goal. However, it’s not really known if Diamond was actually trying to go on top.  Possibly he was trying it (?). 

The second place in the British charts is taken by the new band Pendulum with their album “In Silico”. Third “space” is given to a dance/pop artist Scooter with his disk “Jumping All Over The World”.

British “pure pop” hits chart was slightly changed since last week. Madonna’s song “4 Minutes” is being replaced by a group from Manchester Ting Tings with their “That’s Not My Name”. The queen of pop was also brought down by Rihanna with her new single “Take A Bow.”

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Bowie's Songs Will Inspire Theatre

David Bowie had agreed to allow his music become a source of inspiration and creative material in making of a musical, notes Gigwise. 

Danish director Peter Schaufuss is going to lead this idea into a reality.  A musical’s plot is based on fantasy-like scenario that was followed by the 1976 film “The Man Who Fell To Earth” where Bowie had presented himself in the main act. It looks like an upcoming musical shall recreate musician’s past, and connect it to the present (rhetorically or literally). Later Bowie had used his character’s image in making the album “Station To Station”.

Creators of a musical are planning to use various David Bowie’s songs from his early and recent years. Something creative is on approach that should blend music and theatre. The musical’s premier? is going to take place this autumn in Danmark.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Everclear Shall Visit Military Bases

Everclear had announced their new concert tour, which is including performance at the US military base in Guantanamo (Cuba), said New Musical Express.

A concert for military personnel that is guarding this infamous prison is going to take place on May 26 at the Memorial Day.  In recent years Guantanamo base turned to be the area for holding suspected terrorists. It remains to be the American territory since 1950’s.  The Memorial Day is traditionally celebrated on the last Monday of May.

Besides that, Everclear will perform at another base (American Marine Corps)  on the Hawaian island of Oahu. This event is going to occur on the Independence Day (4th of July).

Everclear’s frontmam Art Alexakis has noted that, “There are folks in uniform all over the world, and at home, looking out for us – and to play for them is an honour. Not a bad way to spend the holiday weekends. These two shows are important to the band.”

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Fatboy Slim Is Going Through Changes

Dj Norman Cook has decided to change his infamous pseudonym Fatboy Slim, which brought him incredible fame eleven years ago, said Digital Spy.

He explained his decision by the fact that ‘it’s time to change the stage image’. Cook refused to promulgate the name of his new project, jokingly noting that, “I’m going to take the Fifth Amendment on that question and not say because I’ll get myself into trouble.”

However, following the information given by New Musical Express the new album is going to be recorded under the title ‘Brighton Port Authority’.

It’s far from being the first time when Norman Cook is changing his stage name. Throughout different periods of his career he was presenting himself as The Housemartins, Beats International, Freakpower and Pizzaman (so far twenty various names). Cook is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as someone who was appearing on the British music hits list using different pseudonyms more than any one else.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Metallica Is Staying Online

Metallica had opened a special web site http://www.missionmetallica.com/  that will help them to show a recording process of their new album to anybody who is going to be interested in it, notes Billboard.

This site is planned to expose various videos made up in studio, songs and new photographs.  Wide possibilities and extras shall become available to those who won’t hesitate to pay, but the exact price is not known yet. These people may be the first ones to receive Metallica’s upcoming album.

The band’s new album will hit music stores in autumn of 2008. Long awaited work is in production process since the last spring (2007).

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Zak Starkey Is Leaving Oasis

Oasis drummer Zak Starkey is going to leave the band, says The Sun. Following various information sources there is certain and unbreakable tension between Starkey and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.

Starkey is a son of The Beatles’ legendary Ringo Starr. He was an unofficial member of Oasis since 2004, but not anymore. The Sun is noting that he is going to participate in recording of the band’s seventh studio album, and leave. Actual details of the problem that took place are not really known. This situation seems as if it was another rock n’ roll conflict between musicians.

Starkey is a third drummer in the history of Oasis. Before, this place was occupied by Tony McCarroll and Alan White. The release of their new album is planned for 2008.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Neil Young Gets His Own Spider

       

American biologist who discovered an unknown new type of spiders has decided to name it after the famous Canadian musician Neil Young – Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi, said AP.

Jason Bond from the East Carolina University has noted that he found this type of spiders last year in Alabama.

“As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice,” said Bond.

Neil Young is not the only musician who had received this kind of honour. In the beginning of 2008 a group of biologists found a new type of beatle, calling it Orectochilus orbisonorum after Roy Orbison and his widow Barbara.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Coldplay Is... Making It Popular

Nearly two million people have downloaded a new Coldplay’s single since it became available for free a week ago, said AFP following the words of the band’s press-secretary.

The song Violet Hill is the first track from their new album “Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends”, which is going to be officially released on June 12. Violet Hill is sold in music stores since Tuesday.  Producer of this album Brian Eno always gives very certain hopes that a new release is going to be great. 

Previous three albums sold ten million copies each.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Qtrax Is Making Deals

File sharing network Qtrax, which was promising it’s users legal and absolutely free music in return for advertising, had signed a contract with Universal (one of the biggest record labels), notes The Guardian.

A company is saying that their website will incorporate Universal’s music catalogue very soon. Right now Qtrax is offering only TVT Records’ music, and in the following few weeks it shall include tracks given by Beggars Banquet Records and Finetunes, said Wired.

Also, Qtrax is currently making deals with EMI Publishing and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, but their tracks are not available yet.

Before Qtrax was opened they were promising to make twenty five million music tracks available for free, and kept convincing that deals will be made with all major record labels.  Later, record companies like Warner, EMI and Universal have denied this information, and Qtrax was forced to stop free music uploading in order to escape legal problems.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Nine Inch Nails Goes Absolutely Free

The leader of Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor has said about a release of their new album. “The Slip” which is consisting ten songs is available for free at nin.com. Something absolutely great and super generous had happened.

In order to get the album one should leave an email address, and then simply wait for a couple of minutes until downloading links will arrive. “The Slip” is available in various digital formats: high quality mp3, FLAC, M4A and WAVE. Every version contains PDF-file with the album cover picture. Music stores shall get “The Slip” in June this year.

In March Nine Inch Nails had already spread it’s instrumental album “Ghosts I-IV” using Internet.  Last Sunday (just two days prior to a free release of “The Slip”) they’ve began to give away a new single “Echoplex” to the Facebook users.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Pete Doherty Is Out

On Tuesday the leader of the British rock-band Babyshambles Pete Doherty was released from jail ahead of schedule.  He was located in the London’s Wormwood Scrubs prison, said Sky News.

Following the given information a 29–year old musician spent in jail only 29 days out of fourteen weeks. Once being out Doherty has told journalists that his time spending “was full of gangsters and radio 4”, also he presented his drug testing certificate.

Just a reminder: last October an ex-boyfriend of Kate Moss has received a probation for possessing illegal drugs, but in April this year the court put him under the custody for not showing up on time to take regular drug tests.

The court’s verdict forced Doherty to cancel his solo concert in the London’s “Albert Hall” scheduled for April 26^th.  Nevertheless, Babyshambles are going to present themselves at the Glastonbury music festival on 27–29 of June. 

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

When Metallica Is Going To Release It's New Album?

Amazon.com has published some information about the new Metallica’s studio album, said NME.  At the same time musicians did not say anything about this release yet.  Another leak of information is very possible.

Following Amazon’s opinion, the 9^th Metallica’s album should hit the music stores on October 28, 2008. Metallica had started working on this album sometime in March last year.

Expactations that a single from the new album is going to be presented in the game Rock Band did not  come true so far. They were rumoured in December 2007. The unknown track was supposed to be available for free only to those who possess this game, but again nothing happened out of it. 

The last studio album produced by Metallica “St. Anger” was released in 2003.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Damon Albarn And The Chinese Choir

Ex-leader of Blur, The Good, and The Bad And The Queen frontman (also one of the members of Gorillaz) Damon Albarn is planning to record the solo album, which may involve 130 musicians.  This recored has no name yet, but one of the Damon’s helpers may include the Chinese choir consisted of one hundred men, said Gigwise.

Albarn promised “to put all efforts and his passion into this new task”.   A musicians didn’t tell other details about this project, except jokes that the album is going to be recorded in Chinese.

The new Damon Albarn’s album shall be ready for July this year.

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com

Handwritten "Give Peace A Chance" Is Going To Be Sold

John Lennon’s hand written text of the song “Give Peace a Chance” is going to be sold (July 10) at the Christie’s auction in London, said BBC News.

Following the words of a Christie’s representative this text belongs to the writer Gail Renard right now.  In 1969 she met with Lennon and Yoko Ono in Montreal at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, where a couple was making it’s famous “bed-in” protest after not getting an access to the US.  Renard’s reason for visiting them was an interview that eventually ended up in a long and interesting relationship.

The song “Give Peace a Chance” was written and recorded by Lennon in the hotel mentioned above.  Everybody took their part in the process of recording, including Gail Renard who was singing a little bit.

Christie’s is planning to sell some rare photographs that are also belong to Renard’s collection.  Whole lot is expected to make up to three hundred thousand pounds. 

A Source: ThatsJustMusic.com