Circuit-Bending your childhood toys

The process of circuit-bending involves taking cheaply available electronic soundmaking toys.. The Speak & Spell for example and adding extra wires, knobs and switches to make new connections between parts of the internal circuitry and chips.The roots of circuit-bending can be traced back to 1966 or 1967, when Reed Ghazala recorded using modified electronic devices. Since then Ghazala has continued to record and has written a number of articles on the process of cirrcuit bending. He has also built a number of circuit-bent devices for artists including Tom Waits, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson's Pat Mastalotto, Faust, Chris Cutler, Towa Tei, Yann Tomita, Peter Kember (Sonic Boom), Blur and many others. The sites listed are some of the best resources on the net.
Circuit Bending ... Circuit Benders UK ... Reed Ghazala

The White Stripes- Elephant (Third Man / V2 / XL)

Ryan Adams has already said that Elephant is the greatest rock n roll album ever recorded (laying to rest, once and for all, his spat with "cissy boy" Jack White). Jack White himself - well, Jack White thinks this is where The White Stripes get off. Nobody is going to buy Elephant. Or rather: the hordes that bought White Blood Cells - Jack White thinks they'll stay home this time. Or so he says. Elephant kickstarts with a pristine bass sound. "7 Nation Army". The first single to be. Whatever you say, however you approach this, you don't expect bass. The White Stripes are guitars and drums. Guitars and drums and occasional piano. They make a primal noise. That is what they do. The bass is just foolin', though (it's not bass at all - it's just an effect - it's just gee-tar). Jack White is here with a voice fizzing like magnesium in water: "Everybody knows about it from the Queen of England to the hounds of hell". Oh yeah. This is rock'n'roll, pure and simple, all you need to know. When that boy White sings "I'm going to Wichita . . ." you sure as shit want to be on the same train . . . He whistles and he whines and he roars and he spits - he is everything Black Francis was back in the day. Not that elephant is some great departure from their past work but it's still some of the best damn music you can buy today. Elephant comes out tomorrow..

'THIEF' CAUGHT ONLINE!

RADIOHEAD 's new album 'HAIL TO THE THIEF' has appeared online - and JONNY GREENWOOD has played down suggestions the album title is a direct attack on GEORGE W BUSH .Over the weekend, the band's sixth album was leaked onto the Internet, prompting fans across the globe to download it. This morning (March 31), bandmember Jonny Greenwood made an appearance on the official Radiohead messageboard, where he said he was "surprised" the record was online, months before its official June 9 release date. When asked what was up, he jokingly replied "the album, apparently". "Colin (Greenwood ) called and said it was up, so thought I'd check," he wrote. "I feel bemused, not annoyed. I'm glad people like it, most of all. It's a little earlier than we'd expected, but there it is. Surprised, and still not used to it happening, even after all these years. I worry more that stuff we do won't get released for whatever obscure reason, and I hate the 3 month gap between finish and release. But not enough to leak it myself!" Speaking about the album title, Greenwood said they liked the title 'Hail To The Thief' , which is a line on the opening song '2+2=5' , in a more general way. As we revealed last week, the phrase was also an anti- George W Bush slogan used by protesters at the end of the controversial election campaign that put him into the White House .

Desktop DJ

Your desk job sucks but that cube confinement can be a helluva lot sweeter with the WD-1 DJ Trainer, a fab little web based virtual sampler will all the silly shouts, claps, guitars licks and casio style beats that you can handle. From the two sound banks of precut beats users can mix up their beats in nothing flat.. Too much fun.. Check it out HERE

Beatles Anthology on DVD

This week sees the long-awaited DVD release of "The Beatles Anthology" which includes the original eight episodes of the "Anthology" as well as 81 minutes of special features, including previously unreleased footage of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr jamming together in the studio for the first time since 1970. The bonus footage encompasses interviews and candid conversations with McCartney, Harrison, and Starr over a 12-month period, including recording sessions at Abbey Road studios and private meetings to discuss the project. The DVD will also feature upgraded picture quality and remastered audio, including 5.1 surround sound.

Boy Howdy !

That's right folks.. back from the grave.. Creem Magazine is BACK.. Maybe they are going for the whole retro thing.. Who knows.. Let's just hope they hire some real writers. Hell they were king in the 70's let's hope that they can do it again!!

VIC CHESNUTT

Singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt has a keen eye for the bizarre. Confined to a wheelchair since the age of 18, when he got drunk and rolled his car into a rural Georgia ditch, Chesnutt has spent the years since banging out oddly profound folk-pop songs. His quirky tales of the back-porch culture of the American South have made him a favorite among legions of rock acts, including R.E.M., Live, Garbage and many others. Vic Chesnutt seems to take as much inspiration from writers as he does from musicians. His West of Rome album shares its name with a John Fante book, he often mentions novelists in interviews, and one time when I saw him play live he leapt into a 15-minute story about meeting Gregory Corso and told jokes about Allen Ginsburg. Chesnutt's music suggests these influences as well, yet not in the way you might expect. When writers refer to music as "literary", they more often than not mean big words or vocals that are more spoken than sung. Chesnutt's songs aren't literary in that sense, yet he taps into many of the same storytelling talents that make the best writers so good: a heightened sense of detail, a perspective on life that is distinctly his own, and a way of conveying emotion through stories and images more than straight-out confessions. Vic Chesnutt will be playing the Echo Lounge in Atlanta, Ga on Friday April 4th. Check out Vic's website

Letterman to return next week:

Comedian David Letterman will return next week to host his CBS late-night show for the first time since he was sidelined in late February by a case of shingles, the network said Friday. The 55-year-old star of the "Late Show with David Letterman" last appeared February 25, when he complained on the air about the visible inflammation of his right eye, which turned out to have been caused by shingles, a viral infection related to chickenpox. Actor Bruce Willis, tennis star John McEnroe and TV personality Regis Philbin filled in as the "Late Show" guest hosts for the rest of that week. Repeats aired while the program was on a production hiatus the following week, and a parade of additional guests subbed for Letterman on those nights when his show was not preempted by CBS college basketball coverage. Overall "Late Show" ratings during Letterman's absence, his first since recuperating from open-heart surgery in early 2000, were mixed, and CBS hoped for a big tune-in for his first night back. Guests will include comedian Billy Crystal and 18-year-old world whistling champion Michael Barimo. Letterman plans to host all episodes of his show throughout the week. Insiders said swelling around Letterman's eye cleared up relatively soon, but lingering pain associated with the infection is what kept him away for so long. Before his heart operation, Letterman had never missed an appearance in his more than 20 years of late-night television.

CARVER- part automobile- part motorcycle.

Steer it like a car and the Carver will bank like a motorcycle. The fully automatic hydraulic-mechanical DVC system makes this exciting kind of driving possible, lending itself very well to a sporty driving style. Enjoy the steering and feel how responsive DVC balances the vehicle body for you, banking to the exact natural angle. Its low weight and aerodynamic design allows the modern 4 cylinder 65 bhp engine to take CARVER in 8.2 seconds to 100 km/hour and to a top speed of 180 km/hour. So cool.. I want one now.. This reminds me of the sportier version of the Robin Reliant.

Family Time Lapse:

As if school pictures weren't enough. On June 17th, every year, the family goes through a private ritual: we photograph ourselves to stop a fleeting moment, the arrow of time passing by.

DOPE FIENDS

Legendary psychobilly punks THE CRAMPS are set to release their first album in five years next month, and are touring now. The band, who formed in 1975 and are famous for their insane rock 'n' roll performances at the New York punk venue CBGBs , will release 'Fiends of Dope Island' on April 21. Frontman Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy have written a set of "incantational hexes" with titles such as 'Big Black Witchcraft Rock' and 'Dopefiend Boogie'. A spokesperson for the band said the record is a "musical equivalent of a 13 car pile-up. It is animal music, all primal urge and J.D. madness." Founding member and guitarist, Bryan Gregory died of pneumonia in 2001 at the age of 46.

Youth's Moore Protests Online Cat Power, Beasties contribute anti-war songs to Protest Records

Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore has launched a new Web site, Protest-Records.com, offering free MP3s of anti-war songs. Among the songs now available on the site are Cat Power's "Rockets" and "Maybe Not," the Beastie Boys' "In a World Gone Mad," Stephan Smith's "Business," Eugene Chadbourne's "New New New War War War," and a nine-minute cover of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" by Geraldine Fibbers' frontwoman Carla Bozulich with drummer Scott Amandola (formerly of T.J. Kirk). Anne Waldman's poem "Rogue State" is also featured. According to the Protest-Records.com's mission statement, the site "exists for musicians, poets and artists to express love and liberty in the face of greed, sexism, racism, hate-crimes and war. Fight the good fight."

TAPE OP Magazine

Tape Op is a free magazine dedicated to futhering the art of recording .. Be it at home or in a studio. I still can't believe this mag is free.. It has some amazing recording tips, equipment reviews, DIY building projects and interviews with some of the most important people in recording today.. previous issues have had Steve Albini, Mark Linkous, Dave Barbe, John Glens, Dave Sardy and many many more. Do yourself and favor and sign up today. Hell it's free what have you got to lose !!! To get a free subscription to TAPE OP.. CLICK HERE

R.E.M. 'unites voices'on tour, in best-of set

More than 20 years after Radio Free Europe relayed the arrival of R.E.M., the band is plotting a twin-pronged campaign to salute its past and embrace the now. A best-of set, spanning the Warner era that began with 1988's Green through new tune Bad Day , is due Sept. 30th, midway through the band's first U.S. tour since 1999. Michael Stipe, Mike Mills and Peter Buck will be joined on the road by Scott McCaughey (the Minus 5), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) and Bill Rieflin, filling in for retired drummer Bill Berry. The first of 25 confirmed dates is Sept. 1 in Seattle. (The full itinerary is at remhq.com .) Despite concerns about piracy, R.E.M. (the most bootlegged act behind the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan) intends to unveil fresh material currently under construction for a 2004 studio album that will entail an extensive tour. Recording in Vancouver since September, the Athens, Ga., trio finished more than 15 songs and has nearly 10 more in the works. "We've completed a good album, but we're going for great," Stipe says. "We still think in terms of whole albums, not a collection of one or two singles with a lot of filler."

John Lennon's childhood home opens

John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool has been opened to the public by his widow Yoko Ono. Lennon lived at Mendips, in Menlove Avenue, Woolton, with his Aunt Mimi from the age of five to 23. The semi-detached house was donated to the National Trust by his widow, Yoko Ono, in March 2002. On Thursday, Ono officially opened the semi-detached house and said that "the spirit that changed the world profoundly has been remembered in this familiar place". The small bedroom where Lennon spent hours playing his guitar has been recreated, with 45rpm singles by Elvis Presley and a poster of The King on the wall. Lennon and McCartney composed The Beatles' first UK number one, Please Please Me in his Aunt Mimi's bedroom. It gives me great pleasure to see Mendips restored as a permanent memory of a place that formed him and his amazing talents Yoko Ono Take a tour of the Mendips The house is close to his childhood haunt Strawberry Field - a Salvation Army children's home that he later immortalized in a song. Lennon often practiced his guitar in the front porch while his early band, The Quarrymen, and later The Beatles, also rehearsed there, "And it gives me great pleasure to see Mendips restored as a permanent memory of a place that formed him and his amazing talents." Ono asked that the house be preserved as it was when Lennon lived there so people can glimpse the early experiences that helped inspire his genius.

Not Another Reality Show: Ex-Guns N' Roses Members Document Singer Search

The band has yet to decide upon a name or a lead singer, but they've already got a TV show in the works. What's commonly being referred to as "The Project" — a regrouping of ex-Guns N' Roses members — is being documented by VH1 as a behind-the-scenes look at how the band gets constructed, from the songwriting, singer search and studio sessions to whatever the end result may be. But don't call the constant swirl of TV cameras monitoring Slash's re-pairing with Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum a "reality show." "That sounds exciting," Slash said, "but realistically, 'documentary' and 'reality' are two different things, and when you say 'reality show,' it just sounds stupid, as far as I'm concerned. There's something inherently wrong with the whole concept of reality shows. With the whole slew of reality things that are going on right now, watching everybody's trials and tribulations, the stupidest aspects of everyday life, or whatever it is that goes on, usually border on stupidity." Instead, Slash has classic rock documentaries — "backstage stuff from Zeppelin, that kind of thing" — in his mind's eye, though he concedes that he doesn't exactly know how this will turn out (neither, by the way, does VH1, as it's still a work in progress). People this may turn out to be the saddist thing I have seen in music.. other than of course the "New GnR"

Super single in the works??

THE STROKES and THE WHITE STRIPES are planning to release a joint single, Following the bands’ gigs together in New York, Detroit and the Carling Weekend, they are now close to teaming up on what would become one of the most collectable singles of all time. The news was revealed by White Stripes singer and guitarist Jack White at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York. White said that after their Reading and Leeds appearances last week, Julian Casablanca's suggested the Strokes record a double A-side single with the Stripes."They want to split a 45," said Jack as he and sister Meg walked the red carpet prior to star-studded ceremony at Radio City Music Hall. Just two weeks earlier the two bands wowed a sold-out audience in a double-header gig at the same theatre. For the finale, Jack joined The Strokes to play the guitar solo to 'New York City Cops'. "We’re thinking about it - it would be cool," Jack said of the joint recording plans.

The D4- 6Twenty (Hollywood Records)

Lots of bands try to strip away the excess, but singer-guitarist Jimmy Christmas of New Zealand's D4 can't even be bothered with real lyrics -- for most of 6Twenty, he merely barks out variations of "Come on!" and "Rock & roll!" or "Oh, yeah!," then drowns them in a fuzzy guitar blast straight outta the MC5. Meanwhile, his bandmates blitz through their blues-punk-garage-rock playbook on hyperdrive -- when an organ sneaks in during "Ladies Man," it's just distracting. Minimalism can be tiring, so the group has a secret weapon: solos, of all shapes and sizes, scattered at random. The drummer, Beaver, actually works in his triple-time percussion bomb at the beginning of the anthem "Party" before the band even plugs in. After all, why wait for the good stuff? The D4 is the real deal.. They are touring all over the USA and europe.. Check them out.. You will be glad you did... The D4 website is HERE

New Super Furry Animals record and DVD on the way.

Welsh rock act Super Furry Animals will return this summer with their sixth studio album, "Phantom Power," due July 15 in North America and a day earlier internationally from XL Recordings/Beggars Group. The album, like its predecessor "Rings Around the World," will be released simultaneously with a companion DVD version.

The White Stripes TV and Tour

The White Stripes will overtake NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" next month for musical performances on four consecutive nights, according to a spokesperson. Beginning April 22, the Detroit rock duo will play a different song each night, including material from its new Third Man/V2 album "Elephant," due Tuesday (April 1). First single "Seven Nation Army" is No. 19 in its fourth week on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks tally.

Sex Pistols 'Certain' for U.S. Summer Dates

Groundbreaking punks the Sex Pistols have confirmed they will be playing concert dates this summer in America and Japan. Although no dates or venues have been announced, Los Angeles punk band Flogging Molly is heavily rumored to support some of the shows. The Pistols haven't toured the U.S. since 1996, which marked their first reunion since their late 1970s heyday.

Fellow Funk Enthusiasts,

We are proud to introduce DAPTONE RECORDS, the new first source for the heaviest and most soulful Funk, and Afrobeat 45's. With a stable of musicians and producers that previously made up the Sound and Soul of the former funk champion Desco Records, Daptones new line of Funk 45's are second to none. Listen folks.. Its 2003 and this Brooklyn NY label puts out 99% 45rpm vinyl and they have two 12" / CD releases. This is the REAL DEAL.. Total old school 60s / early 70s funk/soul.. Totally mindblowing stuff. and get this.. These bands are around TODAY. Their top act The Sugarman 3 are playing The Echo Lounge in Atlanta on monday 4/28 they are also on tour all over america. Check out their website HERE for all the details. This is a total jewel of the musical world.. DON'T MISS OUT... Also check out the Sugarman 3 website.

Today's Birthdays: Nena (1960), Teddy Pendergrass (1950), Steven Tyler (1948), Diana Ross (1944), Al Jolson (1886)

The Strokes begin sophomore effort:

The Strokes have begun work on their sophomore RCA album in a New York recording studio with producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck). According to an E-mail to fans from the group's manager, Ryan Gentles, the Strokes plan to record two unnamed songs with Godrich, and, "if both parties feel things are going well after trying two songs, they'll continue on and record the album with Nigel. If they decide that it just isn't working out, it's back to the drawing board." The Strokes/Godrich pairing has been rumored for months as the Strokes have been writing material for the new album, which could be out as early as August or September. Gentles said the band will definitely record new songs debuted on recent tours, including "The Way It Is," "I Can't Win," "Meet Me in the Bathroom," and "You Talk Way Too Much." "In addition, there are a crop of new songs, never played live, that will be recorded over the following weeks for the album," Gentles said. "These songs will be recorded, but who knows. If the band isn't happy with the recorded versions, they may opt not to release them. So it's too early to speculate what song titles will make the final release." The new album will be the follow-up to the Strokes' acclaimed 2001 debut "Is This It," which peaked at No. 33 on The Billboard 200 and has sold more than 870,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Sparklehorse---

Sweet and tranquil, SparkleHorse dribbles out delicate melodies that bring to mind the slower tracks on a Velvet Underground album. An acoustic guitar patiently draws out chords beneath the lead singer's distant voice. Yet, the slight unattachment evident between the vocal tune and accompanying harmony actually produce the sense that the singer is screaming from somewhere inside of his body.. This is one of the many moods on Sparklehorse leader Mark Linkous. From the quiet whisper of an acoustic to the fuzzed out rage of a marshall the soundtrack of Sparklehorse is one of total awe. Check them Friday night at The Echo Lounge with local heroes The Roy Owens Jr. and Tragic Plastic.

International Hit-Makers

Atlanta based indy record label International Hits have a great write up in the new Creative Loafing, Atlantas free weekly paper. Read the whole story here. To find out more about International Hits just click the link on the left under the recommended section.

'Fear Yourself' Finds Daniel Johnston Feeling Blessed.

On his 20th album, lo-fi veteran Daniel Johnston has teamed with a new collaborator for a new sound: Sparklehorse principal Mark Linkous, who produced the set and brought a new fidelity to Johnston's songs. The result, "Fear Yourself," will be released March 25 on Gammon and distributed by Shelter-Caroline. "He's one of the godfathers of lo-fi," Gammon co-owner Jordan Trachtenberg explains. "He started with a piano plus a $59 boom box and $1 cassette tape." Johnston's career began two decades ago with a series of cassettes he recorded at home, beginning with the 1981 set "Songs of Pain." Initially distributing his tapes to appreciative friends in his native Texas, he developed a cult following that has included such notables as Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, and David Bowie, who contributed a quote to the liner notes. The album finds Johnston, a longtime sufferer of manic depression, in unusually good form, thanks to new medication. "I'm feeling better than ever," he says. "It's a blessing."

New Cracker record on the way:

Veteran modern rock act Cracker will release a new studio album, "Oh Cracker, Where Art Thou?," on May 6th through Pitch-A-Tent Records. The follow up to 2002's "Forever" is the first of two new records set to be issued this year through the label, which is owned by the group's frontman, David Lowery (Camper Van Beethoven). The second, titled "Countrysides," is planned for a July release. Pitch-A-Tent records has been managed for the last 7 years by the amazing booker of the 40 watt club in Athens, Ga. Velena Vega.

Folk Implosion Returns:

The reconfigured Folk Implosion will take their aptly titled new album, The New Folk Implosion, on the road, they are on tour now and will be playing in Atlanta at The Echo Lounge Wednesday night. With departure of co-founding member John Davis, Lou Barlow has added guitarist Imaad Wasif and drummer Russell Pollard -- who also perform as Alaska -- to the band ( The shows opening act ). The band has changed direction, too, recording its latest set live, a deliberate departure from 1999's lush, computerized One Part Lullaby. "I really like the way it sounds," Barlow says. "I wanted there to be more of a live band behind it. After I'd finished One Part Lullaby, and had some distance from it, I thought it was a little too produced, a little too layered. I just wanted to strip some things away. I think you can great sounding stuff on the computer. But this way, when we went into the studio, I forced myself into really working the songs out." Lou Barlow is formally of Dinosaur Jr. and Sebadoh. Folk Implosion is best known for their soundtrack to the movie KIDS and the hit single 'Natural One'..

THIS DAY IN MUSIC:

1942 - Aretha Franklin is born in Memphis, Tenn. In 1987 she becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her hits include "Respect," "Chain of Fools" and "Think."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: NICK LOWE (b.1949)

DJ SHADOW / De La ROCHA Anti-War Song.

Former RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE singer ZACK DE LA ROCHA and his DJ SHADOW have made their objection the US led war against Iraq known by recording a song called 'MARCH OF DEATH'. The track has been made available for free download here, and is expected to appear de la Rocha's debut solo album, due for release later this year.

RADIOHEAD's sixth album is titled 'HAIL TO THE THIEF'.

The new Radiohead album, which was recorded in Oxfordshire and Los Angeles, will be released on June 9th. Of the 14 tracks on the record, only two, 'Backdrifts' and 'The Gloaming' are unfamiliar to hardcore fans - the rest were premiered on the band's recent tour of Spain and Portugal. The first single from the record, 'There There', will be released on May 26th.

SHUT UP LITTLE MAN !!

The Shut Up Little Man recordings feature the belligerent rants, hateful harangues, drunken soliloquies, and audible fistfights of Raymond and Peter -- two booze-swilling homicidal roommates in a low-rent area of San Francisco. These recordings were made by their frustrated and much-bereaved next door neighbors, Eddie Lee Sausage and Mitchell D. This web site contains nothing but profane language. If you are not age 18, if you don't drink at least 4 liters of wine a day, if you don't know how to use any weapon there is, or do not claim to be 'the human race,' then please shut your fuckin' mouth and go to Disney's web site.

MARK RYDEN

Mark Ryden's paintings instantly trigger a warped deja vu. His work recalls a parallel universe of 1950s Golden Books and the whimsy of Lewis Carroll. His cheery bunnies, rendered in the glowing hues of childrens books, are likely to be carving slabs of meat rather than frolicking in the forest. Rydens work mingles superb technique with outre images to create a world of strange and disturbing beauty. At once intriguing and unsettling, baffling and enchanting, [Rydens] works ... are subtle amalgams of many sources and influences as wide-ranging as Psychedelic and Vienna School artists Neon Park and Ernst Fuchs, to classical French formalists Ingres and David.

Pete Townshend clear of charges?

PeteTownshend may yet avoid a high-profile trial for alleged child porn offences, according to reports. Townshend was arrested earlier this year, as part of 'Operation Ore' - a U.K. crackdown on people accessing child porn - for allegedly making and possessing indecent images with incitement to distribute them. The legend behind The Who, who was arrested in January, has always protested his innocence, claiming he only accessed sites on one occasion for research purposes. Legal observers now claim that if it's proved Townshend only visited sites once and that his computer does not contain any further images, he should be liable for nothing more than a warning. The rumoured deal would involve a caution for the lesser charge of having illegally downloaded child pornography. But crucially, Townshend would have to admit guilt and the charge would then go on his permanent record. Prosecutors have made no comment on the deal but Townshend has signalled he is eager for a speedy resolution to the matter. In a message posted he said: "I hope that the police make their decision very soon, so that after that I will be able to communicate with you again more fully. Townshend is said to have visited the site for research for an upcoming book. Townshend does have dated material proving this as well.

Sonic Youth to play series of chamber concerts.

Sonic Youth has confirmed a series of upcoming live appearances, beginning with an April 12 benefit concert at the Anthology Film Archives in New York. Proceeds from the gig will be donated to the family of filmmaker Stan Brakhage, who died March 9. The Sonic Youth Web site reveals that the concert "will be an intimate, predominantly instrumental 'chamber concert,' with an assortment of Brakhage films screened during the performance."

FIGHT CLUB

Ex-CLASH guitarist MICK JONES has recorded his first material in ten years - and it's an anti-war song. The star has teamed up with former Generation X and Sigue Sigue Sputnik member Tony James for the song 'Why Do Men Fight?'. Alan McGee's record label website, poptones.co.uk has reported that the duo "ain't a band, they're just good mates". Jones and James reportedly have an interest in the free streaming of tracks on the Internet, and approached McGee about posting the song on his site. The song 'Why Do Men Fight' is available to download on poptones.co.uk

Queens of the Stone Age in it for long haul.

Queens of the Stone Age frontman Mark Lanegan spoke about how despite the side projects for the group members, they are in it for the long haul. "This band is the picture of mental health compared to [his former band the Screaming Trees]," he said. "There's a huge difference between this and any other situation that I've been in, in that we're all friends. We all like the tunes; we all hang out when we're not making music... We go to movies, we go out to eat, talk (stuff) about rock journalists and record company people. I couldn't have dreamt up a better scenario for myself. I enjoy the hell out of it. I get to travel the world with pretty much my best friends, and work hard 10 minutes a night, and that's it."

Sahara Hotnights wants the Swedish Invasion to go away

Even now with things dying down surrounding the Swedish Invasion hype brought to Sahara Hotnights, Maria Andersson says that the group still feels a bit haunted by the fact that they carry Swedish passports. "Honestly, I wish it would all go away." Theres still a lot of talk about the Swedish Invasion, but thankfully I dont think people care about that as much anymore. Hopefully people are smart enough not to believe the hype and just try things for themselves." The so called "Swedish Invasion" has brought the world. The Hives, The Hellacopters, Division of Laura Lee, Sahara Hotnights, Soundtrack of our Lives and many others.

America Suddenly Interested in Rocket from the Crypt

After well over a decade of being virtually ignored by radio and television, Rocket from the Crypt made their network TV debut recently on the Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn. "Somebody must have cancelled at the last minute," sax player Apollo 9 joked to kingblind.com. "No, I really don't know. You'd think it would have happened a long time ago, wouldn't you? For years America doesn't want anything to do with us, and then suddenly there we are."

Here are 10 things to consider when voicing an opinion on the Iraq war:

1) Between President Bush and Saddam Hussein ... Hussein is the bad guy.

2) If you have faith in the United Nations to do the right thing keep this
in mind, they have Libya heading the Committee on Human Rights and Iraq
heading the Global Disarmament Committee. Do your own math here.

3) If you use Google search and type in "french military victories," your
reply will be "did you mean french military defeats?"

4) If your only anti-war slogan is "no war for oil," sue your school
district for allowing you to slip through the cracks and robbing you of the
education you deserve.

5) Saddam and Bin Laden will not seek United Nations approval before they
try to kill us.

6) Despite common belief, Martin Sheen is not the president. He plays one on
t.v.

7) Even if you are anti-war, you are still an "infidel!" and Bin Laden wants
you dead, too.

8) If you believe in a "vast right-wing conspiracy" but not in the danger
that Hussein poses, quit hanging out with the Dell computer dude.

9) We are not trying to liberate them.

10) Whether you are for military action or against it, our young men and
women overseas are fighting for us to defend our right to speak out. We all
need to support them without reservation.

The international music industry has already begun to feel the effect of the war in Iraq. Bands such as matchbox twenty, Tenacious D, and Blindside have postponed European tours, while U.S. tour on-sale dates for Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles have also been pushed back. In Monte Carlo, organizers of the 15th World Music Awards have reportedly moved the event from April 24 to October.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC:
1994: Bruce Springsteen wins a Best Original Song Oscar for "Streets of Philadelphia" from the movie "Philadelphia." The song is the first Springsteen has ever written directly for a film.

Blixa Bargeld to leave Bad Seeds

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' guitarist Blixa Bargeld has announced that he has left the band. As a member of the very first incarnation of The Bad Seeds, Bargeld has played alongside, and recorded with, Nick Cave for almost twenty years. Bargeld said, "This has been a very difficult decision for me and I have spent a great deal of time thinking about it. My leaving has nothing to do with artistic or personal differences with the band. I just feel it is time to concentrate on other creative areas in my life." Bargeld's departure will enable him to devote more time to his varied and expanding list of projects and interests outside of The Bad Seeds including fronting Einstürzende Neubauten as well as his work in film and theatre. Einstürzende Neubauten will tour in the U.S., Europe, and Australia later this year. Nick Cave lamented, "We have parted as friends and we will miss him dearly". Mick Harvey, also a founding member of the band, added "Blixa is irreplaceable. Sadly, we'll have to learn to get along without him." The Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds shows currently scheduled for early summer will proceed as planned but without Bargeld. A very select run of North American dates is in the works and will be announced very soon

Mini Air Hockey

It's a bit like hockey, only with MINIs and other vehicles instead of sticks. There's still a puck, though, so get shoving! It's Fun !!

CMJ Scandal Brewing

New York-based CMJ magazine (College Music Journal) has admitted to altering its published playlists. The respected college magazine monitors airplay on college radio stations and provides the music industry with key data on what college kids across the country are listening to. However lately, college radio station programmers, who pay CMJ to publish their playlists, have said that it has been inaccurate, stating that the magazine has been adding its own compilation CD titled Certain Damage onto the lists. This is an album that record labels pay $3000 per track for CMJ to produce and give out. Has the generally esteemed publication damaged its credibility for good? Already there are rumblings that record labels will pull advertising from the magazine.

KICK OUT THE JEANS!

surviving MC5 guitarist WAYNE KRAMER has defended his decision to reform the DETROIT garage rockers at a LEVIS sponsored gig in LONDON last week. Many MC5 fans were unhappy to see the band promoting a Levis MC5 line of clothing at the 100 Club on March 13. On Kramer's website, waynekramer.com, fans slammed Kramer for "rolling in the bucks" and just "playing to the music industry". However, Kramer said corporate sponsorship for gigs is now a reality.He said: "Moving musicians around the world, recording, promoting and distributing records and all related activities is an expensive undertaking. "In the past, record companies covered the cost of much of this, but that's not the case today. "If you don't fit into the mega-hit formula of MTV you must find alternative ways to get to your audience," he added. Kramer performed classic MC5 rockers such as 'Kick Out the Jams' and 'Skunk (Sonically Speaking)' with other surviving members, Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC:

1982: Randy Rhoads, the lead guitarist for heavy metal star Ozzy Osbourne, is killed when the plane in which he is flying buzzes Osbourne's tour bus and crashes into a house in Leesburg, Fla. He is 25.

Mia Zapata (The Gits) killer has been caught:
A Florida man charged in the 1993 strangling of Seattle musician Mia Zapata (The Gits) will not fight extradition to Washington state. Jesus Mezquia, 48, who is being held without bail in Miami on first-degree murder charges, will not contest the transfer, said Elliot Snyder, his lawyer.

MOCK STARS

Top resource for the hottest tribute bands in the world.. So funny for so many reasons..

Mark Romanek shoots music videos & made the film one hour photo.

His site contains all his best music videos. From Bowie to Jagger to Jacko and More. Enjoy

Anti-War protestors in Sydney Austrailia climbed onto the Opera House and wrote this

Rapper makes his own rims

Heavyweight rapper Fat Joe knows a thing or two about round things -- you know, donuts, pizza, deep-fried heads of lettuce -- so it's not altogether surprising that he's found a way to make some cash off the (so to speak) sphere. Joe will introduce a new line of high-end, crystal-studded luxury car rims early next year, all the better to fill the under-served niche, er, people who're too lazy to walk around flashing jewelry at passersby, we guess. Joe's twenty-two-inch rims are guaranteed to hold up to even the heftiest payload -- although the ability to pass through those White Castle drive-thrus may well be compromised .

Video for the Johnny Cash song "HURT"

Beautiful video. Quicktime 32mb. Yes this is a NIN song. And yes he out does the original

Outkast's Andre 3000 Gets Down With Norah Jones, Big Boi Takes Us To 'Church'

If you're one of those Outkast fans who've been scratching their heads, questioning why you haven't seen Dre at most of the group's public appearances of late, it's because he's been in the studio trying to uphold his side of the bargain. Andre 3000 is only about 80 percent done with his solo album, which is going to be included in the ATL's duo's double LP, Outkast Present ? Big Boi and Dre. Now being scheduled for release around Memorial Day, the other half of the album is, of course, Big Boi's solo opus. Of what he has finished, Dre has politicked collaborations from this year's Grammy golden girl Norah Jones and fellow newcomer Vivian Green. Meanwhile, Big Boi, who has been done with his record for weeks, has guest appearances from Jay-Z, the Dungeon Family, Twista and Killer Mike. Both Outkast partners will also have a couple of cameo spots on each other's albums. The group handled much of the production itself. The first singles will be out within the next couple of weeks. Big Boi's song is called "Church" and Dre's cut is titled "Prototype." According to the group's manager, Big Boi's "Church" bears an aural resemblance to the organ-driven "Ms. Jackson" and "Rosa Parks," while Dre's record has a style that's just as unpredictable as he is. Always thinking about raising the bar, Outkast are planning to shoot a 30-minute mini movie with Brian Barber in the next couple of weeks in either L.A. or Phoenix. The film will include videos for both "Church" and "Prototype."

Sub-Pop release comp celebrating 15 years of music
*******
Independent Seattle record label Sub Pop will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary with the compilation album, Terminal Sales -- Sub Pop Records 1988-2003: Celebrating 15 Years of Great Records. Sub Pop began in 1988 and helped launch Seattle's grunge movement, releasing albums from Nirvana, Mudhoney and Soundgarden. The album, so called because Sub Pop's offices were originally located in Seattle's "Terminal Sales Building" is a two-disc chronological collection of greatest hits and rarities from the last fifteen years, including previously unreleased-on-CD tracks and some singles that were originally released as part of Sub Pop's Singles Club. Among the artists included are: Sebadoh, Beachwood Sparks, Sunny Day Real Estate, the Shins, Sonic Youth, Mudhoney, Iron & Wine, Soundgarden, the White Stripes, Ugly Casanova, Les Savy Fav, Hot Hot Heat, Rapeman, Nirvana, the Murder City Devils, Bright Eyes, and Ween.

MC5 reform for London show:

"We are not the MC5," announced founding MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer during a Thursday press conference at London's 100 Club. "This is not an MC5 show. This is not an MC5 reunion. It's a celebration of the music of the MC5." At the club that night, the band's surviving members -- Kramer, bassist Michael Davis and drummer David "Machine Gun" Thompson -- played their first live gig together in thirty years, and such MC5 disciples as Motorhead's Lemmy, the Damned's Dave Vanian and the Stone Roses' Mani helped them celebrate the reunion."If tonight's performance is good there might be another record here," continued Kramer. Of course, the irony that the MC5 members were reuniting to help launch Levi's new line of vintage clothing was as loud as their ferocious guitars. "I like the product and I have no problem being here," offered Davis during the press conference.
The choice of venue was no accident, as the 100 Club was the site of the first English punk festival in September 1976 -- featuring the Sex Pistols, the Damned, the Clash, the Buzzcocks and Suzie (later to become Siouxsie) and the Banshees -- considered by many rock historians as the springboard of the U.K. punk explosion. And so was the 300-strong audience. With Nicke Royale, from Swedish garage punk band the Hellacopters, filling in for Fred "Sonic" Smith (who died in 1994) on guitar, and a two-piece horn section -- saxophonist Ralph "Buzzy" Jones and trumpeter Dr. Charles Moore, who played on the band's third album, High Times -- the band blazed through a ninety-minute high-octane set that cherry-picked from their classic albums. Lemmy thundered through "Sister Anne" and "Back in the USA." Vanian looked as vampirical as ever as he tore into "Tonight," "Looking At You" and "High School," and newcomer Kate O'Brien tackled "Let Me Try." During the first encore, Ian Astbury took some time out from being Jim Morrison in the newly reformed Doors to sing a rousing version of the "Kick Out the Jams," and after the final chord sounded from "Black to Comm," the crowd mingled as Mani from the Stone Roses spun records.

Two Ramones Films Due- Rare interviews, performance footage unearthed:

A pair of Ramones-related documentaries -- End of the Century: The Ramones Story and Hey! Is Dee Dee Home?, a profile of bassist Dee Dee Ramone -- will debut at the Tribeca Film Festival this May. End of the Century, which features interviews with members of the Clash, Blondie, Sex Pistols and surviving Ramones members, was co-directed by first-time filmmakers Michael Gramaglia and Jim Fields. The documentary begins with the pre-Ramones era in 1968 and holds a tight focus on the band's first years, concluding with the group's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002 and Dee Dee's death later that year. "They really did grow up together," says Gramaglia. "Johnny beat up the other Ramones on the playground, until they became a band. They were as close to a family as you can get. It becomes more than a bunch of guys who don't get along, it becomes brothers. It's like a rock & roll version of The Godfather, the disintegration of the family." A former employee in the Ramones' accountant's office who had previously dabbled in film, Gramaglia first approached guitarist Johnny Ramone about the idea for the documentary in 1994, but cameras didn't roll until five years later. Featuring unseen live and studio footage, along with extensive interviews with the various incarnations of the group, the film was independently financed, with the directors hopeful for a full theatrical release down the line.

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DIALTONES (A Telesymphony)
Dialtones is a large-scale concert performance whose sounds are wholly produced through the carefully choreographed dialing and ringing of the audience’s own mobile phones. Because the exact location and tone of each participant’s mobile phone can be known in advance, Dialtones affords a diverse range of unprecedented sonic phenomena and musically interesting structures. Moreover, by directing our attention to the unexplored musical potential of a ubiquitous modern appliance, Dialtones inverts our understandings of private sound, public space, electromagnetic etiquette, and the fabric of the communications network which connects us.

THE STOOGES REFORM FOR COACHELLA

IGGY POP is to reform US punk legends THE STOOGES for a one-off appearance at the COACHELLA FESTIVAL in CALIFORNIA next month. The star will reunite with guitarist Ron and drummer Scott Asheton , his original bandmates for the show on April 27th.Former Minutemen bassist Mike Watt will join Iggy and The Stooges for the show, taking the place of original bassist David Alexander , who died in 1975. The show precedes the new Iggy LP, which will include four songs from the reunited Stooges .

Happy Saint Patricks Day. Here is some fun for all you little drunks out there.

St. Patricks Day Festival in Dublin
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Guiness Beer
St. Pattys Day Games
Lepre Kong

Viva Turbonegro

No question... Show of the year.. Turbonegro blew my mind.. Look for their new record in early May. For a complete photo gallery of the show.. CLICK HERE

Back before the he was the washed up lord of 80's metal; back before he was a lord of 80's metal; back before he was the final blow to Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio was that.
In the late 50's/early 60's Dio was in the group known as the Vegas Kings. The band was later known as Ronnie Dio and The Prophets, the Electric Elves, and lastly, Elf.

Last nights show was great.. The Mooney Suzuki and The Raveonettes being the highlights...

But it's Sunday... It's time for the one and only.... TURBONEGRO.. Live at The Echo Lounge....I will be posting photos from the Turbonegro show later on.. So keep checking back... Also.. If you are staying home tonight.. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts. AC/DC, The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Police, The Righteous Bros.. It's on VH1..

Holy Killer Gadgets Batman !! Its a super cell phone
<---That phone --- Did this--->
At the soundcheck for the Advanced Warning Tour.. I just got to check out the killer Nokia 3650 full color camera phone..
Man I want one now.. They are a work of art.. I just love it.. I am getting one as soon as I can.. mmmm cool gadget.... Did I mention that it is also a wireless modem and supports bluetooth audio too.. Impressive.

Former Police drummer sues The Doors

Former Police drummer Stewart Copeland has slapped keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger of Doors 21st Century (as the new incarnation of the Doors is now known) with a $1 million suit. Copeland - who has filled the drum seat left vacant by original Doors drummer John Densmore since last summer - claims that Doors 21st Century members Manzarek and Krieger breached an oral contract to use him for the band's upcoming tour and album. "In or about February 2003, after exploiting the credibility, talent, and reputation to plaintiff Copeland to launch and generate heat for the tour and album and once the success of the Doors 21st Century was assured, defendants breached the oral contract," reads the suit, filed Friday. "They purported to hire a replacement drummer, keeping plaintiff's 20% of the net profits for themselves." Copeland had played a handful of dates with band last year before his elbow injury forced the cancellation of a December show. He reportedly aggravated the injury during the band's January 19th show in Las Vegas, and drummer Ty Dennis has filled in for the band's recent performances. The lawsuit comes on the heels of a suit filed February 4th by Densmore against Manzarek, Krieger, Copeland and Ian Astbury, the former Cult singer who is singing in place of the late Jim Morrison. Densmore filed an injunction against this incarnation of the band's use of the Doors name and logo.
Representatives for Copeland, and Manzarek and Krieger would not comment on the lawsuit.

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT !! and it's time for the Nokia, CMJ and MTV2 Advanced Warning Tour at The Echo Lounge

The Mooney Suzuki, The Raveonettes, Longwave and The White Light Motorcade.. It's only 5 bucks.. and it's gonna rock..

Posters for Peace

Copyright-free posters for public use. Download them.. Print them out.. Put them up..

News from The UK--
Blur are Shite.. But regardless of that Simon Tong (Ex Verve / Shining) rhythm guitarist has replaced Graham Coxen as guitarist in Blur. Blur is playing a suprise gig tonight at the sxsw music festival in austin, tx. The first with Tong on guitar. Maybe now they will suck less.. But I doubt it..

Hip-Hop Festival in question.
Organizers attempting to host the first-ever Urban Hip-Hop Music Festival, the “Woodstock of Hip-Hop,” in Atlanta have hit a wall, as Atlanta city officials blocked efforts to receive the necessary permits for the event. Scheduled to take place April 11-13 at Turner Field, the event would be in conjunction with the Russell Simmons’s national Hip-Hop Summit, which is scheduled to take place at Morehouse College. The festival would include artist performances, major corporate sponsors, cultural and artistic vendors and pavilions featuring social and political rights groups. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin’s Chief-of-Staff, Greg Pridgeon, stated that the application had been rejected because of inconsistent crowd estimates (ranging from 35,000 to 200,000), the fact that no insurance had been purchased and organizers did not show proof of approval to use Turner Field’s parking lots, as well a general uncertainty that the organizers can have everything sufficiently planned within the short amount of available time. Hip-Hop Summit co-founder Benjamin Chavis stated that the group would attempt to work out the problems with city officials. “If we don’t use the Turner Field site, we believe there are other available and viable venues for us to go forward,” he stated. Festival coordinators said they would revise the application to include a daily crowd estimate of 66,500, insurance applications had been submitted and that they received permission to use Turner Field on March 5. For more information and festival updates, log on to: www.urbanhiphopmusicfest.com. Atlanta is now without question the Hip-Hop capital of the world.. Let's hope this works out. Or if you hate Hip-Hop ... Well .. Maybe praying would help. God knows it can't be any worse than the ever dull atlanta based music midtown festival.

Clear Channel is EVIL

The Clear Channel corporation is EVIL.. They own radio stations, concert venues and book and promote concerts.
They are the single largest promotors of concerts in North America.. AND they are destroying everything in their path.
For complete details of all of their evil just click here
Support Indy Music and Business.. Destroy Monopolies..

Once a year in Austin, TX the best music conference in the country takes place
it's called South by Southwest
There are hundreds of bands, films and interactive entries. The entire city is transfomed.
Truly one of the best times a artist can have. Check out their site. This years SXSW is
Interactive - March 7-11, Film - March 7-15, Music - March 12-16. It is sooo much fun

MADONNA + THE SEX PISTOLS= "RAY OF GOB"

GENIUS--> CLICK HERE FOR MP3

SWORD SWALLOWING

The Definitive website on the history, traditions and performance or the perilous art of
sword swallowing.

TURBONEGRO

Trashy, hedonistic, decadent fun was the focus of Turbonegro, a band that was formed in Oslo, Norway in the '90s but had more in common with '70s and '80s pop-metal, hard rock and glam metal than with the alternative rock that other Scandinavian bands were playing in the '90s. Blending traces of punk with such influences as Alice Cooper, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and Judas Priest, Turbonegro's late '90s recordings were over-the-top and proud of it. Although all of its members are Norwegian, all of the band's lyrics are in English. Lead vocalist Hank Von Helvete, sings quite convincingly in English, and only the slightest traces of a Scandinavian accent come through. Other Turbonegro members of the late '90s included lead guitarist Euroboy, bassist Happy-Tom, rhythm guitarist Rune Rebellion, keyboardist/percussionist Pal Pot Pamparius, and drummer Chris Summers. In 1997, Turbonegro recorded Apocalypse Dudes, which was released in the U.S. by Man's Ruin in early 1999. However, the group had broken up at the end of 1998; Darkness Forever!, a selection of live performances from the band's final year, was released in early 2001. Now back in 2003 Turbonegro has reformed and is currently touring with longtime turbonegro fans.. Queens of the Stone Age... Their two records Ass Cobra and Apocalypse Dudes has been re-released with videos on Burning Heart / Epitaph Records.. They will be in Atlanta on Sunday for the only non-QOTSA date at The Echo Lounge.. Truly a show not to be missed.

DJ FORMAT

Rappin' and break dancing in Animal suits.. This is the future of music videos if you ask me. Required Apple Quicktime