Rivers Cuomo Week: Buddy Holly

antiMusic reports: Happy holidays! As our present to you this week, we will be celebrating the release of "Alone: the Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo". The Weezer frontman has opened up his vaults to share some of his home demos etc and each day we'll feature a new song story from Rivers. Today he tell us about "Buddy Holly":

I was in the Santa Monica College Choir and I met a kid named Steve Graff who lent me his Korg Keyboard. Inspired by its goofy synth sounds, I decided to write some new-wave influenced songs.

The chorus melody, though, I came up with as I was walking through the lawns of the campus. The melody was in time to my steps: "ooo-we-ooo I look just like Buddy Holly." The lyrics I struggled with, trying to find the right reference point. An early version read, "ooo-we-ooo you look just like Ginger Rogers. Oh-oh I move like Fred Astaire."

The life-situation that inspired the lyric was an incident in which the Weezer guys were making fun of my friend Kyung He (also in the Santa Monica College Choir). They were the "homies dissing my girl."

Learn more about this CD, listen to samples and more at - Weezer.com

Jay-Z Steps Down

antiMusic reports: This won't come as a surprise to our readers since we've been reporting on this rumored move for a while, but Jay-Z has made it official. He will leave the Island on Jan 1st. E! has the story: The Jigga's up...and out the door.

Jay-Z will be having lots more time to spend with Beyoncé this New Year's, after it was announced Monday that he would be stepping down as president of Def Jam effective Jan. 1.

He took over the reins at the famed hip-hop factory in 2005, shortly after he announced his brief retirement from recording.

In announcing his departure, the 38-year-old hip-hop mogul said in a statement that it was time for him to "take on new challenges." - more on this story

Will Smith Defends Hitler

article removed, turned out to be total BS. - more on this story

Yung Joc Arrested

antiMusic reports: And the dumbass move of the week award goes to Yung Joc. Seems the rapper thought it would be ok to try to board an airplane with a gun in his carry-on bag. Oops. Jam! has the story:

Yung Joc was charged Monday with carrying a concealed weapon after police said a loaded gun was found in his carry-on bag at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

The 25-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jasiel Robinson, was arrested about 6:20 a.m. Sunday before boarding a Delta Air Lines flight, police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said.

Police said they found a semiautomatic handgun and ammunition in Robinson's carry-on bag. He told them he didn't know the weapon was there, Stacho said. - more on this story

Record Companies Are Useless

Gigwise reports: Muse drummer Dominic Howard has said that the way Radiohead released their latest album shows how record companies are "becoming more and more useless."

Radiohead allowed fans to name what price they wanted to pay for, 'In Rainbows,' which has gone on to outsell all their previous albums through its digital sales.

"They're (Radiohead) unsigned which means they are in a different position to us, so they can do whatever the hell they want it's cool they did," Howard said. "Bands are constantly thinking of the best ways to release music and a band like that doing it on their own shakes up the record companies and helps them realise that they are gradually becoming more and more useless," he told the Mirror. - more on this story

Zeppelin Top The Charts

Contact Music reports: LED ZEPPELIN fans have given the reunited group the best Christmas gift - a chart-topping album.

Remastered hits compilation Mothership has stormed up the European Top 100 Albums chart to claim the top spot five weeks after its release.

It's the first time a Led Zeppelin album has claimed the number one spot all over Europe. - more on this story

Taste of Chaos 08

PR reports: Taste of Chaos, the only worldwide lifestyle festival tour, is back with another onslaught of winter arena shows in North America. The tour is scheduled to hit 43 cities in the U.S. and Canada between late February and late April 2008. Canadian dates will be released in January 2008.

The multi-artist package in the U.S.A. and Canada will feature AVENGED SEVENFOLD, ATREYU, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, BLESS THE FALL and this year we are proud to bring audiences the best Japanese Rock bands to the United States (a burgeoning movement also known as JROCK).

The JROCK explosion will include MUCC, D'ESPAIRSRAY and THE UNDERNEATH. Bellingham, Washington group IDIOT PILOT will play two special sets every night in each venue concourse. - dates

Shooting Victim Sues Remy Ma

Contact Music reports: The woman allegedly shot and critically wounded by REMY MA is suing the rapper for $10 million (GBP5 million). In a civil lawsuit filed in New York on Friday (21Dec07), Remy Ma - real name Remy Smith - is accused of "wilfully, wantonly and maliciously" shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph.

The suit also names record companies Universal Music Group and Sure Shot Recordings as defendants, accusing the firms of encouraging Remy Ma to behave violently to promote her image.

The hip-hop star, 26, is currently awaiting trial on charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, gang assault and witness intimidation in relation to the shooting of Barnes-Joseph outside a New York nightclub in July - more on this story

Pennywise Free Album Details

PR reports: Pennywise will be giving away their next album for FREE. Beginning March 25, 2008, fans around the world will be able to obtain a high quality, DRM-free download from MySpace for a period of two weeks. Longtime Pennywise fan and seasoned producer Cameron Webb (Social Distortion, Motorhead, Sum 41) has signed on to produce and mix the upcoming CD.

This music industry precedent is a result of the collaboration between the seminal Southern California punk band, their new label MySpace Records, MySpace.com and Textango (provider of creative solutions for distributing music via text messaging). This marks the first time a U.S. record label has provided an artist with the opportunity to offer a new album free of charge and the first time MySpace has offered a full album download with a worldwide push.

On the same day, Pennywise and MySpace Records will also release an enhanced CD/DVD version of the as-yet-untitled disc to retail outlets for sale, with the CD containing the same songs as the downloadable version. There will also be a vinyl version available with two extra exclusive tracks. - more on this story

Lily Allen Reality TV

Gigwise reports: Lily Allen has appealed for her fans to help with her forthcoming BBC television series.

As previously reported, the popstar – who is expecting her first child with the Chemical Brothers' Ed Simons – will front a new social-networking inspired show for the BBC in the New Year.

In a message on her Myspace blog, Allen said: "There will be good celebrity guests, not rubbish ones and brilliant bands playing brilliant music. And of course a pregnant me trying to present it all." - more on this story

Earth Crisis Reunion Tour

Punknews.org reports: Influential metal/hardcore act Earth Crisis have announced the first of a series of reunion shows set for early 2008.

The shows will be supported by a number of acts including Terror, Sworn Enemy, Shai Hulud, Down To Nothing, and Recon. Formed in 1992, the band was notable for their militant stance towards animal rights issues and the straight edge lifestyle.

Though the band split up in 2001, members remained active in a number of projects, and frontman Karl Buechner even surfaced last year to defend straight edge in an alarmist piece about the movement helmed by Geraldo Rivera.

February 29, 2008 Worcester, MA The Palladium
March 4, 2008 Chicago, IL Logan Square Auditorium
- more dates

Rapture Lose Their Voice

Metal Underground reports: Finnish atmospheric doom/death metallers RAPTURE have announced the departure of vocalist Henri "HV" Villberg.

"I have decided to part ways with the band and give my full attention to other projects I feel more close to me," Villberg said in a statement "There is plenty of reasons (I leave unmentioned) to end up to this decision but for you to know our ways separated in good terms. I wish the band good luck, the very best for the future. Create more these amazing albums!"

RAPTURE's third album, "Silent Stage", was released in 2005 via Spikefarm Records. - more on this story

Shortlist Music Prize Nominees

Punknews.org reports: The nominees have been announced for the 2007 edition of the Shortlist Music Prize. The prizes will be handed out early next year and recognizes albums released between January and November 2007 that have yet to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for U.S. shipments of 500,000 units.

Highlights in the 2007 list include albums from Bad Religion, LCD Soundsystem, Against Me!, Gogol Bordello, The Hives, Les Savy Fav, Blonde Redhead, Arcade Fire, Animal Collective, Grinderman, Iron & Wine, Parts & Labor, Spoon, Serj Tankian and more.

A Fine Frenzy - One Cell in the Sea
Against Me! - New Wave
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell
Biffy Clyro - Puzzle
Bjork - Volta - full list is here

Eagles Decline Super Bowl

Launch reports: The Eagles have turned down an offer to perform at next year's Super Bowl, saying they'd rather perform at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry.

Frontman Don Henley told the Associated Press that playing at the legendary country music venue "would be an honor," but did not elaborate on his band's decision to turn down the slot at the Super Bowl--the most-watched television event in the U.S.

The Eagles seem to be drifting from classic rockers to country crooners. Their recent album Long Road Out Of Eden topped Billboard's country music chart for four weeks in 2007. - more on this story

R.Kelly Fan Jailed

Jam! reports: A woman who snapped photos of R. Kelly in a courtroom with her cellphone has pleaded guilty to contempt of court after spending the weekend in jail.

Jean Johnson, 49, was sentenced to five days in jail after entering the plea Monday, but she was released after Judge Vincent Gaughan gave her credit for the days she had already spent in custody. He also ordered her cellphone destroyed.

Describing herself as Kelly's "biggest fan," Johnson said she couldn't resist snapping four grainy pictures of the R&B superstar as he sat across from her last Thursday. - more on this story

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