Top Stories of Jan 2007
 

RIP Rap? - Top Story of 07

Reuters reports: Some music merchandisers are alarmed by an accelerated decline in R&B sales -- the broad category that also includes rap and hip-hop, Billboard magazine reports. 

With the exception of new age, the smallest genre tracked by Nielsen SoundScan, R&B and rap suffered the biggest declines in 2006 of all styles of music. 

R&B, with album scans of 117 million units, was down 18.4% from 2005, while the rap subgenre's 59.5 million scans were down 20.7%.... Since 2000.. R&B is down 41.4% and rap down 44.4%. [see full story for more it includes some interesting guesses for the decline including the RIAA standby of piracy but really don't address the Hip-Pop problem plaguing rap that is similar to the hair metal craze of the late 80s and emo now= lack of innovation. If you already own the original why would you buy an inferior copy or rehash?]- more on this story

Axl Finishing CD - Top Story of 07

Rose announced last month on GUNS N' ROSES' official web site a "tentative" March 6 release date for the band's eternally delayed CD "Chinese Democracy". 

In the posting, Rose also revealed he has split with longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis due to disagreements over the set up for the album release- more on this story

Gay Fall Out Boy? - Top Story of 07

When Blender Magazine asked the Wentz if he's ever made out with a guy he said "I have. Anybody above the waist is fair game." 

In the immortal words of Jerry Seinfeld... Not that there's anything wrong with that. And it's not like you weren't surprised.- more on this story

Sir Morrissey? Don't Count On It - Top Story of 07

However he insists that he is more deserving of knighthood than many of its recipients. On December 23rd at Manchester's G-Mex arena the 47 year old singer said from the stage: 

"Just look at who has been honoured already. Mad Irish singer Daniel O'Donnell has an MBE [Member of the Order of the British Empire] and obese Jamie Oliver has an OBE [Officer of the Order of the British Empire]."- more on this story

Beatle Stalker Murder-Suicide - Top Story of 07

Cristin Keleher, 34, served four months in jail after her arrest for entering Harrison's house in Maui in December 1999. Prosecutors accused her of stalking the former Beatle. After entering the home through an open sliding glass door, she cooked a frozen pizza, did her laundry and phoned her mother in New Jersey. 

On Dec. 19, a hiker found the bodies of Keleher and Stanley Merchant, 48, near a highway north of Truckee- more on this story

Whining For My Valentine - Top Story of 07

"I wish the crowds could have been a bit nicer to us - especially in Quebec City. They weren't very nice … It's not very nice when you're trying to do a set and, all through it, 15,000 MAIDEN fans are chanting for MAIDEN to come on. 

"[But] you've got to laugh. You can't be upset for a long time."- more on this story

Manson Cat Fight - Top Story of 07

They do have several cats, two of which are named Lily and Aleister, and two dachshunds, Greta and Eva. A source friendly with the two says, "They are fighting over custody of the cats - not so much the dogs." 

When Dita moved out of their home, she took the animals with her, and the shock rocker is reportedly missing the felines.- more on this story

50 Cent Condoms - Top Story of 07

The rapper believes that his line of condoms is a fresh incentive to encourage youngsters to take part in safe sex. [fresh? Didn't KISS already do this?] 

"We have to be a little more creative about it. It's the same with safe sex. As opposed to being part of a safe-sex campaign, I'm going to make condoms and donate a part of the proceeds to HIV awareness." [ok, well KISS wouldn't do that] - more on this story

Simon Cowell Vs Dylan - Top Story of 07

The sharp-tongued British judge admits he prefers American Idol winner KELLY CLARKSON's music to the legendary Dylan's output. 

He says, "If I had 10 Dylans in the final of American Idol we would not get 30 million viewers. I don't believe Bob Dylan would make American Idol better show. A singing poet? It just bores me to tears. I prefer Kelly's music to Dylan's." [he prefers insipid pop cheese]- more on this story

NIN Vs Emo - Top Story of 07

Talking to Rolling Stone, he ranted "Emo screamo! (which the magazine describes as "oddly Dr. Seussian") If I happen to accidentally turn the radio on… I literally can't tell the difference between one of 20 bands. Either I'm getting old, which is a fact, or I'm turning into my dad! I wonder about the person that's in a band, the young kid who just got signed or is trying to get signed - why is he doing it? Is he trying to change the world and do something different and express himself… or is it because they want to f*** Paris Hilton and be photographed outside trendy restaurants?" 

[see full story for some really good info on the forthcoming NIN CD which undoubtedly won't sound like the 20 odd emo bands out there.] Reznor isn't alone, The Used also blasted Emo in a recent MTV interview. "We wanted to say [no] to the genre of music that's eating us all alive right now - emotional screamo." So says The Used frontman Bert McCracken talking to Mtv News about his band's next album, which is supposed to be out in March. "We want to establish ourselves as something brighter than just this dimly lit singled-out genre that's going to fade away in a couple years. We're just rock kids…."- - more on this story

Jay Z's Dog Fur Coats - Top Story of 07

As of today, the $265 coat was still a "featured" item on the Rocawear website. Late last year, a similar investigation found that raccoon dog fur was being used in a coat in rap mogul P. Diddy's "Sean John" collection; that item was removed from stores within a few days. 

Reps for Jay-Z and Rocawear could not immediately be reached for comment. The Humane Society said that it informed the company of the issue a week ago, but that they've taken no action. [so in other words, avoid "fur coats" from all rappers.. you shouldn't be buying them anyway but here is another reason to avoid them.] - more on this story

Fall Out Boy Vs Meathead - Top Story of 07

But that isn't stopping his bandmates from giving their accounts of the punch-up, which occurred while FOB was playing the final song of their set during last weekend's gig at the Sunshine 

"I was standing on a riser, stage left, and I see this meathead dude pushing around girls and trying to get into it with our security guy," guitarist Joe Trohman said. "All I can tell you is the dude was a meathead, and he was being a real jerk. I saw it all happen right in front me, and he started it all. He was pushing around girls, tried to push around [the band's security guard] Charlie. He was out of his gourd."- more on this story

Mafia Law Used Against DJs - Top Story of 07

Drama (real name Tyree Simmons) and Aphilliate partner Donald "Don" Cannon were taken into custody along with 17 other individuals Tuesday. 

At press time, the pair, who were arrested on felony charges stemming from a magistrate's warrant under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, were in Fulton County Superior Court for a bail hearing, which will determine their bond. More than 50,000 mixtapes were seized in the raid…. The investigation began after a city police officer saw "illegal material" being sold in a record store in Morrow in violation of Georgia state law. [This is just highlights from two stories by MTV, you can click full story link to read the latest which also links to the original. Now that the RIAA is using RICO (the Mafia law) it would be interesting to see an ambitious prosecutor turn it around and use it on them] - more on this story

Kanye Coldplay - Top Story of 07

The Coldplay star appeared on "Beach Chair," a track on Kingdom Come, Jay-Z's return to the hip-hop world, last year. 

Kanye has now revealed that he and Martin have recorded a song called "Homecoming," which is scheduled to be the first single from the follow-up to Late Registration.- more on this story

Social D Bassist Killed - Top Story of 07

Liles played bass on the group's groundbreaking "Mommy's Little Monster" recording in 1983 and went on to play with other well-known Orange County punk acts including Agent Orange. 

The driver of the truck was not cited but and investigation is ongoing
- more on this story

Crowded House Reunion - Top Story of 07

The Australian and New Zealand band have started auditions in Melbourne this week to find a drummer after bandmate Paul Hester committed suicide two years ago. 

Rumours have suggested that frontman Neil Finn has been the driving force behind the reunion and has been at the auditions along with bass player Nick Seymour.[see full story to try and catch the deluge of more info in a paper cup]- more on this story

Jessica Simpson Brawl - Top Story of 07

As Jess left a shopping spree in Century City, tension between mall security and pursuing paps reached a high; erupting into all-out battle. 

After a security guard pushed a photog out of Jessica's way, two photogs responded by unleashing a flurry of punches.- more on this story

Metallica Gay? - Top Story of 07

"One of the most dangerous ways homosexuality invades family life is through popular music. Parents should keep careful watch over their children's listening habits, especially in this Internet Age of MP3 piracy."

GAY BANDS: [a choice selection, see the full story for the full list] Metallica, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Jay-Z, Motorhead, Eminem, Nirvana, The Doors, Eagles of Death Metal, DMX, Audioslave, Red Hot Chili Peppers. [see full story for more and the incredibly short list of safe bands. the inclusion of Metallica kind of makes you rethink their "metal up your ass" tagline... could it have been a secret code? not likely but it's fun watching people read whatever they want to into things.]-
- more on this story

80s Singer Vs Plastic Surgeon - Top Story of 07

The androgynous frontman, most famous for the hit "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)," claims Dr. Maurizio Viel performed a terrible job on his lip augmentation procedure at the London Center For Aesthetic Surgery. 

Burns's suit complains of swelling, blistering, discharge, and impaired ability to eat, drink, or talk. He claims the damage was so extreme that at one point it looked like his lips would actually need to be surgically removed.- more on this story

Rocker or Bank Robber? - Top Story of 07

DEICIDE drummer Steve Asheim got up early this morning to make a trip to the bank to deposit some money from merch sales when the bank staff became suspicious of his appearance and the fact that much of the money was marked with red dye. Staff immediately called the police, who swiftly arrived and took the DEICIDE drummer down to the station, suspecting that he had been involved in a recent bank robbery in the area and that he was handling stolen banknotes. 

Questioned for a number of hours, Steve explained the banknotes were legitimate proceeds from touring, and that he had a leaky pen in his pocket which was responsible for the money's discoloration.- more on this story

Joel Madden Beat Up By Another Poser? - Top Story of 07

You remember Crazy Town? The dorks that acted all gansta while signing a really really really really really really really really really really lame song called "Butterfly"? 

The site says they have no idea how old the video is but since Crazy Town's fifteen minutes were cut short to five minutes a few years ago it may be a bit old since Shifty [yes, that's the name the bozo goes by] isn't likely to much access to hang outs of the stars.- more on this story

Stroke Police Chase - Top Story of 07

Hammond's bandmate Marc Philippe Eskenazi explained on the band's MySpace page that, after they left a Texas show January 20, "[i]t turned out that the cops had been chasing a suspect in a pickup truck in a high speed chase a la OJ Simpson since the Texas state border. It seemed that the pickup was going to get away until he came into contact with (sic) youknowwho (us)." 

Apparently the truck spun out into the side ramp after hitting the bus and the absconders were promptly arrested. This isn't the first adversity the band has faced while on the road - more on this story

The Ramones Top Best Punk Album List - Top Story of 07

1. The Ramones - The Ramones (Sire Records, 1976) 
2. The Clash - The Clash (Epic Records, 1977) 
3. Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables (Manifesto Records, 1980) 
4. The Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks (Warner Bros., 1977) 
5. The Stooges - Fun House (Elektra Records, 1970) 
6. Bad Brains - Bad Brains (ROIR, 1982) 
7. New York Dolls - New York Dolls (Mercury Records, 1973) 
8. Black Flag - Damaged (SST Records, 1981) 
9. Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material (Restless Records, 1979) 
10. X- Los Angeles (Slash Records, 1980)- more on this story

Winger Vs Metallica - Top Story of 07

Speaking from a Tennessee tour stop, Winger is quick to defend his eponymous band's credibility, musical and otherwise. 

"Our drummer, Rod Morgenstein, could out-drum Ulrich with one hand tied behind his back," Winger, 45, said. "And Metallica became (the rock joke) they said we were." - more on this story

Top Stories of Feb 2007

Teen Sues RIAA - Top Story of 07

AP reports: A 16-year-old boy being sued by five record companies accusing him of online music piracy accused the recording industry on Tuesday of violating antitrust laws, conspiring to defraud the courts and making extortionate threats. 

In papers responding to the record companies' lawsuit, Robert Santangelo, who was as young as 11 when the alleged piracy occurred, denied ever disseminating music and said it's impossible to prove that he did. 

Robert Santangelo and his lawyer, Jordan Glass, responded at length Tuesday, raising 32 defenses, demanding a jury trial and filing a counterclaim against the companies that accuses them of damaging the boy's reputation, distracting him from school and costing him legal fees.- more on this story

Keith Urban Sues Keith Urban - Top Story of 07

Singer Urban filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday against the New Jersey painter who uses the Web site address www.keithurban.com to advertise oil paintings for sale.- more on this story

Lynyrd Skynyrd T Shirt Sparks Murder - Top Story of 07

The brawl that led to Morrison's murder may have all started with an FSU member taking offense at a Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt… Within 15 minutes of walking through the door, one of Morrison's friends — who was wearing a Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt that features a Confederate flag — was approached by a man and told to take the offending shirt off. 

FSU [is a gang], which stands for Friends Stand United, or two curse words followed by the word "up." Once responsible for driving out neo-Nazi elements in the Boston hard-core punk scene of the mid-1980s, FSU is now a bizarre gang of young men who assault individuals at hard-core shows in dozens of cities across the country. Many of the bands that were slated to play Jan. 14 at Club Deep are affiliated with FSU, or are known to attract gang members to their shows, according to sources with the New Jersey State Police Organized Crime Control Bureau. - more on this story

R.Kelly Hospitalized - Top Story of 07

The singer was expected at a hearing in his ongoing child pornography pre-trial yesterday (07FEB07), but had to be excused because he was recovering from surgery. 

Kelly's attorney TERENCE GILLESPIE told the court his client underwent surgery on Sunday (04FEB07) in Miami, Florida.- more on this story

Travis Barker Broke - Top Story of 07

Travis fractured his arm on the set of a music video in September, but his recovery has been hindered after doctors diagnosed the bone weakness. 

According to a post on the bands MySpace page, Barker must wear a bone simulator on his forearm to encourage the limb to heal, but has been given the go-ahead from medical experts to undertake some light drumming
- more on this story

The Study the RIAA Doesn't Want You To Read - Top Story of 07

Entitled "The Effect of File Sharing on Record Sales: An Empirical Analysis," the study matched an extensive sample of music downloads to American music sales data in order to search for causality between illicit downloading and album sales. Analyzing data from the final four months of 2002, the researchers estimated that P2P affected no more than 0.7% of sales in that timeframe... 

The study reports that 803 million CDs were sold in 2002, which was a decrease of about 80 million from the previous year. The RIAA has blamed the majority of the decrease on piracy, and has maintained that argument in recent years as music sales have faltered. Yet according to the study, the impact from file sharing could not have been more than 6 million albums total in 2002, leaving 74 million unsold CDs without an excuse for sitting on shelves.- more on this story

Twisted Murder Mystery - Top Story of 07

Andrew J. Howard and a high school friend formed "Twisted Method" when they were just 14 years old. The band would later explode onto the heavy metal music scene, land a $5.5 million five-year contract with MCA Records…Soon after the band's final tour, Howard was back in the Cape and his girlfriend Jamie Faranda had given birth to their twin daughters Riley Nicole and Jade Renee. The girls were born premature and weighed just over a pound each. Howard decided to stay home with his twins and quit touring with Twisted Method. 

The 23-year-old guitarist was found dead inside his Cape Coral home seven months later on Sept. 16, 2005. Howard had been lying in bed deceased for 18 hours before being discovered by a member of his new band "The Fallen," according to his father Joe Howard and Faranda. Joe, who retired from the CCPD and state attorney's office before his son's death, spent six months investigating the case and adamantly believes that his son did not commit suicide or die of an accidental overdose. He blames the detectives handling Howard's death, saying the investigation was botched from the beginning and that his attempts to produce leads in the case have been dismissed.- more on this story

Metallica Toss Pots For Real Producer - Top Story of 07

"I saw [the warts-and-all METALLICA documentary 'Some Kind of Monster'], and it made me really nervous," Rubin said. "Then we started working, and it's the opposite direction of that. They're really productive, really communicative — it seems like they really like being in the room together. It's a great process. 

They say they're more excited than they have been in a long time about making music. We're going to start recording in March. I asked them not to reinvent themselves so much as to make a defining album, like the purest of what METALLICA is. That's the aim, so we'll see what happens."- more on this story

Anti-Flag Murder - Top Story of 07

Chris writes: "Thank you all for the kind words. Thank you to everyone surrounding us on the last tour for their help. I want to specifically thank my three brothers in Anti-Flag and everyone in our crew for helping me and dropping everything to get me home and with my family immediately. 

For those not completely in the know, my sister and her boyfriend were murdered a few days ago. Of all the people I know my sister was the most proud of our band. If you live in the Pittsburgh area you may have met her, it was not uncommon for her to strike up a conversation with anyone wearing an Anti-Flag pin, patch, or t-shirt. She was anxious to meet anyone who was a member of the community. My sister had two beautiful children, who I'm sure will be just as curious and just as loving.[- more on this story

Gay Fall Out Boy? - Top Story of 07

When Blender Magazine asked the Wentz if he's ever made out with a guy he said "I have. Anybody above the waist is fair game." 

In the immortal words of Jerry Seinfeld... Not that there's anything wrong with that. And it's not like you weren't surprised.- more on this story

Phish Felon - Top Story of 07

The rocker pleaded not guilty last month (JAN07) to misdemeanour charges of drug possession and driving under the influence of drugs but charges have now been added following new findings in the case. 

Added charges relate to the discovery of the painkiller hydrocodone. Prosecutors claim Anastasio was also caught with heroin, oxycodone and anti-anxiety drug alprazolam
- more on this story

Cornell Quits Audioslave Announced New Solo CD - Top Story of 07

Steered by Grammy Award-winning British super-producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Rolling Stones, Morrissey, Dave Matthews Band), Carry On is a mature and content departure from the acrimonious artist who brought us Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog. 

Additionally Cornell is permanently departing super-group Audioslave stating, "Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave. I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors."- more on this story

Music Biz Is Dead - Top Story of 07

He said that people in the music business can't simply find new ways to do old things. "The old things are gone. In the next couple of weeks, maybe months, there will be a bloodbath at the major record companies. We're not at the tipping point, we're on the other side." 

He said the goal of having a hit record is a bad goal. "Maybe one person in this room will have a hit record. The days of hit records are over," he said. "It's about being something real. . . people need to change their goals in order to survive as entertainers." [the story continues at the full story link, but Bob doesn't mention if that his work on "Psycho Circus" helped this downfall- more on this story

Bloc Party Coined Off Stage - Top Story of 07

The band left the stage for a short break before returning to finish the gig after the incident which happened two songs into the set. 

Bloc Party are currently on a UK tour promoting their latest album 'A Weekend In The City'.- more on this story

Osbourne Has HIV - Top Story of 07

The singer and actress, best known for her part in "The Osbournes", the reality show about her dysfunctional musical family, spoke at a benefit for the HIV-related charity Body & Soul. 

Introducing a performance by the pop band SCISSOR SISTERS, Kelly fought back tears as she said the cause was special to her because a member of her family had been diagnosed with the disease. Photographers said Osbourne sobbed before leaving the stage- more on this story

Korn Killer Charged - Top Story of 07

According to witnesses, Axley punched Andy Richardson, 30, after the two exchanged words and Axley took Richardson's cap during a KORN concert at Hi-Fi Buys Ampitheater last July. 

Richardson fell unconscious onto a concrete sidewalk and Axley allegedly punched Richardson again. Richardson suffered skull fractures and severe head injuries. He died two days later at Grady Memorial Hospital.- more on this story

Jacko Sued for Murder - Top Story of 07

But the feeling didn't last for long, because Michael Jackson is now being sued by the family of a woman that Michael Jackson apparently helped to kill. 

Back during his molestation trial, Michael Jackson held proceedings up because he was suffering from a flu-like condition and he was taken to the Marian Medical Centre in Santa Maria for treatment. But when he was there, the family of Manuela Ruiz allege that their sick mother - who had suffered a heart attack earlier that day - had her life support switched of and was bumped out of her trauma room so that Michael Jackson could be looked at.- more on this story

Blunt Hit & Run - Top Story of 07

According to several witnesses, James drove their black SUV over the leg of an autograph seeker as the couple slowly pulled away from a Hollywood party Friday night. 

A rep for Blunt tells TMZ that, despite reports to the contrary, the person run over "wasn't a fan" and says, "It was a ton of paparazzi that were all swarming [James'] car as he was driving two MPH trying to navigate his way through them... They were invading his space. He was just trying to quietly leave the party." She adds that James is "looking into the matter and will cooperate."
- more on this story

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