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Recap of top stories for the week of July 16, 2007

Top 3 stories for this week

KISS Snorts Viagra

DiR/CC Banana reports: Earlier this week we ran an a more serious excerpt of CC Banana's excellent interview with Eric Singer from KISS. Since it's the weekend here we thought we'd let our hair down a little and post a funnier part of the interview for our week in review. Here is C.C. Banana: Have you ever received a kiss from a member of Kiss?

Eric Singer: Ace might have tried to kiss me at some point. I remember Paul telling me that once back in the old days, they were all sitting around the dressing room and for whatever reason, Peter just went over to Ace and put his dick on Ace's shoulder! Then Ace turned around and kissed it!

C.C. Banana: Note to self -- don't put dick on Ace's shoulder.

Eric Singer: Ace has a giant schlong too, you know. One night before a Kiss show, he actually took Viagra because he wanted his dick to be hard during the concert. When I asked him why, he said, "So people can see me get hard in the costume." He even tried snorting it once!

C.C. Banana: Ace Frehley snorted Viagra?

Eric Singer: Yep! He thought it would get into his system faster. So Ace snorted the Viagra... but do you know what happened? His nose swelled up instead! True story! When I tell this stuff to people, they think I'm lying or embellishing. But it's all absolutely true. Anyone who has ever worked with Ace will verify it. You'll never meet another person like him. Ace Frehley stories are the absolute best.- If you read one interview this year, click here to read this one

Paris Hilton Superhero

He tells TV Guide magazine, "She won't be your typical superhero." 

[instead of fighting crime she'll be seen shopping in Beverly Hills, partying at Losers Lounge (a.k.a Hyde), fighting her evil nemesis (TMZ) by getting loaded and running them over with her overpriced car. But she'll be good in the sex scenes. Must see TV indeed.]- Lee had more to say on this ridiculous development, read that here. 

Pop Star Held Hostage

Her husband and their five-month-old daughter Heidi were also in the house at the time. They were taken downstairs by one of the robbers, while the other two carried out the burglary. 

They escaped with two televisions, an Xbox and a Playstation 3 gaming consoles, jewelry and watches.- more on this story

Monday

Zutons Fire Lazy Guitarist

Our impeccably placed source reports Chowdury was in fact kicked out of the band. 

A general “lazy” attitude over the past months eventually came to a head recently, and he was told his laconic lead guitar services were no longer needed.- more on this story

Fiddy Delayed Again

"Curtis" originally was slated for a June 26 release but was pushed back in late May. 

Two singles from the project have met with little success on radio. [that's what happens when you offer 50 cents as payola]- 
- more on this story

Snoop Reality Televizzle

The broadcaster said the show would be "hilarious and heart-warming" and would show the rapper balancing family duties with the world of hardcore hip-hop. 

The 35-year-old star, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, has three sons and runs a youth American football league.- more on this story

Remy Ma Arrested for Murder

The 26-year-old, whose real name is Remy Smith, was sought for questioning after a woman was shot in New York's Meatpacking district on Saturday. 

She reported to police and was also arrested on charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon.- more on this story

more stories including: Remy Ma Arrested for Murder- AC/DC Recording New CD- Snoop Reality Televizzle- Garbage- Sony Sues DRM Co- Silverchair Postponements- Zutons Fire Guitarist- Fiddy Delay- Net Radio Reprieve- Led Zeppelin- Rooney- Breaking Benjamin- The Red Chord- Layne Staley- The Wailers- G. Love- Talib Kweli- more

Tuesday

Classic Hard Rock Still Strong

antiMusic reports: It seems that people are opting for classic hard rock and metal CDs over most generic "new" music. This according to a report by the Associated Press. While record companies try to fathom reasons why people aren't buying their "new" product, by ignoring the most logical explanation and looking to court tweens to help pick up their bottom lines, it appears that music from other eras where A&R people took chances on bands that didn't sound like everyone else and bands were allowed to develop a fanbase over several albums is still attracting a lot of buyers. 

Twenty-Seven years after its release, AC/DC's Back in Black is still selling almost enough copies a year to qualify for a gold record. Last year while we were treated to dozens of sound-alike emo bands that didn't sell many CDs, AC/DC's landmark album managed to sell 440,000 copies in the US. 

While [insert silly multi-worded name here] was struggling to attract the attention of TRL girls, other albums from long-ago were also moving pretty heavy numbers. Metallica's jump to the commercial mainstream, aka The Black Album was added to the CD collections of 275,000 US music fans last year and Guns 'N Roses debut which broke records when it was released in 1987 is still a hot seller, welcoming 113,000 more people to the jungle last year. And the album that killed "hair metal" and touched off the grunge trend of the early 90s (Nirvana's Nevermind) is still going strong with 143,000 copies sold last year. 

David Geffen should be proud to have two bands that he took a chance on still selling today and showing us why we need trendsetters and not trendfollowers running labels more than ever. On the other end of the spectrum, when you think of today's blasé music scene, you might think of the "genius" of Clive Davis and while his "genius" isn't selling record breaking amounts of CDs right now, he did manage to give us the best selling CD of 1986 in the form of Whitney Houston's self-titled debut. However, like most things that Clive touches it may sell today but doesn't have much of a shelf life (like real cheese) as Houston's CD only manages to attract about 7,000 new people a year, easily beat by Radiohead's "OK Computer" which turned on 94,000 additional people last year. 

There is definitely a lesson to be learned here. But will the people that need to learn it the most, take heed? Probably not, as they are too busy trying to find clones for the few bands of today that manage to sell a decent amount of CDs. That's when they are not working to shutdown online radio, installing rootkits on customers PCs and suing people.
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BBC Apologizes to "Metalica" Fans

The move prompted protest from a few hundred Metallica fans, so the BBC issued an apology and explanation for this decision. According to the Guardian "The BBC was at pains to point out that the decision was not taken out of 'prejudice about heavy metal music or any other music'." 

"We received complaints from some viewers that the Metalica [sic] set was not shown in full," BBC said in a statement on their complaint site. "This was a global event and we were keen to reflect the other concerts as well as the one in UK.

"We took editorial decisions in advance and on the day, about the times and places we would do that." [so they decided in advance to cut off the "Metalica" set"} 
- 

Destiny's Child Onstage Collapse

The former Destiny’s Child singer, currently touring to promote her second solo album, Ms. Kelly, was performing at the This Day Music Festival when she collapsed from dehydration. 

Kelly was treated at a local hospital and is back on her feet and in good condition, her rep tells ET.- more on this story

more stories including: Destiny's Child Onstage Collapse- Star Held Hostage- Morrissey Vs Madonna- Write A Song, Go To Jail- Kelly Johnson RIP- What To Watch- What To Buy- Diddy- Seether- Hell Within- Schenker May Never Tour US Again- Strata- AusFest- Rilo Kiley- We Now Know Who To Blame for Disco- more

Wednesday

Quickies: Jacko, Paris, Underwood and Sum 41

antiMusic reports: A Superior Court judge has ordered Michael Jackson to pay $256,000 to the lawfirm Ayscough & Marar. The firm sued Jacko after the singer stiffed them for legal fees related to work they did to help prevent "the release of some information to the public and to lawyers in civil cases during his 2005 criminal trial," according to AP. 

The follow up to Carrie Underwood's six-million plus selling, Some Hearts, has a release date. Arista will drop the new one from the country pop idol on October 23rd. Mark Bright is producing the as-yet-untitled album. 

Speaking of sophomore albums, Paris Hilton is going to give a pop career another shot. The heir head is working on a new album, despite being dropped from her label. "I'm already working on my new record," Hilton told E! Online. "I've been in meetings with Scott [Storch] and we've been working on it." No word yet if it will include a cover of "Jail House Rock". 

Avril posted a statement on her Myspace blog thank fans for their support through the entire song theft ordeal but unlike her public denial of stealing from The Rubinoos, she didn't counter the latest claim that she ripped off Peaches "I'm The Kinda". Instead she asked her punk rawking fans to support the equally hardcore new album from her boyfriends band. That's right Sum 41 is releasing a new CD, Underclass Hero, and it's streaming in it's entirety on MTV.com's The Leak.- Click here if you are punk enough to handle it. 

Rammstein Singer Switch a Hoax?

"[The news that Till would be leving the band following the completion of the band's new record] is not true and was not released by either band or management," a group representative said. 

"We have no idea where this comes from. The band is writing a new album at present."- more on this story

Court Stings Sting

Jane Martin, 41, was awarded £24,944 ($51 K) in her case against the couple at an employment tribunal in Southampton. 

She claimed she was sacked by Miss Styler from the couple's estate in Wiltshire because she became pregnant.
- more on this story

bin Laden Targets Singer

You see, ol' Osama is infactuated with the screeching singer and as a result he is reportedly gunning for Bobby Brown's ass. This all came to light via an article by Sudanese writer Kola Boof. Since then Bobby has been watching his back.

"Come on, if anyone is threatened by al-Qaeda they'd take it seriously," Bobby reportedly told an Austrailian radio show. "I figure if Bin Laden wants me, and everybody is looking for him, it won't happen. But if he wants to try and find me for something so stupid, then he can if he wants. I have to leave it in the hands of a higher power." 

Even scarier is the fact that Brown is in Australia for a series of concerts.- 

more stories including: bin Laden Targets Singer- Court Stings Sting- Serj Down With Solo CD- Rammstein- Singer KISS and Tells- Prince Surprise- Bands Go Loco in MA- Stalaggh Vocalist Killed- Offspring- KMFDM- Akercocke- James Blunt- Poison- Mondo Generator- Viva La Songs- (hed) PE- Who Will Rock Kimmel?- Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars DVD- more

Thursday

Fall Out Baby?

antiMusic reports: It was a pretty dead day for real music news but children's entertainment had some hefty headlines with a reported leak of the ending to the final Harry Potter book (he falls in love with Clay Aiken) and news of a Fall Out Baby. 
Will the world soon welcome an eye shadow wearing, lip-synching, emo love child? According to a host of always reliable tabloids the answer is yes. Pete Wentz has reportedly proven his manhood by knocking up Ashlee Simpson. Of course, this news comes from the sources that give us UFO sightings and the adventures of rabbit boy. 

The tabs took it one step further and reported that Wentz will do the honorable thing and wed the lip-synching popstar. The couple were reportedly engaged under of the romantic backdrop of New Jersey during the Live Earth debacle. However, the mime's representatives told USmagazine.com that the engagement story was "absolutely not true." 
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White Stripes Screw Fans

It's being billed as the briefest White Stripes gig ever by the more generous reporters. In fact, it was one of the silliest publicity stunts thus far from Jack White and co. And that's saying a lot.

Jack and Diane, oh wait... Meg, reportedly had a stage set up Monday on George Street in St. John, Canada, where they jumped up and played a single note before rushing off to their real concert at Mile One Stadium. In case you were wondering, the note was a C-sharp according to reports. 

The suckers that turned out for this "secret gig" did get a sound byte from Jack who reportedly exclaimed, "We've now officially played in every province and territory in Canada." Good for you Jack. Bad for those that wasted their time to hear that proclamation.- more on this story

Rapper Smashes Pumpkins

The big question though: Is Velvet Revolver now firing blanks? The band's sophomore album, "Libertad," debuted last week at No. 5 with disappointing sales of 92,000 copies but the second week saw them drop 16 places to No. 21 with sales of just 33,000. Maybe their PR people should have responded to those requests for reviews? - 

more stories including: Rapper Smashes Pumpkins- Fall Out Baby?- Biomechanical Lose Member- Supersuckers- Hammerfall- Waysted- Y&T- Girlschool- Revelation Theory- Interpol- Datarock- Horse The Band- The Charms- Dying Fetus- Black Light Burns- Athlete- Rise to Addiction- Obituary- Desolate Ways- Onesidezero- The Rascals Get Mono Again- more

Friday

Shavo Says System Not Down For Good

antiMusic reports: Shavo Odadjian has assured fans that System of a Down is not over. He reassured fans even more by saying "System is alive and well." before pulling the carpet out from under their hopes by adding, " We're just not working together right now." 
Shavo was speaking to Launch when he made the revelations that the System is still intact, just out of order at the moment. "We kind of like split up at first, but you know, we're brothers, man, we'll take bullets for each other. So it's like, you kind of miss each other after a while and you, one guy makes the first move, then another starts making phone calls....this is a juggernaut, man. System Of A Down is my lifeline. It'll never go away. We could not make a record for 10 years — that's not gonna happen, but I'm just saying we could — and we'll come back strong."

While he waits for the phone call to turn the system back on, he's going to be taking on Myspace with his new venture called urSession.com. It's an online music "community" but with a catch, it'll also somehow be a record company. Look for that later this summer.
- 

Lily Allen Returning to US as Shoe Saleswoman

You're probably saying that's all well and good but what about those nifty Nikes? Seems the shoe giant asked Lily to design a signature version of the Air Max 90 shoe. Lily opted for a patriotic American theme for the shoes which will be red, white and blue and have stars on the laces so if you don't buy them you will be helping the terrorists. 

September
6 San Diego, CA - House of Blues
7 Las Vegas, NV - The Joint/Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
10 Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
12 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
14 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
15 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre- 

Jovi Vs Java

But Marcos Carrington says his coffee-based energy drink is named after his girlfriend, whose name is Jovita, not the 45-year-old rocker. 

In a Jan. 22 letter, Los Angeles lawyer Peter Laird, representing Bon Jovi, objected to the word "Mijovi" as well as other words "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife" that appear in the company's marketing materials and on the can. Rather than use Carrington's spelling, the letter used the phrases, "It's My Jovi" and "It's My Life."- more on this story

Singer Spits on Fans

The REHAB singer was appearing at the Eden Project this week - her first gig for two weeks after claiming "exhaustion" - when she dashed off stage during her first few songs. 

In front of a frustrated and confused crowd, Amy then returned and proceeded to slap herself around the face and bash the microphone on her head. According to the Sun, she then forgot the lyrics to her songs, spat into the crowd and mumbled swear words.- more on this story

more stories including:Winehouse Spits on Fans- Jovi Vs Java- Beatles Butchering Not Allowed- Korn- Bill Perry RIP- Yoko in the Basement- Klaxons- Heavy Music Dying According to Tool- Madonna Sings with Annie- Aiden- Taking Back Sunday- Calico System- Dead Hearts- Viva La Bands Tour- Haste The Day- Ben Harper- Rooney- The Plain White T's- more

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