Cops Bust Black Francis Show

Contact Music reports: An impromptu outdoor BLACK FRANCIS concert was stopped by police in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday (09Feb08) after officials became concerned about overcrowding.

Pixies star Francis - also known as Frank Black - was playing to 1,000 fans at St. Stephen's Green when cops halted the gig and escorted the rocker offstage. - more on this story

Lily Allen Denies Sucking

Contact Music reports: Pop star LILY ALLEN has denied her new TV show suffered a major setback when over a third of the studio audience walked out complaining of boredom.

The singer-turned-presenter was taping the forthcoming programme Lily And Friends at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England on Friday (08Feb08) but was hit by a string of problems including a broken teleprompter which left her reading from handwritten cue cards.

And it had been reported that members of the audience were so disappointed with the 22-year-old's performance - they got up and left before the cameras finished rolling. However a representative for Allen insists the stories are not true. - more on this story

The Metal Symphony Returns

PR reports: Heavy Metal Chellos? That's right. Apocalyptica is a heavy metal group made up of three cellists and a drummer. You have to hear it to believe it! Their album "World's Collide" will hit stores on April 15th and their first single features Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor and is called "I'm Not Jesus."

Apocalyptica's brand new album, 'Worlds Collide'. Produced by long-time Rammstein muse Jacob Hellner, this is plainly the pinnacle of the Finnish ingénues steadily accelerating upward ascent; a dazzling collection of stunning mini-epics that touches upon every aspect of the band's history while introducing countless new ideas and unexpected detours to their unmistakable sound. Or simply put: a collection of great rock songs.

Work began on the record back in August 2006, and since then the 40 or so songs the band wrote for the project have been whittled down to a concise and flawless dozen, including collaborations with Stone Sour/Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor (on first single 'I'm Not Jesus'), Lacuna Coil's sublime Cristina Scabbia, 3 Days Grace vocalist Adam Gontier and again their long time friend and collaborator Dave Lombardo. - Check out the I'm Not Jesus Video here (along with others from the band followed by a real crap rapper)

Claypool's Jam Band Spinal Tap Coming To DVD

PR reports: Metal had This Is Spinal Tap, folk had A Mighty Wind, and now Jam Bands have National Lampoon Presents Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo. Taking an endearing and twisted look at the Jam Band scene, the film directorial and acting debut of Primus frontman Les Claypool has screened at festivals and in selected theaters, and will be released on DVD via National Lampoon on March 18, 2008, simultaneously with its soundtrack album.

National Lampoon Presents Electric Apricot: Quest For Festeroo (Hip-O/UMe/BAIT/National Lampoon) features the only known studio recordings of Electric Apricot, a band with no limits, no fear, and no clue--their anthem "Hey Are You Going To Burning Man?," "Backroads Of My Mind," "Uncle Pete's Party" and "Sugar Train Blues"--plus their epic live 19-minute "Yog Sagoff," recorded in May 2005 in Mill Valley, CA. - more including tour dates

Metalhead Wants To Box Coldplay Sap

Contact Music reports: British rocker DANI FILTH wants to go head-to-head with COLDPLAY vocalist CHRIS MARTIN in a boxing match. The founding member of extreme metal band Cradle Of Filth has branded indie frontman Martin a "sap" saying he would be his first choice to have a fight with.

He says, "Probably that c**t Chris Martin from Coldplay. I wouldn't even wait for the bell. "Absolutely everything about him makes me want to puke. He's such a sap, and the way that he wrote that s**t about 'freedom' on his hand was pathetic.

"If you strongly believe in something you don't write it on your hand with a biro, you tattoo it across your f**king face." - more on this story

From Fire Eater to The Child Ballads

PR reports: The Child Ballads will release their debut, "Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life) " through Gypsy Eyes on April 15, 2008. Featuring former Jonathan Fire*Eater's vocalist, this is Stewart Lupton's first release since the group disbanded in 1998. Tour dates with The Kills are now confirmed for May 2008.

Following the implosion of Jonathan Fire*Eater, three of its members went on to form The Walkman and Stewart Lupton seemingly disappeared. Taking time off from music lead to a bevy of rumors about Lupton's whereabouts and what he was up too. (He was spotted reading poetry in an underground speakeasy in Prague, had a brief encounter with Croatian Border Control agents on his way to China, studied with Shaolin monks in a secret mountain temple where he learned the secrets of astral travel.) In reality, Lupton returned from New York City to his hometown of Washington, DC and enrolled at George Washington University to study poetry, medieval studies, and modern art history. During these years, he taught himself how to play guitar and honed his writing skills and gave frequent poetry readings at obscure DC area beatnik playgrounds.

When asked why it took him ten years to resurface as a musician and release new music, Stewart Lupton explains, "I had been through industry machine and wasn't exactly excited about my options. I began finding musicians that I wanted to play with which then lead to the recording of Cheekbone Hollows (Pop. 1/2 Life). Then I found the DC label, Gypsy Eyes, who understood my perspective. I guess it just took me this long to find the right people to partner with. Plus I needed to find a healthier place in my life so I could do it on my own terms." - more on this story

Daniel Lanois LA Premiere

PR reports: Critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer Daniel Lanois who has produced some of the greatest albums over the past two decades, will perform songs from his sixth full-length release Here Is What Is Thursday, March 27 at The Vista Theatre. Following the show with special guest Brian Blade, there will be an exclusive Los Angeles premiere of Lanois' new film Here Is What Is out March 18.

Here Is What Is is a sonic journey that captures the art of making a record by one of the most distinctive and celebrated producers of our time. Directed by Adam Vollick, Adam Samuels and Lanois, the film debuted at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival and offers viewers a rare chance to see Lanois at work behind a soundboard. - more on this story

Axl To The Rescue

SleazeRoxx.com reports: Guns N' Roses star Axl Rose has been hailed a hero after helping to save a neighbor's home from last year's California wildfires. An unidentified woman contacted Los Angeles TV network KTTV to pay tribute to Rose, and her comments were read out during a news broadcast on Tuesday morning.

The woman, who lives next door to Rose in Malibu, credits the rocker and his manager Beta Lebeis with hosing down flames that threatened to destroy her home last November.

In a statement, the relieved neighbour told the news broadcast, "They saved our house together with the firefighters... They just hosed down whatever fire there was in the trees, in the palm trees, and they saved our house, they literally saved our house."
- more on this story

The Ice Man Lives On with New Live Releases

PR reports: Eagle Rock Entertainment will release both the CD of Albert Collins Live At Montreux 1992 and its companion 102-minute DVD on March 4. These stunning documents mark one of the last concerts that the late bluesman (1932-1993) performed before he succumbed to cancer on November 24, 1993.

Collins was known throughout the blues world as "The Ice Man." With his trademark Fender Telecaster and his distinctive fingerpicking style, Collins, on this night, delivered a career-spanning set of originals and covers.

Bonus tracks on the DVD include four lengthy jams from Montreux '79: "Listen Here," "Snatchin' It Back," "Cold Cold Feeling" and "Frosty." - more on this story

Free Heavy Petting on Valentine's Day

PR reports: Valentine's Day and 'Heavy Petting' should go together - which is why The Two Man Gentlemen Band will make their new album by that name (their third) available for free download via the Serious Business Records website on Valentine's Day (Thursday, Feb 14).

This NYC duo evokes early jazz, Tin Pan Alley and has been compared to They Might Be Giants for their brilliantly clever lyrics about love, the mundane, and behaving like gentlemen.

Starring Andy Bean, huckster, banjoist extraordinaire and master of ceremonies, and his dear friend The Councilman on bass, this pair began busking in NYC's subways and Central Park in 2003. The Gentlemen, who can still occasionally be found in the park in warmer weather, now tour over 200 dates a year across the U.S. - Download 'Heavy Petting' for free, just in time for your Valentine's Day festivities. Available Thursday only!

Clay Aiken invites Simon Cowell to kiss his butt

Idolator reports: Clay Aiken invites Simon Cowell to kiss his butt the next time the salty Brit dismisses a hopeful as being "too Broadway," since so many former American Idol finalists have gone on to Great White Way careers that have been much more challenging--and rewarding--than serving as cogs in the Clive Davis/Simon Fuller machine.

Which is, y'know, kind of a valid point. Also: Please note that Aiken actually said "butt," and not "ass," so as not to offend the Claymates' oh-so-delicate ears. - more on this story

Kentucky Hall of Fame 2008 Induction

PR reports: This year's Kentucky Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 21, 2008 in Lexington, Kentucky. The 2008 inductees are Dwight Yoakam, Florence Henderson, Crystal Gayle, Les McCann and Norro Wilson.

Loretta Lynn will be in attendance to induct her sister, Crystal Gayle. Tom T. Hall and Ralph Emery will also act as presenters. "To be inducted into my home state's Hall of Fame by my very own sister is a major honor." said Crystal. "Growing up in Kentucky is something I'll cherish forever!"

The evening will include a dinner and the induction ceremony with performances by the newly inducted Dwight Yoakam, Crystal Gayle and Norro Wilson. Dale Ann Bradley, the new IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, is also scheduled to perform. - more on this story

DIRECTV SXSW Live

PR reports: DIRECTV is taking over the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival for a second year with DIRECTV SXSW Live, a live television broadcast of the celebrated music event airing exclusively on DIRECTV's original entertainment channel, The 101.

The special, broadcasting live and in HD March 13 through 15, will be hosted by former MTV VJ Matt [pinhead] Pinfield and feature three days of live performances and festival coverage. Legendary Los Angeles punk band X, The Von Bondies, Deana Carter, Earlimart, Sons & Daughters, Daryl Hall and Martha Wainwright are the first to join the roster with additional acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

Following the success of last year's show, DIRECTV SXSW Live will feature 24 live performances, backstage interviews with the industry's hottest up-and-coming and established artists, behind-the-scenes coverage and commentary by music industry experts—all combined to make viewers feel as if they are there. Each night, DIRECTV's television coverage will begin at 5 p.m. EST, and features eight live performances, with encore performances of the special airing at 1 a.m. EST. - more on this story

iTunes Retaliation

PR reports: SoCal Rock/Hip Hop act Capitol Eye has approved their newest full-lenth 'Retaliation' for digital distribution through iTunes following the official release on Feb. 1, 2008.

'Retaliation' was recorded and released independently, with collaboration from friends and fellow recording artists at Skunk Records in Long Beach.

Tour dates to support the release will be announced shortly - Capitol Eye space

Hannah Montana Does Something Naughty

Hecklerspray reports: Unlike Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus ha never taken a picture of her minge and put it on the internet. And unlike Jamie Lynn Spears, Miley Cyrus has never been knocked up by some bloke she met at church. But beneath that butter-wouldn't-melt smile there's a heart of darkness beating inside Miley Cyrus, if this new report is anything to go by.

Miley Cyrus didn't wear a seatbelt in a car once. We know, we're just as shocked as you. So shocked that we'll let USA Today fill you in on the rest of the details:

In a blog item posted Monday, Consumer Reports magazine says 15-year-old superstar Miley Cyrus, who plays Hannah Montana on television, is seen in her new movie riding without a seat belt in the back seat of a Range Rover. So is her father, country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, the Yonkers-based magazine says… The magazine says 65% of the 13-to-15-year-olds killed in auto accidents in 2006 were not wearing seat belts. "It seems to us that Miley, her father and Disney had a perfect opportunity to help influence teens and counteract — rather than encourage — this trend," the blog item says. - [But what percentage of those teens were too drunk to remember to buckle up? Yes folks the happy face fascism continues to rise in our country. more of this story here]

.... Amy Winehouse: Back In Black at the Grammys

We look at artists hoping they can shed some inner light and secrets about life we have yet to uncover and when they don't, we hope they make us forget about the real world for a few fleeting moments and Amy Winehouse did just this with her Grammy performance. - Read the full Amy Winehouse: Back In Black at the Grammys review

.... Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes

Live albums are seldom considered a group's finest effort, yet what we have here combines Opeth's finest material with great production and a wonderful overall performance on their behalf. - Read the full Opeth - The Roundhouse Tapes review

.... Ricky Nelson - Greatest Love Songs

On January 15 2008 Capitol Records released a disc titled Ricky Nelson-Greatest Love Songs. The album has all of Rick's more famous love songs like "Never Be Anyone Else But You," "Poor Little Fool," and "Hello Mary Lou" along with many others (3 stars) - Read the full Ricky Nelson - Greatest Love Songs review

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