Tarja Week: Intro and Die Alive

antiMusic reports: Tarja Turunen made her mark on the world as the frontwoman of Nightwish. Now she strikes out on her own with her solo debut 'My Winter Storm'. The album soared to the top spot in her native Finland and went gold in one day! To celebrate the upcoming US release of the album we asked Tarja to pick her favorite tracks from the disc and tell us a little about them. We kick off today with the song "Die Alive" as well as an overview of the album theme.

First she tells about the album theme: After I chose the first songs for the album among the many I received, I found a strange connection in their lyrics. A certain story popped up from the songs. Some key words appeared in more than one song and some of the songs exposed a sort of different characters in their lyrics. With few changes, nearly every song seemed to fit this story very nicely. At the same time, the story is very vague and the songs are still not connected with each other in any way. You can listen any of the songs out of the album and it will make sense on its own. But at the beginning it was easier to focus in the red line going through the album and was very inspiring for the kind of sound that I was looking for in every song. Also it helped me to create new songs for the album since I had a nice story in my head already from the beginning.

"Die Alive": This is a song about living every moment of your life fully. Is a fight song without any swords or blood. A fight to do what you want to do in your life, in a way that if you die tomorrow, you die alive. Not like many people that are already dead while they are still living. Jim Dooley added the feeling of a movie trailer in the middle part of the song.

The CD hits US stores on Feb 26th but you can preview tracks and learn more - right here!

Dr Phil Says Britney is Nuts

antiMusic reports: No worries to Britney gossip seekers, the popstar's meltdown will be televised and TV's favorite doctor has been called to the case. No, we can't make this stuff up. Jam! has the latest: Television's "Dr. Phil" McGraw said Britney Spears was released from a hospital Saturday but still needs psychological help, the syndicated programs "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" reported in a news release.

The troubled pop star was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by paramedics Thursday night after police were called to her home because of a dispute involving the two sons she had with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

"My meeting with Britney and some family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention," McGraw told the programs - more on this story

Whoring the Beatles

antiMusic reports: Boomers are consumers, that is the message from Madison Ave. Now the music from the greatest rock band in music history will be used to whore products. Forget your fond memories associated with the songs of the Fab Four, soon you'll be able to associate them with products like a good hippy turned yuppie! Say you wanna revolution? The revolution is for sale. Gigwise has the sad story:

Songs by the Beatles are set to feature in adverts for the first time after their back-catalogue was made available to advertisers. Sony/ATV Music Publishing, who owns the rights to the majority of the band's music, said that select "brand partnerships" would be considered.

Until now, it had been illegal to use the band's original recordings in adverts. In 1987, Nike were sued for $15 million for using 'Revolution' in a TV campaign. - more on this story

Radiohead Kill Remix

Gigwise reports: Gigwise has spoken to Radiohead's long-term manager Bryce Edge about the decision to prohibit Amplive from releasing a remix version of 'In Rainbows' and he explained to us that the decision boiled down to two major factors.

As reported earlier today, Radiohead's publishers Warner/Chappell sent a 'cease and desist' letter to Amplive's label saying that by releasing 'Rainydayz', the producer had created "musical arrangements and remixes" without official agreement.

Explaining things, Edge said the first problem was that Amplive used an image of Thom Yorke on his website advertising the album, therefore inferring the frontman's involvement.

Secondly, Edge iterated the point that management had a major grievance about fans being told to forward on their 'In Rainbows' purchase email to receive the free remix album. - He has a lot more to say

Alice Cooper Robbers Nabbed

antiMusic reports: Steal a guitar go to jail. Steal a signed Alice Cooper guitar that was supposed to be used in a charity auction, you might go to hell. Gigwise has the tale of the nabbing of the hotel employees the perpetrated the heist:

Three hotel employees have been arrested in connection with stealing a signed Alice Cooper guitar that was due to be sold at a charity auction.

The shock-rocker stayed at the Ontario Hilton Hotel from the week beginning December 10 and left the Gibson Les Paul at the front desk so it could be forwarded on at a later date. It was estimated to raise $3,000 when it went under the hammer.

Ontario Hilton representatives notified police when they saw CCTV footage of 23-year-old Sarah Richards allegedly stealing the guitar on December 27. - more on this story

Lenny Kravitz Preview

PR reports: Lenny Kravitz says it's time for a revolution and he is launching a musical movement to do just that with the release of his 8th studio album on February 5, 2008. The album, entitled It Is Time For A Love Revolution (Virgin Records America), is Kravitz's first new release in over three years; the record is a thunderous rock 'n roll call-to-arms, featuring a universal blend of soul, funk, and jazz grooves and the undeniably anthemic lyricism that's been his trademark from day one.

"I love this record and the feel of the record," Lenny Kravitz said of the release. "I felt like a kid playing in my bedroom, and that's the most important thing you can tap into, that feeling of being free."

Written and recorded over the course of the last year in various locations from New York to Miami, Paris, the Bahamas and Brazil, It Is Time For A Love Revolution holds up as one of the Kravitz's best albums with its raucous rock 'n roll jams, heavy drums, tight hip-shaking grooves, frenetic guitars and Kravitz's unmistakable croon. - Check out the new single "I'll Be Waiting"

Yes: Classic Artists DVD

PR reports: Image Entertainment is proud to present the release of Yes: Classic Artists, "Their Definitive Fully Authorized Story" in a 2-Disc Deluxe Set! The DVD set will be available in stores January 15th. The story of Yes is as controversial as their music. The twists and turns of the band's career is now told for the first time in a series of exclusive interviews with Yes members past and present for this definitive and fully authorized DVD documentary.

Praised and criticized for defining progressive rock, Yes have been surprising and delighting worldwide audiences for over five decades. On record and on stage, Yes created a fresh sound and striking visuals, blending genres and using state of the art technology to push boundaries, winning legions of new fans with each album. Tracing the musical journey from their debut album Yes (1969) until Magnification (2001) and beyond, the story of Yes is told by the members themselves in exclusive new interviews. - more on this story

Oasis, Stone Roses, Smiths, New Order, Primal Scream Supergroup One Off

Contact Music reports: OASIS star LIAM GALLAGHER is set to front a one-off 'supergroup' featuring ex-STONE ROSES singer IAN BROWN. The Wonderwall hitmaker will share the stage with a whole host of rockers from Manchester, England at a charity concert in the city next month (Feb08).

He will perform joint vocals with Brown at the Manchester V Cancer gig, and the pair will be backed by trio Freebass, which consists of three top bassists - ex-Smiths star Andy Rourke, New Order's Peter Hook and Mani from Primal Scream. Freebass has been a side project of the three bass legends for the past few years, but the show at the MEN Arena on 23 February (08) will be the group's first proper concert.

Rourke, who organised the concert, says, "This year's gig is going to be talked about for years to come. "We've got some of the biggest bands of the moment lined up as well as some legendary acts." - more on this story

Heavy Hitters Tour

PR reports: Orange County California's (hed)p.e. has announced the dates for their upcoming Heavy Hitters Tour featuring Kingspade, SubNoize Souljaz (featuring Big B, Dirtball), Dog Faced Gods and Insolence.

"What a way to start the new year! 2008 promises to be the best year (hed)p.e. has ever seen. We laid the ground work in the last two years, and we are experiencing such a swell right now that we feel so blessed by the youth of this planet earth," says frontman Jared Gomes.

"The Heavy Hitters tour, which is a co-headline tour with Kingspade, promises to be one of the freshest tours of early 2008. Kingspade is just straight dope and they possess the freshness of the Kottonmouth Kings, but with a nice hip-hop twist. We are just so stoked to be able to go on the road, and give the kids what they want; diversity. Because everyone knows they will never get it from those bitch-ass corporate tours. This is an official takeover!" - more on this story

L7's Donita Sparks Goes Solo

PR reports: Donita Sparks, front person for the seminal rock band L7 releases her debut solo record Transmiticate on February 19, 2008. Distributed through Redeye, the album from Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments - filled with dance rock and dark pop gems - sees Donita moving solidly into interesting new territories.

Transmiticate tracks include: "Fly Feather Fly", "Dare Dare", "Infancy of a Disaster", "Headcheck", "My Skin's Too Thin", "Curtains for Cathy", "Creampuff", "He's Got the Honey", "Need to Numb", "Take a Few Steps" and "Into the Hi Fi".

2008 will be especially busy for Sparks. In addition to the release of Transmiticate, Donita will launch her own offerings at the previously announced CASH Music (Coalition of Artists and Stake Holders). - more on this story

REM Go South By Southwest

antiMusic reports: Remember back when South By Southwest was a showcase for up and coming bands? Now it's just a label showcase. That's both good and bad. The good is that attendees are treated to some special shows, the bad is that it's lost it's indie focus. This year SxSWers will reportedly be able to check out REM. Gigwise has the story: REM have been confirmed to appear at this year's South By Southwest festival, it has been reported.

The Athens, Georgia band will be previewing their new album 'Accelerate', due for release on March 31, and will no doubt be one of the highlights of the annual music and film marathon. It will be the first time they've played in the Texan city in five years.

As local website austin360.com reports, also confirmed are Daniel Lanois, Cheveu and a bunch of Domino acts in the shape of The Kills, Lightspeed Champion and Sons & Daughters. - more on this story

Flipper Working on New CD

Contact Music reports: Cult rockers FLIPPER are to release their first studio album in 15 years - and the new disc marks the recording debut of new band member KRIST NOVOSELIC.

The former Nirvana bassist joined the veteran group, which hasn't released an album since 1993's American Grafishy, to play a handful of live dates in 2006.

And now Flipper are putting the finishing touches to the currently-untitled disc, which they plan to unveil later this year (08). - more on this story

Omen Member Fractures Skull

SleazeRoxx.com reports: Omen founder/guitarist, Kenny Powell, has released the following statement: "Original Omen bass player Jody Henry was severely injured in a fall last week and is suffering from a fractured skull. While he is doing much better than anyone expected, he still faces a long and costly rehab.

Unfortunatly, he has no health insurance like the rest of us (MUSICIANS} and a fund has been set up on www.myspace.com/helpjody where interested parties can contribute to helping with his medical and personal bills. Jody and myself had already been discussing doing some future projects at the time of his accident.

Hopefully he will have a complete recovery and there will be new music in the near future from the original Omen songwriters. Thanks in advance to everyone that can provide financial or moral support." - more on this story

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