Tenspoke Indies Week: Starlighter

antiMusic reports: Tenspoke Indies debut album, 'Blinded By The Sound,' comes out March 4, 2008. With a sound often compared to Jimmy Eat World but with indie cred, they got our attention, so we asked the band's singer/guitarist (and British ex-pat) Rich Wise to pick his favorite five tracks from the CD and tell us a bit about each one. Here is Rich with today's song "Starlighter".

"Starlighter" was a band name we were thinking about using before we had Tenspoke. I had my first child on the way and thought that Starlighter was something beautiful and pure like a child, and when Josh came up with the initial lick you hear, I thought of that word in relation to how I was feeling at the time and associated it with the music. So, the song immediately had a direction. We had a couple of acoustic sessions at Josh's house and Richie came up with a lot of melodies you hear and I came up with the chords behind them. I have to admit, I did get very emotional on the words for this one. It's the most honest I've ever felt writing.... I know it's a cliché, but the lyrics literally poured out.

You don't have to wait until March to get a taste of what Tenspoke Indie have to offer, they're hitting the road next month. You can grab the tour dates and preview some of the tracks from 'Blinded By The Sound' - right here!

Latest Zeppelin Tour Rumor: Plant Jr to Open

BW&BK reports: HeavyMetalMusic.biz reports: Some guys seem to be spreading a rumor that the of son of ROBERT PLANT will open up for a potential LED ZEPPELIN tour in 2008

The source states: "Who will Led Zeppelin have as an opening act on their 2008 US tour? The rumors have finally been silenced: Plant has personally tapped his illegitimate son's band, MEAN VENUS, to open all 2008 shows."

Mean Venus' lead singer, J, when recently interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine, spoke of his utter disbelief at the prospect: "I only found out he [Plant] was my dad a few years ago. My mum hid it from me for the majority of my life. So to actually be going on the road with my Dad is bloody outrageous!" - More of the latest and greatest hard rock and metal news

Blink Sues Drink

TMZ reports: Tatted up daddy Travis Barker is suing RockStar energy drink for unauthorized use of his name and image -- which they've now pulled from their site.

The suit claims "in 2007, RockStar, without permission or authorization" from Barker, put a pic of the rocker on their web site without asking! The nerve!

Now Barker is asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. Drink that - Filed under: Wacky and Weird

Ike Turner OD'd

TMZ reports: Ike Turner died of an accidental cocaine overdose, the San Diego County Coroner revealed today. Turner died on December 12 at his rented San Marcos home.

Paul Parker, Chief Investigator at the Medical Examiner's Office, said, "We are listing that he abused cocaine, and that's what resulted in the cocaine toxicity."

Ike's daughter Mia told the AP that her father's drug use was "an ongoing struggle." - more news from TMZ

New Sex Pistols Songs?

Contact Music reports: The SEX PISTOLS are set to record their first new material in 30 years after being spurred on by the success of their recent reunion tour.

The legendary rockers got back on stage for a series of live dates last year (07) and the positive reaction from fans has convinced them to start work new tracks. The group hope to start recording in the first half of 2008 so that the new songs will be ready for their appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival in June (08).

Drummer Paul Cook says, We might not pull together an album but hopefully there will be some new stuff in time for the summer." - But there is a hitch to that.

Daughtry On Idol's Decline

Rockdirt reports: After telling Rolling Stone that he felt like 'American Idol' was "definitely lacking some credibility at this point" and that the show is "in a state of decline and if they don't do something about it, it's probably not gonna last too much longer," Chris Daughtry is in damage control. The 'American Idol' season five finalist wrote on his band's blog on Monday (January 14):

It's so sad that when you're asked something and you answer honestly... you're made out to be the bad guy. Yes, I'm referring to the Rolling Stone post. The funny thing is, if you heard the whole conversation you would've heard all the good things I said about the show as well. Like for instance: How it's an amazing platform to launch a career... "If you take it seriously!!!" Let's not forget I was a struggling artist for 11 years that never got any respect or notoriety so know that I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity that Idol gave me. And that's where my comments came from.

It all started when the interviewer (who was great by the way) asked me where the "Idol stigma everyone talks about" comes from. Ya know... the reason people never take anyone from the show serious in the real world and why people say "oh they came from AI, they're not real artists." So, I answered that I don't feel that enough "artists" try out for the show because of how many people they focus on that are obviously there for comedic and entertainment value. And when you focus enough on people that aren't serious about it then it's hard for the audience to take you as an artist serious. - Read the rest of his comments

Writers Holding Grammys Hostage?

BBC reports: Organisers of the Grammy Awards have asked striking US writers to let next month's ceremony go ahead with its script staff and star line-up intact.

The Recording Academy, which stages the music honours, has asked the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) for a waiver to let its members work on the ceremony.

Crucially, big name performers and presenters could stay away if there is no deal and writers picket the event. A WGA spokesman said he "wouldn't bet on a waiver" for the Los Angeles show. - more on this story

Munky Leaves Korn Tour

Metal Underground reports: KORN lead guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer has left the band's current European tour for both personal and family reasons. The group's frontman Jonathan Davis said in a statement, "We fully support Munky's need to be home right now and because we want to come through for all of our European fans, the tour will go on. It's what Munky wants us to do, too. We promise to give it our all every night!"

Shaffer recently posted an update online about his current activities, including his Emotional Syphon Recordings label and KORN's current European tour. But Shaffer also hinted at his own future plans, writing, "Before I hit the road, I wanted to let everyone in on a little secret. I have a big surprise announcement coming very, very soon. It's something I'm extremely passionate about, and I have a feeling everyone is going to love it. Be sure to keep checking this page, because this announcement is going to be big..."

Shaffer did not provide any further details about his "surprise announcement," although there is speculation that he'll record a solo album. - more on this story

Counting Crows Sets Release

PR reports: On March 25, Counting Crows will release their fifth studio album (and their first in five years), Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, on Geffen/Interscope.

Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings is just your average brilliant, unsparing rock & roll song cycle about the high life and the low life, about sin and whatever the hell follows. This is an album with two distinct yet deeply related halves: Saturday Nights -- the album's angry, electric, dissolute opening salvo -- was produced by Gil Norton (The Pixies, Foo Fighters.) The more acoustic and folk-influenced Sunday Mornings was produced by Brian Deck whose past credits include Modest Mouse and Iron & Wine. - more on this story

George Michael Autobiography

BBC reports: Singer George Michael has signed a multi-million pound deal to write his autobiography, it has been announced.

Publisher HarperCollins said Michael, 44, would write the book - due for release in the autumn - "entirely himself" without a ghost writer.

"George has promised HarperCollins a no-holds-barred biography, and it's certain to be just that," Michael's manager Andy Stephens said. - more on this story

Keys Dethrones Radiohead

Reuters reports: Alicia Keys returned to the top of the U.S. pop album charts Wednesday, swapping places with Radiohead.

The soundtrack to "Juno" jumped five places to No. 3, as the film continued its hot streak at the box office.

Keys' "As I Am" sold 70,000 copies during the week ended January 13, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It topped the chart, too, when it debuted nine weeks ago. Radiohead's "In Rainbows" slipped to No. 2 with 69,000 copies in its second week. - more on this story

Tegan and Sara US Tour

Filter reports: Twin songbirds, Tegan and Sara have apparently found the perfect home away from home - the road.

They have announced plans to take their critically acclaimed 2007 gem, The Con on yet another North American Trek.

This time around, the first leg of the tour begins in smaller markets, while the second leg will hit more familiar east coast areas. - dates

Solo CD for Decemberists Frontman

Filter reports: The Decemberists' fearless leader, Colin Meloy will bring his voice and resident witty banter to the forefront by releasing a solo live album.

Documented from his 2006 solo acoustic tour, Colin Meloy Sings Live! will be released on April 8th courtesy of Kill Rock Stars.

Featured on the LP are various songs from The Decemberists', Meloy's first band (Tarkio), covers and two previously unreleased originals ("Wonder" and "Dracula's Daughter"). - more on this story

Victory Sues Virgin Over Hawthorne Heights

CMJ reports: A battle that has been waging for close to two years now between Victory Records and one of their best-selling bands, Hawthorne Heights, has reached a boiling point, with Victory filing a lawsuit in federal court on Monday against Virgin/EMI for allegedly trying to lure the band away from the Chicago-based indie. The suit maintains that Virgin/EMI, a major label, willfully poached a band after the independent imprint, Victory, invested all the money that led to their success.

The bad blood between Victory and the Ohio-bred emo outfit began in February 2006 when, preceding the release of their sophomore effort, If Only You Were Lonely, Victory issued two statements urging fans to help sabotage sales numbers for rapper Ne-Yo's In My Own Words, which was coming out the same day, so it would be easier for If Only to take the top sales spot on the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Hawthorne claimed they had nothing to do with the statements, but that they were issued by Victory founder Tony Brummel, and in August of that year posted a manifesto on their website accusing Victory of severely damaging their reputation and relationship with their fans. - more on this story

Deftones Eros

Punknews.org reports: Deftones have titled their upcoming follow up to Saturday Night Wrist. The band began work on the album last fall and have been documenting the process throughout.

The record is titled Eros presumably after the mythological greek god of love and/or Freud's "life instinct." (Now that you know that, you'll kill in the New York Times crossword puzzle.) A release in 2008 is expected.

Besides the new record, band members have rejoined members of Hella to work on the next Team Sleep album. - more on this story

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