Tenspoke Indies Week: Over Your Shoulder

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 "Over Your Shoulder".

One day I was thinking about what it would be really like to be in the military. I had written a song before, called "Tank," which was much more of an aggressive rant on war and government conspiracy. But it was also about the unquestioning way that the military just goes out and does what it has to do – such a sacrifice and at such a cost. So, with "Over Your Shoulder," I was really trying to think about that sacrifice, what it's like to leave your loved ones behind and be so far away, whether you believe in the cause or not. I decided to take more of a love story approach for this song, telling the story through a soldier's eyes overseas. I guess the cool thing is, without knowing what I was writing about, someone could easily put their own ideas and thoughts into this one. The lyrics are pretty open-ended, and I really like that about this song.

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!

Coldplay Assault

Contact Music reports: A savage new video featuring footage of COLDPLAY star CHRIS MARTIN attacking a paparazzo has hit the Internet. The mild-mannered singer is seen chasing down a photographer trying to get shots of his wife Gwyneth Paltrow as she left a New York hospital earlier this week (beg14Jan08).

With an anorak hood covering his face, angry Martin repeats, "Have some respect," as he wrestles the photographer to the ground and snatches his camera. But the snapper's pal retaliates as Martin climbs into the back of an awaiting silver sports utility vehicle, and hisses, "You give it (camera) back to him or this door's getting broken."

The British rock star sees sense and hands the camera back, calmly stating, "You've gotta have some respect." The footage has been posted on various U.S. news websites. - more on this story

Britney Has Multiple Personality Disorder?

antiMusic reports: We've more or less had an embargo on Britney stories for the past couple weeks as they have become more and more frivolous. However, we have to break that embargo for a very strange report from TMZ which claims that Britney suffers from the rather serious and rare mental illness known as multiple personality disorder. This may explain some of her more bizarre behavior, then again the pressure of living under the media microscope might be a more believable explanation. Here is the TMZ story: Sources are now painting a very disturbing picture of Britney Spears, or whoever she happens to be at any given moment.

We're told the whole British accent thing -- well, it's more than an accent. Britney has multiple personalities, including, as people in her life call it, "the British girl." We're told when Spears loses the British personality, she has absolutely no idea what she did during the time she assumed that personality.

Sources say Brit has a number of other identities, where she becomes "the weepy girl, the diva, the incoherent girl," and on and on. Sources say Britney had become the British girl the day she didn't show for her deposition and has no recollection of it. - See TMZ's video example of this.

Motley Beating

SleazeRoxx.com reports: Motley Crue's concert promoters have been hit with a lawsuit by a fan who claims he was assaulted while attending the band's 2006 gig in Illinois. Gerald Schneeman is suing promoter Live Nation for damages after he was allegedly beaten up by an unidentified member of Motley Crue during the rockers' concert at the Ford Amphitheater on November 22.

The legal papers, which were filed in a U.S. court on Monday, state Schneeman was standing directly in front of the stage when he was allegedly struck in the head with a guitar by the Motley Crue member - who was not named in the suit. The musician is then said to have jumped down from the stage and knocked Schneeman to the ground, at which point security intervened and began assaulting the fan, before dragging him out of the venue.

Schneeman claims he suffered bodily injuries, scarring and disfigurement, although full details of his injuries have not been released, reports website TBO.com. - more on this story

Stones Ditch EMI

Gigwise reports: The Rolling Stones have become the first big name act to jump the EMI ship after signing a new record deal with Universal.

The band have signed a one album deal with the label that with takeover the five year EMI deal when it expires in May.

A spokesman for The Rolling Stones said, "The band are looking forward to working with Universal Music and are excited about this new venture." - more on this story

Ours Returns with New CD and Manson Tour

antiMusic reports: Big news! OURS' long awaited new studio album is finally coming out. Those not familiar with the band, they are headed by probably one of the most gifted vocalist in the music biz, Jimmy Gnecco. The band have also landed the support slot on Marilyn Manson's tour. A bit of a strange pairing but we have faith that Ours can pull it off. Here is the PR about the CD and tour:

The New York-based band OURS has landed the coveted support slot opening shows on the upcoming Marilyn Manson tour beginning January 19 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando, Florida, and ending March 2 at the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, Texas.

One of the year's most highly-anticipated releases, the long-awaited third OURS studio album, "Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy)," will be available on-line and in-stores on Tuesday, March 18. The first OURS album to be released on American Recordings/Columbia Records, "Mercy (Dancing for the Death of an Imaginary Enemy)" is produced by Grammy-winning Producer of the Year Rick Rubin (Linkin Park, System Of A Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers) and co-produced by OURS frontman Jimmy Gnecco. - more on this story

Lemmy Slams Label Bosses

Wenn reports: Motorhead frontman Lemmy has hit out at record industry bosses for taking so long to adapt to the idea of selling music online. The Ace Of Spades rocker insists the music business deserves its current sales slump because executives have had years to figure out how to best promote music on the internet.

He tells Metal Edge magazine: "It's killing itself, isn't it? I mean, they (record companies) are too dumb to realise. I mean, it was f**king years ago that this started, and they just carried on doing what they were doing, blind to any advice, blind to any sort of evidence.

"They just kept on overcharging and kept on f**king people over, and now the chickens are coming home, you know? I think they're all gonna be out of business in 10 years." - more entertainment stories from Wenn/PR-Inside

Oasis Vs Blur TV

Gigwise reports: The BBC is planning a Weakest Link Britpop special, which could once again see Oasis and Blur go head to head.

Executives for the broadcasting corporation reportedly have a number of big names from those halcyon days in the mid-nineties firmly fixed in their sights, including the Gallagher brothers, Alex James and Damon Albarn.

Also in the running to appear on the Anne Robinson hosted show are Justine Frischman, James Dean Bradfield, Jarvis Cocker and Rick Witter. - more on this story

Depp Hopes To Play Jacko

Contact Music reports: Hollywood actor JOHNNY DEPP is hoping to play troubled pop star MICHAEL JACKSON in a movie of the singer's life.

The Sweeney Todd star was rumoured to have modelled himself on Jackson for his role as Willy Wonka in 2005 movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

But although Depp believes any similarities to the pop superstar in his portrayal are purely coincidental, he would love to take on the role of the Thriller hitmaker
- more on this story

Smashing Pumpkins Step into the Wrestling Ring

PR reports: Ring Of Honor is pleased to announced it has reached a partnership with Grammy Award-winning artists the Smashing Pumpkins for a cross promotion. "Doomsday Clock," off The Smashing Pumpkins' latest album Zeitgeist, will be prominently featured on the ROH Undeniable pay-per-view. "Undeniable" will debut on January 18th with replays throughout the rest of January on iN DEMAND, The DISH Network and TVN cable systems.

"Doomsday Clock," provides the perfect backdrop for the hard-hitting, high-flying, intense action that is Ring Of Honor. An exclusive video released by The Smashing Pumpkins exhibits that gut-wrenching excitement.

Billy Corgan: "As a longtime fan of Ring of Honor, I am thrilled that our song `Doomsday Clock' has been chosen to be the theme music for the newest pay-per-view! To me, the highlight video captures the intensity, passion, and stark ambition that is at the core of this groundbreaking promotion, Ring Of Honor, as they continue to set new standards of what is still possible in the impossible."
- more on this story

Great White Fire Club Owner Granted Early Release From Jail

Contact Music reports: The man jailed following the fire tragedy at a GREAT WHITE club gig in Rhode Island has been granted an early release from prison - but will not be freed until next year (09).

Michael Derderian, 46, was jailed for four years after 100 Great White fans were killed after a blaze swept through his The Station nightclub in 2003. The band's guitarist Ty Longley also perished and more than 200 were injured.

Derderian was deemed eligible for parole this month (Jan08) after completing one-third of his sentence, and at a hearing on Wednesday (16Jan08) he was granted an early release. But the parole board ordered Derderian - who pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in September 2006 - to serve more than three years of his four-year sentence before being paroled in October 2009. [about 11 days per life lost] - more on this story

Five Finger Death Punch Forced to Pull Out of All That Remains Tour

PR reports: Due to concerns regarding vocalist Ivan Moody's throat, Five Finger Death Punch has cancelled all live performances through March 7th. Ivan has developed calluses on his vocal chords that, if left untreated, could lead to permanent damage. As a preventative measure, he has been advised by doctors to take 2 months of vocal rest and work on rehabilitating his vocal chords. All are confident that Ivan will make a full recovery and be back in top form in plenty of time for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's slot on the ROCKSTAR MAYHEM tour with SLIPKNOT and DISTURBED this Summer.

The band offers sincere regrets to fans in the markets that they will not be playing, and promise to make all efforts to get to those cities during one of their many upcoming outings. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will miss their entire planned outing with CHIMAIRA and ALL THAT REMAINS in February and March and the following upcoming headline dates in January - more on this story

The US Jam

PR reports: Fresh from a wildly successful series of dates in the UK, founding members of The Jam, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, join fellow musicians Dave Moore and Russell Hastings for a 13-city US tour in the New Year starting January 24th in San Diego. These will be the first live shows in the US since the original Jam disbanded.

Drawing inspiration from The Who and the Sex Pistols, The Jam fused a punk-rock sensibility with the classic mod sound and became one of the most influential acts to come out of the UK. During the band's five-year span, The Jam's moody lyrics connected with disenfranchised youth in songs like "Down in the Tube Station" and "In The City." - more including dates

antiMusic NAMM Party

antiMusic reports: This Sunday antiMUSIC.com, Ampeg.com, CrateAmps.com, AlvarezGuitars.com and HappeninHarry.com have teamed up to bring you the ultimate NAMM party featuring members of Guns N' Roses, Cradle of Filth, David Lee Roth, At The Gates, Quiet Riot, The Haunted and more. Admission is free to anyone with a NAMM badge.

The show will take place at the Cat Club in Hollywood with sets from Nemhain (featuring members of At The Gates, The Haunted and Cradle Of Filth), The 4 Dudes (featuring Billy Sheehan, Dizzy Reed of Guns n' Roses, Happenin Harry, 40 Cycle Hum's Mark Zavon and Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot), as well as the mind blowing two guitar playing Rodney Branigan (he alone is worth the price of admission) and The Whatevers (featuring members of AntiProduct, Life, Sex & Death, and Enuff Z'nuff) plus more.

The night will be capped off with an all star jam from the Haptones featuring far too many names to drop in one posting. You can grab more info on the show - right here

Fun with Daughtry Idol Quotes

antiMusic reports: Former American Idol contestant and top selling artist of 2007, Chris Daughtry is in a bit of a whirlwind of controversy following a Rolling Stone article where he is quoted as saying that American Idol is in decline. [The drop in ratings back him up] Daughtry took to his website following the publishing of the article and tried to clarify his remarks saying that they were taken out of context.

While we published part of his statement yesterday where he claimed they left out all of the good things he said about the television karaoke contest that made him a star, RS went on the offensive and posted the entire transcript and a recording of the interview. While we didn't find too many "good things" he had to say about the show, we can't argue with the negative things either. Perhaps he was referring to the following comments as the good ones? "It just gave me the opportunity to show people who I was. And that's not saying that in a cocky way, but all I'm saying is I was an artist before I went on the show."

As for the whole taken out of context claim, that happens anytime you lift quotes from an interview. While the RS interview did contain all of the quotes attributed to him, it did leave a lot of the conversation out; thus the context of the quotes. We're not taking RS to task for this since it is a standard practice, which you have to do if you post "articles" instead of interview transcripts. When you craft an article you make your arguments and pick the quotes to back it up. We do it too. (Although we do publish full transcripts of almost all interviews). Now here is an "extreme" example of how this works, we are going to use part of Andy Greene's finished article and the interview transcript to craft our own article.

Rolling Stone magazine predicted that amid the Hollywood writers strike that American Idol would see a "ratings bump" this year. However, the lack of new programs on competing networks didn't give the show the predicted bump when it premiered on Tuesday night. In fact, the season opener lost 4 million viewers from the 2007 season premiere.

The decline in viewership reflects the overall decline in interest for the "Idol" franchise with former winners and contestants making headlines recently when they were dropped from their record deals due to poor sales.

"They just need to like rethink it a bit," says Rolling Stone writer Andy Greene. "I watched last season, and like they all sucked. It was boring, you know?" We know and have known for a long time. - Now go and read the full transcripts and make up your own mind.

Wait there is more!

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Subscribe to Day in Rock Report by Email

Add the Day in Rock to your site/blog/Myspace

Read Day In Rock Reports From Other Days

Submit news or a press release to the Day In Rock report