Chris Robley Week: Faulkner's South

antiMusic reports: With a CD called The Drunken Dance of Modern Man In Love, and a nickname of the Stephen King of Indie Pop, Chris Robley caught our attention. He kept our attention with his moody yet intriguing music. We asked Chris to pick some of his favorite songs from the CD and tell us about each. Here is Chris with today's song "Faulkner's South".

This sad little number is a favorite of mine because I was able to almost entirely recreate the sound and mood I had in my mind when I first wrote it (a comparative description would read something like Randy Newman lyrics with a Burt Bacharach melody performed by Harvest-era Neil Young). There is always some distance between intent and reality when it comes to the recording process. Some songs benefit from this distance. Some suffer. But rarely do they resemble the original idea in any recognizable way. So I'm proud that in this case I closed the distance near entirely. (He went into a lot of detail so we're only printing the first part of each story in the Day in Rock here is a link to the - full story for today)

Whitesnake Cancer Battle

BW&BK reports: Former WHITESNAKE/TRAPEZE guitarist, Mel Galley, has issued the following update:

"It is with regret that I have to announce the postponement of my two shows scheduled for the end of March. This is due to me having to undergo surgery to remove a tumour that has been found in my oesophagus.

At this stage I have no other details I can give as I am awaiting further tests. I thought it best to be upfront and clear rather than just say 'personal circumstances' or something similar.??
- more on this story

John Stewart RIP

BBC reports: John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees hit Daydream Believer and was a member of folk group The Kingston Trio, has died.

The 68-year-old suffered a massive stroke or brain aneurysm in San Diego on Friday, according to The Kingston Trio's website.

Stewart joined the group, one of the most successful and influential groups in popular folk, in 1961. - more on this story

Plant and Krauss Tour

Reuters reports: Robert Plant's world tour with Alison Krauss -- a key obstacle to a Led Zeppelin reunion trek -- will kick off in Louisville, Ky., on April 20.

The bluegrass queen and the self-proclaimed "golden god" will be promoting their album "Raising Sand," which opened at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 last fall.

Other stops include Knoxville, Tenn., on April 22, Chattanooga, Tenn., on April 23 and Birmingham, Ala., on April 26. The tour's 11-date run in Europe follows in May.
- more on this story

Original X Announce Anniversary Tour

PR reports: The punk scene of Los Angeles in the late 70's saw its share of great acts rise up out of the streets, but few were as talented and durable as X. They were the quintessential L.A. punk rockers that have become a world-class, live, rock & roll band. Now, X is back out on tour in 2008 with something really special; the original line-up of John Doe, Exene, Billy Zoom, and D.J. Bonebrake are set to rock again in the 13 - 31 Tour across the U.S.A.

Formed in 1977 when Billy Zoom and John Doe placed virtually identically worded ads in the same paper on the same day looking to start a band. Exene soon followed and once DJ was found the band complete. Discovered by ex-Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek, the band went on to record such landmark albums as Los Angelesin 1980, the similarly punked-up Wild Gift in '81, while their '82 album, Under The Big Black Sun began what would be a long career in merging hard rock, country, Americana, and folk into their fiery mix. - more on this story

Green Day's Billie Joe Side Band Performing

antiMusic reports: Attention Green Day fans in Southern California. A rare opportunity has come up to see Billie Joe perform outside of Green Day. GreenDay.net reports:

Billie Joe's side band, Pinhead Gunpowder will be doing a few very rare performances. The last time they performed live was 2001.

February 3rd, Chain Reaction - Anaheim, CA and February 4th, Troubadour - Los Angeles, CA

Check out GreenDay.net for a couple links, one to audio and one to a video
- right here

Metallica Summer Tour

antiMusic reports: Livemetallica.com has posted a host of upcoming European dates. Here is what they had to say: That's right . . . Metallica is heading back to Europe this summer!

So far seven shows have been confirmed and they will all be available [for download at Livemetallica.com] a few days after they happen, so feel free to pre-order now.

Don't forget, the one of a kind acoustic Bridge School shows are also still available. All the net proceeds go to the school - a very worthy cause!

May 28 Chorzow, PL - Slaski Stadium
May 30 Landgraaf, NL - Pink Pop Festival
May 31 Getafe, ES - Electric Weekend
June 3 Prague, CZ - Slavia Stadium
June 5 Lisbon, PT - Rock In Rio
June 7 Nurburgring, DE - Rock Am Ring
June 8 Nurnburg, DE - Rock Im Park
- http://www.livemetallica.com/

Jimmy Eat Paramore

PR reports: Jimmy Eat World and Paramore have just confirmed a U.S. co-headline tour scheduled to kick off in March. Full schedule, on-sale dates and support acts will be announced shortly.

Said Jimmy Eat World singer Jim Adkins, "We're very excited for the upcoming tour with Paramore. We got to know them last December while playing festivals together. They put on a great show and we think it's going to be an awesome bill."

Adds Hayley Williams (Paramore), "If it all ends tomorrow, we will be happy knowing that we got a tour with the band that gave us a reason to play music." - http://www.paramore.net/

Stars Plan to Cross Grammy Picket Line

BBC reports: Beyonce and the Foo Fighters have said they will perform at next month's Grammy Awards amid the threat of protests by striking Hollywood writers.

There have been fears that stars could stay away if there is a picket line outside the prestigious music ceremony.

Beyonce's father and manager Matthew Knowles said "we have every intention" of being at the event in Los Angeles. The Foo Fighters' manager John Silva said the rock band "will be performing on the show" on 10 February. - more on this story

Wishbone Ash To Spend Eternity in Germany

PR reports: During the next few months, UK classic rock legends Wishbone Ash will continue to tour intensely throughout Europe to promote two new releases: The Power of Eternity, a studio recording featuring the current lineup; and a DVD and double-live CD soundtrack, Wishbone Ash Live in Hamburg, recorded this year at Germany's famed club, The Fabrik.

Dubbed the "Eternity Tour," it will bring the band to many familiar stomping grounds in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. More than 100 dates are scheduled, providing plenty of opportunities to catch the latest incarnation of Wishbone Ash, which adds drummer Joe Crabtree to the established lineup of twin axemen Andy Powell and Muddy Manninen and bassist Bob Skeat. - more on this story

Sonic Youth Porn Tunes

NME reports: Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore is lending his talents to score an adult film.

'Extra Action (And Extra Hardcore)' is due out in the US on March 18 in DVD format. It was directed by photographer/filmmaker Richard Kern, who has also directed several Sonic Youth videos.

A description of the movie says that it "documents 60 amateur women (unpretentious, unadorned and undressed) set to an original musical score by Thurston Moore." - more on this story

Gary Glitter Suffers Heart Attack

Contact Music reports: Glam rock star Gary Glitter has reportedly suffered a heart attack in the Vietnamese jail where he is serving a sentence for child abuse.

The News of the World reports that the singer was taken to hospital after the health scare which took place last Sunday.

A nurse that takes care of the Leader of the Gang star, whose real name is Paul Gadd, told the paper: "Mr Gadd suffered a heart attack. He remains very frail and his blood pressure is still dangerously high. When he is well enough he will go back to prison but at the moment he is still a very sick man." - more on this story

Def Leppard Set March Release, CD To Feature Tim McGraw

antiMusic reports: UK Def Leppard fans will be able to spend St Paddy's day with drink and song. You'll have to supply the drink but Def Leppard will provide the song in the form of their new studio album, "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge". Sadly, American fans will get their listen while suffering from one of those nasty hangovers that only green beer can create. On another note, the CD will feature a guest appearance from Tim McGraw. So maybe Leppard is going country like Bon Jovi?

Here is the official word from Defleppard.com: With March 27 being the start date of the band's World Tour to support their upcoming album "SONGS FROM THE SPARKLE LOUNGE", many of you have been wondering if the album will actually be released before the kickoff show. We can hereby tell you that as of today, the album is scheduled for release on MARCH 17 in the UK and MARCH 18 in the rest of the world. That's right -- in about two months the band's new album might be in the shops! Please note this is a TENTATIVE date and therefore may change.

Furthermore, the first single off the album will be called "NINE LIVES" and will feature a guest appearance by country star TIM MCGRAW.

As a special promotion around the album release, Amazon is offering UK fans the chance to win a very special prize! One lucky winner (and friend) will get a trip to Miami to see Def Leppard's second show on the tour, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Miami on March 29 (two hotel nights included). All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, is enter some of your details on Amazon.co.uk and you'll be entered into the prize draw. - That is here

Ringo Party in LA

PR reports: Ringo Starr & Dave Stewart and band will perform a short set of Ringo's songs LIVE at an exclusive event celebrating the release of Ringo's new Capitol/EMI album, Liverpool 8! 1pm PST on Friday, January 25 at Los Angeles' House Of Blues on Sunset Blvd. & LIVE webcast on Ringo's official site

Amoeba Music in Hollywood and Los Angeles' KLOS 95.5 FM are giving you a chance to 'bypass the line' and guarantee your entry! Beginning Tuesday, January 22, while supplies last, purchase Ringo Starr's Liverpool 8 on CD or USB wristband at Amoeba Music in Hollywood to receive one 'bypass the line' pass to guarantee your entry into the party! One non-transferable 'bypass the line' guaranteed entry pass per Liverpool 8 CD or USB wristband purchase. Limit 2 per customer. Offer is valid while supplies last. Name on pass must match ID for entry. Pass void if transferred, altered or otherwise tampered with. - more info on the show and webcast info

Lily Allen Loses Baby

Gigwise reports: Lily Allen has suffered a miscarriage, a spokesperson from her record company has confirmed.

The pop star revealed that she was expecting her first child with Ed Simons from The Chemical Brothers last December.

The couple, who met last summer, were said to be "distraught" by a close friend last night. - more on this story

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