Chris Robley Week: A Vague Notion of Nothing Much

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 "A Vague Notion of Nothing Much".

A cruel, cruel song. I always seem to have one tune on every album from the perspective of a despicable misogynist. This is a soon-to-be father who knows he won't be sticking around much longer, while a lesbian couple next door pines for their own child. I think I got that line A vague notion of nothing much in my head first, apropos of nothing. And then rather than the song being about an idea, which would be the obvious continuation of a notion, it became about a person... or baby. The baby in your belly is a vague notion of nothing much.

Then I thought, God!, what a terrible thing to say. But it'd be even more terrible if it were the father talking to the mother. So I guess I think of these things first and then wonder how I can make them the most potently cruel. My friends think I should start a contest for folks who'd be willing to write new songs based on mine to save my sad characters. It happened once. Maybe someone will eventually save the deadbeat dad in Vague Notion and they'll end up a happy family one day. Or maybe just a functional family would be okay. (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)

Rocker Injured in Bizarre Pillow Accident

Gigwise reports: Liars frontman Angus Andrew has suffered a bizarre back injury which has thrown their US tour into doubt.

The injury wasn't from a heavy lifting job, instead Andrew bent down to retrieve a pillow from his couch which his back seized up and he fell in pain.

His other band members Aaron Hemphill and Julian Gross are now flapping around Angus trying to get him prepared for the American jaunt which kick-starts in San Francisco on Thursday (January 25). - more on this story

Lil Wayne Dope Bust

TMZ reports: TMZ has learned rapper Lil' Wayne has been hit with some big time charges-- possession of cocaine, possession of ecstasy and possession of drug paraphernalia. Make it rain!

Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter, was arrested with two others who have been charged with possession of marijuana. Cops say they found 105 grams of marijuana, 29 grams of cocaine and 41 grams of ecstasy pills on his tour bus -- after they stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint.

Police also found a 40-caliber pistol, but Wayne, we're told, does have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in the state of Florida. They tell us they're checking to see if that carries over to Arizona. The judge set his bond at $10,000. He should be released shortly. - more on the arrest

My Chemical Romance Thinks Emo is Punk

Punknews.org reports: In a new interview with the NME, My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way expressed a desire to return to the bands more traditional roots. [He may be hanging out with Avril too much because he thinks those roots were punk.]

The band's previous album, The Black Parade, was notable for over-the-top theatricality.

For the next record, Way explains: It's nice because it's a return to punk rock music. It feels like a rock song. I think (the next album) will definitely be stripped down. I think the band misses being a rock band - more on this story

Hagar To Tour with Chesney

BW&BK reports: Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer and former VAN HALEN frontman SAMMY HAGAR will be joining KENNY CHESNEY for at least 7 stops along Chesney's Poets & Pirates Stadium tour, it was announced today.

Starting May 10th, 2008, Hagar will begin his jaunt in Baltimore, MD for what is sure to be a fun time with Chesney and many of his other friends, including KEITH URBAN, BROOKS & DUNN, LEANN RIMES, GARY ALLAN, LUKE BRYAN and BIG & RICH.

From there, Sammy will be rocking on with Chesney to Cleveland, OH; Phoenix, AZ; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA; until he makes his way to the already sold out Foxboro, MA show! - more on this story

Last.Fm Launching Free Music Service

Gigwise reports: The social music platform Last.Fm is to launch what it has called the biggest free music service in the world.

Registered users will be able to stream and listen to tracks up to three times, as opposed to downloading them onto their computer.

They will then be given the opportunity to download the track via digital download stores such as iTunes. [you could also go to Myspace and listen as many times as you like for free] - more on this story

The Brilliance of A&R People: Linkin Park Rejected By Labels 50 Times

Contact Music reports: LINKIN PARK frontman CHESTER BENNINGTON was determined not give up on the band - even when they were rejected by record labels over 50 times. The singer lead the group, then known as Hybrid Theory, into numerous showcase gigs for label executives and were turned every time.

The rockers were eventually signed to the Warner Brothers label in 2000 and Bennington, 31, insists he is glad he didn't give up on his musical dream.

He says, "We played over 50 showcases for label guys and we got turned down multiple times. It was tough." [While we're not huge LP fans here, no one can deny their success. Just think of how many other bands that could be huge are getting turned down by these brilliant A&R people! Maybe the R stands for retarded? Remember the Beatles were turned down by all the majors at least two times each. Oops] - More from Chester on this

New Spiritualized in May

Gigwise reports: Spiritualized have confirmed that their first album in five years will be released in "mid-May", which we can only assume means either the 12th or the 19th of the month.

Jason Pierce made the announcement on his band's official website, but sadly stayed quiet on the title, track-listing or any other golden nuggets of information.

The record will be the follow-up to 2003's acclaimed 'Amazing Grace' and their seventh full-length proper in total. - more on this story

Keys Stays on Top

Reuters reports: R&B singer Alicia Keys' "As I Am" led the U.S. pop album charts for a second consecutive week Wednesday, while the soundtrack to Oscar-nominated movie "Juno" rose one place to No. 2.

Keys sold just 61,000 copies in the week ended January 20, according to Nielsen SoundScan data. It's the lowest tally for a chart-topper since the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack moved about 60,000 copies in the week ended January 14, 2007.

Overall sales were woeful, at just 6.98 million units -- down 4% from last week, and 9% from the year-ago period.
- more on this story

Kimmel Live Stage Returns with Maroon 5

PR reports: MAROON 5 is set to rock "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Friday, February 1 as the late-night talk show re-opens their unique Outdoor Pontiac Garage Stage for 2008. Tune-in as Maroon 5 re-opens the outdoor stage where more than 800 ecstatic music fans can take advantage of free concerts in the middle of Hollywood throughout the year.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" has hosted outdoor performances from a variety of acclaimed musical acts including Arctic Monkeys, Incubus, Destiny's Child, Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Urban, Gwen Stefani, Coldplay, 50 Cent, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Tenacious D, Audioslave and many more.

Upcoming musical acts include: January 25 – Sia | January 30 – Sum 41 | February 1 – Maroon 5 (will take place on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Outdoor Pontiac Garage Stage.) Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs at 12:05 am ET/PT on ABC. - more JK

Slayer To Reign In Bookstores

BW&BK reports: Continuum International Publishing Group has confirmed an April 15th release date for SLAYER's Reign In Blood (33 1/3), a new book about the legendary 1986 album from the Los Angeles thrashers.

Written by D.X. Ferris, the book description is as follows: "Slayer's controversial Reign In Blood remains the gold standard for extreme heavy metal: a seamless procession of 10 blindingly fast songs in just 28 minutes, delivered in furious bursts of instrumental precision, sparking a new genre called death metal and today serves as a benchmark for metal musicians.

The disc marked slayer's coronation as the kings of thrash, and their ongoing 25-year streak of vitality places them in the small fraternity of rock's greatest groups. - more including a bit with Tom talking to BW&BK about the album

Convict Idol

TMZ reports: Perrie Cataldo -- a smooth-talking "AI" contestant who crooned his way to Hollywood last night -- once had a secret weapon up his sleeve ... literally!

TMZ has obtained an arrest record revealing that Cataldo carried a handgun into a bar in Glendale, Ariz. back in 2006, after being kicked out for fighting. According to the arresting officer, Cataldo was "concealing" the gun under his clothing, and was confronted by security and arrested.

Cataldo went to serious lengths on last night's show to explain to the judges that he'd turned his life around since then. He revealed his baby mama was killed for being "at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people, doing the wrong thing." - more on this story

Nugent Officially A Corporate Tool

SleazeRoxx.com reports: For technicians who love to pack up the truck Friday after work with rods, rifles and bows and head for the woods - there's a new tool box designed just for you. Snap-on Tools has teamed up with legendary rocker and gonzo sportsman, Ted Nugent, to introduce a new line of limited edition roll cabinets and accessories.

Snap-on's Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild tool storage units are available in a traditional 54-inch roll cab (KRA2411PNC) and a complete workstation (KRA2411WCPNC). A top chest (KRA2408PNC) and bulk overhead unit (KRWL5435PNC) are also available.

"Our collaboration with Ted Nugent finds common ground in his love for hunting and his sponsorship of hunting-related causes," said Jay Serpe, product manager, tool storage, Snap-on Tools. "A high percentage of Snap-on customers are interested in hunting and other outdoor sports and identify with Ted Nugent as a well-recognized, nationally-known advocate."
- more on this story

Diddy Dropping Shiddy Name?

NME reports: First there was Puff Daddy, then there was Puffy. Then he became the equally lame P.Diddy which was changed to Diddy and now it seems Sean Combs wants to be known by a somewhat normal name.

After of over a decade of being known by names that you would expect to be characters on television shows for toddlers, Diddy wants to change his name again.

Not P.Shiddy as we would suggest, or even P.Hannity Puffy Colms, but "Sean John" after one of his over-priced product lines apparently. - Read about this stupidity here

Weiland Explains Missed Gig

Metal Underground reports: An official statement from VELVET REVOLVER's publicist regarding frontman Scott Weiland's absence from the band's concert Sunday night (January 20) at the 944 Magazine's party at Tao during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah has been released. It reads as follows:

"On Sunday, January 20, the private plane that Scott was traveling on from Miami (where he performed the night before at the AROD Family Foundation and Bay Point Schools benefit) to Utah was diverted because of bad weather. The pilot wouldn't fly from Miami to the Salt Lake City Airport because of extremely poor visibility and a potential poor weather system that made it dangerous for the plane to fly to Salt Lake City. Two hours into the flight, it was diverted to the Van Nuys Airport (in Los Angeles).

"Scott, the band and management tried to find a flight to take him from Van Nuys to Salt Lake City in time for the band's show, but this was not possible. By the time Scott landed at the Van Nuys airport, it was too late to make any connecting flights. - more on this story

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