Foo Zeppelin for Grammys

Blabbermouth reports: LED ZEPPELIN's legendary multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones will arrange a special orchestral version of the FOO FIGHTERS' hit single "The Pretender" and will serve as special guest conductor of the FOO FIGHTERS' orchestra as part of this year's My Grammy Moment, produced in partnership with YouTube and CBS.com.

The segment gives up to 20 unsigned musicians the opportunity to play with the rock group as part of the orchestra conducted by Jones.

"We're participating in 'My Grammy Moment' because it creates opportunities; opportunities to write, compose, play and study music — skills that absolutely need to be passed on to generations to come," said Dave Grohl of the FOO FIGHTERS. [In other Grammy news, Michael Jackson is also rumored to appear] - more on this story

Clapton and Police Fest

Gigwise reports: Eric Clapton and The Police have been unveiled as the headliners for this years Hyde Park Calling Festival in London.

Clapton will headline the first night of the two day event – which runs from June 28th-29th – with special guest appearances from Sheryl Crow and John Mayer.

KT Tunstall and Starsailor, meanwhile, will join The Police on the Sunday, with more guests expected to be announced shortly. - more on this story

Ludacris Song Theft?

Contact Music reports: Three music producers are suing rapper LUDACRIS over claims he stole one of their tracks and used it on his hit album THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT.

The hip-hop star - real name Chris Bridges - is facing a lawsuit from the trio, known as the Boogiii Men Entertainment Group, who claim there are major similarities between a demo CD they sent to Bridges' record label in 2004 and a Ludacris song titled Get Back.

The producers - Damon 'Damethegreat' Mayfield, Markus 'Vincent' Vick and Anthony Turner - from Chester, Pennsylvania, insist all of their follow-up calls to the star's Disturbing Tha Peace label were met with a lukewarm response - more on this story

NME Love Monkeys

Reuters reports: Sheffield band the Arctic Monkeys was nominated in a record seven categories for the NME music awards on Tuesday, while Amy Winehouse, critically acclaimed but in rehab for drug problems, was largely frozen out.

The Arctic Monkeys are contesting the best British band, best live band, best album, best track, best video and best video album artwork categories, while lead singer Alex Turner is nominated for the "best dressed" award.

NME music magazine said the nominations, decided by public vote, made the indie group the most voted-for band of the decade and their generation's answer to Oasis.
- more on this story

Saul Williams Tour

PR reports: Saul Williams' thirty-stop live tour in support of his recent release, "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!". Kicking off March 12th at Austin's SXSW, Saul Williams' 'The Tar Spangled Banner Tour' will consist of both live musical performances as well as spoken word events in select cities.

MARCH
12 SXSW, Austin, TX*
13 SXSW, Austin, TX*
17 Plaza Club, Vancouver BC*
18 Aladdin, Portland, OR*
19 Neumo's, Seattle WA*
21 Slims, San Francisco, CA*
22 Club Mercy, Santa Barbara, CA*
24 Casbah, San Diego, CA*
25 Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA*
26 Clubhouse, Tempe, AZ*
- more dates and info on the CD

Good News! New Kids Staying Off The Tour Block!

Contact Music reports: Former NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK singer DANNY WOODS has dismissed reports of a boyband reunion, insisting there has been "no discussion" about a new tour.

The group, which sold over 50 million albums in the late 1980s and early 1990s, was alleged to be reforming after their official website - which was previously dormant - became fully functional and invited fans to sign up to the site for more information.

But, in a posting on social networking site MySpace.com, Woods claims he is unaware of any reunion and is focussing on his solo career. He writes, "I wanted to address the rumors of the NKOTB Reunion Tour. There has been no talk of this and you are getting it from source directly. - more on this story

Manufacturing The Manufactured Vocal Group Returns

PR reports: Bad Boy Records has announced the upcoming release of three new albums from the stars of the hit MTV reality series, Making The Band. The news comes as the series kicks off its latest season.

Making The Band 4, Season 2 will feature previous MTB sensations Danity Kane, along with last year's as-yet-unnamed quintet and additional MTB4 finalist Donnie Klang. The upcoming season will see all three acts living together as they work to complete new albums, which will then be released in the weeks to follow. The releases kick off on March 11th, with the arrival the MTB4 quintet's hotly anticipated debut album. The following week will see Danity Kane rolling out their eagerly awaited second album, due in stores on March 18th. Finally, Klang is set to unveil his currently in-the-works debut later this spring. All three collections are Executive Produced by Bad Boy CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs and Bad Boy Entertainment president Harve Pierre. - more on this story

Hollywood's Not America

PR reports: Capitol Music Group recording artist FERRAS (pronounced Fer-AHSS) will release his debut album, Aliens and Rainbows, on April 1st. The work of the audacious young artist has already attracted the attention of the hit Fox series "American Idol," which will use lead single "Hollywood's Not America" in the episodes airing February 12th and 13th. FERRAS will perform "Hollywood's Not America" on the # 1 rated Morning Show in America, the"Today" Show, on February 12th. The song will be available on iTunes beginning January 29th and goes to Hot AC radio in February.

"Aliens and Rainbows is about that other place where you go in your mind, when you just want to escape - when the world lets you down, when you feel misunderstood," says FERRAS. "It is a place for dreamers and misfits and outsiders." - more on this story

Clannad Reunite

PR reports: Original Clannad members Moya Brennan (vocals, harp), Ciaran Brennan (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Noel Duggan (guitar, vocals) Padraig Duggan (guitar, vocals, mandolin), have reunited and will tour the UK for the first time in 10 years.

The 11-date UK tour starts Sunday 2nd March at the Sage in Gateshead, and includes the London Palladium on Sunday 9th March and ends at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on Friday 14th March.

Clannad have given a unique voice to modern Irish music. They have combined a deep love of traditional strains with a bold approach to writing and recording. Their legacy is a hugely impressive collection of albums, touching on folk, rock, ambient, jazz and world music. - more on this story

Kaki King Dreaming Of Revenge

PR reports: Kaki King is going on tour this March-April in support of her March 11, 2008 release of "Dreaming Of Revenge". Kaki King returns with her fourth album after her contributions to Foo Fighters and Tegan & Sara's latest albums, and having been nominated for a Golden Globe award for "Into The Wild" together with Eddie Vedder.

Dreaming Of Revenge showcases Kaki King's desire to branch out with songs that feature electric and pedal-steel guitar, horns, and, for the first time, vocals. Produced by Malcolm Burn, a Grammy-Award winning musician and producer who is known for his work with Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel, and Emmylou Harris, Dreaming Of Revenge allows us to witness her evolution from acoustic instrumentalist to full-fledged, multi-faceted songwriter. - more on this story

Jill Sobule Running A Record-A-Thon To Finance New Don Was Produced CD

PR reports: Singer/songwriter Jill Sobule has made six albums on a variety of labels — including two that went bankrupt and two that had other problems. So, like many artists nowadays, she made a decision to go the indie route with her next album — with a twist. She is turning to her fans to help her finance the making of the next record. Sobule's goal is to raise $75,000.

Multi Grammy® Award-winning Don Was will produce the album.

Mind you, Jill isn't seeking something for nothing. Fans who make donations at http://www.JillsNewRecord.com will receive prizes in exchange for their level of donation - more on this story

Great Northern Tour and Super Bowl Ad

PR reports: Great Northern's sweeping, cinematic pop will perfectly complement the dark, visceral rock of the acclaimed duo The Gutter Twins on a month-long tour that will criss-cross the U.S. and Canada this winter. The pairing will kick off March 1 at Bimbo's in San Francisco and is the first tour for The Gutter Twins, a collaboration between Greg Dulli (The Afghan Whigs, The Twilight Singers,) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age), who Pitchfork described as "two of alt-rock's greatest front-men."

The jaunt is timed with the Los Angeles-based quartet's release of SLEEPY EEPEE, a five-track collection of unreleased songs recorded prior to their debut full-length, TRADING TWILIGHT FOR DAYLIGHT. The EP, filled with Rachel Stolte and Solon Bixler's signature intertwining male/female harmonies, will be made available digitally February 19, followed by a physical release March 18 on Eenie Meenie (Division Day, Scissors for Lefty).

Meanwhile, Great Northern's song "Home" is making its way to the screen. The lead radio track off the band's acclaimed LP will be featured in a Nissan commercial, debuting during Super Bowl XLII, February 3 as well as in the upcoming casino-heist film "21," starring Kevin Spacey and Lawrence Fishburne, hitting theaters March 28. - more on this story

After All Release This Violent Decline

PR reports: "This Violent Decline," the latest album by Belgian thrashers After All, has received a North American release via Locomotive Records. "On 'This Violent Decline,' we managed to find the right balance between the catchy and more melodic approach of 'Mercury Rising' (2003) and the full-speed-ahead thrash metal of 'The Vermin Breed' (2005)," said guitarist Dries Van Damme. "That makes 'This Violent Decline' our most mature album to date, both in musicality and power."

The group also made seriously steps in the production department, enlisting the services of heavy weights such as Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir) and Tue Madsen (Halford, Mnemic).

"Of all the albums we made, we needed the least time to write this one," said Van Damme. "We toured a lot over the last couple of years. In some way, this has inspired us a lot. The songs for 'This Violent Decline' came to us very fast and very spontaneously. It also shows, as the songs have a very natural flow to them."

After All will make its American live debut in 2008. Stay tuned for dates. - Myspace page

Danny Vaughn Releases Traveller

PR reports: Vocalist Danny Vaughn has returned with a brand new album, "Traveller," and new lineup for the band that bears his name. The former Tyketto and Waysted singer fronted the band known as Vaughn and also took part in the From the Inside Project, which released its debut in 2004 and plans to release its follow up in 2008. This new venture features members Tony Marshall (guitar), Pat Heath (guitar), Steve McKenna (bass), and Lee Morris (drums), whom Vaughn has worked with off and on for the past two years.

"This is the first recording I've done with my English touring band," Vaughn said. "We had been playing the old songs with a two guitar attack, which I had never done. So now we took all of that power and energy and put it into our own work. All of these guys have been playing with a number of bands over the years and have serious skills." - more on this story

.... Velvet Revolver 2008 Photos

40 Photos from Velvet Revolver's First Date of the 2008 Tour Supporting Their Current Release "Libertad" - January 24, 2008 - Check out Live photos from this show

.... Digby - What's Not Plastic?

What's Not Plastic? is not a painful listen, but it does not leave the slightest sense of shivers, goose bumps, or increased heart rates. It is boredom at its finest. (2 stars) - Read the full Digby - What's Not Plastic? review

.... Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today

The magic is finally back. It's been a long four years since 2004's Electric Wizard full-length We Live. With this, the band's sixth full-length, the Wizard are casting a newly reinvigorated spell of bleak, riff-centered stoner doom. A Perfect 10 - Read the full Electric Wizard - Witchcult Today review

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