Light This City Week: Day 4

- Read the rest of Laura's story, plus get Ben's take on it.

Blink-182 Reunion?

Reuters reports: After a messy split in 2005, the members of Blink-182 are back in communication, raising speculation that a reunion may be in the offing for the pop-punk trio.

On his blog, group member Mark Hoppus says the recent death of Blink producer Jerry Finn and drummer Travis Barker's survival of a plane crash brought the threesome back in contact.

"We're just reconnecting as friends after four years of not talking," he says. "It's a good thing. Obviously the first question for a lot of people will be, 'Does this mean a Blink-182 reunion?' The answer is none of us know. " - more on this story

Guns N' Roses Full CD Preview- Slash In New GNR Video- 33 Insane Facts About Chinese Democracy- Axl's MTV Moments

antiMusic reports: The release of Guns N' Roses "Chinese Democracy" is just a few days away, and with such a historic release there is a lot of news coming out about the group. So we put together another round up for GNR related stories to keep you up to date on what's going on in Axl's world.

GNRDaily.com reports that Guns N' Roses new album "Chinese Democracy" will be available for streaming in its entirety on the official Guns N' Roses MySpace page today November 20. Check it out here

There are also rumors sweeping the internet that Chinese Democracy has leaked and is being shared around torrent sites. more

To think, it only took 14 years and a budding UK filmmaker named Jimmy Reay to get Axl Rose and Slash to appear in a video together. Well, kinda. Reay and his friend Jamie DeBarge both donned costumes to appear as Gun N' Roses members past and present to appear in this video, to the new GN'R' song Chinese Democracy. You gotta see it

Speaking of videos. Chinese Democracy's impending arrival has VH1 digging into the MTV News vaults for gems from the Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose. Topping the list: October 24, 1987: Guns N' Roses Trash "Headbangers Ball" This is GN'R's first-ever appearance on MTV, and they definitely made a lasting impression, especially on "Headbangers" host Asher Benrubi (who, incidentally, looks like a cross between Ron Jeremy and your aunt's pontoon-boat-owning boyfriend). After a perfunctory interview (Axl mostly just scowls and wears a leather fedora), GN'R are given 30 seconds to "redecorate" the studio, at which point all hell breaks loose. Axl displays his superhuman strength by hoisting a casket-shaped riser above his head and tossing it at Benrubi, nearly killing him (OK, so Slash helps). Check out the full article

Now for some more fun. Our friends over at Music Radar put together a special look at "33 insane facts about Chinese Democracy," which is a must read for any GNR fan. Here is just the first fact:

It's taken a third of Axl Rose's life to record Chinese Democracy Lest we forget, the making of Chinese Democracy began at LA's Complex Studio in 1993, when Rose was a fresh-faced enfant terrible of 31. When it's released on November 24, he will be a middle-aged recluse of 46. If you'd had a baby when he hit 'record', your kid would now be sitting exams and stealing your cigarettes.
- Check it out the rest here

Pilot Warned of Travis Barker Crash- Miley Dancing With the Stars- KISS Sinks Stock Market- Megadeth Jury Duty- The Deluxe Sword- Korn Head on LA Ink and more

antiMusic reports: Here is today's round up of quick music new stories: The pilot of a private jet warned air traffic controllers that his plane was "going off the end" of a runway before it crashed, killing him and three others and injuring celebrity DJ AM and former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. more

Those with an IQ over 100 can skip this story. Miley Cyrus will be performing on Dancing With The Stars at the end of the month. The teen poptart will entertain fans on the season 7 finale November 25th on ABC. more

Poor Gene Simmons. On the day he gets to ring the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange the markets take a nose dive with the down sinking below 8000 for the first time in five years. Ouch! Ee can't blame Gene for this but still the irony of the man that signs his signature with a dollar sign ringing the bell on a doomed market is something to note. Watch the video

Megadeth's frontman Dave Mustaine once sang "what do you mean I don't support your system? I go to court when I have to." He will now have to live up to those words when he reports for jury duty this coming May. more

On November 25, The Sword will release a limited edition CD set that includes both Age Of Winters and Gods Of The Earth. This special package will be available at all of their live shows (both headlining and Metallica support dates) as well as on Amazon

Kristin Andreassen, solo artist and guitarist/vocalist/clogger with the acclaimed stringband Uncle Earl, will be performing live on the nationally syndicated popular radio program A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keilor on Saturday, November 22. Andreassen will also participate in a live performance of the program on November 21. more

Lil Goonie has teamed up with America's favorite guilty pleasure, Girls Gone Wild, as part of the new "Hollywood Gone Wild" campaign. The campaign will feature Lil Goonie's single "Girlz Gone Wild" in a series of commercials and infomercials, to be run on major networks such as SpikeTV, Comedy Central, MTV, and FUSE.

Book Of Black Earth are proud to announce their involvement in the January / February 2009 Killing 'Til Oblivion Tour with Cattle Decapitation, Psyopus, Book of Black Earth, and Gigan in support of the band's second full-length and Prosthetic Records debut 'Horoskopus.'

Former Korn guitarist turned solo artist, Brian "Head" Welch, will be a featured guest star on the December 4th episode of L.A. Ink. The segment was filmed earlier this summer and Head got a new tattoo on the show.more

Joe Stump (Holyhell, Reign Of Terror) will be bringing his brand of guitar showmanship to Europe in November and December with his "allstar" bands which features Ian Parry (Elegy, Consortium Project) on vocals, Jay Rigney (HolyHell, Reign of Terror, Joe Stump solo) on bass and Vengeance drummer Erik Stout. more

Neil Diamond is about to embark on the final leg of his world tour, but he's already put his next album in motion. Diamond and Rick Rubin will meet on January 12 to start planning the follow-up to his recent chart-topping "Home Before Dark." more

Order Of Ennead has been added to the lineup of Winterfest 2009, a European tour that also features the likes of Decide, Vader, Samael, Devian and The Amenta.

50 Cent plays a ruthless loan shark in the London gangland movie "Dead Man Running," which began shooting today (Nov. 19). Also cast are Brenda Blethyn ("Secrets And Lies") Tamer Hassan ("Layer Cake"), Danny Dyer ("The Business"), and Monet Mazur ("Stoned"). more

Kerrang says "Its official - Lostprophets HAVE lost their drummer Ilan. We already knew that he was going to be working with Nine Inch Nails - now he's confirmed he's leaving the welsh outfit completely" - more

Chris Cornell and Linkin Park Collaboration On CD

Blabbermouth reports: Former Soundgarden/Audioslave singer Chris Cornell and Linkin Park joined forces this summer during the Projekt Revolution tour on a live version of the Temple Of The Dog classic "Hunger Strike" and Linkin Park's "Crawling".

You can now own those never-before-released performances on "Songs From The Underground". The new CD, previously only available through the Linkin Park fan club Linkin Park Underground, will be sold at selected Best Buy locations starting Thanksgiving Day!

This limited-edition CD includes "Hunger Strike" (live from Projekt Revolution 2008 featuring Chester Bennington) and comes with a free one-month trial membership for LPU and access to a FREE download of "Crawling" (featuring Chris Cornell).
- Wanna see the live videos?

Taylor Swift Goes Gold In A Week

Reuters reports: With the best sales week for a country album in a year, 18-year-old Taylor Swift debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. pop album chart Wednesday.

Her second album, "Fearless," sold 592,000 copies during the week ended November 16, according to Nielsen SoundScan, the largest sum for a country album since the Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" started with 711,000 last November.

The next three slots on the Billboard 200 album chart were also debuts, with "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta starting at No. 2 with his self-titled album on sales of 183,000. The 29th edition of the multi-artist "Now That's What I Call Music!" series began at No. 3 with 172,000, while T-Pain's "Thr33 Ringz" opened at No. 4 with 167,000. - more on this story

Vinnie Paul Denies Cashing In On Dimebag

Blabbermouth reports: During an appearance on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline" this past Monday night (November 17), former Pantera and current Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott was asked about the criticism he has received via various Internet message boards for the fact that the proceeds from his Dimebag-related projects are not going to charity.

"I don't even know where to go with that other than, you know… They're not in the same position I'm in or had to go through what I've gone through here," Vinnie replied. "It's really none of their business where it goes, so I don't know how else to address it — I really don't even think about it; it doesn't cross my mind."

"I'm doing this for the fans and for them to enjoy what Dime was all about and give them more than what they already had — to increase his legacy and to make him larger than life forever. And he'll outlive all of us. I'm beyond letting things like that pick at me or irritate me. I just have to look past 'em and keep rolling." - more on this story

Ginger Smashes Hope of Cream Reunion

Music Radar reports: Drummer Ginger Baker has revealed that the legendary rock supergroup Cream, also featuring guitarist Eric Clapton and bass player Jack Bruce, will never reunite again.

The band returned to the stage in 2005 for the first time in 12 years for shows in London and New York, but the drummer reveals those shows will be their last.

"I'd refused to do it first of all. It was Eric who phoned me up and convinced me. The reason I didn't want to do it was because of what happened in New York in 1968 when the magic was destroyed. The reason why we broke up in the first place re-emerged on stage at Madison Square.
- more on this story

P.O.D. Not Breaking Up

Blabbermouth reports: P.O.D. vocalist Sonny Sandoval has addressed rumors regarding the band's future following the recent cancellation of the group's co-headlining tour of Europe with Filter.

The trek, which was scheduled to take place in January/February 2009, was reportedly called off because P.O.D. is unable to fulfill its touring obligations due to the band's decision to go on "hiatus."

Stated Sonny: "There are a lot of rumors flying around right now but please pay no attention to all of that. Just know that the P.O.D. boys are ALL GOOD and are looking forward to doing what we do best in South America and wherever opportunities may present itself [sic] in the future." With that in mind, they have announced some new tour dates. - Grab those here along with the rest of Sonny's statement

Kings Of Leon Map Out Another U.S. Tour

NME reports: Kings Of Leon have announced another run of dates in the US, kicking off January 20 in Louisville, KY.

The band will wrap up their current tour with We Are Scientists tonight in Nashville before heading to Europe for a run of shows.

They are currently touring to promote their fourth album 'Only By The Night', released September 23. - more on this story

God Forbid To Shed Earthsblood in Feb

PR reports: God Forbid's new album Earthsblood is set for a February 24th North American release and February 16th throughout Europe. Here is the PR hype for the effort:

The epic and grandiose musical landscape of the new God Forbid album proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this group have paved a new path out from the stagnant metalcore scene and the future looks to be a very bright one. The stunning new effort, Earthsblood, blends together the perfect amount of brutality, melodies and utter catchiness against a wall of sonic excess and pummeling groove-laden riffs.

Frontman Byron Davis steps up his game to new heights and delivers his most aggressive and angst-ridden performance yet, while the dynamic guitar tandem composed of Dallas and Doc Coyle shred with precision and tenacity to deliver captivating harmonies that scream to the heavens. The backbone of the band, bassist John Outcalt and drummer Corey Piece, lock in a rhythm section that beats the listener into submission giving room for the remaining members to show off their remarkable musical prowess. - more on this story

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All

PR reports: In order to fully dominate the Christmas season Colbert style, the Colbert Report anchor is unleashing his lethal 1-2 punch of both a TV special and holiday album at the same time.

The Christmas special. A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! is a one-hour original musical holiday special. It premieres on Sunday, November 23 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on COMEDY CENTRAL. The musical companion EP of the same name will be available on iTunes.

In the special, Colbert is on his way to meet with Elvis Costello in New York City but is snowed-in at his cabin in upstate New York (bear country). He weathers through the storm with help from his friends Feist, Toby Keith, John Legend, Willie Nelson and Jon Stewart. A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! features original songs written by David Javerbaum (executive producer, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) and composer Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), with the exception of "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love And Understanding" which was written by Nick Lowe. The songs were produced by Schlesinger and Steven M. Gold. Theme music and score also by Schlesinger and Gold. The bonus features on the DVD include a book burning Yule log, video advent calendar, alternate endings and more. - more on this story

Singled Out: REPO! The Genetic Opera

antiMusic reports: Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today Terrance Zdunich the co/creator, performer and actor (GraveRobber) of the REPO! The Genetic Opera movie checks in with the story behind his favorite song from the cult classic in the making rock opera. We now turn it over to Terrance for the story:

Even though the scene was cut from the final film, my favorite song on the REPO! Soundtrack is "Needle Through A Bug", a macabre duet between the Shilo and GraveRobber characters. I like the track because it operates well on multiple levels. It also was one of the last tracks composed for the film, so it has the benefit of remaining fresh in my mind.

Thematically: "Needle" features two completely different character types – Shilo (the innocent) and GraveRobber (the big, bad wolf) – using completely different tactics to achieve the same goal: TO GET OUT OF A BAD SITUATION. Shilo must venture beyond her comfort zone and do something that's completely gross and frightening to her – i.e. she must plunge a needle into the skull of a dead woman. GraveRobber, who's not used to having to rely on others, is immobilized in the scene and has to convince Shilo to do this horrible deed. Otherwise he's dead meat. The title of the song is in reference to GraveRobber's tactics; he's telling Shilo that sticking a needle into a cadaver is no different than sticking a "needle through a bug".

- Read the rest of this song story

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