Bigelf Week: Day 4

Preview songs from the album, learn more about it and the group and more right - here!

GNR Fans Vs Radio, AC/DC Overwhelmed By CD Success, Free Hinder Tix, Who Grand Prix, Michelle Most Wanted, Pro-Pain Down a Member? and more

antiMusic reports: We start today's quicks with a rather long blurb but it couldn't be helped: Last week we told you how the new Guns N' Roses single received massive airplay on its first day of release. That massive air play didn't keep up through the week, but they did get a respectable amount of spins. Some fans weren't very happy with that and have taken to hitting up their local radio stations to play the song. One fan in Boston got an earful from an angry program director who ridiculed the fan and Guns N' Roses during the exchange (if the email we were forwarded is legit.) The PD basically told the fan that radio stations stopped taking listener requests in 1988, the same year that Guns N' Roses were relevant. That's an interesting concept. I'm sure the people at the sold out shows in Los Angeles that antiMusic attended a couple years back would beg to differ. (Very few bands can pull off multiple-shows in Los Angeles, especially irrelevant bands.) Maybe this PM's attitude is part of the reason that rock radio is losing listeners? We here at antiMusic know many fine people in radio (including kick ass PMs) and would never expect such behavior from them, but to the program directors that do have this attitude we went back in our news archives for an illuminating article which might surprise you at just how relevant some of these older rock acts are; in fact, many are still selling more copies of their 20 year-old releases than some of today's current "radio" bands. This is the year that already had Metallica and AC/DC debut at the top of the charts after all. Before we send you to read the article we also would like to suggest to the suits at the radio station's parent corporations that might read this: you might actually get a little more loyalty (e.g. listeners) if you bothered to listen to your customers. Kind of crazy, but imagine the concept of people listening if you actually play the songs they want to hear. Now here is the link to the article we mentioned. To our friends in radio who are spinning the song, please drop us a line with a link to your website. We'll post a list for our readers.

"It's overwhelming, and quite hard to take in," AC/DC's lead singer, Brian Johnson, said Wednesday after learning his group had 2008's second-biggest album debut. "Even an old dog like me has a few more surprises in life, I guess," he said, chuckling. more.

What about AC/DC's classic albums? Back In Black, the band's massive 1980 album, sold 21,000 copies last week, up from 9,000 the week before, Nielsen SoundScan said Wednesday. The album is the fifth-biggest seller of all time in the United States, according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America, with sales to date of 22 million copies. High Voltage, the band's 1976 US debut, rocketed to 11,000 copies from 4,000. more

Hinder are releasing their album, Take it to the Limit, next Tuesday, November 4th. Hinder will also be performing on the Jimmy Kimmel Show next Thursday, November 6th. If you are in the L.A. area just click herefor free tickets!

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will bring back The Who to Australia for the 2009 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.more

Two Cow Garage are celebrating the release of their fourth full-length, "Speaking In Cursive" (Suburban Home Records), which is currently being streamed at Punknews.org . Also look for Gary's 5 Star review of the CD next week as our Artist of the Month pick here at antiMusic. Yes the CD is that good. Go to the link above and hear it for yourself.

Is your name Michelle? Do you know a Michelle? Local H wants you to show the world why "nobody's got it like Michelle." Submit your photo to be used in their new "Michelle (again)" video from the "12 Angry Months" LP out now on Shout! Factory. Contest ends 12/5/08. details

The American Music Awards have added Coldplay and Leona Lewis to the list of performers for the show, Billboard reports. Not to nitpick but since when is England part of America? If that wasn't enough to question the AMA's cred, check out who else is appearing here.

A prosecutor on Wednesday portrayed eccentric musical genius Phil Spector as a man who repeatedly threatened women with guns and could become "very sinister, very violent and very deadly" when he was drunk.more. Interesting, well he did butcher the Beatles.

Pro-Pain is rumored to have parted ways with drummer J.C. Dwyer. This rumor is supported by the fact that Dwyer's name has been removed from the band's MySpace page.more

imeem announced a worldwide licensing and marketing partnership with UK-based independent music label group Beggars Group and NY-based Matador Records. Through the partnership, Beggars Group and Matador Records' entire digital music and video catalog, including artists like Bon Iver, Devendra Banhart, The Pixies, Sigur Ros, Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio and more, is now available for free full-length streaming on imeem. In addition, imeem users can add those songs and videos to playlists and embed them anywhere on the web. http://www.imeem.com

Sony BMG Music Entertainment lost $57 million on sales of $762 million for the three-month period ended Sept. 30. Those numbers are down from the $8 million net income loss posted in the corresponding period in the prior year when sales totaled $851 million. The latter represents a 10.5% decline in sales. more

Folk duo Bethany & Rufus will be performing a show as part of the First Acoustics Concert Series at the First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn, New York. First Acoustics is a Concert Series organized by the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, celebrating its 175th anniversary in 2008. - info

Rock Band: The Beatles

Billboard reports: It looks like the Beatles are coming to top-selling video game "Rock Band." The Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd. and MTV have scheduled a press teleconference today at 10:00 a.m. ET to announce "an exclusive agreement to develop a global music project."

Although the announcement does not offer details on the agreement, representatives for the Beatles have been talking to MTV's "Rock Band" team for months.

If a deal is signed, "Rock Band" will have secured two of the top-selling catalog bands of all time for versions of the game. AC/DC recently became the subject of a "Rock Band Track Pack" - more on this story

The Hives Sued for Song Theft

Music Radar reports: Swedish rockers The Hives are set to be sued for alleged plagiarism by Los Angeles-based songwriter Jason Shapiro.

Shapiro claims his song Why You? - recorded by The Roofies in 1997 then again by Three Way in 2002 - was copied by The Hives on their 2007 single Tick Tick Boom,

Shapiro claims that Tick Tick Boom uses a vocal melody and riff from his song. He also consulted a musicologist before deciding to sue. - more on this story

Jackson 5 Reunion On Tap

Billboard reports: The Jackson 5 will reunite in 2009, brother Jermaine Jackson confirmed today (Oct. 29) at a TV industry function in Sydney.

Jackson is in Australia to help launch a new "greatest hits" TV channel for paynet Foxtel and confirmed the rumors at the event.

"This has been a long time coming for the Jackson family to get back together," he told the Australian Associated Press. - more on this story

Third Eye Blind Return

PR reports: Third Eye Blind are about to release their first batch of new songs in five years via a digital EP, entitled Red Star, on November 18th, 2008. The material, which includes three new tracks along with additional video content, will be followed by a full-length release, Ursa Major, in 2009.

3EB exploded onto the national music scene in 1997 when the band released its debut CD, Third Eye Blind, which yielded five radio hits, including the unlikely and now classic "Semi-Charmed Life." The band quickly rose to the heights of rock stardom, touring the world and releasing a string of radio hits over the next seven years. Yet becoming superstars took its toll on the band members' psyches, and as 3EB ground through the star-making machinery, they eventually found themselves losing creative control of their music and their image, until one day in 2004 they woke up and realized they didn't recognize themselves anymore. It was then that they decided it was time to take a break -- time to take a look inside, re-evaluate who they were as artists, and get back in touch with themselves and their music.

3EB have been inspired by the possibilities and potential that new media provide, and are discovering their own paradigm on how they create and reach people with music. They have toured consistently over the past two years, and sold out every show, playing in front of crowds of up to 11,000 fans, in response to an entirely new fan-base who have discovered this music on the web. - more on this story

Lily Allen Goes Soph

Capitol reports: On February 10th, 2009, Capitol Records will release It's Not Me, It's You, the follow-up to Lily Allen's critically acclaimed 2007 debut, Alright, Still. Recorded at Eagle Rock Studios in Los Angeles, the album finds Lily in top form, Allen wrote and recorded the album's 12 songs with producer Greg Kurstin (the bird and the bee), who worked with her on three songs for Alright, Still - "Everything's Just Wonderful," "Alfie" and "Not Big."

"We decided to try and make bigger sounding, more ethereal songs, real songs," says Lily, who will be touring the U.S. in the spring. "I wanted to work with one person from start to finish to make it one body of work. I wanted it to feel like it had some sort of integrity. I think I've grown up a bit as a person and I hope it reflects that."

On It's Not Me, It's You, Lily's characteristically sharp observations find expression in a variety of musical styles, with influences ranging from the Jazz Era to country and western to dance music. - more on this story

Singers That Shouldn't Replace Plant in Led Zeppelin

Music Radar reports: Now that Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones are hell-bent on trotting out the Led Zeppelin brand for one more arena-and-stadium run in 2009, they've been trying out singers as well-known as Steven Tyler and Chris Cornell and as unknown as Myles Kennedy to replace Robert Plant, who, apparently, isn't feeling the Zep mojo these days.

Should none of these singers work out for one reason or another, MusicRadar has scoured the depths of the YouTube floor for the worst, or to be the fair, the most inappropriate, stand-ins for Mr. Plant. Some are merely pedestrian, while others are downright shocking. In any event, these are stairways that don't lead to heaven. - see who has been shamed

Thom Yorke An Applehead?

Music Radar reports: MacLife has voted Radiohead's Thom Yorke into its Top 10 Apple Influencers of 2009 – the "key agents of influence in the ever-growing Applesphere; people to watch, next year and beyond".

Thom Yorke's inclusion in the list (which also includes such Apple luminaries as iPod and MacBook designer Jonathan Ives) means the Radiohead frontman is seen to "help build public perception of what Apple 'is' as a cultural force".

What? How? Well, by using the company's products, often in public. While Thom and the rest of the band famously eschewed Apple's iTunes store until very recently (refusing to have their albums sold on it), they've been more than happy to make use of and/or even 'endorse' Apple's other products. - Here are just a few examples

The Latest Silly World Record Attempt, This One is Wacko

PR reports: Michael Jackson Thriller fans will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people doing the Thriller dance at the same time with Madame Tussauds' wax figure of Michael Jackson at the center of the action on Halloween Eve, Thursday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m., at Madame Tussauds New York, 234 West 42nd Street (b/w 7th & 8th Aves.), Manhattan. Please note: Doors open for participants at 7:30 a.m. with the record-breaking attempt to take place at 10:00 a.m.

Prior to the record-breaking attempt, from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., participants will be able to take lessons on how to do the Thriller dance and take a photo with Madame Tussauds' Michael Jackson wax figure.

Fans from around the tri-state area and beyond are expected to gather to be a part of this potentially history-making moment - more on this story

MTV Announces Special Exposing What Helped Kill The Music Biz

antiMusic reports: Video killed the radio star and what helped kill the rock star? Some would say image driven pop and at the forefront of showcasing "style" over substance was MTV's Total Request Live. MTV is celebrating the demise of the program which may have played a part in the demise of the music business. Here is the info that we were sent about the special:

For ten years and more than 2200 shows, "Total Request Live" has been the premier destination for first looks at new videos, amazing performances by chart topping musicians, appearances of established and up-and-coming actors, and exclusive music news. MTV will pay tribute to the legendary countdown show with a send off like no other on Sunday, November 16th beginning at 8:00pm ET/PT, with "TRL's" original host Carson Daly and current host Damien Fahey set to helm the finale. The celebration will feature top-billed performances, guest appearances from music and movie stars, and a look back at the best moments on afternoon TV.

"In retrospect, the name said it all: the total youth entertainment experience, shaped for the first time at the request of its audience, all going down live every day in Times Square and in homes across America," said Brian Graden, President of Entertainment, MTV & VH1. "While MTV programming continues to break new ground, we knew we couldn't rush ahead without pausing to celebrate this show, this experience, this daily thrill ride that became such a force in shaping the future web behaviors of millions of young people worldwide." - more on this story

Rare Beatles Footage Found In A Drawer

Music Radar reports: These days, it seems you can't clean out a garage without finding at least one rare recording of The Beatles lurking among the dust. Fans have unearthed lost videos, unheard audio interviews and now: an uber-rare 8mm colour film of The Fab Four performing in 1964 - discovered in an "old drawer."

The two-minutes of footage was taken by 15-year-old Drew Dimmel on 17 September 1964 who was attending an un-scheduled gig on The Beatles first tour of the USA at the Municipal Stadium in Kansas City

The unplanned show was organised at the last minute by The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein, who found it rather hard to turn down a record-breaking $150,000 offer. - more on this story

Singled Out: Von Iva

antiMusic reports: Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today we have a little change of pace as we're visited by the member of Von Iva who tells us about their dancy hit "Livin' For It" from their brand new EP "Girls on Film". We now turn it over to Von Iva for the story:

"Livin For It" is a great sonic representation of our band. It has the tempo and feel of a disco track with a powerful crunch that still keeps the rock vibe. Based on the crowds reaction so far on tour, I think it's one of our best live tracks. It's fun to sing along to, it's danceable and if I were an aerobics instructor in the seventies I would blast it while doing step-ups! - Kelly

I'm really excited about releasing this song! Musically we wanted to do something upbeat and fun, something you would hear on 92.7 Party (the Bay Area Dance radio station). The working title was literally "Ibiza" because that was the feeling we were totally going for! From my perspective playing keyboards, I wanted to incorporate some new super dancy synth sounds in addition to the strings on previous recordings. It's also a fun song to play live and I think we were able to capture that energy on the recording. Enjoy! - Becky

Lyrically I wanted to write a song that will get you thinking while maintaining an air of fun. the sense of urgency that's in the air regarding a need for change was my inspiration....from issues of the environment and how people have suffered from catastrophic storms to the ever-pending end of the war in Iraq; I wanted to convey that we need to have forward thinking. the chorus says it all, "how can we not change our ways? we should be livin for it, livin for it, livin for another day." the song's dancy feel gets people moving while hopefully moving them to make a change for the better however they see fit.
Plus I can totally hear it thumping in the gay clubs...LIVIN FO' IT HONEY! - the rest of this song story

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