You Tube video awards
The You Tube video awards were handed out Monday by the video sharing site. This was the first awards given by the online site. The nominees of the best videos were listed in ten categories. Viewers had all week to vote for their favorite and in the music category the band Ok Go and Terra Naomi won a music awards . Ok Go won an award for the video to their song " Here It Goes Again.'"
The video is of the band using three sets of treadmills to make it look as if they are dancing to the song and is funny and clever. This is probably the most use a treadmill will receive by the members of the band. Terra Naomi won for her song " Say It's Possible" the video is of her with an acoustic guitar singing. She has used her appearance to get a deal with Island Records and will release her debut album in the summer.
Elton turns the big 60 !
Elton John celebrated his sixtieth birthday with his sixtieth concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 25. Elton sang thirty three of his hits in a three hour set and was joined by the Brooklyn Boys Choir. An audience of celebrities watched and Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams briefly joined him onstage. Williams said the John wore a tuxedo that made "Liberace look amish," other celebrities in the audience were Michael Caine, Rosie O'Donnnell, k.d. Lang, and Sharon Osborne.
Former president Bill Clinton also paid tribute to John's work in raising awareness and helping people with the AIDS virus. Bernie Taupin a longtime lyricist led the audience in singing happy birthday to John. John said " without Bernie none of us would be here tonight because the words have always come first."
In other Elton news the church leaders of the island country of Tobago have demanded that Elton John not play a concert scheduled to play the Plymouth Jazz Festival on April 29 th because he is gay and "have a negative social impact on the people " and " some may not be sure of their sexuality."
The political leaders of the country dismiss this idea and back John's performance at the festival. One of the organizers of the event insisted that " His band has performed in every country in the world. He is not coming here to preach about what lifestyle people should have."
Musical Notes
U2 guitarist The Edge donated his 1975 Les Gibson guitar that he has been using for ages to be auctioned off for Music Rising a program to replace musical instruments lost in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina and the flood that followed. Edge said " I wanted to give something really significant and that would really mean alot for me to give."
Lead singer of KISS Gene Simmons has made it clear that he isn't interested in a reunion of the original band lineup. He is quoted as saying "I personally don't want to, I love Ace and Peter, always have ,and because of my tough love I've never been shy about saying that they have always been drug addicts and alcoholics and they've destroyed themselves." At least you can say that he is honest.
Damon Albarn former lead singer of the band Blur/ Gorillaz has written an opera that will premiere at the Manchester International Festival. The opera is said to be based on the Chinese tale of the monkey and will be a "circus opera" which tells of the monkey's journey to the west and will feature a 45 piece troupe from China, Shaolin Monks, and martial arts experts. The show will include music composed by Albarn and visual concepts designed by Jamie Hewlett.
The festival will run from June 28-July 15 in Manchester and feature performances by Lou Reed, Smokey Robinson, PJ Harvey, Kanye West, and Happy Mondays at various venues around the city.
The White Stripes have released the track listing for their new album "Icky Thump" which will debut sometime in June. There are reports that parts of it will have a "hot tango rhythm" and bagpipes evoking a scottish them. I am not certain if these reports are rumors or truth but the White Stripes have always had some interesting songs. Here is a list of the tracks on "Icky Thump."
1. "Icky Thump”
2. “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)”
3. “300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues”
4. “Conquest”
5. “Bone Broke”
6. “Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn”
7. “St. Andrew (This Battle Is in the Air)”
8. “Little Cream Soda”
9. “Rag and Bone”
10. “I’m Slowly Turning Into You”
11. “A Martyr For My Love For You”
12. “Catch Hell Blues”
13. “Effect and Cause
Jack White of the White Stripes will play Elvis in an upcoming movie called 'Walk Hard' a parody of the Johnny Cash biopic
'Walk the Line.' The feature is to focus on a fictional rockabilly musician similar to Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash played by John C. Reily. White will appear as Elvis who encounters the musician in the film.
The Beastie Boys are going to be busy this summer they are planning on releasing a new album, performing summer shows and some instrumental gigs. The instrumental performance will take place at The Sasquatch Festival on May 26th in George, Washington. They will perform at 18 european festivals from June 10th to September 9th the first will be at the Alive Festival in Lisbon, Portugal and wrap up the tour at U.K.'s Bestival.
David Bowie has been selected as curator for the H& M High Line Festival. It will begin at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on May 9th. The festival will continue at various venues around New York and Bowie is quoted as saying ' I thought it a very cool deal to be asked to curate the High Line Festival. The request for me to choose the artists and acts that I myself would go out of the way too see. Although, this will be the inaugural year will be modest in scale we've been pretty lucky in that many whom I asked have accepted." The current lineup for the festival is as follows.
May 2007
09 Arcade Fire - Radio City Music Hall
10 Air - Theatre at Madison Square Garden
11 The Polyphonic Spree - Hammerstein Ballroom
15 Deerhoof - Irving Plaza
16 Daniel Johnston - High Line Ballroom
16 17 Ken Nordine - The Kitchen
17 18 Laurie Anderson - High Line Ballroom
18 Secret Machines - High Line Ballroom
19 Ricky Gervais - Theatre at Madison Square Garden
The O.C. and Gray's Anatomy have influenced musical tastes by what they play during the episodes will have a label called Chop Shop Records with Warner Brothers . The label will be managed by Alexandra Patsavas the music supervisor responsible for the music on these shows.
The group Nickelback's album "All the Right Reasons" has remained on the charts for 18 months and the band continues to sell out their concerts while other bands struggle to have even some of the same success? Music critics and those who appreciate quality music loathe this band and are puzzled as to why they are so successful. Chad Kroeger the bands lead singer has said that the bands music is all over the map and appeals to a large audience and he doesn't listen to what the critics think. His song-writing technique is also very detailed, "He'll write a lyric or chorus and go back and say this chorus or that word isn't right and he can spend weeks writing the perfect song and melodies," said Kara DioGuardi who recently worked with him on another project.
Nickelback's influence has also reached beyond their hits. A charitable campaign for "If Everyone Cared" has raised over $200,000 according to Kroeger, " We wanted to inspire the people who saw the video and show that you don't need a team of personnel, you don't need alot of money to make a change in the world."
Another band that enjoyed popularity during the early to mid nineties and to the chagrin of critics are The Black Crowes. They are said to be in the studio and working with producer Paul Stacey in New York and Los Angeles. The album will be their first in six years
The band Tapes and Tapes have been working on their second album and will record it this summer. The next disc is to be different from their first one. Lead singer Josh Grier said " It's pretty much the same group of guys" but I'm sure there's going to be at least for us a song-writing growth."
Marilyn Manson musician, author, and one who strives to tick off the religious right is now showing his other artistic side. His watercolor artworks that he has painted over the years are to be displayed in Ft. Myers, Florida. Manson will be touring with the metal band Slayer. They will play 25 cities across the U.S. between July and September. Manson's album "Eat Me, Drink Me" will debut in June.
Amy Winehouse a british soul singer who's breakthrough album Back To Black has seen some chart success in the U.S. cancelled two shows in the U.S. and two more in the U.K. which were to be held at Shepards Bush Empire in London last week Apparently, the star who is known for her debauchery onstage and off fell during a drunken episode and smashed out her front teeth which required dental surgery. The canceled Empire shows will be made up on May 28th and 29th. It isn't known if there are any make up dates for the U.S. shows.
The Happy Mondays will release their first album in 15 years and are set to make their first full comeback since 1992's disc 'Yes Please'. Shaun Ryder the lead singer of the band says that they are working with Howie B and Sonny Levine to produce the album. He says that their sound is fresher than their first album ' Pills, Thrills, and Bellyaches,' "I'm no the world's greatest salesman, me I'm not a salesman at all (but) I think it's a really great album" said Ryder.
Legal Dept.
Celebrities were busy in court this week the first Velvet Revolver's lead singer Scott Weiland's wife and an alleged altercation at a Burbank Hotel and the destruction of clothing taking place outside their home. The couple have been married seven years and Scott went into rehab three years ago and has been sober since.
Mary Weiland released a statement to the supposed altercation with her husband and vandalism of two hotel rooms at the Graceila Hotel in Burbank, California. Late she set some of his clothes on fire outside their home and police responded to a call that a woman was burning something in a trash can, she was booked for investigation of felony arson and vandalism. Scott Weiland told police that $10,000 of his wardrobe went up in smoke.
She says the incidents were brought on by a "reaction to an imbalance in medication she takes to treat a bipolar disorder." "Reports that we were fighting outside the hotel are not true," Scott was merely trying to help me calm down , I want to make it very clear that he didn't hurt me in any way, I am grateful to my have a loving husband who is able to take care of me during this challenging time." The couple have apologized and paid for the damage to hotel as for the vandalism, arson charges against her the district attorney's office hasn't file them against her.
Wynonna Judd has filed for divorce from her estranged husband Dan R. Roach after his arrest last week on a charges of sex involving a minor. Roach was arrested in Abeline and charged with three counts of sexual battery against a child under the age of thirteen then extradited to Nashville where the charges originated. The Nashville police department had been investigating him for sex crimes and has been since February. Roach had been receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction at a clinic in Buffalo Gap, Texas. Wynonna cited irreconcilable differences as a reason for the divorce and they had been separated since Feb 18 of this year. They were married in November of 2003 and have no children together.
Britney Spears fresh from rehab finalized the divorce with Kevin Federline this week. According, to their lawyers they have reached a " global divorce agreement regarding the issues of their marriage," which includes the custody of their two children.
Britney had dental surgery earlier this week and after her visit to the dentist she met with her ex husband's lawyers for five hours. They both signed the agreement but the terms and the settlement weren't disclosed. It is rumored that Federline will walk away with $ 1 million and joint physical custody of the children however that wasn't confirmed.
Eminem and his ex wife Kim Mathers agreed in court to stop criticizing each other in public for the sake of their daughter have apparently decided not to honor that agreement other than inside the courtroom. On tuesday Kim was being interviewed on New York's Hot 97 and spoke about their relationship. She spoke of his recent legal action to stop her and said " how many songs does he have about me?" she has been the subject of his songs " Cleaning out my closet," and " Mockingbird." She went on to say that he does interviews about the freedom of speech and that she has only done a couple about their relationship. Eminem cries like a "little girl." Kim accused him of being disconnected from reality and revealed that she really has no contact with him despite living a mile away from him.
Former lead singer Anthony Lovato of the band MEST was arrested last Sunday for suspicion of stabbing and killing a 25 year old man during an argument in an apartment building parking lot in Los Angeles.
Police arrived at the scene and found a man lying on the ground with knife wounds he later died at the hospital. A lieutenant with the department said that Lovato called 911 and remained at the scene to surrender himself to the police. They had been called on Saturday evening to the same apartment complex where the two men were fighting at a woman's apartment that they both had been previously dating but no one was arrested.
Lovato has avoided a murder charge because LA County District Attorney won't file charges against him because "there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was not a justifiable use of reasonable force in self defense." Lovato has maintained that he stabbed the man in self defense, this along with his cooperation with police helped his case. MEST formed in Blue Island, IL in 1995 and had a hit in 1998 with the single ' Mo Money, Mo 40 oz' and went on to release four albums on the Maverick label which is owned by Madonna the band broke up in January 2006.
Busta Rhymes (b. Trevor Smith) is set to face misdemeanor assault charges in two separate incidents. He is accused of kicking and punching a former employee during an argument outside his office in Manhattan the day after Christmas, and he 's also accused of assaulting a fan who allegedly spit on his car after a performance at the Amsterjam Music Festival .
Manhattan Criminal Court judge Tanya Kennedy retracted a plea deal that was made earlier this year and set a court date for May 8th. Busta Rhymes who recently refused a deal that would have allowed him to plead guilty but enroll in anger management class and do community service in order to avoid jail time. If he is convicted he could be sentenced to more that a year in jail and fined $500.
WTF Dept.
( I am not making this up)
Michael Jackson is to have a 50 foot robotic replica of himself that will shoot laser beams from the eyes and is to roam the desert near Las Vegas Nv. It is to be the centerpiece of an elaborate show in the city which he is rumored to be currently residing in. If built the robot would be visible from the incoming airplanes coming into the gambling capitol of the world. Luckmann Van Pier has drawn up blueprints for the robot and according to Andre Van Pier Michael has seen them and likes them alot. It doesn't surprise this author is surprised that he likes them because his ego is at least twice the same size of the robot here is a perfect example of someone who has either too much money or not enough sense.
In 1995 Jackson had a giant statue of himself that was towed down the Thames river in London to commemorate his HIStory album release.
Well with all that being said I am going to list the upcoming birthdays for April 1-April, 9 2007
April 1
Ronald Lane (1946 - 1997)
English singer, songwriter and bass player (nicknamed "Plonk") best known for his membership in two prominent English rock bands, Small Faces (1965-69) and Faces (1970-75).
Jimmy Cliff(1948)
Jamaican reggae musician
Jesse Tobias (1972)
Guitarist who gained notoriety during a brief tenure
with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993 and
was replaced by Dave Navarro within the year.
April 2
Serge Gainsbourg ( 1928 – 1991)
French poet, singer-songwriter,
actor and director.
Marvin Gaye (1939 – 1984)
American soul and R&B singer-songwriter,
instrumentalist, record producer and performer
who gained international fame as an artist on the Motown label in the 1960s and 1970s.
Dr. Demento (1941)
born Barret Eugene Hansen
a radio disc jockey specializing in
novelty songs and pop music parodies.
Emmylou Harris (1947)
country music singer-songwriter
and musician.
Leon Russell Wilkeson (1952 - 2001)
bass guitarist of Southern rock band
Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001.
Greg Camp (1967)
Guitarist and lead songwriter
for the band Smash Mouth.
April 3
Wayne Newton (1942)
Singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas.
Billy Joe Royal (1942)
American country music singer.
Tony Orlando (1944)
b. Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis
American singer best known for his time
with the group Dawn in the early 1970s.
Richard John Thompson (1949)
British musician, best known for
his guitar playing and songwriting.
Sebastian Bach (1968)
b. Sebastian Philip Bierk
Canadian heavy metal singer
best known as ex-frontman of Skid Row.
Drew) Shirley ( 1976)
Guitarist and the newest member
of the rock band Switchfoot.
April 4
Muddy Waters (1913 – 1983)
American blues musician
and is generally considered "the father of Chicago blues".
Dave Hill (1946)
Lead guitarist and backing vocalist
in the English glam rock group, Slade
Gary Moore (1952)
Guitarist played with Thin Lizzy,
Johnny Borrell (1980)
Guitarist, and songwriter of
English band Razorlight.
April 5
Stan Ridgway (1954)
Original lead singer for the band
Wall of Voodoo.
Mike McCready (1966)
Founding member of
Pearl Jam
Paula Cole (1968)
Singer/Songwriter
known for her singles
"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" and "I Don't Want to Wait"
Pharrell L. Williams (1973)
Producer, singer, rapper, and songwriter.
April 6
Merle Haggard, (1937)
American country music
singer, guitarist and songwriter.
Zamfir (1941)
Virtuoso of the pan flute.
Frank Black (1965)
Singer, songwriter and guitarist
of the band The Pixies.
April 7
Ravi Shankar ( 1920)
Indian composer best known
for his virtuosity on the sitar and
played with the Beatles on several
of their later albums.
Bobby Bare (b1935
American country
music singer and songwriter.
John Oates (1948)
Musician and producer
known as half of successful duo Hall & Oates
April 8
Steve Howe (1947)
Guitarist best known for his work
with the rock group YES.
Izzy Stradlin(1962)
Former guitarist
with the band
Guns & Roses.
Julian Lennon, (1963)
English singer, songwriter, musician,
and first son of Beatle John Lennon.
Biz Markie ( 1964)
born Marcel Hall
East Coast hip hop rapper and DJ, best known
for humorous singles such as "Just a Friend".
Paul Grey( 1972)
Bassist for the nu metal band Slipknot.
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