Reformations
The Spice Girls are considering reuniting and have been offered $2 million each to play a show this Christmas. Melanie B, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckaham, met to discuss the plan last Wednesday evening. They were at the Cirprani Restaurant to celebrate David Beckham's thirty second birthday who is the husband of Victoria Beckham. The only holdout was Mel C who was against a reunion but is considering it after meeting up with the other girls later in the week.
The strangle hold that they seemed to have on the music scene in 1997 puzzled alot of people maybe it was because the grunge revolution died a few years earlier and britpop was at its peak and fans were looking for something new and fresh.Their influence spawned copycat groups like "All Saints","Girls Aloud", and the current incarnation "The Pussycat Dolls" all follow the same formula of five beautiful girls who sing about love, life, and girl power. I don't see a reason for the "Spice Girls" to reunite other than it will be a financial windfall for them as their solo careers have been less than successful.
A group who shared the charts with the Spice Girls ten years ago was Blur. Their "Blur" contained the hit "Song 2" an homage to the grunge sound of American bands They will reunite in the studio this summer with founding member Graham Coxon and Alex James. It will be the band's first disc since 2003's "Think Tank" a disc where Coxon quit during those sessions to begin a somewhat successful solo career. Although, there were alot of hard feelings when Coxon quit but apparently they are all back on speaking terms. Coxon said " If things don't go well in the studio they're all quite happy to walk away, safe in the knowledge they gave it their best shot." Alex James is quoted as saying " We're all going to head into the studio together this summer, Graham's coming too. We're going to see if we've still got it ."
Crowded House are to reform and release an album their first since 1996's " Farewell to the World." They called it quits after the release of that album and did their final performance on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in Sydney Australia on Nov. 26, 1996 where the proceeds went to the Sydney Children's Hospital.
The album will be called "Time on Earth" and be available on July 10th . They are to perform their first set of shows at the The Live Earth Festival in Australia which will feature the reformed band minus longtime drummer Paul Hester who committed suicide due to his struggle with depression in November of 2005. Hester's replacement is Matt Sheroud who has played drums for Beck.
The Police are set to play their first show in twenty five years in Vancouver B.C. They will play a fan only show on May 27th where members of the fan club can use tickets purchased online. They will then play a public show for ticket holders on May 28th. They have reunited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bands formation and will tour North America and Canada this summer.
Banned From Walter Reed
Joan Baez the folk singer and anti-war activist has been banned from performing for recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital. Although she had permission to do so as far back as March.
No reason as to why she wasn't allowed to perform for the soldiers other than "she didn't fit in here" Baez's replied " I have always been an advocate for nonviolence and I have stood as firmly against the Iraq war as I did the Vietnam war 40 years ago, I realize now that I might have contributed to a better welcome home for those soldiers fresh from Vietnam. Maybe that's why I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation to sing for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan."
A spokesman for the Army Steve Sanderson sent an email to Rolling Stone. Com stated " These additional requirements were not in the agreement/contract and would have required modification." John Mellencamp said " They didn't give me a reason why she couldn't come. We asked and they sad, "She can't come here period." Whatever the reason or reasons this author believes that in light of the recent deplorable conditions discovered at Walter Reed they should be looking for an opportunity for positive publicity instead of fostering the negative.
Courtney's Garage Sale
Courtney Love the widow of Kurt Cobain has announced that she will sell several items belonging to the former lead singer who committed suicide on April 5,1994. She plans to have an auction and give the proceeds to charity and has said " I am going to let my daughter have a sweater, a guitar, and the lyrics to "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the rest well just sell." "My daughter doesn't need to inherit a giant bag of flannel shirts" and " I still wear his (Kurt's) pajamas to bed how am I ever going to form another relationship in my lifetime wearing his pajamas." Love sold her share of the rights to the Nirvana catalog in March of 2006 and plans to release an album titled "Nobody's Daughter" a date has yet to be determined for the release.
Prince to play several shows in London
Prince will play 21 shows in London starting in August at the O2 arena. The ticket price will be £31.21($61.21 ) a reference to his last album 3121. Those who buy tickets for the performance will receive a yet untitled studio album from the purple one. Prince said " The last time I was here not alot of people saw me so we are trying to make it affordable." He has a large fanbase in the UK and is doing an extended stay in London similar to the shows he recently did in Las Vegas.
Tori "Lloyd Webber" Amos ?
Tori Amos the piano humping princess is writing a musical and will debut in New York's West End and Broadway. "I think I am writing a musical, I'm gushing but under lock and key" she said. " I'm trying to be Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. I'm trying to be both of them. I'm busy , this is such a big project-a double record 23 songs and teh extras."
She recently released her new album American Doll Posse where she uses different personas on the disc to tell a story so a musical shouldn't be hard for her.
Bad news for Phil Spector
The ongoing trial of Phil Spector who is suspected of killing Lana Clarkson in his Beverly Hills home on February 3, 2003. Spectors and his defense have claimed for the past four years that she killed herself. However, this week four women who knew Spector testified against him further incriminating his fondness for guns and his threat to women. The first Melissa Grosvenor testifed that during their relationship , he walked up, held a gun to my face between my eyes and said "If you try to leave I'm going to kill you." she claims this happened in New York in 1991 when she was a waitress and found him a charming and quick witteed they dated for a year and a half. Grosvenor acknowledged she has been convicted of embezzlement in Georgia and later lied on an employment application when she asked about her criminal history.
Stephanie Jennings testified that she and Spector developed a long distance relationship in 1994. Jennings a music industry photographer testified that he threatened her with a gun and held her hostage.
She described being at a party where Spector became extremely drunk and obnoxious. She returned to her hotel room without him and slept until a knock by a bodyguard who said that Spector wanted her in his room. When she refused he showed up drunk and during an argument he slapped and pushed her causing her to fall on the toilet and she grabbed Spector who fell into the bathtub. He left after the confortation and returned with a gun and placing a chair in front of the door and said "I wasn't going anywhere." Cross examination of Jennings revelead that she had dated Spector off and on until 2004 so she apparently wasn't afraid of him as it would seem.
If Spector's history with guns, violence, and women are true and he is guilty of killing Lana Clarkson the 67 year old former producer is facing 15 years in prison.
The Killers hold off on their third album
The Killers are saying that their third disc will be awhile. In an interview with Billboard guitarist Dave Keuning said that they won't start recording until mid 2008. They have started rehearsing new ideas for the third disc.
The Killers released their first disc "Hot Fuss' in 2004 and followed up wit "Sam's Town" in 2006.
My Chemical Romance and Muse in death threat scandal
My Chemical Romance and the british band Muse are canceling tour dates after members of their crew became violently ill after a gig in Virgina on April 29th. They apparently contracted salmonella from the Green Leaf Cafe in Williamsburg Va. The owner of the resturaunt claims he has been receiving death threats from fans who blame him for the incident. The poisionings are being investigated by Virgina health officials.
Wilco releases new album
The Chicago based band Wilco will release their new disc on May 15, 2007 titled "Sky Blue Sky." I have personally heard some of the tracks and it sounds like they are going back to a more basic sound which is different than their two previous discs 2000's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" and 2004's " A Ghost is born." They changed peoples perception of what Jeff Tweedy a former member of Uncle Tupelo who were known for their "alt.country " sound could do with his talent. I'm certain it will be a good one so download or buy it tomorrow.
Thanks
On a personal note; our pet cat named "Lilith" passed away. She was a stray that we found she had lived with me and my brother for seven years and then stayed with my brother when he bought a house in 2002. Lilith was at least ten years old if not older her "pet" name was "Boo Cat " because she looked like the pictures of cats we used to see on bulletin boards in school during Halloween. She was all black and very affectionate and never complained .
So I have to say may you be able to frolic in the sunshine forever and may there always be a plentiful supply of Fancy Feast wherever you are. You were a wonderful friend and won't be forgotten.
