If Internet pranksters have their way, Justin Bieber will be performing in one of the world’s most oppressive regimes. Communist North Korea is currently leading an online poll on Bieber’s My World Tour website, where the 16-year-old singer asked his fans to choose which country he should tour in next.
Kanye West is back in the lab, and there’s only word to describe his new rhymes: “awes-mazing” (that’s supposedly a cross between awesome and amazing). “I kill that rap sh–, that’s what I do,” West said of his upcoming opus. “Lyrics right now, they’re awes-mazing. They’re basically untouchable. I’m about to take it to a whole ‘nother level. I’d be scared if I was not me.” Kanye said he is always making an album, because he comes up with lyrics just by having conversations with people. He still does not write his rhymes down and has not in six years.… Read more »
Depeche Mode has revealed that singer Dave Gahan successfully underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his bladder and the band’s Tour of the Universe will resume on June 8th. Gahan was rushed to the hospital before a concert in Athens, Greece on May 12th, after suffering a severe bout of gastroenteritis. While the frontman was in the hospital, further tests revealed what is described as a “low-grade malignant tumor,” according to a new statement on the band’s Web site. Doctors have ordered Gahan to take a break until June 8th, so several more concerts on the Depeche Mode tour… Read more »
If it hadn’t been for drummer Travis Barker’s near-fatal airplane crash last year, Blink-182 might not be touring this summer. But after a five-year hiatus, the rock trio — Barker, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge — will embark on a nearly 50-date North American arena and amphitheater tour, beginning July 24th at the Joint in Las Vegas and wrapping October 3rd at the Borgata Events Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The trek will feature support on various dates from Weezer, Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco, All-American Rejects, Taking Back Sunday, Asher Roth and Chester French. “My goal… Read more »
NEW YORK — Reunited rockers No Doubt rapper Flo Rida and R&B singer Jennifer Hudson are among the artists headlining the upcoming summer concert series on morning chat show “Today,” NBC announced said on Thursday. Joining them will be the Dave Matthews Band, All-American Rejects, Kings of Leon and Black Eyed Peas among others. The 2009 version of the popular Friday-morning series kicks off its 14th season on May 1 with No Doubt, marking that band’s first live concert since reforming after a five-year hiatus. The appearance also marks a series first for Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews and Flo… Read more »
Hasidic reggae rapper Matisyahu and rock act Chiodos will join the 2008 Vans Warped Tour lineup for limited dates this July, Billboard.com has learned. Matisyahu, who joins the Vans Warped Tour for the first time, will appear in the traveling rock festival July 9-11 and on July 13 at St. John’s Country Fairgrounds in Jacksonville, Florida. Vans Warped Tour veteran Chiodos joins the trek on July 18 at Comerica Park in Detroit. Matisyahu has a handful of other summer concert appearances lined up, including sets at Milwaukee’s Summerfest (June 30) and the inaugural Pemberton Festival in British Columbia (July 27).… Read more »
Drive-Thru Records is proud to announce New York quintet, Steel Train, are currently finishing up work on their ambitious sophomore album. Set for an October 2007 release, the still untitled album is being produced by Mark Trombino (Rilo Kiley, Jimmy Eat World). Steel Train will embark on a 47-date North American tour with The Format beginning July 13th at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona. In the last two years, Steel Train has played over 400 shows, winning fans over with their meticulously crafted rock songs strengthened by skilled instrumentation. Though in love with playing shows to their rapidly growing… Read more »
Silverchair has postponed four shows on their current U.S. Tour to allow singer, Daniel Johns to recover fully from a case of laryngitis. Daniel caught the common viral infection of the throat earlier this week after flying Sydney/Los Angeles/Toronto/New York/Los Angeles over just four days. It severely impeded his vocal performance on the “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” on Tuesday. While his Doctor had initially been hopeful that Daniel’s laryngitis would clear up “in a day or two”, he has since advised that the Silverchair frontman should “avoid singing for 4 to 6 days” in order to be guaranteed of… Read more »
The son of hip-hop legend KRS-One was found dead in his apartment in an apparent suicide, authorities said Tuesday. Randy Hubbard Parker, 23, died of a gunshot wound to the head and the death was classified as a suicide, said Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office investigator Mark Guilbeau. Parker had suffered a long battle with depression, his mother, Simone G. Parker, said in a statement on Tuesday. He was found on Friday. Parker was a graphic designer and fashion entrepreneur seeking employment in Atlanta. His family said a private memorial service will be held on July 18, which would have… Read more »
The Beastie Boys have revealed the tracklisting for their new album The Mix Up. As previously reported exclusively by NME.com, band member Mike D said that the follow up to 2004’s To The 5 Boroughs would be “radically different” to its predecessor and the sound will hark back to the style of 1992’s Check Your Head and 1989’s Paul’s Boutique. No release date has yet been announced, but Mike D also told NME.com he expected it to be out sometime in June. The band are set to perform at the London leg of the Live Earth shows, which takes place… Read more »
