Search Results for: october

SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and the Rugrats could all become rock stars in the next few years. Children’s television network Nickelodeon has partnered with BMG to create a record label, which means tunes from shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants” will be released as albums. “These are characters kids know and songs they sing and love,” said Joe DiMuro, executive vice president of BMG Stragetic Marketing. “It’s a great way to bring the shows to a new level.” The first album, released Tuesday, is a compilation of songs from the show “Dora the Explorer,” about a Spanish-speaking girl and her adventures. A… Read more »

Sum 41’s management company Bunk Rock (headed by Greig Nori) have released a statement refuting reports of the pop-punk couple’s impending nuptials. “Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 is not engaged,” the statement reads. “Deryck and his friends are constantly followed by paparazzi. The recent ‘breaking news’ that has been misconstrued around the world exemplifies the media’s constant invasion of people’s personal lives and reporting of unsubstantiated rumors and/or appearances. “If there was a picture that captured Deryck kneeling, it was more likely him bending over to pick up the crack pipe that fell out of the paparazzi’s pocket than him… Read more »

Music visionary, Prince unveiled his next discovery in front of 20,000 fans on September 4th in Portland, Oregon – the hypnotic singer/songwriter Toby Lightman. The Lava Records recording artist was handpicked by the mysterious legend to open a select night on his national tour. Lightman comments on the experience: “When Prince asked me to open up for him, I felt like I was dreaming, and I still do! I cannot put into words how gratifying it is to know that the ultimate musician appreciates my music. Prince and his crew went out of their way to make sure we were… Read more »

In Britain, Busted are headlining stadiums. In America, the pop-punk trio are playing parking lots outside stadiums. So which do they prefer? Prepare to be surprised. “It’s awesome at gigs here, because you kind of have to win the crowd over,” bassist Matt Jay said recently. “Like in England, it’s awesome and stuff, but we could just go ‘Bugger!’ and they would go ‘Yeah!’ Which is awesome, but here, you really have to work hard.” “It’s nice to kind of see the first-time reaction of the crowds again,” guitarist James Bourne added. “It’s like it’s a little déjà vu of… Read more »

John Mellencamp hasn’t appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards since the mid-1980s, but the singer says the right cause will bring him to Sunday’s live telecast in Miami. “I’m going to talk about freedom of speech and protest songs,” the Bloomington musician said Thursday. “And then I’m introducing Outkast.” Mellencamp will join younger stars such as Usher, Jessica Simpson and Dave Chappelle on the program, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on the cable network. An MTV spokesman wouldn’t reveal what song Outkast plans to perform. The hip-hop duo, nominated for five awards, has recorded songs titled… Read more »

Those Sum 41 goons are sure excited about their new album. As we’ve already reported, Sum 41 will release their third full-lenghter, Chuck, on October 12. Not patient enough to withstand the wait, the Summers have already released the disc’s first single via their website. If you swing by the Sum site, you can take a listen to the new song, “We’re All To Blame.” Being the tricky bastards that they are, Sum 41 are only allowing newsletter subscribers to listen to the full song, but seeing as it only takes a second to sign up (and, if you’re reading… Read more »

Mississippi blues label Fat Possum Records and its owner Matthew Johnson have sued former joint-venture partner Epitaph Records, alleging that Epitaph hatched “a malicious plot… to financially destroy Johnson and Fat Possum.” The suit, filed Tuesday in California Superior Court in L.A., charges Epitaph with breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, interference with contractual relations and a host of other abuses. According to the suit, Oxford, Miss.-based Fat Possum – home to R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and other contemporary bluesmen – was being funded by L.A.-based Epitaph under the terms of a joint-venture agreement reached in July 1997.… Read more »

Sum 41 have named their third album Chuck as a tribute to United Nations representative Chuck Pelletier, who the band members credit with saving their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo back in May. The Canadian rockers were shooting a documentary in the war-torn African nation when fighting between a militia and the newly formed national army erupted on May 26th. The band hid in a hotel bathroom to avoid the gunfire. “Chuck Pelletier made an evacuation plan, putting us all in groups to get us into armored tanks,” Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley told Rolling Stone. “He was… Read more »

After being hospitalized in New York on Friday, Courtney Love was released Monday night, only to be transferred to another facility. A diagnosis of her ailment has yet to be disclosed, and a warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. On Friday, police were called to Love’s apartment in SoHo after receiving complaints that she was throwing bottles from her window. A police officer at the scene told reporters that the singer had told him she had an abortion the previous day (Love herself had told reporters at her last New York court date that she was pregnant). Later that same… Read more »