One of Eric Clapton’s prize guitars sold for a record $959,500 at an auction that raised more than $7.4 million for a drug treatment center, auction house officials said. “Blackie,” the black-and-white Fender Stratocaster that served as Clapton’s sole stage and studio guitar from 1970 to 1985, was the most expensive ever sold at auction, Christie’s said in a statement. In 2002, a guitar belonging to Jerry Garcia sold for $957,500. The buyer of Clapton’s guitar – one of 56 he offered Thursday – was not disclosed. Proceeds will go to the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, an addiction treatment center… Read more »
Guitarist Robert Quine, one of punk rock’s most daring soloists, was found dead Saturday in his New York apartment. He was 61. According to close friend and guitar maker Rick Kelly, who discovered Quine’s body, the musician died of a heroin overdose Memorial Day weekend. He had been despondent over the recent death of his wife. Born in Akron, Ohio, Quine was heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground, whose music he recorded obsessively while living in San Francisco. He moved to New York in 1971 and became the lead guitarist for bassist Richard Hell’s important group the Voidoids, with whom… Read more »
There’s a line in the CKY song “Escape From Hellview” that goes, “I’m on the loose with my neck in the noose/ But hey, I enjoy the intense.” So when they picked up cameras to shoot a video for the tune, they decided it would be cool to hang guitarist Chad Ginsburg from a tree. It almost became the last stunt Ginsburg would ever pull. Since the grass-roots band self-financed the shoot on a meager budget, the only stunt coordinator they could afford turned out to be unqualified. The harness he tied around Ginsburg wasn’t secure enough, and the guitarist… Read more »
In their debut video, for the song “Get Free,” the Vines perform in a lightning storm and are eventually struck by the fiery bolts. So being the targets of a food fight for their next video, “Outtathaway!,” was a cake walk. “It’s not as bad as lightning,” frontman Craig Nicholls agreed while backstage at rehearsals for the MTV Video Music Awards. “We almost died doing the first one, but it looked good. That was the main thing. We were prepared to risk our lives for it because that’s how we feel about the band.” The new video was shot August… Read more »
Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Bo Diddley was honored last week, alongside Chuck Berry and Little Richard, with BMI’s Icon Award for his “unique and indelible influence on generations of music.” Diddley also received an honor earlier this year when former Clash frontman Joe Strummer cited the legendary guitarist as his hero in Mojo magazine’s 100th issue. In the Mojo article Strummer recalled riding in a bus with Diddley, who was sitting up late at night in a chair. “So I said, ‘You know you’ve got a bunk, don’t you, Bo?’ He said, ‘Come and look at this.’ He pulled back… Read more »
One of rock’s current hottest songs, “Hero,” appears on the soundtrack to one of the hottest movies around, Spider-Man. The soundtrack, which debuted at Number Four on the Billboard 200, includes the hit featuring Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron, and Saliva frontman Josey Scott. It’s currently moving up the Billboard Modern Rock chart. “Hero” was also going to feature former Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, but when the all-star project entered the studio, Cantrell had to go to the funeral of his friend, drummer Randy Castillo. Scott revealed about the video clip for the song. “We… Read more »
The web of intrigue surrounding the “Spider-Man” soundtrack continues to grow, but a few additional details have emerged from the sticky strands. An anthem called “Hero,” a collaboration between Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, Saliva vocalist Josey Scott, Theory of a Dead Man guitarist Tyler Connolly and Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron will be the second single on the album, a source close to Nickelback said. Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell was originally believed to be on the recording, but a publicist at his label said his participation was never confirmed. On March 24, the supergroup shot a video for… Read more »
Paul McCartney’s ultimate hero is… the late fellow Beatle, John Lennon. “I’ve got a few heroes, but if I really have to plump for one, well howsabouts…. John?” McCartney was quoted as saying in a celebrity poll published in Wednesday’s music magazine Mojo. “But I have to add the reservation that it could also be the other Beatles – or Elvis. Or Little Richard. Or Nat King Cole.” Of Lennon, who was shot to death in 1980 outside his New York apartment building, McCartney reportedly said, “What I admire in him was massive talent, great wit, courage and humor. He… Read more »
Limp Bizkit and guitarist Wes Borland have split, according to a message posted Friday (October 12) on the band’s official website. The move comes less than a year after Borland released Duke Lion Fights The Terror by his side-project Big Dumb Face. The guitarist also toured to support the release. “Limp Bizkit and Wes Borland have amicably decided to part ways,” reads the message on limpbizkit.com. “Both Limp Bizkit and Borland will continue to pursue their respective musical careers. Both wish each other the best of luck in all future endeavors.” Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and Borland were last… Read more »
The Home Team has issued their irresistibly catchy new single, “Hell,” along with an exhilarating animated music video. The latest track from the four-piece exudes their trademark prowess, charisma, and tenacity, consistent with their previous releases, “Brag” and “Loud.” “‘Hell’ is a big ‘ol’ whopping leap into songwriting territory that we’re very familiar with, but in a completely new package,” vocalist Brian Butcher explains of the band’s new release. “This is one of those songs that we didn’t really set out to make but just came together in a great way. We had plenty of ‘Aha!’ moments during the process,… Read more »
