Jimmy Iovine, head of the West Coast operations of Universal Music Group, has signed on for another six years, sources confirmed Thursday. Iovine, the chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, has been in contract negotiations since last year. The multimillion-dollar deal was finally signed late Wednesday night. A label spokeswoman declined comment. As part of the deal, Iovine has the option to partner with Universal for music-driven film projects revolving around his artists. That part of the deal is based on Iovine’s success as the producer of Interscope rap star Eminem’s Oscar-winning film “8 Mile.” Last year was a busy… Read more »
The big question as we enter 2004 is simply “Do you want some?” The answer will come when Liam Gallagher and elder brother Noel return to the fray with the new Oasis album later this year. Although to some the Mancunian brothers’ group may be too tied up with the hangover of ’90s Britpop to ever be a potent force again, they are still undoubtedly one of the biggest rock groups in the country. They do like to tread water, however, and a much-needed change in direction may finally come with the introduction of Death In Vegas man Richard Fearless… Read more »
Sire Records, the label that introduced the world to Madonna, Talking Heads and the Ramones, is being resurrected and will officially rejoin the Warner Bros. Records family of labels. Label founder Seymour Stein’s first signing under the new deal is the Von Bondies. Also on the Sire roster are Morcheeba, Guster, the Distillers, Hot Hot Heat, Less Than Jake and the Hives (through a joint venture with Burning Heart/Epitaph). When Roger Ames was named chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group in 1999, Ames’ London Records was merged with Sire Records to create London-Sire. That label closed its doors in… Read more »
Age brings change, but the changes were decidedly for the better Tuesday when the Rolling Stones kicked off their Licks World Tour, named for an upcoming compilation that marks the British supergroup’s 40th anniversary. On their ’90s tours, the Stones had largely become a grizzled stadium jukebox. On this trip, however, in addition to mixing stadium, arena, theater and club dates – often in the same city – the band is taking new liberties with its set lists. Tuesday’s two-hour-plus tour opener at the FleetCenter included its share of rarely and never-played nuggets that thrilled and puzzled the arena crowd.… Read more »
Fans growing impatient for the release of the Ramones tribute album We’re a Happy Family now have a good reason to turn that frown upside down. The track list for the LP, which is currently being mastered, and a tentative street date of November 5 were announced via a posting on the Web site of Rob Zombie, who is serving as co-producer along with guitarist Johnny Ramone. Although Zombie himself vouched for the accuracy of the most specific details concerning the album since he first announced plans for it in November, a spokesperson for Columbia Records, the label which intends… Read more »
When Paul McCartney first got married, tears from lovelorn Beatles fans who pined for “the cute one” could’ve rivaled the Thames. Still, 30 years later, McCartney’s marriage to Heather Mills left nary a dry eye in the castle. The 59-year-old former Beatle wed Mills, 34, just after 5 p.m. Tuesday (June 11) in Glaslough, Ireland, according to Reuters. The private ceremony took place at St. Salvator’s Church on the 1,000-acre estate of Castle Leslie, a 17th century castle that now functions as 14-room luxury hotel near the Northern Irish border. Following the ceremony a grand reception was thrown for the… Read more »
Imagine your friends’ reaction when at your next Sunday night no-holds-barred karaoke jam you not only perform a rockin’ rendition of Ozzy’s “Crazy Train,” but you kick it out gripping a mic autographed by the self-proclaimed prince of darkness himself. Now that’s the stuff of which local legends are made. An array of artists including Osbourne, ‘NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, the Dave Matthews Band and Moby have signed on to contribute their John Hancocks to “Bid for Hearing,” a charity auction beginning April 29 on eBay which will feature microphones autographed by various musicians. Nelly Furtado, AC/DC, Hank Williams Jr. and… Read more »
Marilyn Manson aren’t the only modern rockers revisiting ’80s hits for the soundtrack to “Not Another Teen Movie,” which comes out December 4. In addition to monsieur Manson’s creepy version of “Tainted Love,” which was a top 10 hit for Soft Cell in 1982, the disc will feature Goldfinger covering Nena’s “99 Red Balloons,” Saliva tackling the Pretenders’ “Message of Love,” Mest covering Modern English’s “I Melt With You,” Muse reworking the Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want,” Good Charlotte playing Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s “If You Leave” and Phantom Planet covering Jackson Browne’s “Somebody’s… Read more »
Their embraceable debut (1997’s Middle of Nowhere, featuring the Number One single “MMMBop”) sold millions of copies and established Hanson as TRL’s preeminent poster-teens. The grittier follow-up (2000’s This Time Around) alienated bubblegum-dependent younger fans and has yet to go platinum in the states. Now the brothers Hanson – Isaac, Taylor and Zac – are hard at work on a record they hope will marry the success of one to the punchy feel of the other and in the process show the world what they’ve know all along: Hanson are a hard-working, musically gifted and educated rock band. Sessions for… Read more »
Billie Joe Armstrong loves to have the time of his life whenever he performs. Especially when playing a 600-capacity venue with his side-project, The Coverups. This special stint at The Garage in the UK included a surprise guest performance with Courtney Love. “Ladies and gentlemen, Courtney Love,” Armstrong introduced the singer halfway through their show. Love, while known for her relationship with late Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, also fronted one of the main riot grrrl acts of the ‘90s, Hole. “My name is Courtney Love—you may not remember me. I’ve been living in a cave in Birmingham for about nine… Read more »
