Search Results for: sam smith

When writing the lyrics for “From Under the Cork Tree,” Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, far right, shifted his focus from a romance gone horribly wrong to a more introspective vew of the world. After writing an album’s worth of lyrics about a girl who shattered his heart, Pete Wentz realized that the world is a bigger place than a cold-hearted woman and he needed to pen tunes that reflected that – a world where tsunamis could devastate parts of Asia, a war in Iraq could affect people on a global scale and the Molly Ringwald vs. Samantha Fox debate… Read more »

BEVERLY HILLS, California – If only iTunes charts meant as much as Billboard charts. “I’d be on the front of People magazine every week,” Ben Folds joked. “I have a real disproportionate Internet fanbase. On iTunes, it’s me and the Boss.” In “the real world,” a.k.a. record stores, though, Folds has pretty much tossed in the towel. “You don’t have to walk in the mall for very long to realize I’m not really in that world,” Folds said during a promotional trip to Los Angeles last week that included, of all things, an in-store performance at Virgin Records. “The misconception… Read more »

New York – Aerosmith will reconvene in late August or early September to prepare for a tour that will begin in the fall, guitarist Joe Perry told Billboard. The group also has begun sifting through material for a prospective live CD/DVD. “We’re trying to find a show that has been recorded from beginning to end,” Perry said. “That’s something the fans have been requesting: a stone cold live record with a video.” “Some of the shows we’re looking at are from the last year, but who knows,” the guitarist continued. “We just heard about somebody who had a bunch of… Read more »

For their latest album, veteran Boston rockers Aerosmith decided it was time to return to their blues roots. Thus, Honkin’ On Bobo – possibly the most memorable title of 2004 – was born. The 12-song disc, released March 30, saw Aerosmith tackling old blues/roots covers such as Muddy Waters’ I’m Ready and Mississippi Fred McDowell’s You Gotta Move plus one Aerosmith original, The Grind. Drummer Joey Kramer, down the line from San Antonio, Tex., prior to the band’s Thursday night stop at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, said the concept has been in the works for a long time. “The new… Read more »

He was once dubbed “the unhappiest man in the land.” His most renowned song was called “Miss Misery.” Nevertheless, Elliott Smithsounded disappointed that he was often asked, “Why are you so sad?” The singer-songwriter, whose fragile Beatles-tinged melodies elevated to him mythic status on the indie scene and brought him unlikely Oscar-nominated success, died Tuesday of an apparent suicide at his apartment in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, officials said. He was 34. Smith’s publicist confirmed the death to reporters. His official Website (www.elliottsmith.com) went black Wednesday morning; only the words “goodbye elliott” were in the title bar.… Read more »

The rock gods of Kiss bow down to no one – except maybe Aerosmith. When the two bands start their tour together on Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut, Kiss’ pyrotechnic extravaganza will be followed by the bluesy hard rock of Boston’s finest. The show is being billed as a co-headlining tour, but it will be the first time since 1974 that Kiss will take the stage before another band night after night. So, how did Aerosmith get Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley to agree to such conditions? “Um, I’m not sure, actually,” Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said. “I think it just… Read more »

Blink-182 are continuing their fine tradition of potty humor album titles, following up 2001’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket with Use Your Erection I and II. Drummer Travis Barker revealed the Guns N’ Roses-inspired name at Saturday’s KROQ Weenie Roast, where he performed with the Transplants. He said the album is due October 28, although a spokesperson at the band’s label said it’s scheduled for November. According to Barker, a collaboration with his friends the Neptunes is still just in talks, but Blink-182 are definitely working with a few guests, including DJ Shadow, Dan the Automator and singer Robert… Read more »

Rest assured, Will Smith will rid the world of aliens again, but first, he’ll perform for them. While the first single from the “Men in Black 2” soundtrack, “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head),” is gaining popularity, Smith deliberately steered clear of the tried-and-true methods of creating a summer hit – heavy samples and big-name cameos – so as not to oversell the song, a Sony Pictures publicist said. But you know Smith, he can’t keep that simplicity up for long. Especially when there’s a video to be shot. The clip, directed by Francis Lawrence, features Smith, clad in the… Read more »

“Girls of Summer,” the midtempo song Aerosmith debuted on mtvICON will be one of at least two new songs on a greatest-hits collection due June 25. Another new track, “Bad Enough,” will also be included. Both songs were written in Hawaii last month by vocalist Steven Tyler, guitarist Joe Perry and Marti Frederiksen, who wrote, produced and co-wrote the band’s last record, 2001’s Just Push Play. The still-untitled two-disc set will include hits from the band’s years on Geffen and Columbia. The upcoming album won’t be the only Aerosmith-related double-disc to hit shelves this year. Drummer Joey Kramer has just… Read more »

After spending more than three decades dealing with the business that is rock ‘n’ roll, Aerosmith co-founder Joe Perry dreams of a time when he can focus on nothing but playing his guitar. Dream on. With a new album and summer-long U.S. tour that kicked off earlier this month in Hartford, Conn., Perry and the Boston-based quintet has been busy – making videos, contributing to movie soundtracks, going to awards ceremonies, performing at sporting events and working with other artists. While it’s the kind of success most bands dream of, for Perry, it’s become another day at the office. “It… Read more »