Search Results for: neck deep

While Dec. 31, 2001, may not rank up there with the millennium celebrations, there’s still plenty of top-notch live music being presented in the clubs and arenas of the U.S. this New Year’s Eve. So, if you’re planning to get off the couch while Dick Clark rings in 2002 in Times Square, rest assured that there are worthwhile options in most major cities. In New York, band of the moment the Strokes will open for perennial indie favorite Guided By Voices at the famed Apollo Theatre. Further downtown, Phish’s Page McConnell will premiere his new band, Vida Blue, which features… Read more »

George Harrison, lead guitarist for the band that single handedly changed the face of rock forever, lost his battle with cancer Thursday in Los Angeles. He was 58. The Associated Press reports that Harrison passed away at 4:30 p.m. EST at a friend’s home. His wife, Olivia Harrison, and son Dhani were with him. The Beatles, unlike most bands of the early ’60s, both wrote and performed their songs, making them the first entirely self-contained music outfit. Even today, few superstar acts can take credit for penning all their hits, but from writing the lyrics and music to recording in… Read more »

Jessica Simpson is regarded as one of the hottest singers in pop music today, and she’s also the star of a new national advertising campaign for Bally Total Fitness. With her brand new look and attitude, Simpson has proven that she has matured greatly as an artist since the release of her 1999 debut album, Sweet Kisses. The Texas native admitted to LAUNCH that she has a deep, dark Halloween secret that would make do-it-yourself queen Martha Stewart envious. “I was a table for Halloween once. A table. Me and my best friend Cooper were a table for Halloween. What… Read more »

More than 25 artists – from boys (of the Backstreet, ‘NSYNC and O-Town variety) to men (elder statesmen such as Aerosmith, James Brown and Rod Stewart), from vocal queens (Destiny’s Child, Mariah Carey, Carole King) to the King of Pop – took the stage Sunday at RFK Stadium for the all-day United We Stand – What More Can I Give benefit concert for victims of September’s terrorist attacks. Themes of unity and perseverance permeated every performance, with artists often thanking the sold-out crowd for the message they were sending to the rest of the country – that no matter the… Read more »

As entertainment venues nationwide step up security measures in response to last week’s devastating terrorist attacks, concertgoers are seeing a greater presence of security workers and police as well as longer lines due to stricter search procedures. But more significant changes are happening behind the scenes as venues beef up their pre-event surveillance, make adjustments to loading and backstage policies and tighten checks of all individuals – not just fans – entering the building. “Behind the scenes is where any of the anti-terrorism type of security precautions will occur,” Gary Bongiovanni, editor of concert industry magazine Pollstar, said. “That means… Read more »

Having just reached its one-year anniversary, J Records has many reasons to celebrate. Three platinum albums have already been born – Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and O-Town – and J artists literally govern the tops of multiple Billboard charts. And adding to this massive success, last night Alicia Keys’ #1 hit “Fallin”‘ won Best New Artist video at the MTV VMA Awards. Hence, it is with great excitement that J Records proudly unveils their long awaited online hub located at www.Jrecords.com. The site, designed by kpe, focuses on presenting the large scope of the J Records roster – now 30… Read more »

Just standing still Monday night in Central Park, you couldn’t help but feel suffocated by the 85-degree wet heat that blanketed the city. So imagine how Erykah Badu felt as she danced around and sang her emotional ditties for the crowd at the park’s SummerStage venue. She was so hot she had to take off her dress in the middle of her set. “Thank you God for this breeze,” Badu said during a breakdown in her performance of “Didn’t Cha Know” early in the show. Dressed in a peach dress, matching headdress and gloves that came to her elbows, the… Read more »

Corporate Avenger was dealt another blow this week when lyrics on their upcoming album ignited a rampage within a few national Christian groups. The band has been receiving death-threats due to the album’s content and it seems an ethical frenzy is beginning to snowball around the album. KOCH Records has been asked to halt the album’s release by several organizations and now the groups are taking their fight to the stores intent on stocking the title. Lead by The Promise Keepers and The American Family Organization, religious groups all across the country are banning together to try to keep the… Read more »

The scene onstage at Jimmy Z’s is unmistakable: the singer is screeching “Sin City,” right hand on the mic, left hand cocked at the side like it might just fire bullets from the fingers drawn in a heavy metal devil salute. Several feet away, the guitarist’s head is in a non-stop nod to the beat; a schoolboy necktie squirms under a burgundy Gibson SG. Uh, but wait a minute… this Angus Young is wearing a miniskirt. And the person rocking the spotlight isn’t a middle-aged Aussie man, but a twentysomething African-American woman. Ding dong, welcome to the world of Hell’s… Read more »