We’ve arrived at the final article of The Radical 90s. Throughout the series, we’ve revisited our favorite trends, contemplated the family lineage between the best bands of today and the kings of the 90s, chatted about our most loved TV shows, and poked more than a little fun at the eccentric qualities of the decade.
Imagine a “dream machine” on wheels. It’s easy if you try. But the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is no dream. A state-of-the-art multimedia studio packed in a bus, it’s a vehicle for opening the minds of aspiring young musicians. “Swing open the door, step inside, take three short steps into the main cabin and look around,” writes Mark Garvey in “Come Together: The Official John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Guide to Music and Video,” a recently published history of the bus by Garvey and Yoko Ono Lennon. “You’ve entered a different world. And whether you’re young or old, if… Read more »
New York – Radio’s playlist liberation movement hatched in late 2001 at a birthday party in Winnipeg, Manitoba. A radio was blasting when Howard Kroeger, director of operations and programing for CHUM Broadcasting’s Winnipeg stations, arrived at his friend’s 40th-birthday bash. It was a competitor’s classic rock station, and Kroeger used the occasion to conduct an informal focus group among the partygoers, most in their mid- to late 30s. Whenever Boston, the Cars, Meatloaf, Supertramp or some other ’70s staple came on, it got an overwhelming thumbs-up from the Molson-enhanced crowd. But there was a noticeable lack of enthusiasm when… Read more »
Melisma/Atlantic recording artist Rob Thomas has announced plans for his first-ever solo concert tour. The special 11-city, cross-country itinerary heralds the April 19th release of Thomas’ debut solo album, “…SOMETHING TO BE.” The tour kicks off on Friday, April 15th at The Fillmore in San Francisco and wraps up on April 30th at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. The shows will mark Thomas’ first club tour since matchbox twenty’s first national trek eight years ago. “Lonely No More,” the first single from “…SOMETHING TO BE,” has proved to be an immediate smash at pop radio across the country. The… Read more »
“Backstreet Men” doesn’t really have the same ring, but make no mistake, the Backstreet Boys are coming back more mature on their first album in five years. The group, which hasn’t released a collection of new music since 2000’s Black & Blue, just wrapped sessions for the as-yet-untitled album, which might surprise people expecting the same pop sound of old, according to member Howie Dorough. “We’ve been working on it for more than a year now, but it really started taking shape and changing over the past six months,” Dorough said. “It’s going in a more pop/rock direction, kind of… Read more »
The members of Fountains Of Wayne were just as shocked as the rest of the world at last week’s Grammy nomination in the Best New Artist category. Lead singer Adam Schlesinger revealed he’s thrilled about the nod, but finds it ironic considering the band has been around for more than seven years. “I was told that it has to do with, defining it as the record that sort of gets you into the larger public consciousness or something,” Schlesinger said. “So I guess, in that sense, maybe it’s a fair definition. Yeah, this is our third record. Our first record… Read more »
Madonna put some luster back into her lust by smooching Britney. Santana gained a fresh perspective with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas. Now the bratty, lovable punks of Sum 41 could put Pop on pop radio. Rock legend Iggy Pop recruited Sum 41 for “Little Know It All,” the melodic, rambunctious first single from Skull Ring, due November 4 Iggy took a shine to Sum frontman Deryck Whibley right away when the two parties met at the recommendation of Pop’s A&R man. In addition to admiring Whibley’s talent, Iggy got a kick out of the Canadian rocker’s youthful zeal. “He’s a… Read more »
Outkast, Pharrell Williams and Kid Rock are among the initial performers announced for the VH1 Big in ’03 awards. Matchbox Twenty and Shania Twain are also slated to provide a soundtrack for the second-annual pop culture celebration, which will tape November 20 at the Universal Amphitheatre near Los Angeles. Presenters lined up so far include Beyoncé, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Paris and Nikki Hilton, David Spade, Paula Abdul, D.L. Hughley, Vivica Fox, Joe Rogan and cast members of “The OC.” The show, which will air November 30 at 9 p.m., honors the biggest noisemakers of 2003 in entertainment, news,… Read more »
While the World Health Organization said that it believes the worst of severe acute respiratory syndrome is over in Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam – which got a clean bill of health on Monday for being the first nation to contain the virus – SARS is still affecting tour and promotional plans for many artists who were set to visit those regions. The Rolling Stones were the first to pull out of Asian concerts – their first-ever concerts in China – when news of the disease broke in March, though they did play two shows in Singapore. They also… Read more »
When the teen rock band justincase went on the road to promote their self-titled CD on the Maverick label, they took their mother with them. That’s not surprising. The three Tosco siblings – Justin (vocals, guitar), Nick (drums) and Hannahcome from a close-knit family, where music is an important part of their life. “They were exposed to music from the time they were in diapers,” says their father, John Tosco, a guitar teacher who’s prominent on the local music scene. “Music was part of their upbringing.” Around the time Justin was born, John and his wife, Holly, began inviting local… Read more »
