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That stunned silence you’re hearing from across the pond might just be the sound of British pop fans’ speechless reaction after turning on their televisions and seeing Justin Timberlake jamming with the Flaming Lips. In another sign of their “anything goes” spirit, the Oklahoma psychedelic rockers invited the ‘NSYNC heartthrob to sit in on bass with them during a “Top of the Pops” performance of the title track from their recent album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. The segment, taped Thursday afternoon and slated to run Friday evening (January 24) in England, came about when Timberlake and Lips leader Wayne… Read more »

Police raids in England and the Netherlands on Friday recovered what could be about 500 original Beatles tapes that were stolen in the 1970s, including some never-released tracks. British police said the tapes were “priceless,” and that the only such recordings that have been heard before were bootlegs. Dutch police, who recovered all the tapes in the Netherlands, agreed, but said they were still analyzing the material. “We’re currently investigating whether they really are the originals, but it appears to be so,” said prosecutor spokesman Robert Meulenbroek in Amsterdam. “There are about 500 tapes, so there’s quite a bit to… Read more »

Christine Lewis wrapped herself in the flag – an Elvis flag – to celebrate what would have been the king of rock ‘n’ roll’s 68th birthday. The 52-year-old from Somerset, England, was among 600 to 700 fans gathered Wednesday on the front lawn of Graceland, Elvis Presley’s last home, to cut a cake and sing “Happy Birthday.” Celebrants stood in line up to 90 minutes to get onto the grounds for the party. “I could imagine him being here. I cried so much,” Lewis said. For the occasion, she wrapped herself in a flag with red and blue stripes and… Read more »

Joe Strummer, lead singer for seminal British punk band the Clash, has died at the age of 50. Strummer, who was the band’s guitarist, vocalist and songwriter alongside Mick Jones, died on Sunday at his farmhouse in Somerset, southwestern England. A statement released by his record label said Strummer “died peacefully at his home.” It added that his wife Lucy, two daughters and stepdaughter “request privacy at this harrowing time.” He had been touring with his most recent band The Mescaleros until last month, rounding off a tour in Liverpool. Hein van der Rey, managing director of Epitaph Records, which… Read more »

The tail end of last year wasn’t among the highlights of Slipknot’s seven-year career. Although the band’s third album, Iowa, dropped in late August, prompting maggots everywhere to rejoice, tragedy struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon a couple of weeks later, temporarily curbing fans’ elation and fostering an environment in which songs such as “Everything Ends” and “I Am Hated” weren’t among the most welcome. Factor in the bad news that percussionist Clown’s wife had taken ill, and that the band was touring in the midst of a slumping economy, and the bulb-nosed performer wasn’t the happiest of… Read more »

The Rolling Stones would have no chance on the music market if they were to start as newcomers today, the band’s former bassist Bill Wyman said on Wednesday. Wyman, who left the Rolling Stones after the band’s 30th anniversary 10 years ago, said record companies would no longer sign people whose style was different to that of the charts. “That’s why many talented young people don’t have a chance. The Rolling Stones would be too different today. They were different then but in those days the record companies and the media were open to new ideas,” Wyman told Reuters in… Read more »

Five men arrested on suspicion of plotting to kidnap singer Victoria Beckham were charged Monday with theft and conspiring to rob Sotheby’s auction house, police said. Scotland Yard said inquiries were continuing into the alleged plan to kidnap Victoria Beckham, the Spice Girl wife of England soccer captain David Beckham, for a reported 5 million pound (US$7.75 million) ransom. Nine people were arrested after a Sunday newspaper said undercover reporters had discovered the kidnap plot. Kosovo-born Azem Krifsha, 30; London-born Joseph Rivas, 24; and Rusu Sorin, 31 and originally from Romania, were charged with theft and handling of a jeweled… Read more »

The Foo Fighters will embark on an eight-city U.S. tour later this month, with each date scheduled to be announced as tickets go on sale. The Brandtidos trek, sponsored by Sirius Satellite Radio, comes in support of the group’s fourth album, “One by One,” due Oct. 22 from RCA. The only date confirmed so far is Oct. 22 in Los Angeles, but an Oct. 31 show in New York, dubbed the “Foos-Ball & Halloween Costume Party,” will be announced today (Oct. 7) by local radio station K-ROCK. Sirius subscribers can get a jump on tickets before they go on sale… Read more »

Veteran U.K. rock outfit Primal Scream has set a Nov. 26 North American release date for its domestic Epic debut, “Evil Heat.” The album, which features contributions from Robert Plant, Kate Moss, My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, and the Jesus And Mary Chain’s Jim Reid, was released in August in the group’s homeland. The North American release of “Evil Heat” will be accompanied by a DVD featuring 45 minutes of bonus material. The video clips for “Miss Lucifer” and “Autobahn 66” are included, alongside videos of four songs performed live at August’s V2002 festival: “Rocks,” “Moving on Up,” “Swastika Eyes,”… Read more »

The White Stripes will hit the dead leaves and dirty ground of New York’s Union Square on Tuesday to play a free show. The noon performance is the latest in a series of guerilla concerts staged by Nissan. Train played the first gig, in St. Louis on September 17, followed by Pink in Chicago, Eve in Philadelphia, Dashboard Confessional in Boston, Enrique Iglesias in Brooklyn and Cheap Trick in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Additional free shows will continue in other cities, a spokesperson for the concert series said. After Tuesday’s free show, Detroit duo Jack and Meg White only have two… Read more »