Hayley Williams owns a car, though she prefers to ride her bike. If you live in Franklin, Tennessee, you probably know this by now, because she pilots the thing – a beige, kid-size rattletrap with a basket on the front – all around her hometown, chatting up the locals and stopping in at places like Puckett’s Grocery and the Ivey Cake bakery. She paid $60 for it at a nearby thrift store. It’s probably worth $30. Williams also owns a house in town, and though it’s certainly worth more than her bike, it’s not much flashier: a modest stone number… Read more »
Amazon.com Inc., pushing further into the digital distribution of books, unveiled a thinner and faster version of its Kindle electronic-book reader but raised controversy among publishers and others with a new text-reading feature. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos displays the Kindle 2 e-book reader at an event Monday. “Our vision is every book ever printed in any language all available in 60 seconds,” said Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos at a Monday press conference in a New York library. The Seattle company also said it has a new work by best-selling novelist Stephen King, called “Ur,” which will be available exclusively… Read more »
Brad Renfro, a Hollywood actor best known for his roles in “The Client” and “Ghost World” and for his off-screen history of drug abuse, was found dead this morning, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He was 25. Authorities said Renfro’s body was discovered in his Wilshire area home in the 1000 block of South Ogden Drive by his girlfriend. He was declared dead by paramedics at 9 a.m., said coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter. Winter said the cause of death had yet to be determined. “There is no suspicion of foul play,” LAPD Lt. David Evans said. Officials would not… Read more »
Until recently, it seemed only kids – and music critics – could love Eminem. Politicians condemned his obscenity-laced and violent lyrics. Gay and women’s groups blasted him as a homophobe and misogynist. The Grammy-winning Detroit rapper had millions in album sales, but little love from mainstream America. Well, he’s still not America’s sweetheart. But some of the vitriol directed at Eminem has diminished – replaced not just by grudging respect, but by downright enthusiasm from some unlikely quarters. “The guy is funny, smart, and sometimes shocking,” author Stephen King gushed on his Web site. “Those are all things I look… 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 »
Like Eminem’s last two solo albums, the debut LP from his hometown crew, D12, opens with a public service announcement. But this time, the announcer suggests that anyone offended by words like “bitch” and “faggot” should turn off their stereos immediately. “We want people to know what the f they gonna hear for the next hour,” D12’s Bizarre said, speaking from the group’s home base of Detroit last week. “It’s our own ghetto public service announcement.” The sextet asks those who keep listening to Devils Night, due Tuesday, not to draw conclusions from what they hear – a request that… Read more »
Poppy has just unveiled her latest single, “they’re all around us,” produced by Jordan Fish, former percussionist and backing vocalist of Bring Me The Horizon. This marks her second collaboration with Fish, following the release of the electrifying track “New Way Out,” which dropped in June. Additionally, Stephen Harrison, one-half of House Of Protection and formerly of FEVER 333, contributed to the writing process of the track. Sharing his excitement on Instagram, Harrison posted, “Love this one thanks for having me back guys,” showing his appreciation for the creative collaboration. Opening with a piercing shriek, “Coward!,” and backed by thunderous,… Read more »
Guitarist Stephen Harrison and drummer Aric Improta “knew it wasn’t going to be easy to start again from scratch, but that phrase became our ethos.” After departing from Fever 333 in October 2022, the dynamic duo knew it was time to sonically explore corners of the alternative landscape they hadn’t reached. This time, without creative differences in their way. Luckily, House Of Protection—their new venture—found its sound on their first day of writing. The band combines the raw grit and uncensored ferocity fans from the past decade have come to expect from the artists, tinged with a humble and unique approach to modern… Read more »
There’s a chill in the air signifying that fall is on its way. This can only mean one thing…it’s Halloween season, baby! And what better way to celebrate the spookiest time of the year than with your favorite witches, ghosts, and vampires? Specifically, it’s time for an annual Twilight rewatch. For fans of Edward and Bella, fabulous news just dropped. According to Netflix’s official Twitter/X account, a new Twilight series is on the way. Their post reads, “Midnight Sun, an animated series adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s novel and the retelling of Twilight from Edward Cullen’s perspective, is officially in development.”… Read more »
After sharing the news that Riot Fest would take place in Bridgeview, IL at SeatGeek Stadium, the festival has officially announced they’re returning to Douglass Park in the heart of Chicago. “If there was no Chicago, there’d be no Riot Fest. It grew out of an independent music community where one would be able to see Naked Raygun, Smashing Pumpkins, or Rise Against on a random Saturday night, and you’d still have enough time to go catch a late-night set at Legends and if lucky enough, maybe Buddy (Guy) would be there performing at his venue,” says founder Michael “Riot… Read more »
