Search Results for: chamber

After he joined the Smashing Pumpkins 17 years ago, drummer Jimmy Chamberlin’s career began to revolve around incidents of death and rebirth. In March of 1996, his father died when the Pumpkins were on tour. Then in July of that same year, road keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin died from a heroin overdose while shooting up with Chamberlin. The drummer was arrested for possession and booted from the band for his inability to kick smack, with which he had battled since 1991. Ironically, the seeming death of his career triggered his spiritual rebirth. With help from friends, he got clean and rejoined… Read more »

A week after the compilation Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 was released, a sequel to the politically minded compilation is taking shape. The Foo Fighters will contribute their cover of “Gas Chamber,” a song originally recorded by L.A. punks the Angry Samoans, which appeared as a B-side to the Foos’ 1996 CD single “Big Me.” The original tune appeared on the Angry Samoans’ second album, 1982’s Back From Samoa. The inclusion of Bad Religion’s “Let Them Eat War,” from June 8’s The Empire Strikes First, is also confirmed for Rock Against Bush Vol. 2, which is expected to drop in… Read more »

Beyonce Knowles may be “Crazy in Love,” but she kept her cool Sunday at one of the more sober Grammy Awards shows in memory. She was the night’s big winner, taking home a record-tying five trophies to join recent Grammy queens Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones with the most wins in a single year by a female performer. OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won Album of the Year, giving the eccentric Atlanta funk/rap group three wins, including Best Urban Alternative Performance and Best Rap Album. British band Coldplay took home the prize for Record of the Year for “Clocks,”… Read more »

A musician left his $3 million violin on an Amtrak train, but a quick-acting baggage handler retrieved the instrument and it was returned to its grateful owner. Gidon Kremer, who is performing as a guest artist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra through Saturday, took the train from New York to Baltimore’s Penn station on Wednesday. Before heading to Baltimore, Kremer learned that a violinist in the Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra he founded in 1996, was sick and couldn’t make an Asian tour scheduled to start in a few days. “I was preoccupied with that from the moment I sat… Read more »

It’s been 2-1/2 years since the Island Def Jam Music Group acquired a 50% stake in Roadrunner Records. However, the longtime rock-metal independent label still feels like an indie despite its major label parent, president Jonas Nachsin says. “In terms of the Roadrunner’s indie spirit, I don’t think we’ve lost any of that,” Nachsin says. “When the partnership was done, I think the first thing that was decided was not to do anything, which was a very sage and important game plan because when something is working, the last thing you want to do is start to mess with it.”… Read more »

Ozzy Osbourne will not receive the Freedom Of Birmingham, the highest honor that can be awarded to a citizen of the British city, according to the icbirmingham.co.uk website. City Councillor Tony Kennedy led a campaign to bestow the award upon Ozzy by claiming that his battle to overcome drug and alcohol addiction could be a model for residents of the city. But other councillors shot the idea down, saying they wouldn’t vote for the heavy metal legend. Councillor Coun John Hemming said, “Frankly, the idea of Osborne as a role model is laughable. I can’t see many parents wanting their… Read more »

Britney Spears, Kevin Costner and Halle Berry are getting stars on Hollywood’s celebrated Walk of Fame. Glenn Close, Anthony Hopkins, John Singleton, Ted Turner, Journey and 17-year-old twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will also get the sidewalk honor next year. The new inductees were announced Thursday by Johnny Grant, chairman of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. “There’s a favorite on this list for everybody. We have both young and veteran performers and local, national and international stars,” Grant said. “The induction ceremonies will generate a lot of excitement for our residents and visitors from around the world.” The inductees represent… Read more »

Zwan has canceled its entire world tour, due to what the band termed “family reasons” on its official website, zwan.com. The canceled tour was to start in Imola, Italy on June 15, and end at the famed Fuji Festival in Japan on January 25. Glastonbury, T In The Park, and the Witnness Festival were among the European festivals Zwan will miss. The band is touring in support of its debut album, Mary Star Of The Sea, and it features former Smashing Pumpkins members Billy Corgan on guitar and vocals and Jimmy Chamberlin on drums. Also in the band are ex-Tortoise… Read more »

Southern rock outfit Kings Of Leon will release its RCA debut, “Youth and Young Manhood,” July 7 internationally and July 22 in North America. The group completed a U.K. tour last week at London’s tiny Madame Jo Jo’s Club in front of a packed audience that included members of Australian rock quartet the Vines. Kings Of Leon, now based in Nashville, features the brothers Nathan, Caleb, and Jared Followill and cousin Matthew. The foursome hails from an itinerant Pentecostal church family background. “We tell everybody we’re from Memphis, because that’s the only place we had as a home,” drummer Nathan… Read more »

Billy Corgan’s post-Smashing Pumpkins group Zwan has signed to Reprise and will release its debut album in late January or early February, a spokesperson confirms. The group features Corgan on guitar and vocals, former Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, former Chavez guitarist Matt Sweeney, ex-Slint guitarist David Pajo, and bassist Paz Lenchantin, previously a member of A Perfect Circle. Before the release of the as-yet-untitled album, Zwan has lined up several performances at radio station-sponsored holiday concerts, as well as a Dec. 5 club date at the Joint in Las Vegas. The group will then play Dec. 11 in Boston with… Read more »