Search Results for: Andy Black

“How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Michael Stipe asked the crowd soon after R.E.M. took the stage Thursday night at the venerable venue. “Practice,” the crowd blurted in unison. “Well, we didn’t,” Stipe responded. “So if you hear a bum note or something that doesn’t sound right, I urge you to sing louder in your head.” The tour-shy Athens rockers and granola-pop folkie Jewel were among those on hand for an evening of spirited entertainment at “You Gotta Have Friends: Partners in the Fight Against AIDS,” a benefit for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis. ( from the event.) Judging… Read more »

Sure, touring and making videos with Rob Zombie is cool, and that upcoming reality show about Ozzy and his kin, “The Osbournes,” is sure to be a rib-tickling delight for the entire family. But anyone who wants to experience Ozzy Osbourne at his finest or who’s unfamiliar with his pre-Ozzfest days might want to check out the digitally remastered reissues of four of his most influential discs, which are being released March 26 with previously unavailable tracks. Blizzard of Ozz will include “You Lookin’ at Me Lookin’ at You” and a live recording of “You Said It All,” Diary of… Read more »

Chris Blackwell knew he wanted to be a part of the documentary 1 Giant Leap as soon as musicians Jamie Catto (Faithless) and Duncan Bridgeman played him the rough demos of songs they’d written for the program. The same man whose gut feeling led him to sign Bob Marley and U2 to his Island Records imprint heard what the two musicians had to offer and gave them the green light. “I loved the music of it,” says Blackwell of the documentary due out in March. “I loved the way the music was put together. I loved the different influences of… Read more »

Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath isn’t sure what all the fuss between the American Music Awards and Grammys is about. “It’s a petty argument and I think it can all be resolved. The people getting hurt at the end of the day are the fans,” he said backstage Wednesday night. “Being down in South Central, can’t we all just get along?” he said, echoing Rodney King’s plea after the 1992 Los Angeles riots. AMA producer Dick Clark sued Michael Greene, president of the Recording Academy, for $10 million in December. Clark alleges that Greene has for years siphoned talent… Read more »

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 »

Though the annual South by Southwest Music Conference is known as a place for up-and-coming bands to get noticed, there’ll be several artists at next year’s 16th annual festival who already have hits under their belts. Hanson, who were discovered at 1994’s SXSW and played at last year’s fest as well, will return again to the music industry schmooze extravaganza in Austin, Texas. They’ll join such other airwave veterans as Marcy Playground (“Sex and Candy”), Girls Against Boys (“Kill the Sexplayer”) and Jesus Jones (“Right Here, Right Now”). Of course, the underground is still represented in full-force, as the lineup… Read more »

With only days to go before the top music companies start selling music online, they appear unwilling, at least initially, to support most of the digital music players currently sold. Analysts have dim expectations for the new ventures because their music will remain largely chained for now to the computer desktop – and only for as long as subscribers pay to “rent” it. “What’s the use if I’m going to have it on my desktop and I can’t take it with me?” says Jackie DeLeon, 26, a student housing coordinator at the University of Illinois-Chicago who uses her portable MP3… Read more »

Carlos Santana is hard at work on the follow-up to his 1999 mega-seller Supernatural, but Matchbox Twenty singer Rob Thomas-who co-wrote and sang on that album’s Grammy-winning single, “Smooth”-says the guitar legend is taking a different path on this outing. Thomas, who’s helping Santana write a couple of songs for the album, said that rather than featuring a bunch of guest singers as Supernatural did, the new album will focus more on the Santana band. “I can’t imagine him doing the exact same thing again,” he says. “He has two unbelievably talented vocalists that are with his band, a guy… Read more »

Columbia Records is releasing “Stoned Raiders,” the eagerly-awaited new album from Cypress Hill, the first full-length studio outing from the group since 2000’s platinum-selling “Skull & Bones” and the group’s first album since last year’s “Live At The Fillmore.” The latest chapter in the ongoing saga of alterna-rap’s best-selling bold marauders, “Stoned Raiders” carries on Cypress Hill’s uncanny patented hip-hop/rock meld. The album is produced, arranged and mixed by Muggs and features guest appearances by Kurupt, MC Ren & King Tee, Redman & Method Man, and Kokane. Also appearing on “Stoned Raiders’ are Fear Factory’s Christian Olde Wolbers, Andy Zambrano… Read more »

The Emmys, television’s highest honors, will be presented belatedly Sunday under the cloud of the Sept. 11 attacks with many stars planning to bypass strutting down the red carpet and to leave their egos and low-cut dresses at home. “It’s an awkward time for everybody, and people are still feeling unsure about whether it’s the right time or not,” said veteran Hollywood publicist Heidi Schaeffer. “People aren’t looking to call attention to themselves right now.” Reflecting the Emmys’ subdued tone this year, many stars have decided to forego the ceremony’s red-carpet arrival, among them nominees Martin Sheen of “The West… Read more »