Search Results for: GOLD

If Republicans, “Dukes of Hazzard” reruns and an abundance of heavy metal weren’t enough to convince you, No Doubt’s Rock Steady road show leaves little doubt that the 1980s are back. On the tour’s opening night, the Orange County ska-popsters mined flavors from across the retro-’80s spectrum, mixing driving hardcore and rasta riddims with slap-bass funk, new wave synth and pop queen balladry. With a punked-out rhythm section, two dread-stylie horn players, a guitarist straight out of a Duran Duran video and bare-bellied, necktie-wearing Gwen-just-wanna-have-fun-Stefani up front, they even looked the part. The drum set glowed under the Memorial Auditorium’s… Read more »

‘Pop Idol’ Will Young has announced he is gay, and said he has never hidden his sexuality. The 23-year-old singer, whose first record became the fastest-selling debut single in UK history, said he was very comfortable with his sexuality. In an interview with the News of the World, the former drama student said: “I feel it’s time to tell my fans I’m gay.” “It’s totally no big deal, just part of who I am. For me it’s normal and nothing to be ashamed about. I’m gay and I’m comfortable with that. I really don’t know what the fuss is about.… Read more »

Madonna’s no beautiful stranger to spy films – she’s acted up a storm as Breathless Mahoney in 1990’s “Dick Tracy” and contributed one song to the 1999 spy spoof “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.” Now she’s going for the real thing – shaken, not stirred – with the title track to the 20th James Bond film, “Die Another Day.” “We are thrilled that Madonna, who is recognized as the world’s most exciting songwriter and performer, has agreed to compose and sing the song for the first James Bond movie of the new millennium,” said the film’s team of… Read more »

Stone Temple Pilots will be playing various festivals this spring, including Atlanta’s Music Midtown, but the band is taking the summer off. Singer Scott Weiland revealed that the band actually turned down the OzzFest in favor of hitting the studio. “You know we were asked to play the OzzFest, but we turned it down,” he said. “And it’s not because we don’t think OzzFest is a viable tour, it obviously is a viable tour. It’s been around for quite some time, now and it’s pretty successful and not to mention lucrative. But lucrative is not always the best reason to… Read more »

Tower Records Argentina is refusing to sell albums by Epic artist Shakira, in protest of the appearance of her boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua, in her latest video, “Underneath Your Clothes,” Billboard Bulletin reports. De la Rua is the son of former Argentine president Fernando de la Rua, who resigned in December in the midst of profound economic and political turmoil in the country. Antonio de la Rua was his father’s closest advisor; his inclusion in Shakira’s video has caused a stir in the local media. Tower Records marketing manager Maroa Ferrero says the decision to ban Shakira’s albums was… Read more »

Sony Music moved swiftly Tuesday to stamp out a swirl of speculation that it was maneuvering to acquire the remaining half of ATV Music Publishing – which includes more than 250 songs from the Beatles’ back-catalog – from waning superstar Michael Jackson. “We are not in discussions with Mr. Jackson over the sale of his share of the ATV catalog,” a Sony rep insisted. “These rumors are completely baseless.” But the insider chatter over a possible deal nevertheless put a spotlight on the Gloved One’s financial situation, which has reportedly deteriorated steadily amid declining record sales, legal expenses and superstar-level… Read more »

Silverchair has completed work on their eagerly anticipated label debut. The album – titled “DIORAMA” – is currently slated to be released in North America on July 9th. Their first new album in three years, “DIORAMA” is unquestionably Silverchair’s most multi-dimensional work to date. The Newcastle, Australia-based trio – singer/guitarist Daniel Johns, bassist Chris Joannou, and drummer Ben Gillies – recorded the collection in the fall of 2001 at Sydney’s Studio 301 with producer David Bottrill (Tool, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson). “DIORAMA” features guest appearances from Midnight Oil guitarist Jim Moginie and Australian electronica producer Paul Mac. In addition, the… Read more »

British punk legends the Sex Pistols are to reissue their anarchic song “God Save the Queen” to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 50 years on the throne, their record company said Thursday. “(The record) is to be reissued around the Golden Jubilee celebrations on May 27,” Virgin Records said in a statement. “It will feature the original artwork.” The single’s anti-royal lyrics and cover image of the queen with a safety pin through her nose caused outrage on its first release in 1977. The song includes the verse: “God save the Queen/She ain’t no human being/There is no future/In England’s dreaming.” While… Read more »

Sting, Elton John, James Taylor and Ravi Shankar have been confirmed as the first round of performers for the tenth annual Carnegie Hall benefit for the Rainforest Foundation. The event is set for April 13th in New York City. Various special package tickets are already available: the Platinum Package offers First Tier Box seats for $50,000 ($46,000 of which can be deducted as a charitable donation), which includes a sixteen-seat block of seats, two backstage passes, a table at the post-show party and Rainforest Foundation membership. Gold Package seats include eight tickets, concert mementos, a table at the post-show party… Read more »

When they first came on the scene, Southern California quintet Phantom Planet were best, if incorrectly, known as the side project of Jonathan Schwartzman, the teen actor who played smug genius Max Fischer in 1998’s “Rushmore.” But Schwartzman formed Phantom Planet with his buddies in 1994, four years before the group released their debut, Phantom Planet Is Missing. So chronologically, Schwartzman has really been moonlighting as an actor for the past several years. Still, because of the band’s movie star drummer and the debut album’s penchant for juvenile lovelorn anthems, Phantom Planet were often given the same knee-jerk dismissal bestowed… Read more »