Search Results for: POP-ROCK

Having his solo debut tank might have been the best thing for Butch Walker’s career. Not too many people bought 2002’s Left of Self-Centered – the album sold barely 20,000 copies, according to SoundScan – but many of those who did adored the smart riff-rock from the guy who used to front the late-’90s power trio Marvelous 3. Not only did Walker sing and play all the instruments except drums, he also produced, mixed and engineered the LP. Such versatile qualities appealed to a lot of people, not least of whom was Avril Lavigne. “Obviously, it was a very unpopular… Read more »

The newly private Warner Music Group, having significantly reduced its worldwide staff, is now turning its cost-cutting efforts toward its artists. As part of the integration of Atlantic and Elektra into one label, Warner Music Group’s new management team is looking at the artist roster with the goal of paring it “from 180 to below 100,” says WMG U.S. Recorded Music chairman/CEO Lyor Cohen. The company is attempting to get the roster down to a size that’s in proportion with the organization and respectful of the acts remaining on the roster, Cohen says. It’s unclear which specific artists might get… Read more »

Fans of safe and sentimental melodic pop-rock were treated to the best of both worlds Thursday, when Something Corporate and Yellowcard hit the Roseland Ballroom stage near the end of their six-week co-headlining tour. Where Something Corporate mostly played amidst an air of soul-baring and introspection, Yellowcard’s cheer and bravado helped dissipate any gray clouds that may have hovered overhead. With three flags marked by upside-down hearts hanging from the rafters and spotlights almost always fixed on Andrew McMahon’s upright piano at center stage, Something Corporate’s set alternated between songs about being in and out of love from their 2002… Read more »

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson played coy when asked if they’re back together. “What? I’m shocked,” Anderson said, smiling. “I could have met him on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.” Since calling off their engagement, the 36-year-old actress has been seen with ex-husband Tommy Lee, with whom she has two young sons. Kid Rock, 32, performed on Sunday night’s American Music Awards. Holding a lit cigarette and a beverage in a plastic cup, Kid Rock said he and Anderson were having a post-show bash. “Good company makes a good party,” he said, nodding toward Anderson. Daryl Hall and John… Read more »

The biggest winners turned out to be MIAs at the 30th annual AMAs, including Eminem, winner of a leading four American Music Awards. Others absent when their names were called at Monday night’s American Music Awards were the bands Creed and the Dixie Chicks, who won two awards apiece. Tim McGraw, who sang a “Tiny Dancer” duet with Elton John at the start of the nationally televised show, left for Nashville before winning favorite male country artist, and Mary J. Blige – another absentee – was named favorite female hip-hop artist. Eminem won in every category in which he was… Read more »

Sheryl Crow, an activist for recording artists’ rights, brought her own message against a possible war with Iraq to Monday night’s American Music Awards. Crow accepted her award for pop-rock female artist wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with the message “war is not the answer” in black sequins. She had the V-neck shirt specially made. “I just think there’s a really vital, sweeping peace movement out there that’s not getting covered in the press, so I just kind of try to do my part,” she said backstage. “I think war is based in greed and there are huge karmic retributions… Read more »

Canadian female pop-rocker Avril Lavigne will perform at the second annual MTV Asia Awards, scheduled to be held next year at Singapore Indoor Stadium on January 24. The 17-year-old Lavigne has been nominated in two award categories, favorite female artist and favorite breakthrough artist, bolstered by her debut album Let Go. The album’s first hit, “Complicated,” has been inescapable on the airwaves this year, and Let Go has sold more than seven million albums worldwide since its release this spring. Other artists scheduled to perform at the ceremony are Missy Elliott and the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter. The awards program… Read more »

The members of pop-rock group Jimmy Eat World are coming back to their hometown Friday to play a benefit concert for victims of the Rodeo-Chediski wildfire. “It’s for the underinsured or the non-insured residents of the Heber-Overgaard area of Arizona which was pretty toasted by fires,” said singer-guitarist Jim Adkins. “Our drummer, his grandparents had a home over there that was destroyed.” The concert will be held at the Mesa Amphitheatre. The wildfire scorched about 469,000 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in Heber-Overgaard and Linden this summer. The Arizona natives, whose single “The Middle” catapulted them to pop fame… Read more »

It makes sense that Backstreet Boys crooner Nick Carter is releasing his debut solo album Now or Never the week of Halloween. Some Backstreet fans will likely think of it as a delicious treat, while others might view it more as a fiendish trick. On the album, which comes out October 29, Carter leaves behind the glossy harmonies and grandiose production of Backstreet Boys and heads in a more ’80s pop-rock direction that will thrill some and alienate others. Now or Never features 12 songs pared down from 37 written for the disc. Songwriters include Carter, the Matrix, Mark Taylor,… Read more »

Rapper Eminem walked off with four MTV Video Music Awards on Thursday, including one for Video of the Year, in a show bookended by rousing performances by Bruce Springsteen and a rare appearance by heavy metal rockers Guns N’ Roses. Eminem, who also won awards for Best Male Video, Best Rap Video and Best Direction, said of the “moonman” statuette that was MTV’s symbol in its early days, “I’m taking this home for rap – period.” His video “Without Me” won Video of the Year honors. The rapper won four MTV awards in 1999 and 2000. The mood at the… Read more »