Search Results for: Rock Fest

Following waning U.S. album sales, Oasis should probably call on high for divine inspiration. Instead, the perverse Brits are naming their fifth record Heathen Chemistry. The album will come out in July, and the first single, “Hindu Times” – part of which sounds like a psychedelic spin-off of Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” – will be released to radio in the next two weeks. A black-and-white video for the song was directed by Wiz, and features shots of the band onstage juxtaposed against images of a gun barrel, a sign flashing “pills or bombs,” and X-rays of vocalist Liam Gallagher,… Read more »

Oasis has dubbed its fifth Epic studio album “Heathen Chemistry” and is planning a July release for the 11-track set. As previously reported, first single “The Hindu Times” will be released commercially April 15 in the band’s native U.K. The track can be sampled on Oasis’ official Web site, which is also giving away copies of the single to 20 randomly selected members of the group’s mailing list. “Heathen Chemistry” features the first songwriting contributions from Oasis’ newest members, bassist Andy Bell and guitarist Gem Archer, the latter of whom penned “Hung in a Bad Place.” Frontman Liam Gallagher, who… Read more »

Paul McCartney has nothing left to prove. He’s a Beatle. He’s a knight. He’s an honorary American. He’s been everywhere, done everything. But in Oakland Monday night, he showed up simply “to rock ‘n’ roll.” And after a 2 1/2-hourlong feast for the eyes and ears, McCartney had done his job. He left a sell-out crowd of 15,000 satisfied. With a non-stop set dominated by Beatles tunes from “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Yesterday” to “The End” and “Getting Better,” which McCartney claimed had never before been performed in concert, he rocked, he rolled, he paid tribute to John Lennon… Read more »

“One-man band”: when you hear that phrase you probably picture a dude on a street corner with a pair of cymbals between his knees, a drum on his back, some kazoos in his mouth and a guitar case full of quarters. Think again. While naming a band after yourself is fine and good for guys like Dave Matthews and Jon Spencer, some band names are actually just cryptic pseudonyms for a single, mad studio genius. The past year has seen an explosion of do-it-yourself-ers, including ex-Eels bassist Tommy Walter with his band Abandoned Pools, stone alone emo-ter Chris Carrabba of… Read more »

The 16th annual South by Southwest music conference drew to a close Sunday, and the only thing that lasts longer than the seemingly perpetual hangover that results from four debauched days of a music industry on spring break is the buzz emanating from the bands and key moments that defined this year’s festival. Of the more than 1,000 bands showcasing their chops before press, radio programmers, managers, lawyers, label execs and promoters in 48 venues strewn throughout Austin, Texas, a handful traditionally rise above the chaff to become the targets of hype hucksters and topics of critical discussion for weeks… Read more »

Anticipation for the Talking Heads’ arrival backstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last night was high; reporters hung around waiting until well past midnight. And when David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Jerry Harrison and Chris Frantz finally showed, there was only the briefest of silences before the question came up: “How did it feel to play together and are there plans for a reunion?” “One thing at a time,” Harrison said, diplomatically. “It was great tonight.” The band addressed the issues that had kept them from performing together for eighteen years, claiming that reports of acrimony… Read more »

Elektra has set a May 7 release date for the “Family Values Tour 2001” live album, the third such release to document the rock-oriented trek. The set sports a variety of tracks from last year’s tour participants Stone Temple Pilots, Linkin Park, Staind, Static-X, and Deadsy. STP’s “Wonderful” will serve as the first single and will be sent next week to U.S. radio outlets for airplay consideration. A video treatment is being developed and may include live footage from the tour. STP’s other tracks are “Vasoline,” “Wicked Garden,” and “Creep,” the latter with a guest spot by Staind frontman Aaron… 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 »

The boxes are stacked outside the Beverly Hills home, ready to be carried in. Each is neatly labeled: “pots and pans,” “linens,” “devil heads,” “dead things.” Plainly, Ozzie and Harriet aren’t moving in. This Ozzy is Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal rock star, and his family. Their arrival in the neighborhood heralds a hilarious new MTV series, “The Osbournes,” that premieres 10:30 p.m. EST Tuesday. MTV describes it as television’s first “reality sitcom,” a format that suggested itself naturally because nothing they could invent around the Osbournes would be as funny as their actual lives. Just the idea of the… Read more »