Search Results for: THICK

No Doubt began as a good-time ska-party band, full of California sunshine. But in the last few years, that’s been obscured by smog: bruised egos within the band, gloomy lyrics and weak record sales for last year’s Return of Saturn. The bad times are all gone on their upcoming album, Rock Steady, reports singer Gwen Stefani. “We’re not taking ourselves so seriously,” she says. “It’s like, get over it. We’re a fucking band and we’re really lucky to be doing what we do.” Rock Steady, out December 18th, is a sweet pop confection, made with arrays of keyboards, a dance-floor… Read more »

Like all of us, artists in the music industry have had their lives turned upside down in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attack on America. Superstars like Madonna and Janet Jackson have had to switch their concert schedules, but more importantly, many performers’ whole way of seeing life has changed. “To be honest, I’ve been scared to come through the Lincoln Tunnel,” Ja Rule, who was raised in New York and now lives in New Jersey, told Carson Daly today on MTV’s “TRL.” “When I came through the tunnel [today], I saw a whole thing of Army [trucks]. It shook… Read more »

During Ozzfest’s stop Thursday in Denver, where the curious and the converted clamored equally for a view at the foot of the stage, Manson introduced two of his favorite themes – religion and government – by blaring an aorta-rumbling choral rendition of “God Bless America” through every one of Mile High Stadium’s aged speakers. Flags blazed on the video screens above the stage; fireworks and fighter jets would not have been out of place. When Manson finally did appear (sporting a flowing black gown and a “Bride of Frankenstein” wig), his hands were outstretched in a gesture that might have… Read more »

“We’re trying to be not just another metal band,” explains vocalist Sonny Sandoval, describing P.O.D.’s second album on Atlantic Records, Satellite, due out August 28th. “Hopefully,” adds guitarist Marcos Curiel, “we can be the next U2.” The album expands on the headbanging mix of hardcore, rap and Latin flavor that helped their 1999 debut, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown – which, appropriately enough, included a cover of U2’s “Bullet the Blue Sky” – go platinum. The band is taking a more melodic approach this time, placing acoustic guitars and ballads alongside what Sandoval calls “straight ol’ heavy rock” – tracks… Read more »

The plot was spoiled well before Eric Clapton even took the stage of Dallas’ Reunion Arena for the maiden performance of his 2001 Reptile tour. Opening act Doyle Bramhall II and his band Smokestack may have kicked off Thursday night’s show with a thunderous roar reminiscent of Clapton in his Cream days, but the three chairs brought front and center before the main event was a tell-tale sign that there would be no more of that tomfoolery. Not that Clapton didn1t receive an honest-to-god, three-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitar hero’s welcome when he walked out on… Read more »

As chatter abounds regarding the urgency of digital distribution, major music conglomerates are moving quickly to demonstrate their eagerness to make their content available online. Further evidence comes with this week’s pact between media giants AOL Time Warner, Bertelsmann and EMI and digital behemoth RealNetworks to create MusicNet, a platform for downloadable and streaming services. MusicNet will provide a pool of licensed music from the participating rights holders, with a technology infrastructure by Real. The label groups collectively have a 60% stake in the venture, while Real has 40%. Once the platform is established, any digital music provider satisfying the… Read more »