Even though she’s a good few years away from taking stubby pencil to paper herself, Dave Grohl’s baby daughter Violet gets full credit for influencing her daddy’s writing style. For the Foo Fighters’ founder and frontman, the 2006 birth of his first child added a personal, often confessional tone to his lyrics. “Having a child made me feel like a superman in a way because I had to be,” says Grohl, who turns 39 this month. “Just as I can’t be afraid to ride the Spiderman roller coaster at Magic Mountain when it’s time, I can’t be scared of writing… Read more »
Universal Music Group said on Monday that rap artist and hip-hop mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is stepping down as president of its Def Jam Records unit, effective by the end of the year. Carter, 38, has been president of the rap label since 2005, and has signed acts including R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo. Universal said Carter, a top-selling rapper who performs as Jay-Z, will continue recording for its Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label. But the company did not give a reason for his decision to quit the executive suite. “Now it’s time for me to take on new challenges,” he said… Read more »
Led Zeppelin drummer Jason Bonham has put a dampener on the prospects of the band touring. Led Zeppelin reunited at the O2 Arena in London earlier this month (December 10). However, Billboard reports that Bonham has called speculation over more dates “greedy.” He said: “I’m still the new guy and I wouldn’t know. Is it gonna be again? Don’t be greedy…If they do it again, of course I would love to. But that’s up to them. Only time will tell.” Speaking about the experience of playing in his late father’s place, Bonham admitted the gig “still…kinda feels surreal, like it… Read more »
Season 4, Episode 8. Music from Cobra Starship, Metro Station, Young Love, Angel & Airwaves, Simple Plan.
The Department of Justice on Thursday slammed intellectual property legislation that would re-organize its IP enforcement structure, calling it unnecessary and counterproductive to the work it has already accomplished. “We have a current structure … that works quite effectively,” Sigal Mandelker, deputy assistant attorney general, told the House Judiciary subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. Judiciary Chairman John Conyers last week introduced H.R. 4279, which would further crack down on intellectual property violations, and create several new government positions with the power to enforce the new law. It is intended to preserve American economic prosperity, according to sponsors.… Read more »
Led Zeppelin, one of the last major acts to resist digital distribution, are releasing their back catalog online. Led Zeppelin said their songs, including “Communication Breakdown,” “Whole Lotta Love” and “Stairway to Heaven,” will be available from online music stores Nov. 13. The band is due to release a two-CD retrospective, “Mothership,” the same day. “We are pleased that the complete Led Zeppelin catalog will now be available digitally,” guitarist Jimmy Page said in a statement Monday. “The addition of the digital option will better enable fans to obtain our music in whichever manner that they prefer.” The band has… Read more »
Season 4, Episode 7. Music from I Am The Avalanche, Justin Nozuka, Kanye West, Papa Roach, The Notwist, Yellowcard.
Sources close to wild-living singer Britney Spears have now said that she took a number of anti-depressant pills just minutes before taking the stage at this week’s MTV VMA Awards. Onlookers were aghast when she performed a dance routine onstage at the glitzy Las Vegas show but barely seemed to know what she was doing. According to the source, the singer was nervous about her comeback performance and flew into a rage when she saw what her hair looked like in a mirror, causing her to lash out at staff, including hairdresser Ken Paves. Apparently this is when Britney took… Read more »
Season 4, Episode 6. Music from Ash, Cartel, hellogoodbye, Holiday Parade, Powerspace, The Almost.
Van Halen fans, get ready to “Jump.” The rockers have re-formed with original frontman David Lee Roth and will set out on a national tour beginning in October, according to a report posted Wednesday on Billboard Magazine’s Web site. In its report, the music industry trade publication said Van Halen will play 50 dates in arenas across North America. The report coincides with a news release issued Tuesday by touring company Live Nation and Van Halen saying the band will be making “an announcement of monumental proportions” during a news conference Monday in Los Angeles. Representatives of the band and… Read more »
