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Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland dodged a bullet on Thursday when a judge sentenced him to three years of probation for his May drug arrest. Weiland appeared in a Pasadena, California, courtroom on two felony possession charges and was sentenced to probation, which includes court-monitored individual and group counseling sessions, mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and random drug testing, according to a spokesperson for the Pasadena district attorney’s office. The singer must also continue to attend a drug-rehabilitation program as a condition of his sentence. If he completes all the terms of his probation within the first year, the case could… Read more »
When former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha got an email a month ago from A Perfect Circle’s Billy Howerdel asking if he’d like to audition for the group, the last thing on Iha’s mind was joining another band. “I really didn’t see myself joining another band too soon after the Pumpkins broke up,” said Iha, who has kept a low profile since the Pumpkins’ December 2000 split. “I was recently saying to someone that it would have to be a pretty good band to bring me back – this is the band.” Iha was also reluctant to hit the road… Read more »
Need a reason to go on a road trip? How about Bumbershoot? No, we’re not talking gibberish – we’re referring to the infamous Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle, WA, which is taking place at the Seattle Center from August 29 to September 1 this year. From 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. each day, over 2,500 artists will be showcasing their various artistic and musical talents. The festival, which was originally dubbed “The Festival of ’71,” has been gaining momentum since its initial inception over three decades ago. Bumbershoot Festival-goers can enjoy poetry, comedy, acrobats, theatre, graphic art, film, painting, sculpture and… Read more »
Japanese electronics and entertainment giant Sony Corp. reported a 98 percent decline in profit for the April-June quarter as sales faltered in key businesses such as electronics, video games, movies and music. Sony said Thursday it earned 1.1 billion yen ($9 million) in the first quarter of its fiscal year, down from 57.2 billion yen for the same period last year. Sales for the Tokyo-based company fell 6.9 percent to 1.6 trillion yen ($13.5 billion) from 1.7 trillion yen. Sony set off a plunge in Tokyo share prices in April after it reported a loss in the final quarter of… Read more »
Arista recording artist Avril Lavigne’s Try To Shut Me Up Digital Download EP, her first official commercially released live concert tracks, became the #1 best-seller overnight following its July 15th launch on the Apple iTunes Store, it was announced today by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, president and CEO, Arista Records. This is the first live digital-only album released by a major artist on legitimate digital distribution services. The 5-track digital-only album is currently available exclusively (for 30 days) on iTunes for $4.95 download. On August 15th it will become available on all legitimate digital distribution services, including eCast, LiquidAudio, Musicnet, Pressplay,… Read more »
Leading up to the 2004 date targeted for the release of his sixth album, Ben Folds will release a three-EP series of new material online. The first set, Speed Graphic, will be available starting tomorrow at Folds’ Web site, attackedbyplastic.com. The set features a cover of the Cure’s “In Between Days” as well as four new songs, “Protection,” “Dog,” “Wandering” and “Give Judy My Notice.” The second EP, called Sunny 16, will be ready in September, and the third, yet-to-be-titled set is scheduled for November. The point of the EPs? “I have twenty-four hour access to a studio now,” Folds… Read more »
Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong is turning to Charles Manson for salvation, and he’s bringing Kelly Osbourne and members of Blink-182, Green Day and AFI along for the ride. When he finishes this year’s Vans Warped Tour, Armstrong will put the finishing touches on the upcoming stop-motion animated film “Live Freaky! Die Freaky!” in which Manson surfaces in a post-apocalyptic wasteland to guide a group of survivors who are desperately searching for a spiritual leader. Armstrong is producing the film for his Hellcat Pictures company. The movie was written and directed by John Roecker, an independent filmmaker in Los Angeles who… Read more »
