Search Results for: ep

Former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones couldn’t get back into the studio for several years after bandmate John Bonham died. “The rug was pulled out from under your feet,” Jones told The Arizona Republic in Sunday’s editions. “Apart from losing a very close friend and a great musician, I didn’t know what to do for a while.” In addition, Jones, 56, didn’t want to deal with the comparisons to Led Zeppelin, the rock group that churned out such classic hits as “Black Dog,” “Kashmir” and “Stairway to Heaven.” “I’d been in the best band in the world, so I… Read more »

Seems a girl can’t have a good cry anymore without rumors running wild. While Britney Spears may have plenty to be upset about, her recent sob session with actress friend Tara Reid wasn’t due to breaking up with boyfriend and ‘NSYNC singer Justin Timberlake, because the split didn’t happen – despite widespread reports from the BBC, the New York Post and various British tabloids. Spears emphatically denied the reports to MTV Italy on Monday (March 11), saying, “No, that’s not true. Me and Justin did not split up.” The breakup rumors appear to have spread rapidly in Europe based on… Read more »

Sony Music imprint Epic Records is maneuvering to cash in on the industry-defying growth in the gospel music scene, inking a reciprocal marketing and distribution venture with Integrity, the largest independent gospel music company in the U.S. Under terms of the deal, Epic will pipe releases from Integrity labels in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand through the major’s worldwide marketing and distribution machine. In turn, Integrity will market and promote select Christian releases from Epic and fellow Sony division Columbia Records specifically to the Christian bookstore market. The first release set for this treatment is… Read more »

Eddie Vedder, Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante may have grown up believing the punk axiom “kill your idols,” but on March 18 they’ll be among the presenters honoring their forefathers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. New York’s posh Waldorf-Astoria hotel will host the hall’s 17th annual induction dinner, which will air March 20 on VH1 at 9 p.m. Vedder will induct punk progenitors the Ramones – sans singer Joey Ramone, who died of cancer in April – and Kiedis and Frusciante will usher in alternative rock pioneers Talking Heads. Grammy darling Alicia Keys will do the honors… Read more »

Def Leppard are putting the finishing touches on their tenth album, tentatively titled “X” and due later this year. The band recorded the follow-up to 1999’s Euphoria last year in Los Angeles and Sweden, with drummer Rick Allen adding his parts last December in Dublin. For the first time in their history, Def Leppard have enlisted multiple producers, including their past crony Pete Woodruffe, Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith), and the Swedish tandem of Andreas Carlsson and Per Aldeheim (Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync). “It’s certainly gonna be an energetic record,” frontman Joe Elliott posts on the band’s site. “It’s gonna have ballads,… Read more »

Music CDs equipped with copy protection will, if Rick Boucher gets his wish, soon be as obsolete as eight-track cassettes. The feisty Democratic congressman from Virginia says he plans to introduce legislation banning, or at least regulating, compact discs outfitted with anti-copying technology. Few discs sold in America currently feature the controversial scheme – but the recording industry expects that as worries over digital piracy grow, the technique will become widespread. “Suffice to say, there probably will be a legislative response to ensure that consumer rights will be protected,” Boucher said in an interview. Boucher’s complaints are twofold: Americans may… Read more »

Hot Topic, Inc., a mall-based specialty retailer of music-licensed and music-influenced apparel, accessories and gift items for teens, reported company-record results for both the fourth quarter (13 weeks) and the 2001 fiscal year (52 weeks) ended February 2, 2002. All references to shares and per share amounts reflect a 3-for-2 stock split effected on February 7, 2002. Net income in the fourth quarter (13 weeks) increased 20% to $12,467,000 or $0.38 per diluted share from $10,364,000 or $0.32 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year (a 14 week quarter). Net sales for the fourth quarter… Read more »

Hard rock outfits Nickelback, Default, and Injected will lead MTV’s annual Campus Invasion tour, which will also feature rising U.K. modern rock act Starsailor on the inaugural MTV2 stage. The trek bows April 4 in Russellville, Ark., with dates so far booked through April 27 in Binghamton, N.Y. Last year’s outing featured American Hi-Fi, Sum 41, and Saliva. Each tour stop will feature the Campus Invasion Expo, featuring a touring DJ, an interactive music performance area, a new music listening station, and giveaways. MTV.com is also sponsoring a contest with a grand prize of a Jeep Liberty Sport. Nickelback is… Read more »

With the group’s promotional efforts surrounding its latest album, Exciter, winding down, Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore and Dave Gahan will both use 2002 in part to work on solo albums. The project by guitarist/keyboardist Gore will be an all-covers album, while vocalist Gahan will concentrate on original material. Gore will begin in earnest on his album this week. When he is to complete it, though, remains an unknown. “Because the band’s not doing too much I’ve decided to make a covers record, which means I don’t have to write. It’s just a question of choosing the right songs,” he said.… Read more »

With a leading eight Grammy nominations and a history of Grammy awards, U2 might seem to be in position to sweep the awards on Wednesday. This is one of those years, however, in which no group is considered a clear favorite, neither the Irish rockers nor other multiple nominees like India.Arie or Alicia Keys. “There’s not an obviously clear-cut winner,” said Rick Krim, executive vice president of talent and programming at VH1. “I’m kind of hoping it gets spread around, because there are so many deserving nominees this year.” Some recent ceremonies have been coronations for the year’s most successful… Read more »