Search Results for: extreme

“American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson may have the magic to put RCA Records back on top. All the major record labels are pulling out their big-gun releases for the fourth quarter in hopes of hitting some high numbers to make up for the year’s extreme sales dip. RCA has been struggling overall because of a weak release schedule. The label has thus far scored hits only with Dave Matthews Band’s “Busted Stuff,” which has sold more than 1.2 million units, and critically acclaimed postpunk band the Strokes, whose “Is This It” has passed the half-million mark. Clarkson’s two-sided single release,… Read more »

If the Hives are the first offensive in a Swedish rock invasion, then In Flames were the early reconnaissance team, quietly spreading their supercharged melodic death metal in whatever North American clubs would take them. Reroute to Remain, In Flames’ fifth album, is their latest missive, an album that’s heavy and pummeling yet accessible enough to potentially crack the limiting ceiling of the extreme underground. And if that happens, in a way, they’ll have Slipknot to thank for it. “We met Slipknot in Italy a couple of years ago,” vocalist Anders Friden relayed from a Detroit dressing room. “We just… Read more »

Just when it seemed all systems were go, it now appears that Lance Bass’ trip into space may be off – though his team insists otherwise. When Bass returned to Moscow over the weekend following a weeklong crash course at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Russian space officials didn’t welcome the singer with open arms. The sticky issue of payment had not been resolved by the last Russian deadline of Friday (August 30), and on Tuesday (September 3), the Russian Space Agency pulled Bass off his training regiment in Star City. To make matters seem more dire, spokespeople for… Read more »

Disturbed are so proud of their new video for “Prayer” that they’ve decided not to let the mainstream see it. Last month, major video outlets chose not to air the clip because they felt the apocalyptic content was too reminiscent of footage of September 11 (see “Disturbed Video Deemed Too Disturbing; Band Examines Plan B”). At first, the band considered re-editing the video or replacing the scenes of destruction with concert footage. In the end, Disturbed opted to stand their ground and leave the video intact and unaired despite the fact that it could have been a huge promotional tool… Read more »

Ever since their self-titled debut album came out in 1984, Bon Jovi have churned out songs about the triumphs and struggles of young working-class America. It’s where Jon Bon Jovi and his bandmates came from, and for many years the singer’s experiences and dreams provided abundant subject matter for rousing anthems and heartfelt ballads. But when former common folk turn into superstars, sometimes it’s hard for them to really still empathize with the everyman. That might explain why on his band’s new album, Bounce, due October 8, Jon Bon Jovi has once again tapped into what he knows, and it’s… Read more »

As Mystikal’s lawyers declared his innocence on charges of rape and extortion on Friday (July 19), authorities revealed they confiscated a video of the alleged sexual assaults from the rapper’s Baton Rouge home. The tape, which has been placed into evidence, allegedly shows Mystikal and two other men, Leland Ellis and Vercy Carter, threatening the rapper’s 40-year-old hair stylist and forcing her to have sex with them, according to Cpl. Mary Ann Godawa, a spokesperson for the Baton Rouge Police Department. The men allegedly told the woman they would turn her in to authorities for cashing unauthorized checks from the… Read more »

The post-September 11 music programs, America: A Tribute To Heroes, A&E In Concert: Sting In Tuscany…All This Time, and The Concert For New York City are among this year’s Emmy nominees, which were announced Thursday (July 18). Sting’s special picked up seven nominations, including individual performance, and six in technical categories. America: A Tribute To Heroes, which featured Sting, and Bruce Springsteen, U2, Billy Joel, Faith Hill, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Celine Dion, and others, earned six noms, including best program, directing, and writing in the variety, music or comedy special categories. Another post-September 11 tribute, The Concert… Read more »

Pressplay, the online music subscription service, today announced that Michael Bebel is being promoted to the role of president and chief executive officer. Bebel has served as chief operating officer of pressplay for more than a year and will succeed Andy Schuon, who is leaving the company to return to the radio industry. Formed in April 2001, pressplay is a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. Its service was made available to consumers in the United States in December 2001. Doug Morris, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, and Thomas D. Mottola, Chairman and CEO… Read more »

Australian rock trio Silverchair has pushed back the North American release date of its Atlantic Records debut “Diorama” to Aug. 27. The album was originally slated to be released July 9, but singer/guitarist Daniel Johns’ battle with reactive arthritis – which is preventing him from participating in promotional activities – forced the label to make the move. As previously reported, the group has had to cancel a number of shows in its homeland as a result of John’s illness, the primary symptoms of which are chronic swelling of the joints resulting in impaired movement and extreme pain. Johns is currently… Read more »

Drummer Joey Jordison of the hard rock band Slipknot, is planning to release a side project this summer. Slipknot is composed of nine Des Moines-area natives known for grotesque masks and extreme metal music. The band they started in an Urbandale basement in the mid-1990s has captured two Grammy nominations and sold millions of compact discs around the world. Jordison has teamed up with Tripp Eisen of Static-X to form Murderdolls. They’ll release their debut album, “Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls,” on Aug. 20. Their lyrical inspiration is horror movies. The titles of the songs include “She Was A… Read more »