Search Results for: grammy

When the wife of heavy metal god Ozzy Osbourne came up with the idea of a tour featuring the heavy hitters of metal and hard rock, the reaction from the concert industry was lukewarm, at best. “In my gut feeling, I felt that it would definitely work, because there was a huge void in the marketplace for it,” Sharon Osbourne recalled. “Not a lot of people in the market agreed with me at the time.” Certainly, no one can disagree with her now. Ozzfest, now in its sixth year, has consistently ranked as one of the top concert draws of… Read more »

Atlantic Records has announced the forthcoming release of the new studio album from Tori Amos. Entitled “STRANGE LITTLE GIRLS,” this assemblage of songs is due in stores on September 18th. All the songs on the album were written by men, but are performed by Tori from the perspectives of a diverse cast of female characters. Songs composed by such artists as Neil Young, the Stranglers, Eminem, Depeche Mode, Slayer, Lou Reed, Lennon/McCartney, and others are taken apart and put back together darkly, gently, and in an uncompromising fashion. In crafting the new album, Tori wanted to talk about men –… Read more »

“An all-star salute to ‘The King Of Pop’, MICHAEL JACKSON: 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, THE SOLO YEARS has been set for two dates, Friday, September 7, 2001 and Monday, September 10, 2001 at Madison Square Garden at 7:40 P.M.,” announced David Gest, producer of the event. According to Gest, tickets to the public will go on sale Thursday, July 26th through the Madison Square Garden Box Office and Ticketmaster for both performances. Ticket prices for the concert only will range from $45.00 to $500.00 per seat. The event will mark Michael Jackson’s first live performance on a mainland stage in eleven… Read more »

Influential guitarist Chet Atkins, who helped modernize country music in the 1960s, paving the way for the massive commercial force that it is today, died in Nashville Saturday. He was 77. In 1973 and in 1997, Atkins had fought both colon cancer and brain cancer, surviving a number of surgeries. Atkins, enjoyed a multi-faceted career: as a sought-after session musician for the likes of Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers; as a prolific recording artist in his own right; and as a veteran Nashville talent scout. His discoveries included Charley Pride and Waylon Jennings. Atkins was one of the most… Read more »

Grammy-winning rapper Eminem received one year of probation Thursday for a weapons charge authorities say stemmed from a dispute with a rival Detroit rap group. The 28-year-old star could have gotten up to five years in prison. “Poor judgment is an understatement for what you did,” Circuit Judge Denise Langford Morris said. Eminem, who has come under fire for his violent and anti-gay lyrics, was accused of pulling a 9mm semiautomatic gun in a Royal Oak parking lot during an argument last June with associates of the rap group Insane Clown Posse. Witnesses said Eminem did not point the gun… Read more »

“Mick Jagger Influenced By Britney Spears!” – a headline from the Weekly World News, home to stories about boy/bat hybrids and 200 lb. babies born with Hitler moustaches? Nope. The Rolling Stones’ frontman is recording his fourth solo album, tentatively scheduled for release this fall, and it looks like the LP will offer some interesting surprises, one of which was inspired by teen pop’s reigning diva. “Mick’s daughter purchased the Britney Spears record, and Mick apparently heard Spears’ version of his song ‘Satisfaction’ through the walls of her bedroom,” said Courtney Barnes, publicist for Rodney Jerkins, who produced the track.… Read more »

Blues legend John Lee Hooker died of natural causes as he slept at his home in Los Altos, south of San Francisco. He was 80 years old. The veteran blues singer recorded more than 100 albums over a career that spanned nearly seven decades. Hooker often recorded under false names, including Texas Slim, John Lee Booker, John Lee Cocker, Delta John, Birmingham Sam, and the Boogie Man. He won a Grammy for a version of “I’m In the Mood,” and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. Having recorded his first hit, “Boogie Chillen,” in… Read more »

After spending more than three decades dealing with the business that is rock ‘n’ roll, Aerosmith co-founder Joe Perry dreams of a time when he can focus on nothing but playing his guitar. Dream on. With a new album and summer-long U.S. tour that kicked off earlier this month in Hartford, Conn., Perry and the Boston-based quintet has been busy – making videos, contributing to movie soundtracks, going to awards ceremonies, performing at sporting events and working with other artists. While it’s the kind of success most bands dream of, for Perry, it’s become another day at the office. “It… Read more »

Midway Games Inc., a leading software industry publisher and developer, announced today that Island Gold Recording act Saliva will re-record the popular song “Theme From Peter Gunn,” for the all-new remake of the classic SpyHunter ® videogame, scheduled to ship this fall for the PlayStation ®2 computer entertainment system. Saliva will record two new versions of “Theme From Peter Gunn,” one instrumental format as well as a lyrical version. Both are expected to be used to add intensity to the relentless action in the SpyHunter videogame. Additionally, a music video containing behind-the-scenes footage of Saliva’s recording session and band interviews… Read more »

Dido, whose RIAA triple-platinum debut album NO ANGEL has just logged its 55th week on the Billboard 200 Album chart, where it remains the longest-running title inside the top 30, has embarked on her 2nd annual headlining summer tour of North America. The festival-type tour of predominately outdoor venues stars Dido, Scottish group Travis, and Icelandic songbird Emiliana Torrini on the main stage, with various others on the second stage. The itinerary began last Sunday in Vancouver and wraps at XCEL Arena in Minneapolis on July 8th. (Please see initial tour dates below, with additional dates to be announced.) While… Read more »