Search Results for: pop

To hear No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani tell it, she’s just a girl from Orange County following a dream. “I’m just like you, except I write songs,” Stefani says. “I feel like I’m doing something right. And right now, I feel like I’m in a good place in my life.” Indeed. Stefani – rock star, pop culture icon, fashion entrepreneur (clothing line L.A.M.B.), actress (Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator,” due in December), wife of Bush vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale – is gearing up for the next chapter in a prolific career. Her solo debut album – or as she prefers to call… Read more »

With Ashlee Simpson in the news this week following a disastrous lip-synching appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” Canadian pop singer Avril Lavigne says it’s “pathetic” that some young artists don’t sing on their own record or on stage. While she can relate to the pressures of learning how to play live and work an audience for the first time, Lavigne says she takes exception to the practice of lip-synching. “You know what? There are a lot of people out there today, who have become stars or famous musicians – I wouldn’t really define them as a star – with a… Read more »

When a pop artist leaves the shelter of a major-label nest, the stark reality of being on one’s own can be a sobering experience. But learning to fly solo can also bring tremendous rewards. Although many rock artists have self-released their music after leaving the major-label fold, most pop artists are so dependent on radio play that they have often sought the deep pockets of another major or a large indie label to foot the bill. But several acts – including Evan & Jaron, Sophie B. Hawkins and Alana Davisare forging their own path. Former Columbia duo Evan & Jaron… Read more »

Good Charlotte’s Madden brothers are hard to please. Even though hits like “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and “Girls and Boys” helped their last album, The Young and the Hopeless, sell more than 2.8 million copies, the Madden brothers say the tunes just weren’t good enough for them. “Me and Benji are never satisfied with the songs we write,” Joel admitted. “Truthfully, we’ve never loved anything we’ve written so far. We’re always chasing the song that one day we’ll really love.” The Maddens and their bandmates are currently pursuing pop-punk’s perfect wave in a Los Angeles studio, where they’re… Read more »

Grand Royal record label, which as reported by MTV.com shut down in August 2001, has resurfaced for sale in a bankruptcy auction on the Bid4Assets Web Site,http://www.bid4assets.com. Bids can be placed on the record label now through January 22, 2004, at 3:00 pm ET at http://www.bid4assets.com/grandroyal. Assets up for auction include master recordings, licensing agreements and miscellaneous merchandising agreements. More details are available online at http://www.bid4assets.com/grandroyal. The minimum bid is $10,000. Interested parties can contact Bid4Assets with any questions by sending an email to [email protected]. “The bankruptcy trustee for Grand Royal selected the Bid4Assets Web Site based on its ability… Read more »

Madonna put some luster back into her lust by smooching Britney. Santana gained a fresh perspective with Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas. Now the bratty, lovable punks of Sum 41 could put Pop on pop radio. Rock legend Iggy Pop recruited Sum 41 for “Little Know It All,” the melodic, rambunctious first single from Skull Ring, due November 4 Iggy took a shine to Sum frontman Deryck Whibley right away when the two parties met at the recommendation of Pop’s A&R man. In addition to admiring Whibley’s talent, Iggy got a kick out of the Canadian rocker’s youthful zeal. “He’s a… Read more »

Last monthwe told you that guitarist Bill Priddle had been absent from the latest batch of Treble Charger shows, seemingly replaced by Kelly Osbourneguitarist Devin Bronson. At the time, representatives from Treble Charger’s label, BMG, told ChartAttack that Priddle was merely taking a break from his TC duties, wanting to spend time with his young daughter. The temporary break explanation turned out to be nothing but a record label spin job – Priddle has now confirmed that he left Treble Charger permanently in early September. Priddle claims that he intended to leave Treble Charger of his own free will once… Read more »

What everyone always wants to know is: who’s the worst? Meaning: which really famous person out there is a berk whose lack of personality is in inverse proportion to their abundance of fame? And the answer is, of course, all of them. No, it’s not. It’s Jon Bon Jovi. The next question – who’s the best, of course – is more difficult. The interviewees I like are the ones that turn out to be more than you expected, whether that’s more intelligent, or honest, or bonkers, or fun, whatever. And there are plenty of those. Madonna (sharper), Björk (wilder), James… Read more »

Chad Kroeger sings about “a world full of killing and blood spilling” in the hit song “Hero,” and in that kind of world Nickelback’s melodic relationship songs don’t seem to have quite as much impact as they once did. Perhaps that’s why Kroeger boosted the musical heft and lyrical import for the band’s third record, The Long Road, due September 23. Sure, there are still enough love songs and light, lighter-raising moments to make the gals swoon. But even on the slower tunes, the guitars shudder with raw intensity, conveying Kroeger’s aim to shed the mainstream pop image he cultivated… Read more »