Search Results for: prince

The technology built into some CDs to stop people copying them is futile, according to a computer scientist who has put today’s antipiracy systems under the microscope. He believes the continual software and hardware upgrades issued by the makers of computer CD drives and audio CD players render copy protection systems pointless in the long run. John Halderman, a computer scientist from Princeton University in New Jersey, plans to show delegates at a digital copyright conference in Washington DC next week that the idea of CD copy-prevention is “fundamentally misguided”. In 2001, Princeton University scientists debunked the technology the music… Read more »

In an industry that obsesses over first-week album sales, heavy MTV rotation and radio airplay, the Shortlist Music Prize is trying to help offbeat or niche recording artists find a wider audience. Now in its second year, the contest taps successful musicians to champion the work of peers who have yet to make an impact on the charts. Among this year’s “listmakers” are India.Arie, Alanis Morissette (news), U2’s Larry Mullen Jr., and filmmakers Baz Luhrmann (news) and Spike Jonze (news). “Most of the attention that records get as far as awards and all that stuff is based on record sales,… Read more »

“Surreal” is about the only word to describe it when that kid you remember from “Gremlins” and “Goonies,” all grown up now, is rocking out in the middle of a record store. And surreal it was when Corey Feldman and his band played for a bewildered crowd numbering less than a hundred recently at Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard. As fans and curious shoppers waited (and waited), a drummer, a guitarist, a bassist named Pharaoh and a keyboard player (none of whom would look lost at a construction site) along with two backup singers crowded onto a makeshift stage, where… Read more »

While Joey resurrects Broadway and Lance threatens to blast into space, Justin will have to be content with trying to change the face of pop music – again. Justin Timberlake’s debut solo record, Justified (November 12), is a broad, ambitious step from the clean, blissful pop of ‘NSYNC. Timberlake’s vocals still soar, but there’s a lot more funk in his step and a number of R&B artists influencing his sound, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aaliyah and Missy Elliott. “I wanted to do something new that was just completely me,” he said. “I had been so personally drained from… Read more »

Three girls with three different personalities, giving three dimensions to the group, all coming at you on wax. That’s the way Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes perceived herself and friends Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and that’s how she conceived the title of TLC’s fourth album, 3D. On Friday (September 13), Arista Records previewed tracks from the LP, which is due on November 12. Completing the album, which was unfinished when Left Eye was killed in April, was an emotional task for T-Boz and Chilli. “We promised to deliver the album, but it was a little bit of lip… Read more »

Any animosity between rockers Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth seems to have settled down. Hagar said they got along early in their tour because they wanted it to work, then they went back into their old selves who don’t like each other. “It’s been pretty tense out there back stage many, many times,” Hagar told reporters. “But like I said, when we went on stage, Dave does a great show, I do a great show, the fans win. And it was really good. But all this stuff back stage got ugly a couple of times. I had to sleep… Read more »

Guns N’ Roses’ surprise performance at Thursday’s 19th annual MTV Video Music Awards was easily the night’s highlight presentation, even though P. Diddy, Eminem and Justin Timberlake had more pizzazz and Bruce Springsteen and Sheryl Crow had more heart. Click here for the complete 2002 MTV VMA Winners List. The group – which included longtime GN’R keyboardist Dizzy Reed and a batch of new faces like ex-Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson, ex-Nine Inch Nails guitarist Robin Finck and guitarist Buckethead – kicked off its medley with “Welcome to the Jungle,” the song that had thunderingly announced GN’R back on their first… Read more »

A day after the body of Drowning Pool frontman Dave Williams was discovered on the band’s tour bus, details remained scarce but memories of Williams as a fun-loving, kind-hearted character abounded. The 30-year-old singer was found in his bunk by members of Drowning Pool’s touring crew Wednesday afternoon, their publicist said. The band was in Manassas, Virginia, on its way to Thursday’s Ozzfest show in Bristow. An autopsy conducted Thursday morning proved inconclusive, according to a Prince William County police spokesperson. A cause of death is expected to be determined from toxicology tests, which generally take four to six weeks.… Read more »

After dismaying some fans by performing with pop princess Britney Spears last year, veteran rock band Aerosmith is hitting the road this week with some more appropriate musical stars in tow. The Boston-based combo, famed for a 30-year string of hits including “Dream On” and “Love in an Elevator,” will begin a three-month tour on Tuesday in New Jersey. Its support acts include rap trio Run-D.M.C., whose 1986 cover version of “Walk This Way” reinvigorated Aerosmith’s career, and Kid Rock, who inducted the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year. Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry said… Read more »

The Prince of Darkness will retake his rightful place on the Ozzfest throne sooner than expected. Last week when Ozzy Osbourne first announced his departure from the trek to be with wife/manager Sharon during her first chemotherapy session in her battle with cancer (see “Sharon Osbourne Completes First Chemo Session; Ozzy, Sabbath Come Home”), he said he planned to rejoin the tour August 22 in Denver. He will now return and resume his headlining slot August 7 in Clarkston, Michigan, according to an Osbournes spokesperson. The new restart date means Osbourne will only miss two dates of the tour: August… Read more »