Search Results for: rock

About 50 Syrian protesters crashed a U.S.-sponsored public rock concert in Damascus on Thursday held in honor of victims of the September 11 attacks, demanding Washington stop its battle cry against Iraq. “Stop the drums of war so we can hear your music,” protesters yelled at the rock memorial, which was attended by around 150 people, including some Americans. The protesters also waved signs and shouted slogans protesting against U.S. support for Israel, accusing the United States of “serving Zionist criminals” and participating in “dirty crimes” against the Palestinian people. President Bush told the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday that… Read more »

The classic rock world is once again organizing benefit concerts to help victims of Sept. 11. Styx singer Tommy Shaw came up with the idea for a benefit concert last year, and he said they had such a good time they wanted to do it again. There will be two concerts: one in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 19, and another in Cleveland on Oct. 20. Other artists involved include Bad Company, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, Survivor, John Waite and Edgar Winter. Proceeds from the first show will go to the Port Authority Police World… Read more »

John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow and James Taylor are among the performers expected at two concerts that will benefit the family of Timothy White, the Billboard editor in chief who recently died of a heart attack. White was just 50 when he was stricken in his Manhattan offices on June 27. He left behind a wife and 10-year-old twin boys. One concert is set for Oct. 7 at Boston’s Fleet Center, with the other the next day at Madison Square Garden. Mellencamp, Crow, Don Henley and Sting will perform at both concerts. Billy Joel and Taylor will be at the Boston… Read more »

While many have left their hearts in San Francisco, Avril Lavigne will leave her clothes in Cleveland. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum intends to display the outfit the spunky 17-year-old singer/guitarist wore in her MTV Video Music Awards-nominated “Complicated” clip, according to a Hall spokesperson. While flattered at the honor, Lavigne is just as surprised as anyone that her baggy cargo shorts, fitted white tank top and signature necktie will hang in the same building that houses such illustrious memorabilia as John Lennon’s 1965 Rickenbacker 12-string and Hank Williams’ white wool cowboy hat. “I think that’s… 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 »

Kid Rock, who has bragged in song of how you’ve never met a motherf–er quite like him, has got something else to boast about. The boisterous Detroit MC has signed on to play the leader of a bad-ass motorcycle gang in the upcoming film “Biker Boyz,” according to production company DreamWorks SKG. Directed by Reggie Rock Bythewood, who penned the upcoming DMX flick “Cradle 2 the Grave,” the movie stars Laurence Fishburne and Lisa Bonet. The flick, which is being plugged as a western on motorcycles, tells the true story of motorcycle club president Manuel Galloway (Fishburne), who is known… Read more »

Newly installed VH1 toppers Brian Graden and Christina Norman are moving quickly to put their stamp on the struggling music cable network, greenlighting an aggressive fall slate of series and specials aimed at building on the channel’s still-strong retro music brand. VH1 is also beefing up its “Movies That Rock” franchise, snagging the broadcast premiere of the Oscar-winning “Moulin Rouge” and several other theatricals. And rather than simply repurposing other networks’ music specials, Graden wants VH1 to sign A-level talent for original concert specials. The flurry of activity comes barely three months after Graden was named entertainment president of the… Read more »

Pelle Almqvist never could understand the connection between loud guitars and being miserable. You’re up on a stage jumping around, making a loud noise with women adoringly gazing at you. What’s not to like? “It’s just such a naturally exciting and fun thing,” said Almqvist, lead singer of the Swedish rock band the Hives. Acts like the Hives, White Stripes, the Strokes and the Vines are leading a new vanguard with a raw, adrenalized sound best described as garage rock. And after a decade dominated by dense, morose grunge or the angry rants of Limp Bizkit and its sound-alikes, rock… Read more »

The rock world’s top 20 female icons are celebrated in a photographic exhibition opening at Britain’s National Portrait Gallery Monday. The exhibition, “She Bop,” was inspired by former music journalist Lucy O’Brien’s book “She Bop II: The Definitive History of Women in Rock, Pop and Soul.” Exhibits range from rocker Chrissie Hynde to soul diva Dusty Springfield and disco queen Madonna ( news – web sites). “Female artists haven’t been given the recognition that they’ve deserved and I felt there was a whole history of women to be written to chart how big a part women have played in popular… Read more »

Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson and Peter Gabriel bassist Tony Levin are among the guests on Hundred Year Flood, the new album by progressive rockers Magellan. The trio’s album is due out September 10 from Magna Carta Records. Anderson plays flute on “Family Jewels,” an almost-six-minute instrumental that’s sandwiched between the album’s two main pieces-the nearly 35-minute suite “The Great Goodnight” and the 11-minute “Brother’s Keeper”-while Levin’s playing is featured throughout the album, joining session guitarists Robert Berry and George Bellas. Magellan leader Trent Gardner sent the song’s tracks to Anderson in Scotland, with the two communicating via telephone as Anderson… Read more »