Search Results for: sting

Many people are under the impression that Wes Scantlin, the singer and guitarist of Puddle of Mudd, is the sole creative force behind the group’s pain-stricken melodies. That’s not the case. His bandmates help shape the arrangements and throw in complementary parts, and there’s an even more powerful influence at work – one that’s ingrained in Scantlin’s blood. Unlike the many hard rock bands who sing about how badly their parents screwed up their lives, Scantlin has nothing but praise for his dad, who helps the singer decide which Puddle songs make the cut and which are scrapped. “I bounce… Read more »

The music industry is hoping that the availability of child pornography on peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa will help put file sharing out of business. Record executives have been frustrated that Congress hasn’t acted to curb piracy on these services, but some are now optimistic that lawmakers will intervene. “This is like Al Capone and taxes, which is how the government got him,” says Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Interscope Records. “This shows peer-to-peers for what they really are.” At a September 9th Senate hearing on the connection between porn and peer-to-peer, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, warned about the “great risk… Read more »

Police responding to a burglary call arrested Courtney Love in Los Angeles early Thursday morning for allegedly being under the influence of narcotics, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department. The 39-year-old singer was found standing in the middle of the street outside a male friend’s home just before 3 a.m., where she admitted to breaking several windows while trying to enter. “The resident said that he did not wish to have her arrested,” LAPD spokesperson Renee Montoya said. “But as the investigation continued, the officers noticed that Ms. Love’s behavior was consistent with being under the… Read more »

Barenaked Ladies have announced the release of a special deluxe CD/DVD edition of their eagerly awaited new album Everything To Everyone, featuring special high-resolution surround-sound mixes, special packaging and a full acoustic set of eleven album tracks. Set for release October 21st and coinciding with the Peep Show Tour, a unique evening of music by and conversation with the acclaimed Canadian band, Everything To Everyone is Barenaked Ladies’ first new studio release in over three years. The Deluxe Edition of Everything To Everyone includes the full album of fourteen new Barenaked Ladies’ originals, including “Celebrity,” “Maybe Katie,” “Another Postcard,” “Next… Read more »

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake are among the musicians that will help kick off the 29th season of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. Timberlake will do double duty on October 11 as he makes his hosting and solo musical debut on the show. The following week, Spears will perform on the October 18 episode of SNL, with guest host Halle Berry. Jack Black, star of the upcoming comedy School Of Rock, will host SNL’s season opener on October 4. The appearance marks the second time that the actor-musician has hosted the show. SNL’s 29th season opener will also feature singer-songwriter John… Read more »

The battle-weary music industry surveyed the wreckage of another dismal six months on Wednesday as global data showed music sales tumbled almost 11 percent, piling more pressure on music companies to do deals to survive. Despite big hits from pop queen Christina Aguilera and rapper 50 Cent, Internet downloading and CD-burning continued to ravage the industry, dragging music sales down to $12.7 billion in the first half of this year, a leading industry body said. However, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) indicated the rest of the year may not be so gloomy, with a strong release schedule… Read more »

Robert Palmer, the well-tailored British rock singer who created one of the first iconic music videos with the look-alike models of “Addicted to Love,” has died of a heart attack. He was 54. A two-time Grammy winner in the 1980s, the star behind the hit “Simply Irresistible” died of a heart attack Friday at a Paris hotel during a stopover after a promotional tour in Britain, manager Mick Cater said. Sporting designer suits and a thick mane of hair, Palmer shot to fame in the mid-’80s with two videos featuring a “backup band” of dark-haired women in black miniskirts strumming… Read more »

A week after announcing plans to host an on-stage suicide by a terminally ill euthanasia advocate, Florida industrial rockers Hell on Earth have lost their booking at a Ft. Lauderdale venue. David Hundley, owner of the State Theater in St. Petersburg, said on Wednesday that he would not host next Saturday’s show. Unclear whether the planned suicide was a publicity stunt or an “illusion,” Hundley said during a press conference that his concern for what effect the stunt might have on young fans forced his hand. “We deal with a lot of kids here and we don’t want their parents… Read more »

The Island Def Jam Music Group has signed multi-platinum recording artist, Everlast, it was announced today. Everlast is currently in the studio working on his third studio album (Title: TBD) tentatively set for an early 2004 release. The album, which is being recorded in L.A. and NYC, features Everlast co-executive producing with longtime friend and collaborator Dante Ross. “I am excited to be part of the Island Def Jam family,” says Everlast. “I look forward to a long lasting relationship with Island Def Jam that will result in much success over the years to come.” “Everlast is an incredible artist… 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 »