Search Results for: the early november

Tower Records, the storied 1960s music chain that launched the music megastore and became a cultural retailing icon, strolls into its 43rd holiday shopping season this weekend struggling with debt and on the ropes. The West Sacramento, Calif.-based Tower hopes four weeks of strong sales will reverse a new image as the tottering giant inside a stumbling music industry. Among the chain’s troubles: deep-discounting rivals, changing consumer habits, lack of hits and its own missteps in the 1990s as the music business began a dramatic shift. Tower exemplifies the even deeper woes in a recording industry beset by piracy, computer… Read more »

The Recording Industry Assn. of America, the lobbying arm of the major labels, said Thursday that the troubled file-swapping company Madster – aka Aimster – is violating a court’s instruction to stop the flow of music piracy. In early November, U.S. District Judge Marvin Aspen of Illinois specifically ordered Madster to “immediately disable and prevent any and all access to the plaintiffs’ copyrighted works… including, if necessary, preventing any and all access to the Aimster system and service in its entirety.” The RIAA says Madster is in direct violation of the court’s preliminary injunction and filed a motion Thursday asking… Read more »

For those about to rock, the Rock Hall salutes you – by inducting several heroes of metal, punk and new wave into next year’s class. AC/DC, the Clash, the Police, and Elvis Costello and the Attractions will lead the class of 2003 when they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, organizers announced Thursday (November 7). Other artists recognized include blue-eyed soul singers the Righteous Brothers, whose “Unchained Melody” and Phil Spector-produced “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ ” remain classics. Sideman and non-performer inductees remain to be announced. AC/DC, who formed in 1973 and… Read more »

A U2 album of all-new material could arrive by next summer, according to the band’s guitarist, the Edge. Speaking with Ireland’s Hot Press magazine, the guitar player, whose real name is Dave Evans, said the group plans to have a new album completed and in stores by mid-2003. He told the Dublin-based magazine that the band is on a roll in the studio, and likened the new recordings’ sound to U2’s early days, with “simple, stripped-down arrangements.” The band’s sessions at Hanover Quay studios have already resulted in two new songs, “Electrical Storm” and “The Hands That Built America,” both… Read more »

Creed lead singer Scott Stapp (news) has offered his “sincere regret” to fans for the band’s recent tour-date postponements, and also announced a series of make-up dates in the cities affected. In a note sent Thursday (October 10) to fans subscribed to the group’s e-mailing list, Stapp explained that he is “suffering from acute laryngitis due to the swelling of my vocal cords” and hoped that radio stations, promoters, and “loyal fans…will understand my situation and forgive the inconvenience that this has caused them.” Creed has reshuffled its itinerary and will be back on the road starting October 16 in… Read more »

Chris Cornell and the remnants of Rage Against the Machine are ready to put the super back in their supergroup. Yes, their hyped off-again, on-again collaboration is back on, and to prove it, they’re releasing an album and planning a tour. After hooking up with much fanfare in early 2001, the group-then toying with the name Civilian-wrote 20 songs, hit the studio with Rick Rubin (who produced the last Rage album) and even signed on as an Ozzfest mainstager. But the project was seemingly scuttled when ex-Soundgarden singer Cornell walked last March. The Ragers-guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and… Read more »

In the late 1970s, Elvis Costello wore a punk snarl to go along with his sharp suits and horn-rimmed glasses. Twenty-five years later, the prolific troubadour has replaced it with something more subtly sinister. Cruel Smile, a companion LP to Costello’s latest studio album, When I Was Cruel, features B-sides, rare cuts and live versions from that album, as well as a handful of fan favorites. Due October 1, the 14-track enhanced CD also includes the video for When I Was Cruel’s “45,” according to an Island Records spokesperson. Costello selected the tracks himself, most of which were previously unavailable… Read more »

The girls still screamed every time former bar mitzvah singer Justin Guarini flashed his pearly whites, but it was soulful girl-next-door Kelly Clarkson who took home the title of “American Idol” Wednesday night. Coming off her bravura performance on Tuesday, the 20-year-old Burleson, Texas, cocktail waitress brought down the house moments after being crowned the champion of the talent contest. “I can’t believe it’s happening to me,” Clarkson sang, as fireworks rained down behind her during a performance of her soon-to-be-released first single, “A Moment Like This.” A choked-up Clarkson blew a line during her command performance (one of her… Read more »

Fans growing impatient for the release of the Ramones tribute album We’re a Happy Family now have a good reason to turn that frown upside down. The track list for the LP, which is currently being mastered, and a tentative street date of November 5 were announced via a posting on the Web site of Rob Zombie, who is serving as co-producer along with guitarist Johnny Ramone. Although Zombie himself vouched for the accuracy of the most specific details concerning the album since he first announced plans for it in November, a spokesperson for Columbia Records, the label which intends… Read more »

A DVD chronicling the life of the late Drowning Pool frontman Dave Williams is in the works, and it may also aid in the realization of one of his longtime ambitions. The as-yet-untitled project was conceived on Saturday, according to the band’s publicist, a day before a public funeral for Williams, who died Wednesday (August 14), was held in Plano, Texas. Although it’s still in the very formative stages, the video is expected to provide glimpses into Williams’ life, from his early days spent gigging around the local Dallas rock scene to the dizzying career momentum that came with selling… Read more »