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Elton John tells Interview magazine that the U.S. government is using “bullying tactics” to prevent anti-war music from being heard, and that performers are so scared that they are just letting it happen. “There’s an atmosphere of fear in America right now and that is deadly,” John explained, according to the New York Daily News, noting, “Everyone is too career-conscious. They’re all too scared… things have changed.” The British pianist pointed out that supporters of the war in Iraq-such as country star Toby Keith-are given free reign, while the Dixie Chicks faced a huge backlash after singer Natalie Maines made… Read more »

‘N Sync haven’t completely gone “Bye, Bye, Bye.” The boy-band pop group will perform together for the first time since the 2003 Grammy Awards as part of a benefit for their charity, the Challenge for the Children Foundation. The event will be held July 23-25 in Miami. The five ‘N Sync members, including Justin Timberlake, will sing the national anthem before a charity basketball game. Celebrities expected to attend include actress Shannon Elizabeth, Jamie-Lynn DiScala of “The Sopranos” and rapper Jermaine Dupri. Challenge for the Children Foundation was created by ‘N Sync in 1999 to raise money for children’s programs… Read more »

Fender Musical Instruments, which has made guitars for generations of rock legends, denied media reports on Wednesday that it had hired financial advisors to find a buyer for the company. The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the situation, said on Wednesday that Goldman Sachs has been hired to sell the legendary guitar company, which could draw bids of up to $500 million. Reuters later ran a similar story, citing a source close to the situation. But Fender Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Schultz, who participated in a buyout of the Scottsdale, Arizona-based company by U.S. private equity firm Weston… Read more »

Despite their hackneyed interchangeability, there’s a difference between a rock concert and rock show. Anyone thinking of challenging this should check out a stop on Blink-182 and No Doubt’s monthlong co-headlining trek. Even though they recorded a song called “The Rock Show,” Blink’s set Thursday night at the PNC Bank Arts Center definitely fell on the concert side of the spectrum. Bassist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge stood dwarfed by the vast, mostly barren stage, save for five trapezoidal video screens positioned behind them. Were it not for a shirtless, mohawked Travis Barker peering down from a massive drum… Read more »

With a new album dropping in June and a summer concert schedule in place, all seemed normal enough in the Phish camp as this week began. But the group shocked fans Tuesday with the announcement that it will break up following a two-day festival in Coventry, Vermont, on August 14-15. Frontman/guitarist Trey Anastasio wrote on the band’s Web site, “We all love and respect Phish and the Phish audience far too much to stand by and allow it to drag on beyond the point of vibrancy and health. We don’t want to become caricatures of ourselves or, worse yet, a… Read more »

Nine Inch Nails’ former manager John Malm has shot back at Trent Reznor, who filed a suit against him earlier this week seeking millions of dollars. Not only does Malm refute Reznor’s claim that he and former business manager/accountant Richard Szekelyi ripped off the rocker, he insists that Reznor actually owes him over $2 million in unpaid commissions. After numerous attempts to procure the payments, the manager sued Reznor in April, weeks before the suit against Malm and Szekelyi was filed. “Trent Reznor’s complete lack of loyalty and integrity is astounding,” Malm said in a statement. “After 20 years of… 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 »

Kurt Cobain and his band, Nirvana, spent only three years in the public eye, and they released only three studio albums. But what he accomplished before committing suicide 10 years ago Monday at age 27 – deciding it was “better to burn out than fade away,” as he quoted Neil Young in his suicide note – was remarkable. Beneath this bridge above the muddy banks of the Wishkah River, a troubled young Cobain would come to escape his unhappy home and the persistent gray drizzle of the Washington coast. Among the cracking concrete supports, he would smoke pot and drink… Read more »

Fans at a Puddle of Mudd show in Toledo, Ohio, got a lot less than they bargained for Sunday night when frontman Wes Scantlin cut the band’s set short, announced he was too wasted to play and eventually found himself in police custody facing a disorderly conduct charge. Those in attendance said that a scant four songs into the band’s performance at Headliners club Scantlin’s bandmates walked off the stage, leaving a stumbling, hostile Scantlin alone. According to concertgoers, Scantlin was, by his own admission to the crowd, “too f–ed up” to perform. Still, he remained onstage for half an… Read more »

The Grammy RSVPs are in and it looks like the boobylicious Super Bowl tandem of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake are still on the guest list, but Luther Vandross will be MIA. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the group behind the Grammys, told E! Tuesday that “as of right now, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake are still on the Grammys. “If we took everyone who is controversial off the show, no one would perform.” The remark came in the wake of CBS affiliates asking the network to broadcast Sunday’s Grammy Awards on a slight delay in case… Read more »