Music news and notes 3/24/07

By Art Shimko
shimko_7@hotmail.com

-- The National Music Publishers' Association filed a lawsuit against XM Satellite Radio claiming the station is violating copyright laws by providing its customers with a service called XM+MP3 which lets listeners store songs on XM portable players with the option to by played anytime, also the saved songs are active for as long as a subscription lasts (cost about $13/year). A spokesman for XM said the lawsuit by the NMPA "simply represents a negotiating tactic to gain advantage in our ongoing business discussions." The publishers group also sees the XM+MP3 service as a substitute for using iPod-type devices and services like iTunes to purchase music. What the NMPA fails to understand is that the customer is already PAYING for the XM service, this would be seen as a perk plus once a subscription ends you no longer have possession of those saved tracks. The music industry is full of dipshits.

-- Speaking of dipshits... Music Theft at 23 Campuses Targeted in Second Wafe of New Deterrence Program

-- R&B Artist Luther Ingram Dies At 69

-- Snoop Dogg won't be joining P Diddy in Britain on their co-headlining European tour as Snoop was denied a visa to enter the country. "Snoop and his team are mystified at the decision and are hoping that the British government will reconsider this decision," spokeswoman Celena Aponte said in a statement. "He has asked how he can help rectify the situation and would happily talk to and give assurances to the officials." The Home Office wouldn't comment specifically on the reason Snoop was denied a visa but a statement released stated, "The Home Secretary has the power to refuse entry clearance to non-U.K. citizens if he considers that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good." P Diddy will play the Wembley Arena on Tuesday.

-- Announced bands for this year's Ozzfest: MAIN STAGE: Ozzy Osbourne; Lamb Of God; Lordi. SECOND STAGE: Hatebreed; Nick Oliveri and the Mondo Generator; Nile; Ankla; Circus Diablo; The Showdown; 3 inches Of Blood; Daath; more bands to be announced. Regarding this year's free tickets: To gain entry into this year's OZZFEST, fans will go to www.ozzfest.com or www.livenation.com to find links that will direct them to special sponsor sites where tickets can be secured. Select sponsors will have a unique opportunity to engage fans one-on-one utilizing one of music's best known brands. Tickets will be available for download on June 12. Stay tuned to www.ozzfest.com and www.livenation.com in the coming weeks for more ticketing information.

-- Broward County has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Foxy Brown.

-- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins and Razorlight are headlining The Reading and Leeds festivals which begin 8/24.

-- Fishbone release Stuck In Your Throat on 4/24 and will be touring this spring:
03/31 - Malibu, CA - Malibu Inn/04/15 - Whistler, BC - Buffalo Bills/04/16 - Whistler, BC - Buffalo Bills/04/25 - Austin, TX - Emo's/04/25 - Houston, TX - Fitzgerald’s/04/27 - New Orleans, LA - Howlin Wolf/04/28 - Decatur, GA - Club 29/04/29 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues/05/01 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbit’s/05/03 - New, York, NY - Rocks Off Boat Cruise/05/04 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!/05/05 - Boston, MA - Rock On! Groove Cruise/05/08 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick/05/09 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom/05/11 - Mokena, IL - The Pearl Room/05/12 - St. Paul, MN - The Rock Nightclub/05/14 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom/05/15 - Ft. Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre/05/16 - Boise, ID - Knotty Pine/05/17 - Boise, ID - The Boquet/05/18 - Portland, OR - Dante’s/05/19 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven/08/23 - Fresno, CA - Warped Tour/08/24 - Sacramento, CA - Warped Tour/08/25 - Los Angeles, CA - Warped Tour

-- You can view a live webcast of this year's Coachella festival at the AT&T Blue Room.

-- Rush announces tour dates on Monday 3/26, check their site for more details. Their current single Far Cry can be purchased on iTunes, Canadian residents click here to purchase the single.

-- Former Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick and former Airplane/Starship manager Bill Thompson are suing Paul Kantner for using variations of the '60s hippie band's name which he agreed not to use Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship or any variation of the names to tour under.

-- Track listing for The White Stripes' upcoming Icky Thump album which comes out in June:
01. Icky Thump 02. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) 03. 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues 04. Conquest 05. Bone Broke 06. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn 07. St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air) 08. Little Cream Soda 09. Rag And Bone 10. I'm Slowly Turning Into You 11. A Martyr For My Love For You 12. Catch Hell Blues 13. Effect And Cause

-- The Rolling Stones announced European tour dates on a video webcast on Thursday which begins on 6/5 at Werchter Park in Werchter, Belgium.

-- Rick James' Estate Sues Former Music Publisher

-- The Magic and Majesty of Pink Floyd

-- Reznor Says Sobriety Lead To Creativity

-- Kid Rock Files Suit Against Assault Accuser

-- New Study Says Smart Kids Prefer Hard Rock Music

-- Court bans Spears rehab leaks

-- Rodrigo Y Gabriela Tour Back On After Visa Flap

-- CBS Radio Exec Ongaro and Others Indicted On Fraud Charges
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Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or referencing commentary from this site please include a link to meanfilipine.blogspot.com as opposed to "Strong Style Shimko", "From The Mean Filipine Blog" or derivatives. Thank you!

Music news and notes 2/17/07

By Art Shimko
shimko_7@hotmail.com

-- We're back with a packed news update from the last week in the music world...

[Photo credit: KABC-TV]

-- Well, Britney Spears has really gone off the deep end. Who would've thought that in 2007 it would be Britney pulling off some insane shit while her ex-husband was not the one fucking up. A few days ago, at the urge of family and friends following an alleged intoxicating New Year's Eve for Spears, she checked into Eric Clapton's Crossroads rehab facility in Antigua only to check out one day later and head back to L.A. where she was spotted at a tattoo parlor sporting a Sinead O' Conner skinhead-type look. This chick's self-destruction is providing way more entertainment than her music.

-- Well it's quite the coincidence that Chris Cornell announces that he's leaving Audioslave just as Rage Against The Machine is reuniting for the Coachella Festival.... let the rumors begin~! This could give Rage more opportunity to cash-in on their reunion should they decide to extend it and record a new album, because the political climate these days are a lot more volatile then when they were an active band I think. Guitarist Tom Morello insists that the Rage reunion at Coachella will be a one-time thing but of course that can all change in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Cornell will be releasing a solo album titled Carry On on 5/1 and even though he cited the usual "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences" reason for leaving he also said, "I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors," which is the usual P.C. press-release-type statement but I guess it's better than having a bunch of grown men bitching at each other in public.

-- Speaking of Coachella, the festival is sold out months before it takes place at the end of May and despite rumors floating around, organizers say the festival will stay put in its Indio, CA location.

-- Hank Williams Jr. and wife #4, Mary Jane are divorcing after 16 years of marriage the country singer announced on Friday. "Today is one of the toughest days in my life," the country singer said in a statement sent to The Associated Press by his publicist, Kirt Webster. "All families experience difficulties; I hope everyone will respect our privacy during this time." If you want privacy don't announce this shit to public.

-- Foxy Brown combined with hair salons seems to be a mix similar to that of a Molotov cocktail. Brown spent Thurday night in a jail in Penbroke Pines, FL after throwing hair glue at a salon employee and swatted an officer all of which got her charges of battery and resisting an officer with violence. Brown (real name: Inga Marchand) is already on probation for three years stemming from a salon incident in New York a few years ago where she was involved in a scuffle with salon employees over a payment dispute. Brown was released Friday afternoon following a $1,500 bond posted for her.

-- Ian Atsbury is leaving the "Jim Morrison postion" with the Doors to reunite The Cult, meanwhile Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger, who perform under the moniker Riders On The Storm will seek out an new vocalist. Just fucking give it up already for Christ's sake.

-- Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore announced a series of concerts to take place this July promoting awareness on climate change and its danger towards the environment and planet. Performers include Melissa Etheridge, the Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Duran Duran, Korn, the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw with concerts planning to take place in Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney, Australia; London and cities to be announced in Japan, Brazil and the United States and even Antarctica.

-- Former Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio could face up to 14 years in prison if convicted of felony drug possession according to prosecutors earlier this week. Last month Anastasio pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor drug possession charges and DUI involving drugs but now that an indictment handed up includes felony possession of painkiller hydrocodone and misdemeanor charges for possessing heroin, oxycodone and alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug Anastasio could be up shit creek without a paddle.

-- Tickets for Roger Waters at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia are on sale here.

-- Jazz guitarist Pat Martino plays the Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia on 3/16.

-- FBI Investigates Boy-Band Architect

-- Milli Vanilli film 'in pipeline'

-- MTV Cuts Staff, Focuses On Web Video Clips

-- Come for Liverpool, Stay for Louisville; 25,000 Beatles Fans 'Come Together' at Abbey Road on the River

-- Spector's Murder Trial To Be Televised

-- Gov't Mule, Randolph Hunker Down For Mountain Jam

-- Music greats share memories of Ertegun in PBS documentary

-- iTunes Cutting Off Music Lovers' Options

-- Yahoo Music might drop copy protection from some songs

-- Time to Face the Music on File Sharing
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Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or referencing commentary from this site please include a link to meanfilipine.blogspot.com as opposed to "Strong Style Shimko", "From The Mean Filipine Blog" or derivatives. Thank you!