Puppet on a re-string

There's a cheering piece in the Medical section of today's Los Angeles Times about the reunion of the Meat Puppets.

The medical section scored the piece because it's about Cris Kirkwood's drugs problem, his time in prison and how he's cleaned himself up, and rejoined his brother in the band. Something neither of them expected:

His brother Curt, the Meat Puppets' singer and guitarist, certainly didn't hold out much hope.

"No, no, none. I completely [wrote] him off years ago. A junkie, you don't deal with them at all, it doesn't do you or them any good…. You write them off as dead."

Mike Watt, who played bass in the Minutemen, is one of the old cohorts who's dropped by to welcome the Meat Puppets back to town.

"Personal problems were probably in the way before," says Watt, reflecting on his friends' return. "You have to grow up a little, and you get those problems subdued and you can get back to your aesthetic that you started off with.

There's always a road back; it's all a question of finding the place to do the U-turn.

Busy doing nothing

Fox Searchlight Pictures seem to have been attempting something approaching large-hearted generosity towards Kevin 'where's the rap career gone, Kevin' Federline, when asked about his rumoured role in Night Watch:

[W]hile a representative for movie house Fox Searchlight confirms Federline had auditioned for "a minor role", he says the 29-year-old didn't win the part because of "his availability and our shooting schedule". Referring directly to the reports, the spokesperson adds, "This is not true. Kevin Federline was not cast."

The generosity, of pretending it was just too difficult to find a day on which Kevin Federline could find time to make a film, didn't run so far as to pretend they actually wanted him to do so, you'll note.

Death at the festival

The saddest news of a weekend packed with festivals was the death of a festival goer at the Rock Ness event. Police said that the 39 year-old was found in his car last night; he died shortly after being taken to hospital. It's not thought to be suspicious.

The price of justice: $1000

Fancy that, eh? In a completely unconnected way, Lee Baca, the Sheriff who mistook his hat for a court and sent Paris Hilton home is the same Lee Baca who accepted a $1000 campaign donation from William Barron Hilton. That, let us be very clear, is a campaign donation.

Baca has also pocketed re-election cash, according to Radar Online, from Rupert Murdoch, Les Moonves, Ron Meyer, Brad Grey, Steven Segal, and (somewhat surprisingly) Burt Bacharach. It seems Baca being at the heart of a press squall is something a summer tradition in LA. Last year, his department issued statements on Mel Gibson's arrest claiming that Gibson was treated "without incident or special treatment"; the surprising overloooking of his drunken anti-semitic ranting was put down at the time to Gibson having recorded videos of support for Baca, something the Sheriff denied:

Gibson, a Roman Catholic, has filmed public service announcements for Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca's relief committee dressed in a sheriff's uniform. Levin told CBS News he believes the department changed reports and covered up for Gibson because of his support for Baca.

"There is no cover-up," Baca told the Los Angeles Times. "Trying someone on rumor and innuendo is no way to run an investigation, at least one with integrity."

So, that's a doctor who was handling documents positive to Michael Jackson shortly before they leaked and a Sheriff bankrolled by Rupert Murdoch who may or may not have been doing favours for Mel Gibson. It's all very starry before you even add in the Hiltons and their cheques and mystery diseases.

[Thanks to Karl T for the link]

Geldof seeks a slot

Again, according to the People, Peaches Geldof is annoyed that Colleen McLoughlan is getting work presenting TV shows (or at least, standing at the front of ITV2 programmes, which isn't quite the same):

Peaches said of WAYNE ROONEY'S girl Coleen: "I can't believe she has been offered a TV show... it's just because she dates a footballer."

Peaches, of course, has landed her brief spells presenting the traditional way, by being born to the bloke who owns the production company.

Who's shoring whom?

Curious rumours from the two-headed People showbiz column; they report that Madonna isn't sure if she should release the Justin Timberlake stuff she's recorded:

Mum-of-three Madonna, 48, went into the studio with Justin, 26, last month in a bid to get some R&B credibility.

A pal explained: "She wants to reinvent herself."

But he added: "She's got second thoughts because she's not sure the stuff she did with Justin is quite right for her new sound."

We love the idea that anyone, seeking an authentic street sound, would call up McDonalds spokesperson Justin Timberlake. Doubtless Maddie is pondering putting in a call to Lily Allen to get some genuine reggae sound onto the album as we speak.

Mutya misses the ferry; fails to join Armada

Sunday Mirror gossip guru Zoe went to the Isle of Wight Festival; she spotted Mutya, who was down to pop up and duet with Groove Armada didn't make it.

Apparently, she claimed she "missed the ferry", which even Zoe wouldn't fall for - it's not a long wait for the next one. However, Zoe has decided this was "stage fright" rather than, just maybe, not being that arsed about slogging down to the Isle of Wight to do one song, have some piss thrown at you, and then hoof back up north.

This week just gone

A week on No Rock and Roll Fun

The ten crucial stories this week:
1. Beth Ditto, naked, unashamed, slightly confused for NME
2. R Kelly's sex video will get a court airing
3. RIP: Tony Thompson
4. Lily Allen's subaqua changes
5. Heather Mills, porn star
6. McFly GAY exhibitionism
7. Mr. Winehouse gets pushed into a hedge
8. RIP John Pike
9. Northern Lights, forgotten boyband act, spits bloke into Big Brother house
10. KT Tunstall's sexuality re-enters the top ten

Also this week: Live Earth was asked to not get people to switch their lights off by, erm, people who sell electricity; Jack White phoned up a DJ to scream and scream and scream at her; Victoria Newton took a break from predicting and dismissing the chances of a Spice Girls reunion to predict Blur would be back with Coxon by Christmas; Warners started selling un-DRMed music through Lala.com and Kill Rock Stars attempted to offload a load of tiny knickers.

You can read the whole week on one page, or
skim the previous week in one post

Five years ago, Eminem 'revealed' he'd had death threats from Al Qaeda - like, you know, everyone else in America; the Spectator suggested the Jubilee concert had "undermined the monarchy", TVS pointed out the Liverpool Capital of Culture slogan cost ten thousand a word (but that was a lot of money back then) and NME had Ozzy apologising for the clusterfuck that was Ozzfest; the odd comedy-and-music network Play UK called it day, taking Lucas and Williams' Rock Profiles series with it while MTV suddenly realised not having ads on MTV2 was a bit of an odd idea, and ran the Baby's Got A Temper video on a constant loop to try and make the rent; Madness musical Our House was launched and, equally upsetting, Atomic Kitten covered The Tide Is High.

These were new-ish, and buyable, this week:


If The Twang can survive the attempts to force 'Arctic Monkeys 2.0' on them, the next album should be classic


"Everyone's ancient at your high school reunion" - Loudon Wainwright's film-and-life soundtrack album


Shellac return with their first slice of glorious noise since 2000


Nick Lowe releases new album; wonders if he's going to have to die to get reputation he deserves


Turns out the BBC never gave Dusty Springfield anything like enough work - the Complete Sessions runs to just 22 tracks


Alex James - who is getting more like David Walliams' Rock Profiles take on him by the day - releases his autobiography


... he'll also read it to you on an audiobook. But it's called Bit of a Blur, rather than the more apt Me Me Me


Green Pitch: Franco-Danish ethero-pop thrills


Biffy Clyro continue to hover on the edge of the big time


On record, her inability to sing for toffee isn't much of a problem - Mutya goes solo


Possibly the only person to have worked with Guy Chambers and Bang Gang, Keren Ann's self-titled album seems to finally be getting her a push from EMI

Bookmarks: Some other things to read on the web

The top ten most ridiculous music couples, as chosen by Stylus magazine:

07. Goldie and Bjork (mid-90s)
Maybe the bomber was trying to tell her something. In ’95 it might’ve seemed like Goldie would go down in the history books as the man that brought jungle to the masses, and not the ‘90s punchline he is today, but while the internet froths over the release of Bjork’s Volta, you could probably count the people on one hand who can even name an album Goldie’s released this decade. Assuming he’s even released one, anyway.

Ryan Gilbey remembers his first gig:

While I would love to continue claiming that I lost my live-music cherry seeing Prince on his Lovesexy tour, that was in fact my third gig. My first - oh, the shame - was Erasure at the Hammersmith Odeon. In case you're wondering why I didn't simply promote my second gig - Sinead O'Connor at the Dominion - to first place, I think there's something a bit drab about saying that Sinead O'Connor, wonderful though she is, was the first person you saw play live. It's like saying that your first car was a Mini Metro.

The Eagles are the best band in the world, reckons New York magazine. It does show its working:

The fact that in 1978, they attempted to cash in on the disco craze by writing “The Disco Strangler,” a song about a murderer who loves the nightlife.

An interesting, though fundamentally flawed piece on Indymedia casts Paris Hilton as a victim of celebrity, without stopping to wonder if maybe she sought that status in the first place:

There are many unhealthy aspects to this whole business. In the first place, the Paris Hilton celebrity phenomenon was a product of the foul media-entertainment apparatus in the US and a generally diseased social climate. Under healthier circumstances, Hilton’s “bad girl” antics would have been of concern only to her family and close friends.

Two Jaggers

Chris Jagger was playing a small gig at the Bull's Head Pub in South London when his brother joined him on stage. Not very impressive, perhaps, but his brother is called Mick and plays music on stage for a living. It's turned up now on YouTube.

Anthrax tighten Slipknot

It's a marriage made in Hades: Corey Taylor is seriously considering an offer to join Anthrax:

It's kind of a dream come true, Anthrax is one of my favorite bands.

"We're just kind of taking baby steps right now. I know that we worked on about eight or nine songs together that I've written lyrics for.

"But there's nothing definite right now. It's one of those things where it's like we're just gonna kind of play it by ear and just see what happens. I'm in two huge bands right now. So it's like I barely get enough time to sleep, let alone do another band."

You must make more time to sleep, Corey. Lots and lots of time to sleep.

Gareth Gates claims his dues

At first, you think that Gareth Gates is having a little joke...

"Paul owes me. It's not just Unchained Melody that made him money. Will [Young] and I recorded the Beatles' The Long And Winding Road, so I think I deserve my after-show party ticket"

... but the mention of the second song really does suggest that Gareth was actually being straight faced.

He presumably realises that, set against McCartney's annual earnings, the royalties from a Gareth Gates song would probably barely make a tinkle in a pewter mug, doesn't he? And, also, since he was paying McCartney for the rights to a song that McCartney owned, in what way would that put McCartney into Gates' debt? Does Gates think that when he buys a pasty from Greggs, somehow this means he has a moral right to go to the bakers' Christmas staff do?

"It was an amazing gig. Seeing the crowd respond to Hey Jude really made me want to cover it. All those voices singing along is something I'd love to experience."

Gareth, Gareth... it might take a little more than merely copying someone else's song for that to happen, you understand.

Please, not on our account

Fergie has - we're not sure "reassured" is the word, more threatened - that there will be another Black Eyed Peas album:

"We don't have an album yet, a Black Eyed Peas album," Fergie told WENN. "We haven't had time; everybody's been constantly working, as we always do. But we will have an album. We're not going away."

We know what she's been doing... but what about the other ones? Are they really all so busy?

Rage against the clock

There's been some sucking of teeth over behind the scenes at the Wikipedia Rage Against The Machine page; one contributor had suggested that, if you went to the RATM website and set your PCs internal clock to match the zero hour on the two countdown clocks, you would see details of some sort of secret gig:

Can anyone else verify this as well?

no i did this and cleared my cookies and cache and restarted the browser and it still counts down the same way (i.e. still says that theres XX days/hours/mins left). i'm removing the info from the article until someone can back up the claim (and even then it would be considered "Original Research" so... yeah).68.255.229.29 16:56, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

[...]

I can verify that it does indeed change the site. It says "August 24th, Alpine Valley" and that tickets will be on sale at 10am 6/16. I'd be happy to take a screenshot of it and upload it if you'd like. FireC 07:30, 9 June 2007 (UTC)

What's perhaps more interesting is the website at the heart of the excitement - ratm82407.com had its domain registered by LiveNation. Is it possible to Rage effectively against the Machine when a substantial part of that machine is handling your PR work for you?

Box set or buy Ryan

Ryan Adams is preparing a box set full of stuff that has previously been unleaked to the internet, including two albums which haven't had a release before, and a lot of rarities. Of course, by the time it emerges in the autumn, he'll have gone and recorded more stuff, so there's still going to be a load of unreleased stuff laying about.

Wasn't this supposed to be our year off?

According to listings on Amazon, there's going to be a new album from Coldplay on September 3rd.

It has no details beyond a "TBC", so we're guessing this is going to be some tatty live, repackaged, best of filler designed to help EMI pay the wages of the people working on the company's glittering strategy for the future rather than a proper album.

Beasties: There are no words

So, not only have The Beastie Boys dumped the rapping, and the sampling, from the forthcoming album, it's going to be all instrumental. All live instrumental. Mike D admits this might not be the most-chart friendly move:

"The more we kept working on these songs, the happier with them we became, and the more confused in terms of where there was room to put vocals on them.

"If we were trying to maximize our demographic or whatever, I'm not sure we'd come with an instrumental record right now, but I think we have to give people who've been listening to us some credit.

"They've gone to different places with us already, in terms of the influences we bring to the music we make, so hopefully they'll be able to hang with this curveball as well."

Well, their fanbase has managed to overlook the early sexism and faux-shockery, so a jazzy noodling album they should take in their stride.

Robbie Williams is not an old lady who only used it for going to church

Who knew that a Smart car briefly owned, and never driven, by Robbie Williams might have difficulty finding a market? Sam Judah bought the car off Williams last August, and has been trying to flog it ever since. It was left unloved on eBay; now it's turned up in AutoTrader:

“The first time bidding went mad but people just wanted to take pictures, no one wanted to buy it. I’m hoping now it’s coming into summer I’ll have a few serious buyers.”

Because, of course, you can't sell a car in Autumn. That's why car lots are closed in mid-September until Easter at the earliest. Oh, hang on, that's holiday camps, isn't it?

Bono: the master politician

Seasoned Bono watchers won't be surprised to note that he's turning his ire on Blair for the failure of the G8 to deliver on its promises from two years back. Not Bush - Bush, whose even weaker response Bono lavished with praise last week. Bono's modus operandi has always been to pop up to criticise leaders who are about to be voted out or step down, giving the impression that he's prepared to lecture, without the danger of losing the chance to hang out at state banquets.

(It's notable that this time round, Bono met only with Merkel and Bush, both of whom will still be in their jobs this time next year.)

Interestingly, Bob Geldof - whose business interests are primarily centred on the UK, unlike Bono's US-centric affairs - was happy to call all the G8 leaders "creeps". Except one:

"I'm really sorry for Tony Blair. He pushed this to the point of exhaustion so well done him, he had nothing to lose so he went out all guns blazing," he said.

The sad heart of the story, though, is that this is partly Bob and Bono's fault: they were the ones who took the mass demand for action behind the wire in Gleneagles, and, over some games of golf, exchanged it for some vague promises. They dispersed the crowds for their friends. And now they're surprised the promises were broken.

Perhaps it would help journalists cover these stories if they stopped referring to Bob and Bono as "rock stars" - the outcomes are a lot less surprising if you tag them as "millionaire businessmen".

Just fancy that

A trade secret: this critical tic is known by some people as the "lazy four", awarded by people who don't buy records, and can therefore affect to enthuse, before putting the CD away and never listening to it again.

- John Harris, writing in response to Paul McCartney's new album, Guardian Film & Music, June 7th

Paul McCartney
Four stars

- Ian Gittins, reviewing Paul McCartney at the Electric Ballroom, Guardian main section, June 7th

Back you go, Paris

Since it turned out that the Sheriff who reassigned her to house arrest was a law enforcement officer and not a member of the judiciary, Paris Hilton has been ordered back to prison.

The deliciousness of this is that what she had already - the money - could have got her out; but what she has so assiduously sought - the fame - has sent her back inside.

Fly swatters

Every so often, councils dream up a plan to deal with illegal flyposting - Leeds, for a while, would slap black paint over gig posters in unapproved places, creating a scene which looked like the CIA was attempting to keep the street secret. The ever-popular waterjet solution is sometimes used; Camden went for the prosecution route for a while until it realised the deterrence effect wasn't worth the cost. Some years back, Liverpool tried offering a posterboard of tolerance, although putting it under the control of one of the local promoters created its own problems - not to mention that one single flyposting site was never going to replace the allure of all those streets.

Glasgow is currently adopting the tried-and-failed approach of slapping 'cancelled' stickers over gig posters. It doesn't work, of course, because to be a success the council needs to tell promoters what it's doing, and once its public knowledge, people know to ignore the cancelled signs as they've been put there by the council to try and discourage flyposting.

Still, the council is pleased with itself:

A council source said: "We can be a complete pain in the neck to the people doing this because the money and time they spend is completely wasted.
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"And there's no point getting in a designer to produce a fancy poster when it will soon be a mess that doesn't tell anyone anything."

But since flyposting teams have long lived with the competitiveness which often sees one team posting over the top of another's work, this might not be quite as smart a move as the council hopes. And, unless they want to pay teams overtime to go round out of hours, they might find they're fighting posters which have already been up twelve hours, talking to the night-time crowds they're aimed at. It's only a half-thought out idea, isn't it?

Bravery wish they hadn't beefed with the Killers

The interesting-enough-when-theres-no-Springwatch battle between The Bravery and My Little U2 ("the Killers") seems to be drawing to an end, with the Bravery wishing the thing had never started. Sam Endicott calls a halt:

It all started when [Brandon Flowers] started talking shit about us, and we responded. Now, I just regret the whole thing even happened."

Although having got a few good column inches out the battle, we note that Endicott was happy to call a halt while he had something to promote.

Rehabitat: Sambora checks in

Perhaps driven by no force stronger than a desire to distance himself from the clunking interview his boss did yesterday, Richie Sambora has signed up for rehab. Puzzlingly:

The guitarist's spokesman furthered, "He asks that you respect his and his family's privacy at this time."

Although, surely, if you want to be left alone, having your publicist announce your trip to the health club isn't the best way to go about it?

Overload

Siobahn Donaghy has revealed in an interview with Gigwise that she nearly quit music after the Sugababes:

"When I left the Sugababes, I just thought music wasn't for me so that's why I left. It was just like, this industry isn't for me, I'm not strong enough for it. You know it was really beating me down."

To be honest, it was more that the music industry left her - and, indeed, some might argue that her subsequent career has hardly been right at the heart of the business.

She seems to resent being a former Sugababe a surprising amount:

"They have to put me in an ex-Sugababes bracket, which is just so difficult... if they just saw me as a new artist it would be so much easier. Maybe I'll change my name."

"In my opinion I've never sold out. I left the Sugababes just before they did some campaign with McDonalds, I was like fuck that!"

Which is all admirable, although you do wonder how many interviews she'd be doing now if she didn't have the 'ex-Sugababes bracket' upon which they can be hung.

Modern life is junk

Kele Okereke out of Bloc Party has told Total Spec magazine that he thinks living and drugs are two sides of the same wrap:

"I think in the 21st Century drug-taking is something that is synonymous with life, really. All I intended to do with the songs is to capture what modern life feels like."

We would have had something to say about that, but we were swigging down coffee as we were thinking about it so, hey, maybe he's right. Because it's all drugs, yeah, kids?

Glasto: Predicted pouring

We're not sure that we'd set very great store by weather forecasts claiming to predict what the weather will be doing the weekend after this one, but early predictions are that it's going to tip down on Glastonbury this year.

Having said that, the forecast might have been based on little more than someone spotting it's Glastonbury weekend and it usually pisses down on the site, so chances are it will rain, but if you are going: pack for trench foot.

Dosen does Griffith

We've just heard that Stephanie Dosen - nu-folk dream-queen - is going to be opening the forthcoming Nanci Griffith UK tour. Which, as pairings go, is right up there with chips and even more chips:

Thursday 12 July - GLASGOW - Old Fruit Market
Friday 13 - MANCHESTER – Apollo
Sunday 15 - BIRMINGHAM – Alexandra Theatre
Monday 16 - LIVERPOOL – Philharmonic
Tuesday 17 - LONDON – Hammersmith Apollo
Friday 27 - GATESHEAD – Sage

George Michael blows out of court

Luckily for everyone involved in this weekend's George Michael gigs, the man has been spared prison for driving while drucked up to the eyeballs.

George has moaned that the papers were interested only in the prosecution case - which, seeing as he pleaded guilty, and his ridiculous claims that somehow, despite having pleaded guilty to breaking the law he hadn't broken the law, seems a little unfair:

Reading from a prepared statement, he called the media coverage of the case "farcical" and said reporters had concentrated on the prosecution's case.

"I'm glad to put this behind me," he added. "Now I'm off to do the biggest show of my life."

It's not entirely clear how Michael expects to play Live Aid this weekend, but we wish him luck.

He's got 100 hours of community service and a two year driving ban.

Take a hike, Ike: Calls for Turner to be dropped from fest

Campaigners against domestic violence are calling for organisers of the Edinburgh Jazz festival to withdraw an invitation to Ike Turner. Because of the wife-beating, not because he's not a jazz musician:

A spokeswoman for the charity [Shakti Women's Aid] said: “It’s well known that he abused Tina Turner when they were married, so I really don’t think he should be allowed to come and play here.

“Having someone who has admitted that he is a domestic abuser sends out completely the wrong message.”

Ike, of course, has been very precise in his admission of violence, insisting he never beat Tina:

“Sure, I've slapped Tina . . . there have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. But I never beat her.”

We're sure that as she lay on the floor, having been punched to the ground, Tina was thankful for the semantic nicety.

Brian Fallon, chair of the festival, is minded to keep Turner on the bill:

“Some will have their reservations about us featuring a man of his reputation in the festival and I can understand that.

“But Ike has paid his dues. He remains a formidable artist – he recently won a Grammy award – and we are confident that he will sell out the Queen’s Hall,” he said.

We're sure that when the Women's Aid centre has it explained to them that, yes, he might have beaten women up, but that won't affect his ability to sell out quite a large venue, they'll withdraw their objections in a moment.