Monday Morning Newsletter (12-15-08)

Last week at a ceremony, the Kennedy Center uncharacteristically bestowed honors on a number of musicians. The honorees included The Who, George Jones, and Barbra Streisand. The conjunction of the three is considered to be a harbinger of the apocalypse. The Who are the first tock band to be regaled with the honor. Actor Jack Black introduced the legendary British band at the Washington, DC Opera House. José would have enjoyed it better if Tenacious D had performed.

Coldplay has issued a flat denial to accusations of copyright infringement last week. Guitarist Joe Santriani had accused them of stealing some of his work and using it in the single 'Viva La Vida'. Their statement read in part: "If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him. Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write the song 'Viva La Vida.”

ABC has announced the lineup this year's Dick Clark New Year's Eve special. The painfully wholesome Jonas Brothers and Taylor Swift will be headlining and Ryan Seacrest will be hosting. Also performing will be Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, and the Pussycat Dolls. José will be going to bed early.

Ben Harper is heading out on tour with a new band, Relentless7. The blues-rock act has booked a score of club dates leading up to their debut album, White Lies For Dark Times in May 2009. José expects this will be like the late career change that Henry Rollins made from Prog-rock to cock-rock.

The line up for Barack Obama's inaugural ball has been top secret until this week. So far we have learned that Ludacris and Big Boi will appear at one event place in Washington D.C. Other rumored performers include David Banner, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia and Monica, as well as a number of NBA stars. Jose was hoping for Chuck Berry.

Julien's Auctions has put up Michael Jackson's famous sequined white glove. The bidding begins April 21st, 2009. The glove, was first seen in his 1983 video for Jackson's hit "Billie Jean." The world-renowned chomo plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the charity MusiCares. The rest he will spend on cabaña boys.

Former CCR front man John Fogerty is wrapping up in the studio and will be releasing The Return of the Blue Ridge Ranger in 2009. The album serves as a sequel to his 1973 album Blue Ridge Rangers. Fogerty is also putting out Comin' Down the Road, a documentary DVD about his life and career.Did anybody else think this guy was dead?

Monday Morning Newsletter (04/07/08)

Bassist Nikki Sixx has been named President of Eleven Seven Records, the label that put out his last Japanese Import. Label founder Allen Kovac had reportedly turned down the yet unnamed new Motley Crue album. Sixx, a man of discerning taste, may be releasing his own album again.

Britain’s Border Agency is appealing a lower courts court's decision to allow Snoop Dogg into the UK. Mr. Dogg was barred from Britain after an arrest for a “violent disruption” at Heathrow Airport back in 2006. Snoop appealed the ban and received entry clearance from an asylum and immigration tribunal in January. The Border Agency Stated “Mr. D-O Double G may also have been carrying marijuana.”

This week, NKTOB admitted a reunion album and tour was definitely in the works. Though disbanded in 1994, New Kids On The Block and have managed to achieve varied levels of success individually film, music, and TV. The last time all five members appeared together was in a commercial for the hair club for men.

Bozeman, Montana band, The Clintons are earning some national attention this week as a result of their comedic ballad, "A Love Song for Hillary Clinton.” The promo effort, complete with prerequisite Youtube video of course is an utter abomination. Jose Fritz will be voting for Obama; rumor has it, his vote actually matters this year.

Inexplicably rapper and clothing designer Big Boi will be performing in a ballet of his own making titled “Big”. The two-hour performance was choreographed by Lauri Stallings. Big is part ballet and part concert. Jose Fritz would like to know what Big Boi is smoking.

Norma Jean have entered the studio to begin recording their new album, The Anti Mother. They better hurry, they have a 3 month trans-America tour scheduled starting in June.

Fear Factory's Christian Olde Wolbers (guitars) and Raymond Herrera (drums) have formed a new band dubbed Arkaea with Jon Howard of Threat Signal. Somehow in congress they sound like old Pro-Pain. Jose Fritz has not decided if that is embarrassing or not.

Buckethead's album Enter The Chicken will be re-released through Serjical Strike on April 8th. This is not remastered or remixed but does feature a bonus track by the name of "Shen Chi".

The producer and rapper Lil Jon has started his own wine label, Little Jonathan. It offers selections including chardonnay, merlot and Sizzirp. The Little Jonathan Winery is not his first foray into the drink market: In 2003 he launched Crunk, an energy drink that tasted worse than diet Tab.