Monday Morning Newsletter (3/2/09)

While promoting his recent solo release Happy In Galoshes, Scott Weiland let slip that Stone Temple Pilots will be releasing a record sometime in 2010. The stars are aligned the DeLeo brothers have begun writing music and Scott’s back on heroin.

The Swiss hardcore band Solid Ground has recorded one final EP This World Keeps Spinning Without You before breaking it off as a group. Let it Burn Records is making it available as a free download here

Faith No More has announced a reunion tour. The reformed lineup will include Billy Gould, Mike Patton, Mike Bordin, and Roddy Bottum. They even invited guitarist Jon Hudson, who only played on Faith No More's 1997's release Album of the Year. There is no planned US tour.

Jewel has copped out on performing on “Dancing with the Stars.” She attributes the bow out to tendinitis in both knees . The program would have started March 9. Jose was really looking forward to her cleavage. Bummer.

Lil' Wayne is now facing criminal gun possession charges at a trial scheduled to begin April 20, a New York judge said on Tuesday. Prosecutors allege a gun was found in his tour bus in July 2007 and if Wayne is convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison

The Melvins are 25 years old! This may seem strange since King Buzzo is 45. For the anniversary they are planning a string of shows where they will perform the "Houdini" record in its entirety. Additionally they will do a set of material dating to their "Mangled Demos" circa 1983. Jose will not miss this tour.

Jane’s Addiction is putting out a box set this April. Despite a series of reunions much of their catalog remains rarities. Rhino Records will release A Cabinet of Curiosities. The box set includes one DVD and three CDs focused on the band's original lineup with Eric Avery.

Also dropping a box set this April is the Jesus Lizard. Their box set Inches contains exceedingly rare out-of-print material and will only be sold at independent record stores. Bob Weston remastered the material and Touch & Go Records does the honors.

Monday Morning Newsletter (05/12/08)

Jose Fritz would like to state for the record that he is of no relation to Josef Fritzl. Josef Fritzl of course is the now internationally infamous Austrian basement/dungeon pedophile that sired several of his own grandchildren. Jose Fritz is the nihilistic, egomaniacal, music writer. I don’t even have a basement.

Trent Reznor has released an entire new Nine Inch Nails album as a free download. The Slip is available on his website in multiple digital file formats. Jose Fritz will have a review up shortly for said album. It kicks the tar out of the all-instrumental Ghosts I-IV album.

Tom Waits is so fucking crazy it defies all description.

Gene Simmons invited his fans to appear on his reality TV program on May 9th. Whores of all ages appeared at 1:30 on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. I’m sure two or three of them will appear in some stock footage later.

Beck is working on a new release with producer Danger Mouse. Rumor has members of Cat Power, Abba and Dirty Old Willy guesting on the record. Beck will be debuting some of the new material at a small number of summer tour dates.

The Offspring has jumped on the free bandwagon this week. They are now giving away downloads of their new album, Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace. The album is available as high-quality MP3s. June 17th is the official release date for those tired old tangible formats. Singer Dexter Holland said “We spent over a year and a half on it, it would have been longer but we’re out of beer money."

The Melvins will be releasing their 19th studio album July 8th. The effort, titled Nude With Boots, will be coming outDeb on Ipecac records. Uniquely the album has the same line up as their last album. Normally they at least lose the bassist. Stoner-metal pioneers

Clutch have started their own record label. Weathermaker Music will be putting out a new Clutch album this summer. Neil Fallon was quoting as saying “And a Bob Marley bet of dude.”

The recently reunited Gang of Four has lost half their members. Bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham have quit unexpectedly leaving a gang of two. The British post punk act formed in 1977 and reuniting only 3 years ago for a tour. The remaining members plan to release an album of new material later this year.

Kirsten Dunst will be playing the lead in a new Debbie Harry biopic. Director Michel Gondry is currently deep in pre-production. Blondie fans everywhere are hoping for an appearance of the Doctor-X T-shirt. I guess if Lindsay Lohan can play Stevie Nicks, Debbie is fair game.