Monday Morning Newsletter (12-08-08)

A litigious week in rock. Guitar wanking 80s relic Joe Satriani is suing Coldplay for copyright infringement. Apparently Coldplay stole some melodies from his instrumental 'If I Could Fly' and reused them in the band's single, "Viva La Vida.'" Satriani is seeking damages and "any and all profits" from the group for their alleged plagiarizing. Jose says Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

After Dixie Chicks lead singer Natalie Maines spoke in support of the West-Memphis-Three, the stepfather of one of their reputed victims is suing. The complaint claims that at a rally, Maines made false and reckless claims that [the plaintiff] committed the murders. The complaint claims that at the rally, Maines made a false and reckless claim that he committed the murders. In fact, so did the defense team at the trial in 1993. a theory supported by DNA evidence. He doth protest too much.

Smashing Pumpkins' front man Billy Corgan has now publicly attributed the Cubs disappointing playoff loss this past season to Eddie Vedder. At a concert in his Illinois last week Corgan specifically blamed the failings on the Cubs new theme song penned by Vedder. "Fucking Eddie Vedder killed that shit dead. Last I checked, Eddie ain't living here, OK? Eddie ain't living here to write a song about my fucking team."

Internationally renowned NAMBLA chairman Scott Stapp is rumored to be reforming Creed. Creed disbanded back in 2004 disappointing born again Christians all across the Midwest. Since their breakup, Creed’s guitarist, bassist and drummer put out two albums as Alter Bridge.

Odetta Holmes died this week of heart disease. Holmes was a classically-trained folk and blues singer. She also had a large number of gospel albums in her catalog. On the side, she managed to become an equally important civil rights figure for more than half a century. She was 77.

The renowned Cleveland-based Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has opened an annex in New York. This cousin to the world's epicenter of rock is in SoHo of course, just a few doors down from the Babeland sextoy shop. Now we just need a pharmacy on the block to complete the idiom.

Boy George is in more trouble than OJ Simpson. A jury has ruled that pop singer Boy George is guilty of falsely imprisoning a male escort. Back in 2007, Georgie mistreated Gigolo Audun Carlsen. Carlsen was restrained with handcuffs and George threatened him with a metal chain.

Monday Morning Newsletter (11-24-08)

Weeks after the election, politics continues to cling to rock n roll. Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash has spoken out on gay marriage this week. He released a video protesting Proposition 8 in the state of California. In the video Slash plays The Star-Spangled Banner on guitar in the background while his wife, Perla Hudson, narrates. Unexpectedly California banned gay marriage by ballot in the November 4 election.

Rumor has it that internationally renowned pederast Michael Jackson has converted to Islam and changed his name to Mikaeel. The 50-year-old singer reportedly became a Muslim in a ceremony at the home of Steve Porcaro in Los Angeles. His brother Jermaine Jackson has previously hinted at the conversion. Jermaine converted in 1989. the brothers had been raised as Jehovah’s witnesses.

This week pop heiress Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz bore their first child. The couple named him Bronx Mowgli Wentz.The child was named for the infamous Los Angeles Hardcore band “The Bronx”. He was born Thursday night, and weighed in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Rumors of paternity abound.

Acid Tiger, the side project of Converge's Ben Koller has posted two new tracks from their impending first album on MySpace. The tracks were recorded at Godcity Studios by Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou at Godcity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts.

Today Capitol Records releases the expanded version of Coldplay's Viva La Vida. The two-disc package includes the Viva La Vida album plus a brand new EP entitled Prospekt's March. The EP includes six new songs plus alternate versions of two album tracks: "Lost +" (with Jay-Z) and a remix of "Lovers in Japan."

Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is suing the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The Goodyear Company owned the plane and were responsible for maintenance. Barker's suit claims the companies improperly operated and maintained the Learjet that nearly killed him. He seeks $25,000 in damages and a $75,000 stipend for tattoo removal.

The infamous Cavern Club in Liverpool England has removed Gary Glitter's Brick from it’s wall. Originally management refused to remove the brick for historical reasons. But after complaints and renrewed press on the pedophile, the club opted to chisel it out. It has been replaced by a new brick bearing the name of the Mighty Wah's lead singer Pete Wylie.