Monday Morning Newsletter (1/12/09)

Dead this week is Betty Freeman. You don’t know her name, but she was a strong supporter of post-modern minimalist music. It’s an arena that does not get by on CD sales, gigs, and T-shirts: they need grants, and philanthropy. Betty carried artists like John Cage, Steve Reich, Pierre Boulez, John Adams, Terry Riley, and Morton Feldman. She died on Saturday of cancer at 87.

Ron Asheton, founding member of The Stooges, was found dead last week at his home. His personal assistant called the police after Asheton went missing for a few days. Initial reports suggest that Asheton had a heart attack. He had a history of high blood pressure but no other major medical problems. He was 60.

Soul singer Ruby Wilson suffered a mild stroke on New Year's Day and is presently hospitalized. Wilson is expected to return to Memphis on Wednesday to begin rehab. The stroke occurred shortly after a performance in Philadelphia, MS. Her agent has stated that Wilson would be performing again as early as February.

Greg Allman was burgled this week. The burglars stole a number of items including collections of silver and gold coins, personal papers, collectible knives, several tapes of unreleased recordings and a handgun. Most of the items have already been recovered but the handgun is still among the missing.

Jihadists have published a list online of targeted Jews in response to the invasion of Gaza. The list was posted on Ummah.com and included Amy Winehouse and British music producer Mark Ronson. On the other hand Salman Rushdie is still alive so take it as you will.

Prince has planned a busy 2009. The artist formerly known as the artist formerly know as Prince will release three albums this year. These albums will be titled: Lotus Flower, MPLSOUND and Elixir. The third is a collaboration with Bria Valente. The Artist has also launched a new Website that seems like it’s earmarked for the influx of new releases: www.lotusflow3r.com.

Monday Morning Newsletter (9/15/08)

The RNC continues to use music without seeking the permission of its copyright holders. Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar recently commented: “Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given to use Right Now.” McCain use the song “Right Now” at a rally in Dayton, Ohio just a week ago. Perhaps Ted Nugent will license him a little something?

AC/DC has announced their first world tour since 2001 will kick off October 28 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The tour will begin with a set of arena gigs in America. Dates for South America, Europe and Asia are to be announced shortly. Bad news for Abba fans; the highly anticipated Abba museum will not open as planned next year. Organizers maintain that the project will proceed as planned, but will be unavoidably delayed. The city of Stockholm is obviously disappointed as this was their only hope for tourism beyond academic research groupies.

Prince will be releasing a self-described “coffee table book” this October. The tome 21 Nights will document his 21-night run at London's O2 Arena. The collection of candid photographs comes packaged with a CD, Indigo Nights.

Linkin Park's Chester Bennington will be releasing a solo album early next year. Since 2005 he’s been squirreling away tracks since 2005 for the side project. The working title is “Dead By Sunrise” but that’s so terrible Jose expects it to change.

Hi Fi Recordings will be releasing a new album from Todd Rundgren September 30th. The LP, Arena is Rundgren’s first studio album in four years. The album is rumored to be his first guitar-focused rock album since 1993’s No World Order.

Kanye West was arrested at LAX International Airport and then released this week. Apparently a TMZ photographer got up in his grille and his body guard broke the man’s video camera. West and his bodyguard are expected to be charged with vandalism and battery. TMZ has already posted the video.

Avenged Sevenfold has canceled the remaining dates on their U.S. tour due to vocal fatigue. Vocalist M. Shadows first experienced problems a week ago at a show in Huntington, WV. He was diagnosed with vocal fatigue days later. The tour will resume on October 15 in Japan. José recommends laying off the blunts.

Oasis’s new album Dig Out Your Soul will be out this October. The LP will be also be released as a collector's edition which includes a bonus disc of remixes and b-sides, a DVD, a vinyl copy of the album, and a hardcover book. The collectors edition weighs about 11 lbs.

The long rumored White Zombie 5-disc box set will see a release late this year. Rob zombie himself describes the compilation as complete and unadulterated. This rumor dates back to 1996, but it appears all the legal obstructions have aligned and Mr. Zombie has a green light. No information on the label as yet.

Monday Morning Newsletter (06/02/08)

Oxford Collapse is releasing their fourth album, Bits, on August 5 on Sub Pop Records. It was recorded primarily with Eric Emm at Brother Studios. They’re also releasing a new 5-song 12-inch on Comedy Minus One Records. This follows a new 7-inch on Flameshovel records. The supporting tour begins June 13 in Madison, Wisconsin at The Terrace. These boys need a hobby.

Chopper Challenge, a motorcycle-building reality show on CMT, will soon be featuring the band Seether. The bike for episode 104 will feature the band’s logo and likeness. This is slightly less whorish then the cable and insurance company bands they normally use.

The Stills third album, Oceans Will Rise, is coming out on August 19 on Arts & Crafts. There is no word of a tour yet but the band has announced three shows in Canada this June.

The Caesars are releasing their 6th album Strawberry Weed August 19th. This will be their third on Astralwerks and was produced by Ebbot Lundberg of the band Soundtrack Of Our Lives. To the Swedes the band is known as Twelve Caesars or Caesars Palace. Copyright law is a bitch.

Rapper 50 Cent is in trouble again. His Dix Hills home was destroyed this week by a suspicious fire. Six people who were inside including his ex-girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins, and their 11-year old illegitimate son Marquise. The couple had been fighting over the 2.4 million dollar house.

There was a big hullabaloo about Prince and Radiohead this week. Prince covered Radiohead's 1993 single "Creep" live at the Coachella Festival. About a hundred bad cellphone videos of it appeared on YouTube overnight. Then in a typical Prince anal-retentive response, his label (NPG) had YouTube yank all the videos. But then Thom Yorke appealed to Prince publicly to permit said videos back online. So today we are all free to see the shitty grainy videos with terrible bootleg audio. Oh joy. Jose prefers the Miser version if you need a cover.

Morrissey has announced his 9th studio album, Years of Refusal, which will be released this September. Producer Jerry Finn also produced his 2004 album You Are The Quarry. Also planned is a Sony BMG reissue of Morrissey's 1995 album Southpaw Grammar. No US label has been announced for Years of Refusal. Morrissey will also be appearing in a UK set of E.D. commercials plugging Viagra alongside Bob Dole.

Neil Young has been moonlighting as a venture capitalist, funding an electric car project. Young has teamed up with Wichita-based Johnathan Goodwin, owner of SAE energy. Young has gambled about $120,000 on the project so far. He was quoted as saying "You know, I thought long ago you could change the world by writing songs, but you can't.”