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 (8/4/08)

Dany and Rusty are in hiding an undisclosed remote fortified compound this week. José feels obligated to warn the faithful readers of this blog that he will be the sole Stranded in Stereo blogger for the week. May god have mercy on your gringo soul.

Be Your Own Pet have announced that they are going their separate ways. I’ll quote from their Myspace page. “We are sad to bring you the news that our upcoming shows in the UK are going to be our last as a band…thank you for all your love and support these past few years — its been a blast but the time has come for the 4 of us to go our separate ways.” A moment of silence please.

The sixth annual Robot Mosh Fest wrapped up last night in West Bend, WI. Normally I don’t care about the activities of the average cheese-head, but this is something special. Bands included Poison The Well, A Life Once Lost, With Dead Hands Rising, Darkest Hour and my favorite band name ever Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza. For the event all musicians have been replaced with animatronics.

This October octogenarians AC/DC will embark on an 18-month world tour. This will be in support of their impending Walmart-only album. The album is their first in 8 years and it’s release plan is top secret. Even the tile is currently unknown. Rumor has it the geezers have been muddling through the recording process with producer Brendan O'Brien since 2004.

Also coming out in October; Deerhoof has announced that Offend Maggie will be released on Kill Rock Stars. In support of the 14-song release they’ve scheduled a fall tour. Bizzarrely the band has released the first single “Fresh Born” in the form of sheet music. Fans can share their renditions of the song here. One obsessed fan created MIDI files of the separate parts so that the musically inept can play too.

The Killers are in their Las Vegas studio finishing up their third, LP. It‘s tentative release is scheduled for this November. The album is being produced by Stuart Price, who already remixed their single "Mr. Brightside." The album was originally scheduled for this March but Brandon Flowers lost big at Keno.

A new Bob Dylan rarities collection is hitting retail October 7. The three-disc set will be titled Tell Tale Signs. It is said to primarily draw from the last 20 years of Dylans career. The set is part of his ongoing Bootleg Series.

Fantasy records will be re-releasing the first six Creedence Clearwater Revival albums for the bands 40^th anniversary These will feature unreleased live material, rare B-sides and previously unheard studio sides. The whole set has been remastered so as to offend the last few living vinyl purists. José would like to point out that the band is so geezerly that they have no webpage. Dude, even AC/DC has a webpage.

Staind will be releasing their 6^th LP, The Illusion Of Progress, August 19^th. They are promoting the date with a private show in Times Square at the Hard Rock Café. José would like to point out that there’s nothing very private about anything in Times Square. But whiel your’e there check out those kids that play the buckets with drum sticks.

ABBA hit number one this week making British chart history this week. Their "Gold Greatest Hits" album became the oldest album ever to do so. The Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday. The Swedish super group attributes the resurgence to their presence on the soundtrack of the hit musical "Mamma Mia. Strangely despite what must be wide-spread popularity no one will admit to owning any of their catalog.