Monday Morning Newsletter (5-11-09)

Trent Reznor is off the market. The main man behind Nine Inch Nails is now engaged to Mariqueen Maadig of the band West Indian Girl. Trent has made no comment but West Indian Girl's website now has an announcement. Strangely Mariqueen's band does not suck.

Meg White is engaged as well. Meg, the "drummer" for the White Stripes, is getting married to Jackson Smith later this month in Nashville. Jackson is the son of punk rock poseur Patti Smith. Strangely, while her ex-husband Jack white took her surname, she will be taking Jackson's surname. Jackson's band Back in Spades also does not suck.

Flying in the face of all good sense, Sugar Ray is releasing Music For Cougars, their first album in six years. The band literally hasn't had a radio single in a decade. Mark McGrath will take a break from playing a tool on TV to be a tool on a 9-week summer tour.

Taking Back Sunday will be releasing a new album, New Age, due out June 2nd. Their tour with Anberlin kicks off on May 14. Former lead vocalist Fred Mascherino released a statment that read in part "Really? I thought they broke up."

Free EP from Bleubird, featuring Noah23, with productions by Scott Da Ros, Raoul Sinier a.k.a. Ra, Kid Rolex, Bit Tuner, Playpad Circus and The Closing. Download Here.

Dezordr records has assembled a free digital download compilation of their artists. The comp includes work from Pan@Point, mrteddybear, Shiyugosha Feat. Aamir, Weedafresh, The Parasite, Arsa, The Mange, Buldose, Preserve, Instrumental, Stekri, Knomad, Shitao, SMahara, Native Alter Kartet, Purple Square, Boulo and Dtracks. Get it here

Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Donald "Ean" Evans died this week. After a long battle with cancer On their websit ethe band wrote: "Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans." He was 48.

Monday Morning Newsletter (2-16-09)

This week Gossip singer Beth Ditto is getting naked on the cover of the British magazine Love. If you were unfamiliar with Ms. Ditto I’ll warn you now that she is obese, and the cover-shot does nothing to obscure her alabaster fat rolls. They did airbrush out her nipples which is bizarre looking but not as repulsive. You have been warned. I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit.

The Bob Marley estate has signed a new deal with Hilco Consumer Capital to license/whore out the image of the Reggae icon. His likeness and the Marley surname will be added to products including shoes, guitars, rolling papers and water bongs.

Gaverick de Vis from Giddy Motors is now is in a new band called Poino. The have announced a week of dates in the UK this month with the Belgian duo I Love Sarah. Giddy Motors is one of Jose's all time favorite bands.

Green Day has announced their impending LP 21st Century Breakdown. They have been working on the album since 2006. It’s presently slated for a release on Reprise on May 26th. Butch Vig is producing.

If somehow you had not heard, pop artist Chris Brown beat up his girlfriend. His girlfriend happens to be pop singer Rihanna. She suffered a split lip, bloody nose and scratches to her face. Mr. Brown has been arrested and charged with making a criminal threat and is being investigated for domestic violence. Jose predicts a tragic Tina & Ike turner type of reunion.

March 25th Papa Roach will release their new album, Metamorphosis. Presently the band is touring with Avenged Sevenfold. The first single drops this month, and in April they head to Europe to promote the album. (yawn) They are proof that 10 million people can in fact be wrong. I liked it better when their drummer was suing them.

On Friday February 20th The White Stripes will be the last musical guest of Late Night with Conan O'Brien. This will also be Meg White's first gig with the band since that bogus sex tape gave her a series of panic attacks in 2007. (Seriously dude, that didn’t look like her at all)