Saturday, March 7, 2009

Music News & Notes

No Record Was Issued


Despite previous reports that SEBASTIAN BACH's "Angel Down" album was to be released on vinyl, the records were never pressed. The former SKID ROW singer has issued the following statement, calling out one eBay auction in particular.

"This is fraud. Unfortunately Angel Down was never released on vinyl, and there are absolutely no plans now whatsoever to release it on vinyl. I was lied to by DR2 Records in the UK about this coming out, and I apologize personally to anyone that paid for a record that never came out. After spending hours designing the double-gatefold album cover sleeve, doing countless interviews hyping the release of Angel Down on vinyl, I was told months later that DR2 decided not to put the record out after all.

==============================

Steve Earle to Release Townes Van Zandt Tribute Album


On May 12, New West will release Townes, Earle's tribute to his friend and mentor. The album will also be available as a deluxe two-CD set and on 180-gram vinyl. That's the cover above.

According to a press release, Earle and Van Zandt first met when Van Zandt heckled an Earle show in 1972, the sort of thing that must be a total nightmare for most singer-songwriters. But the two stayed tight until Van Zandt's death in 1997.

Dust Brother John King, who produced Earle's 2007 album Washington Square Serenade, mans the boards on one song, "Lungs". On that same song, Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello guests on guitar. (And yes, he does play one of those wikki-wikki turntable-scratch solos, but it sort of works.) Singer-songwriter Allison Moorer, Earle's wife, sings backup on "To Live Is to Fly" and "Loretta". Earle also recruited a backing band of bluegrass all-stars to play on several songs. And duetting on "Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold": Earle's son Justin Townes Earle, appearing on record with his dad for the first time. (Earle really must've loved the guy if he named his kid after him.)

In the album's press release, Earle has this to say: "This may be one of the best records I've ever made. That hurts a singer-songwriter's feelings. Then again, it's some consolation that I cherry picked through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived."

==============================

Whitney's Baaaccckkkk

Songwriter Diane Warren has written the comeback record for Whitney Houston, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," and is impressed with the outcome.

"I don't usually write music with someone in mind," she told Parade magazine. "But I set out to write this song specifically for Whitney. It definitely touches on her life, but I think a lot of people will relate to it because they've gone through hard times too."

"She sang the shit out of that song. Seriously, it was amazing. I'll tell you something, Whitney is back. Let there be no doubt."

==============================

Eurythmics Not Getting Back Together

Annie Lennox has stated that there will be no future Eurythmics reunions.

"Dave [Stewart] and I talk to each other only rarely these days, and I can't see another reunion. He lives in America and I'm over here [Britain]. We're both working on our own things. For me it would be like a step backwards and I want to keep moving forward."

==============================

Devo News

Devo are set to perform their debut album, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, in it's entirety at a May 6 performance in London. This is the first time the group has performed the 1978 album from start-to-finish. The original album, produced by Brian Eno, contains classics like "Jacko Homo" and their fantastic cover of the Rolling Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

==============================

Faithfull Still Not Liking Jagger

Marianne Faithfull stated that she still is not on good terms with former flame (from the 60's) Mick Jagger, but that Keith Richards helped her on her new album, Easy Come, Easy Go, because of the guilt he felt about the way Jagger and the band treated her.

"Yes, of course (I felt used), probably by the Stones and by Mick. That's maybe why Keith helped me out with this album. He's no fool. He knows I was used as an ornament, that I was great for their image. So he's given me something back."

==============================

Kings Of Leon, Jane's Addiction Among Lollapalooza Headliners

Kings of Leon are scheduled to be among the headliners of both this year's Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits festivals, according to Billboard . Depeche Mode, the Beastie Boys, and Jane's Addiction are also playing Lollapalooza, which takes place in Chicago's Grant Park Aug 7-9, the Chicago Tribune reports and Billboard's sources confirm. Both events are produced by Austin, Texas-based C3 Productions.

The full Lollapalooza lineup announcement is expected in April.

==============================

Waking Up With U2

U2 performed an early 8 am show on Friday morning at Fordham University in New York. Bono joked to the students, “I joined a rock and roll band so I could get out of going to college.” The show was broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America.

The show was divided into two three-song sets (most likely to accommodate the ABC show). The first half included songs from the new album: Get On Your Boots, Magnificent, I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight. The second half was Beautiful Day, Breathe and Vertigo.

No comments: