Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Vinyl Record News & Notes, Did You Know?

HEAVY METAL FILM FESTIVAL: Official Artwork Revealed

Los Angeles-based painter/cartoonist Tom Neely has dedicated his talents to creating the official artwork for the first annual Heavy Metal Film Festival, set to take place at the Downtown Independent Cinema in Los Angeles, California this coming March 31 through April 3.

Festival organizer and long-time metalhead Samuel Douek states the following about his collaboration with Neely: "Hollywood has certainly seen a fair amount of film festivals, but none as heavy as this! The artwork celebrates the heavy arrival of metal in Hollywood and I'm very happy with Tom Neely's fingerprints being all over this soon-to-be historical event."















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Fireforce Uploads "March On" Cover Art


Belgium's Fireforce has uploaded the cover artwork for the band's new album "March On." Fireforce also recently commented on the album:

"Be prepared for 12 tracks of pure true heavy metal with a monster wall of sound! The recordings for the new Fireforce album 'March On' are already done under the supervision of R.D. Liapakis (Mystic Prophecy, Suicidal Angels, Orden Ogan, Eldritch, etc.). Guest guitars solos by Constantine, guitar player of Mystic Prohpecy (follower of GUS G) and Decsending.

"Eric Philippe, well known for his work with Rhapsody, Riot, Mob Rules, TNT and many others, created and realized the Fireforce logo and artwork. Release Date: 25th March 2011 over the 7HARD label. Watch out for big promotion in magazines like Rock Hard, Heavy, Rock Tribune, Terrorizer, Rock It, etc."

Great album cover art!






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Metallica Planning To Enter The Recording Studio In Spring

In a recent interview with the Danish tabloid newspaper, Ekstra Bladet, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said that the band is looking to enter the recording studio this Spring to start work on the band's next studio album, its first since 2008's 'Death Magnetic.'

"There is a really good vibe in the band at the moment. Previously, Metallica would hang us by the throat when we came home from a mammoth world tour, but this time it's different. Therefore it does not appear to be a long time before we start work on a new album. I think we'll be ready in March and April - when the creative process reaches a boil we'll go into the studio.

"We really enjoy it now. It has helped in our relationship that we all have families and that we have children who work well together. There were some bad years when we never really talked together, we just hopped in a vodka bottle and went out to look for ladies. It meant we did not share our feelings with each other. Today we talk a lot about our children and our families, and it has helped that we have something else to talk about than what setlist is tonight."

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Junos To Honor Neil Young

Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Young is scheduled to receive the 2011 Allan Waters Humanitarium Award during the March 27 Juno Awards telecast in Toronto. The award recognizes "a Canadian artist whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada."

"We are thrilled to salute Neil Young's committed and compassionate legacy," said Melanie Berry, president/CEO of the Junos. "As a driving force behind one of music's most successful fundraising events, Farm Aid, and a key participant in Live 8 right here at home, his tenacity and spirit is highly regarded among his peers, and serves as an inspiration to all of us."

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Video for R.E.M.'s "My Smells Like Honey"

R.E.M. have just released the song "Mine Smells Like Honey" as the first single from their upcoming album 'Collapse Into Now,' which is due out on March 8. Check out more at remhq



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Foo Fighters Announce New Album Release Date

Foo Fighters have recently announced that their as-yet-untitled seventh studio album will be released in the UK on April 11. The LP will be their first of new material since 2007's 'Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace' topped the UK Album Charts. It was also nominated for five Grammy Awards.

Long labelled as one of the "nicest men in rock," the group's modest front man Dave Grohl has had the band recording their new output in his garage with Nirvana's 'Nevermind' producer Butch Vig. It's the first time the pair have worked together since that album, and is far from the only renewed link to Grohl's previous band.

The BBC revealed that, in a series of news snippets leaked on their social networking accounts including Facebook and Twitter, the group have revealed that Nirvana co-founder and guitarist Krist Novoselic will make a cameo on the new album, while their former touring guitarist Pat Smear will formally join the "Foo Fighters core."

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Ghost Heart – The Tunnel LP

Grand Rapids, Michigan quartet Ghost Heart have just released their stunning debut full-length, 'The Tunnel,' via Friction Records.

Available on both CD and 12″ vinyl (clear + pink / amber), The Tunnel features accessible yet expansive rock songs that synthesize electronica, American folk, samples, tribal percussion, shoegaze guitar sounds and layered vocals to produce an effect that is at once joyously communal and deeply personal. Ghost Heart’s sound has been described by the Detroit Metro Times as “a little of Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend, only with more heart.” Instantly gratifying in some moments, challenging in others, The Tunnel is a unique listening experience.






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Chaz Martenstein of Bull City Records

At 1916 Perry St., in Durham, N.C., Bull City Records hangs above a video-rental store. Together, the businesses are an anachronistic presence on the Durham side-street within spitting distance of Duke University’s campus. Other neighbors sell burritos, dance lessons and jewelry. But here, in the midst of it, two shops fight to give their customers an opportunity to see and hear things they won’t likely find by perusing the iTunes Store. Chaz Martenstein, Bull City’s proprietor, treats his station like a pharmacist’s, dispensing cures for what ails ya, whatever it might be.

But, this is the age of the Internet. Music and movies are omnipresent, available for the cost of a few minutes and the occasional virus. And as the record industry continues its much-publicized fall, Martenstein’s perch over Perry Street might seem a perilous one.

But from where he sits, things don’t seem so bleak. Bull City records is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month......

Read the rest HERE Bull City Records/

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Did You Know?

more stuff everybody should know...

There are over 58 million dogs in the U.S!

Dogs and cats consume over $11 billion worth of pet food a year!

Some ribbon worms will eat themselves if they cant find any food!

To "testify" was based on men in the Roman court swearing to a statement made by swearing on their testicles.

Dolphins sleep with one eye open!

One gallon of used motor oil can ruin approximately one million gallons of fresh water!

More money is spent on gardening than on any other hobby!

THE LAW OF THE LAND

In Tennessee, it is against the law to drive a car while sleeping.

and in music today:
Frankie Avalon's "Venus" was released in 1959.

The Coasters song, "Charlie Brown," was released i 1959.

In 1959, Buddy Holly, Richard Valens and The Big Bopper all appeared at the Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa. This was all three acts last ever gig before being killed in a plane crash the following day.

In response to a storm of controversy in 1964, Max Firetag, the publisher of The Kingsmen's hit, "Louie Louie", offers $1,000 to anyone who can find suggestive lyrics in the song. The reward is small change considering that the disc cost less than $50 to record and has sold millions of copies.



The Rolling Stones released "19th Nervous Breakdown" in 1966.

In 1968, Simon and Garfunkel record "Mrs. Robinson", which will become their second US number one and win a Grammy Award for Record Of The Year.

The Midnight Special premieres on NBC-TV with Helen Reddy as host. Wolfman Jack would later take over for an eight-and-a-half-year run.

In 1979, Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious died of a heroin overdose in New York City. There had been a party to celebrate Vicious’ release on $50,000 bail pending his trial for the murder of his former girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, the previous October. Party guests, said that Vicious had taken heroin at midnight. An autopsy confirmed that Vicious died from an accumulation of fluid in the lungs that was consistent with heroin overdose. A syringe, spoon and heroin residue were discovered near the body.

Foreigner started a two-week run at #1 on the US singles charts in 1985 with "I Want To Know What Love Is."
In 2007, US keyboardist Joe Hunter, a veteran session musician as one of the Funk Brothers who helped craft the distinctive Motown sound, died in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 79. Hunter performed with such legendary Motown acts as Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Martha and the Vandellas.

Born on this day In 1942, Graham Nash, guitar, vocals, with The Hollies who he left in 1968. Member of Crosby Stills Nash & Young

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