Yep, there’s another new book on the Fab Four and rumor has it that’s pretty good. “The Beatles Unreleased: Music and Film” is a history of all the stuff (studio, live, radio and television) that was never officially been released. Too bad Christmas is over.
(JD)
Kurt Cobain would have been forty years old today. That seems almost impossible.
Cobain who was mocked by noted lampoonist “Weird Al” Yankovic for his seemingly indecipherable lyrics was actually a brilliant lyricist who captured the confusion, anger, and innocence of a life lived outside of the mainstream.
I am by no means an expert in the life and times of Kurt Cobain (I have friends who could spend hours discussing every facet of his life including the suspicous nature of his untimely demise) I am however a fan of his work and a great admirer of his absolute refusal to succumb to the pressures of fitting in.
I’m sure this will lead to some debate, but I would put Cobain in the class of Lennon and Dylan in terms of both social significance and artistic ability.
(DJ)
Hendrix, Garcia, Harrison and Stevie Ray are gone. Clapton, Richards, Page and Townshend are nearing retirement age, so it’s probably time for the music world to find new guitar heroes to worship.
The latest issue of Rolling Stone features a portrait of John Mayer, Derek Trucks (Allman Bros.) and John Frusciante (Chili Peppers) under the heading “The New Guitar Gods.”
I dunno, I’m all for pop-rock focusing on good guitar playing. But not sure how I feel about calling these three guys guitar gods. Maybe I would consider Trucks to be on his way, because he’s certainly paying his dues playing with the Allman Bros. and as part of Clapton’s touring band. But not sure how I feel about the other two.
It’s going to take a while before Mayer can live down “Your Body is a Wonderland,” but I am glad to see that boy changing his ways and do some mean things with a Stratocaster (and a VW Beetle for that matter). And Frusciante has actually been out there a while now doing that funk, grunge thing. But if I was picking (pun intended) a guitarist who is on the scene today, I would be looking at Derek Trucks’ bandmate, Warren Haynes, who is all over the jamband scene playing not only with the AB, but Govt. Mule and The Dead. He’s doesn’t take as pretty of a picture as the other guitar-slingers, but I think he’s more than earned the title.
Any other opinions?…
(JD)
Tommy Ramone (Erdélyi) former drummer for the Ramones (and only living original member) has found a new musical life playing bluegrass. Maybe now we can get him to do a gig at Ida High School.
(JD)
The official announcement is coming later today, but advance reports from Billboard say that the Police, White Stripes and Tool will headline this year’s Bonnaroo Festival June 14-17 in Manchester Tennesee.
Also on the bill will be Widespread Panic, Wilco, the Flaming Lips, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Manu Chao, String Cheese Incident, Franz Ferdinand and Ween.
Sounds like an interesting lineup of today’s musical talent at their creative peak. Now if only Monroe could launch a similar festival. Maybe somewhere with more room than St. Mary’s Park…
(JD)
Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Yippee. Here’s a mix for all my single peeps to help you get through the stupidest day of the year. It’s just under 80 minutes. All songs should be available on iTunes or some other, less legal, file sharing doohickey.
Enjoy.
(DJ)
The Apples in Stereo released ‘New Magnetic Wonder’ today. Go out and buy it so we can talk about it.
(posted by DJ)
Since we’re chronicling band reunions, we’re pleased to announce that MTV pop darlings, George Michael and Andrew “whats-his-name” are reuniting to give us another dose of Wham!
Just don’t bother to wake me up before you go, go…
(Posted by J.D.)
Tickets to this year’s Ozzfest tour are going to be free according a press conference held earlier today by Mr. and Mrs. Osbourne. 25 cities were listed on the itinerary, but as of today, Detroit was not among the chosen.
(Posted by J.D.)
Love is in the air…okay, so far Van Halen, Genesis, Crowded House and the Police are slated for reunion tours this year. And now Don Henley says the Eagles are about to release some new music this spring. So it wasn’t any surprise that I read online earlier this week that Led Zeppelin are planning a reunion tour.
Okay it wasn’t a reliable source, The Sun (a British tab with as much credibility as it’s U.S. counterpart The Star) claimed in cyber ink how the remaining members of Zeppelin were planning a reunion tour with the late John Bonham’s son sitting in his dad’s place behind the drum kit. This is probably due to the fact that Plant, Page and Jones did put aside differences to share a stage last year accepting the Polar Music Prize (I kid you not) in Stockholm.
It’s probably a lot of hooey, but hey, if Daltrey and Townshend can still record and tour as “The Who,” what’s to stop these three legends from giving it one more try? Plant’s been on the road for the last few years with his band “Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation” and they’ve been doing Zep covers to standing ovations. So maybe..
By the way, did you hear that McCartney and Ringo are discussing preliminary plans with Julian Lennon and Dani Harrison to record as the “New Beatles?” Might as well start my own rumor.
Posted by J.D. (not to be confused with D.J. who has more hair and much patience with dinosaur music bloggers) who can be reached at jimd@monroenews.com