Seventeen years in the making and it’s all in Axl’s hands now. Soda giant, Dr. Pepper has promised to give every person in the U.S. (except Axl Rose and Buckethead) a free can of Dr. Pepper if Guns N Roses’ “Chinese Democracy” is released sometime, anytime in 2008.

According to CNN: Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger escaped an assassination plot hatched by the Hells Angels in 1969, a new British Broadcasting Corp. documentary claims.

Some guy in Pennsylvania is auctioning off his entire 60-year collection of vinyl on e-bay; all 3 million records. All genres represented, some duplicates.

Today a colleague expressed his surprise at hearing the Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize” as background music in a Ford commercial. In the chorus of that song is the line, “Do you realize, that everyone you know, someday, will die.” Even though the lyrics never appear in the commericial he remarked that he thought it was strange that Ford would even select a song to represent them with a death reference in it because those familiar with the tune would know the words and might see it as a strange metaphor. Considering the economic decline that this auto giant is facing he asked me if I thought that it was an intentional subliminal message snuck in by some smart-aleck indie punks in their ad agency unbeknownst to Ford. Or are we just reading too much into all of this?

Frankly, I don’t know. But I’m sure that Wayne Coyne and company are enjoying the cash and loving the irony. Although it got us to talking about rock and pop music in commercials and when I thought about it, I guess depending on how it’s used, I’d rather hear the work of a real songwriter than a jingle. On the other hand, I cringe when I hear Mellencamp’s new tune selling Dodge trucks. So maybe like anything else, it has to do with the context and not trying to sound too sanctimonious like Mr. Mellencamp. Neil Young and Tom Petty have vowed that someone would have to pry the guitars from their cold dead fingers before they would let any of their songs be used in a commercial context. I can respect that (like anyone cares what I think?). But I do think that there are times when creative promotion can transcend shameless commerce.

When Volswagen used the late Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” in their stylishly subtle commercial several years ago, it was art. I could watch that thing over and over. Of course there wasn’t any voiceover from an obnoxious announcer explaining rebate options. VW just let the tune set the mood and it worked. That commercial changed the way the industry incoporates pop music into the business of selling. VW also used Slash and John Mayer to great effect playing guitars plugged into a New Beetle. That was pretty hip and makes me think that VW has enlightened folks in their marketing department that understand the difference between branding and selling out.

In the end, I can’t say I would blame a performer for wanting to capitalize on their work to make a few extra bucks. Unless you’re McCartney, one commercial could make up for a year of touring. Ask Bob Seger. I suppose it also depends on the artist. If a performer’s cache is their principles like a Young or Dylan, oh wait a minute,  didn’t I see Mr. Zimmerman cavorting with some scantily clad ladies in a Victoria’s Secrets television ad?

What the hell, everyone from Wilco to Zeppelin have tunes on the tube now hustling something. Anyway it makes for better background music when you’re running to the kitchen to make a sandwich between American Idol segments.

What do you think, is it selling out or just expanding the soundtrack to our lives?

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of “Across the Universe,” the space agency is transmitting the tune to Polaris. It is scheduled to reach the north star in the year 2439. Maybe we could get them to beam Yoko up there too to make sure it arrives safely.

I’ve just learned of a new band from Suffolk, England that reeks of Floyd, early Genesis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor or Hawkwind. Mostly instrumental, they’re a cross between British folk, psychdelia or a bad dream featuring Syd Barrett. Good background music for a funeral or those contemplating suicide.

Their new album is called “The Fate of Old Mother Orvis” and can be found on Backwater Records.

Check them out on MySpace and give a listen to “The Mustard Men” here.

In keeping with the theme of the previous post . . .  three different bands were affected by health issues this week:

Led Zeppelin was forced to postpone their reunion concert by two weeks due to a broken finger by Jimmy Page. The new date is now set for Dec. 10 at London’s 02 Arena (in case you need to change your original plans to attend).

Smashing Pumpkins drummer,  Jimmy Chamberlin was hospitalized this week with chest pains. After tests determined it was plaque buildup in one of his arteries, he was prescribed a week of r&r, forcing the band to reschedule five shows.

The Decemberists cancelled the remainder of their North Amercian tour (27 dates) due to ongoing health issues with an un-named band member. No specific details were released and no plans are being made to reschedule any of the dates.

According to an article in Weekly magazine, you might want to tell Billy to put down the guitar and pickup a handgun.  Apparently leading the lifestyle of the King can lead to a premature stage exit. After collecting the statistics on 1,064 rock stars, from the 1950s to today, researchers at Liverpool John Moores University concluded that rock stars really do die younger. For American rock stars the death age was 42; for European counterparts it was only 35.

Chief reasons for a visit from the Grim Reaper were extensive partying, plane and bus crashes and mental instability. “We looked at this industry just like any other. When you do that, you  identify what people are most at risk of,” says principal researcher, Mark Bellis. “Some of the key risks are still associated with drug and alcohol use.”

Death Cab for Cutie guitarist, Chris Walla had his hard drive confiscated at the Candian border containing four years of master song files for his new solo recording. You can rest more comfortably now knowing that Homeland Security has done it’s part to prevent the subversion of impressionable Amercian ears.