Wednesday, May 05, 2004

George Bush, Axl Rose, Courney Love, Opera, Lostprophets, Zane Lowe and Euro 2004...

Intro...

Welcome to today’s slice of stuff. Read on to learn about Axl Rose getting sued, Courtney Love possibly dodging jail, Opera at one of the summer’s big festivals, the Lostprophets stalker robots, Zane Lowe’s play list and the alternative Euro 2004 anthem. But first up news of a compilation album you just might want to get your hands on...



Smoke Bush…

Did you get your hands on the first Anti George Bush album? No? Neither did I. Needless to say I will be getting my hands on it one way or the other. What do you mean you have never even heard of it? Get out, get out now...

‘Rock Against Bush Vol. 1’ was released on 20th April and featured the likes of Sum 41, Good Charlotte, NOFX, The Offspring, Alkaline Trio, Less Than Jake and inevitably Billy Bragg.

It sold an impressive 20,000 copies and managed to sneak into the Billboard 200 albums chart at number 54. I know Beyoncé won’t be shitting her thong about being knocked off the top of the charts but that isn’t really the point.

Details have just been announced regarding Volume 2. This time around there will be Green Day, Bad Religion, Yellowcard, No Doubt, The Used and most notably the Foo Fighters all contributing.

No Doubt are submitting ‘Comforting Lie’, while Bad Religion's contribution is a new track called ‘Let Them Eat War’. The Foo Fighters have given their cover of the Angry Samoans song ‘Gas Chamber’ to the album.

Interested? 'Rock Against Bush Vol. 2’ should be available this August and should feature over 20 songs and include a bonus DVD.



Welcome to the Jungle...

Anyone else think that Axl Rose is an utter gobshite? Nice one, I’m not alone! With this in mind it brought a smile to my face to learn that the stuttering fucker is being sued by two of his former bandmates to the tune of $1 million. Gerrin!

It is reported that former Guns And Roses guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan have joined forces to sue the shit outta the kilt wearing tit for lack of earnings or something because he decided to reject requests from a variety of Hollywood producers to use songs from the bands back catalogue in their movies.

Turns out he doesn’t have the authority to do this.

Apparently there were offers from the makers of "We Were Soldiers", "Death to Smoochy", "Old School" and "Just Married" that Rose turned away. The lawsuit also claims that the singer stopped negotiations with the producers of "Black Hawk Down" who wanted to use "Welcome to the Jungle" in the movie.

In a nice cash cow milking twist it turns out that Rose told the producers that he wanted to re-record ‘Welcome...’ for the film. Did he want to improve it? Give it a new twist? Try something new? Did he fuck! He just wanted to make sure that Slash and McKagan wouldn't receive any licensing payment. Nicely done...

There was a big ‘no comment’ from Rose's management regarding the suit.



Gotta love Courtney...

Courtney Love has got the chance to see the drug charges against her dropped as long as she completes a treatment programme. Mrs Cobain was arrested last October in Los Angeles and subsequently tested positive for cocaine – not a good move in California by all accounts although I can’t think of anywhere where it would be. Maybe Columbia?

Assistant Supervising attorney Jerry Baik of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office said: "It's a great idea for her because she can probably benefit from the programme, and if she completes the programme she won't have a conviction in the case. But if she fails to complete this programme then she will be required to do 90 days in jail."

It all goes back to court on the 25th May where the former Hole front-woman (or should that be front-person seeing as it is a crime punishable by death for being un-politically correct these days) has to accept the deal.

One thing is certain, it will end there and then one way or the other as the powers at be are getting pretty pissed off with all the messing about.

LA Superior Court Judge Patricia Schregg said: "No more delays. This case has gone just way too long."

Once this deal has been sorted Love is in the clear...well except for the other charge hanging over her for possession of prescription painkillers in Beverly Hills...oh and then there is the issue of her arrest in New York after a show ended in violence a couple of months ago!

Like I said, you gotta love Courtney!



The fat lady is ready to sing at Glastonbury...

In an attempt to get ‘the kids’ into Opera organisers of the Glastonbury Festival have allowed the English National Opera to play at the event this summer. It was announced today that 91 musicians and 11 soloists will perform a section of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, which includes 'The Ride Of The Valkyries'.

Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the English National Opera, Sean Doran, said: "This is an audience we should be reaching out to.

"They will know the signature theme, but they will be hearing much of what they haven't heard before. They will be there to hear music and have fun and in the whole sense of the outdoor spectacle.

"When Wagner wrote the 'Ring...' he wanted a festival context for it, he wanted to reach as many people as possible and take it to the masses."


But those in charge of the festival aren’t stupid. There was no chance on God’s green Earth that the tuxedoed whoppers would be headlining on the Main Stage, instead they have received The Darkness slot on Sunday.

"We decided to put them on the main stage at 11am on Sunday morning," said promoter Michael Eavis.

"It is all quiet at that time of day and hopefully a bit of Wagner will get people out of bed as people are pretty familiar with the music. It is bigger than anything we have done before, but it's not our usual style."

I wonder how much money exchanged hands for this lot to appear? Someone is making an even bigger fortune than we thought. Cunts...



When you’re big in Japan...

It seems that sheep shagging noise merchants Lostprophets have caused a bit of a stir in the Land of the Rising Sun. The lads visited Japan recently and were warned that there would be fans waiting for them at the airport and at their hotel. They thought they were being spun a line but it turned out to be true.

Lead singer, Ian Watkins said: "We just didn't know what to expect. Everyone was like 'You're gonna go to Japan, there's gonna be kids waiting for you at the airport and at your hotel room’.

"We were like 'Shut up, we're from Ponty, nobody comes and waits for us, and we're playing a bandstand in Ynysangharad park!’

"And there was. There was people there. They came to our hotel and they waited there and they gave us presents, little robots that help you out in the day. Mr Robato, domo arigato!"


The band’s new single ‘Wake Up (Make A Move)’ came out on Monday in a variety of formats, all with different b-sides & loads of extras.

CD1 (Torment 39 CD) - £1.99
1) Wake Up (Make A Move)- Radio Edit
2) Wake Up (Make A Move) - Chicago Q101 Performance

CD2 (Torment 40 CD) - £2.99
1) Wake Up (Make A Move) - Radio Edit
2) Holding On - Demo
3) Wake Up (Make A Move) - Video
4) Wake Up (Make A Move) - Video, The Making Of

7" (Torment 41 CD) - £1.99
1) Wake Up (Make A Move) - Radio Edit
2) Start Something (Radio 1 Astoria Gig)

Go out and buy it if you can be arsed...



Zane be thy name...

Wanna know what is on Zane Lowe’s play list this week for his Radio 1 show? See below:

Jet - 'Are You Gonna Be My Girl'
Beastie Boys - 'Ch-Check It Out'
Razorlight - 'Golden Touch'
Inme - 'Faster The Chase'
Morillo Feat Audio Bullies - 'Break Down The Doors'
Hope Of The States - 'The Red The White The Black The Blue'
Ash - 'Orpheus'
Massive Attack - 'Teardrop'
Supergrass - 'Kiss Of Life'
Mark B - 'Move Now'
Slipknot - 'Duality'
Adem - 'These Are Your Friends'
The Killers - 'Mr Brightside'
The Dead 60's - 'You're Not The Law'
The Ordinary Boys - 'Talk Talk Talk'
Chk Chk Chk - 'Hello? Is This Thing On?'
Ghostface - 'Push Feat Missy'
Concorde Dawn - 'Tonite (Pendulum Mix)'
New Found Glory - 'All Downhill From Here'
The Bees - 'Horsemen'
Amusement Parks On Fire - 'Venus In Cancer'
Meow Meow - 'Cracked'
Outkast - 'Roses'
High Contrast - 'Twilight's Last Gleaming'
Graham Coxon - 'Spectacular'
The Concretes - 'You Can't Hurry Love'
Million Dead - 'I Gave My Eyes To Stevie Wonder'

That cat is truly too cool for school if you ask me...



Bucket

With Euro 2004 almost upon us you can start bracing yourself for the obligatory wank song that accompanies our nations march to certain defeat. This year things may be a little different as it looks like there will be two songs to choose from and one of them might actually be half decent.

It has been reported in the NME that The Libertines, Supergrass and The Delays are all going to appear on an alternative anthem for this years rampage across Europe in the name of following England.

Quality radio station XFM ran a ‘Song For Europe’ competition after hearing that crud gobshites Blazin’ Squad had been approached by the halfwits at the FA to do the official Euro 2004 song.

XFM DJ Christian O’Connell said: "As soon as we heard that it looked like the Blazin' Squad were going to do the FA song that was it really, it was like the red mist descended. We thought this is rubbish and rather than just moaning about it we thought let's see if anyone listening can write a really good anthem and we'll get it released."

A band called The Wheatleys eventually beat off stiff competition with their track ‘Born In England’. The song is now ready to be recorded in London with the help of aforementioned bands who all got in touch with the radio station to pledge their support.

"We had over 20,000 people voting over the weekend which is an amazing response seeing as it was a Bank Holiday and there was a Bond film on," added O’Connell.

"‘Born In England’ is the first rocking football anthem in a long time, forget the shabbiness of that Ant and Dec song. This isn’t bad for a novelty song, even 'Pop Idol' judge Neil Fox said it could really go to Number One as it is a good tune. Now all they have to do is get ready for that 'Top Of The Pops' performance."

’Vindaloo 2’ is on the drawing board Ladies and Germs...