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Picture: Readers’ Rock List: Color Bands

Shane West on Joining the Germs and “What We Do Is Secret”

After years of drama, this Friday sees the long-awaited release of What We Do Is Secret, the biopic that tracks the rise and fall of notorious Los Angeles punk icons the Germs. Formed in 1977, Darby Crash, Pat Smear, Lorna Doom and Don Bolles became notorious for loud, fast songs about sex and destruction which they played with amateurish glee at their riot-inducing live shows. In recent years, the band has seen something of a renaissance, touring occasionally with What We Do Is Secret star Shane West in place of the late Crash. “I never thought so much fun being a Germ,” West says. “But I always remember that Darby was booed off the stage a lot back in the day, too.” Click above for an exclusive clip from What We Do Is Secret. How did you end up in this role? To be honest there’s no great story. I just had an audition the meeting came through, and I jumped up and was like “really, they’re doing what?” I’m thankful it’s so independent, because otherwise I don’t think I would have had the opportunity to do it. It was difficult, but that’s what I feel when the best movies come because you’re not trying to care about foreign rights or who is getting people into the seats. You’re actually trying to make the movie good. Were you a Germs fan before, or did your research of Darby come after you got the role? The real research started to begin when I got the role. I had heard the regular set of punk bands out of the L.A. scene: Black Flag, the Germs, X. I had heard of Darby’s legend, but that’s it. I knew of “Lexicon Devil” and “Circle One.” I might have heard those two songs. Is it difficult playing somebody who actually lived? It seems it’d be hard to keep the balance between the actual facts and you’re interpretation who Darby was. I had never done it before. I think it’s gonna be different for any actor or actress who has that chance. I’m not a method actor, but I feel it’s good to be somewhat method when it has something to do with a character like that. I also feel

Published: 2008-08-06
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News, Videos

Picture: Ryan Adams: “I Heard ‘Sister’ and Thought, ‘I Have to Get a Guitar’”

Picture: Hatebreed to release covers album

Pearl Jam Showcase Rarities, Politics, Dylan and Who Covers at Bonnaroo

While most bands used Bonnaroo as a platform to play hits, Pearl Jam used their Saturday night closing set to unleash some rarities. Around 10:15 p.m., the band strolled onto the stage and unleashed “Hard to Imagine,” a gorgeous ballad that the band has only played a few dozen times since 1992. Later on, they turned out jams like “W.M.A,” and monster covers of the Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” and Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower.” Vedder — who earlier had joined Jack Johnson on a duet of the beach bum’s jam “Constellations” — got political at points during Pearl Jam’s set. Before the band performed “Gone,” Vedder spoke critically about the conspicuous rise in gas prices since George Bush took over the White House. And later, he urged the crowd to get out and vote (presumably for Barack Obama) in the November election. “A song cannot change the world,” he declared. “But this many people can change the world. How do we know? It is stitched into the fabric of our flag and it is welded into our constitution that we have the right and the responsibility to make change.” Of course, portions of the crowd were upset by Vedder’s proclamations — Bonnaroo, after all, is located in Tennessee, the heart of Bush Country. One dude even shouted, “You’re a dipshit,” before storming off the grounds. But Vedder’s political statements didn’t get in the way of their awesome set, which also featured tunes like “Black,” “Why Go,” “Even Flow” and “Corduroy.” During a cover of Victoria Williams’ haunting ballad “Crazy Mary” — which includes the lyrics “Take a bottle/ drink it down/ pass it around” — Vedder hopped off the stage to share his bottle of red wine with kids in the front row. The highlight of the band’s set was “Betterman,” during which the crowd ignited lighters and shouted along to the words, drowning out the band. Vedder seemed visibly touched by the sight, saying, “That’s fucking beautiful, man!” [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-06-15
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News, Bonnaroo

K!'s SXSW blog (Part One)

K! editor Paul Brannigan reports from this year's South By South West festival. Wednesday, March 18 The city fathers of Austin, Texas grandly refer to their hometown as 'the live music capital of the world'. During the annual South By South West festival you won't hear any dissenting voices. What you will hear, is music pumping out of every bar, restaurant and tattoo parlour, as hundreds of up and coming bands slug it out for Next Big Thing status. The competition is fierce - at any given hour there are 50 or 60 shows taking place simultaneously across the city - but the sheer variety of music on offer makes SXSW a fabulous, fascinating festival to attend. A wristband or SXSW badge gives you access to every show...the only problem being deciding where to start. Our SXSW starts at the legendary Emos venue, with the hardcore fury of Trash Talk, an impressively belligerent quartet from Sacramento. Reminscent of Black Flag at their most antagonistic, the quartet deal in short brutal bursts of noise with scant regard for melody or harmony. That their singer ends the show dripping blood and vomit tells you all about their commitment to pushing extremes. K! favourites The Bronx are up next, playing the first of what will be three shows today. They are, as ever, fantastic, slamming through a 35 minute set to a packed room, More on them later... At 7 o'clock it's Gallows turn to wreak havoc, over on Emos' outside stage, opening a bill which will later feature hardcore heroes Circle Jerks and former Bad Brains' frontman HR's new band. But there is nothing nostalgic about the Brit punks' set: indeed Frank Carter abandons Abandon Ship halfway through with the words "You get the gist" so that his band can focus on showcasing tunes from their upcoming Grey Britain album. Trust us, this album is immense and tonight songs like Vultures and Misery are given their US premiere in the most savage way. Carter's stage dive from the venue's roof is almost as impressive. As Gallows set cli

Published: 2009-03-20
Provider: Kerrang!

Black Flag

Black Flag Pictures

Black Flag: Most viewed pictures

Readers’ Rock List: Color Bands

Shane West on Joining the Germs and “What We Do Is Secret”

Ryan Adams: “I Heard ‘Sister’ and Thought, ‘I Have to Get a Guitar’”

Hatebreed to release covers album

Pearl Jam Showcase Rarities, Politics, Dylan and Who Covers at Bonnaroo

K!'s SXSW blog (Part One)

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