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News Ticker: Janet Jackson, Bjork, Anti-Piracy Czar, Dandy Warhols

Janet Jackson will launch a multi-continent world tour in September in support of her chart topping Discipline. Jackson is also co-writing a book with her nutritionist that will examine her issues with her weight. Following Bjork’s comments about Tibet during a concert in Beijing, China’s culture ministry announced that they would “tighten control” on foreign artists that play China in the future because Bjork “broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people’s feelings.” A bill that would employ an anti-piracy enforcer in the White House passed its first legislative test. The PRO-IP Act, a bill championed by both movie studios and record labels, was unanimously supported by the House Judiciary Committee and will next go to the House of Representatives. The Dandy Warhols have started a new label, dubbed Beat the World, with the assistance of World’s Fair Group. The band’s new album, set for release later this year, will be released on the imprint. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-03-07 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Afternoon News Roundup

Underoath drummer to leave band!

Underoath have announced that drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie will leave the band following their show at Milan's Alcatraz Club on April 6. "We are taking this opportunity to sadly inform you the six of us have decided at the end of the current European tour, Aaron will no longer be playing in Underoath," reads an statement from the band. "This was not a decision made in haste but a thought out and prayed upon group agreement. For the future, Aaron will be pursuing other musical and ministry en

Published: 2010-04-06 Provider: Kerrang!

Rock’s Top Five April Fool’s Hoaxes

Photo: Mazur/WireImage You have to wake up pretty early in the morning to trick your pals at Rock Daily, which is why we didn’t bite when we stumbled upon these totally fake stories today. Here’s a quick survey: By now, Trent Reznor has made it clear he loathes ex-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell’s latest solo album, the Timbaland-produced disco-rock amalgamation Scream. This morning, Reznor upped the ante with a Twitter post proclaiming, “I’ve been busy. Brand new FULL LENGTH NIN record available now.” A click on the accompanying link redirected fans to nin.com/strobelight — a Casio-saturated site promising a free download of Nine Inch Nails‘ Timbaland-helmed new studio effort Strobe Light. The faux record, the site claims, includes “Everybody’s Doing It” (featuring Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Bono and Jay-Z), “Coffin On the Dancefloor,” “Even Closer” (featuring guest spots by Justin Timberlake and Tool’s Maynard James Keenan), “Laid, Paid and Played” (with Fergie and Ministry’s Al Jourgensen) and “Still Hurts,” which boasts a duet with Alicia Keys. A press release posted on Kid Rock’s official Website this morning claimed the rocker had “acquired the naming rights to the home of the Detroit Tigers.” Hey, the dude tied the knot with Pamela Anderson, trounced Tommy Lee at the VMAs, and can’t even sit down for a short stack without getting arrested — stranger things have happened. The release, which was also distributed via e-mail to members of the media, revealed Rock had purchased the naming rights for “an undisclosed sum,” and that Comerica Park would be renamed Kid Rock Park. “This has been a dream of mine for a long time, and with the banks in trouble it seemed like the right time for me to reach out to the fine people at Comerica Bank,” Rock is quoted as saying. Perhaps more believable, but still far-fetched, was a news post claiming that, contrary to recent reports, Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine would be joining Metallica — the band he was booted from back in 1983

Published: 2009-04-01 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Jonathan Davis, Serj Tankian Remember Dimebag at Ozzfest

When Pantera and Damageplan guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was killed onstage at an Ohio concert in 2004, friends and admirers were quick to note that he wasn’t just a martyr who was only appreciated after his demise, but one of the most storied figures in heavy music while he was still alive. Every metal band who passed through Dallas at one point or another has a story about being taken to the Clubhouse, the strip club Dimebag owned along with his brother, Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott, or about the escapades and chaos that ensued at the brothers’ property in Arlington, Texas. In addition to the onstage tribute at this year’s Ozzfest, which featured performances from members of Alice in Chains, Slayer, Anthrax and Sepultura, just about everyone in the backstage area had something to say about the late guitarist. Here are three memories from some of the Ozzfest main stage performers: Jonathan Davis (Korn): “The shit he did, that’s what got me into heavy music — Vulgar Display of Power. I was only into Eighties music before that. The heaviest thing I listened to was Skinny Puppy and Ministry, but that wasn’t metal. When I heard Vulgar Display, I was like, ‘Holy shit, what the fuck is this?’ The first time I ever saw them live, before Korn was even signed, me and Fieldy went, and it was Pantera and Sepultura at Irving Meadows in L.A. They came out, started the first song, the curtain dropped, and me and Fieldy just started crying. We looked at each other and we had tears in our eyes because it was so fucking intense and heavy and sick.” Serj Tankian: “When [System of a Down] played with Pantera at the Forum, my parents had come to the show, and my parents are definitely not into heavy music at all. They were older, in their late sixties. What they were doing was very special, to a point where my parents, who are not into any rock or metal or any type of heavy music, really got them. I was blown away, and I said, ‘Really? You’re not j

Published: 2008-08-12 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

The Last Sucker by Ministry

The final album for the industrial rock band. [Rock, Metal]

Published: 2007-10-15 Provider: Metacritic

"Cover Up" by Ministry

If you want to judge a band by its covers, then Ministry have set themselves up for your hearty pat on the back with Cover Up, the final release by the band which is breaking up after establishing itself as the industrial scene’s force to be reckoned with in the early '90s. Most of Ministry’s albums have featured commentary on politics and the government, but Cover Up is the band’s way of having fun and flipping the bird. This is the Ministry party album. Featuring a variety of cohorts in the form of Fear Factory's Burton C. Bell and Static-X's Tony Campos, both of which share a common musical gene with Ministry, Cover Up features mechanized, cyberiffic versions of The Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb" and an upbeat yet gnashing retooling of Power Station's "Bang A Gong," where frontman Al Jourgensen asks, "What the fuck does Bang A Gong mean?" But the album’s biggest treat is Jourgensen's take on "What A Wonderful World," where his voice takes on the same gravelly pallor of Louis

Published: 2008-02-28 Provider: Artist Direct

McKagan Talks “Chinese Democracy,” China Tosses Up a Ban

Photo: Miller/Getty With Chinese Democracy fever sweeping across the country, Axl Rose’s old Guns N’ Roses band mate Duff McKagan has commented on the album’s self-titled single. “I just heard the single, ‘Chinese Democracy’, and I heard it at the gym when I was working out. It wasn’t like I sat down in a quiet room and listened to it and analyzed it. And I probably wouldn’t. I think [Axl’s] a really talented guy and I shared a big part of my life with him, but that was a long time ago for me,” McKagan said. “I’ve been asked more about this record, starting about 8-9 years ago, and I probably know the least about the record.” Also not swept up in the whole Chinese Democracy fervor: China. According to reports, G’N'R fans in China have blocked from the album’s official website and can’t use their search engines to find “Chinese Democracy.” Whether this countrywide firewall of the terms “Chinese Democracy” predates the album is unclear, but the band’s MySpace page with its full album stream is still accessible. “This is the first time we’ve heard about it,” a Ministry of Culture spokeswoman said regarding a possible ban. “I don’t know if they’re banned or not. It might be a rumor.” Related Stories: • Chinese Democracy Hits Best Buys in New York With a Yawn • Guns N’ Roses Streaming On MySpace • Steven Adler and Izzy Stradlin Weigh in on Chinese Democracy

Published: 2008-11-24 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Guns N' Roses

Having Survived Industrial Rock, Ogre Takes on the Future

Nivek Ogre, the founder of industrial icons Skinny Puppy who was born Kevin Ogilvie but now just goes by “Ogre,” has been around both literally and figuratively. Born and raised in Canada, his work with Skinny Puppy (as well as KMFDM, Pigface, Ministry, Revolting Cocks and just about every other major band in the genre) took him all around the world before he finally settled in a serene mountain area in suburban Los Angeles. “My head is always my head, and it’s my most dysfunctional tool, but I have a sense of comfort in places that don’t feel like home,” he explains. He’s produced all brands of art and survived heroin addiction and has had an amazingly productive year: he stars in the surreal movie musical Repo! The Genetic Opera and also has a new album from his project OhGr called Devils In My Details. The album, a left-field construction of processed jams and samples, moves further away from the pounding noise of his former bands towards something more abstract without sacrificing Ogre’s trademark theatricality. “We wanted to make the album an immersive experience. For me, records used to be that, but for today’s kids it’s video games, so we crafted a lot of sound design based on jump starts from video games. It’s a very crafted record. You’ve got to turn it up really loud.” “Looking for a reason to do the record became a big deal for us,” adds Mark Walk, the other half of OhGr. “A lot of people make a record just because the label says they can.” Walk created a number of audio-video loops based on images and films in the public domain. “We started jamming while watching these loops and using them as inspiration. We had a clip of Liberace performing this sort of classical lick, so at least part of the record was inspired by the image of his hands playing the keys. It was a different way to make a record, but it felt really natural after a while.” As for his participation in Repo!, it was a dream come true for Ogre. “My fantasy as a kid was to be able to sit in

Published: 2008-10-16 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Jay-Z Plots “Gangster” Tour, L.A. Reid Backs Up Nas’ Album Title, Ministry Bassist Paul Raven Found Dead

Jay-Z will embark on a brief, five-date American Gangster Live tour in support of his new album, which will include shows at mid-size venues in Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia. The trek is set to begin on November 6th, the same day the album hits stores (dates after the jump). Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid has spoken out on Nas‘ decision to name his December 11th album Nigger, saying, “Anything Nas wants to do, I completely stand beside him.” But Reverend Al Sharpton is continuing his crusade to make using the word a hate crime, saying Nas is “helping out the racists.” Killing Joke and later Ministry bassist Paul Raven was found dead in his home in Geneva on Saturday by fellow musician Ted Parsons. Raven died at the age of forty-six of a heart attack. He was in Switzerland recording with French industrial band Treponem Pal. AT&T will make Napster’s five-million-song catalog available for downloading through wireless access. AT&T has not announced which devices will work with the service, but songs will cost $1.99 each or $7.49 for five per month. Slash and Trent Reznor’s campaign to make the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” the number-one single fell far short of its goal, with the track peaking at forty-two thirty years after Rod Stewart swiped the top spot from the band. The single fared much better on vinyl, which probably says a lot about the downloading habits of the Sex Pistol’s core demographic. Jay-Z American Gangster Live Tour Dates: November 6: Los Angeles (House of Blues) November 7: Chicago (House of Blues) November 9: Baltimore (Ramshead) November 11: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom) November 12: Philadelphia (Fillmore)

Published: 2007-10-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Morning News Roundup

Ministry Bassist Found Dead

Paul Raven, pioneering bassist of the industrial metal band Ministry, was found dead in a private home in France on October 20. His passing appears to be the result of a heart attack.

Published: 2007-10-22 Provider: Artist Direct