Rock Reality Show Recap: Rocket and the Muggs Get Pink Slips on Billy Joel Week of “The Next Great American Band”

The producers of American Idol think they can find The Next Great American Band on TV (and no, they’re not talking about the next great Grand Funk Railroad). We think we can find some pleasure in this pursuit with our Rock Reality Show Recaps. Here’s our fourth report: Two Great American Reality Hours in Three Sentences: Occasionally tuneless Detroit garage-rockers the Muggs and always-tuneless gal-punx Rocket, two bands Dicko claimed were a victim of “death by lead singer,” were sent home. After last week’s catty diatribe by the Hatch (”I’d like to say that America has spoken … I think about 300 people in Nebraska have spoken”) neither band were allowed to say goodbye beyond a silent blown kiss and an uncomfortable fidget. The remaining eight bands (including all the country groups — shocking news about a show where Americans choose the results) covered Billy Joel. The complete lack of rap groups on the series makes our yearning for the inevitable hip-hop “We Didn’t Start the Fire” cover even more tangible. Best Great American Band: While RS fave Franklin Bridge did a hard-rockin’ “Big Shot” that mirrored their winning twenty-ingredients-in-one-pot style (”Kickstart My Heart” whammy bar noise, slow soul, a little funk-metal, a reggae lilt, some dramatic “spirit finger” hand motions), they sadly took the judges’ advice from last week and dialed back their pyrotechnic drumming. The best band was actually the Clark Brothers, whose gorgeous, minimal and subdued version of “She’s Got a Way” was the only emotionally gripping cover of anything performed on the show to date. Dicko praised them for their conviction, the audience waved their arms like idiots. Worst Great American Band: Bluegrass BBQ-ers Cliff Wagner And The Old #7 complained that Billy Joel isn’t really suited to their style of music, and did a twangy cover of “Yo

Published: 2007-11-13 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Reality Show Recaps

Meet the Guys Who Make “The Hills” Rock

Wondering who decided Frente’s cover of “Bizarre Love Triangle” should accompany the moment on The Hills when Audrina finally broke up with Justin Bobby? Or who decreed that Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” become the can-do anthem of teen girls everywhere? Rolling Stone spoke with Joe Cuello and Jon Ernst, the music genuises who painstakingly combine footage of Lauren, Heidi and Co. with tracks from Carolina Liar, Ashlee Simpson and a thousand other bands you’ve probably never even heard of yet, and make The Hills one of the best canvasses for new music on MTV today. Read the interview here. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-05-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Korn Bring Cornfield, Free Show to Dedicated New York Fans

Yesterday, Korn turned New York’s Times Square into a cornfield (ha ha) for a press conference tied to the release of their twelfth album, then played a free show at South Street Seaport. At the Q&A, frontman Jonathan Davis spoke about his concerns over global warming (”I’m worried about my kids’ kids having a place to live”), the band’s new, untitled album (”It’s very musical. Very out of spirit”) and the group’s early days (”I miss it so much – we’d finish playing then go hang out with the fans. We used to go to houses, have BBQs, parties and stuff”). As for their latest work, “Writing with a keyboard player I think was the biggest difference because it added a lot of depth to songs that we hadn’t really had much experience experimenting with in the past,” guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer told Rock Daily. A few hours later downtown, fans got a taste of the band’s new songs and a handful of classics at a raucous show. Every few minutes, kids emerged from the mosh pit with gashes on their necks or chests. We spoke to five megafans before they could get squashed about their love of Korn, the group’s upcoming covers album and reality show for the Web (which is being filmed during the Family Values Tour). Name: George Wiley III, friends call me Saddle Age: 23 Where from: Brooklyn, New York Why is Korn still relevant? I was born in ’83 and when I first heard their songs I heard they were speaking out for everyone else. You feel that aura that he gives and you know I’m not the only one. What song should Korn cover next? “Happy” by Mudvayne because of the voice. What do you want to see on the band’s new reality show? Everybody, we all miss Head. I’d like to know more about what happened with him, we still love him. Name: Emily Kemlich and Chad Squillate Age: 21, 20 Where from: Georgia and Pennsylvania Why is Korn still relevant? Kemlich: Korn saved my life, it’s the be

Published: 2007-08-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Fricke’s Picks: Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin

There were moments — long, magnetic spells, actually — during a recent set by Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin at Joe’s Pub in New York when the Swiss instrumental quintet seemed more like a double trio: two percussionists; a bassist and one band member exhaling low, sustained drones on bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet; and Bärtsch on both acoustic and electric piano, one hand on each, playing hypnotic overlapping riffs that were more pulse than melody. The music was a subtle, accelerating excitement, a trance-fusion melting of the ‘71 Pink Floyd, the ‘68 Grateful Dead and the rhythm armies in Miles Davis‘ electric bands — minus guitars and trumpet. There are no song titles on Ronin’s latest album, Holon (ECM), or 2006’s Stoa (ECM) — the tracks are numbered — because the colors, lift and flow in this fusion speak for themselves.

Published: 2008-03-27 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Fricke's Picks, Rock Daily

Single Minded: Mariah Carey, Thrice, M83 and More

Every Tuesday Single Minded highlights new tracks hitting stores (or the Web) this week. On Fridays, come back for rarities, remixes, mash-ups and more. Mariah Carey, “Bye Bye” [Official] Carey says E=MC² is a sequel to 2005’s Emancipation of Mimi. We can’t get the acronym to work out, either, but it’s no matter: This E is almost as charming as the last one. Exhibit A: this bright gospel number in which Mimi bids a heartfelt farewell to friends who have left this world and have gone somewhere better. Frightened Rabbit, “The Modern Leper” [MySpace] This Scottish quartet describes the delicate art of getting dumped and, in the process, creates one of the year’s best rock records. By the time the whole band comes charging in on the chorus, your whole body will be made of gooseflesh. Thrice, “Broken Lungs” [MySpace] This is the final installment in Thrice’s series of concept albums about the four elements. But wait! Come back! The first part might have been a dud, but “Broken Lungs” proves the California group is finding their way back: Coils of guitar expand and contract slowly as Dustin Kensrue’s weatherbeaten tenor voices the great existential questions — where did we come from, where are we going and what possessed us to write concept albums about earth, wind, fire and water? M83, “Graveyard Girl” [Pitchfork.tv] An early frontrunner for single of the year, this new wave chestnut by French one-man band M83 is three minutes of raw teenage pain in search of a John Hughes movie. By the time we get to the spoken word passage, where the girl of the title announces, “I’m fifteen years old, and I feel it’s already too late to live,” we’re in the car and halfway to Duckie’s house, tears streaming down our face. Children of Bodom, “Hellhounds on My Trail” [MySpace] So, a few quick things you should know about Children of

Published: 2008-04-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Single Minded

Ike Turner Dies at Age Seventy-Six

Ike Turner an essential and largely undervalued figure in the history of both rhythm & blues and rock & roll, died in his home in San Marcos, California, earlier today. He was seventy-six years old. The cause of his death is unknown at this time. To the public, Turner was best known as half of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, a hard-hitting R&B band that tore off a string of hits in the Sixties and early Seventies — most notably a torrid version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” that cracked the Top Ten and became a pop-culture staple on the basis of Tina’s smoldering spoken introduction to the song (“We never, ever do nothin’ nice and easy”). Influential far beyond its hits, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. But Ike Turner had been a musical innovator for years before he met Anna Mae Bullock, the singer who would eventually become his wife and, as Tina Turner, propel him to international fame. Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 1931 and raised on a steady diet of the blues, Turner eventually became an important songwriter, producer, guitarist, pianist, band leader and talent scout. “Rocket 88,” a blistering R&B hit in 1951 that is often cited as the first rock & roll song, may have been credited to Jackie Brenston and the Delta Cats. But Brenston, who sang the song, was simply the saxophonist in Turner’s band, the Kings of Rhythm, who performed the song under Turner’s leadership. Turner played piano on the track, and may well have written it, though that, too, was credited to Brenston at the time. It would not be the last time Ike Turner was overlooked. But without becoming a star in his own right, Turner thrived in the free-wheeling days of the independent record industry in the South in the 1950s. A propulsive pianist who first learned his style from the bluesman Pinetop Perkins, whom he met as a child, Turner eventually became an outstanding guitarist. His rhythmic sense was at once r

Published: 2007-12-13 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

Slash Says Actual Rock Stardom Interferes With Fake Rock Stardom

Shockingly, the ability to rock doesn’t necessarily translate to rocking Guitar Hero. First we watched comedian David Cross beat Dinosaur Jr. god J Mascis at the game, and now comes news that Rolling Stone cover star Slash has spoken out about his problems adapting his sick guitar skills. “I’m not great at it,” the Guitar Hero III star admitted. “And a lot of that has to do with the fact that it’s hard for me to get rid of thirty years — whatever it is — twenty-some-odd years of playing in a certain way and then all of the sudden become accustomed to pressing some buttons and stuff. I have these little things that I’m so used to doing that when I’m playing Guitar Hero it sort of screws me up.” And if you thought Rock Band, the game going head-to-head with Guitar Hero III when they both hit stores in the fall, sounded good before, here’s even more info: Nirvana’s Nevermind will be fully downloadable and playable on the game after it’s released. And Guitar Legend, a sort of Guitar Hero title for mobile phones, will feature the band’s “Heart Shaped Box.” Photo: Getty

Published: 2007-08-02 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Starbucks’ Next Signing: “One of the All-Time Great Female Artists”

At a London conference earlier this week, Hear Music CEO Ken Lombard noted his Starbucks’ record label had unsuccessfully wooed Prince for the release of Planet Earth (we all know how the Purple One chose to distribute that album). Lombard also said the label would announce its next signing in the next few weeks — but one journalist already knows who it is. Music Week editor Matt Talbot spoke to Lombard, then to the BBC, where he reported, “I’m absolutely sworn to secrecy. But it is another big-name artist — one of the all-time great female artists which will, I think, reaffirm what Hear Music is all about.” Given that prior Hear Music partnerships have been with smaller acts, huge male solo acts or celebrated indie-rock bands, the news of a prominent female joining the label seems promising considering its mounting success. So, who’s the lucky lady?

Published: 2007-07-20 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

How Busta Rhymes Helped Gym Class Heroes Sew Their “Quilt”

Since we last spoke to Gym Class Heroes about the recording of their third LP, the band has embarked on a college tour to debut songs from their new album The Quilt, due this July. When we caught up with the band this weekend at Bamboozle, frontman Travis McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley talked about their recent touring, as well as their recording sessions with Busta Rhymes and Daryl Hall. “The college tour has been kind of a warm-up for us. We’ve been playing four or five new songs,” McGinley says. “We have more prepared, but we find that some songs almost don’t translate to the live show as well [right now].” “Some of the songs are a little moody,” explains McCoy. “Not that this album has dark undertones, but this past year has been so crazy for us with success and personal things, like my cousin committing suicide last November. It bubbled to a point where I went out to record in L.A. and I freaked out. I was so excited, but I was going through so much shit emotionally so I jetted out of L.A. and went back to Miami.” While in Miami, McCoy met up with Andre “Dre” Christopher Lyon, one half of production duo Cool & Dre (who worked on The Quilt). “Me and Dre are kindred spirits,” McCoy says. It was Dre who helped McCoy de-stress enough to head back L.A. and hit the recording studio — but not before hooking Gym Class Heroes up with a guest vocal from Busta Rhymes. In his best Busta voice, McCoy recalls Busta’s reaction after Dre played a demo for him on speakerphone: “Yo! I’m coming to Miami right now! If you don’t save me a verse on this song, I’m going to kill all of ya’ll.” Though McCoy says he’ll never assign song titles until a track is complete — “That’s like naming your baby before it’s born, and what happens if you name it Scott but it comes out looking like a Michael?” — the Bus

Published: 2008-05-06 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Megadeth, In Flames, High On Fire Ground and Pound at Gigantour in New York

The third installment of Gigantour, Dave Mustaine’s traveling metal circus, had its first of two sold-out shows at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom last night. Never one to blow an entrance, Mustaine opened Megadeth’s set standing alone onstage, ripping into “Sleepwalker,” the first cut from last year’s United Abominations. From then on, the order of business was to thrash as hard as possible for ninety minutes, with items on the agenda including a blistering “Take No Prisoners” and a sneer-heavy “Symphony of Destruction.” Mustaine’s ginger mop doesn’t bob as much as it used to, but his chops were still there — impressive for a guy who had to essentially re-learn his instrument five years ago after suffering nerve damage. The big revelation of the night was newly added lead guitarist Chris Broderick, who made trading shred-heavy lines with Mustaine on “Hangar 18″ seem like child’s play. And speaking of children, the 1984 mullets several attendees forced upon their spawn likely qualify as a form of child abuse. Bouncing back from a pair of albums that were light on memorable moments, Sweden’s In Flames performed a handful of vicious songs from their latest, A Sense of Purpose. Diehard fans gnashed their teeth at the dearth of pre-2000 material, but new songs “The Mirror’s Truth” and “Disconnected” featured enough bite to grab newer ears and likely won back a few of the old ones. Most attendees in the massive line missed an impressive — if unpleasantly early — set from Oakland’s High on Fire, who conjure up as much blood and thunder as Mastodon and do it with only three guys. Phoenix-based youthful Internet buzz band (7 million MySpace views!) Job for a Cowboy followed by showing off solid technical proficiency and was the night’s most straightforwardly brutal act, suggesting the band could become pretty noteworth

Published: 2008-04-23 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Live Shows

Lunchtime Poll: Speaking Of Resurrection

This morning’s news that former Beatle Pete Best wants to chat with Paul got us thinking about musicians who’ve been ousted or died or are otherwise no longer in their respective bands of origin. You are charged with restoring the original lineup of one particular band via the reimplementation of one particular artist who has, for whatever reason, not been a part of that band in a while. Which artist do you restore to which band and what does it take to make it happen (i.e. the power to bring back the dead or just lots of cash)?

Published: 2007-04-09 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Lunchtime Poll

Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan Lashes Out at Virgin, Promises Rarities Releases

After filing a lawsuit claiming his former record label, Virgin, allowed Pepsi to use his band’s name in a promotion without permission, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan has decided to speak out. “I’m sure they indicated to Pepsi that they had a right to do this, full well knowing they do not have the right,” Corgan told Billboard.com, adding that the soda promotion “crosses the Rubicon. You’re going to see more of this playing fast and loose with the rules, hoping they don’t get caught. At face value, it’s not a huge deal. But in terms of precedent, it is, because there will be much more of this coming.” News of the breach of contract lawsuit broke yesterday. Corgan has been sparring with Virgin for years over the Pumpkins’ back catalog (Virgin and SP co-own the rights to the music the Pumpkins released for the label). Corgan also said that his frequent attempts to reissue the band’s older albums as expanded editions have been met with resistance by the label. The Pumpkins are currently label-free, having fulfilled their one-album deal with Warner Bros. with Zeitgeist. In the lull between records, Corgan says he plans to release rare early concerts, unreleased studio tracks and outtakes from the Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness sessions. “We may start to release pieces as we go along, and the album comes out over two to three years,” he says. Related Stories: Smashing Pumpkins Sue Virgin Records Over Pepsi Promotion Smashing Pumpkins Form a Tag Team With Indie Wrestling Promotion Rock Bloggin’: God Speaks to Billy Corgan, Tells Him to Post Ramblings on Public Forum [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-03-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Marilyn Manson Bringing Twiggy Songs, Satan, “One Giant Evil Cocktail” On Tour

With his “Rape of the World” tour set to terrorize Orlando, FL, tomorrow night, Marilyn Manson spoke with Rock Daily about what he has planned this time around. With bassist Twiggy Ramirez back in the fold, Manson promises that fans will “get a little bit of what they may have seen in the past, but turned up to a thousand.” That includes many older songs that Manson has refrained from playing in recent years “because they didn’t sound right” without Twiggy’s assistance. The reacquisition of Ramirez has invigorated Manson, who says, “It’s hard for us when we get together because we’re a real bad mixture of trouble. It’s going to be difficult for people to keep us from tearing our faces off.” Twiggy may not be the only surprise Manson has up his sleeve, as his band’s recent tour with Slayer seems to have reaped some benefits. “I’ve invited Kerry King, who’s become a good friend of mine, to come play on stage with us for a few songs here and there. Hopefully we can not only bring Twiggy back but bring Satan back into one giant evil cocktail that’s one thousand proof.” Also figuring into that mixture is opening band Ours. Manson was also eager to talk about his beloved film project, Phantasmagoria: Visions of Lewis Carroll. While the WGA strike and his current tour have pulled him away from the film, Manson predicts shooting will begin in either Prague or Romania in the late spring. “I’m going to be able to make a better film now because I had time to step away from script. I think its going to be a very disturbing film.” Marilyn Manson’s Rape of the World Tour January 19 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Hotel Orlando January 20 - Miami Beach, FL @ Jackie Gleason Theater January 22 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle January 24 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live! January 26 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre January 27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Fac

Published: 2008-01-18 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, On Tour

Rewind: The Week in Rock Daily

Kanye West and Amy Winehouse picked up the most Grammy nominations, while the White Stripes nabbed one of the weirdest. Rolling Stone couldn’t resist making some early picks for who will win on Grammy night — and who should win. Tom Petty spoke exclusively to Rolling Stone about his upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance, the long-overdue next Heartbreakers record and staying away from corporate rock — as well as reuniting his pre-Heartbreakers band, Mudcrutch. In response, we broke out photos from the book Runnin’ Down a Dream, which traces the band’s history. Led Zeppelin mania continued as we began the final countdown to the band’s Monday night reunion show in London with an album-by-album guide to every Zep release and bonus excerpts from our cover-story interviews. Rolling Stone hopped on the tour bus with Paramore to find out why Hayley Williams and Co. travel with hunting gear and enough cereal to feed a small nation. Pimp C (real name: Chad Butler) of Grammy-nominated rap duo UGK died in Los Angeles; Bun B, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall and Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul remembered their fallen friend.

Published: 2007-12-08 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News

Rock School: Lessons From Fall Out Boy’s Today Show Performance

What began as a mediocre Fall Out Boy performance on this morning’s Today quickly turned into an unforgettable rock & roll lesson. The band entertained a crowd jam-packed with emo teens with “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” “Dance, Dance” and new single “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” but their actions spoke louder than their songs. So join us, will you, as we count down the top five things we learned from a rock band forced to wake up around the time they’d usually head to bed: 5. Not even an 80-degree-outdoors-performance can stop Pete Wentz from wearing a hoodie. 4. Frontman Patrick Stump considers a garbage bag to be an acceptable form of jacket. 3. It’s never too early in the morning to cake on the eyeliner. 2. It doesn’t matter if you’re hitting the notes, as long as you’re spinning around hitting everyone else. 1. The quickest way to make an NBC exec livid is to say “goddamn” on live television.

Published: 2007-07-06 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News