Nirvana Reissuing 'Teen Spirit' to Aid U.K. Sales Campaign

Nirvana are giving an early Christmas gift to British fans who want "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to hit the top of the U.K. charts in time for the holidays. As the NME points out, the band's label appears to be re-releasing the track as a limited edition 7" single in recognition of a Facebook campaign that aims to make the song Britain's "Christmas No. 1" single.
A December 5 message from Nirvana's official Facebook page says, "We've heard about the campaign to get 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' by Nirvana for Christmas Number One in the UK (supporting the children's charity Rhythmix) and it looks like the label will re-release the single 7" as a limited edition for the fans!"
The hotly debated "Christmas No. 1" spot typically goes to whoever wins The X Factor, but in 2009, a similar Facebook effort helped Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" top Simon Cowell's then-favorite blando. A shame Janet Devlin got kicked off The X Factor before she could make the contest really interesting by taking up Courtney Love's weird, semi-generous Nirvana song offer. Maybe just make the Muppets' version the chart-topper and we can call everything even?
Flip through 14 rare photos of Kurt Cobain. Plus! See all of SPIN's complete coverage of Nevermind's 20th anniversary.

http://www.spin.com/articles/nirvana-reissuing-teen-spirit-aid-uk-sales-campaign Selengkapnya...

The Killers Go Country, Kind Of, for Holiday Single

What do you give the band that's done everything, at least when it comes to annual holiday singles? Cowboy hats, of course! Every year around this time, Las Vegas pomp-rockers the Killers release a new single benefiting AIDS-fighting charity RED. And every year, they come up with something suitably grandiose: 2008's collaboration with Elton John and Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, 2009's Spanish-flavored team-up with Wild Light and Mariachi El Bronx, or last year's It's a Wonderful Life-themed video directed by Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess, to name a few examples.
This year, the Killers have gone country-western — relatively speaking, anyway. They've reunited for a new holiday single that fan communities are alternately calling "Cowboy Christmas" or "The Cowboy's Christmas Ball," with a digital release apparently due on Thursday, according to the blog Arjan Writes. Hear an unofficial stream here, via the Audio Perv.
The Killers' latest effort is a whimsically upbeat, shuffling tune, with plenty of local color (the Truckee River, Carson City, bighorns "a-grazin' "), and enough of a country tinge to have more than a few fans of even the Killers' synthier material itching to don their cowboy boots. Lots of chiming, holiday-friendly instrumentation, too. A drinking song? "Woo!" cries frontman Brandon Flowers, like an old ranch hand, or just a Wild West pop star having a ton of fun. Think of it as "Fairytale of Old Nevada," perhaps. Fa la-la-la-la, and a do-si-do.

 http://www.spin.com/articles/killers-go-country-kind-holiday-single Selengkapnya...

Sonic Youth's Future Still Unclear

The outlook for Sonic Youth's future is no brighter following a fascinating Rolling Stone interview with guitarist Lee Ranaldo. "I'm feeling optimistic about the future no matter what happens at this point," Ranaldo said. Unfortunately, the question was about "the future of the band" — a phrase Ranaldo drops from his answer, which could be telling or could just be a coincidence, but either way doesn't sound entirely optimistic. Especially not for anyone still hoping for a follow-up to 2009's The Eternal, or at least more SY live shows.
Ranaldo went on to say, "I mean, every band runs its course. We've been together way longer than any of us ever imagined would happen and it's been for the most part an incredibly pleasurable ride. There's still a lot of stuff we're going to continue to do. There's tons and tons of archival projects and things like that that are still going on, so there are so many ways in which we are tied to each other for the future both musically and in other ways. I'm just happy right now to let the future take its course and I guess I'm kind of thankful that I've got this other project that kind of came about on its own."
That "other project" is Ranaldo's first proper solo album, Between the Times and the Tides due on March 20, 2012, via Matador. "Over the last couple years Sonic Youth has slowed down markedly, just because we've all been working on our own projects," Ranaldo told Rolling Stone, "and I guess I was just starting to feel a little bit antsy or something." As previously reported, Sonic Youth's lead couple Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon are going their separate ways after 21 years of marriage; Moore released his third solo album, the Beck-produced Demolished Thoughts, earlier this year.
Look at Moore and Gordon's relationship in pictures here, and check out SPIN's examination of their relationship in song here.

http://www.spin.com/articles/sonic-youths-future-still-unclear Selengkapnya...

Michael Stipe on the End of R.E.M. as we Know It

Artist talks about staying friends with his ex-bandmates and why he won't make a solo LP

 

"This is my last day of work," Michael Stipe says cheerfully, strolling through the Rolling Stone offices after giving one of his final interviews as the singer of R.E.M. Theoretically, he is promoting the two-CD compilation Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011, a thorough primer on the band's wild ride from the small post-punk scene in Athens, Georgia, to worldwide celebrity. But that ended on September 21st, when Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck and bassist Mike Mills announced they were disbanding – drummer Bill Berry quit in 1997 – and Stipe, 51, spends most of our hour looking back in candor and relishing the idea of a new life out of rock. "Who says I have to be a songwriter?" he says, smiling. "I'm in a place right now where I don't know what the future holds for me." There are immediate prospects, including a new documentary film he's producing about Internet celebrity and his current work in sculpture. Stipe also makes it official: no solo album. "It's unfathomable to me right now. What would it sound like? Watered-down R.E.M.?"
How did you feel the day of the announcement? Scared, relieved?
I stayed in New York. Mike was in Athens. Peter was in Mexico – he wanted to be as far away as he could. But I was here in case things went pear-shaped and I had to go on Jimmy Fallon or something to say, "No, this is really OK." I'd texted everybody I felt needed to know from me, called a few people and then went to Madison Avenue and walked. I went into a cafe, took a deep breath – and I completely let go. I had been under contract since I was 22. I'd been in a band since I was 19. I was experiencing something profound for the first time: freedom. Suddenly, I was a free agent. Mike and I met up two nights later, and he said to me, "This feels liberating." [Sighs] I was like, "He feels the same way."
Mike told me the three of you first discussed disbanding in 2008. How hard was it to keep it a secret?
It was very hard. My fear was that it would leak – and it would be my fault [grins]. It's not like we sat down one night and had a somber discussion. But we were at the end of a record contract. We are all in our fifties and have other lives. And R.E.M. has always been about the rule of "no." We always knew what we didn't want to do. The number of times in 31 years when one of us almost packed our bags and left is uncountable. But we stuck with it.
I first saw R.E.M. live in 1982. What was your idea then of a life in music? How long did you think it could go?
I was still emerging into this teenage dream of what it was to be in a band, travel the world and have people love you. I had not worked out how much work it would take. Anyone can make a bozo of themselves – that's easy. To do something valuable for you and others, fall flat on your face and bounce back from that – that's not so easy. I got a handle on it with [1987's] Document. I felt like, "OK, I can take my shirt off in this photograph. People are going to like it more." I had long hair like Robert Plant, and I looked great. But I felt I had a purpose, and it came from the songs. It wasn't just me spouting about my own stuff. It was recognizing that I become furious at injustice.
How did your friendships with Peter and Mike change? Most of your time together was about tours and records.
The work is our life's dream come true. As hard as it was to play somewhere in January where it's bitch-ass cold, there's two feet of snow on the ground, and you have a sore throat because everyone in the crew is sick, all of that stuff doesn't matter when you step onstage. Personal problems between us would disappear. That part didn't change at all. I'm seeing Peter next week. Mike and I had dinner the other night. Those relationships will continue.
So why bother splitting?
It was important for R.E.M. to be finite, not let it become this thing that might or might not happen. We needed this not to be the elephant in the room: "Why has it been three years and you're not talking about a tour or a new album? You haven't signed a new deal." We had to put it behind us.
Is there a particular song you will miss singing onstage with R.E.M.?
"Man on the Moon" – watching the effect of that opening bass line on a sea of people at the end of a show. And that is an easy song to sing. It's hard to sing a bad note in it.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-stipe-on-the-end-of-r-e-m-as-we-know-it-20111129#ixzz1fC4p2rtf

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Hear 5 Songs From the Black Keys' Awesome New 'El Camino'

We've already weighed in with our verdict about the Black Keys' new El Camino (we loved it!). Now, in advance of the album's December 6 release, you can hear a bunch more of the butt-kicking album's tracks for yourself.
Enter your email address, country, and postal code at the El Camino website and you'll gain streaming access to five of the album's 11 tracks, including propulsive lead single "Lonely Boy" (of dancing dude video fame). Other tracks offered up include the crunching, slyly funky "Gold on the Ceiling," "Little Black Submarines," which moves from plaintive acoustic ditty to Sabbath-style stomp, the sinister "Sister," and slide-guitar driven "Run Right Back."
Like the rest of El Camino, the teaser tracks are all supremely strong, immediately catchy stuff — the most straightforwardly satisfying music of the duo's career. Buckle up.

http://www.spin.com/articles/hear-5-songs-black-keys-awesome-new-el-camino Selengkapnya...

Ryan Adams Says Mandy Moore Is 'Luckily Not Terrified of Black Metal'

At private L.A. show, singer-songwriter performs tunes from his new album and discusses his love of metal

 

There is black metal in the heart of Ryan Adams. It is an obsession for the folk-rocker, who hosts a black metal talk-show on YouTube called "Night Sweats," where his female co-host, Balphazar, wears corpse-paint and groans her approval amid the skulls and candelabras. Adams performs the morose theme song on banjo.
So Adams was not being ironic when he wore a pentagram Slayer T-shirt a couple weeks ago at a private performance for KCRW-FM in Santa Monica, Calif., that will be broadcast and streamed online at kcrw.com this Friday night. He is the most metal of sensitive singer-songwriters.
"I love it," he told station DJ Jason Bentley during an onstage interview. "There's all these musicians in the world, and anybody that takes enough time to create a record or even think about the fantasy of rock & roll, it's a vulnerable place to be in, it's a huge thing to do. I hear that when I listen to black metal."
Adams performed no metal at the KCRW taping, instead focusing his 15-song set largely on the solo acoustic rock of his new album, Ashes and Fire. Sitting onstage at engineer-producer Bob Clearmountain's intimate Berkeley Street Studio, Adams explained that he's most happy while hearing musical variety that goes from Napalm Death's "Scum" to Toots and the Maytals to the Go Go's.
He noted that his wife, singer-actress Mandy Moore, is "luckily not terrified of black metal – I desensitized her to the entire thing." He recalled taking her to a shop in Norway called Nose Blood Records, where one of the gift items was made of real body parts. "Several of the spokesmen of this movement are totally dead and some of them impaled each other, burned a lot of churches down."
Adams also praised metal icons AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, and endorsed the newest album from Ratt, last year's Infestation. "It is so good. Put track two on, sit down on your couch and wait for fucking Memorex hair," he said, only half-joking. "The sickest guitar parts ever. It's like every song is 'Round and Round.' Every song is that good."
His own songs were not as loud, but were fueled on subtle playing and sudden vocal bursts of searing emotion as he swayed in his chair, strumming and singing with his eyes shut. The song "I Wait" was a mix of anguish and resignation as he sang, "I've been waiting here all night / If you're not going to show, we're not going to fight."
During the interview, he said he still writes his songs on a typewriter. "I'm super ADD. I have to work on something simple and keeps me focused," he said. "I like the sound of it and I like the permanence of when I see the lyrics written out. It makes me feel good. I can write on a computer, but there's too many options."
He also prefers an open window in front of him when he writes, not a glowing computer screen: "You can get the far away eyes thing – you can get that glaze when you're really lost in thought. And I can never attain that in front of a computer unless there's a vaporizer. You can't naturally space out."

Set List:
 "Oh My Sweet Carolina"
"Ashes & Fire"
"Dirty Rain"
"My Winding Wheel"
"Invisible Riverside"
(Interview)
 "Let It Ride"
"Please Do Not Let Me Go"
"Lucky Now"
"Chains Of Love"
"Do I Wait"
Encore:
"Somebody Remembers The Rose"
"Houses on The Hill"
"Jacksonville Skyline"
"When Will You Come Back Home?"
"Like Yesterday"

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ryan-adams-says-mandy-moore-is-luckily-not-terrified-of-black-metal-20111129#ixzz1fC1JT9nv

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Video: Corey Taylor Says “There Will be Another Slipknot Album,” and Summer U.S. Tour

Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor has reassured fans by stating that there will be another Slipknot record, although it would be a “couple of years” before it happens. Speaking onstage during his solo tour, Taylor, who also fronts Stone Sour, also confirmed that Slipknot will be touring the U.S. next summer.












http://www.revolvermag.com/news/video-corey-taylor-says-there-will-be-another-slipknot-album-but-not-right-now.html Selengkapnya...

Corey Taylor, Henry Rollins, and Many More, to Perform at Drop in the Bucket Benefit Concert

A legendary list of hard rock and metal names will be coming together for a charity benefit in Hollywood on November 30 to support the Drop in the Bucket charity. Taking place at the historic Avalon Theater, the event–which is being sponsored by Revolver–aims to raise money to build water wells in the troubled South Sudan.
Hosted by Henry Rollins, the event will also feature performances by Slipknot/Stone Sour frontman Corey Taylor, Jane’s Addiction’s Dave Navarro, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo, and guitarist John 5 along with other members of Rob Zombie’s band. In addition, artist Shepard Fairey, who designed the poster for the event, will be a guest DJ and actress Kate Flannery, from The Office will be performing a musical comedy routine with her ironic lounge act, The Lampshades.
Drop in the Bucket is a Los Angeles– and Gulu, Uganda–based non-profit that builds water wells and sanitation systems at large rural schools in sub-Saharan Africa. For more information, click here.
Tickets are available to purchase for $25, through Ticketmaster, and at the door at an increased price with availability pending. For VIP tickets and table inquiries please contact Alden Kirkman by e-mail, or by calling 323.683.5390. Selengkapnya...

Bruce Springsteen Announces New Album, World Tour

Springsteen and the E Street Band will play Europe and America next year

 

Bruce Springsteen's official website has confirmed longstanding rumors that he will tour with the E Street Band in 2012. A short statement says they will tour Europe from the middle of May through late July. There will also be an American tour, as well as a new album. The complete text of the note is below:

Well, things are starting to heat up down on E Street.
A lot of you have been hearing that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be on tour in 2012. That is absolutely correct. The European dates run from the middle of May until end of July and are being announced this week. Info on the US dates and the World tour dates will coming up shortly.

In addition, we want you to know that the music is almost done (but still untitled), we have almost settled on the release date (but not quite yet), and that we are all incredibly excited about everything that we're planning for 2012. That's all the info we have for right now, but we'll get back to you--real soon.

So far, only four dates have been announced. He probably wouldn't have announced any tour plans this early, but the European festivals were announcing their line-ups this week. Expect many more dates to come soon. Also, don't be surprised if he does a run of American arenas before going to Europe in May.

June 21st: Stadium of Light, Sunderland, England
June 22nd: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
June 24th: Isle of Wight Festival, Isle of Wight, England
July 14th: Hard Rock Calling, London, England    

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bruce-springsteen-announces-new-album-world-tour-20111120#ixzz1eUiomoYc

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Noel Gallagher: Liam Attacked Me With Guitar

Oasis songwriter files countersuit against his brother

 

ormer Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher has filed a series of claims against his brother and former bandmate Liam, accusing him of abusive and irresponsible behavior prior to the band breaking up in 2009. These claims counter charges from Liam accusing his brother of slandering his name after the band scrapped a headlining performance at the V Festival that year.

According to a 14-page writ acquired by the Daily Mail, the elder Gallagher is accusing Liam of disrupting gigs at least 12 times over between 1994 and 2005, aggravating a throat condition with unhealthy lifestyle decisions, attacking fans and leaving "offensive voicemail messages" on his brother's phone. In one particularly shocking passage, Liam is accused of entering Noel's dressing room, snatching his guitar, swinging it around and nearly hitting his brother in the face with the instrument.

In addition to these complaints, Noel clarifies that he never spoke to Liam about his clothing line Pretty Green, but insisted that the products not be advertised in the band's tour brochure. He also mentions that he believed that Liam was being "spiteful and childish" by dedicating songs to Pretty Green employees during gigs.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/noel-gallagher-liam-attacked-me-with-guitar-20111122#ixzz1eUiHnwFj

 

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