Courtney Love Schools Lana Del Rey

Courtney Love is a hot mess and, even though we won’t admit it, America loves her. She is long passed her hey-day as the lead vocalist for Hole, and that is quite obvious in her appearance. But despite Love's addiction issues and horrid plastic surgery, she has a loud mouth and won't hesitate to speak her mind, which I respect. And nothing was stopping her yesterday in regards to Lana Del Rey’s live cover of Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box.” (click to listen)

Del Rey, who I have never even heard of until this story went viral, is apparently a Kurt Cobain fan. She told a radio show last year that when she heard her first Nirvana song, it “stopped me dead in my tracks.”

Courtney Love, Cobain’s widow, obviously had something to say via twitter after Del Rey’s performance in Sydney last week.

Those tweets have since been deleted; also an “apology” tweet has been issued and erased as well.

“You are gorgeous and very talented, it was all in good humor love, it is true however bwahaa xc”

Sorry Lana Del Rey, you’ve been owned.

“Heart Shaped Box,” one of my favorite Nirvana songs, is from the band’s 1993 album In Utero. In a sense, I understand why Love felt the need to say something. After all, Cobain killed himself in 1994 after he feared he sold out and became too mainstream, amongst various other reasons. I'm sure Del Rey's cover is something he would not have been overly thrilled about. 

Regardless, here are some other cool Nirvana songs, so make sure you check them out! 

"Come As You Are"

"Rape Me"

"The Man Who Sold the World"- originally by David Bowie but I love this version

"About a Girl"

"Lithium"

"Drain You"

"Aneurysm"

"All Apologies"

"In Bloom"

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Obviously

Joplin's Biopic Does It Right

After 12 agonizing years, producer Peter Newman is finally able to take his Janis Joplin biopic off the backburner as production of Joplin will begin early next year.

Unlike the upcoming Jimi Hendrix biopic, All Is By My Side, Newman waited to ensure he would be able to utilize 21 of Joplin’s most endearing songs, including “Piece of My Heart,” for his indie film. Hendrix’s is relying on the Beatles’ catalog, a factor that will surely affect the biopic’s monetary success. The rights to her song, and virtually her life, coast a whopping $2.5 million. But surely, in the end, the high price will pay for itself.

Newman not only scored the rights to Joplin’s music, but to “Love, Janis,” a collection of letters from the singer published by her sister, Laura Joplin, and to Piece of My Heart, a book written by ex-Rolling Stone reporter David Dalton, who travelled with Joplin the last six months of her life.

It appears that is what the film is largely documenting, her last six months, though we will also see a few snippets from her early career. Janis was a wild rocker at the time, but soon suffered from her own demise when she overdosed on heroin in October 1970.

Newman and director Sean Durbin searched endlessly for the perfect leading woman—literally endlessly. They considered everyone from Zoey Deschanel to Pink, but eventually settled for Tony winner Nina Arianda.

“I’ve never in my life seen an actress walk on stage and convey the duality of vulnerability with overheated sexuality, which is what Janis was all about,” said Newman of Arianda. And rightly so. She was formerly the leading role in the off-Broadway hit, Venus in Furs, a sensual and rather seductive production.

Joplin was recently posthumously awarded a Walk of Fame star; you can see that post here.

Check out this live clip of Janis on the Dick Cavett show. I can’t wait to see this on the silver screen!

If you want to skip right to the interview, jump to 9 minutes 25 seconds

Rock and Roll Mugshots

First is Mick Jagger, my favorite Rolling Stone. Although he was arrested on multiple occasions, this particularly handsome mugshot was taken in 1967 after a drug raid was conducted on guitarist Keith Richard's house. Jagger was forced to spend a few nights in jail before they made bail. George Harrison  and John Lennon of the Beatles were also both arrested on similar charges. Police were notorious for these celebrity home drug raids in hopes to "deter" the swinging sixties' drug issues.

Jim Morrison was known for his poetry, his sultry voice and his wild antics. At a Miami, Fla concert in March of 1969, Morrison perhaps shared a little too much with his audience-- and by too much, we mean his private parts. Yes, Morrison allegedly whipped out his own "Lizard King" at that show, and was arrested the following year for indecent exposure and profanity. He and his bandmates denied these accusations. The state of Florida surprisingly pardoned him for this arrest in 2010. What would Jim have thought? Probably would have thought of it as an insult!

Having trouble recognizing this face? Probably because it is years before his limelight prime. Steve Tyler of Aerosmith was arrested at the age of 18 for possession of marijuana. Sure, he's been arrested numerous times for that very charge, but this was the first and, I guess, most monumental. 

Guitar God, Jimi Hendrix, was arrested at the Toronto, ONT Airport in May 1969 for possession of heroin and hashish. Why would he try to sneak that on board? Well, according to the story he told Canadian officials, a "well-meaning" fan slipped the junk into his luggage as a present. Some fan, huh? And some story. I don't know that I would believe it, knowing what I do about Hendrix, but the Canadian officials did and he was left off the hook.

Janis Joplin was arrested in Tampa, Fla on November 17, 1969, a year before her untimely death. The night before she was apparently on stage, verbally bashing the local police force. She was arrested the next night for disorderly conduct, however her case was overturned, as the judge deemed this as a simple exemplar of freedom of speech.

David Bowie, punk star Iggy Pop and two female companions were arrested in March 1976 for felony possession of a half an ounce of marijuana at the Americana Hotel in Rochester, NY. The group was there for a concert, having a little fun, until a hotel worker smelled the odor and called the coppers. They were all held in Monroe County Jail for a few hours until, well at least Bowie was, released. Charges on all four were eventually disposed. 

Sid Vicious, of the notorious Sex Pistols, has had quite an experience with jail time. Two months after he allegedly murdered his girlfirend, Nancy Spungen, he was arrested in December 1978 for "bottling" singer Patti Smith's brother, Todd, at a Skafish concert. He spent two months in prison, until dying of an overdose the day he was released. Now here's the controversy. A recent documentary tells the finding of a suicide note, detailing his plain with Spungen to jointly commit suicide, as a pact of sorts. Apparently, if this is true, Vicious survived his first attempt, and fulfilled his end of the pact after he ended his life (again, allegedly) after being released from jail.

 Trey Anastasio was the subject of Phish's 2006 hiatus when he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and DWI drugs. He was stopped by police at 3:30am while driving through Whitehill, NY. After failing a sobriety test, police found Xanax, Percocet and Hydrocodone in his car, neither of the drugs prescribed to him. Although he spent some time in jail, he later credited this stint with the law as a wakeup call.

What celebrity mugshot list would be complete without Willie Nelson? The country star-marijuana advocate was arrested in November 2010 after his tour bus was stopped in Texas by US Border patrol. Six ounces of weed was found onboard! The checkpoint was routine, and supposedly, the odor was blatant. Nelson admitted the goods were his, was held briefly in jail, until being released after paying his $2,500 bail.

Lastly is the blue-eyed, 23-year-old Frank Sinatra, arrested in 1938 in New Jersey for charges of seduction and adultery. The FBI reports, "on the second and ninth days of November 1938 at the Borough of Lodi" and "under the promise of marriage," Sinatra "did then and there have sexual intercourse with the said compliant, who was then and there a single female of good repute." Well, let's just say this single female was not so much of good repute. The charges were dropped after authorities found that she was married.

For more mugshots, or more information on the ones listed above, check out Ultimate Classic Rock. An awesome website for classic rock news!

Paul McCartney Keeping Up With The Younger Generations

Paul McCartney has a lot in the works right now, as he should, to continue the ongoing legacy of the half-deceased-but-no-less-legendary Beatles. Even though the Beatles as a band has been dead for over 40 years already.

Nonetheless, after his 15^th solo album, Kisses on the Bottom, was released last year, McCartney has announced a new one was in the works, one that is more contemporary and edgy. He reportedly has even recruited famed music producer Mark Ronson to help helm his next project. The pair met when Ronson DJ’ed McCartney and Nancy Shevell’s 2011 wedding, and apparently they hit it off. Ronson is best well known for helming Amy Winehouse’s Back in Black album, for which he won the Producer of the Year trophy at the 2008 Grammy’s, but has also recently worked with the likes of Duran Duran, Rufus Wainwright and The Kaiser Chiefs.

Also in the ex-Beatle’s upcoming works is a collaboration with Bungie, the mastermind behind the ever popular Halo series. He announced via Twitter that he will be composing music for a new, yet-to-be-unveiled Bungie project. And let’s be honest, this doesn’t come as much as a surprise. McCartney commented earlier this year on his belief that it’s easier to make money off of video games rather than putting out new albums in our technologically advanced culture.

“It’s a fascinating market. A new computer game sells so much better than a new CD these days,” McCartney said. “Young people will hear my music for the first time in a game.”

Right on, Paul McCartney. Keep the good music flowing or else we’ll all be doomed.

Dave Matthews Band's Newest Album

While The Dave Matthews Band has been setting out on their annually held summer tour, they have jointly been working in the studio preparing their newest album, Away From The World, which will be released this September 11 via RCA Records.

As an avid Dave listener, I have to say that although I am anticipating his new album, I am also feeling a slight sense of apprehension. His last album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, was good, but not the old Dave. He has moved on to a new epoch, a new sound and a whole new generation of music. I can already tell from the few songs I heard off Away From The World that the band is, once again, experimenting with their new sound.

Rather then giving my interpretation of each song, I’m asking you, my followers, what do you think? Does this sound like the old Dave, or is this a continuation of the Groogux King? Do you enjoy his new sound, or do you prefer the classic “Grey Street” sound he used to master?

Stay tuned for more information about the new album. Until then, here’s a track listing for Away From The World:

Broken Things

Belly Belly

Mercy

Gaucho

Sweet

The Riff

Belly Full

If Only

Rooftop

Snow Outside

Drunken Soldier

 PS, I linked what I could find online. He played most of his songs live already, but as for the rest, well, you'll have to wait until Sept. 11 like the rest of us. Enjoy!

Modest Mouse at The Wellmont Theater

Circa 1922

Artists often dream of selling out big stadium tours, and rightly so, as more ticket sales correlate to more income. However, as a concertgoer, I always had a strong preference for smaller venues, and that is exactly what I got this weekend for, more or less, the first time.

I travelled a few towns over to Montclair, NJ‘s Wellmont Theater, part of the Bowery Presents Chain. I felt like I was stepping into the past. The Wellmont was once a functioning one-roomed movie theater in the 1920’s and remained so until the ripe year of 2008. The acoustics were not so great, but the smaller venue depleted that distant ambiance felt in larger stadiums, and created an atmosphere where even fans farthest from the stage can feel a certain mental connection not often achieved in most concert halls.

We saw Modest Mouse. Although they’ve been around for a while, most are unfamiliar with this particular indie rock band that rarely crossovers to the realms of “too-poppy,” as many of their counterparts do. I was pleasantly surprised by their set. They did not play many songs that I knew (probably only 4 to 5), but I found myself bobbing my head to the beat nonetheless.

When we first arrived at the venue, what we thought were general admission tickets turned out to be balcony seats.

Yes, our view wasn’t horrible, but the acoustics were more-than-dreadful. The opening act was The Felice Brothers, practically a country-rock tribute to Bob Dylan. I heard the instruments and vaguely heard the singer’s voice, but it is hard to verify if I was truly enjoying what I was hearing at the time, mostly due to the horrific acoustics.

My boyfriend eventually scored us general floor tickets, so we secured our bright lime green wristlets, bought a beer and headed to the fifth row.

I’d certainly say that our night, and view, turned out for the better. We met some cool people, waited for the show and enjoyed our night. As my first official experience at a small venue, which probably held roughly a few thousand on both the balcony and the floor, I was thoroughly pleased. You don’t get that sort of connection in a large stadium. Whether I was in the front, on the balcony or even the back of the floor, I felt like the artists were only a few feet away, able to see each and every one of their fans lip syncing to the words, laughing and dancing drunkenly with themselves or with others.

Firstly, I highly recommend seeing Modest Mouse. I really wasn’t expecting the high-quality show I received and was oh so very pleased. Secondly, if you ever have the option to go to a smaller venue, even if it is just a few towns over and not in the haughty music-capital city, do it. It is amazing; you won’t regret it and you’ll have a concert experience like no other.

"The World at Large"

"Dramamine"

"Ocean Breathes Sally"

"Dashboard"

"Float On"

Also: "Bury Me With It," "Dance Hall," "Bukowski," "This Devil's Workday," "The View," "Satin in a Coffin," "Black Cadillacs," "One Chance," "The Good Times Are Killing Me," "Missed the Boat," "Fire It Up," "Florida," "Fly Trapped in a Jar" and "People As Places As People."

Celebrating Hunter S. Thompson

Today we celebrate the would-be 75^th birthday of Hunter S. Thompson, a true innovator in the world of journalism

Thompson was virtually unheard of in the beginning of 1965. He was living in San Francisco, recently quit the National Observer and was adequately broke. That all changed when The Nation contacted him, requesting he write an article for $100 detailing the lives and adventures of the notorious motorcycle clan, the Hell’s Angels.  His story became a widespread sensation, and soon, after dozens of book offers, Thomspon was off living and riding with the Angels for one full year. This led to the 1966 birth of “Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” which the New York Times hailed as an “angry, knowledgeable, fascinating and excitedly written book,” that shows the Hell’s Angels “not so much as dropouts from society, but as total misfits, or unifts—emotionally, intellectually and educationally unfit to achieve the rewards, such as they are, that the contemporary social order offers.”

I started reading the book last week, and although I haven’t gotten too far, I have to agree. He personifies each character in a way that… well, let’s just say the police officers dealing with them wouldn’t always agree with.

He then moved on to his disgust with the hippie generation and the “Summer of Love,” the summer of 1967. An avid drug user himself, he condoned the hippies, saying they lacked the social and political conscious that their fight needed, and that they had no other purpose in live then to blissfully indulge in drugs. This, along with his newfound interest in the New Left, led to the 1971 creation of his most renowned novel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, which later was morphed into a film starring Johnny Depp.

Again, Thompson became political involved in the early 1970s. His new love for the New Left party aided in the harboring of a deep repugnance for Republican presidential candidate, Richard Nixon. And rightly so, knowing now what is to come in the next few years.

As the story goes, Thomspon burst into the Rolling Stone Magazine headquarters one day in 1970, six-pack of beer in one hand, the other inquiring for Jann Wenner. He requested to write an article detailing the Freak Power Movement, which he started in his small Colorado town. The Freak Power Movement was actually and surprisingly winning the race for Pitkin County Sheriff, and included ideas such as decriminalizing drugs use—not for trafficking—and de-commercializing the state of Colorado. One of his ideas was to rename Aspen to “Fat City” to deter investors.

This was the start of his political jargons in Rolling Stone Magazine. His most famous piece was undoubtedly Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72, his personal account of the Nixon vs. McGovern presidential race. His hatred for Nixon was seen most evidently in this piece, as he was represented as “that dark, venal and incurably violent side of the American character.”

Perhaps most impressive in Hunter S. Thompson’s career, however, was his journalistic invention of Gonzo Journalism. In fact, it was Gonzo that first got me interested in writing as a career. It is the perfect blend of news writing and creative writing, so each news piece is more of a story then just blurting the facts. Thompson often inserted himself into his articles, making him almost the central character rather then what was actually going on around him. Adding that much-needed flair by presenting his point of view.

I do, and always will, credit Hunter S. Thompson as my first inspiration, as the man who inspired me to go forth in journalism.

After writing irregularly for Rolling Stone and various other publications in his latter years, Thomspon took his own life with a shotgun to the head in 2005 at the tender age of 67. A note he left for his wife, Anita, was found, and published in Rolling Stone Magazine in memoriam. They titled it, “Football Season is Over:”

“No more games. No more bombs. No more walking. No more fun. No more swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No fun—for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your (old) age. Relax—this won’t hurt.”

R.I.P. Hunter, and happy birthday. You are a man of words and wisdom, and I hope to walk in similar (though not too similar) footsteps some day soon. 

Jack White Remembers the Past and Celebrates the Future

Photo Credit to Annie Leibovitz

While too many of us are still mourning the loss of one of recent-rock’s greatest acts, the White Stripes, many still remain intact via The Vault, Jack White’s Third Man Records’ vehicle to resurrect the band's past. Through a quarterly subscription, members receive “packages,” which could include anything from reissued songs to limited edition t-shirts to White Stripes outtakes.

But now, since its beginnings in 2009, Third Man Records’ “Package #13” will include its most historically significant collection as of yet: two vinyls of The White Stripes’ first ever live performances.

First, Live at the Gold Dollar, a 12”, features their first full show from August 14, 1997. Pressed on white vinyl, it includes two distinctly different versions of “Lafayette Blues” and “Screwdriver,” among others.

In addition, the white vinyl is paired with red in Live at the Gold Dollar, a 7” of their open mic stint on July 14, 1997. Although this is a much shorter set, it is significant as it was the world’s first introduction to the great White Stripes. It will include “Jimmy the Exploder,” “Love Potion #9,” and “St. James Infirmary Blues,” the latter heard on 1999’s The White Stripes.

White and ex-band mate turned ex-wife, Meg White, played at Detroit’s Gold Dollar one more time in 1999 before it closed its doors.

Nevertheless, these soundboard recordings are only available through The Vault, as well as a tote bag with Jack White’s resurrected Peppermint logo, painted by White himself. So make sure to sign up before July 31 to get your hand on these classics!

And while we’re speaking of classics, take a peak below at “Freedom at 21,” from Jack White’s first solo record, Blunderbuss. It was released today! And yes, it is everything I expected and more…so make sure to check it out.

Muse's "Survival" is Song of the Summer Olympics

The summer Olympics are fast approaching (starting July 27) and Muse’s new single “Survival” has been chosen as the official song for the Games this year. It will be heard throughout the three-week event when athletes enter the venues and before award ceremonies.

“Survival” made its radio debut last week following the recent release of the music video. The three-minute track is decent and kind of reminds me of Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” for obvious lyrical reasons. But besides the Olympic spirit epitomized in the single, I don’t see this song going anywhere. The lyrics aren’t meaningful or deep in any sense of the word—it basically is a fight song about how the narrator “will survive… And I’ll reveal my strength/ To the whole human race/ Yes I’m gonna win.”

And sadly, I’m not even kidding when I say that’s basically the entire gist of the track. However, Muse’s frontman, Matt Bellamy, admitted that it was written solely with the Olympics in mind. “I wrote it with the Games in mind as it expresses a sense of conviction and determination to win,” he said.

Hopefully the rest of Muses new album, The 2^nd Law, won’t sound as amateur as this. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the September release date to find out.

Check out the official London Olympics 2012 music video below.

Is Electronic Dance Music a Major Sell Out?

This is an article I recently wrote for Dualshow. I don't mean to offend anyone or their musical interests, but I thought it was too pressing of a topic to let ease by without a discussion. Enjoy!


You see it everywhere now—the largest stadiums in the world selling out tickets to little girls in tutus and pacifiers and to boys in their mesh day-glo tanks. Electronic Dance Music, otherwise known as EDM, has taken the mainstream with full force, but what is it about this new music revolution that appeals to the crowd? And is its new mainstream status defeating the purpose of what once was an “underground” movement?


According to a 2011 article published in Spin Magazine, the American dance music scene has reached critical mass with a “new rave generation” of mainstream consumers having emerged. For the first time, the 2012 Grammys included EDM, with artists including Skrillex and David Guetta winning awards. In New York City you can find taxis promoting Sensation, a rave event at the Barclays Center this fall, or the Electric Zoo Festival, which will take place on Randall’s Island over Labor Day Weekend. This past June, the Electric Daisy Carnival drew over 60,000 attendees to New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium and over 345,000 to the Las Vegas venue, the largest rave in American history. Even mainstream pop artists are finding it difficult not to infuse hints of EDM into their own music… but why is it so big? What is it that kids aged 19-25 find so appealing in what is referred to as the “new rock and roll?”


“Youth culture loves to get wild, freak out, and they always have,” said Lorin Ashton, the California deejay known as BassNectar. “Stop being so stodgy and hypocritical and pretending you never did.” Well, Ashton has a point. The youth culture has always rebelled, whether it was in the ’20s with jazz, the ’50s with rock and roll, the ’70s with punk or the ’90s with rap. But just like all the aforementioned genres, they have become mainstream and lost their rebellious appeal.


According to the Wall Street Journal, some deejays are reaching for pop stardom—or perhaps they are just selling out. Even indie festivals, such as the Cali-based Coachella, are highlighting the new EDM craze. David Guetta was in attendance this year, whose 2011 album, Nothing but the Beat, featured vocals by the likes of pop artists Jennifer Hudson, Ludacris, Nicki Minaj and Usher. Five singles from that album scored high on Billboard’s top-singles charts. Calvin Harris, also at Coachella, made his set’s chief highlight an appearance by Rihanna.


Tim Berlinger, also known as Avicii, a forerunner of the EDM revolution, feels his best work is done in the recording studio, not in an arena or a nightclub, but he does what makes his fans happy. “I didn’t come up from deejaying, where you’re doing 300 shows a year,” he told the WSJ. “I feel pretty free, but I want to cater to everyone. I can’t play house [a subgenre of EDM] for two hours.”


It seems as if playing the same predictable bass-dropping, techno beats does become mindless. A few old-school veteran deejays hope the crowds will eventually grow weary of this pop-electronic nonsense, fueled only by computerized strobe light LEDs and Molly (ecstasy in its purest form) and will migrate to a more sophisticated sound.


One such veteran, Carl Cox, expressed his disappointment with the new mainstream. “I’m not Carl Cox the hit player, I find I work hard for it. I have no idea what I’m going to play when I start,” he said. “I’m 50 years old now. I grew up with vinyl, a needle on a record. Turntablism. I’d play a blend of disco with funk, soul and house with a 909 drum machine. Am I supposed to dumb down to the idea that all I’m doing is pressing a button?”


We know, not everyone will agree with this, and there are still millions out there who are infatuated with the new electronic fad. But I think we’re at the point where it’s losing what it originally stood for. Indeed the once underground fad is now fuelling the entire music industry. LiveNation and other such companies are making billions and billions off these concerts, a true definition of a sellout.


What do you think? Is it time to move on, to accept that EDM is now mainstream music? Is EDM truly mindless, to the point where deejays simply press a button on a laptop to make what they call music? Or is this just a continuation of the mid-nineties electronic boom that will soon die off?

Thanks For Being Awesome, Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl cemented himself in rock and roll history as the drummer for Nirvana, then once again as the chief singer-songwriter for the Foo Fighters then again as a co-founder of the rock supergroup, Them Crooked Vultures (Dave, John Paul Jones, Josh Homme).

To honor his musical prominence, his hometown of Warren, Ohio presented him with a pair of record-breaking drumsticks. Yes, Guinness World Recording breaking drumsticks.

Together, the poplar log-sticks weigh a whopping 900 pounds, and will be on display at the Warren Amphitheater until September. They will then be relocated to David Grohl Alley, also in Warren, dedicated to him in 2009.

Grohl was unable to attend the ceremony, but took out a full-page ad in the local paper to show his gratitude. The ad showed him in a “Made in Warren” t-shirt with an accompanying Cheshire grin. The city’s Mayor Doug Franklin read the ad during the unveiling ceremony:

“To the wonderful city of Warren, from the bottom of my heart I’d like to thank you all so much… for the childhood memories. For my family. For my very own alley. For the world’s largest drumsticks! And for all of your support… But most of all for being such a great community. One that makes me proud to say… I am from Warren, Ohio!”

Thanks, Dave Grohl, for being so awesome. Now if only I can get my hands on those drumsticks…

Enjoy some clips!

"Monkey Wrench" by Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters Perform with DeadMau5 at 2012 Grammys

Originally a David Bowie song, but I love Nirvana's rendition of "The Man Who Sold the World"

"Elephants" by Them Crooked Vultures