[anngelle wood] the rock dirt archives, april 06

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The Rock Dirt Archives

APRIL 2006

The Rock Dirt
Updated: Fri, April 28, 2006
New Queens of Rock, Motley's Decadent Dream, Zeppelin Redux

Ladies First. Members of two of the more successful all-girl bands of the 80s are teaming to find the latest. The Go-Go’s and the Bangles will team for a televised nationwide search for the next big thing in all-girl rock to air on the CW network (WB meets UPN). Kathy Valentine and Charlotte Caffey of the Go-Go’s and Susanna Hoffs and Vicki Peterson of the Bangles will offer their professional advice and assistance in looking for young women who can sing and play. According to Valentine, “There's a big difference between a girl group and a girl band." She should know.

Little Bit Country. Scott Weiland and Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver are moonlighting as guest judges on this week’s episode (Tues, April 25) of “Nashville Star” – country music’s answer to “American Idol.” Despite their rock roots, the guys have written and performed with country musicians and are fans of the likes of Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons and Merle Haggard. VR will change direction entirely on its sophomore release, tentatively entitled, “Libertide,” on which the band has teamed with hip-hop producer Pharrell Williams (Neptunes, N.E.R.D.). With some 50 songs, it’s now the band’s chore to pick 20 to record. “Libertide” is due by the end of the summer.

Rock Show

<--Waltham rocks the Paradise in Boston on May 5.

Brand New comes to Avalon, Boston in an all ages show July 25 -->

Pink Floyd compatriot Roger Waters is launching a full-scale tour with a stop at Mansfield’s Tweeter Center on Sept 8.

The Allman Brothers make their annual summer stop in Boston on August 26 at the Tweeter Center, Mansfield.

Add the Young to the Crosby, Stills, and Nash as they regroup for a tour this summer - Aug 16 at the Tweeter Center.
www.ticketmaster.com

Metal Movies

All things metal converge on May. New documentary, “Metal: A Headbanger's Journey,” is rolling through theaters coast-to-coast. The project, brought to us by anthropologist and devout metal fan Sam Dunn with the help of filmmaker Scot McFayden, chronicles Dunn’s exploration of metal’s history, its subculture, and its legion of fans. Interviews with many of metal and hard rock's biggest names including Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson, Alice Cooper, Dee Snider, Lemmy Kilmister, Rob Zombie, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, as well as members of Slayer, Slipknot, Lamb of God, and Cannibal Corpse are featured. The “tour” comes to Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theater for two weekends – Fri, May 5 and Sat, May 6 and Fri, May 12 and Sat, May 13. The DVD release is scheduled for May 23 after the film festival season wraps.
www.metalhistory.com

The Real Dirt. Raucous and raunchy tales of Mötley Crüe's rise to debaucherous fame chronicled in the band’s collaborative work, "The Dirt: Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band" are coming to the big screen at last. Paramount Classics and MTV Films will make the film with “The Dirt” co-writer Neil Strauss, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, and Vince Neil serving as the film’s executive producers. Director Larry Charles, known for his work on “Masked And Anonymous” which starred singer Bob Dylan, will help bring Motley’s story to real life decadence.
www.motley.com

Led Zeppelin Redux. Robert Plant and Jimmy Page will perform together in Montreux, Switzerland on June 30 as part of a star-studded event to honor Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. Could this be the beginning of something?

Quicktime. Neil Young’s never been more outspoken or more prolific than on new record, “Living With War,” which is now streaming for public consumption. The quick turn-around time for the record, finished just a few weeks ago, could perhaps be due to Neil’s mounting disdain for the current administration (you think?). Neil’s self-proclaimed "Metal Folk protest" music has been met with much attention after it was learned that one of his new songs was pointedly entitled "Let's Impeach The President." Other song titles include "Shock And Awe," "Lookin' For A Leader," "Flags Of Freedom” and closing number, a recording of "America The Beautiful," featuring a 100-member choir. LWW will be available for digital download purchasing on Tues, May 2 with traditional in-store release set for later in the month.
www.neilyoung.com

More Meat Puppets, please. Our wish is about to come true.

It has nothing to do with Scott Stapp joining INXS on the road this summer.

The Rock Dirt
Weds, April 19, 2006
Iggy Pop takes on Jack White, Neil Young takes on George W., Dresden Dolls Take Over

Dresden Dolls are taking over the world. The Boston Punk cabaret duo has a litany of appearances and shows scheduled in support of second disc, first on their Roadrunner label, “Yes, Virginia,” – out this week (Tues, April 18). See them on tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel Live show on ABC. The Dresden Dolls play the a hometown show this Friday (April 21) at the Orpheum Theater with Boston’s self-professed Vaudeville Anarcho Punkers Humanwine opening; certainly a show to behold. I’m only sorry I can’t be there. Meanwhile, get a taste of the new DD record at www.myspace.com/thedresedendolls.

What do you get when you cross Iggy Pop, Jack White and Steve Albini? A new Stooges record. Iggy has been at work at home in Florida writing a new record with the band, their first since 1973. Steve Albini and Jack White will share production duties.

Neil Young has wrapped recording new record, “Living With War,” in just three days; this is according to “Heart of Gold” director Jonathan Demme. I don’t know who asked but Demme describes it as, "a brilliant electric assault . . . on Bush and the war in Iraq." Neil cuts right to the chase in one number, pointedly entitled, "Impeach the President."

With new record, “10,000 Days,” ready for release on May 2, Tool has announced a string of smaller venue in the U.S. and Canada before heading to Europe. Tool plays Boston’s grand Wang Theater on May 21. Tickets on sale THIS Sat, April 22 at 10am.
www.ticketmaster.com

Dio! Ronnie James Dio made a trip to the U.K. recently to stump for his newly released, “Holy Diver Live,” record. Seems fitting that while there Ronnie paid a visit to one time band mate and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi to work on material that may show up in the upcoming, “Black Sabbath -- The Dio Years,” box set.
www.ronniejamesdio.com

A Black Sabbath book has been published, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Battle for Black Sabbath,” that chronicles the period between Ozzy Osbourne's late-70s departure from Black Sabbath and the band's 1997 reunion. Did I mention Black Sabbath?

Being Heathcliff Huxtable? One’s mind doesn’t immediately go to Mick Jagger when thinking big TV star but he is in talks to make a go on the small screen. This isn’t another stab at reality as we’ve seen in “Being Mick”, the packaged documentary footage that aired on the A&E network last month. The show, already in production, is a sitcom that will focus around a group of working class New Yorkers who dream up a scheme to rob a celebrity. Originally pitched as, “I Want To Rob Jeff Goldblum,” according to The Hollywood Reporter, the show was a no go for the actor. Mick would make cameo appearances in the series, eventually get robbed and some scripted hilarity would ensue – or not. Rest easy, Mick’s name wouldn't be in the show's title but how much do you want to bet they’ll go with something witty and rock and roll-ish like, “Can’t Get No Satisfaction”? Hooray for Hollywood.

Ask what the future holds for A Perfect Circle and you won’t like the answer.

The Rock Dirt
week of April 10, 2006
Metal Days of May, AiC goes major league, Raconteurs undone

Break out the bullet belt! VH1 has declared May Metal Month and has a pant load of specials in store. Look for the show rundown included below.
www.vh1.com

Major League. Alice in Chains begins a U.S. tour on May 18. No itinerary has been revealed yet but the band promises to hit every city that "has its own major league baseball team." Comes with the Fall singer William DuVall will handle main vocal duties while other guest vocalists will certainly drop in. In related news, April 5 marked the fourth anniversary of Layne Staley’s passing.
www.laynestaleyfund.com

Life imitates art. Coldplay’s fearless leader Chris Martin and wife Gwyneth Paltrow welcomed a son, Moses, in New York City over the weekend. It’s their second child but the first to be named after a Coldplay song.

Replaced but not forgotten. Soul Asylum makes a triumphant return after eights years with “The Sliver Lining” due July 11. It also marks the final recording from bassist Karl Mueller who passed away last year. The band is on the road with Replacements’ Tommy Stinson on bass.

Done Under. No more Raconteurs, at least not in Aussie territory. Jack White’s other band must go by a different name when down under. According to NME, the band will be known as The Saboteurs when in Australia due to a Jazz band’s prior use of the name.

Gansta hittin’. Fatboy Slim is getting his hits together for a package to be revealed on June 20. Classic tracks "The Rockafeller Skank," "Going Out Of My Head" and new song, "That Old Pair Of Jeans" will be featured on, “The Greatest Hits - Why Try Harder, The disc will be joined by the full, “The Greatest Hits - Why Make Videos” DVD that’ll feature the award-winning "Praise You” video.

One Love. Nothing like dipping the pen in company ink. So it goes for U2’s Adam Clayton who’ll marry longtime girlfriend, and assistant to the band’s management, Susie Smith. The two have been together for some 10 years will reportedly tie the knot next year. This makes engagement #2 for Adam who dared to go there in 1993 with model Naomi Campbell. No word on whether a beating by cell phone by cause for the break up.

And Scene. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' upcoming tour could just be their last. The band’s soon-to-be-launched tour in support of new record “Highway Companion” may be the last of its size and scale. According to Tom, he’s thinking about putting an end to the national tour, leaving the option open to play when and where they want. Expect a film team to be on board this tour as Tom has teamed with director Peter Bogdanovich for a band documentary.

Live from New York. Red Hot Chili Peppers have lined up Sat, May 6 for their Saturday Night Live appearance.

Metal fans rejoice. The programmers at VH1 are tapping into our demo (those of us with arm pit hair in the 80s) and declared May Metal Month. Here’s what to look out for:

“40 Greatest Metal Songs” premieres Mon, May 1 at 11pm and runs through Thurs, May 4. Among the panel who chose these epics of our youth: Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, and the master himself - Ronnie James Dio.

Two, count ‘em two, Behind The Music’s: Behind the Music: RATT and behind the Music: Pantera premiere Thurs, May 11. BTM is best known for its exploration of the rise and fall of chart-topping bands, all of whom have some gut-wrenchingly tragic stories to include. Boring bands don’t get their own show.

VH1 takes a stab at its own “RockStar” with “SuperGroup #101,” the series that premieres Thurs, May 8 at 10pm. It features hard rock icons Ted Nugent, Scott Ian, Sebastian Bach, and Jason Bonham as they attempt to create the heaviest super group on TV. Biohazard’s Evan Seinfeld is also featured. We get a front row seat at what will make or break this “band.”

Touted as what Ken Burns did for jazz, VH1 does for heavy metal – only a lot louder is “Heavy: The Story of Metal,” premiering Mon, May 22 at 9pm and running through Thurs, May 25. “Heavy” will trace the evolution of metal music and culture, from its earliest – and heaviest - beginnings in Birmingham, England with godfathers Black Sabbath to the massive force we know it as today.

Wholeheartedly. Extreme getting the band back together? For real this time.