05.31.05 (MusicPortal.com) KASABIAN are currently on a worldwide tour in support of their new self-titled album. As they describe it, the band are not making music to be famous, they're making music because they need to. "This is what I've wanted to do ever since I was four. This is why I'm here," says KASABIAN vocalist Tom Meighan. Tour Dates: 05/31 Salt Lake City, UT [Club Sound] • 06/02 Portland, OR [Doug Fir Lounge] • 06/03 Vancouver, BC [Commodore Ballroom] • 06/04 Seattle, WA [Radio Show] • 06/06 Sacramento, CA [Harlow's] • 06/07 Los Angeles, CA [Henry Fonda Theatre] • 06/09 San Francisco, CA [Popscene] • 06/10 San Francisco, CA [Shoreline Amphiteatre] • 06/11 Santa Ana, CA [Galaxy Concert Theater] • 06/12 Tempe, AZ [The Clubhouse] • 06/14 Dallas, TX [Tree's] • 06/15 Houston, TX [The Meridian] • 06/16 Austin, TX [The Parish] • 06/18 San Diego, CA [Open Air Theatre/SDSU Campus Radio] • 06/20 Hyde Park, [UK Festival] • 06/25 Glastonbury, [UK Festival] • 06/30 Hyde Park, [UK Festival] • 07/18 Pittsburgh, PA [Mr. Small's Theatre] • 07/19 Rochester, NY [Water Street Music Hall] • 07/20 Cleveland, OH [Grog Shop] • 07/21 Cincinnati, OH [Bogart's Front Room] • 07/23 Detroit, MI [St. Andrews Hall] • 07/24 Chicago, IL [Lollapalooza] • 07/25 Columbia, MO [Mojo's] • 07/26 Tulsa, OK [Cain's Ballroom] • 07/29 San Diego, CA [Street Scene] • 08/01 Denver, CO [Bluebird Theatre] • 08/13 Osaka, Japan [Summersonic] • 08/14 Tokyo, Japan [Summersonic] • 08/26 Reading, UK [Reading Festival] • 08/27 Leeds, UK [Leeds Festival] • 09/08 Vancouver, BC [GM Place] • 09/09 Everett, WA [Everett Events Center] • 09/11 Mountain View, CA [Shoreline Amphitheatre] • 09/12 Los Angeles, CA [Hollywood Bowl] • 09/14 San Diego, CA [Coors Ampitheatre] • 09/15 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 09/17 Los Angeles, CA [Hyundai Pavilion] • 09/18 Phoenix, AZ [Dodge Theater] • 09/20 Morrison, CO [Red Rocks Amphitheatre] • 09/22 Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Music Center] • 09/25 Spring, TX [Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion] • 09/27 Atlanta, GA [Hi-Fi Buys Amp] • 09/29 Columbia, MD [Merriweather Post Pavilion] • 09/30 Cuyahoga Falls, OH [Blossom Music Center]
[WATCH]

05.31.05 (MusicPortal.com) Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame veteran BONNIE RAITT is slated to release her eighteenth album on September 13th via Capitol Records, entitled "Souls Alike." "This record was a matter of stretching and not repeating myself," says Raitt. "Some of the songs are clearly terrain that people have come to know and appreciate from me, but the rest are about finding some new direction and something new to say." Even a quick listen to "Souls Alike" reveals a number of surprises. It's her first album ever to bear the credit "Produced by Bonnie Raitt." Conspicuously absent is even one of her signature 12-bar blues stomps. And where most of her projects have contained a mix of songs written by both celebrated songwriters and her own new discoveries, usually with some original material, all eleven compositions on "Souls Alike" come from lesser-known writers with whom BONNIE RAITT feels a deep affinity, and whose work she wants to champion. That connection -- together with a flourishing creative collaboration with her beloved touring band and co-producer/engineer Tchad Blake -- provided the lifeblood and inspiration for the new album's direction, and even its title. "Souls Alike" features sounds ranging from the swampy groove and electronic loops of 'Deep Water' to the crystalline lament of 'I Don't Want Anything to Change.' Throughout, Raitt's unparalleled slide guitar playing is pushed to sizzling new heights. Songs like 'The Bed I Made' and the edgy, angular 'Crooked Crown' address complex emotions -- "thorny adult themes," says Raitt -- in ways seldom heard in Pop music. Of the new crop of songwriters highlighted on "Souls Alike," she says: "I'm as enthusiastic about these guys as I was when I first heard people like Jackson Browne and John Prine in my early days." It's been three years since BONNIE RAITT's last release, 2002's "Silver Lining," but she's stayed busy in the interim. A lengthy world tour followed that album's release, along with numerous guest recordings - including the stunning 'Do I Ever Cross Your Mind' on Ray Charles' final album, "Genius Loves Company."

05.17.05 (AP) Pop star KYLIE MINOGUE has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo immediate treatment, her management team says. Her tour of Australia was postponed following the announcement. A statement from Minogue's management said the 36-year-old's diagnosis was confirmed this week during a visit to the southern Australian city of Melbourne. "While at home in Melbourne with her family this week prior to her 'Australian Showgirl Tour,' Kylie was diagnosed with early breast cancer," the statement said. In the statement, Minogue said: "I was so looking forward to bringing the 'Showgirl' tour to Australian audiences, and am sorry to have to disappoint my fans. Nevertheless, hopefully all will work out fine and I'll be back with you all again soon." The 'Showgirl Tour' was to have included performances in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth over the next month. Michael Gudinski, head of Frontier Touring, the company promoting her Australian tour, said it was "way too early to tell" when Minogue might resume her tour and that it was appropriate to postpone the tour indefinitely to "let her find her space and deal with it." "I'm just hoping and praying because the doctors found it so early that everything will be OK," he told an Australian television network "Our thoughts and I'm sure many, many legions of Kylie fans will be with her all the way," he said. KYLIE MINOGUE entered show business as an actress on the long-running Australian soap opera "Neighbours" before launching her singing career with hits such as 'Loco-Motion' and 'I Should Be So Lucky.' Minogue's fame soared after the release of her 2001 album "Fever," which reached number one in charts around the world and number three in the Billboard album chart. On the popularity of the single 'Can't Get You Out of My Head,' "Fever" sold more than 3 million copies worldwide, according to Minogue's website. In late 2003, her song 'Slow' became KYLIE MINOGUE's seventh number one single in Britain, more than 15 years after 'I Should Be So Lucky' topped the charts there in 1988. 'Slow' also was nominated for a Grammy. In the past, Minogue has auctioned one of her bras to raise money for breast cancer research, and worked to raise awareness of prostate cancer after her father was diagnosed with it.
[WATCH]

05.17.05 (MusicPortal.com) COLDPLAY have announced the tour dates for the North American leg of their upcoming "Twisted Logic" world tour in support of their new album, "X&Y." Tickets will go on sale for all dates listed below beginning June 4th, except Dallas (on sale June 11th) and Houston (on sale now). Registered users of coldplay.com can also participate in a first-come, first-served ticket pre-sale starting May 24th. Tour Dates: 08/02 Toronto, ON [Air Canada Centre] • 08/03 Montreal, QC [Bell Centre] • 08/04 Hartford, CT [Meadows Music Theatre] • 08/06 Boston, MA [Tweeter Center] • 08/07 Philadelphia, PA [Tweeter Center] • 08/09 Cincinnati, OH [Riverbend Music Center] • 08/11 Pittsburgh, PA [Post Gazette Pavilion] • 08/12 Indianapolis, IN [Verizon Wireless Music Center] • 08/13 East Troy, WI [Alpine Valley Music Theatre] • 08/16 Seattle, WA [White River Amphitheatre] • 08/17 Portland, OR [Amphitheatre at Clark County] • 08/19 San Francisco, CA [Shoreline Amphitheatre] • 08/20 Irvine, CA [Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre] • 08/24 Albuquerque, NM [Journal Pavilion] • 08/25 Phoenix, AZ [Cricket Pavilion] • 08/26 San Diego, CA [Coors Amphitheatre] • 08/30 Detroit, MI [DTE Energy Music Theatre] • 08/31 Columbus, OH [Germain Amphitheater] • 09/01 Darien Center, NY [Darien Lake Performing Arts Center] • 09/03 Holmdel, NJ PNC [Bank Arts Center] • 09/06 New York, NY [Madison Square Garden] • 09/09 Charlotte, NC [Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre] • 09/10 Raleigh, NC [Alltel Pavilion] • 09/13 West Palm Beach, FL [Sound Advice Amphitheatre] • 09/14 Tampa, FL [Ford Amphitheatre] • 09/16 Birmingham, AL [Verizon Wireless Music Center] • 09/17 St. Louis, MO [UMB Bank Pavilion] • 09/18 Nashville, TN [Starwood Amphitheatre] • 09/20 Minneapolis, MN [Target Center] • 09/21 Kansas City, MO [Verizon Wireless Amphitheater] • 09/23 Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Music Center] • 09/24 Houston, TX [Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion] • 09/25 Austin, TX [Austin City Limits Music Festival] • 09/28 Atlanta, GA [Philips Arena] • 09/29 Virginia Beach, VA [Verizon Wireless Amphitheater] • 09/30 Bristow, VA [Nissan Pavilion]
[WATCH]

05.16.05 (MusicPortal.com) Electric guitar pioneer LES PAUL is one of 14 people that have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall Of Fame for 2005. Paul invented the solid body electric guitar in 1946, a pioneering instrument that has transformed and dominated popular music for the last 50 years or so, his Gibson Guitar Corp. model still being one of the best-selling instruments in the music industry to this day. Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, LES PAUL became a professional musician as a teenager, and was the leader of his own trio by the age of 21. From the beginning of his career, Paul was fascinated by the opportunities of amplifying musical instruments electronically. He tinkered with a wide range of techniques in search of a way to produce a pleasing and unique sound. Coupled with his pioneering recording techniques, LES PAUL produced a series of extremely popular recordings that introduced the public to his fast, multi-layered productions that frequently included Paul playing as many as six musical parts simultaneously through the process of overdubbing. His music was usually recorded on advanced multi-track tape recorders he designed and built himself. The quality and originality of LES PAUL's work resultingly inspired a generation of musicians to embrace his guitar and recording techniques. In 1952, the Gibson Musical Instrument Co. began selling its popular "Les Paul" model electric guitar, rapidly establishing the new instrument as a powerful influence in the entertainment industry. LES PAUL also has won five Grammy Awards. Other inventors inducted on Saturday included Dr. Alec Jeffreys, who invented genetic fingerprinting, and Robert Gundlach, who has earned more than 150 patents and invented the modern photocopier. The National Inventors Hall Of Fame was founded in 1973 by the U.S. Patent And Trademark Office and the National Council Of Intellectual Property Law Associations. It accepts nominations on its website, however inductees are selected by a committee including leaders in scientific and technical fields. There are currently 235 inductees in The National Inventors Hall Of Fame.

05.13.05 (MusicPortal.com) On July 4th, all three of Electronic music pioneer GARY NUMAN's "Living Ornaments" live albums will be officially released by Beggars Banquet Records. "Living Ornaments '79" and "Living Ornaments '81" had previously been available only via mail order and specialty product sources. In 1981, GARY NUMAN released a box set of two live albums, entitled "Living Ornaments '79 and '80," which charted in the UK at #2, and also -- with the albums sold individually -- charted at #47 and #39, respectively. In the late 1990's, the multi-track tapes to the 1979 show were located and remixed to expand the original 10-track vinyl release to a double CD of the entire concert. Similarly, one of the complete Wembley "farewell" shows from 1981 was also released as a double CD. Diehard GARY NUMAN fans have always demanded a complete show from the "Teletour" of 1980, the "machine-music" period when Numan was at the peak of his commercial success. Unfortunately, the multi-tracks for the 1980 show have never been located, and the show never reissued in its entirety. However, recently a recording of a complete "Teletour" show -- a live reference mix made by the sound crew -- was discovered which, with some sonic tweaking, is of major release quality. The performances at the previously unknown UK show even eclipse those on the official release, and include rare outings for the tracks 'Telekon' and 'Stories,' which have never been available on a GARY NUMAN live album. "Living Ornaments '80" has thus now also become a double CD, featuring the original 10 tracks from the vinyl release, newly remastered from the mixing tapes, plus the newly discovered complete show, which comprise a total of 29 tracks in all. At the end of the 1970s, GARY NUMAN, a 20-year old ex-punk from West London was virtually alone in seeing the possibility of a "synthesizer star." In late 1978, Beggars Banquet released TUBEWAY ARMY's self-titled debut, mixing Electronic music with post-Punk guitar and solid, no-frills drumming by Numan's uncle Jess Lidyard. He immediately created a fresh Garage Electronic style, but by the time the album came out, he was already back in the... [full story]
[LISTEN]

05.12.05 (MusicPortal.com) On May 24th, 2003, PAUL McCARTNEY ended decades of previously banned music by both himself and THE BEATLES with a landmark concert in Russia, electrifying a crowd of over 100,000 jammed into Moscow's Red Square. Next month, on June 14th, during the 20th anniversary year of Perestroika, A&E Home Video will release McCartney's history-making,Emmy Award-winning concert on DVD. More than just a concert film, "Paul McCartney In Red Square" is a backstage pass to a defining moment in Rock 'N' Roll history. The DVD captures the historic sights and sounds of the nearly three-hour concert which included more than 30 classic hits from THE BEATLES, WINGS, and PAUL McCARTNEY's solo career. There's 'Hey Jude,' 'Maybe I'm Amazed,' 'I Saw Her Standing There,' 'Live And Let Die,' 'Let It Be,' 'Back In The USSR,' 'Band On The Run,' and many, many more. Other DVD bonus features include an interactive menu and guide, as well as previously unreleased concert footage from McCartney's second trip to Russia, where he performed in St. Petersburg's Palace Square. Filmed during McCartney's "04 Summer Tour," viewers are granted an exclusive ticket to see him perform songs never before released throughout his solo career, including 'Helter Skelter,' 'Penny Lane,' and 'I've Got A Feeling.' "Paul McCartney In Red Square" is also a remarkable historical document featuring rare, behind-the-scenes footage of the star's whirlwind tour of Russia, including a private meeting with President Vladimir Putin, and interviews with important members of Russia's cultural community, who reveal the importance THE BEATLES and PAUL McCARTNEY played in the development of the former Soviet Union's future. "Paul McCartney In Red Square" has also been digitally-remastered for optimal viewing, and features three different audio options in Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and DTS Digital 5.1 Surround formats. The Director's Cut version of the DVD will also feature 20 minutes of never-before-aired footage, along with extras that include a 10-minute short from The History Channel, song selection, an interactive guide and archival photo gallery, along with an 8-page, full-color booklet.

05.12.05 (AP) EMINEM, who grew up on both sides of 8 Mile Road, is helping to revitalize the highway he made famous in the hit song and film from 2002. The 32-year-old rapper, born Marshall Mathers III, has autographed 30 bricks from the recently demolished Detroit Artillery Armory on 8 Mile in Oak Park. One brick was auctioned in April, with the rest slated to be auctioned on eBay within the next month. Proceeds will be split between EMINEM's charity, the Marshall Mathers Foundation, and the Eight Mile Boulevard Association. The association, a coalition of 13 cities, Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties and several businesses, originally approached EMINEM to sign the bricks. It plans to use its share of the auction proceeds for revitalization efforts along 8 Mile. "He's identified with 8 Mile Road, and he's famous," Association President Barry Brickner told the Detroit Free Press. The bricks are painted gold and covered with a clear sealant on the side bearing EMINEM's autograph, said Tami Salisbury, the association's executive director. The bricks will be packaged with DVD copies of the "8 Mile" film starring EMINEM. R. Miles Handy, supervisor of Wayne County's Redford Township, submitted the winning bid of $300 for the first brick, which says "Save 8 Mile Slim Shady 2005." "Here's a kid who lived close to 8 Mile, and now is one of the most popular entertainers in the country," said Handy, 40. "I think it's a pretty nice piece of history." EMINEM grew up in Detroit and Warren - cities divided by 8 Mile Road - as well as Roseville and St. Clair Shores. He now lives in Rochester Hills in a 29-room, 15,000-square-foot mansion. The "mile roads" system in Michigan originated from the Land Ordinance Act of 1785. A line from Michigan's east to west lake shores was labeled the baseline. This is the same 8 Mile Road that is in existence today. It's a county line across the state, and, after jumping over Lake Michigan, is the state line between Wisconsin and Illinois. The baseline and meridian (north to south line) are the measuring points for the township range numbers, which commonly appear as a part of property descriptions on deeds.
[WATCH]

05.10.05 (AP) THE ROLLING STONES announced a new album and world tour today with a three-song mini-concert at one of Manhattan's bastions of classical music, the Juilliard School. The familiar riff of 'Start Me Up' was greeted with a roar from hundreds of fans filling Lincoln Center from its plaza to its rooftops, as lead singer Mick Jagger launched into the lyrics. "Thank you very much guys," Jagger told the cheering crowd at the century-old conservatory on a sunny Spring afternoon. "This is one of the earliest concerts we've played." The brief show promoted the tour that begins August 21 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, where the legendary band will play in front of the Green Monster. Dates in North America will continue through December. The as-yet-untitled new album is "about 85 percent done," Jagger said. It would be the first collection of all-new material from THE ROLLING STONES since 1997's "Bridges To Babylon." Prices will average $100-105 per ticket, with seats for the first shows - in Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Miami, Charlotte, N.C., and Calgary, Alberta - going on sale Saturday. Shows will continue into next year in South America, Asia and Europe. The North American dates will alternate between stadiums, arenas and smaller venues. The last Stones tour, in 2002-03, generated $88 million in ticket sales in North America during its first year. Along with 'Start Me Up,' THE ROLLING STONES debuted a new song, 'Oh No Not You Again,' before tearing into 'Brown Sugar.' A flub in the new material prompted Jagger to turn a bit professorial. "I think the examiners at Juilliard would have us come back and retake that one," Jagger said as guitarist Keith Richards shrugged. It was the Stones' first live performance at a press event since they played while riding a flatbed truck through Manhattan - a stunt recreated last year by U2. Scores of Juilliard students in ROLLING STONES T-shirts danced and cheered enthusiastically during the set, as Jagger pranced on stage and Richards traded leads with fellow guitarist Ronnie Wood.

05.10.05 (AP) Responding to Paula Abdul's "Saturday Night Live" cameo appearance, singer COREY CLARK's lawyer said the former "American Idol" contestant has "explicit" and "incriminating" evidence into their alleged affair. Richard B. Jefferson said the 24-year-old singer hasn't expressed "any plans to voluntarily reveal additional incriminating evidence, which he possesses, to the general public that undoubtedly proves the extent of their involvement because of its explicit nature." However, in an e-mail to The Associated Press Monday, Jefferson said Clark would "fully cooperate with any governmental agency that launches an investigation stemming from his claims." Clark alleged last week that Abdul, a judge on the Fox talent competition, had an affair with him while he was competing in 2003 and also coached him on how to do better in the competition. Jed Wallace, COREY CLARK's spokesman, refused to comment Tuesday on what type of "evidence" Clark might possess. Abdul's spokesman, Shawn Sachs, didn't immediately return calls seeking comment. Last week, ABC's "Primetime Live" aired an expose of the scandal, which the "Saturday Night Live" cast lampooned on Saturday's show. At the end of the sketch, Abdul made her own "Idol"-style critiques of her imitator, saying to SNL cast member Amy Poehler: "You need to perfect the clap a little more and be a lot more sexier so contestants will be willing to sleep with you." Abdul has called Clark's allegations "lies" and an attempt at character assassination. She issued a statement Friday expressing "my deepest appreciation" for fans who have expressed their support for her. "Neither Ms. Abdul's vague statement nor her satire regarding this incident refutes her inappropriate relationship with Mr. Clark or discredits the veracity of his claims," Jefferson said in the e-mail. The Fox network said Clark hadn't responded to requests for help investigating his charges. Clark said he had no interest in helping the show that booted him off.

05.09.05 (MusicPortal.com) THE OFFSPRING, arguably the most successful Punk band ever spawned from the musical hotbed that is Southern California, have recorded a brand new song entitled 'Can't Repeat' for their upcoming "Greatest Hits" collection, which is set for release next month by Sony BMG Music Entertainment. Recorded back in March while the band were in the studio with producer Jerry Finn laying down some new material, 'Can't Repeat' will be the first new material released by THE OFFSPRING since 2003's "Splinter" album, and is due to hit the Modern Rock airwaves sometime next week. Blazing out of California in the early 90's with an insane combination of Punk angst, catchy Hard Rock riffs and memorable hooks, THE OFFSPRING showed everyone how it should be done, and that even the masses loved Punk too with their 1994 breakthrough album, "Smash." Since then, the band hasn't missed much of a beat, delivering one album after another that has seen them go on to sell millions upon millions of albums worldwide and rack up countless music awards. With plenty of quality tracks to choose from, THE OFFSPRING had more than enough songs from their successful 15-year history together to release a "Greatest Hits" collection, none of which should disappoint even the most Punk-wary of listeners. With their original lineup consisting of vocalist Dexter Holland, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg Kriesel and drummer Ron Welty, THE OFFSPRING released their self-titled debut album in 1989. Four years later, their second album, "Ignition," became an underground hit, setting the stage for the across-the-board success of "Smash." Soon after its release, the band were played on both Alternative and Album Rock stations, confirming their broad-based appeal. THE OFFSPRING soon had offers pouring in from the major labels, yet they chose to stay with Epitaph Records at the time. Following a prolonged bidding war and much soul-searching, THE OFFSPRING did eventually leave Epitaph in 1996 for Columbia Records.

05.06.05 (MusicPortal.com) Rock veterans GENE LOVES JEZEBEL will release a new album on the Track Records label on June 6th, succinctly titled "Exploding Girls." The band has taken on several different labels over the years, having variously been called hip, anarchic, Gothic, Rock, melodic and fascinating. In other words, they defy a neat description. GENE LOVES JEZEBEL have been around in various permutations since Goth diverged from the early Eighties UK romantic scene, and currently comprise a four-strong band. The line up for their latest release consists of Michael Aston (vocals/guitars), Michael Ciravolo (guitars/keyboards), Pando (bass) and Michael Brahm (drums). Frontman Aston, now living in California (and whose twin brother Jay lost the rights to the band name in 1997 after the brothers' bitter split) is more Goth-ish than Gothic and has a flair for the dramatic. He also knows how to use it. And there's no pussy-footing around on the new GENE LOVES JEZEBEL album. "Exploding Girls" is a smouldering, melodic meditation on Wafa Idris, Palestine's first female suicide bomber. Other topical and personal insights surface amid edgy tunes shot through with exotic flavors. They range from the slinky Electronic groove behind the bittersweet '2 Hungry Women' to the African-style percussion driving 'Blue Mary.' "Exploding Girls" is an album that holds a special appeal for those who fondly recall the days when Goth was more about romantic yearning (in the Bronte sense) and gritty Pop/Rock than fetish gear and down-tuned guitars. It is an album that's comprised completely of songs that Aston penned about women who have affected his life, and could be considered by some to be the strongest work that GENE LOVES JEZEBEL has ever made. "Exploding Girls" is near flawless in its U2 meets THE CURE-meets HUMAN LEAGUE-style delivery. The songs are strong and catchy and the thought-provoking lyrical content makes it all the more intriguing. Twenty-odd years after first taking the stage with GENE LOVES JEZEBEL, Michael Aston leads them through the new album, which raises some serious questions... [full story]
[FREE MP3]

05.03.05 (MusicPortal.com) Capitol Records is responding to requests from BOB SEGER's online fan community for reissues of the Detroit rocker's more obscure works by releasing a newly remastered version of his 1972 release, "Smokin' O.P.'s," on June 7th. With a career spanning almost 40 years and nearly 50 million records sold, the Grammy-winning Seger is known for his extraordinary depth of songs that capture both the hope and the heartbreak implicit in the American Dream. With the original release of "Smokin' O.P.'s," BOB SEGER took a month long break from songwriting and constant touring to record the album with TEEGARDEN & VAN WINKLE of "God, Love And Rock & Roll" fame. The title is BOB SEGER shorthand for "smoking other people's songs." The album was recorded at Pampa Studios in Detroit, Michigan, which at that time resided in the basement of the Pampa Lanes Bowling Alley. The bowlers had to be stopped from time to time in order to record the tracks. As Punch Andrews, BOB SEGER's long-time manager recalls: "Sometimes the bass was enhanced by the rumble of the bowlers on Lane 17." In addition to his interpretations of some of that era's songs, "Smokin' O.P.'s" included covers of his own 'Heavy Music' and 'Someday,' which Seger had recently penned about hardships encountered in the music industry. BOB SEGER made his Capitol Records recording debut in 1968, and has remained with the label ever since - except for a three-year break. Touring almost continually, Seger set up his own distribution company, Palladium, for the release of "Smokin' O.P.'s." With the success of the single 'If I Were A Carpenter,' an immediate hit in Detroit, Seger seemed to be on track for stardom. In fact, the record began to take off so well that even small independent distributors were screaming for more records. So when Palladium ran out of resources to press records, they signed on to the Reprise Records label for distribution through Warner Bros. However, but by the time their plants were up and running the momentum had passed, and BOB SEGER would have to struggle for three more years before his music would receive widespread commercial success.
[WATCH]

[ Pop News: April 2005 ]
[ Top ]