11.30.05 (AP) A constellation of Hip-Hop stars gathered Wednesday for closing arguments in the trial of a top Rap executive who prosecutors say laundered more than $1 million in drug money for a notorious cocaine kingpin. Irving Lorenzo, chief of the Murder Inc. label, and his brother Christopher knew Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff was a "a thug and a drug dealer, and they were helping him cover it up," Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny said at the Lorenzos' racketeering trial. Between signing autographs at the Brooklyn courthouse, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, Ashanti, Fat Joe and Russell Simmons took front-row seats in support of Irving Lorenzo, a music producer and entrepreneur known professionally as Irv Gotti. "Poverty and ignorance is more of a problem in our community than convicting our poets," Simmons told reporters outside court. Defense attorney Gerald Shargel argued that the Lorenzo brothers were victims of guilt by association. "There's nothing illegal about knowing a criminal, about socializing with a criminal, even doing business with a criminal, unless you commit a crime," Shargel said. "Irv and Chris Lorenzo committed no crime." The government claims Murder Inc., home to Ashanti and Ja Rule, struck an illicit deal with "one of the biggest, baddest, most dangerous drug lords in New York City," Pokorny told the jury. McGriff allegedly funneled more than $1 million in drug money through Murder Inc. in return for serving as the Lorenzos' protector and enforcer. A government witness who once worked at the label testified that he saw a "huge amount" of money delivered in shopping bags and a shoe box in 2000. Murder Inc. cut tens of thousands of dollars in checks for sham corporations controlled by McGriff, including a movie company that produced a straight-to-video film called "Crime Partners 2000," Pokorny said. The label also covered his expenses as he traveled around the country masquerading as an entertainment executive, she added. The defense has portrayed the Lorenzo brothers -- both charged with money laundering -- as legitimate businessmen who made it big adopting a gangster persona and starting Murder Inc. with Def Jam, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. They decided to invest their own money in McGriff's movie because he was an old friend from their Queens neighborhood, Shargel said. "Even if Supreme McGriff was the biggest drug dealer in the world, and even if 'Crime Partners' was the worst film in the history of American entertainment, there is nothing illegal about giving backing to a movie," he said. The brothers are free on $1 million bail. McGriff, who faces murder charges, will have a separate trial. The judge barred prosecutors from introducing evidence that the Lorenzos knew about an alleged plot by McGriff to shoot 50 Cent amid the rapper's ongoing war of words with Ja Rule. Investigators believe 50 Cent, who famously survived the shooting, had angered the drug lord by writing the song 'Ghetto Koran' about him.

11.29.05 (MusicPortal.com) One of the most eagerly anticipated singles of the year will be unveiled this Thursday, December 1st. CRAZY FROG's Christmas single, 'Jingle Bells,' has been subject to a worldwide embargo until that date. No mean feat, as CRAZY FROG is signed to more than 30 record companies throughout the world, and each label have been working together to ensure that the embargo is adhered to. 'Jingles Bells' will receive its first radio play in Britain between 8am and 9am on December 1st. In a move that befits the multi-platinum-selling star, only a limited number of watermarked, traceable promotional CDs were made available recently. The animated video, for 'Jingle Bells,' created by Kaktus Films, will also receive its first broadcast on Thursday, which has been proclaimed "International Crazy Frog Day." CRAZY FROG's recording of the classic Christmas song was recently second favorite at 5/1 for the Christmas Number 1 spot with a duet by WESTLIFE. Gennaro Castaldo, HMV spokesman said then: "Westlife won't have forgotten that they came off second best to Bob The Builder in Christmas 2000, so they may not relish a chart encounter with the Crazy Frog this time around. Novelty songs always sell well at Christmas, and you'd be foolish to write off the Crazy Frog's chances." CRAZY FROG has simply dominated the International Pop charts in 2005. His debut single, 'Axel F,' was No. 1 for 4 weeks in Britain, and he has since notched up 21 No. 1's throughout the world - including 3 months at #1 in New Zealand as well as 3 months in France, where 'Axel F' has sold an amazing 1.6 million copies. CRAZY FROG has also dished up a festive treat for his fans with a special Christmas edition of his multi-platinum-selling chart-topping album, "Crazy Hits." In addition to the massive 'Axel F' and the artist's second single, 'Popcorn,' CRAZY FROG has recorded his own versions of classic Christmas songs, including 'Last Christmas,' 'Wonderland,' and 'Jingle Bells' as well. These sit snugly alongside classics such as the theme to "Dallas," Felix's 'Don't You Want Me,' TECHNOTRONIC's 'Pump Up The Jam' and 'The Pink Panther' theme. The Crazy Frog recently joined Amir Khan in the UK to turn on the Christmas Lights in Bolton (wearing underpants provided by "Make Poverty History" in order to protect his modesty), and his services were also called upon to switch on the Christmas Lights in Swansea. "Crazy Hits Crazy Christmas Edition" Track Listing: 1. Intro • 2. Jingle Bells • 3. Last Christmas (with frog vox) • 4. U Can't Touch This • 5. Axel F • 6. Popcorn • 7. Whoomp! (There It Is) • 8. 1001 Nights • 9. We Like To Party • 10. Don't You Want Me • 11. Dirty Frog • 12. Magic Melody • 13. Pump Up The Jam • 14. In The 80's • 15. Who Let The Frog Out • 16. Wonderland • 17. Theme From "Dallas" • 18. The Pink Panther • 19. Get Ready For This • 20. I Like To Move It • 21. Crazy Sounds (Acapella)
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11.29.05 (MusicPortal.com) Some of Rock's greatest anthems will be performed live again across America after more than 20 years, as QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS have announce they will play a 23-date tour of the United States and Canada this coming Spring. The tour announcement comes only a matter of weeks after QUEEN and Rodgers ignited sold-out box office and strong media attention with two showcase performances at New Jersey's Meadowlands and Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl on a stop-off along the way to their recent sold-out Japanese tour. Away from the North American concert circuit for more than two decades -- a forced retirement of sorts brought on by the tragic loss of QUEEN frontman Freddie Mercury, QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS will launch into their coast-to-coast tour Friday, March 3rd in Miami, Florida at the American Airlines Arena. Spending six weeks on North American soil, the band will closely re-route it's triumphant 1982 North American tour, bringing it back to the heartlands of Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, Portland, among other U.S. cities, plus Canadian stops in Toronto and Vancouver, where the tour winds up on April 13th. Tickets for the much-anticipated shows go on sale at the earliest December 3rd, with on-sales across the country at different dates up until December 17th. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster, with a special pre-sale starting today at www.queenonline.com or www.paulrodgers.com. The collaboration between QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS was cemented when May, Taylor and Rodgers performed in public together for the first time last Fall at the first annual UK Music Hall Of Fame Awards in London. "There was a natural chemistry between us when we performed together in London. Brian and Roger brought a new dimension to my songs," said Rodgers. "The idea took hold for us to do something together after that, and the momentum has taken on a life of its own." The momentum took the shape of a 32-date European tour this past Spring. "It was more than enough," say May and Taylor, "to persuade us that it was the right time to return for a lengthier period of dates. And it is going to be great to be back in some of our favorite cities." Tour Dates: 03/03 Miami, FL [American Airlines Arena] • 03/05 Jacksonville, FL [Veterans Coliseum] • 03/07 Duluth, GA [Gwinett Center] • 03/09 Washington, DC [MCI Center] • 03/10 Worcester, MA [DCU Center] • 03/12 Uniondale, NY [Nassau Coliseum] • 03/14 Philadelphia, PA [Wachovia Spectrum] • 03/16 Toronto, ON [Air Canada Centre] • 03/17 Buffalo, NY [HSBC Arena] • 03/20 Pittsburgh, PA [Mellon Arena] • 03/21 Cleveland, OH [Quicken Loans Arena] • 03/23 Chicago, IL [Allstate Arena] • 03/24 Auburn Hills, MI [Palace At Auburn Hills] • 03/26 St. Paul, MN [Xcel Energy Center] • 03/27 Milwaukee, WI [Bradley Center] • 03/31 Glendale, AZ [Glendale Arena] • 04/01 San Diego, CA [Cox Arena] • 04/03 Anaheim, CA Arrowhead Pond] • 04/05 San Jose, CA [HP Pavilion] • 04/07 Las Vegas, NV [MGM Grand Garden] • 04/10 Seattle, WA [Key Arena] • 04/11 Portland, OR [Rose Garden] • 04/13 Vancouver, BC [Pacific Coliseum]
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11.28.05 (MusicPortal.com) All five of BARBRA STREISAND's early career television specials have just been released in an historic DVD box set by Warner Strategic Marketing. For over forty years now, Streisand's accomplishments in the recording field, on film, television and on stage have set many records, and it was those early television specials that previewed for national audiences the unparalleled range of talent and originality that would distinguish BARBRA STREISAND as a bonafide entertainment trailblazer. On display in the award-winning specials are not only the multi-Grammy-winning voice, the unique comic and dramatic acting flair that earned her both Oscar and Tony, but also the taste, showmanship and visual inspiration that would also make her a film director and producer that would establish several unbreakable records in the world of concert performance. Those first five specials, for which the young Streisand (barely into her twenties) was so wisely given full creative control, were a groundbreaking introduction to all of BARBRA STREISAND's varied talents. In bringing Streisand's groundbreaking original television performances to DVD for the first time ever, Warner Strategic Marketing have made available to the public many classic performances unseen since their first broadcasts in "My Name Is Barbra," "Color Me Barbra," "The Belle Of 14th Street," "Barbra Streisand: A Happening In Central Park," and "Barbra Streisand . . . And Other Musical Instruments." "We have found a way to take these landmark performances, many of which have been unavailable to the public for decades, and bring them to a very eager audience," states Scott Pascucci, President of Warner Strategic Marketing. "In these performances, Barbra conquers nearly every genre on the map, and we are proud to be able to finally give viewers the chance to witness how truly timeless and groundbreaking her original specials were, and still are." On Disc One, filmed in black-and-white, 1965's "My Name Is Barbra" is a classic that reviewers originally waxed ecstatic with praise, and won five Emmy Awards and the prestigious Peabody Award for "Distinguished Achievement In Television." Fresh from the overwhelming triumph of "My Name Is Barbra," CBS network executives requested a follow-up special. In the case of 1966's "Color Me Barbra" on Disc Two, filmed in vibrant color, this companion piece to her first special is one for the ages on. BARBRA STREISAND is the "top-billed act" in 1967's "The Belle Of 14th Street" on Disc Three, an affectionate tribute to turn of the century vaudeville. Her first television special to feature guest stars, it celebrates in ways both comedic and heartfelt, "The Golden Age Of Song." On the evening of June 17th, 1967, BARBRA STREISAND and 150,000 people gathered together in Central Park's massive Sheep's Meadow for "Barbra Streisand: A Happening In Central Park," a once-in-a-lifetime outdoor concert event on Disc Four. A multicultural musical potpourri, BARBRA STREISAND's fifth television spectacular, 1973's "Barbra Streisand . . . And Other Musical Instruments," is a feast for the eyes and ears on Disc Five. With over 150 musicians making use of everything from traditional to the more exotic musical instruments (sitar, Chippewa tom-tom, sewing machine, orange juice squeezer, even a washing machine), this special features a timeless duet of Streisand performing 'Crying Time' with Ray Charles.
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11.28.05 (AP) Twenty-five years ago, Mark David Chapman stamped his name into history by shooting four bullets into JOHN LENNON's back - a desperate, senseless grab for the kind of fame the voice of a generation was so steeped in. Instead, all he gained was infamy. "I want to be important," Chapman later said of his mind-set before the murder. "I want to be somebody. I was never anybody." The journey from nobody to notorious started in Decatur, Georgia, where he grew up with his parents and sister. After high school, Chapman worked as a camp counselor at an Atlanta YMCA, and was briefly enrolled at Covenant College, a Christian university in Georgia. But he dropped out, broke off an engagement, and entered a dark period of depression. In the Spring of 1977, Chapman moved to Honolulu, where he attempted to kill himself using the exhaust from a car. In the following years, Chapman, a devout Christian, would take exception to Lennon's perceived anti-religion beliefs. At the height of Beatlemania, Lennon had famously proclaimed THE BEATLES "more popular than Jesus," and later sang in 'Imagine': "Imagine there's no heaven." At the same time, Chapman developed an obsession with J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher In The Rye," the landmark novel that focuses on a disaffected youth, Holden Caulfield, during a trip to New York City. Though previously a great fan of THE BEATLES, Chapman began attaching Caulfield's favorite slander - "phony" - to Lennon. He made that assessment after seeing photos of Lennon atop his exclusive Manhattan apartment building, the Dakota. "At some point, after looking at those pictures, I became enraged at him and something in me just broke," Chapman would explain later. "I remember saying in my mind, 'What if I killed him?'" "I felt that perhaps my identity would be found in the killing of John Lennon." Believing himself the embodiment of Holden Caulfield, Chapman, then 25, arrived in New York City on December 6th, 1980. Two days later, he bought another copy of Salinger's book and wrote in it, "This is my statement." He went to the Dakota and waited for Lennon. When he arrived, Lennon politely signed an autograph for the pudgy, dark-haired, ordinary-looking fan. Chapman stayed, waiting for Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, to return later that evening. "It was like a runaway train," Chapman would later say of his desire to kill Lennon. "There was no stopping it." Just after 10:50 p.m., the couple exited their limousine and began walking into the Dakota. Chapman unloaded, hitting the 40-year-old Lennon with all but one shot. Then, without a word, he sat down and opened "The Catcher In The Rye." The man whose songs and lyrics had meant so much to so many, died on the way to the hospital. The outpouring of grief was immediate - as was confusion. Who was Chapman? Why did he do it? Chapman signed a statement to police that evening: "I have a small part of me that cannot understand the world and what goes on in it. I did not want to kill anybody and I really don't know why I did it." A brief 1981 trial offered few answers... [full story]
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11.25.05 (AP) Vietnamese Police said Thursday they have requested four more months of detention for ex-British singer GARY GLITTER while they complete investigations into a suspected child sex abuse case. "I feel very confident" that authorities will approve the extension to keep the former Pop star at a prison outside the southern coastal resort of Vung Tau, said Lt. Col. Nguyen Duc Trinh, deputy head of the police investigation department in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Trinh said initial investigations show there is evidence Glitter may have had sex with underage girls, including a 12-year-old. The age of consent in Vietnam is 18. Glitter, 61, whose real name is Paul Francis Gadd, has been held in detention since Saturday when he was stopped at Ho Chi Minh City's international airport as he was trying to leave the country amid allegations he had committed lewd acts with minors at his rented home in Vung Tau. Under Vietnamese law, Glitter, who has not been charged with any crime, can be held by provincial police for up to nine days while they decide whether they have evidence to move forward with a criminal investigation or release him. Trinh said police have gathered enough evidence in the last five days to request an order that would formalize and extend the ex-rocker's current detention outside Vung Tau. Police have obtained statements from five girls about their sexual involvement with Glitter, including a 12-year-old girl, and compiled medical evidence of potential abuse, Trinh said. During questioning sessions, Glitter "admitted he had intercourse with a lot of Vietnamese women," Trinh said. Under Vietnamese law, sexual contact with a minor under the age of 18 carries varying penalties, depending on the charge. Child rape carries the maximum penalty of death before a firing squad. Earlier this week, police said a 12-year-old girl claimed she had sex with Glitter at his home in this seaside resort town. The official English-language Vietnam News reported she told police Glitter had promised to teach her English and to help her to study overseas. GARY GLITTER's attorney said on Wednesday he was seeking to get Glitter released from detention on bail. Glitter, who rose to fame as a Glam Rock and Pop star in the 1970s, is best known for the 1972 hit 'Rock And Roll Part 2,' which is still consistently played at sporting events. He was convicted in Britain in 1999 of possessing child pornography and served half of a four-month jail sentence before being released. He later went to Cambodia and was permanently expelled in 2002, though Cambodian officials did not specify any crime or file charges. In 2004, GARY GLITTER filed a lawsuit against government deportation order there, when local police said Glitter has been living for nearly a year in Phnom Penh's southern outskirts where he had bought a house.

11.23.05 (AP) It has been announced that singer/actress JESSICA SIMPSON has split with husband Nick Lachey, both of whom turned mid-level music careers into Hollywood superstardom by celebrating their marriage in an MTV reality show and several television specials. The couple are calling it quits after months of persistent breakup rumors. "After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways," they said in a joint statement released by their publicists today. "This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other." Calls from The Associated Press seeking further comment from publicists Meredith O' Sullivan and Rob Shuter were not immediately returned. JESSICA SIMPSON and Nick Lachey have been dogged by rumors that their marriage was in trouble - Us Weekly reported that they split in an October 17th issue - but Simpson, 25, and Lachey, 32, brushed the article aside as speculation and insisted they were still together. In the December/January issue of Teen People, which went on newsstands earlier this month, JESSICA SIMPSON denied rumors that the marriage was kaput. "Hopefully mine and Nick's story will continue for the rest of our lives, like what we vowed, through sickness and in health," said Simpson, who famously professed that she remained a virgin until she got married. The couple wed in October 2002, back when they were known simply as Pop singers. But JESSICA SIMPSON hadn't quite achieved the multi-platinum successes of peers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, while Lachey was a member of the boy band 98 DEGREES, which sold far fewer albums than such acts as 'N SYNC and BACKSTREET BOYS. The couple's MTV reality show, "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," which chronicled their daily lives in a new California home, turned them into unlikely stars. The show, which ran for three seasons, made Simpson infamous for her dippy-blonde moments, including the time she confused the tuna she was eating for chicken, or when she eschewed Buffalo wings because "I don't eat buffalo." JESSICA SIMPSON's star status has begun to outshine Lachey's recently. She played Daisy Duke in this Summer's hit movie "The Dukes Of Hazzard," and she endorses "Dessert," a beauty line that includes flavored body creams. Lachey, whose solo album has had disappointing sales, appeared in some episodes of the television show "Charmed." Besides appearing in "Newlyweds," JESSICA SIMPSON and Nick Lachey entertained U.S. troops earlier this year in the ABC special "Nick & Jessica's Tour Of Duty," and last year they hosted the ABC variety special "Nick & Jessica's Family Christmas." A coffee table book, "Jessica Simpson I Do: Achieving Your Dream Wedding," also was released last year.
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11.22.05 (MusicPortal.com) Following up on his platinum-selling #1 single 'Shine,' Australia's SHANNON NOLL has released the title track from his chart-topping album, "Lift." Co-written by Noll, the uplifting anthem is a reference to the familiar Aussie footy term about picking up your game. "The sentiment of 'Lift' is when you are against the ropes, beaten in everyway and something sparks inside of you to find the will and determination to overcome the odds and come through in the end." The emotionally charged single was the #1 most-added track at radio its first week in, and named as the Music Network's "Premier Pick." The 'Lift' single also features the videos for 'Shine' and the boxing-themed clip for 'Lift,' which was shot on location in an unused warehouse in Sydney's Marrickville by well-known Australian director Anthony Rose (who directed Noll's 'Drive,' 'What About Me' and 'Shine' clips). SHANNON NOLL has now clocked up over 1 million sales across all his music releases, and has had six Top 5 hits to date in Australia. He was also recently awarded with two ARIA #1 chart awards for the album "Lift" and single 'Shine' in a Sydney ceremony held at Luna Park. Meanwhile, SHANNON NOLL is set to hit the road in early 2006 for an extensive Australian national tour, for which tickets go on sale today. Tour Dates: 01/17 Lismore, AU [Lismore Workers Club] • 01/18 Ipswich, AU [Ipswich Civic Centre] • 01/19 Bundaberg, AU [Across The Waves Sporting Club] • 01/20 Gold Coast, AU [Southport RSL] • 01/21 Gold Coast, AU [Southport RSL] • 01/22 Brisbane North, AU [Kedron Wavell Services Club] • 01/24 Nambour, AU [Nambour Civic Centre] • 01/25 Alexandria, AU [Alexandria Hills Hotel] • 01/27 Newcastle, AU [Newcastle Panthers] • 01/28 Tamworth, AU [West Tamworth Leagues, Tamworth] • 01/31 Campbelltown, AU [Campbelltown RSL] • 02/01 Castle Hill, AU [Castle Hill RSL] • 02/02 Wyong, AU [Wyong Leagues Club] • 02/03 Revesby, AU [Revesby Workers Club] • 02/04 Luna Park, AU [Big Top] • 02/05 Rooty Hill, AU [Rooty Hill RSL] • 02/07 Canberra, AU [Hellenic Club] • 02/08 Adelaide, AU [The Governor Hindmarsh] • 02/09 Adelaide, AU [The Governor Hindmarsh] • 02/11 Melbourne, AU [The Athenaeum Theatre] • 02/12 Melbourne, AU [The Athenaeum Theatre] • 02/14 Melbourne, AU [Mercury Lounge] • 02/15 Melbourne, AU [Mercury Lounge] • 02/17 Tasmania, AU [Derwent Entertainment Centre] • 02/20 Perth, AU [Regal Theatre] • 02/21 Mandurah, AU [Mandurah Performing Arts Centre] • 02/23 Bunbury, AU [Bunbury Entertainment Centre] • 02/24 Perth, AU [Metro City] • 02/25 Doodlakine, AU [Doodlakine Hotel] • 03/02 Sawtell, AU [Sawtell RSL] • 03/03 Forster, AU [Forster Memorial Club] • 03/04 Yallah, AU [Yallah Roadhouse] • 03/05 Yallah, AU [Yallah Roadhouse] • 03/06 Batemans Bay, AU [Bowling Club]
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11.21.05 (AP) MARIAH CAREY continues her journey along the comeback trail, heading into Tuesday's 33rd annual American Music Awards with a leading four nominations, including two for her chart-topping album, "The Emancipation Of Mimi." Rockers GREEN DAY, rapper 50 Cent and "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson have three nominations each. Other multiple nominees included the BLACK EYED PEAS, DESTINY'S CHILD, Eminem, Fantasia, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw and Gretchen Wilson. Among the acts slated to perform are Carey, THE ROLLING STONES, Cyndi Lauper, Sarah McLachlan, Lindsay Lohan, Keith Urban, EURYTHMICS, SANTANA and LOS LONELY BOYS. Carey's album has sold about 6 million copies to date, re-igniting the 35-year-old's career and helping earn her a string of honors at September's Vibe Awards and World Music Awards. At the American Music Awards, Carey is vying for honors along with a cadre of other hitmakers, including Gwen Stefani and Clarkson in the "Best Female Pop Artist" category, and Ciara and Fantasia for "Best Female Soul/R&B Artist." "The Emancipation Of Mimi" is nominated for favorite album in the Pop/Rock category along with GREEN DAY's "American Idiot" and Clarkson's "Breakaway." Carey's album also was nominated in the Soul/R&B category along with Pop trio DESTINY'S CHILD's swan song, "Destiny Fulfilled," and Fantasia's debut, "Free Yourself." GREEN DAY was vying for favorite Pop/Rock band, duo or group against the funky BLACK EYED PEAS and rockers 3 DOORS DOWN. The "American Idiot" rockers were also up for a favorite artist honor in the Alternative category along with Britain's COLDPLAY and metal band SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Rounding out the Pop/Rock category, actor-rapper Will Smith, 50 Cent and former matchbox twenty frontman Rob Thomas were contenders for the favorite male artist honor. R. Kelly, John Legend and Omarion were up for the same honor in the Soul/R&B division. In the Hip-Hop/Rap class, Eminem, 50 Cent and Ludacris shared nods for favorite male artist, while Missy Elliott, Lil' Kim and Miami-based vocalist Trina were up for favorite female artist. In the Country music division, Keith, McGraw and Kenny Chesney received nods for favorite male artist, while Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Wilson vied for the favorite female artist honor. Other awards were to be presented to artists in the Latin, Contemporary Inspirational and Adult Contemporary categories. Cedric The Entertainer will host the three-hour ceremony, broadcast live on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Nominees were chosen on the basis of record sales, with winners selected through a survey of about 20,000 listeners.
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11.18.05 (MusicPortal.com) Just in time for the holidays come two live releases from musical genius TODD RUNDGREN, "The Best Of Todd Rundgren Live," a CD compilation that spans 25 years of touring, and "Liars Live," a concert DVD filmed during his critically acclaimed 2004 international tour. The CD has just been released this week, with the DVD following on November 29th, both available via Sanctuary Records. "The Best Of Todd Rundgren Live" CD is a collection of 13 of his favorite songs, performed during a variety of different tours over a 25 year period (1979-2004). Rundgren personally selected performances from concerts as far afield as Tokyo, and as a special bonus included two new songs recorded during the "Liars" tour in 2004: 'Soul Brother' (originally released on his 2004 album, "Liars"), and a haunting cover of THE BEATLES' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.' Both also appear on the "Liars Live" DVD. Other classic Rundgren songs on the Live album include 'I Saw The Light,' 'Can We Still Be Friends' and 'Hello It's Me.' Rundgren was intimately involved in the compilation and mastering of this special collection, even going so far as to add his own annotations to the extensive liner notes. "Liars Live," the new concert DVD, was shot in June of 2004 in Albany, New York, and is filled with over two hours' worth of material totaling eighteen songs; eight taken from the "Liars" album, another eight from his more recent history, plus his defining 'Hello It's Me' and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps,' which Rundgren first performed on the George Harrison tribute album. The DVD includes special bonus features such as a tour scrapbook and a "Japan Video Diary," filmed during the band's Japanese leg of the tour. TODD RUNDGREN's "Liars" album was his first all new studio album in a decade. He recorded, produced and mixed the critically acclaimed record and played all instruments, wrote all the songs and performed all of the vocals himself. Shortly after its release in April of 2004, Rundgren formed a new band called THE LIARS, enlisting musicians John Ferenzik, Prairie Prince, Jesse Gress and long-time UTOPIA associate Kasim Sulton. The band toured the U.S., Europe and Japan extensively using an amplifier-free sound system that incorporated digital modeling to emulate the sounds of traditional amps. The tour was also the first in Rock history to illuminate the stage using only LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. Even the guitars, bass and keyboards were run off of innovative technology, plugged into notebook computers and run directly to the PA system. "The Tablet PCs that we took essentially replaced all the backline equipment. We ran two pieces of emulation software to recreate the sound of amplifiers. There are no amps, racks or floor monitors anywhere on stage," notes Rundgren. That also left the gas guzzling semi-trucks behind, and allowed the band to transport their entire stage set up in a simple trailer behind the bus.

11.18.05 (AP) When the new Johnny Cash biopic "Walk The Line" opens in theaters Friday, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON will probably be watching more closely than most. As a close friend and collaborator of Cash's, Kristofferson will have a rare perspective on the film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his wife, June Carter Cash. Besides writing songs recorded by Cash, Kristofferson teamed with Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings for three albums between 1985 and 1995 as the supergroup THE HIGHWAYMEN. The third of those, "The Road Goes On Forever," has been reissued with six previously unreleased tracks. A behind-the-scenes documentary filmed in the studio by producer Don Was will be available Tuesday. KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, 69, who stars with Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning in the new movie "Dreamer," spoke with the AP recently from his home in Hawaii. AP: "Are you glad to see "Walk The Line" coming out?" Kristofferson: "It looks promising. I'm glad Joaquin Phoenix did it because he's a good actor. He has that dark quality that, at that time in John's life, was pretty prominent." AP: "You have an unusual perspective being an actor as well as Johnny Cash's friend. Will you be watching the movie with a critical eye?" Kristofferson: "Mostly, I'll be looking at it as a guy who worshipped John. I remember the film on Jerry Lee Lewis that I hated because he's such a unique artist and that side of him ... I thought the whole thing didn't have respect for him as an artist. And he's one of the great American voices of all time. John is as well, so it's got to be hard." AP: "The new reissue, 'The Road Goes On Forever,' was the least commercially successful of the Highwaymen's three albums. How do you feel about it artistically?" Kristofferson: "I really like it. It seems like we had a real feeling for a lot of the songs. My favorite on the whole thing was probably Waylon's 'I Do Believe.' I thought it holds up pretty well." AP: "Do you think there will ever be another Highwaymen album, without Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings?" Kristofferson: "There was talk about it this year. I think they were going to do it with George Jones and Hank Jr. There are a number of guys that could fit in: Merle Haggard - he should have been one. It could easily happen because Willie will be playing forever, and I'm working again now. But it won't be the same." AP: "What was it like working with that original lineup?" Kristofferson: "I think I was different from the other guys in that I came in it as a fan of all of them. I had a respect for them when I was still in the Army. When I went to Nashville, they were like major heroes of mine because they were people who took the music seriously. To be not only recorded by them but to be friends with them and to work side by side was just a little unreal. It was like seeing your face on Mount Rushmore." AP: "Do you consider your work with The Highwaymen some of the most rewarding of your career?" Kristofferson: "When I look back now - I know I hear Willie say it was the best time of his life. For me, I wish I was more aware how short of a time it would be. It was several years, but it was still like the blink of an eye. I wish I would have cherished each moment."

11.17.05 (MusicPortal.com) In their 13 years playing together, HANSON have earned many accolades. They've been Grammy nominees, chart-toppers and Carnegie Hall headliners. And after entering the Billboard Independent chart at #1 in April of 2004 with "Underneath," released on their own 3CG Records label, you can add to that list industry groundbreakers, with one of the most successful independently released records in music history. Hanson brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac continue to demonstrate that evolution on "The Best Of Hanson Live And Electric," once again released on their own 3CG Records label. The new release spotlights a band that has sold more than 15 million albums performing all their platinum-plus hits, as Entertainment Weekly put it, "newly energized as they kick out brawny guitar-rock jams," recorded live last June before an enthusiastic audience in Melbourne, Australia. The disc includes new versions of the #1 smash 'MmmBop,' along with hits like 'Where's The Love,' 'If Only,' 'This Time Around,' 'I Will Come To You' and 'Penny And Me,' as well as bonus tracks like 'If Only' and 'A Song To Sing.' Showing their versatility, the album also includes covers of RADIOHEAD's 'Optimistic' and U2's 'In a Little While.' In addition, a limited edition CD/DVD version of "The Best Of Hanson Live And Electric" is also available with new live footage, the previously unreleased song 'Being Me,' various music videos, and a photo gallery among the bonus features. The album's release last month coincided with the band's "Live And Electric Tour '05," a 24-date jaunt that shows a side of the band that has taken what the New York Post calls "talent and perseverance" to "brilliantly display what you can achieve." Every ticket holder for the tour has received a free, limited edition "Live And Electric Tour '05" CD sampler, which is being distributed at each HANSON performance. The current tour includes visits to local colleges, where the band commonly talk to students about their experiences in the music business, and especially their quest to succeed outside the consolidated corporate culture. At each campus along the way, HANSON screen their self-produced documentary, "Strong Enough To Break," illustrating the current state of the music business, and why the band decided to set up their own record label. At the conclusion, they hold Q&A sessions with the students. "Our choice to become independent again was about our belief in the relationship between us and our fans," says Taylor Hanson. "We're passionate about the future of independent music." Pointing to the success of their 3CG Records, the band looks to build a grass-roots community of artists, labels, promoters and fans to help bring independent music to the forefront. "The future depends on the commitment and passion of musicians, fans and the industry to career artists," says Zac Hanson. "If we don't get involved, we only have ourselves to blame." To demonstrate their allegiance to the Indie cause, HANSON have worked with local college radio stations and newspapers to sponsor a contest to select a developing band as its opening act in each tour market. The success of "Underneath" was significant for Hanson for several reasons. After a four-year absence, the band saw its... [full story]
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11.17.05 (MusicPortal.com) ALANIS MORISSETTE -- coming off a handful of dates as special guest of HE ROLLING STONES at their New York-area shows including Giants Stadium and Madison Square Garden -- highlights a decade of hit songs and other gems on a new "greatest hits" compilation entitled "The Collection," which has just been released by Maverick Records. The 18-track set was previewed by the seven-time Grammy award-winner's interpretation of Seal's 'Crazy' last month as the album's first single, with an accompanying video for the song directed by Meiert Avis. ALANIS MORISSETTE hand-picked the material on "The Collection," a work that covers the full spectrum of the acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician's artistry and vision. It includes material from her four previous Maverick studio albums ("Jagged Little Pill," "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie," "Under Rug Swept," "So-Called Chaos"), her "Feast On Scraps" DVD/EP, "MTV Unplugged" album, and her contributions to the soundtracks for the movies "Dogma," "City Of Angels" and "De-Lovely" (in which she also acted), plus a song she recorded for "The Prayer Cycle" album. "It was a torturous challenge to come up with the songs for this collection record," says Morissette. "Rather than seeing my songs as children, I view them as rooms in the big house that is my life...all of them are a snapshot of a period of time and a passage in my life. I consider this collection to be pieces of that ongoing expression. Some songs were released formally as singles, others which were personal favorites speak to the themes that were relevant during the times that I wrote them. Ultimately, I put this collection record together to have something to show my great-grandkids one day, and to reflect with objectivity on my own evolution as a writer and singer." Since emerging in 1995, ALANIS MORISSETTE has become one of the more influential singer/songwriters in contemporary music. Her deeply expressive songs and performances have earned vast critical praise and a dedicated fanbase that extends throughout the world, with album sales now exceeding 40 million units. "The Collection" Track Listing: 1. Thank You • 2. Head Over Feet • 3. 8 East Steps • 4. Everything • 5. Crazy • 6. Ironic • 7. Princess Familiar • 8. You Learn • 9. Simple Together • 10. You Oughta Know • 11. That I Would Be Good • 12. Sister Blister • 13. Hands Clean • 14. Mercy • 15. Still • 16. Uninvited • 17. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love) • 18. Hand In My Pocket Upcoming Tour Dates: 11/15 London, UK [Kings College] • 11/18 New York City, NY [Roseland] • 12/01 Los Angeles, CA [Avalon] • 12/02 San Diego, CA [Star 94.1 Jingle Ball 2005] • 12/07 San Francisco, CA [Alice 97.3 Alice In Winterland] • 12/08 Atlanta, GA Star [94 Jingle Jam] • 12/15 Baltimore, MD [Mix 106.5 Mistletoe Meltdown] • 12/16 Chicago, IL The Mix [101.9 Miracle On State Street]
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11.15.05 (MusicPortal.com) Fueled by his dream to create an album about the road on the road, singer/songwriter JACKSON BROWNE went on tour with a quality collection of musicians in 1977 and came home with "Running On Empty," a musical portrait of life on tour that is as brutally honest as it is achingly beautiful. In collaboration with Rhino Records, Browne tops off the tank with a host of special features for a new expanded and remastered edition of this live classic, which is being released today to retail outlets, and at www.rhino.com and www.jacksonbrowne.com for a suggested list price of $24.98. The two-disc set includes a CD featuring the original "Running On Empty" album remastered, plus a DVD with the album remixed by Greg Ladanyi (the original engineer on the album) in 5.1 DVD Audio Surround Sound, and produced by JACKSON BROWNE. The DVD also includes a pair of unreleased songs -- the instrumental 'Edwardsville Room 124' (composed by keyboardist Craig Doerge) and 'Cocaine Again,' plus more than 200 photos taken by Joel Bernstein during the tour, including a "Running On Empty" video montage and a behind-the-scenes tour photo album accompanied by an instrumental medley of tracks from the album. Featuring 12 live performances recorded between August 17th and September 18th, 1977, the deluxe edition of "Running On Empty" features JACKSON BROWNE and his band -- Danny Kortchmar on guitar, David Lindley on fiddle and lap steel guitar, Doerge on keyboards, Leland Sklar on bass, Russ Kunkel on drums, and Doug Haywood and Rosemary Butler on background vocals -- recording previously unreleased songs in natural settings, such as a Holiday Inn hotel room, a backstage rehearsal space, on a tour bus, and on stage. Selling more than 7 million copies, "Running On Empty" became Browne's biggest selling title and includes the Top 40 hits 'Running On Empty' (the title track) and 'The Load-Out/Stay.' In addition to liner notes penned by respected music critic Anthony DeCurtis, the set features an essay about Bernstein's photography by music journalist-turned-filmmaker Cameron Crowe. "His work on the 1977 tour has rarely been seen outside the lives of the participants - it's a painstaking and rollicking and utterly real portrait of that great trip across country. As one lucky enough to be a longtime collaborator with Bernstein, I'd seen some of these photos and proof-sheets in his archives," Crowe writes. "When the time came to make a movie about my own experience in the world of early '70s Rock 'N' Roll, 'Almost Famous,' some of these very images were meticulously re-created in the film, partly as an homage to Joel, but mostly because inside his photography is the elixir I'd hoped would seep into the movie. This is how it felt to be there." "Running On Empty" Track Listing: 1. Running On Empty • 2. The Road • 3. Rosie • 4. You Love The Thunder • 5. Cocaine • 6. Shaky Town • 7. Love Needs A Heart • 8. Nothing But Time • 9. The Load-Out • 10. Stay • 11. Cocaine Again • 12. Edwardsville Room 124
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11.14.05 (AP) In the Summer of 1975, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN was nobody's Boss. His nascent career was crumbling, just another over-hyped "new Dylan" about to get dumped by his label. Two of his band members had recently quit. The bearded bard of the boardwalk was wrestling with his third (and last?) album, obsessively rewriting the lyrics and rearranging the music, spending an outrageous six months on a single song. Yet Springsteen remained sustained by a lonely but ambitious vision, convinced he could recreate the little symphonies echoing through his head for an audience of millions around the world. He was right. "Born To Run" was released in August 1975, a Rock 'N' Roll masterpiece that assumed near mythic proportion. Thirty years later, as a special "30th Anniversary" edition of the album is being released worldwide tomorrow, Springsteen recalled how making the record consumed his young life. "Everything I knew and dreamed about was packed into those songs," Springsteen told The Associated Press. "I had the desire to be great, to do something passionate, to capture something about living that I was yearning for myself. I wanted the whole thing." He got it - from the opening notes of 'Thunder Road' to the album-closing epic 'Jungleland.' But little came easy as he chased an elusive sound that was part Roy Orbison, part Phil Spector, and all BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. For Clarence Clemons, sax player for Springsteen's E Street Band, that meant 16 straight hours creating the magnificent solo that anchors 'Jungleland.' For 'Born To Run' -- the single that announced the album's arrival -- sessions stretched out over half a year. "I was 25 years old, with no place to go and nothing to do - that helped," Springsteen said of his slavish musical devotion. "We worked, and worked, and worked. It was very frustrating. But in the end, luckily, all of everything we did ended up in there." In a documentary DVD accompanying the remastered "Born To Run," band members offer their recollections of the often fruitless recording sessions. "Everyone remembers the experience quite truly," Springsteen said with a laugh. "And everyone was centered around this thing, that we suffered. No one forgot that. Everyone had that in common." They all shared another thought: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, child of the Jersey shore arcade, was going for the brass ring this time. Even if, in Springsteen's mind, that goal often remained unreachable - despite hundreds of hours in the studio. "My obsessive/compulsive nature, which crippled me through much of the rest of my life, does come in handy once in a while," said a chuckling Springsteen. "And it came in handy at that moment. I wanted something unique that you couldn't hear in the live show." After "Born To Run," Springsteen wound up in a protracted legal battle with his first manager; his follow-up album, "Darkness On The Edge Of Town," didn't appear until three years later. By then, the sprawl and bombast of "Born To Run" was in BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN's rear-view mirror - never to be duplicated on record again.
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11.14.05 (AP) When a brash New York disc jockey named Irving Lorenzo decided to call himself IRV GOTTI and start a music label called Murder Inc. in the late 1990s, he said it was all about selling records. Records by stars like Ashanti and Ja Rule sold in the millions for Murder Inc., turning Lorenzo into a Rap mogul. The problem, according to federal authorities, was that his gangster persona wasn't mere hype. Lorenzo, 34, and his brother Christopher Lorenzo, 38, were scheduled to go on trial Wednesday in New York City, accused of laundering drug money for a notorious crack kingpin. The federal racketeering case mixes elements of corporate scandal - Murder Inc. is partly owned by Def Jam, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group - with inside glimpses of feuds in the Rap world. Prosecutors say that the kingpin, Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff, was allowed to secretly funnel more than $1 million in drug money into Murder Inc.'s coffers in exchange for being the label's protector and enforcer. They hope to introduce evidence that the Lorenzos knew about an alleged plot by McGriff to assassinate rapper 50 Cent. "What the facts show is that they didn't give just give themselves names like Gotti," prosecutor Sean Haran said Monday at a pretrial hearing. "They wanted to be gangsters." Lawyers for the Lorenzos say their clients' relationship with McGriff, a childhood friend, gave them "street credibility." But they also insist their business was legitimate. "These two defendants did not receive cash from McGriff," said Gerald Shargel, who represents Christopher Lorenzo. The brothers, who are free on $1 million bail, were charged in January in the same indictment as McGriff. But U.S. District Court Judge Edward Korman agreed to grant them a separate trial after the defense argued that prosecuting them with McGriff, who faces murder counts, would prejudice the jury. McGriff, 44, and Lorenzo met on the streets in the 1980s as McGriff rose to power at the head of a ruthless crack-dealing crew called The Supreme Team. The crew apparently employed scores of dealers, took in $200,000 a day and was responsible for at least eight murders in 1987 alone. McGriff served about 10 years in prison. Once released, he renewed his association with Gotti by helping Murder Inc. produce "Crime Partners 2000," a straight-to-video film starring Ja Rule, Snoop Dogg and Ice-T. Prosecutors say the film was financed with drug cash. McGriff allegedly ordered the shooting of 50 Cent in May 2000 amid the rapper's ongoing war or words with Ja Rule. Investigators believe 50 Cent, who survived the shooting, had angered the drug lord by writing a song about him, titled 'Ghetto Koran.' Murder Inc. changed its name to The Inc. last year after executives said the label's image was hurt by the racketeering case. If convicted, the Lorenzos face up to 20 years in prison.

11.11.05 (AP) Besides being a grandfather, a knight, and a former member of THE BEATLES, PAUL McCARTNEY is now a children's book author. The 63-year-old singer entertained a young group of cute but squirmy elementary school students in Los Angeles, California yesterday by reading an excerpt from his new book, "High In The Clouds," and answering questions. On Saturday, McCartney will provide the first-ever live wake-up call to the crew of the International Space Station. The reading got some unexpected responses from the young audience. In the first six pages of McCartney's book, about an industrious squirrel named Wirral (named after McCartney's hometown), Wirral's mother is crushed to death by a tree knocked down by nature-hating developers. From there, he sets off for the mythic animal-loving land of Animalia. "Why did the author make such sad stories for children?" asked one perplexed little boy. Caught off-guard, McCartney wrapped his arm around the boy and joked, "To make children cry," he said. "But cheer up. It's going to be all right," he quickly added. McCartney co-wrote "High In The Clouds" with author Philip Ardagh, who was brought in after a first draft to "finesse" the book, McCartney told The Associated Press in a phone interview before the event. The story was his own idea, McCartney said, and was inspired by his collaboration nearly 10 years ago with animator Geoff Dunbar on the animated short "Tropic Island Hum." Dunbar also illustrated "High In The Clouds." "It's been my ambition for about 30 years to do a full-length animation film," McCartney said. The book became a substitute for a script. The Rock icon said he's never read the book to his three grandchildren or his 2-year-old daughter, Beatrice. Beyond the initial death sequence, the story "does get happier," he said. "I'd skip over that bit, with very little kids... My little one's too little. She likes the pictures though," McCartney said. He added he is also "psyched" to become a human alarm clock for astronauts this weekend. On Saturday, PAUL McCARTNEY will provide the first-ever live wake-up call, two songs, to the crew of the International Space Station from his concert in Anaheim, California. "I'm singing 'English Tea' from my new album 'Chaos And Creation In The Backyard.' I have a cup of tea in the morning, so it's something good to wake up to," McCartney said. On August 9th, NASA jolted awake the crew of space shuttle Discovery with THE BEATLES' classic 'Good Day Sunshine.' Since then, McCartney has projected footage of the crew during his current U.S. tour. Around 9:55 p.m. PST, he will serenade NASA astronauts Bill McArthur and Valery Tokarev with the same tune, broadcast live on NASA TV. "It'll be an out-of-space blast. Lots of puns intended," he said.
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11.10.05 (MusicPortal.com) The fourth title in ROD STEWART's Grammy award-winning chart topping "Songbook" series, "Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook: Volume IV," has entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #2. The "Songbook" albums have evolved into a virtual musical and cultural phenomenon, and are now the biggest-selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history. "Thanks For The Memory..." is highlighted by vocal duets featuring ROD STEWART with Elton John (on Ray Charles' signature remake of 'Makin' Whoopee'), Chaka Khan (on Sam Cooke's 'You Send Me'), and Diana Ross (on the Gershwins' 'I've Got A Crush On You,' from 1940's "Strike Up The Band," echoing the original duet by Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland). The new album is the follow-up to 2004's #1 "Stardust...The Great American Songbook: Volume III," which won ROD STEWART his first Grammy this year for "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album." Performing on the album "Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook: Volume IV" are also a number of guest star appearances of major virtuoso instrumentalists who span several generations: guitarist George Benson on Harold Arlen's 'Let's Fall In Love,' trumpeter Chris Botti on 'I Wish You Love,' trumpeter Roy Hargrove on 'My One And Only Love,' and Dave Koz on 'Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You).' Other solo performances by Stewart on "Thanks For The Memory..." include a pair of Irving Berlin standards, 'Blue Skies' and 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,' Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin's 'Long Ago & Far Away,' Vernon Duke's 'Taking A Chance On Love,' Rodgers & Hart's 'My Funny Valentine,' and the title song, Bob Hope's eternal theme, 'Thanks For The Memory.' In anticipation of the upcoming holiday season, a deluxe 4-disc box set entitled "The Great American Songbook" will package "Thanks For The Memory... The Great American Songbook: Volume IV" along with "Stardust...The Great American Songbook: Volume III," 2003's "As Time Goes By...The Great American Songbook, Volume II," and the album that started it all in 2002, "It Had To Be You...The Great American Songbook." The four albums -- which have since become the biggest-selling ongoing series of new music recordings in history -- have cumulative sales of more than 13 million copies worldwide now. The new box set will arrive in stores next week on Tuesday, November 15th and features over 60 songs from all four chart-topping titles. The package also contains a bonus live concert DVD and a special 20-page booklet with never-before seen photos and detailed liner notes.
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11.09.05 (MusicPortal.com) Here's an update from Australian sextet THE CAT EMPIRE regarding their recent Canadian tour: "We rolled into Toronto, and immediately realized how easy it was to talk to the locals. Not that venue staff in the U.S are hard to talk to, but it's more a case of Australians and Canadians being fairly similar. When doors opened at the Opera House in Toronto, there was a queue of Steve-Winwood-Live-in-Cleveland-like proportions, the kind of queue that had mostly eluded us previously in the USA. This is it. Welcome to Canada. We started with 'The Wine Song,' the first time we've ever done so, and it went down a treat. Later on, some friendly locals, pissed sherpas, old acquintances and single-serving friends showed us around town, to a shady local pizza place and a jazz club a few doors down. Thankful that Wayne Carey hadn't left without us again, we climbed aboard the bus for the trip to Montreal. The drive there was literally a get-in-the-bus-in-Toronto-and-fall-asleep-and-then-wake-up-at-the-venue-in-Montreal deal. We knew we were in for a hell of a show. After all, those crazy cats who drove across the border to our show in Burlington on the last tour and partied so hard that they got arrested were from Montreal. By the time doors opened, there was a queue of 'Nightcat' early 2003 proportions streaming down the stairs of Cafe Campus and out into the rain, up the street, and around the corner. Most of these were the people who didn't have tickets and would miss out on the show. Yes indeed, I'm glad we finally toured Canada. It was like the Burlington show, but with a full house. The crowd favourite seemed to be, obscurely, 'Rhyme and Reason,' which they learnt the words to from a downloaded copy of the song. It just so happened that our agent Jordan Burger was in town with all his buddies for his bachelor party, on the same night that we had a gig. After the show we all met him around the corner at a bar that I can't quite remember the name of. The bouncers seemed intent on making everyone standing out in the rain for no reason. Not even Harry's snakeskin boots got us in, apparently because it's 'not that kind of place.' That is so backwards and wrong I don't even know where to start. Anyhow, they finally let me in, and Jordan convinced them to let everyone else in. We were met with an even more fearsome sight: a room full of people who really WANTED to be in this elitist shithole. As the ludicrously-priced drinks kept coming from the impossibly attractive bar staff, I realised I only had one option to redeem my pride: get thrown out of this place before it was time to leave. I began to entertain the most efficient way of doing this without getting seriously injured. But before I had a chance to walk up to the nearest table of intimidating-looking wannabe-mobsters and wryly down all their drinks, the rest of our crew started to leave anyway. I guess we'll never know how many ribs I would have made it out of there with."
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11.09.05 (MusicPortal.com) While QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS' eight-month tour played out this week with a handful of sold-out stadium dates in Japan, the chance to see the band live in action is not a lost cause, at least in the UK Coinciding with their entry straight into the DVD charts at No. 1 with "Return Of The Champions," 140 minutes on film of the band in concert on their recent tour, the QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS show is making a comeback to Britain, live, and larger than ever, as a special cinema edit of film of the band on tour heads for nationwide cinema screenings there. Following a hugely successful London West End premiere screening attended by both Brian May and Roger Taylor, "Return Of The Champions - The Film," bringing 72 minutes of highlights from the tour remixed in DTS Digital Surround sound and projected in advanced digital format, is booked to play at selected cinemas next Monday, November 14th. The film will initially be seen in eight cities, extending right across the country. The screenings are particularly aimed at reaching those areas where QUEEN & PAUL RODGERS were unable to include in their European Spring tour, in particular Scotland, Wales, and the West, where the film will be seen in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Bristol. For QUEEN, a band which has always embraced new technology, it gives their fans the chance of seeing and hearing the band in a whole new dimension. Mark De Quervain, Sales And Marketing Director for Vue Cinemas says: "We are delighted to be working with Queen on the launch of their 'Live On Tour' DVD. The specially remixed sound for our cinemas combined with the stunning filming on the big screen is truly amazing, and really does give a larger than live experience. We look forward to rolling out the show in selected sites across the country and hope that we can do more with Queen in the future.' Filmed on an 18-camera shoot by award-winning director David Mallet, "Return Of The Champions - The Film" delivers non-stop performances of many of the greatest hits from both QUEEN and Paul Rodgers' song catalogs, with perennial crowd pleasers such as 'Tie Your Mother Down,' 'Radio Ga Ga,' 'We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions' performed alongside Rodgers' 'Feel Like Makin' Love,' 'Wishing Well' and 'All Right Now.' The film also treats fans to the first-ever live versions of some classic QUEEN songs recorded after the band stopped performing in1986 and therefore never previously played for audiences, songs such as 'The Show Must Go On,' here delivered with scorching vocals from Rodgers. The film also acts as a powerful reminder of what fine stand-alone musicians/vocalists May and Taylor themselves are; Taylor roars his way through 'I'm In Love With My Car' and adds new poignancy to the Freddie Mercury latter-day signature tune, 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives.' Meanwhile, May delivers music to make you smile on ''39,' sings Freddie Mercury's torch song 'Love of My Life' with the entire audience joining in, and delivers the mother of all guitar solos, which segues seamlessly into the haunting riffs of the delicate-guitar work on 'Last Horizon.'
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11.08.05 (MusicPortal.com) "The Rising Tied," the much-anticipated debut album from FORT MINOR, will be released by Machine Shop Recordings/Warner Bros. on November 22nd. FORT MINOR is the side Hip-Hop project of vocalist Mike Shinoda from LINKIN PARK. The album finds Shinoda playing nearly every instrument on the release, while he gets some serious vocal backings from the likes of fellow labelmates STYLES OF BEYOND and Holly Brook, in addition to Common, Black Thought of THE ROOTS, Kenna, John Legend, and Jonah Matranga. Jay-Z was brought on as executive producer for "The Rising Tied," which was also produced and mixed by Shinoda, who wrote every track and "slaved over every detail," as he puts it, as well. So how do you thrive in the shadow, substantial and arena-sized, of a group that has sold over 35 million albums? If you're Mike Shinoda of LINKIN PARK, the answer is to shine your own light. Shinoda is half the vocal firepower of the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning group, trading diaphragmatic diatribes with singer Chester Bennington and infusing searing Alternative Rock with equally intense Hip-Hop. From album to album, Shinoda and his bandmates have garnered a reputation based on their appetite for striking new ground. On his first outing alone, Mike Shinoda is ready to show people that he is still hungry. Shinoda's Rap roots have always had to share space with other elements - until now. "The Rising Tied" is a wholly unique, unadulterated Hip-Hop album, owing as much to Shinoda's polished lyricism as his musical adeptness. The variety of themes, styles, and moods he creates make this "side project" likely to do much more than simply satisfy existing LINKIN PARK fans; it threatens to expose Shinoda as a Rap devotee who is as at home in Hip-Hop as he is in the cross-genre hybrid of LINKIN PARK. While Shinoda chose the name FORT MINOR to reflect the dynamic between opposites -- something big and strong vs. something small and slight (or musically dark) -- the title of the album is also a play on words. All of the guest artists on "The Rising Tied," are also coming up together in the music world, among them Machine Shop Recordings artists STYLES OF BEYOND and Holly Brook. While remaining an essential shard in the mosaic of LINKIN PARK, the desire to create songs that resonated with his youth as a Hip-Hop producer and MC led Shinoda to write, then record, a progression of Hip-Hop-rooted songs. As they began to coalesce into an album bearing Shinoda's solo imprimatur, he also felt it was essential to keep it "organic," making his own samples and breakbeats with live instruments, and avoiding sequenced keyboards. "The Rising Tied," channeling some of the signature dynamics and frustration of Linkin Park, reveals a more personal range of themes slagged inside a distinctly Hip-Hop crucible. Not to say that it's an entirely homogenized collection. On the track 'Believe Me,' excerpts from a decaying relationship tremble over... [full story]
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11.08.05 (MusicPortal.com) Three decades ago, QUEEN released their classic album "A Night At The Opera," which went to No. 1 in many countries around the world. On Monday, November 21st, 1975, the first single from the album went to No. 1 on the UK charts, a position it was to hold for 9 weeks. QUEEN are commemorating the 30th anniversary of that occasion this Monday, November 21st with a new combined CD/DVD Special Collectors Edition release of the album. Originally recorded in no less than six different studios between August and November of 1975, "A Night At The Opera" was estimated at the time to be the most expensive album ever recorded, although, at around $79,000, it now looks unusually cheap at that price today. Their fourth album, "A Night At The Opera" encapsulated everything about QUEEN's music that made it so unique, and is now regarded by many to be the definitive '70s-era release by the band. Combining outstanding showmanship with remarkable versatility, QUEEN could literally do it all at that time, and "A Night At The Opera" was the ultimate proof. More quality albums would be released by QUEEN over the next 20 years, but perhaps this was the band at its musical apotheosis. Recalling when vocalist Freddie Mercury sat at the piano and first played 'Bohemian Rhapsody' to him and the band, original producer Roy Thomas Baker says: "Freddie set out three impressive verses then stopped and said, 'Now dear, this is where the opera section comes in.'" That was when Baker started smiling and, by his own recent recollections, he hardly stopped smiling for the rest of the session, arduous as it was in pre-digital days to stack up the 180-voice "chorus" (all performed by band members Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor) over seven 12-hour days. "Bohemian Rhapsody was totally insane," he says. "We never stopped laughing. It was basically a joke, but a successful joke." But it was worth it. 'Bohemian Rhapsody' spent nine consecutive weeks at No. 1, and became the only single to sell more a million copies on two separate occasions. The track was also named recently in the "Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles" as the top song of the last 50 years. "A Night At The Opera" was also the first QUEEN album to go to No. 1 in the UK, where it sold over a million copies, giving the band their first platinum record. It was also their breakthrough album in the United States, where it reached No. 4 and remained on the charts for 52 weeks, giving them their first Gold record there. A landmark release, the Special Collectors Edition of "A Night At The Opera" features both the new CD and DVD formats of the album completely restored from the original analog tapes and digitally remastered by Bob Ludwig in both Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound. As well as the original 1975 promotional videos for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'You're My Best Friend,' the DVD also contains brand new video footage for the other 10 tracks on the album, along with archived audio commentary from all four original members of QUEEN, including the late Freddie Mercury. Says Brian May: "This is quite simply the best 'Night At The Opera' ever produced. I doubt if it can ever be bettered!"

11.04.05 (MusicPortal.com) Audiences are flocking to see "Jersey Boys," the unlikely rags-to-riches story of FRANKIE VALLI & THE 4 SEASONS, four would-be wise guys from the Garden State who created an indelible legacy of chart-topping hits. Rhino Records brings back the musical's best performances for an encore with "Jersey Boys - The Original Cast Recording." The collection of stellar performances from the original Broadway cast is now available at regular retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested price of $18.98. Produced by original FRANKIE VALLI & THE 4 SEASONS member Bob Gaudio, "Jersey Boys - The Original Cast Recording" features the cast performing the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer's biggest hits, including the #1 smashes 'Rag Doll,' 'Walk Like A Man,' 'Big Girls Don't Cry' and 'December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night).' The album also showcases the cast -- John Lloyd Young as Franki Valli, Christian Hoff as Tommy DeVito, Daniel Reichard as Gaudio and J. Robert Spencer as Nick Massi -- delivering stirring versions of 'Earth Angel,' 'My Boyfriend's Back,' 'A Sunday Kind Of Love,' 'My Eyes Adored You,' 'Working My Way Back To You,' and other early Pop and Rock 'N' Roll classics. Previews began October 4th for "Jersey Boys," which is directed by Des McAnuff and based on the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The musical broke all box office records at the La Jolla Playhouse, beating out ticket sales for both "Rent" and "Tommy." The acclaimed production tells the story behind the rise to fame of FRANKIE VALLI & THE 4 SEASONS, four Newark, New Jersey natives who wrote their own songs, invented their own identity and sold millions of records worldwide before they turned 30 years old. Formed as a street corner Doo-Wop group in 1955 by falsetto lead singer Frankie Valli, the group's lineup solidified in 1961 with Valli, Gaudio, Massi and DeVito. Just a few years later, the group were on their way to becoming one of the all-time best-selling Pop vocal groups in history. For more than a decade, FRANKIE VALLI & THE 4 SEASONS recorded dozens of hits featuring sterling harmonies that resonated with young lovers everywhere. "Jersey Boys - The Original Cast Recording" Track Listing: Act 1: 1. Ces Soirees-LA • 2. The Early Years: A Scrapbook • a) Silhouettes b) You're The Apple Of My Eye c) I Can't Give You Anything But Love d) Earth Angel e) A Sunday Kind Of Love f) My Mother's Eyes g) Short Shorts h) Moody's Mood For Love 3. Cry For Me • 4. Backup Sessions • a) An Angel Cried b) I Still Care c) Trance 5. Sherry • 6. Big Girls Don't Cry • 7. Walk Like A Man • 8. December 1963 (Oh, What A Night) • 9. My Boyfriend's Back • 10. My Eyes Adored You • 11. Dawn (Go Away) Act 2: 12. Big Man In Town • 13. Dialogue: A Little Trouble • 14. Beggin' • 15. Dialogue: See How You Handle It • 16. Medley • a) Stay b) Let's Hang On! c) Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me) d) Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye) 17. C'Mon Marianne • 18. Can't Take My Eyes Off You • 19. Working My Way Back To You • 20. Fallen Angel • 21. Rag Doll • 22. Who Loves You

11.04.05 (MusicPortal.com) On November 14th, UNITING NATIONS' debut album, "One World," will be released by Gusto Records. A feast of endorphin-inducing feelgood tracks that kicks off with the massive hit 'Out Of Touch,' swiftly followed by their second single, the original 'You and Me' before launching into a host of uplifting dancefloor anthems, Their forthcoming single 'Ai No Corrida' featuring Laura More will be released released on this Monday, November 7th. So who is Laura More? You may already know her as most of the UK spent last Summer watching her do amazing things with a towel in the video for Eric Prydz's 'Call On Me.' Despite not being born when 'Ai No Corrida' was first released by Quincy Jones, More suspected it would make a perfect Pop/Dance hit for 2005. A must for every DJ and self-respecting clubber, UNITING NATIONS' cements group members Daz and Paul's reputation as two of the foremost hit songwriters working in Dance music today. With the exception of 'Out Of Touch' and the extended 'Out Of Touch (I Love You So Much),' all songs were written and produced by Daz and Paul. The duo employ a pretty unusual method for songwriting, with Paul in Glasgow, Scotland and Daz in Manchester, England, the two file share using MSN Messenger, enabling Paul to carry on with his day job as a policeman while having a virtual online studio. Unusually, the album also has a section of "DJ Tools," with accapella versions of 5 of the songs as well as guitar and drum samples enabling bedroom DJ's to remix them with ease. UNITING NATIONS have also created a site on myspace.com with DJ Tools (www.myspace.com/unremix), and the best remixes sent to unitingnations@blueyonder.co.uk will be used on future releases. Previously, Daz had a string of hits straddling the worlds both of Pop and Dance music. He was the frontman and writer in the group BUS STOP, whose single 'Kung Fu Fighting' featuring Carl Douglas sold 250,000 copies in the UK and was a major international hit. He was half of the duo RIKKI & DAZ, whose debut single 'Rhinestone Cowboy' (Giddy Up Giddy Up) -- featuring a new vocal from Country music legend Glen Campbell, reached #12 in the UK. He also had a top 40 UK hit with THE BARNDANCE BOYS, and became a regular on Chris Moyles' Radio 1 show as a member of BLOWN OUT. Daz also has remixed the likes of LOVE INC. and DJ Bobo, and as a member of FRAUD SQUAD, he had a No. 1 club hit in the UK and France with 'Together We Can Make It.' Paul was newer to the music industry, but had remixed the likes of BCD, and collaborated with Pianoman on several tunes, including a version of 'Hungry Eyes' which was not only a Northern club hit but inspired Flip & Fill's cover of the same song. The first fruits of their labour were released as Project Four (Direction/Sony), whose track 'Special Lady' became something of an anthem in Liverpool, and introduced Daz and Paul to the crucial network of radio and club DJs who have supported them ever since.
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11.03.05 (MusicPortal.com) LOGGINS AND MESSINA, one of the most successful Pop/Rock duos of the '70s, returned to the road this past Summer for a sold-out tour, their first in almost 30 years. Rhino Records commemorates Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina's long-awaited reunion with "Live: Sittin' In Again At The Santa Barbara Bowl" on November 15th, which was recorded this Summer in front of their hometown crowd. The tight performance showcases the classic songwriting partnership that spawned an impressive run of chart-topping hits and five acclaimed studio albums from the duo. Released separately as a CD and DVD, the show will be available at regular retail outlets and at www.rhino.com for a suggested price of $18.98 and $19.99 respectively. The CD-version of "Live: Sittin' In Again At The Santa Barbara Bowl" features more than 70 minutes of timeless Pop/Rock from the singing-songwriting tandem that helped define the laid-back '70s sound. The performance includes virtually every song from LOGGINS AND MESSINA's stunning 1972 debut, "Sittin' In," including the classics 'Vahevala,' 'House On Pooh Corner,' 'Danny's Song' and the song trilogy: 'Lovin' Me/Make A Woman Feel Wanted/Peace Of Mind.' Cherry-picking 14 of the best moments from the concert, the CD also includes the #4 Billboard Pop hit 'Your Mama Don't Dance,' along with fan favorites 'Angry Eyes' from 1972's "Loggins And Messina" and 'Watching The River Run' from 1973's "Full Sail." The DVD-version of "Live: Sittin' In Again At The Santa Barbara Bowl" contains the entire concert, and features more than two hours of music in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, DTS and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. The live DVD is packed with 20 songs that encompass the duo's career and includes the DVD-only tracks 'Kind Woman,' 'Be Free,' 'Sailin' The Wind,' 'Long Tail Cat,' 'Thinking Of You,' 'Growin'' and 'You Need A Man.' The DVD also features a rare bonus six-song performance by LOGGINS AND MESSINA recorded at the peak of their popularity in 1973 for the popular television show, "Midnight Special." That television appearance includes performances of the songs 'My Music,' 'Danny's Song,' 'Your Mama Don't Dance,' 'You Need A Man,' 'Coming To You' and 'Sailin' In The Wind.' When the two first met, Loggins was an acclaimed songwriter and Messina was a renowned record producer and former member of BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD and POCO. The hit-making duo joined forces in 1970 while Messina was producing Loggins' solo debut. The album quickly became a collaborative effort that yielded "Sittin' In." Certified gold and on the charts for two years, thar offering was the first of many gold and platinum albums they would record during their short, but productive career. LOGGINS AND MESSINA released their last album, "Native Sons," in 1976 before going their separate ways.
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11.03.05 (MusicPortal.com) ROGUE TRADERS have unleashed their new album "Here Come The Drums" in Australia, rocketing onto the charts for a #9 debut on the ARIA Top 50 Album chart. The band's new single 'Way To Go!' is also causing a crossover ruckus at #1 on the Dance chart and #9 on the Top 50 Singles chart. Two years may have passed since they last graced the Australian charts, but the Electronic Rock single that signalled their return, 'Voodoo Child,' exploded across the airwaves with a fresh immediacy - debuting in the Top 10 back in June with its warped, insistent Hammond organ riff and singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte's cracked, Rock snarl. But for ROGUE TRADERS, the song was always more than just a single. "It was a signpost for the album", says band member James Ash. No longer a Dance act, the group has evolved on "Here Come The Drums" with a new look, a new member (Bassingthwaighte), and a whole new sound. The seeds of their evolution can be traced all the way back to October 2003, when ROGUE TRADERS Ash and Steve Davis stood on the podium at the Sydney Convention Centre grasping their ARIA Award for "Best Dance Single" for their inspired remix of the INXS classic, 'One Of My Kind.' Although Ash and Davis were thrilled with the recognition, they secretly wondered if they would ever taste such success again. Despite the fact their debut album 'We Know What You're Up To" was predominantly self-penned, 'One Of My Kind' was such a monstrous crossover hit that Ash and Davis were immediately stereotyped as producers, not as artists who could write their own songs. "At that moment", recalls Ash, "We drew a line in the sand and said, 'We are going to be known for our own material.'" The early success of "Here Come The Drums" is sweet vindication of their self-belief and their creative integrity. Two years in the making, self-written and self-produced, the album is the sound of a band finding their voice within the genre that they were perhaps least associated: Pop/Punk. "We were at a point where we felt that we had gone as far as we could go with conventional dance music," says Ash. "And we wanted to have a sound that broke out of it. At that time dance music was taking itself very seriously, and the music that we'd really been enjoying for the past couple of years had been rock acts. They had loads of energy, but they also had amazing production and really big melodies and the musical depth that I was after." "Here Come The Drums" siphons the guitar Rock energy of young British acts like BLOC PARTY, melds it with the Glam-tinged 80s Pop-smarts of BLONDIE, ROXY MUSIC and Gary Numan, then lashes it together with the Punk snarl of the mid to late 70s. It's a heady mix that's intoxicating and infectious. "We love our rock music and we love our electronic music, and on this album we're meeting right in the middle", says Ash. "We're making music that will work on the dance floor and on radio. We're not afraid to have a pop influence, but we also wanted attitude. So that's why I'd say The Sex Pistols are the single biggest influence on the album. They were about energy, and it's exciting to listen to them."
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11.01.05 (MusicPortal.com) A new collection from ISAAC HAYES entitled "Ultimate Isaac Hayes: Can You Dig It?" will be released on CD and DVD tomorrow via Stax Records, now an imprint of Concord Music Group, Inc. Over the course of its original 15-year history, Stax Records was home to a plethora of stars such as Otis Redding, SAM AND DAVE, BOOKER T. & THE MG'S, THE STAPLE SINGERS, Johnnie Taylor, and THE DRAMATICS. As talented and great as the aforementioned artists were, none of them ultimately had the impact on black popular music that ISAAC HAYES did from 1969 through 1975. His story is one of epic proportions. In the mid- to late 1960s, Hayes and songwriting and producing partner David Porter, played a seminal role in creating the nascent sound of modern Soul music, writing and producing such genre-defining records as SAM AND DAVE's 'Soul Man,' 'Hold On I'm Comin',' 'When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,' 'Wrap It Up' and 'I Thank You.' In their spare time, the dynamic songwriting duo also penned hits for Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Ruby Johnson, Mable John, and THE SOUL CHILDREN. As a session man, Hayes played on dozens of additional hits as well. His songwriting, production, and session work alone would make Isaac Hayes worthy of any music hall of fame that one could possibly name. Yet, as monumental as his contributions were in this first part of his career, they are dwarfed by the impact of his solo albums such as "Hot Buttered Soul," "Shaft" and "Black Moses." With those albums, ISAAC HAYES would become the biggest artist Stax Records ever produced, and one of the most important artists in the history of Rhythm And Blues. From 1969 through 1975, Hayes single-handedly redefined the sonic possibilities of black music - in the process opening up the album market as a commercially viable medium for black artists. The fact that one musician could be responsible for such disparate but equally great and influential music as ISAAC HAYES produced in the 1960s and '70s simply boggles the imagination. Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee in 1942. By the time he came to Stax, he had been singing or playing the piano in various bands around Memphis for a number of years, cutting his first single for Chips Moman's Youngstown label in late 1962. His first session at Stax was as the keyboardist in baritone saxophonist Floyd Newman's band in 1963. Impressed by Hayes's playing, Stax owner Jim Stewart began booking him for sessions while the company's regular keyboard player, Booker T. Jones, was off at college. Within two years, ISAAC HAYES had hooked up with David Porter and embarked on a writing and producing career. As Hayes was becoming successful behind the scenes, he still entertained thoughts of a career as a performing artist. Stax executive Al Bell had similar ideas. "As a marketer I'd look at Isaac Hayes," mused Bell, "and (I'd) see him banging on the piano and (I) watched his approach which, in terms of the way he held his hands, was sort of like the kind of stuff I..." [full story]

11.01.05 (MusicPortal.com) Drive-Thru Records is ready to release "OMG HGB DVD ROTFL" on November 22nd, a two-hour DVD featuring Drive-Thru recording artists HELLOGOODBYE. Bursting at the seams with HELLOGOODBYE goodness, the DVD features five music videos, four of which are unreleased, live footage from their sold-out performance at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California, acoustic performances, tour documentary, making of the videos and behind the scenes extras, plus a slideshow from the lens of HELLOGOODBYE vocalist/guitarist, leader and creative force Forrest Kline. Each video pops with the band's effervescent personality. Brand new videos, 'Bonnie Taylor Shakedown 2K1' with it's nutty nod to the woe-be-gone-boy-band era and ode-to-Baywatch beach themed "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn" will have fans rolling on the floor laughing, while the sweet and tender finger puppet playhouse of 'Dear Jamie' will tug at the grouchiest of heart strings. This unique DVD, produced with the fans in mind, features HELLOGOODBYE'S packed-to-capacity show at the House Of Blues, with that concert presented in its entirety. With exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and extras, "OMG HGB DVD ROTFL" offers a truly dynamic and extraordinary look at this Orange County quartet. Meanwhile, HELLOGOODBYE are currently recording their full-length debut album. The new release, produced by Matt Mahaffey, is slated for release in May of 2006. In addition, the band can be seen in recurring episodes of MTV's "The Real World Austin" and have been receiving over 15,000 plays a day on their Pure Volume site (www.purevolume.com/hellogoodbye). HELLOGOODBYE is rounded out by keyboardist/vocalist Jesse Kurvink, bassist Marcus Cole and drummer Chris Profeta. The band will head out on a month-long tour beginning November 19th with the likes of PEACHCAKE, THE ROCKET SUMMER, HIT THE LIGHTS, and Drive-Thru artist Dave Melillo. Tour Dates: 11/19 Phoenix, AZ [Mesa Amphitheatre] • 11/25 Houston, TX [Java Jazz] • 11/26 Ft. Worth, TX [The Door] • 11/28 Jacksonville, FL [Fuel] • 11/29 West Palm Beach, FL [Rays Downtown Blues] • 11/30 Orlando, FL [The Social] • 12/01 Tampa, FL [Infinity Room - Masquerade] • 12/02 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 12/03 Raleigh, NC [The Brewery] • 12/04 Baltimore, MD [The Ottobar] • 12/06 Providence, RI [The Century Lounge] • 12/07 New York, NY [The Knitting Factory] • 12/08 Randolph, NJ [Obsessions] • 12/09 Rochester, NY [Steel City Music Hall] • 12/10 Allston, MA [The ICC] • 12/11 Philadelphia, PA [Theatre Of The Living Arts] • 12/13 Cleveland, OH [Grog Shop] • 12/14 Detroit, MI [Magic Stick] • 12/15 Chicago, IL [Beat Kitchen] • 12/16 Milwaukee, WI [The Eagles Club] • 12/17 St. Louis, MO [Creepy Crawl]
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[Pop News: October 2005]
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