Thursday, March 17, 2011

Quick News

TV on the Radio have announced that bassist Gerard Smith has been diagnosed with lung cancer. Just as the band is gearing up for tour and to release their much anticipated, Nine Types of Light, the revealed that the longtime bassist has been battling and fighting the disease. The band announced on their website that "Already we have seen dramatic results. Combine that with Gerard's legendarily willful disposition and it might just be cancer that has the problem." They will be replacing Smith for this current tour.

Fun glam rock band The Darkness have reunited. After a five year hiatus, the English "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" band will be back with a new tour and album.

Damon Albarn might just be the most hard working, clever and interesting man in music these days. The musician is taking time out from his already busy schedule to star and write the music to a new opera. Albarn, who dabbled in opera a few years ago with Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett in Monkey:Journey to the West will now be involved in Doctor Dee. The project was originally supposed to involve graphic novelist Alan Moore, but Moore has bailed on the project. Damon is now in full creative control and will make his stage debut at the Manchester International Festival this July.

After decades of intrigue and even released as a solo album from Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys long lost masterpiece, Smile will be released this year! All parties involved are supporting it's release 44 years after it was to be originally set out to the public as the anticipated follow up to Pet Sounds. Expect a Smile later this year.

Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore will release his latest solo album, Demolished Thoughts, which was produced by Beck on May 24.

According to a post on Incubus-onlineview.com, Incubus have finished their seventh record. The five year long wait and follow up to 2006's Light Grenades should be out by the fall.

Rolling Stone reports that Pearl Jam will hit the recording studio next month to begin work on their follow up to last year's magnificent Backspacer.

Speaking of heading back into the studio, just as they are about to release their much anticipated Angels record, The Strokes will soon begin working on a follow up to their latest disc.

Three collaboration by two musical heavy weights are finally going to see the light of day after 28 years. Queen's Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson, the songs "The State of Shock," "Victory," and "There Must Be More To Life Than This" will at some point be made public. Queen guitarist Brian Ferry spoke to 411 Mania and said "We are now working on some never before released songs that Freddie made with Michael in the early-'80s. I'm not allowed to say too much about it, but they sound incredible."

A new David Bowie live record will be released on April 26. The album, Birthday Celebration - Live in New York City 1997 will feature the Thin White Duke collaborating with Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Robert Smith, Sonic Youth, Billy Corgan and Frank Black of the Pixies. The iconic concert has never been released and was done during Bowie's Earthling tour. Take a look at the track listing below:
'Little Wonder'
'The Hearts Filthy Lesson'
'Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)' (with Frank Black)
'Fashion' (with Frank Black)'Telling Lies'
'Hallo Spaceboy' (with Foo Fighters)
'Seven Years In Tibet' (with Dave Grohl)
'The Man Who Sold The World'
'The Last Thing You Should Do' (with Robert Smith)
'Quicksand' (with Robert Smith)
'Battle For Britain'
'Voyeur Of Utter Destruction (As Beauty)'
'I’m Afraid Of Americans' (with Sonic Youth)
'Looking For Satellites'
'Under Pressure' (with Gail Ann Dorsey)'Heroes'
'Queen Bitch' (with Lou Reed)
'I’m Waiting For The Man' (with Lou Reed)
'Dirty Blvd.' (with Lou Reed)
'White Light/White Heat' (with Lou Reed)
'Moonage Daydream'
'All The Young Dudes' (with Billy Corgan)
'The Jean Genie' (with Billy Corgan)
'Space Oddity'
'Can’t Read'

The confusing reality that is Beastie Boys release plan for their Hot Sauce Committee series will finally see the light of day. On May 3, the infamous NYC hip-hop trio will release Hot Sauce Committee Pt.2. Hot Sauce Part 1 was delayed due to Adam "MCA" Yauch battling cancer. Take a look at the cover below: