Thursday, October 4, 2012

Quick News

The nominees for the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced. Of this list of artists that includes: Albert King, Chic, Deep Purple, Donna Summer, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Kraftwerk, the Marvelettes, the Meters, N.W.A., Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Procol Harum, Public Enemy, Randy Newman and Rush, a handful will be selected to be inducted into the Hall on April 18th in Los Angeles.

The Dismemberment Plan have confirmed that after two years of reunion shows and speculation that a new album is on the way. No word yet as to when it will be released, but frontman Travis Morrison tweeted the record is "80% done."

The Replacement's Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson have reunited and recorded a limited edition four-song covers EP, which they'll auction off 250 copies online to benefit former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap, who had a stroke earlier this year. Rolling Stone asked Westerberg if this EP will lead to a Replacement's reunion of sorts, Westerberg said, ""It's possible. After playing with Tommy last week, I was thinking, 'All right, let's crank it up and knock out a record like this.' I'm closer to it now than I was two years ago, let's say that." According to Westerberg drummer Chris Mars "Didn't want any part of this," when it came to record the EP.

Speaking of reunions, could Rage Against the Machine be recording again? The band whose final album, Renegades, was released in 2000 and broke up soon after, yet have been somewhat active since reuniting in 2007, have not recorded any new material. At a cafe in Los Angeles this week, TMZ spotted bassist Tim Commerford and asked if a new record was on the way and Commerford said, "Maybe." While this is nothing concrete, it gives fans new hope that the political punks could be bringing their force back to music again.

While we are the reunion topic, Bill Ward has spoken out again about his non-involvement in Black Sabbath and their current reunion. Ward said to Eagles of Death Metal front man Jesse Hughes in On the Road - Black Sabbath and the Birth of Heavy Metal, "If there is some longevity with Black Sabbath, then I'd like to be part of it. I wanna play hard rock music. I wanna play loud drums. I love playing with Terry. I love playing with Oz. And I love playing with Tony. When Tony opens up with huge chords man, I still get the same shiver up my back than I did when we were 18 year-old kids." Ward famously pulled out of the bands current union tour.

On to a reunion we would love to see happen, former Oasis guitarist Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs told NME that Liam Gallagher would reform the Manchester band "Tomorrow" if he could. Bonehead said, "I'm sure Liam would do it in a shot tomorrow. But you've got to listen to what Noel says. He's not up for it, why does he need to? He's flying around the world, isn't he?"

Speaking to Spin, Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis said he almost joined Nirvana - twice! Mascis said that in 1989, "Nirvana was playing [New Jersey's] Maxwell's and after the show I was talking to Kurt and Thurston Moore, Kurt said, 'You should join my band.' I think he was sick of the guy Jason who was in the band at the time, and thought I should play guitar. I didn't think much about it. Later, there was also talk of playing drums on a single they were doing, but it ended up being Dan Peters."

Gwyneth Paltrow will be producing a musical based around the story and music of iconic 80's band, The Go-Go's.

In one of the craziest things we have ever heard - Andrew W.K. is going to play a 1,000,000 volt keyboard into magician David Blane. In a press statement, Andrew said, "A 1,000,000 volt keyboard??? This is absolutely a once in a lifetime musical experience and probably the most dangerous musical instrument ever created! I'm absolutely electrified and terrified by the opportunity to play a keyboard solo with so much energy, and to use this incredibly powerful device to send a musical surge through David's brain! I just hope he can withstand my high-powered party piano playing!”

Green Day released the tracklisting to their new album, Dos! which arrives next month. Take a look:
1) See You Tonight
2) Fuck Time
3) Stop When The Red Lights Flash
4) Lazy Bones
5) Wild One
6) Makeout Party
7) Stray Heart
8) Ashley
9) Baby Eyes
10) Lady Cobra
11) Nightlife
12) Wow! That’s Loud
13) Amy