For a while now, there has been rumors and speculation that there is going to be a new record deal for Van Halen, with Interscope Records. Today, the band made it official. Van Halen, hasn’t announced a new album and a tour yet, but it is expected.
Read the full story, here.
Same thing, if Van Halen comes to the Times Union Center in Albany, I’m going to that show also. Van Halen is another band I’ve always wanted to see that I’ve never got to. I fuckin’ love Van Halen!
Kev
Just today, Black Sabbath revealed their European dates. Look like they are hitting over seas first before they make their way to the U.S. I’m sure they will have a bunch of U.S. dates soon.
See their European schedule, here.
When they start booking U.S. dates, I hope they book a show at the Times Union Center in Albany. I doubt they will play Albany, but ya never know. We just have to keep our fingers crossed for now. Black Sabbath with the original lineup is one band I’ve always wanted to see live. If they do play the Times Union, I’m gonna get my money ready and buy those tickets. You betcha I’m going to that show if they play here.
I never saw Ozzy or Black Sabbath live. Always wanted to though.
Kev
Here’s the “This Day In Music For the Day”. Enjoy.
Kev
Musician Birthdays: Graham Parker (singer/songwriter, born in 1950), Kirk Hammett (lead guitarist for Metallica, born in 1962)
– In 1963: The Beatles received silver LP discs for ‘Please Please Me’ and ‘With the Beatles’ at a ceremony held at EMI House in London. They also received a silver EP for ‘Twist and Shout’ and a silver single for ‘She Loves You’. The band then attend a cocktail party and a formal lunch in the EMI boardroom with company executives and invited guests.
– In 1972: Cat Stevens started a three-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Catch Bull At Four’.
– In 1972: Danny Whitten died of a drug overdose aged 29. Member of Neil Young’s Crazy Horse and writer of ‘I Don’t Wanna Talk About It’, covered by Rod Stewart, Rita Coolidge and Everything But The Girl. The Neil Young song ‘The Needle and the Damage Done’ was written about Whitten’s heroin use (before he died of an overdose).
– In 1978: Billy Joel went to No.1 on the US album chart with ’52nd Street’, his first US No.1 album.
– In 1992: Black Sabbath were honoured with a star at the Rock Walk in Hollywood.
– In 1993: Nirvana recorded their MTV unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York.
– In 1993: Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder was arrested in New Orleans for disturbing the peace after a fight broke out in a bar.
– In 2001: Britney Spears scored her second US No.1 album with ‘Britney.’
– In 2003: More than five hundred Britney Spears fans camped overnight outside the Virgin Records Megastore in New York’s Times Square waiting to get the star to sign copies of her new album ‘In The Zone.’
– In 2003: Following allegations of sexual abuse of a 12-year old boy, police raided Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch. Jackson denied the allegations, the search came on the day that his latest greatest hits album, ‘Number Ones’ was released in the US.
– In 2003: American composer and orchestral arranger Michael Kamen died of a heart attack in London aged 55. Worked with Pink Floyd, Queen, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, David Bowie, Eurythmics, Queensryche, Rush, Metallica, Herbie Hancock, The Cranberries, Bryan Adams, Jim Croce, Sting, and Kate Bush. Kamen co-wrote Bryan Adams’ ballad ‘(Everything I Do), I Do It for You.’
As soon as the news of the Michael Jackson biopic film moving forward was announced this week, I am a little worried on how they’re going to make the film. There are questions you have to ask yourself about the film. How much are they going to put in and how much they are going to leave out of Jackson’s life? Will they even use the pedophile and Conrad Murray stuff?
Since this film is going to be by the Jackson estate, I’m a little worried they’re going to leave out all the negative stuff about Jackson’s life, and focus on the positive things out of respect for Jackson’s family. I hope they use everything about Jackson’s life even the controversial stuff. Yes, they even need to use the part where Jackson hangs a baby out the window. Jackson losing Neverland Ranch needs to be in the film too. All that controversial and dark stuff about Jackson’s life needs to be in the film, if they want it to be a powerful drama. This shouldn’t be a family friendly Jackson biopic ’cause we already got the family friendly Jackson with the, “This Is It”, movie.
The film also shouldn’t be a musical ’cause we already got that with, “This Is It”. It needs to be a strictly biopic movie think of films like “La Bamba”, “Ray”, and “Walk the Line”. If they want this film to work, and if they want this film to land some Oscar nods, they need to be a little careful with this film. It’s going to be difficult and challenging to make a Jackson biopic.
It needs a really good writer and good director. Kenny Ortega will probably direct this film, but I would appreciate if they pass the torch to someone else. Spike Lee might do a good job. I would also like the great Martin Scorsese to direct it too. MJ and Martin Scorsese worked on a few music videos in the past before, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they go after Scorsese. Scorsese would probably be the best choice out of everyone though.
The film also needs to be long, at least 2 1/2 hrs. to 3 hrs long. A Jackson biopic would be good. It should focus on the history of his life from his childhood to his death. It should focus everything on his life from his music career, movie career, family life, romantic relationships, drug addiction, etc. Everything needs to be in it. It’s not a biopic movie if they decide to leave stuff out, right?
Whether you like MJ or not, he is king. They don’t call him the, “King of Pop”, for nothing. I’m a fan of MJ, always has been. I don’t care what other people think.
Kev
Here is the “This Day In Music” for today.
Kev
Musician Birthdays: Gordon Lightfoot (Canadian singer/songwriter, born in 1938), Rupaul (US male drag queen & rapper, born in 1960), Jeff Buckley (US Singer/songwriter, born in 1966)
– In 1962: The Four Seasons started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, the group’s second No.1 of the year. It made No.13 in the UK.
– In 1967: Pink Floyd released their third single ‘Apples And Oranges’, which failed to chart.
– In 1967: The Who kicked off their second North American tour supporting The Buckinghams at Shawnee Mission South High School in Kansas City.
– In 1973: The Who’s double album ‘Quadrophenia’ entered the UK album chart peaking at No.2. One of two two full-scale rock operas from The Who (the other being the 1969 ‘Tommy’). The 1979 film based on the story stars Phil Daniels, Toyah Willcox, Ray Winstone, Michael Elphick and Sting.
– In 1974: John Lennon scored his second solo US No.1 album with ‘Walls And Bridges.’
– In 1979: Jethro Tull bass player John Glascock died at the age of 28, as a result of a congenital heart defect. Had also been a member of Chicken Shack.
– In 1979: The Commodores went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Still’, the group’s second US No.1 single, it made No.4 in the UK.
– In 1990: David Crosby from Crosby Stills Nash & Young was admitted to hospital after breaking a leg, shoulder and ankle after crashing his Harley Davidson motorbike.
– In 2003: 21 year-old Britney Spears became the youngest singer to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The only other performer to get a Hollywood star at her age was Little House on the Prairie actress Melissa Gilbert.
– In 2007: The Eagles were at No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Long Road Out Of Eden’ the bands seventh studio album and first since 1979.
Whenever Metallica is brought up in a music discussion forum like facebook, blogs, message boards, etc. Metallica’s controversy with Napster years back is always brought up. Whenever I bring up a topic about Metallica in my facebook account, at least 1 person will bring up the Napster thing there too. Apparently, people have never gotten over Metallica who sued Napster in 2000.
Napster used to be a free downloading music software site. I used to use it myself before the software became payable. Do I blame Metallica for this that downloading music online isn’t free anymore? No. I don’t blame Metallica at all. Who is the real person that should be blamed on? Just blame the thief who stole their song “I Disappear” and leaked it on Napster before the single’s release date. He is the real bad guy there.
That is why Metallica was angry at Napster, because somebody leaked the “I Disappear” song to Napster early which is a song off the, “Mission Impossible II” soundtrack. They were angry about the file sharing on Napster, not because people were downloading the music.
I respect Metallica for what they did to Napster. It’s their music. They were just trying to protect their work. That’s what it was all about. I’ve explained it plenty of times in the past before, if you’re a band and if your music is copyrighted, you have complete control of it. You have the right to choose if you want other people using your music. If other people use your music without your permission, that gives you the right to sue.
Will you feel good about it if some idiot thief steals your music and leaks it to the internet before release date? No. That would piss you right off, I’m sure. That’s how Metallica felt. It was all about respecting the copyright and their work.
People think they can use other band’s music for free, all they want to, but bands work hard for what they do so deserve to get paid for their music. Don’t be a pirate. Support the artist and the industry by buying it. There are still a lot of pirates out there steal a lot of music, but I’d rather not do that. I like putting my money toward the artists that I like. I don’t mind buying the CD or downloading the music digitally.
I like to respect the artist and their copyright. You should too. That’s why Napster turned into a payable site, because it was you that was stealing and sharing stuff. It’s not the band’s fault at all. All they want to do is make music and release it for your listening pleasure. You’re just disrespecting the band by disrespecting their copyright. End of story.
Kev
Remember the Mini Band, which has band members of 8-10 year old kids covering Metallica’s, “Enter Sandman”? The video was becoming an internet sensation, getting a lot of hits, and Metallica, the band themselves, finally picked up on it. Here is the boys in Metallica themselves in their studio watching the video. Kirk Hammett’s kids even went in there and watched it with them.
I also loved it when Kirk kind of dissed the band a little bit and James defended them by saying, “They already are incredibly great, man”. What Kirk said was kind of rude and kind of a back handed way, of saying they suck, but James and Lars turned the feedback into a more positive direction.
Metallica enjoys other musicians covering their work. They made videos responding to other people’s work in youtube before, this wasn’t the first.
Kev
So the Michael Jackson estate executor, John Branca, has finally started to shop for producers and studios to help make the biopic film to the big screen about the late, King of Pop. Branca approached, Montecito Pictures, which is owned by Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock, to help finance and produce.
Read more on the story, here.
This is just the early stages and just moving forward. So there are no screenwriters, directors and no cast yet. I bet the director will be none other than Kenny Ortega who did, “This is It”.
As for who to cast Michael Jackson himself, they would need 5 different actors to play him because of his various transformations over the years on his image. They would need black actors to play the younger Jackson of course, but as for the full grown Jackson, any actor can play him. You know about Michael Jackson’s white skin due to his bad plastic surgery, any actor (including a white actor) can play that kind of Jackson.
I think I remember Johnny Depp, wanted to play Michael Jackson for the biopic, and I think that’s a perfect choice right there, in my opinion. Depp would make a good Jackson. They would probably get Jaden Smith for the child Jackson of the Jackson 5 era.
If they do a good job and make it right, I can see this movie being a very powerful drama. Will they do everything about Michael’s life in this movie? Will they even add the pedophile trial and the Conrad Murray stuff into the film? They probably will, wouldn’t surprise me.
As for who to play the young Jackson during the “Off the Wall” to the “Thriller” era, I’m not sure, but they would need a young black actor for that too. It’s gonna be difficult to cast Jackson for sure. I vote Forrest Whittaker or Laurence Fishburne for Conrad Murray.
Anyway, it’s gonna be a long while to see the Michael Jackson biopic arrive to the big screen. I see it being released in 2013 – 14. Glad they’re finally starting to do one. I’m looking forward to it!
Kev
Here’s the “This Day In Music” for today. Enjoy.
Kev
Musician Birthdays: Diana Krall (Canadian singer/songwriter, born in 1964)
– In 1962: The Beatles recorded their second appearance on Radio Luxembourg, for the program The Friday Spectacular. The Beatles were interviewed they played in front of a live audience. Both sides of their latest single, ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘P.S. I Love You’ were played.
– In 1968: The Jimi Hendrix Experience went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Electric Ladyland’. The double album included ‘Crosstown Traffic,’ ‘Voodoo Chile’ and ‘All Along the Watchtower’ and featured guest appearances by Dave Mason, Steve Winwood and Al Kooper. Barry Ryan was at No.1 on the Disc & Echo UK singles chart with ‘Elosie’.
– In 1968: Led Zeppelin played their first ever show in the north of England when they appeared at Manchester College of Science & Technology.
– In 1974: John Lennon was at No.1 in the US singles chart with ‘Whatever Gets You Through The Night.’ Elton John played on the session and made a deal with Lennon that if the song reached No.1, Lennon would have to appear on stage live with Elton. Lennon kept his side of the deal and appeared live with Elton. They played three songs together: ‘I Saw Her Standing There,’ ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ and ‘Whatever Gets You Through the Night.’ Backstage after the concert, Lennon got back with Yoko Ono after a temporary split.
– In 1985: U2 launched their own record label ‘Mother Records.’
– In 2010: The Beatles’ back catalogue was finally made available on iTunes, after years of negotiations. For the first time consumers would now be able to purchase some of the Fab Four’s most popular songs via the store. Apple and record label EMI had been in talks for years about getting the catalogue online. Apple chief executive and Beatles fan Steve Jobs said it had “been a long and winding road to get here. We love the Beatles and are honoured and thrilled to welcome them to iTunes.”
Sonic Youth completed their tour, which their last show was in Brazil. Could it be their final gig for good? It definitely doesn’t look like Sonic Youth will be booking more shows ’cause Thurston Moore just booked himself a lengthy solo tour instead.
Check out his tour listings, here.
We should be expecting a major announcement from the band soon. Like Sonic Youth or not, they had quite a legacy with their career, and I think they deserve a Hall of Fame induction down the road.
Some of you may ask, why can’t they continue on without either Kim or Thurston? I explained before, without either of them in the band, it’s no longer Sonic Youth because they are Sonic Youth. If either Kim or Thurston quits, the band is done. These two were the leaders of Sonic Youth. Just my 2cents.
Kev
K'Brocking 
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