I first heard about the Los Angeles-based band In This Moment from a friend of mine from England named Chris Page. Why is it that the English are always aware of good music, even good American music, months before we know about it here in the States?
In This Moment are a heavy-sounding five piece fronted by the absolutely stunning Maria Brink. The second single from their second album, The Dream, is a cover of Blondie’s “Call Me.” Apparently, Maria Brink was hand-picked and contacted by Blondie’s Debbie Harry to do the cover. Excellent choice on Ms. Harry’s part. It’s a great cover.
To watch the video for In This Moment’s cover of “Call Me” by Blondie, click below:
Smashing Pumpkins (ala Billy Corgan) has hired a new drummer, 19 yeard old Mike Byrne (above), formerly of Moses, Smell the Roses, and the Mercury Tree. Pumpkins were already a big influence on Mike Byrne, and at the audition, him and Billy connected over Fugazi. Byrne explained how he feels about being so young and now playing in a band this established:
“I’ve always thought that BIlly’s interpretation of music was a real fresh one, and that because the band was so rooted in the idea of kind of being like a musical shape-shifter, I feel that honestly it would work just perfectly. It’s not so much that I have some fresh point of view that he’s not already investigating so much as every time they release something it’s sort of a new direction and so working with him is easy in that we’re not operating on any founded musical principals. We’re starting from scratch and just working our influences up into something totally different.”
Here’s hoping Byrne can help the Pumpkins become relevant again
In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker has this to say when Cream’s influence on hard rock/metal is brought up:
“People say Cream gave birth to heavy metal. If that’s so, we should have had an abortion.”
Strong words.
He also spews a lot of anger about the U.S., rock and roll, and, of course, Jack Bruce.
Not a happy camper at the end of his days.
But, boy, can he still play the drums (at least according to the interviewer). Makes me wish I chose to go see Cream for their reunion gig in 2005. I had the tickets. I sold them. Somehow. a friend talked me out of it… convinced me that Cream was broken-down. Ironically, out of all the dinosaurs, they probably would have held up the best.
Making a purchase at a liquor store in Pembroke, Massachusetts, (as shown in the video above) Tyler — I guess —might be looking to that magic elixir again for some healing.
One comment on blabbermouth wasn’t even concerned if the veteran singer was still hurting from his stage fall. “So is he off the wagon?” the fan asked. Another comment on youtube remarked: “maybe he was buying milk ;)” Ouch!
Tyler fell off the stage during a performance of “Love in an Elevator.” (see video below) However, unlike the MTV video for the aforementioned song, there was no hot chick there to ask him: “Going down, Mr. Tyler?”
btw, at least the guys taking the video were kind enough to say hello first, huh?
The guitarist, Paul Allender, for the extreme metal band Cradle of Filth, was injured while playing at an English festival (Bloodstock) last night. He was taken away by ambulance. The band immediately stopped playing the rest of their show.
A witness at the show said Allender was injured by a missled “gobstopper” from the audience, the size of a “giant golfball,” to the lower back. I guess, “gobstopper” as in one of those jawbreaker candies you can get out of any assorted white trash gumball machine (seen above). In fact, the witness said there were several gobstoppers found on the stage afterwards; meaning that the whole band was targeted, not just Allender.
Some may have no sympathy for any extreme metal band — saying extreme music will attract extreme behavior. I can hear all the talk now. The fact is, crazy behavior can be found anywhere … hell, even a town hall meeting in anywhere America has been a choice place for it these past few weeks.
Cradle of Filth is entertainment, for people to escape for a little while — unfortunately, some dumb bastard had to violently pull down the curtain, and in doing so, nearly killed one of the musicians.
Here’s hoping that Allender gets better real soon. Good luck on trying to catch the perp. however.
Straight from Powerline’s archive are snippets of an interview conducted with lead singer Taime Downe of the L.A. glam rock band, Faster Pussycat. Go to www.powerlinead.com
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED BY AEROSMITH PUBLICITY FIRM MSO:
“AEROSMITH
REGRETFULLY ANNOUNCE
CANCELLATION OF THE REMAINDER
OF THEIR SUMMER TOUR
It is with great regret that AEROSMITH are canceling the remainder of their summer tour, it was announced today.
Due to injuries STEVEN TYLER sustainedlast week when he fell from the stage during a concert in Sturgis, SD, doctors have advised the lead singer to take the time to properly recuperate from the accident that resulted in a broken shoulder and stitches to his head. In his current condition, TYLER is unable to tour and the band wants to give him time to get healthy.
Ticket refunds for the rest of the tour dates with special guests ZZ Top will be available at point of purchase.
TYLER fell from the stage during the August 5 show that was part of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Western South Dakota. The mishap occurred while he was dancing during the band’s “Love in an Elevator.” TYLER was subsequently airlifted to a hospital and then returned to Boston to consult with his own doctors.
AEROSMITH–STEVEN TYLER (vocals), JOE PERRY (guitar), BRAD WHITFORD (guitar), TOM HAMILTON (bass) and JOEY KRAMER (drums)–want to thank all their fans for their incredible ongoing support and understanding at this time.
“Words can’t express the sadness I feel for having to cancel this tour,” says JOE PERRY. “I would like to thank our loyal fans for sticking by us through thick and thin and all the good energy they are sending our way. We hope we can get the Aerosmith machine up and running again as soon as possible. I sure am going to miss playing with ZZ Top just as I’m sure the fans are going to miss seeing them playing with us as well. Hope to see you sooner than later.” JOE adds, “My hat’s off to our crew for putting up with this crazy stop and start tour. In my estimation, it was one of the best looking and best run tours we’ve ever had. Us road dawgs will meet again. May your wheels keep turning and your load in’s stay smooth.”
“All of us here in the AEROSMITH organization and all of the people who contribute to making our shows possible are in a state of shock,” BRAD WHITFORD says. “We never anticipated this tour coming to such a swift and unfortunate ending. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Steven for a speedy recovery and return to good health.”
The sad news out of White Plains, New York yesterday was that Les Paul has died from complications of pneumonia. He was 94 years old.
Les Paul and his second wife, Mary Ford (pictured above together in an Associated Press photo), had a string of hits from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. One of them was “How High The Moon.” To watch Les Paul and Mary Ford performing “How High The Moon” on a 1950s TV program, click below:
Listen to that guitar sound, man! Is that sweet, or what?
To read a comprehensive obituary on Les Paul from The New York Times, click here. The obituary includes a 15-minute video about the life and career of Les Paul called The Last Word. It is well worth a look for anyone who is a fan of Les Paul’s music and innovations.
I had the great privilege to meet Les Paul once. I went to see him play in the summer of 1988 at a club in New York City’s Greenwich Village called Fat Tuesday’s, where Paul was then playing a weekly residency. Two friends went with me, one of whom is a guitarist. My guitarist friend had a Gibson Les Paul keychain, and his keys happened to be sitting on our table as Les Paul walked past. He noticed the keychain and asked my friend, “Do you play?” My friend said yes, and Les Paul proceeded to talk guitar with my friend for about ten minutes. It was great. And Paul was very gracious, and thanked us for coming to the show. I even got an autographed photo from him after the show. I still have the photo, which I had framed.
I do regret not going to see him play live again after that night at Fat Tuesday’s. After Fat Tuesday’s closed in the 1990s, Paul moved his weekly residency to Iridium, a club in midtown Manhattan. He played there regularly until about two months ago when illness forced him to stop. Since then, other musicians, including the former New York Yankee Bernie Williams, have sat in with Paul’s band to deputize for the absent genius.
The Wizard of Waukesha has left us. But we still have his music and innovations, among them the solid body electric guitar and multitrack recording. Just think of how different music would sound today if not for the innovations of Les Paul.
My review of The Pretenders’ show at the Central Park Summerstage on Monday night, August 10th is now online on the Powerline A.D. site. They played material from their latest studio release, 2008′s Break Up The Concrete, as well as their more familiar older material. It was a fantastic show. Chrissie Hynde was in fine voice throughout.
To watch the video for The Pretenders’ “Boots of Chinese Plastic,” the lead single from Break Up The Concrete, click below:
