Is Pete Doherty a Nazi Sympathizer?

No. It was simply Doherty being D’oh-erty

At a gig in Munich this weekend (On3 festival), Pete Doherty sang the Nazi-endorsed version of the German national anthem, ‘Das Deutschlandlied,’

“Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” (“Germany, Germany above all, above all in the world“),

before getting booted off the stage. A live feed from a radio station washed their hands of D’ohboy a few seconds into his first song. The verse has been banned since WWII.

You might as well yell out Heil Hitler.

To his credit, Doherty did apologize for his error. And his spokesperson sent out a statement (but, of course!):

“He was unaware of the controversy surrounding the German national anthem and he deeply apologises if he has caused any offense … himself is from Jewish descent and has fought against racism and fascism with numerous organisations including Love Music Hate Racism. This is a subject he feels very strongly about.”

Doherty has done his share with good projects like Love Music Hate Racism. But, if he felt that strongly about it he should have done his research.

I love the guy for the music he’s done but … D’oh!

Trent Reznor Puts Nine Inch Nail’s Gear on eBay

If you’re into NIN collectibles (and you still have a Recession/Depression-proof bank account) this is the pot o’ gold ready to be had.

eBay it to ningear and go Cyber Monday crazy.

The above shot is of a 1960 Gibson Les Paul that jumped $500 in auction in a mere four hours (it still has six auction days left!).

Do guitar lessons come with that, Trent?

[He really is quitting, isn't he?]

Music Not to be Thankful For

The end of the Thanksgiving vacation is coming to a close and we are about done ruminating on what we should be thankful for. It’s time to think of the things we’re not thankful for.

 

Here are my immediate thoughts on the subject, music-wise:

From the past:

Reo Speedwagon — Torture to me would be listening to Reo Speedwagon repetitively. And was once tortured. I had a neighbor in an apartment complex who would play Reo songs over and over again every Sunday morning. Talk about your day of rest. It was the musical equivalent to waterboarding.

Pet Shop Boys — I don’t care what cultural significance songs like It’s a Sin have. Some of their songs are the most annoying songs ever penned.

Judas Priest’s “Turbo” — This may have been the lowest I’ve ever felt upon listening to a new album by any one band. One of the worst albums of all time by one of the best bands of all time.

Damn Yankees — It wasn’t so much the 80s glam metal movement that annoyed me as much as the great amount of pure mediocrity it inspired. And the talent it wasted. Hence Damn Yankees.

Bullet Boys — see above

 

From the present:

Kanye West and Taylor Swift — I almost want him to take her next award away.

Lady Gaga — If only the paparazzi could drive her away.

Adam Lambert — Ok, he’s gay. And flamboyantly so. We get it. But can he write decent songs. I don’t think so.

depedro – la memoria

if you get link tv in your area i’d recommend checking out their world music show. they play videos from all over the globe, in every genre and every time i watch i get turned onto something really great. last night it was depredo. jairo zavala is the creative mind behind this excellent song. from an online bio:

“DePedro may be the first solo album for the man behind the name, Jairo Zavala, but in no way is it his debut. Already a celebrated recording artist in Spain, where he was born and raised, Zavala has spent the past two decades playing, writing, and performing with bands like Amparanoia, Vacazul, Los Coronas, and Calexico.”

please add any info you may have on zavala’s work in the comments. meanwhile, i’ll be looking into his past work as well as buying this album on iTunes.

John Lydon Gives Interesting And Entertaining Interview To UK Radio Station Absolute Radio

John Lydon sat for a freewheeling interview this week with DJ Christian O’Connell of the UK radio station Absolute Radio. Among the topics discussed during the 16-minute-plus session were: Lydon’s upcoming UK shows with Public Image Ltd.; how Lydon came from a working-class background and how the sense of community that he felt during his formative years is missing these days; how Lydon’s UK TV commercials for Country Life Butter funded the PiL reunion and that he was accused of being a “sellout” because of it; how Lydon and his wife were booked on the Pan Am 103 flight that blew up over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 but changed their flight before going to the airport (and how Lydon’s family, unaware of the flight change, thought that they had perished); and that Lydon is planning a larger-scale PiL tour for 2010 if he can obtain the necessary funding. Lydon is always a fantastic interview subject.

To watch a video of the interview session, go to the Absolute Radio site or click below:

Lydon will be hosting a two-hour show on Absolute station Absolute Xtreme on Sunday, December 6th from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. GMT (3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern). More details can be found here.

Amy Winehouse Turns Her Obsessions Towards Christmas

Recently Wino spent a huge amount of money (40k U.S. worth) on Christmas decorations for her house this year. Going overboard on Christmas is better than going, say, overboard on drugs. I’m sure everyone will agree on that.

But will Wino’s house be one of those mass-decorated, mass-lit Christmas houses that families drive by to ooh and ahhh over? It would be a less infamous celebrity drive-by on the map.

The above Winehouse White Christmas snow globe was not bought by Amy, nor is it available to the public. It was a Photoshopped joke done by Anorak News. Jokes of Christmas past.

Get Well Soon, Ronnie James Dio

A few days after a statement was made from the Dio camp that Ronnie James had the early stages of stomach cancer, many in the industry came forward to wish him well.

There has been some speculation that Ronnie James cancer may have made a turn for the worst but those close to Dio seem more optimistic than that.

Eddie Trunk:

“The results of the many tests he has had were made known yesterday, so now he knows exactly what he is dealing with and will soon find out the course of action. The GREAT news is that it did not spread and is in an early stage! … I will share what I can when I can, but know Ronnie is ready to fight and win, and anyone who knows the man knows he will succeed!

Tony Iommi:

“Looking forward to being back out on the road with you next year. Get well soon, my old pal!”

Get well soon, RJD. If there’s anyone who can beat cancer, it’s you.

Muse Believe They Have a lot More in Common with Classical Composers than their Rock Contemporaries

When Muse describes their music they claim to have more of an affinity to classical than rock. To them, rock musicians get too caught up in “cool.”

Frontman Matt Bellamy (above):

“London bands are more concerned with what is cool but it’s never been the important thing for us. … I think we have a lot in common with the classical composers of the 19th century, although I’m not claiming to have their intelligence. … They wanted to create a musical explosion, to blow the crowd away. Opera can be exceptionally moving, but can also be pompous.”

Well, remember, some of Muse’s more classical compositions have been called “pompous.”

Review Of Pixies Live In NYC Is Now Online

My review of the Pixies’ show on Monday, November 23rd at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City is now online on the main Powerline A.D. site. You can read the review here.

The Pixies are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the release of Doolittle, which is considered by many to be their finest album. The album was performed in full. The B-sides from the album’s singles were also performed. It was a great concert.

To watch the Pixies perform “Here Comes Your Man” from the November 23rd show in New York City, click below:

Age of Evil Talk About Playing a More Traditional Metal Sound

A recent Age of Evil interview is posted on main Powerline A.D. Website:

Vocalist/guitarist Jeremy Goldberg:

I think metal goes in cycles. And I think things like Guitar Hero and Rock Band are helping a younger generation get back into it. It’s nice to see. And we’re not playing metal because of its surge back. We’re playing it, because that’s the kind of music we like. We’d be playing this kind of traditional metal regardless of where we are, whether 30 years ago or 30 years from now.

Go to www.powerlinead.com for the whole interview.