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Drama

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Wayne Coyne to Arcade Fire: I'm Sorry!

May 5, 2009 12:02 PM

Photo: Ostertag/Getty

Entertainment Weekly interviewed Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne on the recent honor of having their tune "Do You Realize?" named the official rock song for the state of Oklahoma. During the interview, Coyne was questioned on the disparaging remarks he made to the Smoking Section about the dudes in Arcade Fire. You know, when Coyne told us, "They really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They're pricks, so fuck 'em."

The feud started an all out war between fans and bloggers prompting Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler to post his own response to Coyne on his band's website.

Now, Coyne wants to clarify and apologize.

"I wish that had never happened," Coyne said. "I didn’t necessarily mean it about the people in the Arcade Fire. I meant it about the guys that were running their stages at a couple of festivals. I wish whatever had been said wouldn’t have been taken as such a defiant statement from the Flaming Lips, because it wasn’t.

"I really feel bad about it. I like enough of their music. The idea that I’m somehow against them… I’m not!"


Drama

Jane's Addiction Fighting Like It's 1991

April 20, 2009 11:02 AM

Photo: Mayer/WireImage

According to comments made by JA frontman Perry Farrell to Reuters, he and bassist Eric Avery -- the only Jane's member to decline to perform with his old band mates after their break-up in 1991 -- have not been getting along on their current reunion tour, or in the studio.

This past weekend at Coachella, Farrell said the studio time "hasn't been all smooches and hugs." He then elaborated, "We're different people, that's okay. He serves a different purpose, he's got a different frequency he operates on. I'm overjoyed that we're working together. I don't care that we butt heads as long as when we hit the stage we blast on people."

Things apparently got so heated that Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, who is producing the new Jane's album, and will be touring with them this summer, tried to step in and play mediator.

"He did his best to be both producer and psychologist," Farrell said. "He was very respectful, trying to get out of the way and not overproduce. I wish honestly he would've produced a little more, but he was a little gun shy after seeing us explode on each other in the studio. He became the referee for a day and after that day I think he was done."

They better keep their shit together, at least until we see them in New York, in June.

(more...)


Drama

Lunch with Stevie Nicks

April 15, 2009 11:39 AM

Photo: Lovekin/Getty

If we had a single regret about going to Australia with the Kings of Leon (for RS's current cover story), it would be that we missed Fleetwood Mac performing at Madison Square Garden. But, when we returned, we had the pleasure of lunching with Ms. Stevie Nicks, who was in New York to promote her new live CD-DVD, The Soundstage Sessions: Live in Chicago, a collection featuring some of her biggest hits and baddest rarities. We chatted about the first time she met Lindsey Buckingham (at a Mormon Party), and that time she unceremoniously dumped Don Henley

But it was truly awesome to rap about "Silver Springs," an amazing track that was left off Rumours. The song is about her breakup with Buckingham -- "I'll follow you down till the sound of my voice will haunt you," she sings. "It was me realizing that Lindsey was going to haunt me for the rest of my life," she says. "And he has."

When she performs "Silver Springs" these days -- it's the final number on Fleetwood Mac's current tour -- Nicks resists the opportunity to get up in Lindsey's face: "I don't want fans to walk away in the middle of our argument."


Jason Newsted To Rejoin Metallica

April 2, 2009 3:09 PM

Photo: Gustella/WireImage

The dudes from Metallica have reconciled their differences with ex-bassist Jason Newsted, and Newsted will join the band for their performance this Sunday at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Newsted was hired by Metallica in 1986 after original bassist Cliff Burton died in a tour bus accident. He worked with the band until 2001, when he quit to play with Ozzy Osbourne, Echobrain and Voivod. Robert Trujillo replaced Newsted and remains Metallica's current bassist. Trujillo will also perform at the Induction Ceremony.

When we spoke with James Hetfield while ago, he agreed that the band and Newsted were ready to bury the hatchet. 

"Obviously, Jason, who played on quite a few records and was in the band fourteen years, and Robert, who is in the band now [will be there]. And Cliff, unfortunately, won’t be able to be there, but hopefully his father or someone from his family will be able to represent him."

When asked if it would be weird for the band to be onstage with an ex-member, Hetfield said no.

"There’s no reason for it to be weird, not at all. The thing we don’t want to be a part of is the soap opera, the drama of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I know nowadays, everyone wants to see the trainwreck happen. But we saw it, we saw Blondie onstage arguing over crap – it’s like, 'Come on. You guys have so much history, so much inspired by you guys, don’t let this get in the way.' It really cheapens the moment, so we’re very into just opening our arms and enjoying this moment with who deserves to be up there with us."

That's awesome!


Exclusive: Wayne Coyne Tears Apart Arcade Fire!

March 4, 2009 6:49 PM

Photo: Koplaoff/FilmMagic (Coyne), Gershoff/WireImage(Butler)

Wow! We love Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. He's always been cool to us, and we appreciate the fact that he always speaks his mind. So, it wasn't a total shock to hear him tear the Arcade Fire a new asshole.

So, last week, our buddy and colleague Andy Greene is on the phone with the Coyne, when they started talking about some of the movers and shakers in the music world. They talked about Brian Eno, and Radiohead, and then got on the subject of Arcade Fire, which set Coyne off. (Just to clarify, Coyne is not comparing Eno to the Arcade Fire -- Eno was just a talking point.)

"I'm a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness," says Coyne. "We've played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They treated everybody in their vicinity like shit. I thought, 'Who do they think they are?' I don't know why people put up with it. I wouldn't put up with it. I don't care if it's Arcade Fire or Brian Eno. If either of them walked into a room and treated people like shit I'd be like, 'Fuck you, get outta here.'

He continues, "People treat Arcade Fire like they're the greatest thing ever and they get away with it. Those sort of opinions change my view of their music. They have good tunes, but they're pricks, so fuck 'em. Who does Arcade Fire think they are? I've been around groups. I've been around the Edge from U2 and he's the fucking sweetest guy ever. I was around Justin Timberlake when he was young and he was just a normal, nice, kind person.  Anyone can be polite and kind and people who have the privilege and money and attention should understand that. If they don't, then fuck 'em."

Discuss.

UPDATE: Through their publicist, the Arcade Fire has declined to comment.

UPDATE #2: Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler has responded via his band's website. (Follow the link to Win's scrapbook.)

(more...)


Drama, Exclusive

Men At Work On Murder

February 19, 2009 11:09 AM

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

Pete and Roger, Keith and Mick, Slash and Axl.... Seriously, what guitarist hasn't imagined killing his band's lead singer? Or vice versa? 

Ronald Strykert -- guitarist for the Eighties sensation from Oz, Men At Work -- took things a wee bit too far, though,  when he allegedly threatened to kill his former bandmate, singer Colin Hay.

While Strykert denies the threat, and Hay attests that the guitarist would never go through with it, the guitarist was arrested last week for an outstanding bench warrant, after he failed to appear at an arraignment last May.

We're just irked that drama involving Met At Work, who had a big hit with "Who Can It Be Now?," doesn't involve that annoying saxophone player.   

(Sidebar: To this day, Colin Hay puts on an incredible live show, and he's always on tour. Check him out!) 


Drama

Daptone Records Robbed, Rod Stewart Sessions in Doubt

February 17, 2009 12:50 PM

Photo: Walter/Getty

Bummer.

This past weekend in Brooklyn the headquarters of soul purveyors Daptone Records was robbed -- thieves making off with a slew of guitars, mics, pre-amps, turntables, amps and computers. 

Daptone is the home of the Dap-Kings -- the band that rose to fame after backing Amy Winehouse on Back To Black, and who also tour with soul legend Sharon Jones. In a plea to fans to keep an eye out for the stolen gear, Dap-Kings bassist Gabriel Roth said that the equipment was all uninsured.

In an odd twist, he said that they hoped to borrow equipment to have the studio up and running by Friday, because that day have a session booked to lay down material for a new Rod Stewart album.   

Rod and the Dap-Kings sounds good to us.

Let's hope it still happens.


Drama

Cop Who Urinated on Metallica Fans May Face Felony Charges

February 12, 2009 3:41 PM

Photo: Fusco/Getty

A few weeks ago we told you about the Brewster, Massachusetts police officer who allegedly whipped out his ding-a-ling during a Metallica concert in Boston and proceeded to take a wizzler on a few audience members sitting in the row below him. 

There are now new revelations in the case.

The Cape Cod Times reports, "Houston allegedly pulled down his pants and urinated on a member of a family sitting in the row in front of him at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston.... He then verbally and physically harassed the female members of the family with his pants still down and his penis exposed, according to police."

Houston was in court yesterday for a hearing on drunk and lewd conduct charges. Five other witnesses, including two Brewster police officers, a transit police officer, and two of the victims, were present during the hearing, though no judgment was passed down. 

Lesson: Don't dangle your wang in front of people you don't know. 


Drama, Random!

Evan Rachel Wood Clears Up Mickey Rourke Romance Rumors In the S.S.

January 29, 2009 1:10 PM

Photo: Samad/AFP/Getty

We haven't spoken to actress Evan Rachel Wood in nearly two years, but we spoke with her this morning.

Here's the story:

We've been friends with Marilyn Manson for a long time, and every now and then, when we're in the Los Angeles area, we’ll stop by Manson’s home in Chatsworth for some tea and crumpets.

In March of 2007, we dropped by his pad to talk about his album Eat Me, Drink Me. After we took care of business, he introduced us to Evan, his girlfriend and the star of his video for "Heart Shaped Glasses." Evan was very sweet and, despite what anyone may have read into the situation, they seemed to be like any couple in love. That said, we spent a fair portion of the night with pellet guns in our hands, hunting for trespassers on Manson’s property.

We haven’t seen Evan Rachel Wood since that night, but we still consider her our buddy. (We'd take a pellet for her anytime!) Well, we did see her in The Wrestler, and her performance was truly fantastic. 

Recently, Manson and Wood parted ways, and Wood has been single ever since.

There have been inaccurate reports in the press recently that link Evan to her co-star in The Wrestler, actor Mickey Rourke. The latest rumor is that they locked lips at the SAG awards ceremony a few nights ago.

With no other friend in the press to turn to, we heard from Evan this morning. She has been so distraught by these rumors, and the attention they have taken away from the brilliant movie, that she asked us to pass along this message. And we obliged.

"I’m upset because I feel disrespected by the press and by Mr. Rourke," she told us. "Just because I’m single doesn’t mean that you can take advantage of me. It’s unfair that the performances might suffer because of all of these distractions."

And regarding her alleged affair with Mr. Rourke, Wood says, "I'm not attracted to him, he's too old for me. Nothing ever happened and nothing ever will."

There you have it.


Drama, Exclusive

Macca Getting Hitched?

January 26, 2009 10:48 AM

Photo: Cattermole/Getty

Paul McCartney and his current lady, Nancy Shevell, may be married soon, the UK Mirror reports.

According to friends of Macca's, Shevell's recent divorce to long-time husband and wealthy lawyer Bruce Blakeman now has the couple considering getting hitched. McCartney is quoted by friends as saying, "We are blissfully happy together."

It would be prudent for us to question Shevell's motives in marrying the Macca, but that doesn't seem to be necessary with this possible bride-to-be.

For starters, she's a millionaire. Her family's freight business is worth around $345 mill!

And McCartney's children seem to fully support their father's relationship with Shevell, even the vocal Stella. "Getting Stella’s seal of approval was very important for Paul," a McCartney insider said. "All Paul’s children had massive reservations about Heather – but it was Stella who was the most vociferous."

Shevell has also received blessings from McCartney's late ex-wife Linda Eastman's family. Eastman passed away in 1998 after losing the battle to breast cancer. Shevell is a breast cancer survior.

Shevell is said to have calmed her Republican political views so as to be more in line with McCartney's liberal side. She's also cut out eating meat, and adopted a diet full of fruits and vegetables -- just like Macca.

She sounds like a keeper, right?


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