Previous Next Latest

The Police to Play the Grammys? More New Bright Eyes, Rick Rubin’s Disinterest Irks Velvet Revolver

1/23/07, 2:28 pm EST

The Police

  • Reports say that the Police will be playing the Grammy’s, which would obviously rock. These reports also claim that the band is about to announce 80 post-Grammy tour dates, which rocks less. Nothing deflates excitement about getting into that ONE special reunion show like the idea that there will be 79 more. Should they play 80 dates? Totally. Should they tell us that’s the plan? No way. (And when’s that Genesis get-together scheduled?)
  • Morrissey pal and general film score writing genius Ennio Morricone will be receiving an honorary Oscar at this year’s awards. Congrats!
  • Thom Yorke writes an iTunes celebrity playlist, plus an accompanying virtual instruction booklet; Thom Yorke also reveals a fondness for painful cliches, like “float your boat.”
  • Check out another new Bright Eyes track, “Tourist Trap,” which is from forthcoming Bright Eyes EP Four Winds, out March 6th. This song, which does not appear on the version of Cassadaga (the band’s new full length album out April 10th) that we heard, is classic Oberst-penned melancholy folk.
  • Velvet Revolver apparently ditched Rick Rubin — who was set to produce their new record Libertad — because the legendary production visionary gave them the sense that his work on new albums by Metallica and U2 was more important to him. “If you’re gonna pay a producer, get in the trenches with us and work with us,” VR singer Scott Weiland reportedly sniffed.

Previous Next Latest

Comments

Anonymous | 1/23/2007, 2:31 pm EST

How dare you mock Thom Yorke’s fondness for painful cliches like “float your boat”!

mlc | 1/23/2007, 2:54 pm EST

Elizabeth….mostly….your attempt at clever is overided by your smug annoyingness.

Grawp | 1/23/2007, 3:09 pm EST

Lizzie,

it sure would “float my boat” if you learned how to write. Oh, and yeah, we’re all waiting for that Genesis reunion. Totally. Invisible Touch, baby.

Jake | 1/23/2007, 3:09 pm EST

Huh, Thom really likes Madvillian. Nice.

Wayne | 1/23/2007, 3:10 pm EST

Painful cliches? God forbid!

Excuse me Pot, have you met Kettle?

MegaSudz | 1/23/2007, 3:19 pm EST

Lets put this reunion in perspective. I am 40 years old. The last time I saw the Police, I was about to enter my senior year of HS. The opening acts were A Flock of Seagulls and The Fixx. Is there still a demand for this band to renuinte, or is it 10 years too late? My vote is hell yes! I thought they rocked durring the Rock and Roll HOF. Just wondering aloud…..

Kevin Selders | 1/23/2007, 3:21 pm EST

Painful cliches? Hey, whatever floats your mini-van.

Bigwreck | 1/23/2007, 3:24 pm EST

Does anyone care what Thom says or thinks anymore? Honestly, why do we put him on such a high pedestal – he hasn’t done anything worth while since KID A….and how long ago was that???

Anonymous | 1/23/2007, 3:27 pm EST

The Police Are Amazing, Thom yorke has a good sense of humor, There is no such thing as a “classic” Bright Eyes song yet because he hasnt been around long enough to have a classic song, Velvet Revolver are wankers… did i miss anything?

Rachel | 1/23/2007, 3:28 pm EST

Most likely they mean the original Genesis with Peter Gabriel as the lead singer, not Phil Collins.

baba o riley | 1/23/2007, 3:32 pm EST

rick rubin craps albums better than anything velvet revolver is capable of producing.

Mott the Hoople | 1/23/2007, 3:36 pm EST

The only thing that sucks worse than the Police is Elizabth Goodman. Your writing is terrible. Find a new occupation.

Banjo | 1/23/2007, 3:37 pm EST

not that i like velvet revolver, but good for them. Anyone (Rick Rubin) who doesn’t like Jimi Hendrix can’t possibly produce a decent rock album…that’s my biased opinion

VR | 1/23/2007, 3:47 pm EST

Maybe VR will get Axl to come in and produce the album ha

Automatic for the People | 1/23/2007, 3:58 pm EST

The Police reunion tour = Lame

Rick Rubin = Homogenized

Velvet Revolver = Will never be GnR

Thom Yorke = Genius

Graham | 1/23/2007, 4:02 pm EST

I’ve been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn’t understand any of their work–too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Duke where Phil Collins’s presence became more apparent. I think “Invisible Touch” was the group’s undisputed masterpiece. It’s an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Banks, Collins and Rutherford. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Take the lyrics to “Land of Confusion.” In this song, Phil Collins addresses the problems of abusive political authority. “In Too Deep” is the most moving pop song of the 1980’s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as anything I’ve heard in rock. Phil Collins’s solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying in a narrower way, especially songs like “In the Air Tonight” and “Against All Odds.” But I also think Phil Collins works best within the confines of the group than as a solo artist–and I stress the word “artist.”

Bodi | 1/23/2007, 4:03 pm EST

A new Velvet Revolver and New “GNR” album would make for a great year.

Oddjob | 1/23/2007, 4:15 pm EST

“Graham” has read American Psycho!

And Rachel- the Genesis reunion is happening with Phil Collins, not Peter Gabriel- it’s not hypothetical, it’s actually happening!!!

Buster C | 1/23/2007, 4:21 pm EST

Could all you big city people get yalls heads out of Thom Yorke’s ass.

Warzawa | 1/23/2007, 4:25 pm EST

Hahahahaha…Velvet Revolver ditched Rubin? He must’ve really been out to lunch during those sessions. But then again, with Metallica and U2 going at once, who wouldn’t be?

Pat | 1/23/2007, 4:32 pm EST

VU is retarded to drop Rubin, there not even that good of a band first off, but with Rubin they could have made a great album, oh well some people just don’t get it.

Anonymous | 1/23/2007, 4:47 pm EST

pretty cool to see thom yorke is a malkmus fan

Anonymous | 1/23/2007, 4:53 pm EST

I actually saw Malkmus open for Radiohead back in 2003, so maybe it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.

Killa | 1/23/2007, 4:54 pm EST

It sounds like Libertine may be the next Chinese Democracy. Weiland is definitely up there with Axl in terms of primadonna factor. Weiland even busted out a synthesizer solo during ‘Illegal Eye’ on their last stadium tour.

This is old news about Rubin, anyway. VR announced Brendan O’brien(STP) as the new producer on Libertad like a month ago.

MegaSudz | 1/23/2007, 5:10 pm EST

Weiland is an agrument for rock start ODing young. Frigg those VR power ballards. I loved ALT rock of the 90s because it was not going to fall into the classic rock trappings of, hanging around too long, or God forbid the SUPERGROUP. Zack is back with Rage, Chris needs to go back to Soundgarden, Velvet Revolter needs to cease existance and retrun Scottie to his “H” shooting glory days of STP. Duff and Slash back to GnR, which would lead Tommy Stinson back to the GREAT Paul Westerberg. Ain’t that hard folks, just stop being ASIA.

Yeesh! | 1/23/2007, 5:40 pm EST

goddamn MegaSudz! you rock again!!! I agree with the statement below…hell rolling stone…THIS guy should be writing for that pitiful rag that USED to rock!!

Yeesh!!

Yeesh! | 1/23/2007, 5:41 pm EST

Damn….I coulda had a “VH”!!!

Kyle | 1/23/2007, 6:01 pm EST

Yes!

The Police | 1/23/2007, 6:16 pm EST

A reunion would be amazing. Hopefully they will play Coachella.

G enesi s???

Th ey suck.

cheesecrop | 1/23/2007, 7:09 pm EST

First – Genesis was great – don’t pick.

Second – Chances that all the original line-ups of GNR, STP, Soundgarden, etc. getting back together – not good.

Third – VR was right for dropping Rubin. No doubt Rubin would have made a great album w/them, but if the producer lacks interest the album will fall short no matter what you do.

jill hives | 1/23/2007, 7:53 pm EST

fuck tha police!

Mr. Bates | 1/23/2007, 11:09 pm EST

Not sure why you say the Police announcing 80 post-Grammy dates would “rock less”, but hey, “you’re from Rolling Stone”.

Warhand | 1/23/2007, 11:29 pm EST

The Police reunite.
Rage Reunite
Panic! at the disco get the cover of Rolling Stone.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMM weird how to unbelievable rock happenings have to be overshadowed by such a disgrace.

Erica | 1/24/2007, 5:52 am EST

Coincidentally, I was talking to an editor from Side-Line magazine yesterday on the way to Paris in the Thalys and he informed me that the Sting management is not that pleased about the news leaking out. They would have asked to pull the story off the site which the magazine has refused to do :)

Norm | 1/24/2007, 8:00 am EST

If you’re going to be the smart-ass rock writer, at least be funny about it. I have yet to see one funny quip from this Elizabeth Goodman. I’ve refrained from writing anything because I figured that I would give her a chance. But, it is nothing everyday. A-hole comments that just fall flat time and again. Next.

KEN VAIL JR. | 1/24/2007, 1:42 pm EST

THE POLICE are one of the greatest bands ever….that should be awesome to see. Andy Summers is nearly 65 years old, so maybe they figured it’s now or never…..it was great when SIMON AND GARFUNKEL did that reunion on the grammys a few years back….I can’t wait to see it.

Beelay | 1/24/2007, 4:37 pm EST

Hey Bigwreek, if Thom Yorke don’t float your boat, then that’s the way it is.

I’m sure there’s plenty of room left in the Panic! in the Crisco or My Chemical Rectum fan clubs for folks like you who enjoy the watered down, sweet stuff that’s not too hard to understand.

jungleland | 1/30/2007, 5:00 pm EST

I think The Police’s music holds up much better than Genesis, and these tours will prove it. For the money ZZ Top is the best 80’s trio of old white men (if you are into that kinda thing), but The Police are a close second. I think this reunion and tour will re-establish them as one of the great rock bands of all time.

Pittsburgh Paul | 1/30/2007, 6:20 pm EST

Police-One of the greatest ‘hits’ rockers ever. Genesis-One of the greatest art rockers ever. Both re-unions would go down as two of RNR’s greatest in history for sure. I’ve loved them both forever as they’ve been in existence for what they are. Comparing them to each other is a waste of time…totally different approaches. Lovin’ ‘em both is time better spent. Rock on!

TV Buzz | 1/31/2007, 8:27 am EST

The Police, Van Halen, Genesis…all three bands getting back together for some cash. OK, sure. I’ll be at one of those.

Thom Yorke likes weird electronic stories with fruit bats included in metaphoric terms, and this sentence makes as much sense as his “instructions” for listening. But I love that mother fucker anyway.

And Rick Rubin not liking Jimi Hendrix is excused by everything he has produced.

pdog | 2/12/2007, 2:00 pm EST

personally, I am a huge fan of The Police. They can hardly be compared with Genesis or ZZ Top, though to be honest, ZZ Top’s very early work is some of the coolest rock you can hear. Manic Mechanic, Cheap Sunglasses, Nationwide … But I digress.

The Police’s body of work stands alone as some of the most relevant, time-tested music around. From Reggae to new wave to straight out rock (remember “Born in the ’50s?), they have done it all. And done it well.

I hate Sting’s solo work. It’s some of the most self-indulgent hoo-hah around; but if you take The Police and put them pound for pound against any band of relevance (OK, maybe not the Beatles), I think if you are truthful with yourself, you would see they measure up favorably.

Just one man’s opinion.

bigpoppapirate | 2/12/2007, 2:11 pm EST

personally, I am a huge fan of The Police. They can hardly be compared with Genesis or ZZ Top, though to be honest, ZZ Top’s very early work is some of the coolest rock you can hear. Manic Mechanic, Cheap Sunglasses, Nationwide … But I digress.

The Police’s body of work stands alone as some of the most relevant, time-tested music around. From Reggae to new wave to straight out rock (remember “Born in the ’50s?), they have done it all. And done it well.

I hate Sting’s solo work. It’s some of the most self-indulgent hoo-hah around; but if you take The Police and put them pound for pound against any band of relevance (OK, maybe not the Beatles), I think if you are truthful with yourself, you would see they measure up favorably.

Just one man’s opinion.

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:



Advertisement

Advertisement