Music News Net

Sting, John Mayer, Dave Matthews and Others Support Tibet On a New CD

     To coincide with the publicity surrounding the Summer Olympics in China, some of the biggest names in rock are taking a stand on behalf of Tibet.  Sting, John Mayer and Dave Matthews are a few of the rockers lending their musicianship to Songs for Tibet-The Art of Peace, an all-star album that is to draw attention to the Asian province of Tibet and its ongoing struggle for national sovereignty. The album, which also features tunes by Alanis Morissette, Moby and Garbage, will have a world-wide release on iTunes Aug. 5, three days before the 2008 Summer Olympics start in Beijing. CD copies will be in stores on August 12 (order now from MNN, HERE) . "We wanted to express our support for the Tibetan people and their message of peace through music, a fundamental means of expression, at a time when the eyes of the world are on China," said Michael Wohl of the Art of Peace Foundation, whose Dalai Lama-supporting nonprofit group is behind the CD project. Also on the album are songs from Rush, Suzanne Vega, Imogen Heap, Damien Rice, Underworld and Duncan Sheik.

Top Ten Performers Who Should Stop Making Music

    MSN recently ran a piece on top performers who should stop recording new music (see report here) !!! MSN claims that the good days are gone for these artists.  While artists can run out  (or low) of some of their creative steam, I question who's on this MSN list.  I also object to knocking artists who have been pivotal in creating what contemporary music is today.   Check out the MSN list and let us know if you agree,

Trey Anatasio (Phish) Adds NYC Area Club Gig

     While he's in the NYC area for his August 10 performance at the All Points West Festival in New Jersey, former Phish frontman Trey Anatasio has added a rare club concert with his band Classic TAB three days before on August 7 at the Music Hall of Williamsburgh in Brooklyn, NYC.  Tickets will go on sale Saturday (July 26 at noon). The Music Hall will open early that night for the occasion.   After his 2007 arrest on drug charges, Anastasio has been slowly getting back into live performances.  Over the July 4th weekend he played at the first Rothbury festival in Michigan, where he also collaborated with former Phish bandmates Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman. Anatasio will also play the upcoming Newport Folk Festival (August 1-3) in Rhode Island.

Last week, Anastasio announced that he and Don Hart, the Orchestra Nashville composer-in-residence  premiere a new work on September 27, "Times Turns Elastic," at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

Mercury Prize Nominations Announced

     The nominations for this year's UK Mercury Prize have been announced today with noms to popular albums by the likes of Robert Plant, Adele, Estelle and Radiohead in the running. One of the top British prizes, the award is voted on by a committee of British and Irish music industry personell, and is viewed as a high end award unlike the more populist Brit Awards, many of which are voted for by the public.  But, don't go betting your money just yet on who's going to win the Mercury; the awards are famous for going to underdogs rather than the favorites; as well as the prize money.  Soul singer Adele, 20, is nominated for her debut  "19,'' and the list also includes 18-year-old Laura Marling, whose first CD is called  "Alas I Cannot Swim".   Led Zeppelin veteran Robert Plant, 59, is  nominated, for his album with Alison Kraus, "Raising Sand".   

REPLACEMENTS Frontman Offers New CD via 49 Cent Download

      UPDATE 8/28/08- Two more new tracks have been added to the Westerberg downloads, "3oclockcreep," the first of the two new cuts, comes in at a chunky 20 minutes, and the second cut, "Finally Here Once," traditional 3:27, according to the two songs' distribution page at TuneCore's site.

UPDATE 8/27/08- Replacements drummer Steve Foley, 49, died last weekend in Minneapolis, MN.  According to Minneapolis media, he accidentally overdosed on prescription medication.
Foley joined the Replacements in 1990 as a substitute for the band's original drummer, Chris Mars.

MUSIC NEWS- Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg is the latest artist to make use of the internet for quick distribution of new music and tunes.  On Monday (7/21), Westerberg made his cool, new 44-minute single MP3 file of a dozen-plus songs available, named "49:00," for 49 cents.   Amazon.com is handling the sales via a link from the Westerberg web site Men Without Ties (and thru our Amazon MP3 button here on MNN- click any song to buy and use the Amazon search bar for 49:00). Tunecore will also be carrying the release.   "He finished it on Monday, sent it to me on Tuesday and it was out this weekend," Westerberg manager Darren Hill recently told Billboard magazine.

Peace Thru Music California Charity Event This Week !

     Peace Thru Music Instrument Drive and Fundraising Event in Ventura, CA!!   If you're in the Ventura, California area, or can be this Saturday, July 26th note the premiere of Kevin Costner's new movie, Swing Vote, from Touchstone Pictures, will be held downtown, followed by a free concert that evening by his band, Modern West.   If you're tourist coming to LA this weekend, make the short 1.5 hour ride to Ventura!  Peace Thru Music and City Corps, two Ventura, CA-based non-profit groups, have put together a fun event for all that afternoon.

Early U2 CDs Re-Released (Boy, October, War)

     This week, Island Records will re-release the first three U2 albums, Boy, October and War (available for purchase thru MNN, HERE).  Following U2's remaster releases of The Joshua Tree last year, the Edge has now overseen re-mastering of Boy (1980), October (1981) and War (1983).  All three have been remastered from the original audio tapes. Each album will be released as a standard single disc, a deluxe double version including a disc of b-sides, live tracks and rarities, and an LP version pressed on 180gm virgin vinyl. The packaging on all three titles has been restored and expanded, with new liner notes for each record, previously unseen photos and full lyrics.  Producer of the original three albums, Steve Lillywhite (Simple Minds, Big Country, the Pogues, Psychedelic Furs, XTC, Joan Armatrading and rumored to be working with Phish on their new album) sat down recently with the BBC to discuss U2, the recording process and the early albums.  See full BBC article, HERE and earlier MNN U2 report, HERE.

SLIPKNOT Member Breaks Heels Performing Live

     The Rockstar Mayhem Fest is underway and on the road with the top metal bands, and we have a live clip and an injury report.  DJ Sid Wilson of Slipknot (the masked band), broke both of his heels after jumping from a stage riser and landing badly recently in Auburn, Washington. He's now wearing two casts on his legs and is confined to a wheelchair.  What a trooper, he's vowed to

Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam Wins Libel Lawsuit Case

    Pop/folk musician Cat Stevens,  now known as Yusuf Islam has won a libel lawsuit and was awarded "substantial" damages over articles that suggested he refused to talk with women not wearing a veil.   The stories in question also claimed that Mr Islam would only speak with women, other than his wife through a third party.  His lawyer told The High Court in London that "Mr Islam has never had difficulties working with women".  London-based World Entertainment News Network (WENN) agency has already apologized for the reports.  Its article, entitled "Yusuf Islam ignores bare-headed women", was distributed to subscribers including Contactmusic.com, read by more than two million people per month, which also published an apology on its website.

Country Music Assn (CMA) Announces 2008 Awards Show

     Seems like it's been ages since we saw a country music awards show, well, actually two months.  No matter, that'll soon change. The Country Music Association. has announced November 12, 2008 as the date for its 2008 ceremony, airing live on ABC-TV in the USA (8p/7p central).    While the nominations have not yet been announced,the 2007 nominees were unveiled at the end of August. The 08 awards show will be broadcast from the Sommet Center Center in Nashville, TN and will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CMA.  From last year's awards, we saw the emergence of Taylor Swift as a country star. Swift walked away with the Horizon Award, and hit the top ten on the U.S. pop charts a week later. In what has become a tradition at a country music award shows, Kenny Chesney was honored as the entertainer of the year! Stay tuned to MNN for more info .

UPDATE 11/23/08 - See list of 2008 CMA Award winners below-

Photo courtesy WireImage

Kings of Leon To Embark on UK Arena Tour

     The Tennessee, USA  four-piece band, Kings of Leon will hit the road for an 11-day jaunt which will take them to London, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle. Tickets are on sale now.  The tour, which starts at the Brighton Centre on December 1 and wraps up at Cardiff International Arena on December 17, will support their new album, "Only By The Night" . The new album is due out 9.23.08 in America and 9.22.08 in the UK.

Barenaked Ladies band Cancels Disney Gig Over Drug Bust

     The Canadian pop/rock music group, Barenaked Ladies have canceled their "Disney" gig next month because of lead singer Steven Page's arrest in New York State last week.  Mr Page was charged with possessing cocaine. He's pleaded not guilty, the band said.  Best known for hits such as One Week and Pinch Me, the BNL was due to play the Disney Music Block Party on Long Island, NY USA in late August.

Billy Joel Shuts Down the Music at Shea Stadium

      MUSIC NEWS- The music’s over at Shea Stadium, where the "Piano Man, Billy Joel just finished his second of two sold-out shows that will be the final concerts ever at the NY Mets ballpark in Flushing Meadows Park, Queens, NY USA.  The shows, billed as “Last Play at Shea,” featured a grand total of 68 songs and eight special guests.

Miley Cyrus Tells All in Recent Interview

     The teen superstar that has become gossip magazine fodder, Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) recently sat down with a top music industry magazine for an interview.  She discussed the "photos", her tour and the fans shut out of it, her new movie and acting future, her songwriting (yes, she writes some too), the new album and life in general as a superstar.  She credits her mom and dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, as being the most important influences in her life.   

With the new cd BREAKOUT due soon (purchase a copy HERE) she's been even busier than usual.  And according to director Brett Ratner, who shot the video for Cyrus's new single

Willie Nelson 2008 Tour Announced

     Septuagenarian and iconic Texas hero, Willie Nelson, creative power behind recordings like “Crazy,” “Hello Walls,” “Red Headed Stranger” and “Stardust,” is touring again on  his 2008 “On the Road Again” tour.  Nelson, 75, is regarded by most music fans as one of the most beloved and notorious country music singers. He reached great fame during the “outlaw country” movement of the 1970s, and remains extremely poplular with a wide audience.  He continues to tour, record and perform, and, combined with activities in the advocacy of cannabis, fuel alternatives and social issues he remains in the focus of continued media attention.