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Your Fave Band's Fave Band Was Probably Big Star

Alex Chilton APPRECIATIONS

Mar 18, 2010 1:47 PM CDT

Your Fave Band's Fave Band Was Probably Big Star

Alex Chilton: Not a commercial success, but hugely influential

(Newser) - Critics mourn Alex Chilton, who might not even have been on your radar before his death yesterday. But the Big Star frontman—whose songs have been covered by everyone from Elliott Smith to Wilco—will be now, and for good reason. Some takes on his legacy:

Chilton "pretty much

...

Rocker Alex Chilton Dead at 59

OBITUARY

Mar 17, 2010 9:16 PM CDT

Rocker Alex Chilton Dead at 59

Heart attack likely fells singer of Box Tops, Big Star

(Newser) - Alex Chilton, the singer and guitarist known for his vocals on the Box Tops’ 1967 hit The Letter and a cult favorite to many of the past two decades' musicians, died today at 59. A heart attack is believed to the culprit, the Commercial Appeal of Chilton’s native Memphis...

Metalheads Declare
Religious Status

Jan 27, 2010 2:53 AM CST

Metalheads Declare Religious Status

Campaign for metal fans' souls launched

(Newser) - British heavy metal fans are being urged to put their faith in their music by listing their religion as "heavy metal" in the next census. A similar campaign in the last once-a-decade census led to 390,000 people listing their faith as "Jedi"—outnumbering believers in Judaism,...

Pirate Radio Rocks
on Good Tunes, Cast

MOVIE REVIEW

Nov 13, 2009 8:56 AM CST

Pirate Radio Rocks on Good Tunes, Cast

Playful 60s love/music comedy is more party than plot

(Newser) - Critics agree that the soundtrack of Pirate Radio can't be beat, and the top-notch cast is a joy. So when it comes to the shaky plot and pacing, some can turn a blind eye:

"There’s no denying the comic energy of the cast," Peter Travers writes in

...

Steven Tyler Quits
Aerosmith: Band

NOT-SO-SWEET EMOTION

Nov 9, 2009 11:36 AM CST

Steven Tyler Quits Aerosmith: Band

Move follows missed tour dates and apparent dissension

(Newser) - Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler has left the band, according to rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford and lead guitarist Joe Perry, who have suggested that they're looking for a new singer. The news comes after a disastrous summer tour in which Tyler broke his shoulder in a stage fall and canceled many...

It's Time to Stop Hating Creed

OPINION

Oct 21, 2009 11:29 AM CDT

It's Time to Stop Hating Creed

They're reuniting, but listen before you groan

(Newser) - Creed is back—the once ubiquitous (and “ubiquitously loathed”) rock group is releasing a new album later this month and going on tour. But “if your impulse on hearing that it has reunited is to groan, stifle it long enough to locate a copy of Creed's 2004...

Guitar Hero 5
Uses Cobain's
Image Illegally: Love

Sep 10, 2009 4:58 PM CDT

Guitar Hero 5 Uses Cobain's Image Illegally: Love

Nirvana frontman's widow threatens to sue Activision

(Newser) - Kurt Cobain's widow, Courtney Love, says she plans to sue Activision for allegedly including the Nirvana frontman’s image in its Guitar Hero 5 without permission, MTV reports. “For the record this Guitar Hero shit is breach of contract on a Bullys part and there will be a proper...

Stones Legend
Bashes Guitar Hero

Sep 9, 2009 4:54 AM CDT

Stones Legend Bashes Guitar Hero

Real instruments gathering moss, Wyman complains

(Newser) - The growth of video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band means fewer real guitar heros in the future, complains former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. Playing the games "encourages kids not to learn, that's the trouble. It makes less and less people dedicated to really get down and...

Beatles Remasters
Pack a Wallop

music review

Sep 8, 2009 1:40 PM CDT

Beatles Remasters Pack a Wallop

CDs showcase Fab Four as they were meant to be heard

(Newser) - The Beatles just got better: every one of their original albums and a batch of collected singles has been remastered, boosting the quality to the level “the Beatles themselves would have heard and intended,” writes Matt Hurwitz in the Washington Post. The stereo CDs remind us that the...

Woodstock Was a 'Nightmare'

OPINION

Aug 13, 2009 2:25 PM CDT

Woodstock Was a 'Nightmare'

(Newser) - Mark Hosenball of Newsweek was at Woodstock, and not only did he not have a good time, but he can’t quite figure out how we’ve “transformed a chaotic mudfest into an epic pageant of peace and love.” Hosenball reminisces about the “massive, teeming, squalid mess”...

Happy 100th to the
Man Who Changed Rock

appreciation

Aug 10, 2009 11:41 AM CDT

Happy 100th to the Man Who Changed Rock

Leo Fender, inventor of the Stratocaster, born Aug. 10, 1909

(Newser) - Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of a man who forever changed rock and roll—even though he couldn’t play the instrument inextricably associated with his name. Leo Fender designed guitars and amplifiers that have endured for decades, including the legendary Fender Stratocaster, played by Jimi Hendrix,...

The Best Rock Frontmen

Jul 9, 2009 6:48 PM CDT

The Best Rock Frontmen

(Newser) - Frontmen are at the heart of rock ‘n’ roll—no matter how amazing the musicians in the band are, they still needs someone with the right mix of talent and charisma to reach the crowd. The Independent compiles the best:

Johnny Rotten, Sex Pistols. Like so many other rockers,

...

Iranian Rockers
Won't Stay
Mute on Crisis

Jun 19, 2009 1:10 PM CDT

Iranian Rockers Won't Stay Mute on Crisis

Plan to get so famous they're unstoppable at home

(Newser) - Iranian band Hypernova arrived in the US in 2007 ready to rock—but not prepared to be caught condemning their home government. Now, as demonstrators flock to protest Iran’s election results, singer “King Raam” is turning up the political volume, the Global Post reports. “There are so...

Neil Young's
Latest Redefines
Compilations

MUSIC REVIEW

Jun 17, 2009 2:53 PM CDT

Neil Young's Latest Redefines Compilations

10-disc set bursting with music, photos, video

(Newser) - Neil Young leaves other retrospectives in the dust with a look back at his career that spans 10 Blu-ray discs or DVDs, or eight CDs, the Chicago Tribune reports. Neil Young Archives: Volume 1, 1963-1972 contains everything from high school band recordings through Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to his...

CD Smells Like Teen Spirit,
Sounds Like a Lullaby

May 28, 2009 6:39 AM CDT

CD Smells Like Teen Spirit, Sounds Like a Lullaby

Cobain 'Lullaby' Sending Tots to Slumber Land

(Newser) - A new CD is lulling babies to sleep with the gentle sounds of Nirvana, AC/DC, and Queen, the Sun reports. The makers of Rockabye Baby created lullaby renditions of hits like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with xylophones, wood blocks, and glockenspiels. The CD—which also includes songs from Bob...

Coldplay Will Give
Concertgoers Free CDs

May 1, 2009 7:27 AM CDT

Coldplay Will Give Concertgoers Free CDs

Live album distributed at all remaining 2009 dates

(Newser) - Coldplay will give away a free copy of its new live CD to every audience member at shows this year, BBC reports. Starting on May 15 in Florida, the band will give fans the nine-track LeftRightLeftRightLeft as a "recession-busting mark of gratitude." The album, which includes live versions...

Van Halen: Roth Reunion Solid, New Music on Way

GLOSSIES

Feb 8, 2009 12:44 PM CST

Van Halen: Roth Reunion Solid, New Music on Way

(Newser) - After grossing $93 million on tour with former frontman David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen tells Rolling Stone he wants the band back together permanently: “Dave was a blast. And next time we go out, we’re going to have some new stuff, too.” He plans a summer...

Boss Rips Ticketmaster for 'Scalping' Tickets

Feb 5, 2009 6:51 AM CST

Boss Rips Ticketmaster for 'Scalping' Tickets

Springsteen says ticket company's practice was a conflict of interest

(Newser) - The Boss called Ticketmaster into his office yesterday, and gave it a tongue-lashing it may not soon forget, Reuters reports. The ticket giant drew Bruce Springsteen's wrath for gouging fans Monday by redirecting them to its resaler, TicketNow, just minutes after seats for his "Working on a Dream" tour...

Run-DMC, Metallica
Make Rock Hall of Fame

Jan 14, 2009 4:53 PM CST

Run-DMC, Metallica Make Rock Hall of Fame

(Newser) - Run-DMC and Metallica will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, MTV.com reports. The two groups—along with Jeff Beck, Bobby Womack, and Wanda Jackson—will receive rock’s highest accolade in a ceremony April 4 in Cleveland. The two headlining picks may be...

U2 Gets a Line on New Release

Dec 19, 2008 11:27 AM CST

U2 Gets a Line on New Release

Band's 12th studio effort is due March 3

(Newser) - U2’s hotly anticipated new album is finally on the horizon: No Line on the Horizon is set for release March 3, E! Online reports. The band delayed the release to polish the songs and add two tracks. Although U2 worked with its “usual suspects,” guitarist the Edge...