There had been rumors Mr. Bungle was going to work on a new album soon, but those rumors are not true. In an interview with Rolling Stone, frontman Mike Patton revealed the adventurous, experimental band is over, claiming Bungle "was poisoned by one person's petty jealousy and insecurity, and it led us to a slow, unnatural death."
British dance/punk pioneers Gang of Four are reuniting (hey, everybody else is doing it) and plan a tour of the UK and North America in the coming year. The band has been listed as an inspiration to the likes of REM, Franz Ferdinand and even U2.
Erasure singer Andy Bell has announced that he is HIV Positive. When commenting on his condition, Bell remarked, "There is still so much hysteria and ignorance surrounding HIV and AIDS. Let's get on with life." Bell plans to become active in speaking out and educating others about HIV and AIDS.
And they team up with Carl Barat, one half of the creative force behind The Libertines, to form a supergroup. Tim Burgess (Charlatans), Martin Duffy (Primal Scream) and Andy Burrows (Razorlight) have come together with Barat to form The Chavs. Wonder if it will be as good in real life as it looks on paper.
Apparently (because it showed up in the mail yesterday) the latest Graham Coxon solo album that was released in the UK earlier this year now has a US release date. Happiness In Magazines will hit US shelves on 1/25, and according to the press release, features a much more polished and, dare we say, radio friendly sound than past Coxon solo material.
Tickets go on sale Friday December 17th for the just announced Ben Folds show at London's Hammersmith Apollo on May 31st, 2005. Seem a little early to be buying tickets? Absolutely, but if you really can't wait then you can buy tickets in advance right here starting tomorrow at 5:00am EST.
Fresh off their Saturday Night Live performance this past weekend, the Scissor Sisters have announced the following shows for 2005:
Apparently Queen are planning to reunite and tour the UK next year. Brian May posted on his official site about the band's plans, and noted that Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company fame will be sitting in for the late Freddie Mercury. The word is Queen drummer Roger Taylor is on board, but John Deacon is still questionable.
Blur has released an on-the-road documentary entitled Starshaped, that follows the band across Europe during their early years after the release of debut album Leisure and its follow-up, Modern Life is Rubbish. Kicking off with a performance from Reading in 1991, the camera trails them through festivals - onstage, backstage and falling off the stage - follows them down motorways on tourbuses, and captures the band hanging out in middle European service stations.
In anticipation of a new compilation of rare tracks and b-side single releases, The Singles Collection, Volume 2: 1998 – 2004, in stores Tuesday, March 8, Dropkick Murphys will be performing five shows over four days for their annual St. Patrick’s Day event March 17th – 20th at the Avalon Ballroom in Boston. Dropkick Murphys are currently in the studio working on their follow up to 2003’s “Blackout” with their fifth, as yet untitled, album due for release in June 2005.
The ladies in Del Cielo are priming for the March release of Us vs. Them; a record that is "filled to the brim with raucous beats and angular tales of loves lost, parables of daily life sung with such broad urgency and tender inflection that the end result is as uplifting as it is endearing." Check below for some upcoming December shows:
Ben Davis [of Sleepytime Trio and Milemarker fame] and the Rosebuds will be recording 5 songs a piece in early February for a split CD on Lovitt. More details soon.
Razorlight has announced some new tour dates for 2005. Check below for the current list.
Relient K has dropped the latest track off of their new album Mmhmm online for your listening pleasure. Check out "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" in Windows Media and Real Audio.
In support of the recently released White Stripes new DVD, Under Blackpool Lights, the band has joined forces with Neighborhoodies for a pretty cool contest. Go here and look for the White Stripes link in the bottom right corner. Then just follow the directions and you may score some cool gear.
The Walkmen have released online a new video for "Little House Of Savages" and we have some links for you. Check it out in Windows Media and Quicktime and be sure and pick up their latest album, Bows and Arrows, if you haven't already.
We told you that the Flaming Lips are going to release a DVD on March 23rd entitled My Life With The Fearless Freaks, a behind the scenes documentary on the life of the band and their random misadventures along the way. In other news, the band will release a cover of The White Stripes "Seven Nation Army" on their compilation Late Night Tales, a mix CD of random songs due in February.
I am sad to report that Forget Cassettes seem to have parted ways. According to a message on their website the duo has decided to pursue individual projects (Doni is to play drums for Trail of Dead, Beth will pursue new endeavours). Read the full message from the band after the jump.
Apparently the band Beloved have decided to call it quits. You can read a statement from the band on their official site over here.
Despite various rumors being spread across thew web, Glassjaw have not broken up, and the recent shows they canceled will be rescheduled. This word comes from Manny himself who is back in the band for the latest string of shows.
