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Wednesday

Paramore Not Breaking Up

antiMusic reports: Following the cancellation of their UK tour and a cryptic message blogged on their Myspace page by frontwoman Hayley Williams, there was rampant speculation that Paramore was heading to the dust heap of music history. Not so says Hayley in a new blog post. Here is what she had to say:

"since we posted the last entry, we've gotten tons of phone calls and people posting things on websites saying that we are breaking up. i just want to make it clear, though, that by posting two nights ago we weren't saying the band was over. we posted because we are going through hard times and we felt that because we have a really good support system in you guys, our fans, it would be better for us to just be honest about what's going on - even though, it was a pretty vague explanation. man, some of the rumors that i've heard going around are insane! it's weird how out of hand things can get even when you just try to tell a simple truth. (for the record, my eggo is not preggo). anyway, we just need to take time to make this band the best it can be� and we are doing that now.

"thank you for all the love and the encouragement you guys have shown. and WE WILL! be seeing you guys on the 27th of March in Orlando, FL"- more on this story

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Waters Announces Final Dark Side Gigs

Gigwise reports: Roger Waters will perform his last two performances of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The moon' in the UK later this Spring. 

As with similar performances which have taken place across the world, Waters will play the album in its entirety, as well as playing a mixture of Pink Floyd tracks and his own solo material. 

The final two performances will take place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on May 15th and the O2 Arena in London on May 18th. - more on this story

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iTunes Sells 4 Billionth Song

antiMusic reports: The record industry has 4 billion reasons to kiss Steve Jobs in the public square. That is the amount of songs that iTunes has sold, which has made it the second largest music retailer in the US. They are second only to the brick and mortar powerhouse of Wal-Mart. Of course the major labels continue to look at alternatives to iTunes that will allow them to make more on music downloads. (4 billion dollars isn't enough? 2.8 billion going to record companies under the standard iTunes 30% / label 70% split) And they continue to blame their problems on downloads. 

Idolator has more on iTunes rise: According to research by the NPD Group, the iTunes Store was the second-largest music retailer in the United States last year, behind only Wal-Mart. iTunes leapfrogged over Best Buy and Target--which came in second and third, respectively, to iTunes' fourth place the last time the NPD Group conducted their music-buying survey--as paid downloading experienced an overall spike of 50% between 2006 and 2007.

Those downloads now make up 10% of all music sales, although unsurprisingly the rise in downloads didn't make up for the plunge experienced by CD tallies throughout the course of the year.- more on this story

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Maxim Eats Crowe Over Bogus Review

antiMusic reports: We have a new chapter in the comical story of Maxim being caught with their editorial pants down after running a review of a CD they had not heard. Now the rag has issued an explanation of their bogus review policy where they only star rate CDs they have heard. Which still leaves the door open for them to "review" cds they have not heard. That makes reviewing CDs so much easier! Sleazeroxx has the story: Maxim magazine has apologized for publishing a negative review of the Black Crowes' new album by a writer who hadn't listened to the whole CD. 

The review in Maxim's March issue gives the Crowes' "Warpaint" a rating of two-and-a-half stars out of five. The band posted an exasperated statement on its Web site last week saying the Maxim writer hadn't heard the entire album because advance copies weren't available. The Crowes' manager, Pete Angelus, said the magazine explained that its review was an "educated guess." 

Maxim editorial director James Kaminsky responded Tuesday with this statement: "It is Maxim's editorial policy to assign star ratings only to those albums that have been heard in their entirety. Unfortunately, that policy was not followed in the March 2008 issue of our magazine and we apologize to our readers." [side note: you can now hear song streams from the CD at theblackcrowes.com and judge for yourself]- more on this story

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Jacko's Neverland Ranch in Foreclosure

antiMusic reports: The home mortgage crisis hit a new milestone today as one of the most well known ranches in America is reportedly in foreclosure. As a result Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch will soon he heading to the auction block. AFP/Google has the story: Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch has been foreclosed and will be auctioned off next month unless the singer pays off a 24.5 million dollar loan, Fox News reported on its website Tuesday.

The US network said in a report citing official documents that the sprawling 1,000 hectare (2,800 acres) ranch in Santa Barbara County would be sold at auction on March 19 unless the fallen 'King of Pop' pays 24,525,906.61 dollars.

The auction sale would include the house as well as all personal property inside, including fixtures and appliances, furniture and "all merry go round type devices", rides and games, the report said.- more on this story

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Warrant Reuniting for Rocklahoma

Blabbermouth reports: POISON frontman Bret Michaels and the reunited WARRANT � featuring lead singer Jani Lane � are scheduled to appear at the Rocklahoma 2008 press conference on Tuesday, March 4 at the world-famous Whisky A Go-Go. 

XM 41 The Boneyard, the official satellite radio channel of Rocklahoma, will broadcast the Rocklahoma press conference live beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET.

The press conference will announce this year's lineup for Rocklahoma, which will be held July 10-13, 2008 at the Catch The Fever Festival Grounds, four miles north of Pryor, Oklahoma.- more on this story

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Jay-Z Sued for Slavery

antiMusic reports: In today's edition of frivolous lawsuits exposed we see Jay-Z tied up in litigation claiming he somehow profited from slavery. Can we hear a chorus cry of "tort reform now!"? Our good friends at Hecklerspray have more info on this: Think you know Jay-Z? Well, you don't, so think again. Unless you already think that he is partially to blame for the enslavement of thousands of Africans in pre-1807 Britain, in which case you don't need to think again, because you're absolutely right, according to Brooklyn Activist Clive Campbell and Da Black Defense League.

They have filed a $5 billion dollar lawsuit against Jay-Z, along with Barclay's Bank and Forest City Ratner, a real estate developer, because they have: "�profited from the African Slave Trade and continue to profit from these gains, through a conspiracy dating back hundreds of years and continue to date to oppress Black people, enslave them, unlawfully deport them to all corners of the Earth."

You see, according to recent findings from studies released on the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the slave trade by The Restitution Study Group, Barclay's Bank (then Heywood's Bank) was involved in over 120 slave trading missions and allegedly enslaved more than 38,000 Africans, with Jay-Z and Ratner apparently connected through their ties with Barclay's Bank in a $4 billion Atlantic Yards project taking place in Brooklyn, which plans to build a basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets (partially owned by Jay-Z), over 6,000 new apartments, offices and a hotel. - more on this story

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more stories including: Jay-Z Sued for Slavery- Ozzfest Tour RIP?- Warrant Reuniting for Rocklahoma- Waters Announces Final Dark Side Gigs- Ronson to Produce Kaiser Chiefs?- Korny Xbox Comp Today- The Black Keys Set Release- Queen of Disco Returns- more

Thursday

Amber Pacific Lose Their Voice

antiMusic reports: Amber Pacific's frontman Matt Young has decided to depart the group after the band complete their current tour obligations. The band want to assure fans that they will carry on. Here is what they had to say: "Hello, we would like to say that we fully support Matt's decision to pursue other opportunities that this life has to offer and wish him the best with whatever road he decides to take. However, we also would like everyone to know that we have every intention of continuing on as Amber Pacific and have been writing and working on new material during this time off. We are excited about what the future may bring with new songs and obviously a new singer."

Here is part of Matt's message to fans: "As the days turn to weeks, and the weeks into months, I have found myself searching to find my place in life, in this very place and time. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that my place is no longer as a member of Amber Pacific.

"It saddends me to think about all that I will be giving up: seeing the country, working and spending time with friends, making music and seeing it in movies, TV shows, and videogames; but most importantly, it is, and always will be hard to cope with not being able to see all of you. I have said it before and I will say it again, that everyone who has supported the band and I personally throughout the years is not only a fan, but a friend. I appreciate all of the hugs, the cheers, and the heartfelt stories of appreciation."- read the full statement

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Nikki Sixx Responds to Junkie Delusion Claims

antiMusic reports: Nikki Sixx has responded to Tom Werman's comments in the New York Times where Werman challenged some of the assertions in Sixx's book "Heroin Diaries". Werman said in part, "As the producer of three MÖTLEY CRÜE albums over a four-year period, I found Sixx's allegation that in the recording studio he did 'all the work' with Vince Neil's vocals while I chatted idly on the phone not only humorous but pure fiction. If this distortion of reality is the result of Sixx's past heroin habit, then his diary is truly nothing more than a pipe dream, and the events to which this book refers may simply be the needle-induced fantasies of an attention-starved junkie."

Here is what Sixx had to say in response: "Part of the process of recovery is being able to take responsibility for our actions. Sometimes it hurts but if you want to grow up, you have to take the hit. In my diaries, I was able to expose my pain and showed what the bottom looks like through the eyes of addiction. I don't think I came out looking too pretty in my book but it needed to be exposed for others to understand that they are not alone. In fact, I even took the unprecedented step of including commentary by many of the people who were there at the time, including Slash, Vanity, Tommy, Vince & Mick to provide their own account (as I was using a great deal of the time, I thought it was necessary so that both the reader and I could trust what I wrote at the time was the truth). Is Mr. Werman also claiming that they are liars???

"Tom Werman being worried about what I said in my book about him is just so narcissistic and self-centered. I'm sorry if he got his feelings hurt but I feel that I was kind to Mr. Werman by withholding things from the book that would have jeopardized his marriage and his job security with Elektra at the time. I was a lot more generous to him than I was to myself. However, if Mr. Werman wants me to publish a complete accounting of the facts, I'll gladly write a nice short story in the form of a blog that will expose his actions during all the Motley Crue sessions that would make very interesting reading for his wife."- 

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Another Fake Maxim Review

antiMusic reports: Before we get to this story about Maxim being caught "previewing" another CD they haven't heard, we must ponder what is the difference between "previewing" or "reviewing" music you haven't heard? You still end up talking out your rear side about something you know nothing about. Maybe the new maxim should be: Maxim magazine is to music criticism what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is to rock music? Here is Idolator with a bit about the rag being caught with their journalistic pants down again: 

After being caught reviewing the new Black Crowes album without reviewer David Peisner actually possessing a copy of said album and claiming the bogus critique as an "educated-guess preview," Maxim has gone one better and awarded another mediocre review to an album that doesn't actually exist yet. Last we heard, Nas' Title That Certain Bloggers Take Great Delight In Printing Whenever Possible had been delayed until late spring. Turns out the rapper has possibly yet to even deliver the tapes to Def Jam; Nas tells the New York Post that he's "finishing the album now" and talking up a new April 22 release date. 

Perhaps in deference to those long magazine lead times, the educated guessers at Maxim went ahead and gave Nas' unfinished album 2 1/2 circles (out of a perfect five). That's the same score that so incensed the Crowes, but Nas is much more sanguine about the whole affair. Maxim has since apologized for the premature review, but Nas doesn't care. "I'd prefer [a review from] Playboy," the rapper said.- more on this story

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Buddy Miles RIP

Billboard reports: Buddy Miles, who co-founded and played drums in Band Of Gypsys with Jimi Hendrix, passed away yesterday (Feb. 26) in Austin, Texas, at the age of 60. A cause of death has yet to be announced.

Miles was born Sept. 5, 1947, in Omaha, Neb., and was introduced to music at a young age by his father, who played in a band called the Bebops. As a young man he also played with Wilson Pickett, the Delfonics and the Ink Spots.

Miles met Hendrix in the early 1960s but didn't begin collaborating with him until 1969, when Hendrix produced an album by the Buddy Miles Express.- more on this story

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Stephen King Mellencamp Musical

NME reports: John Mellencamp is working with best-selling horror novelist Stephen King on a forthcoming musical.

Mellencamp is writing the score for 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County', while King penned the script for the musical.

The play is set to open at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in April 2009 to prepare for a run on Broadway.- more on this story

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more stories including: Stephen King Mellencamp Musical- Buddy Miles RIP- John Mayer- Crock Hall Inductors- The Verve Book Some US Dates- Three Days Grace Eye Live DVD- Nevermore Solo CD Gets US Release- Gloria Gaynor- Limp DVD- more

Friday

Musical Heroes Podcasts

PR reports: In anticipation of the March 18th release of the "Heroes" soundtrack album from NBC Universal, "Heroes" executive producer and director Allan Arkush has crafted five unique music video podcasts that will be exclusively available for free download on Zune Marketplace. 

Each video short features exclusive edits of "Heroes" footage set to select tracks from the album. Nada Surf's "Weightless" provides the soundtrack to the first video, which debuts February 29 on Zune Marketplace and MSN.

Four additional music video podcasts will roll out on Zune Marketplace leading up to the album's release on March 18. The podcasts will feature the exclusive new releases "He's Frank" by Brighton Port Authority featuring Iggy Pop, "Not Now But Soon" by Imogen Heap and "Keeping My Composure" by The Chemical Brothers featuring Spank Rock, as well as "Man In The Long Black Coat" by Bob Dylan. "Heroes" fans can collect all five and easily sync them to their Zune portable media player to watch on the go.- soundtrack tracklist and a link to the first podcast

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Boy George Denies Imprisoning Escort

Gigwise reports: Boy George has pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning a male escort in his home in East London. 

Audun Carlsen claims that the former Culture Club star, whose real name is George O'Dowd, chained him to a wall and assaulted him during the incident last April 

O'Dowd has been released on police bail and is due to stand trial this November. - more on this story

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Brits Really Love Monkeys and Think Winehouse Dresses Funny

Reuters reports: Sheffield rockers the Arctic Monkeys dominated the NME music awards on Thursday by scooping the best British band, best track and best video prizes. 

It was the third year running that the quartet had made the headlines at the annual awards chosen by NME readers. The magazine called them "the biggest band of a generation."

It was a bad night for soul singer Amy Winehouse, who picked up five Grammy awards this month after checking into rehab in January. Nominated in four NME categories, she won just one award, for worst dressed.- more on this story

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Dave Clark Five Death

Iht.com reports: Dave Clark Five lead singer Mike Smith died from pneumonia Thursday, his agent said. He was 64.

Smith died at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital outside of London less than two weeks before he and his band mates were due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, Margo Lewis said.

Smith provided vocals, keyboards, and song-writing for The Dave Clark Five, one of many British rock acts whose music swept across the United States in the 1960s during the so-called "British Invasion."- more on this story

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KISS N' Roses

antiMusic reports: Looks like Ace will be getting an assist from Slash on his new solo CD according to this report from Blabbermouth: Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley has set "Pain in the Neck" as the title of his new solo album, tentatively due in the spring. 

Frehley said he is still putting the finishing touches on "Pain in the Neck", including some scheduled six-string contributions from VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash.

Though most of the tunes were written in the past several years, Frehley also looked to his own past for guidance. "I've been listening to my first solo album with KISS, because everybody says that's their favorite record. I was trying to figure out what made it so special, so I'm trying to incorporate a lot of what that record had for this new CD," he said.- more on this story

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more stories including:KISS N' Roses- Dave Clark Five Death- ASHES dIVIDE- Ticketmaster and Fuse To Buy AEG?- Mike Doughty Panderers Label- Poison Pen- New Helmet Member- Be a Rebel Buy a Shoe!- Helion- Folly- Daath Announce New Singer- DeVotchKa - more

Top Reviews

....Bon Jovi Live

The official US leg of the Lost Highway tour began last week in Omaha, NE and began a 3 night stand in Chicago this past Saturday. Every once in a while all of the elements that make a perfect show fall into place and Sunday night in Chicago, Bon Jovi delivered one for the ages. - Read the full Bon Jovi: Shelter From The Storm review
 

....Doomsayers Tour: Whitechapel- Emmure- Cephalic Carnage- Darkest Hour

It is Monday, Feb. 25, and tonight at the Magic Stick in Detroit a gathering of heavy metal's hottest young upstarts are rocking the grungy club. Called the Doomsayers Tour, tonight's bill features Whitechapel, Emmure, Cephalic Carnage, and Darkest Hour.- Read the full Doomsayers Tour: Whitechapel- Emmure- Cephalic Carnage- Darkest Hour review
 

....Hot in the City V.6: Halford- Eyes Set To Kill- Phunk Junkeez- more

Hot in the City submits, for your consideration, a stack of wax made by Arizonans. This month Kevin looks at CDs from Halford- Eyes Set To Kill- Raquel Aurelia- Jacob Koller- Phunk Junkeez- The Maine- Vanity Tweak- Greyhound Soul.- Read the full Hot in the City V.6: Halford- Eyes Set To Kill- Phunk Junkeez- more review

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