Author: Christopher Glotfelty (Page 8 of 22)

Joe Perry says Steven Tyler is done with Aerosmith

November 9, 2009 /

Steven Tyler

I could care less about Aerosmith, but I understand this is big news.

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry said today that singer Steven Tyler quit the band following a recent concert in Abu Dhabi.

Bassist Tom Hamilton told the Boston Herald’s Inside Track that there is dissension among the “Bad Boys From Boston,” but that he hopes things can be worked out. He dismissed a report that guitarist Brad Whitford discussed the possiblity of Aerosmith finding a new frontman.

However, Perry told the Las Vegas Sun today that he believes Tyler is history.

“Steven quit as far as I can tell,” Perry said from his Boston home. “I don’t know anymore than you do about it. I got off the plane two nights ago. I saw online that Steven said that he was going to leave the band. I don’t know for how long, indefinitely or whatever. Other than that, I don’t know.”

The band will continue whether or not Tyler comes back. Either way, Joe Perry still has his own solo project, which is probably more interesting than anything Aerosmith will put together in the future.

News

Pavement might release best-of compilation

November 6, 2009 /

Pavement guitarist Spiral Stairs recently spoke with NME about the possibility of a best-of Pavement compilation. As previously reported, the band will tour for the time since their breakup in 1999, including stops at various festivals across the globe.

Most Pavement crazies already own all of the band’s available material, so it’s nice to know that this prospective compilation will contain previously unreleased radio sessions.

The guitarist, real name Scott Kannberg, told NME.COM that the album would be likely to feature outtakes as well as the band’s best-known songs, and be released around the same time of their reunion gigs next year.

“There’s talk of doing a best of, with some really cool outtakes on that,” he explained. “The very first radio show that Pavement ever did has never been released. I don’t think anyone’s heard it, so we’ll put that out there sometime.”

The Pavement deluxe reissues are incredible. Each package contains the standard album, b-sides, outtakes, and live performances. For a price hovering around 16 bucks, it’s a great deal. I didn’t think Pavement would be the type of band to release a best-of, but I’m game if we get to hear an ancient radio session. The compilation will coincide with the reunion tour, so I guess it’s good to a have a new release out there.

They should just make an album of original material and be done with it. I’m sure they’ll get the itch later in life, but fans won’t want to hear Stephen Malkmus waxing nostalgic. We want their strange brand of rock and we it now!

Artists, News

Pixies launch “Doolittle” tour

November 5, 2009 /

Pixies

Chalk this one up to a tour I wish I could’ve seen. In 1989, the Pixies released Doolittle, an indie-rock classic featuring disjointed guitars, awkward screaming, biblical lyrics, and juicy hooks. It’s my favorite Pixies record, so I wish I had the time to catch them touring in support of the album’s 20th anniversary.

The reunited Pixies began a nine-city U.S. Doolittle Tour this week in Los Angeles, marking the 20th anniversary of their alt-rock classic. Its intense mix of sonic dementia and soaring pop melody was brought to life in a 90-minute set filled out with memorable, if overlooked Pixies B sides from the same era, beginning with the heavy thump of “Dancing the Manta Ray,” the thrashing Spanish guitar of “Weird At My School” and the blistering, spooky surf sounds of “Bailey’s Walk.”

Like the Doolittle album, the performance Wednesday was an unsteady balance of darkness and light, from howls of unease to the warmth of “Here Comes Your Man,” as the band’s faces were spread out on the big screen behind them, goofing in black and white like the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night. After some sci-fi gibberish from Francis on “Dead,” Deal announced happily, “We’re still on the first side” of the album.

The Pixies are another cherished band that I discovered later in life. They’re one of the the few bands I would go out of my way to see. From what I’ve read, they put on a great show.

Now the surviving members of the Replacements just have to get back together.

Concerts, News, Videos

Renegade company selling Beatles catalogue online

November 4, 2009 /

Beatles

Has anyone here ever heard of a music website called BlueBeat.com? Me neither. Well, they’ve recently made the news in a big way.

The online music store, owned by the audaciously-named Media Rights Technologies, has been selling downloads of Beatles albums and songs. Problem is, EMI is the only company licensed to distribute Beatles recordings. Despite the benefits of selling individual mp3s, the Beatles are absent on iTunes and other online music merchants. EMI has something else in mind. On December 7, EMI and Apple Records will release a “limited edition stereo USB” containing the Beatles entire catalogue in digital format.

Still, some fans just want individual Beatles songs, especially now that they’ve all been remastered.

Late last week, BlueBeat began selling Beatles song downloads for 25 cents a pop. It’s a great deal, but EMI isn’t jumping for joy. They’re suing.

BlueBeat is a division of Media Rights Technologies, a diversified Northern California digital media distribution firm. Execs at Media Rights Technologies did not respond to phone and email requests for comment.

Observers immediately viewed BlueBeat’s sale of Beatles tracks with suspicion, since even iTunes musicstore, digital music’s industry leader, has never had access to the Beatles’ music. The online sale of the band’s material has been the subject of protracted wrangling between EMI and Apple Corps (not to be confused with Apple Computer, parent company of iTunes).

Each album is offered as an unlimited free stream. Prices on full albums range from $3.50 for the Beatles’ debut “Please Please Me” to $7.50 for “The Beatles” (the so-called “White Album”).

In a twist ripe with irony, representatives of Media Rights Technologies recently wrote to the Librarian of Congress asking that the webcasting licenses of such firms as iTunes, Pandora and MSN Music be revoked on piracy grounds.

In a company press release issued in 2007, Media Rights co-founder and CEO Hank Risan accused Apple of failing to obtain the necessary licenses to distribute copyrighted material on the Internet, which prompted the company to remove all links to iTunes from BlueBeat.com.

Ha! Countersue!

Most of us don’t know who specifically makes money off the Beatles’ music. Obviously, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and their respective families get their proper share, but most of us could give a damn about the executives from EMI. Still, the company has the distribution rights. I don’t know what loophole Hank Risan and his Media Rights Technologies found, but I doubt it’s legitimate.

How do we solve this dilemma?

Why not make the Beatles catalogue public property? When Paul and Ringo start to experience ill health, I hope they sign over the Beatles music to all their fans. The idea may sound ridiculous now, but give it some time.

Artists, News

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