Dec 15

Yoko Ono in blackmail incident
Yoko Ono’s driver has been arrested after he allegedly threatened to blackmail her on the 26th anniversary of John Lennon's death.
Koral Karson is believed to have sent a letter with a photograph of Ono in her nightclothes, saying he would release further photos and audio tapes of private conversations with him unless she paid him AU$2.56 million.
Her chauffeur also allegedly talked about killing the late Beatle’s widow and her son Sean in a conversation recorded by investigators. Karsan has denied the claims.
The chauffeur worked for Ono for six years and drove her on an almost daily basis.
“For an employee – especially a trusted employee who drove her – to attempt a shakedown has left her absolutely shocked," spokesperson Eliot Mintz said. "You’re reminded that this takes place around that time of the anniversary, when she is in a particularly vulnerable position. It just adds insult to injury. This one’s really cold.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Yoko-Ono.aspx


Yeah Yeah Yeahs discuss demo leak
Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O has spoken about the leaking of her demos, which saw 16 tracks under the KO At Home umbrella surface on the internet.
“I can’t say I don’t feel a little grossed out by someone taking a liberty with music that was mine and Dave’s. S**t happens nonetheless," O wrote on the band's messageboard.
“All I can do at this point is offer up a recommendation… if you happen to get your mitts on one of those old demos floating around, my personal favourites, and the only ones I would have released for anyone to enjoy, are ‘Pumpkin’ and ‘Snakes And Worms’. The rest I probably would have pitched or buried for a while longer.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs.aspx


Rolling Stones most successful touring artist of 2006
The Rolling Stones have clocked up the most successful tour of 2006, taking in AU$557 million dollars worldwide.
The figures come despite the band cancelling a series of shows following guitarist Keith Richards’ fall from a coconut tree earlier this year.
Madonna’s Confessions tour came in second, raking in $249 million in profits for 60 shows, while Bon Jovi were third with $167 million from their most recent tour.
Other acts who secured a slot in the top grossing tours in Billboard’s Boxscore were U2, Tim McGraw/Faith Hill, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Chesney and Aerosmith.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Rolling-Stones-The.aspx


The Rakes name new album
The Rakes have named the follow-up to 2005 debut Capture/Release.
Ten New Messages was recorded by Arctic Monkeys producer Jim Abbiss and Brendan Lynch, who has previously worked with Primal Scream, in London’s Mayfair Studios.
Singer Alan Donohoe described the album as a “combination of choral music, the television show 24, [James] Bond theme tunes, World War I poets and the Sugababes”.
“It’s a bit more focused than the last album. It has the same sort of lyrics but it's more character driven,” Donohoe told NME.COM.
“We’ve got this one song called ‘When Tom Cruise Cries’. It’s about media sensationalism on one level but on another level it’s about how actors can be so believable you get into an emotional relationship with them when they’re only acting. I got the idea for this from the scene at the end of Magnolia when he’s crying at his sick father’s bedside.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Rakes-The.aspx


Bob Dylan fights Factory Girl
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is seeking a court injunction to stop the release of the Factory Girl movie, a biopic of Andy Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick, which stars Sienna Miller.
Concerned the movie defames him – it allegedly suggests Sedgwick committed suicide after being jilted by Dylan – lawyers have demanded the film’s producers stall its release until the singer has had the chance to view it for himself.
“You appear to be labouring under the misunderstanding that merely changing the name of a character or making him a purported fictional composite will immunise you from suit,” Dylan’s attorney, Orin Snyder, said in a statement to producers.
In the film, Dylan’s character has been re-named Danny Quinn and is supposed to be a mixture of Dylan, Jim Morrison and Mick Jagger. Critics who have seen the film, however, say it’s all Dylan.
“Even though Mr Dylan’s name is not used, the portrayal remains both defamatory and a violation of Mr Dylan’s right of publicity,” Snyder continued. “Until we are given an opportunity to view the film, we hereby demand that all distribution and screenings… immediately be ceased.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Bob-Dylan.aspx


Rufus Wainwright reveals new LP plans
Rufus Wainwright will self-produce the follow-up to 2004's critical hit, Want Two.
Release The Stars is due in stores in May 2007 and will also feature input from Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant as executive producer.
Wainwright is currently preparing for two February performances, one at New York’s Carnegie Hall and the other at London's Palladium, where he’ll stage recreations of Judy Garland’s infamous 1961 stage shows.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Rufus-Wainwright.aspx


Robbie Williams lights up
Despite it being illegal in Queensland, UK pop singer Robbie Williams won’t get in trouble after lighting a cigarette while onstage in Brisbane last night.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said Williams will avoid paying a fine and admitted he wasn't concerned about the singer breaking the stadium’s clear no-smoking rules.
“Look, anyone who knows anything about Robbie Williams – and I don’t claim to be an expert but I do know this – his demeanour and his act, know a part of that is defiance and breaking some of the rules,” Beattie said.
“The reality is it was part of the act. I didn’t see it as a big deal and nor did anyone else.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Robbie-Williams.aspx


Mike Skinner hits the jackpot
UK rapper Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, is giving away a recent jackpot win that saw him pocket AU$2569 while out on the town with fellow UK hip-hop outfit The Mitchell Brothers.
Skinner, who’s about to hit Australian shores as part of the 2007 Big Day Out, is offering the cash to anyone who can explain what the Brothers’ song “Solemate” is really about.
“After a long day last Thursday talking to the Mitchells about their new song, it was The Beats’ Christmas dinner,” Skinner revealed on his website. “I decided to have it at a casino when I saw the James Bond film. So [Mitchell Brothers'] Magic Mike was saying he would take it easy but, as each beer flowed, he seemed to be taking on strange powers.
"Anyway, I walked away with £1025 cash (I woke up with £1020 due to a lady taking $5 on the way out to work).”
To enter the competition, head to the Mitchell Brothers MySpace page or email Mike at mike@the-beats.co.uk with your interpretation of "Solemate".

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Streets-The.aspx


Velvet Underground vinyl still for sale
Having endured a fake AU$198,215 eBay bid, Warren Hill – the owner of an extremely rare acetate recording by seminal New York City band the Velvet Underground – is putting the disc up for sale once again.
Bought at a Manhattan flea market for $0.95 in 2002, the vinyl is reportedly one of two in existence. It was made during Velvet Underground’s first ever recording session back in April 1966 at New York’s Scepter Studios. Bidders for the second auction will need to register so they can be checked for legitimacy after the first winner emailed Hill admitting he had no money.
Hill, who owns a small vintage record shop in his house and prefers gospel music, says he can't wait for the hoopla to die down.
“I just want to sell it.”

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Velvet-Underground-The.aspx