Apr 24

Iggy Pop celebrates 60th birthday
[source: NME.com] Iggy Pop celebrated his 60th birthday at a Stooges gig.
The singer was surprised by birthday celebrations during a show at San Francisco's Warfield Theatre when, towards the end of the 80-minute set, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday". Balloons bearing Pop's image dropped from the ceiling and he muttered his thanks before continuing.
During "No Fun", Iggy invited fans to jump onstage and sing along with him.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Iggy-Pop.aspx


UNKLE team with Queens Of The Stone Age
[source: NME.com] UNKLE have teamed with Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme for new album War Stories.
Homme makes a guest vocal appearance on "Hold My Hand", a track from the album due out on Monday July 9.
But the QOTSA singer is just one of many collaborators: The Duke Spirit, Autolux, Massive Attack's 3D and Ian Astbury from The Cult also appear.
UNKLE frontman James Lavelle makes his vocal debut on the album, singing alongside Homme on "Hold My Hand" and Richard File on "Morning Rage".

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Unkle.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Queens-Of-The-Stone-Age.aspx


Bassist leaves My Chemical Romance
[source: NME.com] My Chemical Romance have been forced to find a temporary replacement bassist while Mikey Way takes leave to spend time with his new wife.
Mikey was married on Thursday March 8 to Alicia Simmons at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Way's brother and My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard served as best man.
Writing on the band's official website, www.mychemicalromance.com, Gerard said: "The band have decided to give Mikey and his wife a much needed break from the road, so they can start a life and have a proper honeymoon and do all the things a newlywed couple should do.
"I'm very proud to announce my brother's recent marriage. Watching him grow up into a man and finding love makes me the happiest brother alive. I know this is upsetting news, as it is for us, but we will continue to tour with a temporary replacement until he has situated himself in his new life."
There was no mention of how long the bassist would be away from My Chemical Romance or the identity of the replacement.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/My-Chemical-Romance.aspx


Scissor Sisters to release new single
[source: NME.com] Scissor Sisters will release new single "Kiss You Off" on Monday May 28.
The song's video will be directed by Robert Hales, the man responsible for the Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" promo.
Speaking about the video, singer Ana Matronic, who takes lead vocals on the song, said: "I think it's one of the most polished and professional looking things we've ever done; it was so much fun to do. We hope you like it."
The video can be seen at www.scissorsisters.com.

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Human Nature "in the round"
Human Nature will embark on an ambitious national arena tour during June to perform hits from ARIA-winning album Dancing In The Street: The Songs Of Motown II.
The five-piece have teamed with Dein Perry, the creator of hit stage show Tap Dogs, to deliver a performance singer Andrew Tierney has described as "an unforgettable experience".
"This is by far the biggest tour we've ever done," Tiernay said. "With the incredible reaction to our two Motown records, we felt the show needed to be as fantastic and uplifting as the music, so we decided to do arenas throughout the country, performing the whole concert 'in the round'...
"For us, it's [Dein's] amazing talent as a director and his clever ideas that we're drawing on to help take our live concert to a level we've never been before."
Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday May 11.

Tour dates:

Friday June 22 - Perth Challenge Stadium
Wednesday June 27 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Friday June 29 - Rob Laver Arena, Melbourne
Thursday July 5 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Saturday July 7 - Sydney Entertainment Centre

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Human-Nature.aspx


R.I.P. Lobby Loyde
Following a lengthy battle with cancer, Australian rock legend Lobby Loyde passed away on Saturday April 21.
"More than anyone else, Lobby helped create the Australian guitar sound - long before Angus Young or Billy Thorpe or The Angels or Rose Tattoo," good mate Angry Anderson said back in 2006 when Loyde's cancer battle first became public.
"Lobby inspired Australian bands to step forward and play as loud and aggressively as they could. People are still trying to copy it today."
Having influenced everyone from Kurt Cobain to AC/DC and Henry Rollins, Loyde performed in bands such as the Stilettos, The Impacts (aka The Purple Hearts), The Aztecs and The Coloured Balls. He also produced records for some of Australia's most rocking bands, including X, The Sunnyboys and Painters & Dockers.
"The man who fathered the Aussie rock guitar sound has moved on," Anderson said yesterday, "but the sound remains."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lobby-Loyde.aspx


Freestylers head to Oz
Freestylers won over Australian dance fans at festivals such as Field Day and have sold more than 400,000 LPs worldwide.
The brainchild of Aston Harvey and Matt Cantor, the group have produced a unique mix of hip-hop, dance hall, electro, soul, breakbeat and drum'n'bass since 1996.
Now, complete with a 13-piece live band, Freestylers are heading back to Australia and New Zealand for a June tour.

Tour dates:

Friday June 1 - Academy, Canberra
Saturday June 2 - Family, Brisbane
Sunday June 3 - Sounds On Sunday, Sydney
Tuesday June 5 - Subculture, Queenstown (NZ)
Thursday June 7 - Phat Club, Nelson (NZ)
Friday June 8 - Asta, Auckland (NZ)
Saturday June 9 - Base Bar, Christchurch (NZ)
Sunday June 10 - Platinum Nightclub, Gold Coast
Wednesday June 13 - Halo, Hobart
Friday June 15 - The Prince, Melbourne
Saturday June 16 - Ambar, Perth

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Freestylers.aspx


Silverchair And Powderfinger to join forces?
Two of Australia's most successful bands are expected to announce what would be one of the biggest domestic tours in years.
With combined sales of more than ten million records, and 30 ARIAs between them, Powderfinger and Silverchair are the undisputed kings of modern Australian rock.
Now, with Silverchair's fifth album, Young Modern, breaking records upon its release earlier this month and a new LP from the Brisbane rockers due in June, word within the industry is that the bands will team for a historic set of shows.
Intriguingly, a new company was formed seven weeks ago, with all the members from both bands acting as directors.
Management for both bands are refusing to confirm or deny the tour rumours.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Silverchair.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Powderfinger.aspx


Gorillaz' grizzly end?
English cartoon four-piece Gorillaz have admitted their days in the studio are numbered.
According to co-creator Damon Albarn, the band are looking towards the big screen for their next challenge.
"We're trying to make a film next, starting in September, hopefully," the former Blur frontman said. "It will be [accompanied by] a film score. There won't be another pop record."
It's understood Monty Python filmmaker Terry Gilliam is involved.
Gorillaz - Noodle, Murdoc, 2D and Russel - first appeared in 2001 with their self-titled debut, which sold more than six million copies.

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Hanson set to re-capture debut
Hanson will re-record debut album Middle Of Nowhere a decade after it was first released.
"For a few years now we have had the idea to record acoustic albums to go along with each studio record," brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zach Hanson revealed yesterday on their website.
The trio will record an acoustic set of their debut LP at a fans-only gig on Saturday May 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which will then be available for fans to download.
"Since this is the tenth anniversary of Middle Of Nowhere, we felt recording an acoustic album was the right way to recognise what awesome fans all of you have been."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Hanson.aspx