Jun 20

Smashing Pumpkins play first UK show for seven years
[source: NME.com] Smashing Pumpkins marked their UK live return with a mammoth three-hour set at London's Shepherd's Bush Empire on Tuesday June 19.
Billy Corgan's group, dressed in dramatic co-ordinated white outfits, ran through a number of tracks from new album Zeitgeist, including "Bleeding The Orchid", "Doomsday Clock" (which also features on the Transformers movie soundtrack), "For God And Country", "Neverlost", "Starz", "That's The Way (My Love Is)" and new single "Tarantula".
They opened the set with epic new track "United States", which included a tribute to Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock performance of the American national anthem. During the song, a massive black and white interpretation of the US flag, modified to include asterisks and the Pumpkins' "SP" heart logo, unfurled behind the band.
The set included songs that stretched back to the Siamese Dream album, as well as fan-favourite rarities "Winterlong" and "Lucky 13".

Set list:

"United States"
"Bleeding The Orchid"
"Today"
"Stand Inside Your Love"
"Shame"
"Hummer"
"Bullet With Butterfly Wings"
"Glass And The Ghost Children"
"Lucky 13"
"Doomsday Clock"
"Silverfuck"
"For God And Country"
"Thirty Three"
"Rocket"
"Winterlong"
"To Sheila"
"Tonight Tonight"
"Tarantula"
"Starz"
"Zero"
"Disarm"
"Neverlost"
"That's The Way (My Love Is)"
"1979"
"Untitled"
"Gossamer"
"Cherub Rock"
"Muzzle"

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Smashing-Pumpkins-The.aspx


Arctic Monkey designs new trainers
[source: NME.com] Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders has continued his foray into fashion with the Supremebeing label.
After collaborating with the label earlier this year on a fashion range, Helders is now set to reveal a new apparel collection, which will include trainers.
The range will coincide with the launch of Supremebeing's latest footwear collection, which will hit shops before Christmas.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Arctic-Monkeys.aspx


50 Cent new album tracklisting revealed
[source: NME.com] 50 Cent has revealed the tracklisting for his new album.
Curtis will be released on Tuesday September 4 and will feature the following singles: "Amusement Park", "Come & Go", "Follow My Lead" and "Straight To The Bank".
The record also features collaborations from Mary J. Blige, Nicole Sherzinger, Akon, Tony Yayo and Young Buck.

Curtis tracklisting:

"Straight To The Bank"
"Still Will Kill" (feat. Akon)
"Smile"
"She Wants It"
"Peep Show"
"My Gun Go Off"
"Movin On Up"
"Hands Up High" (feat. Tony Yayo)
"Fully Loaded Clip"
"Follow My Lead" (feat. Robin Thicke)
"Fire" (feat. Nicole Sherzinger and Young Buck)
"Destiny"
"Officer Down"
"Come And Go"
"Amusement Park"
"All Of Me" (feat. Mary J Blige)
"187"
"The Mechanic" (feat. Tony Yayo)

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/50-Cent.aspx


The Saints, Easybeats and Warumpi Band archived for history
They might be best known for tracks such as "I'm Stranded" and "Friday On My Mind", but two of Australia's most renowned punk bands, The Saints and The Easybeats – alongside one of the country's most famous Aboriginal acts, The Warumpi Band – are helping to define the role sound plays in our lives.
Songs from the three acts are among the first ten recordings to appear on a National Registry Of Recorded Sound in Canberra. Launched early in 2007, the Registry has been created by the National Film And Sound Archive, who wanted to capture recordings that "defined Australian life".

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Saints-The.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Warumpi-Band.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Easybeats-The.aspx


Suzi Quatro to tour
Long before Courtney Love or PJ Harvey set rock and roll alight, "Devil Gate Drive" singer Suzi Quatro was being hailed the queen of punk.
A huge star in the 70s, it's been 34 years since Quatro released her debut LP, Can The Can. Now the bad-ass bassist behind hits like "48 Crash" is heading Down Under.

Tour dates:

Thursday September 6 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Friday September 7 – Burswood Theatre, Perth
Saturday September 8 – Burswood Theatre, Perth
Thursday September 13 – Lismore Workers Club
Friday September 14 – Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
Saturday September 15 – Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
Sunday September 16 – The Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Thursday September 20 – Schweppes Stadium, Bendigo
Friday September 21 – The Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Saturday September 22 – Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart
Tuesday September 25 – Wollongong Entertainment Centre
Wednesday September 26 – AIS Arena Theatre, Canberra
Thursday September 27 – Civic Theatre, Newcastle
Friday September 28 – Evan Theatre, Penrith
Saturday September 29 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Suzi-Quatro.aspx


Wu-Tang Clan reveal album news
Infamous US hip-hop collective Wu-Tang Clan are currently recording new LP The 8 Diagrams in a New York studio.
The LP will include collaborations with the likes of E.Z., Marley Marl, Q-Tip and DJ Scratch. It's the first new album from the group since 2001's Iron Flag and original member RZA told NME that working without former bandmate OBD – who died in 2004 – has been difficult.
"This isn't a comeback," RZA said. "We never went anywhere in the first place. We were just working on various different projects and this is the first group album in six years… [OBD] was a very special person, like a very rare diamond. You know, it's like you wake up one day and they're saying: 'There are not diamonds in the world anymore, just cubic zirconia'."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Wu-Tang-Clan.aspx


Jack Johnson builds studio out of denim
Due to hit Australian shores next month for the global Live Earth concert, surfer-turned-musician Jack Johnson has revealed his green credentials are very much in order.
He's turned his LA recording studio into an environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art space by padding the walls with recycled denim jeans. He's called the studio, a former residence he renovated with business partner Emmett Malloy, Bushfire Records.
Complete with solar panels on the roof, the studio goes some way to fulfilling Johnson's dream: to tour and create music without harming the planet.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Jack-Johnson.aspx


Mötley Crüe sue manager
Los Angeles hair rockers Mötley Crüe mince no words when it comes to former manager Carl Stubner.
The band – including drummer Tommy Lee – are suing Stubner for AU$26.4million in damages, claiming he's ripped them off and damaged their reputations as musicians.
The Crüe, who share several management partners, released a statement this week that outlines their proposed legal action.
"Stubner's motivation was greed," the band said. "Stubner stated he received significantly higher commissions on [Tommy] Lee's solo projects because he did not have to share his take with the other managers. He claimed it was a 'no-brainer' to promote Lee's projects over those of Mötley Crüe."
The band are currently anticipating the film release of infamous biography The Dirt.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Motley-Crue-Feat-Tommy-Lee.aspx


Britney Spears forces billboards to be removed
Britney Spears has forced radio syndication giant Clear Channel to remove three billboards in Tampa, Florida, which featured unflattering photographs of the pop star.
According to a letter from Spears' attorney, the advertisement – which featured a photo of her shortly after she shaved her head, and labelled her a "total nut job" – was "offensive, unauthorised commercial exploitation".
The ads were designed for radio station WFLZ FM's The Morning Show.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Britney-Spears.aspx