Jul 9

Bloc Party tell Live Earth to "do something important"
[source: NME.com] Bloc Party took the London leg of Live Earth to the halfway mark on Saturday July 7.
After an array of international megastars, the art-rock heroes reclaimed the Wembley Stadium stage for London artists.
Before "So Here We Are", an emotional-looking Kele Okereke made his own environmental pledge to everybody watching.
"I'm not one to speak to you particularly, but this next song is about remembering to do something that's important," he said. "And it's important that at the end of the show you guys make the call, everyone here and everyone watching at home. The power's in your hands."
Okereke also celebrated his band's first time playing Wembley Stadium by leading the crowd in a Mexican wave that made it the whole way round the stadium before final track "The Prayer".

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Bloc-Party.aspx


Lostprophets recording album in LA
[source: NME.com] Lostprophets have begun working with producer John Feldman on the follow-up to Liberation Transmission.
"It's a darker, quirkier, generally more apocalyptic record," singer Ian Watkins said. "We are raising the bar during these recordings and stuff we thought would make it through has already been surpassed by newer stuff."
He said the band were enjoying working in Los Angeles.
"We're loving it out here," he declared. "It's working well. Feldman is a cool guy – he did The Used album, Story Of The Year and a load of other cool bands – and he has a wicked pool!"

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


Fergie denies product placement lyrics claims
[source: NME.com] Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie has denied she will use her songs to promote products.
It had been suggested she had signed a deal with clothing brand Candie's that would involve her including the fashion line in the lyrics of her songs.
However, while Fergie does have a deal with Candie's, she has denied there will be any product placement.
"There is absolutely no truth in the media reports that Fergie has agreed to product placement in her songs," a spokesperson for the singer said.
"She does have a commercial deal with the clothing brand Candie's, but it has nothing whatsoever to do with the creation of her music."
The brand also confirmed they would not be getting any references in her lyrics.
"Contrary to recent false reports in the media, the company does not have any arrangement with Fergie whereby she will incorporate the Candie's brand into her lyrics."
Instead, Fergie is a "junior brand spokesperson" and will appear in marketing campaigns.

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


Sydney's Live Earth deemed a success
Kicking off the first concert in a global series on Saturday July 7, the Sydney leg of Live Earth has been deemed "a huge success" by the event's promoters.
Aussie Stadium saw more than 47,000 people enjoy sets by Crowded House, Jack Johnson, Wolfmother, Eskimo Joe, Missy Higgins, Blue King Brown, John Butler Trio, Toni Collette & The Finish, Ghostwriters and more, all in the name of raising awareness of climate change issues.
"Thank you for coming today and thank you for being the very first to launch this movement to help solve the climate crisis," former US politician and Live Earth organiser Al Gore said in a live video link from Washington DC. "Your voice matters, so make it heard."
With stage appearances from the likes of Peter Garrett, Jimmy Barnes and Ian Thorpe, the day's highlight came when Crowded House frontman Neil Finn led the crown in a sing-along of "Weather With You", joined by an all-star line-up onstage.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Eskimo-Joe.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Wolfmother.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Blue-King-Brown.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Crowded-House.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/John-Butler-Trio.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Paul-Kelly.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Toni-Collette-The-Finish.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Missy-Higgins.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Ghostwriters.aspx


Is Robbie Williams losing it?
Fans of UK pop star Robbie Williams are worried about the singer's state of mind after a bizarre video showing Williams dishevelled and confused aired on his website.
The clip features the 33-year-old discussing the inspiration behind his latest single, "Bodies", while sitting in a darkened room.
"God came in the sunshine, he showed me a lifeline. What a day, Jesus really died for me. Yeah, Jesus really tried for me," Williams deadpans. "I feel like it's f**king me, love lead off the energy. Rejection… from my reflection, I want perfection."
Williams admitted himself to rehab back in February this year, declaring he was suffering from substance abuse and depression.

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


Elton John wins court case over fake statues
Sir Elton John has won a longstanding legal battle, which will see him rewarded with AU$184,000 following his purchase of fake sculptures from a Paris art dealer.
Back in 1996, Jean Renoncourt sold the singer four statues, which he purported to be the work of famous Italian sculptor Luigi Grossi, who passed away back in 1975.
The statues, which cost $408,000, represent figures from Greek mythology, but John only discovered the forgery when he had the works assessed for insurance purposes several years ago.
The legal victory has been a long time coming for the 60-year-old crooner. Back in 2003 he was ordered to pay Renoncourt $33,000 for legal costs after losing an earlier case due to lack of evidence.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Elton-John.aspx


New Young Pony Club to tour Oz
London post-punk sensations New Young Pony Club are returning to Australia for a second visit in less than a year.
With debut album Fantastic Playroom due for release on Saturday August 11, the five-piece will aim to build on a brief appearance back in March where they performed at the V Festival.
Since then they've been hitting stages at various European festivals, including Roskilde, Wireless, T In The Park, Global Gathering, Pukkelpop and more.
Tickets for their national tour go on sale Monday July 23.

Tour dates:

Friday August 31 – The Zoo, Brisbane
Saturday September 1 – The Forum, Sydney
Thursday September 6 – The Prince, Melbourne
Friday September 7 – The Gov, Adelaide
Saturday September 8 – The Capitol, Perth

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/New-Young-Pony-Club.aspx


Nelly Furtado: "Promiscuous Girl" no more
Canadian pop star Nelly Furtado might sing about being a "Promiscuous Girl" but the 28-year-old singer has just announced her engagement to sound engineer Demacio "Demo" Castellon.
The couple met when Castellon worked on Furtado's hit 2006 LP Loose, alongside producer Timbaland. The funky mum to daughter Nevis (whose dad is former boyfriend DJ Jasper Gahunia) admitted to the press a year ago that she had a new boyfriend but refused to name him, telling US publication Blender "he was nobody famous or anything".
There's no word on when the nuptials will take place.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Nelly-Furtado.aspx


Akon and The Game face visa issues
Reacting to calls from national family groups, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews is demanding more information before considering the visa request for two of America's biggest rappers, The Game and Akon.
Due in the country next month to take part in the Roc The Block national tour alongside veteran hip-hop group Naughty By Nature, the Minister wants to know more about their pasts, which include time spent in jail and outstanding legal charges.
The minister has a history of being concerned about US rappers: earlier in 2007 he stopped hip-hop star Snoop Dogg from entering the country, forcing him to the miss a hosting slot at the MTV Awards.
Concert promoter Dwayne Cross says he'll consider postponing next month's tour if the visas aren't granted in time.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Akon.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Game-The.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Young-Buck.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Naughty-By-Nature.aspx


50 Cent labels Lloyd Banks and Young Buck "greedy"
Perhaps it comes from growing up on the streets, but 50 Cent doesn't mince words when it comes to cutting his fellow rappers down to size.
Now a successful recording artist, film star and record label owner, 50 Cent has labelled his musical protégés Lloyd Banks and Young Buck "greedy".
"I told them I wouldn't be assisting them financially anymore," the "In Da Club" rapper told the New York Post, discussing a recent meeting with two of the artists on his G-Unit Records label.
"I was telling them I wouldn't be there. [In the past] they'd make a lot of money and spend a lot of money and have me there to fix it."
Other G-Unit rappers include Mobb Deep and M.O.P, but so far they've managed to escape Fiddy's cost-cutting.
The rapper is currently gearing up for the release of his latest LP, Curtis, due out in September.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/50-Cent.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Snoop-Dogg.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lloyd-Banks.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Mobb-Deep.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/M-O-P.aspx