Oct 3

Wu-Tang Clan to use first Beatles sample
[source: NME.com] Wu-Tang Clan will become the first band to officially use a Beatles sample when they cover the group's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
In a message posted on the Wu-Tang Clan website, the band wrote: "Special thanks to Danny [sic] Harrison & Erykah Badu for helping bring this song to life! Also, thanks to The Harrison Estate and The Beatles for helping make this possible!"
The band also said they're pushing back the release date of their new album, 8 Diagrams, from Tuesday 13 November to Tuesday 4 December "due to the magnitude of the sample and the history being made".

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


Britney's lawyer explains custody loss
[source: NME.com] Britney Spears' lawyer has published a report explaining why the pop star lost custody of her two children.
Attorney Sorrell Trope believes Monday 1 October's ruling was made because she did not produce a valid California driver's license and allegedly missed a drug and alcohol test.
"We weren't able to prove compliance with what the judge ordered," Trope told People magazine.
"Specifically, the judge ordered that by 10am Monday morning, both parties show valid California driving licenses. I've been unable to produce evidence of that," he added.
Spears was recently ordered by a judge to undergo random drug and alcohol testing, and Trope pointed out that although she skipped a recent test, she did not fail.
Spears was ordered at yesterday's hearing to turn over custody of sons Jayden James and Sean Preston to ex-husband Kevin Federline.

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


Courtney Love claims Kurt Cobain loathed Dave Grohl
[source: NME.com] Courtney Love has hit out at Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, claiming Kurt Cobain "loathed" him.
The song "Let It Die", on new Foo Fighters album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, is widely assumed to be about the relationship between Kurt and Courtney.
It contains the lyric: "A simple man and his blushing bride, intravenous, intertwined… You're so considerate, did you ever think of me?".
Writing on her MySpace, Courtney said: "As for that drummer, well he's hit on me so many times. He's just a very, very conflicted guy about me, which is why he continually writes songs about me to hear he hates me more than anyone else.
"Kurt loathed him more than anyone else [except a journalist]. In his will he made a codicil that Grohl was no longer a member of Nirvana. I just ignored the guy and will continue to do so.
"Dave knows this, and he takes it out on me! Hey, it wasn't my band and it wasn't my idea! It's funny he hates me since I don't think about him.
"He's just a sub-mediocre kind of guy who does this 'nice guy' nonsense. There isn't a word he could he say that would ruffle my feathers, honestly. Anyway, what a fun, fabulous, special evening!"

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Courtney-Love.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Foo-Fighters.aspx


Rolling Stones quash 'retirement' rumours
[source: NME.com] The Rolling Stones have quashed rumours they are to retire.
Instead, singer Mick Jagger said he plans to continue recording and touring with the band.
"I'm sure The Rolling Stones will do more things and more records and more tours. We've got no plans to stop any of that, really. As far as I'm concerned, I'm sure we'll continue."
Jagger added he would use his "own judgement" to decide when it was time to stop.
"The trouble is, when you get older or you smoke a lot, your voice changes. As a singer you know you can't go to certain notes. But that is not everything, it's the express you put into it."
Jagger also said he wasn't that keen on headlining Glastonbury.
"I don't want to play Glastonbury on the Sunday night in the pouring rain, which is what The Who did this year.
"I was watching it on the telly, and my kids were there. I'm on the phone saying, 'It's awful'. They said it was really fun, but it didn't look fun to me."

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


Morrissey heads back into the studio
Former frontman of cult British outfit The Smiths, Morrissey has revealed he's planning on heading back into the studio later this year to record a new album.
The singer is currently in Los Angeles, where he's undertaking a ten-night residency at Palladium nightclub, before wrapping up his 177-date world tour in Washington on Friday 2 November.
"The plan is to make a new album after this tour. It's absolutely written and completely ready," he said, although it's believed a new record won't see the light of day until September 2008.
"You are bound to pick up influences whose lyrics are famed for incorporating social and political commentary," he explained. "But when you create and write it's very important to be yourself and that's what I've always tried to do. I'm outside the mainstream, and the mainstream never let me in."

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


First line-up for Big Day Out festival announced
Arcade Fire will headline the 2008 Big Day Out, alongside reformed rockers Rage Against The Machine.
Other acts soon to he heading across the country on the tour include Bjork, Grinspoon, Hilltop Hoods, Billy Bragg, Paul Kelly, LCD Soundsystem, Sarah Blasko, Faker, Midnight Juggernauts, Dizzee Rascal, Something With Numbers, Battles and Cut Off Your Hands.
Tickets for the festival go on sale Wednesday 10 October, with organisers planning on taking extra precautions against the inevitable eBay scalpers.

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Rage-Against-The-Machine.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Bjork.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Arcade-Fire.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Grinspoon.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Hilltop-Hoods.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Billy-Bragg.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Paul-Kelly.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Lcd-Soundsystem.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Sarah-Blasko.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Faker.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Midnight-Juggernauts.aspx
http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Something-With-Numbers.aspx


Pete Doherty: clean at last
Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty has reportedly kicked his long-standing habits, testing negative for drugs after spending time in a London-based rehab clinic.
The former Libertines singer was due to show up at West London Magistrates court yesterday to be sentenced for outstanding drug charges, but the case was adjourned. With Doherty's clean test results, it's expected he'll now be allowed to continue his rehab treatment.
"Pete's doing very, very well, and he wants to give himself a chance," Doherty's lawyer, Sean Curran, said.
"The court knows he's tested negative for drugs throughout his residential programme – that's six weeks now. The judge wants to see how he's keeping after the aftercare before he goes back to assess him."

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


Placebo drummer quits
Steve Hewitt, the drummer with English trio Placebo, has left the band. According to a statement issued by the drummer, his relationship with bandmates Brian Molko and Stefan Olsdal is strong, and the split was amicable. But a post by Molko on the band's official website paints a slightly different picture.
"Being in a band is very much like being in a marriage and in couples – in this case a triple – people can grow apart over the years," the diminutive singer wrote.
"To say you don't love your partner anymore is inaccurate considering all that you've been through and achieved together. There simply comes a point when you realise that you want different things from your relationship and that you can no longer live under the same roof, so to speak."
No replacement has been announced.

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


Keith Urban in motorcycle accident
Currently in Sydney to accompany wife Nicole Kidman while she films the Baz Luhrmann epic Australia, country singer Keith Urban has been involved in a motorcycle accident he claims was caused by paparazzi.
The singer, who was unhurt, was heading to an AA meeting on Monday 1 October when he fell from his bike.
"The incident was the result of one person's desire to do his job and my desire to maintain my privacy," Urban said in a statement.
"While out riding to an AA meeting, a time when my privacy is especially important to me, I felt myself being pursued. I sped up, and in an effort to elude an oncoming car, which was making an illegal U-turn, saw no choice but to drop my bike. In actual fact, my pursuer came to my assistance, without taking photos, and helped me from the road. I returned home, got my car, and continued on my way."

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Keith-Urban.aspx


Operator Please return home and hit the road
Having won over critics in the UK with crossover hit "Just A Song About Ping Pong", Gold Coast five-piece Operator Please are returning to Australia next month to tour on the back of debut longplayer Yes Yes Vindictive.
The album promises to be one of the most anticipated records of 2007, with the young band currently nominated for two ARIA awards (Best Breakthrough Artist and Best Pop Release). As their press release reminds us, they might well take home an ARIA before they finish their HSCs.
Joining Operator Please on the road are Sydney synth pop outfit Van She and Canberra outfit Soft Tigers.

Tour dates:

Tuesday 30 October – Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Friday 2 November – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Saturday 3 November – Adelaide Uni Bar, Adelaide
Sunday 4 November – Amplifier Bar, Perth
Wednesday 7 November – The Zoo, Brisbane
Thursday 8 November – Southport RSL, Gold Coast

http://bigpondmusic.com/Artist/Operator-Please.aspx