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Interview: Gym Class Heroes

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:35:30

It's hard to stand out these days. Given the ease of promoting music, the industry is oversaturated beyond belief. The Internet's one-hit satiation reigns supreme. Fans are more concerned about what song would play well on their Facebook page than they are about experiencing an entire album from start to finish. So even if an original knockout of a ...more
Interview: Jeff Dowd, The Big Lebowski's Real Life "Dude"

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:13:16

Jeff Dowd is a Hollywood producer and much, much more. Sure, he produced Zebrahead with Oliver Stone and has served as a consultant and/or representative on a plethora of diverse films ranging from Blood Simple to Desperately Seeking Susan, but he has been sewn into the fabric of pop culture since as the inspiration for Jeff Bridges' iconic ...more
Earl Palmer Dies of 'A Lengthy Illness'

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:59:35

Earl Palmer—a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member once regarded as "probably the greatest session drummer of all time" by Little Richard—has died of a "lengthy illness" according to his spokesman. He was 84 and is survived by seven children. (Palmer was also married four times.) While he's best known for playing on such Little Richard hits as ...more
War Child CD Pairs McCartney, Dylan Up With Modern Artists

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:26:58

War Child—a longtime charity that helps kids in war zones—has revealed the details behind its Heroes compilation. Due out November 22, it asks Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Brian Wilson and more to pick a new-ish artist to cover one of their classic songs. Among the selections are Duffy performing Wings' "Live and Let Die," Hot Chip ...more
Metallica, Run-D.M.C. Lead Hall of Fame Nominees

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:55:29

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced next year's nine potential inductees today, including Metallica, Run-D.M.C., Jeff Beck and The Stooges. Other nominees include Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, War, Bobby Womack. Five finalists will be chosen in January, with the official induction ceremony happening on April 4 at ...more
Obama Benefit Album Available This Friday

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:45:14

Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Sheryl Crow and more have all signed on for Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement, a compilation CD/digital download that benefits Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Hidden Beach Recordings curated the collection and will release it this Friday under the following two price points: $24.99 for a digital download, ...more
Kim Gordon Launches Clothing Line

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:19:45

Kim Gordon revealed her very own fashion line to The New York Times' Fashion & Style section earlier this month, pointing potential customers in the direction of a limited "military-style wool jacket inspired by Françoise Hardy." Dubbed Mirror/Dash—see also her side project with husband/Sonic Youth co-founder Thurston Moore—the line is intended to ...more
DJ AM, Travis Barker Survive Jet Crash

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:39:34

DJ AM and former blink-182 drummer Travis Barker are currently recovering from critical smoke inhalation and burn injuries after a Learjet crash that left four other people killed near the Columbia, South Carolina airport on Friday. Both of the artists are expected to make a full recovery. Federal officials have said that a tire likely blew just ...more
Steven Spielberg Secures Funding

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:43:25

Director Steven Spielberg has secured at least $500 million in financing from Mumbai-based Reliance Big Entertainment. The director has also secured another $500 million in bank loans from JP Morgan Securities, totaling $1 billion, to assist him as he recreates DreamWorks as a private company. DreamWorks is severing its ties with its parent ...more
Vin Diesel Gets Another XXX Rating

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:32:41

Action hero Vin Diesel is enjoying a flurry of activity as he relaunches his career after a brief lull. The actor will return to his role as Xander "XXX" Cage, an extreme sports athlete who ended up being enlisted by the government for a dangerous mission in the rebooted XXX franchise. Columbia Pictures is the front-running studio for restarting ...more
Cam Gigandet, Rachael Leigh Cook to Star in Van Peebles Film

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:12:23

Cam Gigandet and Rachael Leigh Cook are finalizing negotiations to star in Kerosene Cowboys, an action thriller directed by Mario Van Peebles. Savrog Afterburner Films will produce the picture. The film is based on a book by Randy Arrington and chronicles the lives of hard-living pilots in an elite Navy sect. Gigandet will play a cocky pilot, ...more
Ray Winstone Takes De Niro's Edge

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:59:57

Ray Winstone has replaced Robert De Niro in the forthcoming Edge of Darkness. De Niro split from the film two weeks ago over creative differences. Winstone fills the role of a "cleaner" who is sent to wipe away evidence after the murder of a young woman. Winstone will star opposite Mel Gibson, who has the lead role. —The ARTISTdirect Staff ...more
Christina Ricci, Bill Engvall, Cedric the Entertainer Are Faire

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:52:24

Christina Ricci, Bill Engvall, and Cedric the Entertainer will star in All's Faire in Love, a Renaissance Faire-themed romantic comedy. Owen Benjamin, Matthew Lillard, and Ann-Margret will also star. The film will feature Benjamin as a drama school student who joins a Renaissance Faire group, only to be made the troupe's whipping boy. He meets ...more
Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges to Get Their Goats

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:43:41

George Clooney is assembling an ensemble cast for Mandate Pictures' curiously-titled film, The Men Who Stare at Goats. Actors Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges are being courted to star with Clooney in the film, based on a book by Jon Ronson. Goats is set in Iraq and follows reporter Bob Wilton (McGregor) who meets Clooney's Lyn ...more
Trivium to Play a Free Secret MySpace Show

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:40:53

Tomorrow, September 22, Trivium will play a free secret MySpace show at the Whisky-A-Go-Go on the Sunset Strip. Doors are at 8pm, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. So be sure to get there early and stay in line! It could very well rattle The Strip for the first time in awhile. Trivium's latest Roadrunner Records release ...more
Live Review: Deftones - Ventura Theater, Ventura

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:32:38

"Welcome to Baltimore, duck muthafucka," was emblazoned on the back of a tall, SoCal-looking blonde girl's t-shirt. As the Deftones brought an entrancing "Change" to the Ventura Theater, the blonde writhed and gyrated on an equally striking (and equally drunk) female friend. It was a strange scene of seduction that fit the song's sexual darkness. ...more
Subtle Confirm Fall Shows, Remix Record

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:58:41

Subtle has announced a two-week North American tour in support of their ExitingARM LP, running from a November 7 stop in Portland through a November 18 gig in New York. While Zach Hill & Peer Pressure will play all dates, Pattern Is Movement are on tap for the last five stops. In other Subtle news, the band has recruited Trans Am, Alias, Black ...more