Saturday, March 30, 2013

The Breeders - Last Splash live in Brooklyn

The Breeders kicked off their Last Splash anniversary tour in Brooklyn last night.  Read a review of the show over at Rolling Stone and take a look at video from the set below.  The band's 20th anniversary reissue of Last Splash - titled LSXX - drops on April 23rd.  Tracklisting and info is posted here.

"Happiness Is A Warm Gun"



Post will be updated with more video once it becomes available.

Robert Smith talks new LP, Joy Division/New Order in interview

Robert Smith was interviewed yesterday on Paraguay's Radio Urbana in advance of The Cure's South American tour. During the interview, Smith revealed he's got a full Cure album recorded (the second part of 4:13 dream, which he said is in his basement and ready to go!)  According to Smith, the album will likely be released as part of a live DVD, but he doesn't want that album to get in the way of another brand new Cure album that he's getting ready to record with the new Cure lineup.

Smith was also asked to comment about a variety of legendary musicians which led to a discussion about Ian Curtis and Joy Division.  Smith called Curtis "inspirational" and elaborated:

"In 1980 we did a thing in London at the Marquee Club...we picked the four bands we wanted to play with us, and Joy Division were one of those bands...I heard Unknown Pleasures on the radio on John Peel, and they were just fantastic. They were the best thing I'd seen--not ever, because I'd seen Bowie and the Stones--but they were of that generation of bands which is my generation of bands they were so powerful...that was our best show that year, I think, we went on after them and we had to really we had to try hard to match what they did...it's a shame about Ian Curtis...it's like Jimi Hendrix or Kurt Cobain...people that good come around far too infrequently."

Smith said some additional things about Joy Division/New Order in regards to the untoward comments Peter Hook made about the Cure in his biography Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division:

"Although the Cure and New Order...we come from the same age and everything but Peter Hook always had a real big problem with us because our bassist Simon Gallup was so much better looking and the better bass player...I think Peter was so jealous he could never get over it and he stopped the rest of them from being friendly...

"...we've bumped into them over the years, and since he's left, we've played with New Order a few times in the last summer and it's so nice to be able to chat with them, you know, to talk with them because I've always loved New Order I think they're one of the best bands - they also have a fantastic back catalog and they like us, it's so nice to say to Bernard  [Sumner] "I like your band" and he says "I like yours as well" and...it's taken an awful long time to say hello again to them. They're a good example of a band that gets better as they get older. They were fantastic when we played with them last year and we're playing again with them this year at a couple of festivals."

Stream the full interview below:



The Cure are heading to North America this summer. So far two festival appearances have been announced, and they're both taking place the same weekend. The Cure play the Osheaga festival in Montreal and Lollapalooza in Chicago August 2nd through the 4th.  So far the day lineups for each festival hasn't been announced but Lollapalooza will reveal that information on April 1st.  Lollapalooza three day passes sold out, however single day passes go on sale April 3rd.  For more info on Lollapalooza visit the official site.  Tickets for Osheaga are available here.  By the way, New Order will also be playing Osheaga and Lollapalooza, but it's unknown at this time whether they'll play the same day as the Cure.

Published on March 30th, 2013 @ 10:17 AM

Friday, March 29, 2013

Cold Cave - God Made The World

Yet another new awesome single from Cold Cave was released this week!  "God Made The World" backed with "Dandelion" is available to pre-order now from The Heartworm and is available RIGHT NOW as a digital download from Amazon and Boomkat.  Stream "God Made The World" below:



If you missed it earlier in the week, Cold Cave released the new single "Oceans With No End" b/w "People Are Poison," plus details for a North American tour were announced! Buy Oceans With No End ep now through Deathwish, iTunes and Amazon, and stream the single below:



Dates for the North American leg of Cold Cave's tour are posted below, and all the dates on the world tour are posted here.

North American tour dates

6/14 - Los Angeles @ Center for the Arts
6/15 - San Francisco @ The Public Works
6/19 - Philadelphia @ Morgan's Pier (free show)
6/20 - Washington D.C. @ Rock & Roll Hotel
6/21 - Pittsburgh @ 6119 Penn Avenue
6/22 - Columbus @ Skully's
6/24 - Chicago @ The Empty Bottle
6/25 - Detroit @ Trinosophes (Eastern Market)
6/26 - Toronto @ Parts & Labour
6/27 - Montreal @ Il Motore
6/28 - Boston @ T.T. The Bears
6/29 - Brooklyn @ 285 Kent Avenue

Morrissey - Kill Uncle + 7" single

The remastered version of Morrissey's single "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and 1991 album Kill Uncle are being released by EMI UK/Parlophone on April 8th.  Both releases are now available to pre-order (as imports) through Amazon and your favorite record store.


"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" 7" is available as picture disc, cd single, and digital download.  Each format will be backed with a different live recording from Morrissey's 2011 BBC Radio 2 session - the picture disc includes "People Are The Same Everywhere," the cd single is backed with "Action Is My Middle Name," and the digital version includes "The Kid's A Looker.

The tracklisting and cover art for the 2013 remaster of Kill Uncle is posted below and is available to pre-order here.


01.  Our Frank
02.  Sing Your Life
03.  Mute Witness
04.  King Leer
05.  Asian Rut
06.  Pashernate Love
07.  East West
08.  Found Found Found
09.  Driving Your Girlfriend Home
10.  The Harsh Truth Of The Camera Eye
11.  There's A Place In Hell For Me And My Friends (live)
12.  (I'm) The End Of The Family Line

Meanwhile, it turns out Morrissey's recent concert at Hollywood High School is going to be released on DVD by Eagle Vision. The exact date hasn't been nailed down, but Pitchfork contacted Moz's publicist who confirmed the release is indeed coming later this year.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Ministry - Al Jourgensen autobiography + new LP on the way

Ministry has announced details for a new album, From Beer To Eternity. According to an article in Noisey, Al Jourgensen and the gang wrote and recorded riffs for 18 songs back in December before the tragic death of guitarist Mike Scaccia, who died December 23rd while onstage at a show with his other band Rigor Mortis. Jourgensen completed work on the album earlier this month and is planning to release From Beer To Eternity in September through 13th Planet Records. Jourgensen stated in the article that there will not be a tour to back the new album, though a one off show is possible:

"Maybe we’ll do one big show with Tommy and Sin and the guys who made this band possible for the past few years. That would be a nice tribute to Mikey. But I can’t do a whole tour without him. Ministry was his life almost as much as mine, and I’m afraid it has to die with him."

Read the full article on Ministry over at Noisey.

From Beer To Eternity (trailer)



Meanwhile Al Jourgensen's autobiography titled Ministry: the Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen will be released this summer through DaCapo Books.  According to the DaCapo website the book is scheduled for a July 9th release. The listing for the autobiography includes quotes by several artists influenced by Ministry, including Trent Reznor, Corey Taylor, David Draiman, Tommy Victor, and Burton C. Bell. Trent Reznor's quote is posted below:

"Ministry was the single most important influence in the sound and concept of Nine Inch Nails. When I heard Twitch I was intrigued. When I heard The Land of Rape and Honey it blew my mind. The production, presentation and the aggression broke all the rules and was truly inspiring."


Read the full listing for Ministry: the Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen here and pre-order now through Amazon.

Mudhoney - New LP Vanishing Point + interview

Mudhoney return with their ninth studio album Vanishing Point on April 2nd.  Yesterday Seattle Weekly published an interview with Mudhoney's Mark Arm and Steve Turner. They talked about the new album, their experience on a major label vs Sub Pop, and explained why it took so long to release a new album (the last Mudhoney album came out in 2008).

(Mark Arm): "I guess it took a little while to get our shit together, and I was sent reeling by the death of [Sub Pop executive] Andy Kotowicz. I couldn’t even think of moving forward with writing stuff. I was very heavily bummed for a good year. It’s still just awful, and I still miss the hell out of him."

Read the full interview with Mudhoney over at Seattle Weekly.

Vanishing Point by Mudhoney is streaming ahead of its release this week over at Pitchfork Advance. Pre-order the album through Sub Pop's Mudhoney store, iTunes, Amazon, or your favorite record store.

The Mudhoney documentary - I'm Now: The Story of Mudhoney was released last year on DVD and is available to purchase here.

I'm Now (trailer)



Mudhoney 'Live at Koko'



Morrissey - Hanging with Robbie Keane in Dublin

Last month, Morrissey blogged about meeting his cousin Robbie Keane from the football/soccer team LA Galaxy.  In a February 20th post on True To You Moz revealed,

"Robbie and I share the same Irish blood; his late grandfather (Thomas Nolan) being my own father's cousin." 

Apparently the reunion is going swimmingly because it turns out the two hung out again recently in Dublin!  Yesterday the website Metro UK published a picture of Moz and Keane together which was snapped at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.  Take a look at the article and picture here.

Wire - U.S. tour dates announced!

Last week Wire released a new album Change Becomes Us, and last night the band's press firm Big Hassle announced dates for Wire's North American tour which includes a Detroit stop! Here's where you'll be able to see Wire live this summer!

Wire U.S. Tour Dates

07.09 - Detroit, MI @ Museum of Contemporary Art
07.12 - Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
07.13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
07.14 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat
07.16 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
07.17 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
07.19 - Chicago, IL @ Pitchfork Music Festival

For those who haven't checked out Wire's new album Change Becomes Us, stream it below or through Pitchfork Advance. FYI, Stereogum is still offering a free download of the track "Love Bends" here.


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Dandy Warhols - Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia tour

The Dandy Warhols are celebrating the 13th anniversary of  Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia with a 13 date, no wait, 17 date tour.  Check out the Dandys performing their 2000 album in its entirety on the road this spring on the 13.13.13 tour.  Dates are posted below, pre-sale for most of the dates kick off tomorrow (March 27th).  More details are posted here.

An anniversary edition of Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia will be reissued on cd, vinyl and as a limited edition vinyl boxset. Details on the release are forthcoming.

5/28 - Pittsburgh @ Mr. Smalls
5/31 - NYC @ Terminal 5
6/01 - Philadelphia @ Electric Factory
6/02 - Boston @ Wilbur Theater
6/04 - Montreal @ Club Soda
6/05 - Toronto @ Phoenix Concert Theater
6/07 - Cleveland @ Grog Shop
6/08 - Chicago @ Vic Theater
6/09 - Minneapolis @ First Avenue
6/11 - Denver @ Gothic Theater
6/12 - Aspen @ Belly Up
6/14 - Los Angeles @ Wiltern Theater
6/15 - San Francisco @ Fillmore
6/19 - Portland @ Wonder Ballroom
6/20 - Portland @ Wonder Ballroom
6/21 - Seattle @ Showbox Market
6/22 - Vancouver @ Commodore Ballroom

Cold Cave - New music + North American tour

Last week, Cold Cave released a new 7" (cover art posted above) and now plans for even more music and a North American tour have been announced! Wesley Eisold revealed a 7" titled "Black Boots" b/w "Meaningful Life" will be available shortly (video for "Black Boots" and pre-order info for the 7" will be available in a few weeks), and a separate 7" picture disc for "God Made The World" is coming soon (live version posted below).  For more on the new releases visit the official Cold Cave website.

Dates for the North American leg of Cold Cave's tour are posted below, and all the dates on the world tour are posted here.

North American tour dates

6/14 - Los Angeles @ Center for the Arts
6/15 - San Francisco @ The Public Works
6/19 - Philadelphia @ Morgan's Pier (free show)
6/20 - Washington D.C. @ Rock & Roll Hotel
6/21 - Pittsburgh @ 6119 Penn Avenue
6/22 - Columbus @ Skully's
6/24 - Chicago @ The Empty Bottle
6/25 - Detroit @ Trinosophes (Eastern Market)
6/26 - Toronto @ Parts & Labour
6/27 - Montreal @ Il Motore
6/28 - Boston @ T.T. The Bears
6/29 - Brooklyn @ 285 Kent Avenue

Grab the Oceans With No End ep now through Deathwish or download a digital copy through iTunes and Amazon.

"Oceans With No End"



Live version of forthcoming song "God Made The World"



Alison Moyet - When I Was Your Girl

Alison Moyet premiered the video for her new single, "When I Was Your Girl."  The single is the first taste of the full length album minutes which is released in the U.K. on May 6th and drops in North America on June 11th on Cooking Vinyl/Metropolis Records.  Watch the video below via USA Today.



Alison Moyet recently appeared on BBC Radio 2 to talk with host Graham Norton about the new album. She talked about the new album, tour plans, and Yazoo (Yaz). Stream the interview below:



Last month Alison Moyet offered up an album track "Changeling" as a free download. For those who haven't downloaded it yet, grab it here, and stream it below. Catch up with Alison Moyet on her official site.



Monday, March 25, 2013

Nine Inch Nails: [after all is said and done]

On September 10th, 2009, Nine Inch Nails played their final show at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles.  Since that time, A Tiny Little Dot, has been working very hard (reportedly with Trent Reznor's approval) on editing HD footage from the concert for an eventual release on DVD and Blu-Ray.  After what seemed like forever, last September it was revealed the project would be released shortly. Though it ended up taking a little longer than originally projected, the release is now finally ready to go, and was well worth the wait! The concert, nine inch nails: [after all is said and done], includes 37 songs shot from 27 unique HD sources, and clocks in at over 3.5 hours. A Tiny Little Dot's 20 person team pored over 75 hours of footage, 3500 hours of pre-production treatment of original footage, and spent over 680 hours editing. 

There are a number of ways to enjoy the concert - fans can stream it in full below or on You Tube, download one of four available torrents (video and audio), or wait for the Blu-Ray/DVD (includes special features, bonus content, and 5.1 surround mix). Fans who already ordered the physical release will receive info shortly, and those who missed out previously will have a limited chance to order the release shortly (details TBA).

For more info, visit A Tiny Little Dot, and while you're there, shoot them an email/comment to thank them for their time and effort. Truly a remarkable project.

nine inch nails: [after all is said and done]


Depeche Mode - European performances & interviews

Depeche Mode return with their 13th studio album Delta Machine - the album is out today internationally and arrives tomorrow in North America.  Ahead of the release, Depeche Mode have been in Europe over the last few days for some live television performances and interviews.

One of the best recent interviews was published in the Sun on March 22nd.  Some of the highlights: Dave Gahan discussed blowing off the Brits and declining the award for 'Most Influential Band' ("if they won't play us on air, we won't be their most influential band"), Martin Gore talked about sobriety and the old days ("just for the fun of it I'd get naked in hotel bars"), and Gore's recent barb-exchange with Simon Cowell was also discussed ("I think the majority of the world agreed with me").  Read the full interview here.

A few other recent live performances and interviews are posted below.
 
Performance of "Heaven" (3/23 on European show Wetten dass?)



Interview with Martin Gore before Wetten dass? appearance



Performance of "Heaven" (3/21 on Echo 2013 - includes video montage pre-performance)



Interview with Dave Gahan (3/23, Swedish television)



Interview with Dave Gahan



Delta Machine is still streaming in full over at iTunes through tonight.  Tomorrow night, Ology is throwing a Depeche Mode online listening party and fan chat.  The event starts at 7pm ET and is hosted by Ology's rock editor Brett Warner, and yours truly.  Head over to Ology now to RSVP and find out more about the online party.

Depeche Mode kick off their North American tour at DTE in metro Detroit on August 22nd.  Tickets for the tour go on sale April 6th, however the internet pre-sales begin on April 1st. For full details on the tour and pre-sales, visit the official Depeche Mode website.

Presales/general onsale calendar

4/01 - Citi presale 
4/03 - Amazon presale (runs 4/3 at 10am thru 4/5 at 10pm)
4/04 - Facebook presale (register for access code here)
4/05 - Live Nation presale (10am through 10pm)
4/06 - General onsale begins at 10am

DEPECHE MODE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

8/22 - Detroit @ DTE
8/24 - Chicago @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheater
8/27 - St. Paul @ Minnesota State Fair
9/01 - Toronto @ Molson Canadian Amphitheater
9/03 - Montreal @ Bell Centre
9/06 - Brooklyn @ Barclays
9/08 - Wantagh @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
9/10 - Washington DC @ Jiffy Lube Live
9/12 - Atlanta @ Aaron's Amphitheater
9/14 - Tampa @ Live Nation Amphitheater
9/15 - Ft. Lauderdale @ BB&T Center
9/18 - Houston @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion
9/20 - Dallas @ Gexa Energy
9/22 - San Diego @ Sleep Train Amphitheater
9/24 - Santa Barbara @ Santa Barbara Bowl
9/26 - Mountain View @ Shoreline
9/28 - Los Angeles @ Staples
9/29 - Los Angeles @ Staples
10/8 - Phoenix @ Desert Sky

Sunday, March 24, 2013

New Jane's Addiction & (maybe) Porno For Pyros coming soon!

It looks like new Perry Farrell related material is in the works! Last night Farrell tweeted out a picture of himself in the studio, then later clarified he's working on a new Jane's Addiction single. After another fan sent a tweet telling Farrell he hopes for some new Porno For Pyros material, Farrell replied "we have tracks forthcoming." So it appears new material from both Jane's and Porno For Pyros is in the works! Check out the tweets below and catch up with Farrell on Twitter or Facebook.





Saturday, March 23, 2013

Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon + Paul Weller!

Britpop history was made in London tonight (and on Damon Albarn's birthday, no less!)  Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Paul Weller performed Blur's 1999 hit "Tender" at tonight's Teenage Cancer Trust benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall.  Full video of the 'Blurasis' performance hasn't appeared online yet, however here's a short clip.  An awesome fan who attended the show (Alistair Burns aka @gashead) posted pictures from the event here and here.

UPDATE (5:40 pm): Here's NME's story on the show.

UPDATE (8:00 pm): Video of "Tender" by is available to stream below via You Tube



UPDATE (3/24 @ 8:00 am): Here's some additional video from the concert including Noel Gallagher's first ever performance of "Alone On The Rope."













Friday, March 22, 2013

Primal Scream - Live in London

Primal Scream played at the Noel Gallagher curated Teenage Cancer Trust benefit at London's Royal Albert Hall last night. Noel Gallagher himself introduced the band and told the crowd he was excited to have Primal Scream play, and called them "surely one of the greatest bands." During the show, Primal Scream debuted a brand new song "It's Alright, It's Ok" and performed their new song "2013" live for the first time (according to the setlist, they played "2013" at the beginning AND at the end of their show). Check out fan filmed footage of the performance below.

Primal Scream return with the new album More Light on May 13th. Stream the studio version of the new track "It's Alright, It's Ok" here.

Noel Gallagher introduces Primal Scream



"2013"



"It's Alright, It's Ok"



"Come Together"



"Relativity"



Wire - Stream new LP Change Becomes Us

Wire return with the new record Change Becomes Us on March 25th. The album is made up of song ideas/sketches/undeveloped ideas that were originally created in 1979 - 1980 and were finished in the spring of 2012. Upon entering the studio, the band's intention wasn't to re-record old ideas, but instead to take the sketches and make up entirely new songs, or give the old songs a new, modern life.  For instance, "Love Bends," adapted from the song "Piano Tuner (Keep Strumming Those Guitars)," appeared on Wire's live album Document & Eyewitness in 1981.  Bassist Graham Lewis, said of the song, "it had to be turned into something else because it only had one bit."

The result is a pretty cool sounding Wire record. Stream all 13 tracks from Change Becomes Us below.  The album is available to pre-order through Wire's official store (some bundles include the book Read & Burn: A Book About Wire.  The book is not an official Wire biography, but is a "warts and all" exploration of Wire's history and includes commentary from band members and other key players).  Change Becomes Us is also available to pre-order through Amazon, iTunes, or your favorite record store.



FYI, Stereogum is still offering a free download of the track "Love Bends" here.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Depeche Mode - Online listening party!

In celebration of the release of Depeche Mode's 13th studio album Delta Machine, Ology is throwing an online listening party on record release day, Tuesday, March 26th. The event will be hosted by Ology's music editor Brett Warner, and yours truly! We'll be streaming Delta Machine and chatting about all things Depeche ModeYou're invited to hang out, chill to the sweet sounds of Delta Machine, and chat it up with us Tuesday night at 7pm ET. All the details are posted over at Ology. See you there!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Morrissey - Mexico City interview

Morrissey was interviewed on a Mexican station Reactor 105.7 on March 19th right after Morrissey canceled his gig at the Vive Latino festival. The radio station aired the interview today. Morrissey sounded in fine form and fans should be relieved that he didn't at all sound sickly, etc. While we wait for a rip of the interview to be posted, I transcribed most of the interview while listening to the live stream. The interviewer asked the questions in Spanish and Morrissey answered in English, and there also seemed to be another person in the room who asked questions or made comments from time to time. There were one or two questions that I couldn't figure out exactly what was asked, but tried to infer the question from Morrissey's answers. A big thanks to Roberto Ferdenzi, who tipped me off to the live stream of the interview. :) Also thanks to Married to the Moz, and Moz Army.

UPDATE (3/23): The full audio is now available to stream online



UPDATE (3/20 at 9pm): Morrissey News just sent out a tweet with a link to download the interview. The interview below is now updated and fully transcribed.

The interview began with Morrissey discussing his recent medical issues: 

"Had a very bad time, I had internal bleeding and was rushed into hospital, and I lost a lot of blood and they tried to patch me together, over the following five weeks, but it didn't quite work, and I was on a lot of IV drips for almost five weeks, and each time it seemed as though i was back to robust health I would decline. So this is what happened, I'm afraid with the festival this week I saw the doctors and they said, "no no no no, you cannot" because I had lost so much blood and I had became anemic, but I'm still receiving ongoing treatment and I'm very optimistic now"

(follow up question about his health)

"Yes I know, it almost became absurd, the number of things that happened to me but, but everything just and the double pneumonia, everything was a result of the fact that I had lost so much blood. So the immunity, immune defenses were very low and couldn't cope with anything, so therefore the slightest gust of wind and I would have a terrible cold. So I have received treatment as I've said I've been in hospital, I've seen doctors constantly and I've been on many IV drips for a long time, so hopefully, hopefully, hopefully, I will be saved from death."

(interviewer asked about Morrissey being advised to stop touring)

"I've been cautioned, I've been cautioned to but it's difficult for me because, it's very engrained, within me, and I know it's the best of life, that when you tour and when you make music and when you sing, it is actually the best thing you can do in life. There is nothing better. Can you think of anything?"

(on the new songs played during his BBC session)

"Well I did a radio session years ago, and the radio session is being released as b-sides but not as studio recordings, of those songs and the radio session doesn't belong to me so whatever happens to it, it's not really anything to do with me. But the songs will be recorded in a studio, one day in the future, whenever the future is whatever the future is."

(asked about when he might record music)

"I have no idea, I have no idea, I don't get approached by ANYBODY to record, so nothing ever happens really. So I wait, and I wait, and then I wait in order to wait, so here I am, sitting here waiting"

(another question about recording new music)

"Yes, I have A LOT of songs. A great deal. We could record three studio albums immediately, very easily. But none of the majors (labels) are interested. And I've approached a few and they've said no, and I think it's a question of age really. I think that they're only interested in very young people who will fly by and ask for nothing in return."

(question about recording on a DIY/do it yourself basis)

"It doesn't interest me, it doesn't interest me really. It wasn't the way I was raised. I've never had any interest in doing it yourself. It's not the instinct I have. I was always interested in major labels and being a part of major labels, and being a part of the machinery and I began on an independent label so it's not something I want to relive twice"

(question about Rough Trade)

"Well they are big I think, I think the time with the Smiths saved them (Rough Trade) because until the Smiths came by they were a dull label, they were not a hip label, nobody knew about Rough Trade, and when the Smiths happened, the Smiths saved Rough Trade and made Rough Trade into a youthful record label, which they've hung onto. And they continued to sign anybody who resembles the Smiths"

(question about Smiths/Morrissey covers)

"No I never cringe, I never cringe if anybody sings or covers a song, I find it very moving even though it might be quite bad, I still find it very moving that somebody would be bothered or interested to do it. Some of them really do affect me emotionally. But I find it extraordinary that every single day, that I hear new cover versions of songs, somebody is covering a Smiths song, every day, which I find incredible. Because British radio would never play the Smiths and they've (the Smiths) proven to be one of the most influential bands ever, despite everything. Despite many obstacles and they were never helped, they were never helped. So it's interesting how, if you do have something important or special or meaningful that it will seep through eventually and nobody can stop it."

The song "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" was played on the program

(question again about cover songs)

"I agree, I agree, and many cover versions are recorded everyday, which I find fantastic, but once again if I released a single tomorrow in England nobody would play it, which is extraordinary, they would not play it on the radio. Because it doesn't have the modern silly electronic beats that everything has now. So, no matter what happens I always seem to be against the grain whatever the grain is"

(A question about his upcoming autobiography)

"Yes it's there and it's sitting and at the right time I'll press the button, but it's not the right time yet, it's not the right time. But it's there"

(someone in studio asks "do you have a title")

"Yes, I do, but I'd rather not say anything until it's launched."

(another question, presumably about whether anything shocking is included in the book)

"No I don't think so, it depends, it depends how people are shocked, I don't know how people are shocked. It seems these days people aren't really shocked by anything, but, it's not grotesque."

(question on what is the biggest misconception about him - he struggles for a few seconds before answering)

"I'm an extrovert, and I'm very introverted, and a very shy person, yet if I explain anything in a very gentle way, they'll reprint it like I'm screaming and I'm shouting and having a big outburst against the Royal family. "Morrissey had an outburst" and but everything I say is very gentle and very measured, quite slow. So I think the Most common misconception is that I'm an extrovert. I'm not at all. Not at all. And I'm ANGRY and a monster. It's not true. I'm not a monster. Not, not, not."

(on being outspoken)

"Well I'm alive and a I'm a human being and see what happens around me and I can comment and I have a view and I don't accept the things that happen automatically in the political world and so forth. So therefore I'm asked and have a chance to speak, whereas most people aren't asked and don't have a chance to speak. But I've never been a part of the crowd I don't go along with the crowd just in order to please others and to let the and (pause) let the boat sail smoothly."

(appreciating wit)

"Many things I do appreciate, I do appreciate wit and it's rare. And I appreciate very measured wit, and it's very very rare. Most people use the same words every day, say the same thing every day and will give you the same responses all the time. And if the power of language is the power of description because sometime everyone speaks to you they're asking you to describe something - describe where you are, describe where you've been, describe the (?) you just bought, so all conversation is power of description. And most people can't describe anything! And if you ask people how they are they'll just say "oh fine, yes very well" which isn't true. So I, I like people with depth."

(someone in the room asks him, "and that's it?")

"Yes, I don't ask for much."

(question on Morrissey conventions)

"It has influenced me because they exist, and I find this incredible and i find all the tattoos incredible because many of them are just covered in Morrissey tattoos and I don't know of any other artist who has that kind of effect on their audience. And to me, it's extraordinary. But I have to point out that audiences everywhere are generally fantastic. There aren't many places I go to where people are disinterested. But a great deal is said about the L.A. Latino audience, and I understand why, but I have to say that in most places, the audiences are incredible and give so much, they don't sit there, they GIVE. They turn up to a concert and or a show in order to give and to move forward and express themselves. Whereas I've seen many artists who are very major league, and multi-plantinum and on the television all the time, and I've seen their concerts and the audiences sit in their seats, they don't move, they don't want to touch the person they don't want to go near the stage. And the audience I have is very, very expressive, and it's incredible and it's ignored largely by the media."

(on being ignored by the press)

"Well, that's true but it becomes tiresome year after year achieving so much yet being ignored. It does becomes tiresome. I'm not begging for recognition but it's fascinating that I don't get it and it doesn't matter what I achieve without management, without a record label, without a financial injection. I achieve so much by myself. And it isn't acknowledged. I don't know another artist who does it really. I seem to have absolutely nothing to do with the music industry, and I'm surviving very, very well."

"I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is played on the program

(question about reviews and if he reads reviews)

"It helps, it helps if there are good reviews, I don't seek them out anymore. because when I released an album called You Are The Quarry, it had some terrible reviews, and I thought that would be the last time I would read reviews because it was just so silly and annoying. So I don't read them anymore, I don't read them."

(more on reviews)

"One review is one review. So, but no, I don't simply single out the good ones and get rid of the bad ones. You have to have a frame of mind whereby if the reviews are good or bad you still continue in the same way, on the same course. And you can't let anything affect you, even if all the reviews are incredible you can't let it affect you. Because it might be unrealistic. You have to have your path and stick to it and it doesn't matter what other people say, because otherwise you are acting on other people's advice and I think that is no good."

(question about who he writes with now. Not exactly sure who he was asked about, but possibly Alain Whyte [thanks to Joel for heads up])

"Well, he wasn't no, no he wasn't but he had written some tunes a long time ago which were used, but he's been gone now for almost 10 years. Ten years in fact."

(asked who he's writing with now)

"I write with Jesse Tobias, the guitarist, I write with Boz Boorer the guitarist, and I'm very happy with it."

(question on writing music)

"It's, it's very difficult for me to describe because I just follow on instinct I had from the beginning, and I don't over analyze it and I just simply sing the words I want to sing, whatever they may be. I don't think in terms of new things and new periods and and changing because I think I'm quite happy with how the songs go, nothing has ever been dreadful, so why make any drastic changes?"

(on writing music)

"Yes, the lyrics, and the melodies, and then I just search for the music cause I'm a non-musician so I wait for new music that surprises me, catches me."

("is there a phrase?")

"Usually I find that if I have a few words then I begin to sing them and suddenly it matches perfectly well. Because all of my life, when I was a very small child I was obsessed with vocal melody, so always in my mind I have vocal melody even though I might not have words, but they come eventually."

(on remastered collections)

"Well I like it, it was presented to me and I like it, and also Viva Hate was remastered and re released, and Kill Uncle is released next month, that's also remastered and re-released, and it's attractive, they're very attractive packages because a lot of the earlier stuff and certainly the Smiths stuff certainly in the U.S. has just been left in its original form and it looks very boring. So I think it's good when releases are given some attention."
(not sure what question he was asked)

"It's just a perspective thing and maybe I just live in a cave, I don't know, maybe I keep away too much from people, I'm not sure. But I did go into Saks the other day here and they were playing the Smiths. Which I thought was extraordinary, because you wouldn't hear the Smiths in a British department store. Never! Never, never, never, never! Katy Perry yes, the Smiths...no! Morrissey, no."

(on the Mexican festival cancellation)

"Well, I do feel it, I do feel it, which is why I feel immense sorrow at missing the festival, I mean, the pain I felt, was just incredible, I just hope to God I can make it up to people, so I'm sitting here wondering how."

(on canceling)

"Well, I had to, I had to because of medical reasons, because I've had so much medical attention, that it had soaked up all the insurance. So we couldn't actually continue anymore, because we weren't insured to continue. But I'm hoping to return here in June and play in as many places as I can. I've been told there aren't really that many places that you can play (in Mexico), which surprises me, when you consider the population, of most of the cities, are absolutely enormous but I am told there's only 3 or 4 cities, and I would like to expand...but I think they're worried that people just won't turn up."

(asked about persistent Smiths reunion rumors )

"Well, they persist ALL the time every day, every year, yes, constantly and I, I constantly have requests to reform. But people forget that I did not break up the Smiths, so I don't know why people ask me about reformations, but I would always say no because we're all very different people now, and it's been a very long time, and the truth is, we don't know each other, we're not friends, so why would you be in a band with people who you don't really know? We're linked because of the distant past, but we have no links in our lives now. So it doesn't really make any sense to me. Also, I'm very, very happy with my life, with my musical life as it is now, so I don't feel any to, for, a musical reformation. I don't see the point. If I'm so happy singing now, why would I want to play with strangers?"

(question about reunions)

"Well I think people become obsessed with things they can't really have, and then once they get it, they say, "really, well, it wasn't that good" and then they move on. Because every time groups reform, it's insane news for 2 weeks and then it's very ho hum, and it's very "uh, what's next?" I don't think any reformation has ever been incredible, I don't think it's made the world free or excited people beyond recognition. Can you think of one?

(someone in room says "fake excitement" and Morrissey agrees).

"It's fake, I don't get it, and also when bands reform I find they go straight into stadiums and they have big merchandising deals. But you never hear of a band reforming quietly, and rehearsing for a year, in the countryside, and playing together. They always reform and go straight for the money and straight for the stadiums. And it doesn't bode very, very well.

(continues)

"Because when you, when you first form a band you have a certain attitude, the world isn't listening to you, and you want to make it listen to you. But if you're in a situation where everybody's waiting it's not the same thing. And it can never be the same thing. And you're not the same person. But people, people have, it fixed in their mind, when they listen to music and when they listen to older music, that the person who made that music is still the same person. But they're not. And if you meet many people, like, David Bowie, etc, etc, and you talk to him about the past, he doesn't really know. Because he's not that person anymore. He's not there and he doesn't feel all those things anymore, and he's quite rightly, living in the now. But the listener, the person who listens to the music always thinks, that the person is still the same, and it's not true.

"This Charming Man" is played and interview is over



The Smiths - Stream unearthed rehearsal tape from 1983

An early Smiths recording from 1983 has been unearthed! According to info posted by on You Tube (via Mike Joyce) The Pablo Cuckoo Tape was recorded during a rehearsal session at a warehouse in 1983 (almost a year before the band's first album was released).  The You Tube uploader Hipster Disco, obtained the following info from a post on a Smiths fan forum by a fan named bellapintura:

"In May 1983 (exact date unknown), while preparing to record their debut album, The band ran through & recorded a selection of songs at a rehearsal in band manager, Joe Moss' jeans warehouse (Crazy Face). The cassette tape was recorded for Troy Tate in order to give him something to work with before going into the studio. It's pretty rough, but considering it was recorded on cassette with a stereo Mic pointing into the room, the quality isn't too bad. Morrissey's vocals are a bit distorted - maybe singing too close to the mic or maybe the cassette Mic was too close to the PA but everything else is surprisingly clear. There is some tape flutter at various points. 

I was lent the master cassette by a source close to the band who made the recording, let's call him Pablo Cuckoo in 1997 with a view of trying to put it out as a semi-official release. As it was recorded before the band had signed to Rough Trade, technically he had the rights to the recording. But a combination of poor sound quality & threats from Warner Bros meant that the idea was shelved."

Mike Joyce tweeted out the link to the recording below, so it's pretty clear he's not unhappy about it making the rounds.  So far no comments from Morrissey, Johnny Marr, and Andy Rourke.

Stream the entire tape below (might want to do it before Warner pulls it). 



Recorded @ Crazy Face, 13~15 Chapel Walks, Manchester.

You've Got Everything Now
Accept Yourself
What Difference Does It Make
Reel Around The Fountain
These Things Take Time
I Don't Owe You Anything
Hand In Glove
Handsome Devil
Miserable Lie

Update on Peter Murphy's arrest: He's out of jail...

An update to the story on Peter Murphy's March 17th arrest in Los Angeles: Yesterday Murphy's lawyer Robert Wilson appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Court and entered a not guilty plea to the charges (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, hit-and-run driving, and possessing methamphetamine). The judge also denied the prosecution's request for Murphy to be held in custody (prosecutors felt he was a flight risk), and allowed Murphy to be released on his own recognizance. A pre-trial hearing has been set for May 17th, which happens to be an off day on Murphy's North American tour. Read the full report in the Los Angeles Times.

4/23 - Austin @ The Belmont
4/24 - Dallas @ Granada Theater
4/28 - Pensacola @ Vinyl Music Hall
4/30 - Miami @ Grand Central
5/01 - Tampa @ The Orpheum
5/02 - Atlanta @ Terminal West
5/03 - Charlotte @ Tremont Music Hall
5/07 - NYC @ Webster Hall
5/09 - Philadelphia @ Trocadero
5/10 - Toronto @ Lee's Palace
5/11 - Buffalo @ Town Ballroom
5/12 - Pittsburgh PA @ Mr Smalls
5/13 - Detroit @ Magic Stick
5/15 - Indianapolis @ Deluxe at Old National Centre
5/16 - Chicago @ House of Blues
5/18 - Mexico City @ FMX Festival de Mexico
7/13 - Phoenix @ Crescent Ballroom
7/14 - El Paso @ Tricky Falls
7/16 - Denver @ Summit Music Hall
7/17 - Salt Lake City @ Urban Lounge
7/18 - Boise @ Visual Arts Collective
7/19 - Seattle @ Showbox At The Market
7/20 - Vancouver @ TBA
7/21 - Portland @ Hawthorne Theater
7/23 - San Francisco @ The Fillmore
7/24 - Las Vegas @ LVCS
7/26 - Los Angeles @ The Fonda Theater
7/27 - Los Angeles @ The Fonda Theater
7/28 - Solana Beach @ Belly Up Tavern

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Nine Inch Nails - Live video from NIN archive

Nine Inch Nails announced their live return a few weeks ago - and now NIN has pulled out some live video from their archives and is making it available for fans to stream.

The first video is an hour long documentary captured from 1994 through 1996 during NIN's 'Self Destruct' tour.  The documentary includes live footage and behind the scenes video from the tour, and was previously available commercially on part one of the 'Closure' VHS released in 1997.

***contains NSFW content***




The second video is an acoustic performance of "The Becoming" filmed in 2002 at Nothing Studios. The version is from And All That Could Have Been. Still which is still available from NIN's store here


.

Cold Cave - Oceans With No End ep

Cold Cave return with the awesome new Oceans With No End 7" ep .  The two track ep includes "Oceans With No End" backed with "People Are Poison."  Pre-order on colored vinyl and as a digital download through DeathwishAccording to Wesley Eisold, the release will also be available digitally through Amazon and iTunes shortly.  Stream both tracks from Oceans With No End below:

"Oceans With No End"



"People Are Poison"



Peter Murphy arrested in Los Angeles

Peter Murphy was arrested Saturday night in Los Angeles for alleged DUI and possible drug possession.  According to reports, Murphy allegedly rear-ended a car in Glendale, California, injuring the driver, then fled the scene.  Apparently a witness who observed the incident followed Murphy's car, called the cops, and ended up blocking Murphy on a street in Los Angeles until police arrived to arrest him.  Reports indicate police believed Murphy to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol (police report he was "confused") and found "a small plastic bag" (with a substance that has yet to be identified) which Murphy was allegedly trying to dispose of.

Murphy was reportedly arrested for "causing injuries while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, felony hit-and-run and possessing methamphetamine" and held on 500 thousand dollars bail.  Read more on the story in the Glendale News Press (report includes mug shot) and in the Los Angeles Times.

UPDATE (8pm ET): Apparently Peter Murphy is out of jail:



UPDATE (9am ET, 3/20): Murphy is indeed out of jail, due in court for a pre-trial hearing on May 17th.

Probably not the best time for drama - Murphy is scheduled to hit the road in North America in April. The tour, 'Mr. Moonlight Tour' is Murphy's celebration of the 35th anniversary of Bauhaus and he's promised to play only Bauhaus music at the shows.

4/23 - Austin @ The Belmont
4/24 - Dallas @ Granada Theater
4/28 - Pensacola @ Vinyl Music Hall
4/30 - Miami @ Grand Central
5/01 - Tampa @ The Orpheum
5/02 - Atlanta @ Terminal West
5/03 - Charlotte @ Tremont Music Hall
5/07 - NYC @ Webster Hall
5/09 - Philadelphia @ Trocadero
5/10 - Toronto @ Lee's Palace
5/11 - Buffalo @ Town Ballroom
5/12 - Pittsburgh PA @ Mr Smalls
5/13 - Detroit @ Magic Stick
5/15 - Indianapolis @ Deluxe at Old National Centre
5/16 - Chicago @ House of Blues
5/18 - Mexico City @ FMX Festival de Mexico
7/13 - Phoenix @ Crescent Ballroom
7/14 - El Paso @ Tricky Falls
7/16 - Denver @ Summit Music Hall
7/17 - Salt Lake City @ Urban Lounge
7/18 - Boise @ Visual Arts Collective
7/19 - Seattle @ Showbox At The Market
7/20 - Vancouver @ TBA
7/21 - Portland @ Hawthorne Theater
7/23 - San Francisco @ The Fillmore
7/24 - Las Vegas @ LVCS
7/26 - Los Angeles @ The Fonda Theater
7/27 - Los Angeles @ The Fonda Theater
7/28 - Solana Beach @ Belly Up Tavern

Monday, March 18, 2013

OMD - Interview with Andy McCluskey + Night Cafe premiere

OMD's Andy McCluskey was interviewed by 6 Towns Radio last week. The interview is great and tons of great topics came up - McCluskey talked about reclaiming electric roots with the new single "Metroland," and how it's important to strike a balance using old elements and new. There was also a discussion about OMD's classic artwork (designed by Peter Saville), why they didn't stay on Factory Records, and how McCluskey's collaboration with Kraftwerk's Karl Bartos came about - their song "Kissing The Machine" was released on 1993's Elektric Music and has been newly reworked for OMD's forthcoming album. Stream the interview below:



In more OMD news, another new OMD song is available to stream. Check out "Night Cafe" from English Electric below and pre-order the album here . English Electric will be released internationally on April 8th and drops April 9th in North America.

"Night Cafe"



"Metroland" (official video)



North American tour

04/05 - Vancouver @ Commodore Ballroom
04/06 - Seattle @ Seattle Showbox
04/07 - Portland @ Wonder Ballroom
04/10 - Salt Lake City @ The Depot
04/12 - San Francisco @ Regency Ballroom
04/14 - Coachella
04/15 - Los Angeles @ Fonda Theater
04/18 - Mexico City @ Teatro Metropolitan
04/21 - Coachella (Weekend 2)
07/11 - Toronto @ Danforth Music Hall
07/12 - Philadelphia @ Union Transfer
07/13 - Washington DC @ 9:30 Club
07/15 - Boston @ Paradise Rock Club
07/17 - New York City @ Terminal 5
07/19 - Toronto @ Danforth Music Hall
07/20 - Detroit @ St. Andrew's Hall
07/22 - Minneapolis @ Varsity Theater (rescheduled from July 8th)
07/23 - Chicago @ The Metro (rescheduled from July 9th)

KMFDM - "I Heart Not" video premiere

Last month KMFDM released a new album Kunst and they've followed up the release with the official video for "I Heart Not." Watch the video below and don't miss KMFDM live in North America this month if they're coming to your town.



World Party - Acoustic session + interview

Last year when World Party were on tour in North America supporting Arkeology, Karl Wallinger and fiddle player David Duffy stopped by KEXP in Seattle for an acoustic session and interview with host Stevie Zoom. Video from the session was recently uploaded and can be streamed below. World Party head back on the road for a short tour of the U.K. in AprilDates are posted here.

The first video is the full session (two songs and interview).  Be sure to watch until the very end for a short outtake of World Party soundchecking "Put The Message In The Box." 



"Is It Like Today?"



"Put The Message In The Box"

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Stone Roses - Made Of Stone documentary

A documentary on the Stone Roses, titled Made Of Stone will premiere in late May in the U.K. The film's director Shane Meadows recently posted an update on his website's forum giving fans a little more info on the film:

"There is plenty of Archive in the film, some of which has never been seen. It isn't simply a concert based film, it focuses on the whole comeback journey to Heaton Park rather than just having a two hour concert flick. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of live stuff in there but it's not the only thing we filmed. I started filming at the Initial Press Conference (when the band announced they were reforming) in October 2011 and carried on right up to the last gig of the tour in Belfast at the End of August 2012, so I had a lot to go at."

Stone Roses' fans may have heard about another Roses-related film in the works titled Spike Island. Spike Island is a fictional film about a couple of fans who meet up at the Stone Roses' legendary 1990 gig. Though both Made Of Stone and Spike Island are going to be released around the same time, Meadows assures fans that the two films couldn't be more different:

"I'd hope that people would realise that one is a Drama set with Spike Island as a backdrop using actors and period cozzies to recreate a moment (i assume, not actually seen it) and That the other is a documentary about the Stone Roses, Their Fans, Their Past, Their Comeback etc and that they're probably as different as Snooker and CageFighting...They have so little in common that I can't see how anyone would feel like they had to pick one over the other. I would hope that we both help rather than hinder each other but I'm no expert on Distribution etc."

The Stone Roses fan page discovered Made Of Stone premieres May 30th in Glasgow.  Other U.K. screenings are expected to be announced shortly.

UPDATE (3/21 @ 5:45 am): The Stone Roses have announced they'll appear at the premiere of Made Of Stone on May 30th in Manchester.  The premiere will be followed by a Q & A session with the Stone Roses, Shane Meadows, and producer Mark Herbert.  The Q & A session will stream live in cinemas across the U.K., and fans can submit questions in advance of the screening over on the film's Facebook and Twitter.  Made Of Stone will have a wide release in the U.K. on June 5th.

For more on Made Of Stone, catch up with Meadows on his official website and fan forum.

The Stone Roses are currently on tour in Australia, but are heading to North America in April for a few live shows, including a headline slot on Coachella.





Morrissey - North American tour canceled

Morrissey's ill fated North American tour has been canceled due to ongoing medical issues. Moz's press representative sent out a tweet last night announcing the news and followed that up with an official statement which was emailed out to the elite media (The Hollywood Reporter, Pitchfork, etc):

"Despite his best efforts to try to continue touring, Morrissey has to take a hiatus and will not be able to continue on the rest of the tour," the statement reads. "Morrissey thanks all of his fans for their well wishes and thoughts."

UPDATE: A new statement from Morrissey about the cancellation has been posted on True To You:

"It takes a lifetime to find the right words, and at the moment, I haven't got them. I've been a colossal pain where this continuously unpredictable illness is concerned, and now the physical limits have been reached. The tour had, in fact, been fantastic for all of us - a new slice of life full of concentrated power. The audiences everywhere have given so much, although I know that neither of us will ever receive our due. I hope this isn't the end, and I hope there will be other chances, minus the heavy burden of illness. Knots of grief today, but full of resolve for tomorrow."

All of the dates on the tour are canceled (not postponed) and ticketholders can receive refunds at point of purchase. Video below from Morrissey's final stop on the North American tour.





3/18 - Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
3/19 - Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theater
3/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum
3/23 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater
3/27 - Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
3/29 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
3/30 - Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Theater
4/02 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
4/03 - Richmond, VA @ National
4/06 - Philadelphia, PA @ Tower
4/08 - Flint, MI @ Whiting Auditorium
4/09 - Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theater
4/12 - Beaumont, TX @ Jefferson Theater
4/13 - Pharr, TX @ Pharr Entertainment Center
4/15 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium
4/16 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
4/19 - Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theater
4/20 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea
4/23 - El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
4/26 - Denver, CO @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theater
4/28 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
4/30 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theater
5/01 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom

Friday, March 15, 2013

Depeche Mode - Soothe My Soul

During Depeche Mode's Live on Letterman concert on March 11th, the band debuted a new song titled "Soothe My Soul." Today Depeche Mode released the studio version of the song to radio stations worldwide (the song debuted first on BBC Radio 6 this morning). Stream "Soothe My Soul" below:



Depeche Mode's 13th studio album Delta Machine drops on March 26th. Earlier this week the band announced details for their North American tour which kicks off August 22nd at DTE in Detroit. Tickets for all of the dates on the tour go on sale Saturday, April 6th at 10am, and a series of internet presales kick off on April 1st. For more on the tour and presale information click here.

Tonight Depeche Mode perform at Brazos Hall in Austin, Texas at South By Southwest - the concert is being filmed by Yahoo! Music and will be available to stream on demand starting March 25th. Earlier in the week Depeche Mode took part in a Q & A session at SXSW, though audio from the session hasn't been uploaded yet, fans can stream a short interview with the band that took place before the Q & A session:

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Front Line Assembly - New LP this summer

Not much info is available, but Front Line Assembly have revealed that a new album is coming out later this summer:



According to a short blurb on the official FLA website, the album is all electronic and not at all like IED or Millennium. Catch up with Front Line Assembly on the web and Twitter.

Skinny Puppy - Weapon

Skinny Puppy return with a new album Weapon on May 28th. According to the band's label Metropolis, the new album includes 10 new tracks and tackles the issue of weapons, gun control, and glorification of gun culture:

"Could the weapon be the gun, or the one who wields it? Is it in creating an arms race among the populace, or does it lie in the resulting authoritarian control given to those who are charged with protecting us from ourselves? Is it the power to profit from the cycle? Is it the singular act of speaking against the conditioning of our thoughts and actions?"

Weapon will be released on cd and limited edition 180 gram vinyl on May 28th. Read more about Weapon and pre-order now through Metropolis. The tracklisting for Weapon is posted below.  For more on Skinny Puppy, be sure to catch up with them on Facebook.

Side A

01. wornin'
02. illisiT
03. saLvo
04. gLowbeL
05. solvent

Side B

06. paragUn
07. survivalisto
08. tsudanama
09. plastiCage
10. terminal

Blow Monkeys premiere new single/video "Oh My"

The Blow Monkeys are about to release a brand new album, Feels Like A New Morning on April 16th. The first taste of the album comes by way of a fantastic new track called "Oh My" - take a look at the official video below:



Feels Like A New Morning features 10 tracks and comes with a bonus disc of acoustic versions of the band's classics performed by leader Dr. Robert. Feels Like A New Morning drops April 16 on import from Amazon or April 8th in the U.K. on Cherry Red Records. Tracklisting is posted below:

CD 1

01. Oh My
02. Feels Like A New Morning
03. Cover Me
04. Chained
05. Said Too Much
06. Icarus In Flames
07. That's Not Right
08. In No Time At All
09. Shake It Up
10. Hold Everything Dear

CD 2 (bonus disc):

01. Digging Your Scene
02. Come On Down
03. Springtime For The World
04. It Doesn't Have To Be This Way
05. Man From Russia
06. Slaves No More
07. Heaven Is A Place
08. Choice?
09. Limping For A Generation
10. It Pays To Belong

Cherry Red also released expanded reissues of the first two Blow Monkeys albums at the end of last year - 1984's Limping For A Generation is available here, and 1986's Animal Magic is available here.

Morrissey axes Mexico City gig + posts tribute to fan

Morrissey is still recovering from a bout of bilateral pneumonia, and it appears he is too ill to perform at tonight's Vive Latino festival in Mexico City. Though Morrissey's official site has not commented officially, the Vive Latino festival site posted the following (translated) statement to concertgoers:

"Live announces the cancellation of the opening day of early Thursday March 14 due to health status of British singer Morrissey...The Rebate will be starting on Monday, March 18 at 12:00 am in the place where you purchased it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to the public."

Read the full statement here.

Morrissey was well enough to write a tribute to a huge fan of his named Margaret who passed away last week. Morrissey reports that Margaret managed to get on stage at last week's show in Davis, California. Read Morrissey's tribute (which ended with a Royal zinger) below:

"I did not know Margaret on a personal level, but she was always there on the front row - the UK, the US, Israel - wherever we'd go, she'd go. Last week Margaret drove behind the tour bus all the way from Davis to Seattle, and managed to get onstage at Davis. I had signed her arm and it was now a tattoo. This week she is dead. I can only hope, for Margaret, that death yields the profit of rest, and somehow provides her with a listener.

We all weary of living in the same skin day after day, in a world where only the blandly trivial are allowed to be heard, but there is nothing wrong with taking your destiny into your own hands, just as there is nothing wrong in understanding what is meant for you and what isn't. We are plonked into life without ever choosing to be, and we are despised if we fail to find a paralyzed spot in which to keep still and shut up. Margaret was a woman of action, who now knows the soul of the world.

Meanwhile, on today's AOL News Page, headlines tell us that Victoria Beckham has reportedly dropped her "fake" look, and William and Kate are in search of yet another home - the constitutional frigidity of a media world now openly obsessed with zombies and morons."

Morrissey's next live date is scheduled for Lawrence, Kansas on March 18th.



3/18 - Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall
3/19 - Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theater
3/22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum
3/23 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theater
3/27 - Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
3/29 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
3/30 - Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Theater
4/02 - Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
4/03 - Richmond, VA @ National
4/06 - Philadelphia, PA @ Tower
4/08 - Flint, MI @ Whiting Auditorium
4/09 - Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theater
4/12 - Beaumont, TX @ Jefferson Theater
4/13 - Pharr, TX @ Pharr Entertainment Center
4/15 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium
4/16 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
4/19 - Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theater
4/20 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea
4/23 - El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
4/26 - Denver, CO @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theater
4/28 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
4/30 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theater
5/01 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom