Posts filed under 'News'
Two members of Evanescence have exited the band, which leaves room for question about the future of the band.
Guitarist John LeCompt was fired from the band and drummer Rocky Gray had quit.
LeCompt said: “I’m done and I’m pretty upset about it.(Singer) Amy [Lee] called and fired me today. There’s absolutely no loyalty in this band.”
The guitarist said he is now focusing on his new band with Gray called Machina.
On his blog he writes: “Around 3:30 pm yesterday I received a call on my cell from Amy. This call wasn’t from a friend who appreciated me but from an enemy who was prepared to hurt me and my family. Without any warning or negotiations for my future, I was fired for no good reason. We have not always seen eye to eye on everything, but who does?”
“Our common goal was always the same. To make Evanescence the best rock band it could ever be. I have always given blood, sweat and tears to make that happen but apparently that is not enough. I have now become just another of the people fallen by the wayside on the revolving door of her life. It’s funny how many of us there are now. I guess it’s good for lyrical content, though. Maybe I will be among the blessed to have a song written about me, too. Maybe the song will be ‘Call Me When You’re Broke’.”
To me, this questions Amy Lee’s decision making and motives, simply because they should have talked it through before she just goes ahead and fires him from the band. I actually find this news rediculous - it seems as if there was no reasoning behind it. Although Amy Lee has not said anything as of yet, the news does seem a bit odd. We will post again when Amy comes out with an official word.
May 7th, 2007
Ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist, James Iha, has announced that he has no intention of touring with the band this spring/summer.
Iha claims he is too busy writing music for his solo project and working on his indie record label, Scratchie Records. He even told Rolling Stone, “I haven’t spoken to Billy [Corgan] in years.”
The only members on board for the reunion so far are singer Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlain. It does not appear that guitarist Iha or bassist Wretzky will join.
However, temporary member Melissa Auf der Maur has stated, “My services are always there to play my favorite songs. If D’arcy [Wretzky] is not available, I’m always happy to be second in line.”
With Iha’s announcement, a few questions are brought up.
- How can Corgan and Chamberlain expect this to fly if they don’t follow up and try to convince Iha or D’arcy Wretzky?
- Does this mean the upcoming Smashing Pumpkins album Zeitgeist will only feature Corgan and Chamberlain? Disappointing.
- Will they delay the reunion concert until all the members have time and are up for it?
Only time will tell..
What do you think about this “reunion”?
April 7th, 2007
Chris Cornell has announced his first UK concert, which will be in support of his forthcoming solo album ‘Carry On’ due in stores April 30 (May 21 in UK). The concert is on May 16 at London’s Astoria, and you can buy tickets here, on ents24.com
What songs he will play: It is almost certain Chris will play plenty of the new songs from ‘Carry On’. He will probably play a few Soundgarden favorites, and it is rumored he will play some Temple of the Dog.
Also recently announced was “Arms Around Your Love”, the title of the first single off the new album.
Check out the US tour dates on Ticketmaster now.
April 5th, 2007
Nine Inch Nails have made available 2 new songs for listen, not download, on their MySpace page. ‘Survivalism’ and ‘My Violent Heart’ are two tracks that will be on their new album.
The new album entitled ‘Year Zero’ will be available on April 6th in the UK and April 17 in the US.
The 17 track titles for ‘Year Zero’ can be seen here, on the NIN site.
February 19th, 2007
Smashing Pumpkins have scheduled the release of their new album ‘Zeitgeist’ for July 7, 2007. It is the band’s first album since 2000’s ‘Machina/The Machines Of God’.
The news came off the band’s myspace page in early February.
So far, the only original members officially working on ‘Zeitgeist’ are vocalist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Neither James Iha ro D’arcy Wretzky have announced whether they will be a part of the new album.
The Pumpkins have also announced a tour, starting in June. Tour dates can be seen on the smashing pumpkins website.
February 18th, 2007
Chris Cornell announced publicly that he is releasing a new solo album May 1st (entitled Carry On), and therefore ending his career with Audioslave. “Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave,†Cornell said. “I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors.â€
The only question now is what are their future endeavors? Since Chris Cornell was a crucial member of Audioslave, the ex-Rage trio needs to find a new singer. We now know Chris Cornell will probably go solo for a while, until he finds another band (he stated that a Soundgarden reunion was highly doubtful). As for the other three, who knows. Rage Against the Machine is playing at Coachella later this year, and maybe, oh maybe they’ll reunite(just thinking about it is satisfying.)
So who’s going to step up to be the new singer?
February 16th, 2007
Tool, the White Stripes, and Widespread Panic will join the reunited Police at the 2007 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to be held June 14-17 in Manchester, Tenn. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon through BonnarooTickets.com.
Past Bonnaroo festivals have been well received, featuring artists such as Dave Matthews Band and Cypress Hill. This year, it seems to be more unique than ever, with over 75 bands scheduled to play over four days. For six years, Bonnaroo has brought together some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and just about any contemporary music you can think of. The multi-stage festival is held on a beautiful 700-acre farm in Coffee County, Tennesee, near Manchester.
Playing at Bonnaroo will be Wilco, the Nightwatchman (Tom Morello’s solo project), the Flaming Lips, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Manu Chao, String Cheese Incident, Franz Ferdinand, the Roots, Kings Of Leon, the Black Keys, Wolfmother, Bob Weir & Ratdog, Ziggy Marley, the Decemberists, Spoon, the Hold Steady, Feist, Tortoise, Cold War Kids, the National, Annuals and Apollo Sunshine, DJ Shadow, Sasha & Digweed, Hot Chip, Girl Talk, Damien Rice, Dierks Bentley, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Regina Spektor, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Keller Williams, Fountains of Wayne, Hot Tuna, STS9, Galactic, North Mississippi Allstars, Ralph Stanley, Richard Thompson, Mavis Staples, T-Bone Burnett, Brazilian Girls, the Slip, and Rodrigo y Gabriela.
February 13th, 2007
Rage Against the Machine, after a seven year absence, is finally back for one more show, headlining at the 2007 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Coachella ‘07 will be a 3-day event on April 27-29 in Indio, California. Rage Against The Machine co-headlined the first Coachella with Tool in 1999. The 2007 festival also features bands Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bjork, Willie Nelson, the Roots, and Arctic Monkeys. Tickets are on sale now on ticketmaster.
The band consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk. Rage Against the Machine’s original break-up was because of creative differences between de la Rocha and his bandmates. After Rage Against the Machine’s breakup, the band formed Audioslave by replacing Zack de la Rocha with ex-Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Audioslave’s latest album Revelations was released September 5. 2006, but there are rumors that it will be their last.
The bigger acts of the show will be Arcade Fire, Interpol, Manu Chao, the Decemberists, Ghostface Killah, Fountains of Wayne, Sonic Youth, Crowded House, Air, Tiësto, Kings of Leon, Jarvis Cocker, the Good, the Bad and the Queen, Hot Chip, El-P, Peeping Tom, the Happy Mondays, Travis, Placebo, Kaiser Chiefs, Faithless and LCD Soundsystem.
Also playing will be DJ Shadow, Satellite Party, Stephen Marley featuring Jr. Gong, Konono No. 1, Nickel Creek, the Black Keys, the New Pornographers, Rufus Wainwright, the Rapture, !!!, Richie Hawtin, Explosions In The Sky, Junior Boys, Sparklehorse, Soulwax, the Kooks, Felix Da Housecat, Blonde Redhead, Damien Rice, Lupe Fiasco, Jose Gonzales, Brazilian Girls, Regina Spektor, Ozomatli, Peaches, Cornelius, We Are Scientists, Amy Winehouse, the Comedians of Comedy, Spank Rock, Tapes ‘n Tapes, the Klaxons, Girl Talk, CSS, the Coup, Against Me, Teddybears, Andrew Bird and Peter, Bjorn, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Lily Allen, Roky Erickson, Paul Van Dyk, Gotan Project, and Silversun Pickups.
Simply because of Rage Against the Machine, the upcoming Coachella Music Festival should mark one of the best concerts of 2007. Buy your tickets now, because they are goin’ fast!!
January 22nd, 2007