That’s just music

Ex-Velvet Revolver singer and the leader of Stone Temple Pilots Scott Weiland will spend eight days in jail for driving under alcohol influence. Also, he is going to live under probation for the following four years, including a 1/2 year alcoholism management program, said BBC News. 

Weiland was arrested for being ‘boosed’ in November 2007, when he wracked his car in L.A.  The court’s rule has ordered him to spend his ‘eight days’ before May 28^th. At the same time Stone Temple Pilots have arranged the biginning of their new tour on May 17^th. This tour incorporates 65 US cities.

Before this incident Weiland was already arrested for possessing drugs. The recent situation took place during a previous year, after which he was supposed to go through a six months rehabilitaion program. 

Stone Temple Pilots’ crescent of popularity was reached in the second half of 90’s. Later Weiland has left the band. Just during the last month the band has reunited marking their new birth by giving a concert in Los Angeles. 

A major Chinese rock-Midi Festival, which was supposed to take place between 1^st and 4^th of May this year in Beijing shall be postponed in order not to shatter the Olympics that will occur in August, said The Guardian.

Following this newspaper’s article, a festival (if it will eventually happen) should be arranged again in autumn, after the games. Festival’s organizers have explained their decision by the fact that the currect Olympics is the most important event right now, and nothing must stand on it’s way.

However, The Guardian also noted a few more possible reasons for this postponing. They may be connected to the security activities in China before the Olympics. Simply Chinese authorities could be afraid that this music festival can serve as the place for criticism against their governmental actions in Tibet. The Guardian brought up an example of such musical prostest. A recent Bjork’s performance in Shanghai where she has finished her song “Declare Independence” exclaiming “Tibet! Tibet!” can never be something what must popularize an upcoming Olympics.

British singer Amy Winehouse was arrested for attacking and fighting with two men near one of the London’s bars in Camden, said Sky News.

This incedent took place early in the morning on Wednesday.  One of Amy’s victims was trying to get a taxi for her, and received a kick with her head. Another one was blased with a fist.

Just for a reminder: during the last (50th) Grammy Awards ceremony Amy Winehouse won five nominations including “Debut of the Year”, “Song of the Year” and “A Record of the Year”.  However, she was not participating in it – her famous song “Rehab” Winehouse performed through the satillite TV.  An access to the United States was declined over her arrests back in Britain.

Amy’s problems with the law are often seen in the media: lots of alcohol and drug scandals made her very popular. Recently many people have discovered her music with the help of this celebrity’s lifestyle.  In the beginning of 2008 she went through the rehabilitation program.

Canadian indie-rockers Arcade Fire will perform two concerts supporting democratic candidate in the American presidential campaign Barack Obama.

These two concerts shall take place on 1st and 2^nd of May in the cities of Greensboro and Carrboro, North Carolina.  Opening act was given to the band Superchunk.  Concerts were organized by the activists of One-Stop Early Voting, which is calling American university students to vote.  “This a defining moment for this country. We want to encourage people to get up, get out, and go vote,” said Win Butler (the leader of Arcade Fire) explaining his participation in such a campaign.

Arcade Fire is far from being the first band which is supporting Barack Obama in his fight against another democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.  Before this many more were saying about their siding with Obama: Bruce Springsteen, Rodger Waters, bands R.E.M. and Black Eyed Peas.

Sir Paul McCartney’s wealth was not counted to the fullest during his recent divorce scandal, and in reality it’s on 100 million pounds bigger.  The Telegraph said that his total and real amount of money shall be announced in the nearest Sunday Times issue.

Journalists are saying that the court did not take into account some of McCartney’s income sources, and the price of his villa, which belonged to his first wife Linda McCartney.  If including these ‘forgotten sources’ his wealth totals up to 500 million pounds instead of 400.  An official representative of Sir Paul refused to comment recent Sunday Times publication on this news.

As the result of a scandalous divorce, which was over in March turning into the longest court hearing process in history of the British judiciary, legendary musician paid 24,3 million pounds.  This divorce became so loud that it even inspired creation of a computer game where an aim is to get as much money from McCartney as possible.  A survey taken in March showed that 40% of Britons hate Heather Mills. 

Sunday Times journalists have estimated that McCartney is the richest singer in Britain.  Among women this position is held by Madonna whose wealth totals up to 300 million pounds.  Also, Sunday Times said that Andrew Lloyd Weber owns 750 million pounds, and Joan Rowling has 560 million pounds.   

Association of collectioners of The Beatles’ heritage from New England called World Wide Video brought legal action against John Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono.

American collectioners are accusing Yoko of enroachment on the rights to the movie “3 Days In The Life” about Lennon.

This documentary was made by her ex-husband Anthony Cox in 1970 just a few weeks before The Beatles fell apart.  It contains now historical pieces of those moments when Lennon is making songs “Remember” and “Mind Games”, plus his discussion with Yoko when he proposed to pour some LSD into the US president’s cup of tea (meaning Richard Nixon). A movie about which nothing was known is basically still unknown to the public.

In 2000 this association of collectioners has purchased a movie from Cox including copyright for one million dollars. Last year World Wide Video was planning to present it in one of the schools in Maine, but Yoko’s lawyers didn’t allow this to happen. 

Eventually, World Wide Video is trying to sue her. Preliminary court hearings will start in Boston on April 30. 

Legendary Australian rockers AC/DC is working on creation of their new album, said Digital Spy.

Recording of a new material is taking place in Vancouver.  Producer of the new album is Brandan O’Brian, and sound director – Mike Fraser.

Following what musicians are saying, this new disk will appear in stores at the end of 2008.  The album’s title is still unknown, but it was rumoured that it’s going to be “Strap It On”.  However, the band has declined this information.

Upcoming release is the sixteenth studio album, and the first one after eight years of silence.  Previous AC/DC’s album -“Stiff Upper Lip” was released in 2000.

The ex-leader of the American new-wave band Talking Heads David Byrne is recording new solo album in the joint cooperation with the famous producer Brian Eno, said New Musical Express.

A musician has decided not to open any details on this project and approximate release date.  Byrne and Eno have already worked together: in 1981 they’ve released the album “My Life in the Bush of Ghosts”, which afterwards became classic.

Futhermore, David Byrne made it known that he is also cooperating with a DJ Norman Cook who is more famous under the name Fatboy Slim.  Following Byrne’s words they have recorded a few songs so far, but it’s still unknown what shall happen with them in the future.  For Byrne and Cook this is not the first collaborative work.  Together they were creating the musical named “Here Lies Love” about the Philippine dictator’s widow Imelda Marcos. 

During his sole career Byrne has released more than ten albums.  Also, he founded the music label Luaka Bop, which is not producing exclusively his music.  Together with Talking Heads a musician has created eight albums since 1977 to 1988. 

A full-length documentary movie about The Beatles, which tells a story about creation of the album “Love” will be released on June 24, says an official band’s website.  All distribution rights were purchased by the EMI Music. 

Documentary film (shall be on DVD) under the name of “All Together Now” is telling about the ex-Beatle’s members collaboration with Canadian circus company Cirque du Soleil.  As a result of this friendship two things have been made: the album “Love” (was released in 2006), and a circus performance under the same name.

All together this movie takes up 128 minutes.  Also, it will include interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and the first show (Cirque du Soleil) rehearsals in Las Vegas (shown theater is located in a hotel Mirage).

Legendary rock musician Bruce Springsteen has supported democratic candidate for the US presidency Barack Obama, says CNN.

On his web site Springsteen has published a little proclamation about the fact that he is not in agreement with those who are trying to criticize Obama over some of the candidate’s comments taken out of context.  Musician gave a high mark to Obama’s moral principles and called him “the best candidate”.

In February Bruce Springsteen said that his is not sure yet, which candidate is better Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama and decided to look further in order to make the decision on this issue. 

In 2004 Springsteen was supporting democratic candidate John Kerry.