That’s just music

Sussex police had decided to investigate some newly recovered documents that relate to ex-guitarist of The Rolling Stones Brian Johns. Curious thing due to the fact that the guy is not in this world anymore for four decades. As the British tabloid The Mail on Sunday said, materials that were collected by a journalist Scott Johns, who was taking care of his own investigation during four years, may bring some light over this tragedy. It was specifically noted that Scott has no family ties with Brian Johns, but just carries the same last name. However, some people still think that he is somehow connected to Brian; rumours again. Brian Johns was one of the founders of The Rolling Stones, but only a few months before his death he had left the band due to some difficulties with Mick Jagger and his own drug addiction. Forty years ago, on July 2, 1969 Johns’ body was found in a pool at his home in Hartfield. Forensic analysis had shown that Johns was intoxicated with drugs and alcohol, thus he could not function normally and fell into a pool. Many fans believe that Johns was killed by his personal aide Frank Thorogood who died in 1994. Scott Johns is sure that he was able to collect materials that will prove the fact that the 1969 investigation was not carried out well.

British hard rock band Uriah Heep, which is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary all along this year is going to release the album under the name of “Celebration”. As Blabbermouth.net noted, the album will hit the stores on September 9 and should contain twelve remastered and re-recorded Uriah Heep songs that are considered to be the best ones out of their stash. It includes “Free Me”, “Gypsy”, “The Wizard”, “Easy Livin’”, “July Morning” and “Lady in Black”. Besides that, this upcoming disk will also include “Only Human” and “Corridors of Madness”, both brand new songs. “Celebration” will be available in three variations: standard, gift (CD+DVD) and collection (CD + vinyl single signed by the band members) versions. Here is the full track list of both albums: 1. Only Human (new track)
   2. Bird of Prey (new version)
   3. Sunrise (new version)
   4. Stealin’ (new version)
   5. Corridors of Madness (new track)
   6. Between Two Worlds (new version)
   7. The Wizard (new version)
   8. Free Me (new version)
   9. Free and Easy (new version)
  10. Gypsy (new version)
  11. Look At Yourself (new version)
  12. July Morning (new version)
  13. Easy Livin’ (new version)
  14. Lady In Black (new version)

 DVD - Live at Sweden Rock Festival 2009

   1. Sunrise
   2. Stealin’
   3. Gypsy
   4. Look at Yourself
   5. July Morning
   6. Easy Livin’
   7. Lady In Black

Legendary Pete Townshend, the leader of The Who began to work with the musical called “Floss”, which is dedicated to the problem of aging, said Billboard. As a sixty four year old musician said, way back when he was only 19, he wrote songs like “My Generation” where he disdained old, but now with the help of rock n’ roll he wants to talk about aging and the unevitable death. “Floss” scenario is going to be based on a couple, Walter and Floss. Following Townshend’s idea, ex-rocker Walter had decided to get back to music after hearing one of his old songs on the radio commercial, which suddenly turned into a hit, but eventually fails his plan. Things are changing when time moves on, rebels of the youth may change their mind, think back and see something new. Surely, Townshend himself is going through all sorts of problems and life struggles that deal with the aging process. “Floss” premiere is planned for 2011 and should take place in New York. However, the best songs from it will appear earlier on The Who’s upcoming album, which is about to be released in 2010. “Floss” is not the first musical in Pete Townshend’s career; in 1969 the band had released the rock opera “Tommy”, in 1973 “Quadrophenia”. Also, in 2007 Townshend had released the musical of his own “The Boy Who Heard Music”.

Elle magazine had chosen twelve best female guitar players in the history of music. The whole list was set up and published on the magazine’s website, and particularly dedicated to “It Might Get Loud” documentary. It was produced by Davis Guggenheim and tells about the history of electric guitar, specifically focusing upon The Edge (U2), Jack White (White Stripes) and Jimmy Page. However, this news is not about a documentary itself, but Elle’s list, which includes many of the famous names. It includes Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Nancy Wilson (Heart), Jennifer Batten, Donita Sparks (L7), Kelley Deal (The Breeders), Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney), Poison Ivy (The Cramps), Ruyter Suys (Nashville Pussy), The Great Kat, Marnie Stern and Orianthi. Elle notes that female guitar players are always standing in the shadow of their male bandmates, also giving an example of the similar list made by The Rolling Stone in 2003; it contains one hundred guitarists where only two are women – Joan Jett and Joni Mitchell. “I think we do exist, but in a different capacity. Guys really like to hear themselves talk. Women guitarists seem more song-oriented. What they choose to play contributes to making the song better, not just riffing all over it. It’s a deeper relationship”, said Kelley Deal. She definitely made a good note, women musicians can be absolutely great.

Internet had finally acquired one very curious and scandalous documentary film, which was made about The Rolling Stones way back in 1972 by the infamous photographer and cameraman Robert Frank during the band’s North American tour, said NME. The most interesting part about this movie was always based on the band’s hatred of it. Eventually, large parts of a documentary called “Cocksucker Blues” were uploaded onto Flavorwire.com on August 19 and still remain available to all viewers. “Cocksucker Blues” was never shown in public due to The Rolling Stones’ anticipation of it because according to their opinion it portrays them in the very negative light. Musicians just began to dislike the fact that Robert Frank had decided to show them while they’ve acted in the weird way behind the scenes. Well, things like this will become history anyway, so maybe The Rolling Stones have to understand something about themselves, their past and present. After seeing this documentary the band’s guitarist Keith Richards said that if at least one man will take a look at it then they shall never enter the US again. Pretty harsh remark that will make people go for this documentary even more, so Richards was too fast to say it. Nevertheless, maybe it could’ve been scandalous back in the early 70’s, and today it’s just another autobiographical thing.

Legendary Pictures is planning to screen a biography of Jimmy Hendrix, one of the most famous musicians of the twentieth century, said Variety. Producer of this so far unknown project will be Thomas Tull, the one who was previously working with Led Zeppelin and U2. Scenario should be written by Max Borenstein. Earlier tries to make a movie about Hendrix were not so successful; the main role was often planned for Lenny Kravitz and Andre Benjamin, but each time things just got abropted with the negative outcome. Experience Hendrix foundation, which runs musician’s heritage was constantly not allowing producers to use his records. Pretty strange, and it’s not the first time when things of this sort happen. The problem belongs to greed because heritage owners keep on making huge money, and they just don’t need anyone in their business. Legendary Pictures are about to make some brave moves by just starting to film it and only later fix all their legal problems with Experience Hendrix. Surely it’s not going to be the easy battle, hence right now everyone can just look at the Hendrix foundation and see their stubborn behaviour. Thomas Tull believes that verything will be organised on the highest level, and no one should destroy his unique project.

Irish legend U2 had announced it’s wish to release previously unknown songs, which were recorded during their work with the fourth album “The Unforgettable Fire” in 1984. It all became known on August 20, notes New Musical Express. As the band’s vocalist Bono said, he found some totally “secret” tracks while looking into his twenty five years old archive. “The Unforettable Fire” is going to be re-released and obviously may contain some of that archive’s stuff; U2 fans should be quite curious about it. The band’s guitarist The Edge had particularly underlined that every new/old song will be right on a new disk, even though Bono was less specific. Let’s just believe that everything will be included. “I listened to some tracks that we’re gonna release with the new “Unforgettable Fire” reissue, some new songs that we discovered that we’d recorded, back in that era -the ‘80s – that we’re gonna put out. And they sound amazing”, noted The Edge. It’s known that one of those songs, which is about to see the light in the upcoming months is called “Disappearing Act” and was recorded in 1983. Almost surely they all sound great, but back in the early 80’s the band thought that they should not go out.

This year’s Apple Music Event is going to take place on September 9 in San Francisco, said All Things Digtal relating it to some sources close to Apple. Most likely this gathering will not represent Apple’s new thing - MacBook Touch with the sensor screen. Thus the release of this new “toy” shall be delayed until 2010, noted Electronista and particularly underlined that during Apple Music Event the company had never shown devices that have nothing to do with music. Almost historically speaking, Apple was always a good supporter of music things and devices, so they’re absolutely not new to it. At the same time everyone is waiting to see the new generation of iPod, which contains camera and microphone. Also, the ninth version of iTunes should be presented as something really big this time because now it correlates with Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. CNET assumes that iTunes’ catalogue will finally include The Beatles music, and particularly it may happen during this year’s Apple Music Event. All Things Digital could not prove or disprove information on Steve Jobs visit, but rumours from many other sources keep on saying that he will put all his strenghts together and shall be out there. This guy is fighting with a horrible disease and even events like this one may not be the main part of his life right now.

Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee had to step out from his music activity and will have to take some rest from the band due to an unpleasant injury that he had to experience just a few days ago, said BBC News. Recently, Lee has burned his left hand, particularly fingers because he used some sort of a firework during the party. The result turned to be pretty negative; doctors have decided to put him away from drums until burns fully heal. Who will replace him before a drum set during the current Crue Fest tour is not known yet. However, Lee could not hold himself from getting on stage, as the band’s bassist Nikki Sixx said, he is jumping before the crowd, tries to sing, and generally amuses Motley Crue fans. Well, it could not be the other way, hence Tommy Lee is quite expressive in his behaviour and surely cannot hold himself from having fun. At the time of their recent concert in Detroit, Lee had appeared on stage with a bottle of “Jagermeister” and exlaimed that today he is not going to play on drums. “First of all, I suck – I was having fun and I burned myself,” said Lee. Moreover, Tommy had supported his band anyway while they’ve performed “Home Sweet Home” by playing piano, so he is not totally out, he can still participate in the band’s activities.

British band Radiohead had uploaded a new song “These Are My Twisted Words” thus proving new ways of advertising music on the Internet. More and more bands are trying to use this powerful source to become bigger; possibly soon this is going to be the only source of music. No alternatives, no other horizons to achieve success in music, or means to attain it. As the band’s guitarist Jonny Greenwood said, “These Are My Twisted Words” is the first fully finished and recorded song out of their new stash. It looks like they’re getting prepared for something totally new, something like the new album… Musician had also underlined that Radiohead is very proud of this new song and they’re planning to use it in their future concert play lists. Mentioned above song was unofficially uploaded onto the band’s fan site At Ease and YouTube. Right after this upload media began to spread rumours about Radiohead’s plans to release a new mini album on the Internet named “Wall of Ice” on August 17. However, all this information was totally denied by the band, so who knows, maybe it still will happen, but a little later. After all, bands often spread rumours for certain purposes, but sometimes it remains unclear and untrue.