That’s just music

The HBO channel is planning to release the series, which is going to be based on the Nine Inch Nails’ album Year Zero, said The Los Angeles Times. The band’s leader Trent Reznor is directly participating in the whole process, and surely will make a lot of influence on it. Currently, the project is on the pre-production stage, thus various peculiar details are hidden from the public eye so far. However, it’s known that the genre of the series can be related to the anti-utopia, so it may be pretty depressive, and deep. The plot is taking place in 2022 America. Laurence Bender is working as the producer, he is also well known for co-operating with Tarantino on such infamous movies as “Pulp Fiction” and “Inglourious Basterds”. Trent Reznor had recently noted that at the current moment they’re finishing work with the scenario. “It’s been an interesting and very educational process and it cleared the HBO hurdle a few months ago and now we’re writing drafts back and forth. So it’s very much alive and incubating at the moment”, underlined Reznor. The Year Zero series is not the only project this powerful musician is working with today; he is also writing the soundtrack for David Fincher’s “Social Network”, and it should be another pretty cool sensation. At the same time, not so long ago Reznor had posted five tracks from this movie at nullco.com. In other words, this talented guy is creating music, and is writing scenarios, so let’s see what he is about to come with by the end of this year.

British legend Depeche Mode had prepared another concert DVD that was filmed during it’s last year’s world tour in support of the “Sounds of the Universe” album. As their official website said, Mute record label is going to release “Tour of the Universe - Live In Barcelona”, which should particularly contain a lot of exclusive parts from two Barcelona concerts (November 20 - 21, 2009). This release must be available in three formats, first one will look as a gift, it will include two DVD disks with the actual concert, four bonus tracks, documentary about the tour, plus some promotional videos, and two CDs with the audio version. The second will contain one DVD and two CDs, and the third is going to consist of two Blu-ray disks. DVD (and CD) track-list from the “Tour of the Universe - Live In Barcelona” is already available:

1. In Chains
2. Wrong
3. Hole To Feed
4. Walking In My Shoes
5. It’s No Good
6. A Question Of Time
7. Precious
8. Fly On The Windscreen
9. Jezebel
10. Home
11. Come Back
12. Policy Of Truth
13. In Your Room
14. I Feel You
15. Enjoy The Silence
16. Never Let Me Down Again
17. Dressed In Black
18. Stripped
19. Behind The Wheel
20. Personal Jesus
21. Waiting For The Night

The whole tour took place in 2009-2010 and included 102 shows in forty countries, eventually 2,7 million people had visited them.

Elton John and a singer/rapper Plan B (his real name is Benjamin Paul Drew) will perform together at the BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms festival, said NME. Also, this event will be visited by Robert Plant with his new project “Band of Joy” and Neil Diamond. This festival is going to take place in London on October 29 - 30. Elton John and Plan B will perform during the first day, and are considered to be the most important act due to their differences in music styles. They’ve already confirmed their participation at the event, but so far did not clarify what particular songs will be performed. Notably, Plan B had released a new studio record in April, called “The Defamation of Strickland Banks”; the name itself marks possible similarity in social views between him and Elton John, both musicians are most likely against suppression, and strict political agendas. This album was able to reach the first place on the British music hits chart. He is best known for his song “End Credits” recorded in 2009 together with Chase & Status, pretty cool band of our time. Any kind of co-operation within the artistic world is always nice too see, musicians share views, music, and most importantly styles, which could never come together without their wishes to do so. Nevertheless, the upcoming event should mark another stone in such friendship between pop and rap music. 

Metallica’s legendary drummer Lars Ulrich is going to participate in the charity auction, which is going to take place on October 9, 2010, said agassifoundation.org. Musician is about to sell a lesson on how to play drums; it should take only one hour. Surely, not too many people will learn something in this short period of time, but most of them are probably just looking to chill out with their hero. Anybody who will participate in the auction will be able to visit San Francisco and visit the band’s studio (their major rehearsal base).  To be particular, a drummer will lead his lesson before the auction’s participants, and later get together with them during the lunch time. The whole thing will last for only one hour, and actually it’s even hard to explain what the guy is trying to do. Possibly just get together with his fans, this is the only thing which sounds logical at this point. The whole thing will be paid not by Metallica, but by the Mandarin Oriental and American Airlines. The auction itself was planned, and should be organized by the Andre Agassi’s foundation, which traditionally supports education to children from the poor families. Good idea, but Lars is definitely just trying to participate in order to communicate, and of course give some help to the tennis player’s organization and poor families. Why not after all?

New Musical Express had recently carried out a poll, which was setting up the aim to identify what band had performed the best cover; the results had shown that this is the band Muse.  Among other votes the biggest number was collected by a song called “Feeling Good”. It was written way back in 1964 by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for the musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd”. In different years it was sang by Nina Simone, George Michael, Eels, Traffic, and Pussycat Dolls. In 2001, Muse had included it’s own version into the album “Origin of Symmetry”. The second place went to the classic rock n’ roll song “Twist and Shout” performed by The Beatles. Third spot belongs to the country legend Johnny Cash who had covered Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt”. Also, NME had created the list of the worst covers, and it was lead by Britney Spears with a song “I Love Rock n’ Roll” originally written by The Arrows. It was included into her third album in 2001, and surely did not impress the magazine’s readers, so she went down below pretty quickly in their eyes. There is no question about the fact that not every singer or the band is capable of doing good covers, it’s difficult to write the original piece, but sometimes even harder to reproduce it. Interestingly, Metallica could be included in this list due to it’s infamous cover album “Garage Inc”, released in 1999.

A sixty-two year old Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler had started the solo career for the first time in his life; basically there was no other side project or anything of that kind, except the above mentioned band.  As the Blabbermouth.net notes, he had recently recorded a song called “Love Lives”, which is going to be the main theme in the Japanese fantasy movie “Space Battleship Yamato”. On November 24, Tyler should release this single specifically for Japan, and it should contain three versions - original, acoustic, piano and instrumental. Practically, this is the ballad, which was written by Tyler only after he read the “Yamato’s” screenplay, and watched the final scene. The movie itself will premiere on December 1, this year, and notably some parts of the song may already be heard on the YouTube. Besides his solo work, Tyler is planning to get involved with the television, particularly he had signed the contract to participate as the judge in the “American Idol” show. Tyler is surely doing a lot of activities, especially if taking into consideration his age, and the last year’s trauma. A lot of fans and critics keep on thinking what could make him leave his ‘child in music’ Aerosmith, and move into totally new things. Without any questions he is one of the best vocalists in the rock n’ roll, and will one day return to his old colleagues.

Lady Gaga is now considered to be the worst dressed celebrity, said WENN.com, which had practically carried out it’s own study. “Anti-rates” of how famous musicians look like was done right after the recent MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. Lady Gaga had arrived at the event wearing an absolutely strange dress because it was compiled from the fresh meat; the whole thing was designed by Frank Fernandez. Besides the actual dress, pop-singer had a small hat, and heels made of meat, at the same time she was holding a purse, also produced out of this material. After the end of the ceremony, WENN.com began to ask participants about who was dressed the worst, without any taste or beauty. Eventually, she had received 55% of the negative feedback out of all other judgments, becoming the leader of such “anti-rating”. Lindsey Lohan won the second place (17%), Katy Perry got the bronze with 14%, Rihanna is the fourth, and Gwen Stefani closes them up at the fifth spot. In many ways, all of these funny lists of how people dress up are actually good rates, shocking or innovative they get remembered, and in the end help them to rise in popularity. Pop artists as Lady Gaga are definitely trying to create ‘the hell of a show’ by wearing such ‘meaty’ outfits, so let’s give her a credit for something new. Notably, she was recently considered to be the best dressed celebrity according to the Vanity Fair magazine.

Ex-Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne had to cancel his solo concert in Germany to due the back injury, said MusicRadar. This guy is still very strong, and surely can do a lot, but there are always some fallen rocks on the way, and they can stop even such talents from performing live. On September 16, a sixty-one year old musicians had to perform in the city of Oberhausen within the frames of his “Scream” album tour. As witnesses and people that are close to him noted, during the last two-three weeks he was experiencing some very unpleasant pains in the back, which eventually became very tough right before his performance in Germany. Therefore, doctors are currently taking care of the legend, and had recommended him the quite time spending. Modern Ozzy is surely very quite in comparison to the old one, let’s say the one in the 1980’s, when he could party non stop without getting tired at all. What date will switch his postponed Oberhausen performance is not known yet, but it’s most likely taking place no matter what. Meanwhile, Osbourne had plans to perform in London on September 18, at O2 Arena; will that concert get canceled too is another mystery in the case. Medics are pretty powerful these days, and if necessary they can surely put such famous people as Ozzy Osbourne back into the right state of health very quickly. However, it all depends on what kind of injury Ozzy is dealing with.

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason had called his colleagues to reunite their legendary band, said Sky News. A lot of fans and admirers could not understand for a long time, why they’re not doing it for so many years, and what actually stands as an obstacle on the way of the band’s reunion. After all, they’ve been able to perform in 2005, and as long as two of the original musicians are alive, it’s possible to make things going once again. As a sixty six years old musician said, during the last few years all ex-Pink Floyd participants had significantly improved their relations, thus it would be very important if they return at least for one concert, even if his former friends are not truly ready for it. For the last time when they’ve worked together, particularly guitarist David Gilmour, bassist Rodger Waters, keyboardist Richard White and drummer Nick Mason, was in 2005 during the charity concert in London - Live 8. This is their “golden” lineup, and until that time it did not come together for twenty four years. They’ve performed their classics, “Breathe”, “Money”, “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb”. In July, 2010 Waters and Gilmour had performed together once again at the concert dedicated to the peace in the Middle East. After that, Waters had promised to get together with him within the frames of his new tour. Waters is dedicating it to the release of “The Wall”.

German band Einsturzende Neubauten, which is by many critics considered to be the founder of the industrial genre in music had announced the European and North American tour in dedication to it’s thirtieth anniversary, said Pitchfork. This band is not known by many people, even by those who admire industrial music, but in any case, musicians are going to some powerful and considerable tour dates once again. The above mentioned tour starts on October 14, in Amsterdam, and should end on December 15, in New York. Besides Netherlands and US the band should visit the UK, Finland, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Belgium and Canada. So, the game is moving on for them in the great way, and possibly soon we will be hearing of another legendary tour. Notably, in every place which they’re planning to visit, they will perform twice; surely, no rest for the sake of industrial kind. First day should be given to the standard concert during which they will perform only best and well known songs. The second day should be dedicated to movies and photographs about them, interviews and general talks with fans. Einsturzende Neubauten was founded in the West-Berlin in 1980. Totally, they’ve released eleven studio albums, the last of which is “Alles wieder offen”, released in 2007.