Music Filter: Rock

Keith Richards: Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 21:19:12 GMT

The AP reports Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, we are relieved to announce, has fully recovered from his head injury incurred in Fiji, and is ready to go back on tour with his mates.

There is, however, some dispute surrounding the nature of the tree from which he fell earlier this year. Initial reports said Richards fell from a coconut tree, during the act of selecting coconuts, presumably for consumption as food.

In the Stones' press conference regarding his cleared physical status, however, the Glimmer Twin was evasive about what kind of tree he ascended:

...When the inevitable question came -- what was Richards doing up in a coconut tree and did he find what he wanted? -- everyone was ready to set the record straight.

"That's a good one. If you saw the tree, you'd realize the joke. Fiji is not just made of coconut trees. It was a little tree," Richards said.

Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood were eager to illustrate the point, indicating a height less than half of Richards.

The average coconut tree grows to a height of around 30 meters. That's approximately 98 feet. The shaft of the coconut tree is, as you're probably aware, without branches or obvious natural gripping apparatuses. In order to climb such a tree, the expeditionist must bear hug the circumference of the trunk with both arms and legs, and shimmy up the tree using interior muscles, all the while maintaining his or her grip.

If one can envision Mr. Richards attempting such an ascent in his age and physical condition -- which may, for all we know, be excellent, considering his surprising longevity withstanding the various substances he has introduced into his system -- then one can see how the coconut tree is the most likely culprit in causing Mr. Richards' injuries.

However, the coconut tree is, indeed, not the only tree on the Fiji Islands. There are acacia trees (which typically grow to between 15 and 30 feet), hibiscus trees (15 feet at most) and, yes, even the occasional breadfruit tree (85 feet). If Richards maintains that he did not climb a very high tree, then the most likely offender would be the acacia. Breadfruit trees are far and few between on the island, and the hibiscus is more like a shrub.

If, as Mr. Jagger and Mr. Wood implied, Mr. Richards sustained his injuries by falling out of a tree half as tall as Richards, then that tree would have had to be, at most, two feet ten inches tall. That estimate suggests it could have been a hibiscus.

However, it is very, very difficult to sustain life-altering head injuries by falling from a height of just under three feet. I just tried doing so for the sake of research, and I'm fine. The throw pillow broke my fall.

Given the facts and the research data at hand, therefore, we conclude that Mr. Richards injured himself by slipping on coconut juice that had spilled in the kitchen of his suite. We're working on a boycott of coconuts and linoleum manufacturers now. Look for the informational flier in your mailbox soon.

In other news, Richards has also confirmed that he will be portraying Johnny Depp's father in Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Vengeful Hibiscus.

-- Shrug

Every Little Thing's Gonna Be All Right

Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:13:36 GMT

I like to stay informed on current events with as much diligence and accuracy as attainable, which is why I watch The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report regularly. Yes, that's a joke, although I personally don't find it that funny.

Tuesday night the Colbert show provided me with a surefire item: The National Review's Top 50 conservative rock songs of all time. John J. Miller conduced a free-form reader survey to find explicitly rock and roll songs that articulated typical conservative values. Miller made up the list from their suggestions and, from what I can tell, ranked them himself.

I personally believe lists about pop music are silly, adding another level of categorization to an art form that already has too many delineations. The hierarchial implications of lists have nothing to do with the creative process of the artist, and may indeed counteract that process.

I'm also addicted to these lists and suck 'em up like popcorn. It's quick reading. They typically use a lot of bold-faced fonts. Easier for me to read.

Miller admits a lot of his selections are by liberal musicians. I'd go further: most of them are from liberals. But he does a pretty good job of isolating lyrics that can be interpreted as echoes of core conservative values. Nice trick.

With the upfront admission that I'm not a conservative, here are some interesting selections from Miller's catalog of red state rockers:

1. "Won't Get Fooled Again," by The Who. Miller's dead-on about this song's rejection of "naïve idealism," in this case a repudiation of the empty symbology of certain factions in the late 60's. True, a lot of people went to those protests strictly for the drugs and sex, and had no constructive ideas for the supposed revolution. Whenever I hear this song I think of what John Lennon once said in a live concert: "Flower power didn't work, so let's try something else."

I always felt this song was about the traps of large-scale movements, especially when they're marketed and sloganized in the mass media. The more institutionalized the sentiment, the higher the risk of chicanery -- that someone is going to use dandelions and peace signs for no other reason than to sell you a Coke.

7. "Revolution," by the Beatles. For the same reason as #1, except shorter and with a catchier chorus. Lennon doesn't absolutely reject the revolution, he just has some practical advice regarding pictures of Chairman Mao. They're really not that effective. Mao was never pop. Che Guevara, now that was a rock star.

8. "Bodies," by the Sex Pistols. Miller: "A searing anti-abortion anthem." He's right, but the Pistols were anti-everything.

11. "The Trees" and 22. "Red Barchetta," both by Rush. (The Canadian band, not Limbaugh.) "The Trees" is a catfight between unionized maples and big-business oaks, finally resolved in a sweet conservative plot twist in which the forest is clear-cut. "Red Barchetta," based on a short story, is about the luxurious consumption of gasoline and speed in a futuristic regulated society. (Rush drummer Neil Peart is a fan of epic author Ayn Rand. This might explain why some Rush songs go on for hours.)

17. “Stay Together for the Kids,” by Blink-182. Miller: "A eulogy for family values by an alt-rock band whose members were raised in a generation without enough of them." Well, yeeeah... but listen to the verses. I don't think it can be said that Blink-182 necessarily agrees that parents at continuous war with each other have to "stay together for the kids"; sounds to me like they're saying the whole family would be better off if there was some space.

28. "Janie's Got a Gun," by Aerosmith. Miller: "How the right to bear arms can protect women from sexual predators." That's a jump of logic. The song's about a grown woman who exacts revenge on her dad for things he did to her when she was a child. For Miller's interpretation to hold water, he'd have to endorse children's right to bear arms. Could you imagine the chaos at Chuck E. Cheese if that happened?

38. “I Can’t Drive 55,” by Sammy Hagar. Miller: "A rocker's objection to the nanny state." (Smirk) It's all right for the government to peer into our bedrooms -- but leave us alone on the freeway!

50. “Stand By Your Man,” by Tammy Wynette. Miller: "Hillary trashed it -- isn't that enough?" Mrs. Clinton didn't exactly trash the song, although Wynette deserved and received an apology from her. What's frequently forgotten about this tiff is that, after all apologies were issued, Wynette fervently supported the Clinton campaign, even performing at their fundraisers.

Check out the list for yourself. It's kind of fun. I don't personally mind sharing a lot of these titles with the right-wingers myself. Whatever helps them learn how to dance, y'know?

-- Shrug

Sleater-Kinney Break Up

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:49:43 GMT

Well, damn it.

Sleater-Kinney, the Portland, OR-via-Olympia, WA band who became one of the most acclaimed indie-rock bands ever, have announced that they're on "indefinite hiatus." No specific reason was given. MTV reports they'll be doing a farewell show in Portland later this year. The message on their website reads:

After eleven years as a band, Sleater-Kinney have decided to go on indefinite hiatus. The upcoming summer shows will be our last. As of now, there are no plans for future tours or recordings.

We feel lucky to have had the support of many wonderful people over the years. We want to thank everyone who has worked with us, written kind words about us, performed with us, and inspired us.

But mostly we want to extend our gratitude to our amazing fans. You have been a part of our story from the beginning. We could not have made our music without your enthusiasm, passion, and loyalty. It is you who have made the entire journey worthwhile.

With love and thanks,
Sleater-Kinney

Having been a DJ on KAOS in Olympia during much of S-K's existence, I and all the other rock DJ's at the station relied heavily on the work of Carrie Brownstein, Janet Weiss and Corin Tucker to for our shows. This includes their recordings as members of Excuse 17 and Heavens to Betsy as well. Their evolution, from their first album on Chainsaw, through their Kill Rock Star releases, to their apparently final release on Sub-Pop, was staggering. Time magazine once called them "the best band in America," not the kind of all-encompassing statement you'd expect for a doggedly indie band, especially one without a bassist.

When I heard The Woods when it came out last year, I was initially floored. S-K somehow managed to make a deconstructive album that sounded huge. It took them light years beyond what they'd sounded like before. If it does indeed turn out to be their epitaph, it's a good one.

I remember buying a Molson beer from Carrie at the Olympia Film Festival's "Canada Night" a couple years back. It was great to see a band with so much insane international acclaim remained tied to their communities through such voluntary work.

And Janet Weiss is one of our country's greatest living drummers. Not just with S-K, but as part of Quasi as well.

I'm bummed. Rendered dumb at the moment, which is not a good thing to be if you're a writer. Whatever the members of Sleater-Kinney do next, I can't wait for it.

Go buy their CDs. If you already have them all, buy second copies for your car.

-- Shrug

Gabba Gabba Huh?

Wed, 21 Jun 2006 02:50:49 GMT

London's West End, the general area that first gave us Mamma Mia!, the ABBA musical, is the home district for the upcoming stage play based on the work of the Ramones. The show is called Gabba Gabba Hey.

I quote the website:

Gabba Gabba Hey!, the world’s first punk rock musical, takes 18 mini-masterpieces of bliss, longing and despair by seminal New York rockers the RAMONES – including the classics I Wanna Be Sedated, Beat On The Brat, Blitzkrieg Bop, 53rd & 3rd and Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - and weaves them into a postmodern fairy tale about the redeeming power of love.

The red text is mine. I thought it appropriate since both the phrases "postmodern fairy tale" and "redeeming power of love" raise red flags for me.

"The world's first punk rock musical"? Apparently these folks haven't heard of Hedwig & the Angry Inch.

Tommy Ramone is somehow involved in all of this, as are 70's punk bassist Tony James, the Stranglers' Hugh Cornwell and -- I kid you not -- Angela Bowie, David's ex. (And, of course, Zowie's mother.) The curtain goes up in July if you plan on visiting London.

I personally won't be able to make it, since I'll be in rehearsals for my new musical, The GG Allin Story: Don't Pick That Up! It's Not a Brownie! It's about the redeeming power of laxatives.

--Shrug

SXSW Kicks Off

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 16:32:31 GMT

The 20th annual South by Southwest (SXSW) festival has gotten underway in Austin, TX. Alongside the Winter Music Conference in Miami, SXSW has grown into the biggest of these music industry cluster----- (we mean that in a nice way), with what seems like a gazillion bands playing in more showcases than you shake your RAZR at. The keynote artist is going to be Neil Young, who will be interviewed by film director Jonathan Demme (the two recently teamed up for the concert film, Neil Young: Heart of Gold. However, there's going to be 1,400 acts performing, with 20,000 gathered onlookers, trying to cram into every bar and venue in Austin during the course of the next week or so.

Included amongst the musical celebs will be Morrissey, the Pretenders, the Arctic Monkeys, Beth Orton, Belle and Sebastian and just to make sure it's not all rock: Talib Kweli. (Follow MSN's SXSW updates). (Source: MSNBC)

A Guide To Emo

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:28:26 GMT

MSNBC preps a guide to emo which frankly, we're happy for since we get confused all the time over what the heck that label actually means. We always thought it applied to pseudo-soft punkers who wrote angsty songs about love (which may not be far off from the truth). Helen Popkin breaks it down for us ... though as she points out, there's no real consensus as to what "emo" means:

"Emo means different things to different people. Short for “emotive” or “emotional” (depending on whom you ask), emo being amorphous enrages those loyal to their version."

Popkin traces a musical genealogy that begins in Washington D.C. back in the mid-1980s, starting with Husker Du's Zen Arcade, then leading to two short-lived bands, Embrace and Rites of Spring, then to Fugazi as part of the second gen wave. Ok, things get a bit complicated here since, by the mid-1990s, there was a split into emocore and indie emo. The former was "associated with dense, caustic music and nontraditional song structure," while the latter was built off a "more accessible pop sound," that bands from the "indie emo" ranks are the ones who made the greatest headway in introducing emo to the world: Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, etc.

From there, emo has since grown into various permutations, none of which seems particularly cohesive. Popkin writes,

"Emo morphed into anything mopey and marketable. Dashboard Confessional emerged as the emo poster band, despite its more typically-pop songs with themes such of "boy-loses-girl" and "I’m sad."

More to the point, emo has taken on a kind of fashion sense, similar to grunge in the early '90s, there's now an emo-influenced clothing palette, what Popkin describes as:

"you’ll get a lot of ‘50s-era Frank Sinatra shirts, along with other thrift-store remnants associated with a plethora of music subcultures (indie, mod, goth, punk, rockabilly, etc.). Pants are tight and hair is often dyed and shaggy — two more styles that travel easily between cliques."

Confused? We are. (Source: MSNBC)

Joan Jett Goes Warped

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:27:40 GMT

Now in its 12th year, the Warped Tour has announced most of its line-up for its two month summer tour. Surprisingly, the Warped Tour is now the longest running rock tour in the country – partially because it attracts a loyal following, partially because it's managed to out-last other competitors that eventually dimmed (see Lollapalooza and Lilith). In any case, this year's Warped Tour will have Joan Jett and the Blackbyds (that's a helluva flashback for an '80s teen such as myself) at the helm, alongside Less Than Jake, Say Anything and AFI, amongst other emo-rockers.

The Tour kicks off in Columbia, Maryland on June 14th and then runs for the next eight weeks across the U.S., with four Canadian dates, including the last two nights of the Tour, on August 12 and 13th, in Toronto and Montreal, respectively. (Source: Rolling Stone)

The Kinks Take Madison Ave.

Thu, 09 Mar 2006 19:00:30 GMT

According to Billboard, the hottest new rock band right now is ... The Kinks. For those older than, you know, 14, you'll probably note that the Kinks aren't exactly new but a recent rash of commercials using the group's music has been an unlikely source of bringing the 1960s British rock band back into vogue. Of course, you might be surprised to see who's pairing the Kinks with what products: Cadillac using Led Zeppelin made some sense but the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night" for ... Tide detergent? "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" is being used in IBM ads while "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy" ends up in ads for Abbott Labs, a medical equipment company.

Part of this trend could be tracked back to 2004, when Hewlett-Packard made what we think was a brilliant call in using the Kinks' "Picture Book" as part of HP's digital photo printing campaign. Says Kenny Ochoa, who helps license for the group, "When spots work, they really work. The music and visuals drove that spot – it was a perfect marriage." Oddly though, Billboard notes that none of these songs, including "Picture Book" or "All Day" are available for download and there are no immediate plans to change that policy. We don't understand what the reluctance is here since it'd only serve to help push more money towards the group ... or at least, their label. I mean, shilling for a detergent is fine but selling a popular song to consumers isn't? (Source: CNN)

Rod Stewart Owes $3 Mill To Vegas Casino

Tue, 07 Mar 2006 08:46:11 GMT

Rod Stewart's been enjoying some good success with his last few albums – mostly covers/standards – and now, it looks like he'll have to cash out some of that in order to pay off a $3,000,000 verdict he now owes a Las Vegas casino, stemming over a cancelled concert from December 2000. Stewart was supposed to play at Harrah's over the New Year's weekend – a big gig, big enough that Stewart was paid $2,000,000 as an advance.

However, Stewart ended up canceling the gig, citing throat surgery he had a few months prior. This is a key point: Harrah's attorneys claim that Stewart had no business accepting an advance if he knew about the throat surgery (or its effects) months in advance. Apparently, a federal judge agreed and ordered that Stewart not only pay back the $2,000,000, plus an additional million in "interest, penalties, and attorney fees," PLUS a little over $100,000 more on a contempt charge stemming from evidence that Stewart didn't turn over to Harrah's attorneys. Stewart had no comment but his legal counsel plans to appeal. (Source: AOL News)

Rolling Stones To Rock Shanghai

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 19:20:52 GMT

The latest stop on the Rolling Stones massive world tour will be China, a country where the group has never played before. They're set to hit the city of Shanghai on April 8th, three years after they were originally supposed to play there. However, fears over the SARS virus lead to shows being cancelled and it's taken a few years to reschedule the Stones back there.

Given China's infamous habit for censorship, the Stones are not immune (looks like China and the NFL have something in common): there's a list of songs they won't be allowed to play in Shanghai including: "Let's Spend The Night Together," "Brown Sugar," "Honky Tonk Women" and "Beast Of Burden." "Beast of Burden"? Really? (Source: FMBQ)

The Sex Pistols Blast Off At Hall Of Fame

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 17:38:59 GMT

Living up to their image as one of the original bad boys of punk, the Sex Pistols have sent over what amounts to an FU notice to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, "declining" their invitation to appear at a ceremony where the British rock group will be inducted. The Pistols posted the following note online, bad grammar and all:

""Next to the Sex Pistols, rock and roll and that hall of fame is a p*** stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. We're not coming. We're not your monkeys. If you voted for us, hope you noted your reasons. Your anonymous as judges but your still music industry people. We're not coming. Your not paying attention. Outside the s***-stream is a real Sex Pistol."

It's not clear if the Pistols just hate the idea of the Hall in general or if they're just P.O.ed for having been snubbed five times before (they've been eligible since 2001 but voters have only put them in this year). (Source: Rolling Stone)

Rolling Stones Bring In A Million In Rio

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:00:21 GMT

We know the Rolling Stones are popular, yada yada, but whoa – one million people actually turned out to see the group in Rio De Janeiro this past Saturday night. The two hour show, like the Stones' tour in North America, highlighted songs from both their recent A Bigger Band LP along with the group's many classics. In order to accommodate the crowd, the group played on Rio's Copacabana Beach and 6,000 police officers were on hand to make sure things didn't get out of hand.

The group was insulated from the main throng of the crowd ... by about 4,000 VIPs who got priority seating in front of the stage. Says Fredo, a teacher from Sao Paulo, "It is always like this in Brazil, everything for the millionaires." Speaking of money, the city government of Rio shelled out $750,000 to host the concert but that only paid 16% of the total cost: the rest was picked up by telecommunications companies Claro and Motorola.

Just for trivia's sake: this wasn't the biggest concert ever. Believe it or not, Rod Stewart played the same beach in 1994 and drew an estimated 3.5 million people. Yeah, Rod Stewart. Take that Mick! (Source: MSNBC)

Johnny Rotten Separates Punk From Plonk

Fri, 10 Feb 2006 08:17:42 GMT

Punk purists have often looked at the crossover success of American bands like Green Day and Blink-182 – who are often described as punk or "post-punk" bands – and turned up their noses but the Sex Pistols' John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten just lays it out in plain (British) english:

""Don't try and tell me Green Day are punk. They're not, they're plonk and they're bandwagoning on something they didn't come up with themselves. I think they are phony.

By the way, "plonk" = awesome term.

One huge issue Lydon has is the fact that when the Sex Pistols were coming up, they were a scourge of the British establishment and had to deal with government and police harassment. Lydon says that these new punk bands haven't paid enough dues to earn the term:

""So there we are fending off all that and it p**ses me off that years later a w**k outfit like Green Day hop in and nick all that and attach it to themselves. They didn't earn their wings to do that and if they were true punk they wouldn't look anything like they do."

No response from Green Day yet but we're all for a battle royale grudge match between the two bands. Straight street like You Got Served. (Source: Contactmusic.com)

Cream To Tour Together Again?

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 10:10:38 GMT

Following up on their reunion show last year, legendary British rockers Cream plan to set up a few more dates together ... at least, so says the group's bassist Jack Bruce. For many years, the trio of Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker have largely lead separate lives but apparently, in their older age, the three are finding some satisfaction in regrouping. Just don't expect a Rolling Stones like tour. Says Bruce:

"What we feel is that it's so special, and also so emotionally draining that it's not something we could do every day. We will play more, but where and when I'm not at liberty to say."

Tease.

Bruce will be on-hand at the Grammys tonight to help accept an award of behalf of the group for "lifetime achievement," alongside other awardees including fellow Brit David Bowie, country's Merle Haggard, and the late Richard Pryor and Robert Johnson. (Source: Yahoo News)

Arctic Monkeys Smoke Up A Controversy

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 21:17:40 GMT

For all the love that the Arctic Monkeys get, there's at least one group who aren't feeling too warm and cuddly: anti-smoking crusaders. See ... the cover of the UK version of the album (and presumably, the upcoming U.S. release) features a simple B&W photo of a man smoking. This has Dr. Laurence Gruer, of the Scottish National Health Society, concerned that the image will simply reinforce the idea that smoking = cool:

"It is the fastest-selling album in British history, but it gives out the wrong image. With a blatant image of a guy smoking, it will be seen by many as a cool thing to do."

The Monkeys' manager, Johnny Bradshaw has dismissed the concerns, noting, "We have not had any complaints from supermarkets or places where the album has been stocked."(Source: Gigwise.com)

What The ^%# Is Wrong With Pete?

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 18:30:05 GMT

On any given morning of music news, there's been one headline that has shown up so many times, you'd think it was permanent: "Pete Doherty arrested." The British rocker's excesses with drugs and run-ins with the law have become so frequent, he's like a self-cariceture of himself. What would be more shocking to hear about is he spending a day sober. The NY Times profiles the troubled musician and states upfront: "Mr. Doherty himself is becoming the kind of musician who dabbles in music between drug-related incidents."

That's not hyperbole: Doherty had a magical day just this past Friday where he managed to get arrested not once, not twice, but three times: once for driving under the influence, once for assaulting a fan at a show and once for carrying heroin in this jeans. That's a Behind the Music hat trick if we've ever seen one.

These problems have damaged the potential success of The Babyshambles, the group Doherty now fronts. For a few months, British press was drooling over them but as Doherty's problems escalated, more fans began to tire of cancelled shows because the lead singer was in jail or otherwise incapacitated. According to Paul Rees, the editor of the UK's music mag Q,

"What's happened is that Arctic Monkeys have come along and taken all his fans away with one fell swoop... It's still debatable how great his talent is. He was very promising, but it's never been fulfilled. All he's done is frustrate people."

We wouldn't go as far to say that Doherty has a death wish but his appetite for self-destruction seems insatiable at this point. (Source: NY Times)

U2 To Go Hip-Hop?

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:30:49 GMT

Look, it's not that we mind that Bono has an interest in working with rap artists. He told the AP the other day that, after listening to Kanye West (why are we not surprised it'd be that name?),

"I happen to be in really a truly great band, and experimentation has been the lifeblood of this band. We of course will look and are looking across at hip-hop and see the amazing innovation in the studio."

Presumably, Bono is hinting at the possibility of something like a Maroon 5/Kanye West collaboration (which has happened twice already). That could sound, uh, ok, though we have flashbacks to stuff like Santana + Wyclef's "Maria, Maria," you know, pop-driven rather than a harder edge like M.O.P. moshing it out or the entire LinkinLimpKornBiscuitPark contingent.

The problem we have is ... what the hell took Bono so long to arrive at this conclusion? It's not like he's some hot new band, contemplating a hip-hop collaboration; U2 became hot in the 1980s at the same time hip-hop was exploding into global popularity too. We assume U2 hasn't be living under a rock that whole time so why now? Again, it's not that we mistrust the motives here but the timing seems strange. (Source: Allhiphop.com)

Arctic Monkeys Are Red Hot In The UK

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 17:42:15 GMT

As we were tracking British music news the last month, the only headline that seemed more common than "Pete Doherty arrested," were ones hyping the new Arctic Monkeys release, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Seems like the entire United Kingdom has been waiting for the new Oasis to come along and they've anointed the Monkeys to be that band. (Sorry Coldplay).

The group managed to scare up 360,000 units in its first week of release, good enough to be the fastest selling album in British music history, some 55,000 records better than the last record holder, Hear'Say's Popstars from 2001. Reuters credits part of the band's success to their use of the internet to help market themselves though their spokesperson puts it in grander language:

"A band like this comes along maybe once every 10 years and I think their words and energy has struck a cord with the British public.

Americans will get to hear what all the hype is about on February 21, the day the CD comes out here. (Sources: Billboard, CNN)

Sly and The Family Stone Reuniting For Grammys?

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:56:15 GMT

Our friend over at the Washington Post, J. Freedom du Lac reports today that Sly Stone, ever the reclusive, may be coaxed out of his self-imposed industry exile to perform at the Grammy Awards next month. Not just Stone himself but the entire group would be reuniting for the performance. As du Lac lays out, this is no small deal:

"It would be Stone's first live performance since 1987, and his first major public appearance since Jan. 12, 1993, when Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It would also mark the first time since 1971 that the band has played in its original configuration."

After getting hooked onto cocaine in the worst way (like, Rick James bad) in the early '70s, Sly Stone descended out of public view and into murky rumors; at several times, he had been erroneously reported to have died and unquestionably, his recording career had ended despite being one of the most highly-acclaimed acts of the 1960s and '70s.

Regardless if he and the Family Stone roll through, there will be a tribute to the group that night, including a medley (uh oh) by John Legend, Maroon 5, will.i.am, and Steven Tyler. (Source: Washington Post)

Bono Sees Red

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:47:13 GMT

At this point, we don't blame anyone who feels a little Bono-ed out. The only music celebrities who made more headlines than him were probably 50 Cent and Pete Doherty, though Pete might get a pass on overexposure since his repeated public drunkeness and drug possession arrests are at least entertaining in the same way a car wreck sort of is. With Bono though, at least his news-making doesn't involve 1) threatening other artists, 2) girlfriends hooked on coke and/or heroin. U2's latest frontman is stirring up things by announcing the launching of "Red," a new initiative to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.

For Red, Bono is teaming with several partners which includes Gap, Converse, Armani and American Express; each of these retailers will be designing a custom-line of Red items who proceeds (part or in whole) will be donated the Global Fund which already handles a quarter of the world's AIDS programs. For example, American Express is coming with a "Red Card," where 1% of purchases will go to the Global Fund. There will be a "Red line" at Gap and Converse doing the same and Armani is supposed to come out with a line of Red sunglasses which we can probably expect Bono to be sporting soon. The companies are making a 5 year commitment; not bad considering how fast fashion moves. (Source: Hecklerspray by way of antiMUSIC)

How Do You Define "Alternative"?

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 19:07:48 GMT

MSNBC's Helen Popkin chronicles the muddy waters tread by the Grammy category of "alternative music," an ill-defined name that's yielded some well-rewarded success stories. As Popkin points out, in the past, artists who've been classified as "alternative" by the Grammy Awards have included everyone from U2, to REM, to Paul McCartney; not exactly people typically thought of as "alternative," at least not in the way that indie rock groups like The Strokes or Death Cab For Cutie are thought of using the same term.

However, Popkin argues that the Grammys are closer to getting it right now:

"The term, “alternative music” became a catch phrase on college radio in the early ‘80s, used to describe punk-influenced bands on independent labels. Here in the 21st century, “alternative music” is mutable. Kids and record companies might apply the moniker to cheesy rap/punk bands with numbers in their names. Ideally, “alternative” describes innovation — music that changes everything in its wake."

In recent years, the Grammys have turned towards artists like Beck and Radiohead but as Popkin notes, while their nominations have improved, the selections of winners have had an uneven history. Popkin notes that the year Nirvana's Nevermind was nominated, it lost to ... REM. Likewise, women have fared poorly in the category as well; P.J. Harvey, Bjork and Tori Amos have racked up nominations but never any wins.

This year, the noms for the alternative music category are all quite respectable (minus any women though, save The White Stripes' Meg Whie). They are:

Funeral

Guero

Plans

You Could Have It So Much Better

Get Behind Me Satan

(Source: MSNBC)

James Taylor To Be NARAS' Person Of The Year

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 09:02:43 GMT

Rock singer/songwriter James Taylor will be honored as 2006's MusiCares Person of the Year next week. Taylor's best known for his 1970s songs like "Fire and Rain, "Something In the Way She Moves," "Sweet Baby James" and others.

The honor is bestowed by National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (better known as the Grammy Awards people) and at the ceremony on February 6th, an all-star cast will turn out to honor the singer. Included in the line-up is a diverse set of musicians from many different genres. On the bill so far are: David Crosby, the Dixie Chicks, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, india.arie and Paul Simon.

Taylor is the 17th (we think) artist to be honored as NARAS' Person of the Year since they began the award in 1989. Other artists who've been so designated have included everyone from Bono to Elton John to Brian Wilson to Stevie Wonder. (Source: Rolling Stone)

Did Apple Rip Off The Postal Service?

Tue, 24 Jan 2006 08:45:28 GMT

So ... at some point, the question simply has to be asked: what the hell was Apple thinking? Their new commercial for the line of Intel-powered Macintosh computers looks suspiciously exactly like a 2003 video for The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights." And the suspicion disappears once you discover, uh, they have the same directors (Josh Melnick and Xander Charity). This is either a case of indie electro pop homage gone terribly awry or just some lazy videomakers.

For their part, Postal Service are not amused. The group's Ben Gibbard issued the following statement:

"We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent."

So far, Melnick, Charity and Apple have no comment on the controversy.

There is some irony here since, last year, The Postal Service was contacted by the actual U.S. Postal Service over name infringment though, in a nice twist of fate, the two sides found an amicable solution and the group performed for the annual USPS conference last November.

In this case, controversy's not working out so bad for The Postal Service ... you have the love the irony that "Such Great Heights" has become the most downloaded video at ... Apple's iTunes site. (Source: MTV News)

Axl Rose Promises To Deliver "Chinese Democracy" This Year

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 08:03:47 GMT

Know you've heard this one before but ... Axl Rose swears/promises/has signed a blood oath (ok, not really) to the claim that the Guns N' Roses long-awaited Chinese Democracy album will finally come out this year. At this point, it's one of the most infamous albums in rock history, a more modern equivalent of Brian Wilson/Beach Boys' Smile. Not only is it 10 years late but it's rumored to be one of the most expensive LPs ever.

Rose explains, "People will hear music this year. It's a very complex record. I'm trying to do something different." Rose also told Rolling Stone that Queen was a big influence on the sound of the new CD (whoa):

"Some of the arrangements are kind of like Queen. Some people are going to say, 'It doesn't sound like Axl Rose, it doesn't sound like Guns 'n' Roses.' But people are going to like at least a few songs on there."

Yeah, yeah ... talk is cheap though. Drop the album first! (Source: Coolfer.com)

Red Hot Chili Peppers Have Too Much Music

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 17:13:17 GMT

This is a follow-up to a story from last week. We had reported that the Red Hot Chili Peppers were putting the final touches on their Stadium Arcadium album, but as it turns out, there's apparently going to be more than one version of the CD.

The problem is length. The Peppers had initially planned to release a triple album with 38 songs ... ambitious to be sure, but also risky. Their plan now is to instead release 25 songs on 2 discs and then sprinkle the other 13 songs onto different versions of Arcadium released through different vendors. Uh, say what?

Anthony Kiedes tried to explain it to MTV:

"We're going to try and do that with the independent record stores across America, and for all the monster chains. We'll service everybody with a different bonus track, because we have them."

There's something about this which seems either A) annoying or B) calculated since it forces fans to have to go collect x-number of double-CDs ($$$) in order to get a complete set of songs. It certainly wouldn't hurt the Peppers bottom line though it'll be like asking consumers to buy a box-set ... except with repeated songs. Provided, the group's original idea – split the album in three and then release one album every few months – wasn't that inspired either. Kiedis noted,

"In a year and a half, I know we'll be writing new music and then it will be time for that. In the end, [these songs] seemed like a body of music that needed to be heard as one body."

We don't get why the group doesn't put the extra 13 tracks on a bonus album that they can release down the road? Or put them on a download site like iTunes or Napster and sell them that way? Or make 'em available for download free from the group's own site? Think simple! (Source: FMQB)

Alanis Plans To Pen Memoir

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:29:37 GMT

Now that Canadian singer/songwriter Alanis Morisette has attained the wise old age of 31, she's decided to start work on a memoir. Morisette realizes she hasn't exactly had the life experiences of say, Joan Didion, but for her, now seemed like a good time to start with her book rather than wait too long:

"I was getting a little too precious about book-writing, putting this unrealistic expectation on myself that I had to somehow not only encapsulate my past, but the next forty years of my life as well. That's just ridiculous – I'd end up writing it when I'm ninety-five," she told Rolling Stone.

It's not clear when she wants to get her book done but in the meantime, she's also at work on her next album which is slated to feature her working again with Mike Elizondo; the two's "Wunderkind" from The Chronicles of Narnia has already been nominated for a Golden Globe for best song. The two of them will have to build some order from the jumble inside of Morisette's head. Says the singer,

"I'm teeming with ideas right now because I haven't written a record in three years. I have more than enough thoughts to congeal together.

(Don't forget to save somethings for the book!)

(Source: Rolling Stone)

Beach Boys Go After Alleged Thieves

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 19:19:23 GMT

Lesson #213: Do not steal from the Beach Boys. The band has filed a lawsuit, claiming that two men stole memorabilia from the group when the Beach Boys had boxes upon boxes of old photos, music, instruments, etc. in storage at one of the defendent'ss warehouse space.

The lawsuit, which is for $20,000,000 (yes, twenty million dollars) alleges that Allan Gaba and Roy Sciacca conspired to remove between 13 to 25 boxes of Beach Boys property from Gaba's warehouse, prior to the Beach Boys clearing out everything in 1994. Why the theft went unnoticed for 12 years is worth asking, though it might just be that they had a lot of stuff and therefore, didn't notice a stash missing. However, when Sciacca tried to unload some of the goods through the UK's auction house of Cooper Owen last fall, the Beach Boys were likely made aware of the impending sale and Cooper Owen closed the auction before anything went up for bid.

Sciacca claims that the items he was selling were sold to him two decades ago. The Beach Boys (obviously) disagree with the contention and are filing suit presumably to help get their stuff back. We have to ask though: could what Gaba and Sciacca stolen really be worth $20,000,000? Is there a gold plated plaque of "Kokomo" in there or something? (Source: AOL News)

Red Hot Chili Peppers Ready "Stadium Arcadium"

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 17:28:48 GMT

After a nearly four-year hiatus, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are finally set to drop their latest album, a double-CD named Stadium Arcadium. While it's 24 tracks make it a behemoth of an album, the original concept called for 38 songs (who do they think they are? A rap group?). Anthony Kiedes tries to explain the idea behind the album to NME: "In the end it has a very dreamlike feeling of we on Earth reflecting the cosmos on the heavens, and we on Earth reflecting it because that's where our inspiration comes from. It's more romance of sound or whatever retarded passions exist in your soul. It's kind of a romantic affair."
Ok, so that made no sensse at all but we do like the idea of "retarded passions" residing in our souls. Get stupid ya'll!

Rick Rubin, aka music's hottest bearded producer right now, helped on this CD, and the Peppers have managed to eke out three albums in the row with the same line-up, suggesting some stability has settled on the once volatile artists. Prior to the March release date for Stadium Arcadium, they plan to release a single, "Dani California." (Source: NME.com)

Jack White Loses Voice

Tue, 10 Jan 2006 19:49:25 GMT

The White Stripes' Jack White has lost his voice, or at least, the use of it, for two weeks according to a notice posted to the group's web site. The band was supposed to play a few dates in Japan but will have to postpone because doctors have told White to shut his yap for two weeks to let his vocal chords heal. No explanation has been given for what precisely is ailing White, though this is not an unusual case for many singers who find that years of performing take their toll on the chords. The site statement apologized for having to postpone the shows in Asia and Australia:

""We sincerely apologize to our Japanese fans and friends and hope to reschedule dates as soon as we can. For our friends in New Zealand and Australia, the band looks forward to seeing you at the Big Day Out."

This isn't the first time the Stripes have had to move around show dates because of physical injury; in 2003, White broke his finger in a car accident in Detroit and given that he plays guitar on stage, he had to wait until the finger healed in order to perform again. (Source: MTV News)

Pop Music in 2005: Same As It Ever Was?

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 19:48:51 GMT

Our valued colleague Glenn over at Cooler.com takes on the New York Times' Jon Pareles today over a piece that appeared on Friday. In "Pop Comfort Over Ambition," Pareles suggested that music consumers in 2005 were enticed more by the familiar (read: bland) than the ambitious (read: good):

"Voting with its dollars, the public ignored the esoteric favorites championed by critics and went for music that offered a little comfort and dance beats. Entertainment, not ambition, was the priority."

In responding, Glenn dryly retorted,

"There is one undying truth to music criticism. Critics forget just how mediocre best-selling albums have been each and every year. They write about the music of the past as if was better, more authentic and untouched by the ugly hand of business."

There's more beyond this too: Glenn makes special mention to note that one of the artists that Pareles singles out as being closer on the side of daring is Madonna, yet back when Madonna's first albums came out in the mid-1980s, consumers loved them but critics brushed them off to the side, no doubt with some of the same condescension that today's critics bring to such commercial success stories as Mariah Carey or 50 Cent.

Moreover, Glenn goes back through the last 20 years of pop music history to point out that "comfort" has always played a role in people's tastes, from "hit" albums such as John Denver's Greatest Hits (1974) to Wing's At The Speed of Sound (1976) to the Carpenters' Close To You (1971). Notably, critics were no friendlier to any of those albums, undermining Pareles' suggestion that there might have been a closer consumer/critic synergy in the past.

We think the Coolfer stance might push Pareles' argument further than the Times' writer intended but for the most part, we agree with the sentiment that complaining about the quality of pop music tends to be an exercise in either repetition or myopia (now, complaining about hip-hop, well, that's a different matter altogether). Glenn closes with this bit of smarm:

"Next year some music critic will bemoan the music of 2006. "It was a year in which the best, most adventurous, most worthwhile music went largely unnoticed by the public," he'll write. Somebody will write the same in 2007...and in 2008 ... and in 2009 ... and every year for the foreseeable future.

(Source: Coolfer.com)

Bono Juggles Music and "The Message"

Mon, 02 Jan 2006 18:12:57 GMT

If anyone ever wondered if Bono's high-profile charity work ever caused tensions or problems with U2, the answer would be ... sure, sometimes. Bono gave an interview with the BBC where he discussed how his bandmates, while supportive, still keep watch to make sure the U2 show doesn't turn into one long Bono Service Announcement. We can't tell if the frontman was joking when he said this but he told the BBC, "When I do my rant on making poverty history, I have got Larry Mullen, our drummer, behind me looking at his watch, timing me."(Maybe they need one of the "wrap it up" boxes that Dave Chappelle was hawking on his show).

The issue here is keeping balance and focus. As Bono notes, U2, while engaged in many pursuits outside of music are still, first and foremost, a rock band:

"They (the band) are hugely supportive spiritually and financially of the work I do, but they are in a rock 'n 'roll band, and the first job of a rock 'n 'roll band is not to be dull. So we have to be very careful about just letting me go too far.

(Source: MSNBC)

Sean Lennon Needs a Woman

Thu, 29 Dec 2005 16:44:24 GMT

What's up with Sean Lennon? The son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono has turned to the New York Post's infamous gossip section, Page Six, to find a date. At one point, Sean was dating Yuka Honda from Cibo Matto but it looks like now, he's looking for love again (and perhaps in all the wrong places). Page Six published an open call where Lennon admits, "I'm completely alone and I'm completely miserable."

As for his ideal girlfriend, he offers some general parameters:

"Any girl who is interested must simply be born female and between the ages of 18 and 45. They must have an IQ above 130 and they must be honest. They must not have any clinical, psychological disorders... and a kind heart.

Not to get all eats, shoots, and leaves on him but that last line means that they must not have a kind heart. So he wants some meanie?

Lennon also demands that prospects be, "Clearly beautiful - but beauty on the inside is more important - but no deformities, third legs, fifth nipples."(So third and fourth nipples are ok?) (Source: Contactmusic.com)

While the Major Labels Slump, Indie Labels Pick Up Their Pace

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 20:29:53 GMT

Despite the much-publicized slide in album sales experienced across the board in the music industry, it hasn't been a disaster for everyone. The NY Times reports today on how indie labels are thriving and as you might guess, the internet is playing a role in that success. For example, in 2005, 18% of all album sales were by artists signed to independent labels, the highest such ratio in the last five years. For Times reporter Jeff Leeds, he sees this as part of a larger trend where consumers are increasingly turning away from what music is thrown at them via the big music companies and instead, figuring out their tastes on their own. Leeds writes,

"In a world of broadband connections, 60-gigabyte MP3 players and custom playlists, consumers have perhaps more power than ever to indulge their curiosities beyond the music that is presented through the industry's established outlets, primarily radio stations and MTV.

The internet has been a force on several levels. On a visible level, people have seen in the last two years the point of sale shifting from traditional retail outlets to online sites like iTunes, Rhapsody, etc. However, beyond just where people are buying music, the internet has changed where people learn about music. Leeds notes how the internet has,

"upended the traditional hierarchy of outlets that can promote music. Buzz about an underground act can spread like a virus, allowing a band to capture national acclaim before it even has a recording contract, as was the case this year with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, an indie rock band."

(All said, it's nothing we haven't heard before, but it's still a well-reported article and timely as we pause to consider what changes have happened this past year). (Source: NY Times)

Death Cab For Cutie Prepare Orgy of Videos

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 18:15:26 GMT

Blame 50 Cent. The Queens rapper shot a video for every song on his 2005 album, The Massacre and then re-released the album with a bonus DVD to help take his CD to the year's best-selling. It's not just high-profile gangsta rappers thinking along the same marketing lines: now indie-pop favorites Death Cab For Cutie are doing the same time. Provided, Death Cab only have 11 songs (The Massacre had about 42 songs. Or at least, it felt like it did) though in their case ... it's not clear what they plan to do with all these videos.

The group already had a video (directed by Jon Watts) for "Where Soul Meets Body" and they are about to release a video for "Crooked Teeth" (directed by Ace Norton). At current, the band has only confirmed one other director for their video-a-thon, Laurent Garnier who will be helming the video for "What Sarah Said." Bassist Nick Harmer teases,

"We've got a great mix of directors; some really established people that we were really surprised would want to work with us, plus some up-and-comers that really haven't done much yet and just have really great ideas. It's a really eclectic mix, but I think when it's all said and done, it'll all come together and make a lot of sense."

There are no announced plans to release all the videos on a DVD (like 50 Cent did) though in the immediate future, expect to see at least some of these videos popping up on the internet. Again, from Harmer:

"We want to take advantage of the vibrant online culture, just like a lot of musicians and use the Internet to find people to design T-shirts and posters for them."

We wonder if this is going to be a new trend; we surmise that fan interest is probably there for now though if every artist decides to shoot videos for every song on their albums, it's sure to create some fatigue (literal and figurative) from video overload. On the flipside, we see a very lucrative iTunes partnership in someone's future. (Source: MTV News)

Bono Is A Time 'Person of the Year'

Mon, 19 Dec 2005 18:03:48 GMT

It's been a banner year for U2's Bono; he's gotten more press attention then in any recent year, a double-whammy of fame (not that he wasn't sufficiently famous already) given Bono's social work and U2's huge Vertigo Tour. He can add another item to his long list of honors: Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Provided, Bono has to share the title with Bill and Melinda Gates since all three are being honored for:

"being shrewd about doing good, for rewiring politics and re-engineering justice, for making mercy smarter and hope strategic and then daring the rest of us to follow."

It's no secret that Bono has spent many years lobbying for a variety of social issues, especially African relief and fighting poverty around the world. The magazine's profile Bono sums up his power as a consciousness-raiser (and pop icon) as such:

"Bono's great gift is to take what has made him famous—charm, clarity of voice, an ability to touch people in their secret heart—combine those traits with a keen grasp of the political game and obsessive attention to detail, and channel it all toward getting everyone, from world leaders to music lovers, to engage with something overwhelming in its complexity."

(They forgot the cool shades).

(Source: Time Magazine)

Beatles Sue Label For Royalties

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:46:02 GMT

Don't mess with The Beatles' money. The surviving members of the group (Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr for those who haven't kept track), plus the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison, are suing the music label EMI for approximately $52.9 million over what they claim to be unpaid royalties. The Beatles and EMI had been wrangling over this issue for some time but apparently, negotiations broke down and the lawsuit was filed yesterday as a last resort effort to get things moving again.

For their part, EMI is adopting a, "ok, let's see how this plays out" attitude. Their spokesperson responded to the lawsuit by saying,

"It's not unusual for artists to conduct audits like this and we have no problem with that as we like full transparency. Sometimes, however, there are differences in opinion. For example, over contractual interpretation. And in those rare situations, the parties may have to resort to the courts or to mediation."

Certainly, it's a more civil approach then the other industry favorite, i.e. "these charges are frivolous and we intended to vigorously fight them!" Oh wait, maybe that's the GOP defensive line? Never mind. (Source: Billboard)

White Stripes Claim Colors

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:38:47 GMT

Ok, you know it's a slow news day when one of our opening stories is this: Jack White (of the White Stripes) is talking minor smack at both Green Day and My Chemical Romance for theft. No, not of song material. Or musical licks. White is accusing these other groups of biting the White Stripes ... color scheme. Yeah, you heard that right.

The Stripes have long used red, white and black color combinations on their album covers and recently, Green Day and My Chemical Romance have been using similar colorways. Says White, "Recently so many bands have adopted the red, white and black colour scheme that it's harder for us to stand out." Uh, correct us if we're way off base here but isn't it your music that makes you stand out? Vs. your choice of primary colors on an album cover?

This said, maybe Prince should have tried to copyright the use of Purple™ on album covers way back in the day. (Source: Gigwise.com)

Remembering Lennon

Wed, 07 Dec 2005 17:18:44 GMT

With the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's murder fast approaching, there's been a heightened focus on his life and legacy, even more than normal. MSNBC, for example, ran an essay today about people's memories of his death, one of those "where were you?" queries that typically accompany either Presidential assassinations or other national tragedies. Another MSNBC essay discusses the numerous Beatles-related books that are out or about to come to market, just in time for the holidays.

On the other hand, there's some not-so-cheery memories and tensions being dredged up to by this tragic anniversary. Reuters reports on how "Lennon legacy tainted by bickering and big bucks," discussing not just the long-standing issues between ex-Beatles members, Yoko Ono, fans, etc., but also how Lennon's legacy has been marred (for some) by extensive commercialization of his image. Certainly, the recent flop of Lennon: The Musical hasn't helped. Nor have revelations made by Lennon's first wife, Cynthia, who wrote in a recent autobiography about Lennon's abandonment of her and their son and other abusive behavior.

Of course, there should be nothing wrong with seeing Lennon in a more complex light: very few cultural icons are pure saints or sinners (see: Miles Davis, Elvis Presley, Madonna, etc.) and sometimes, it's their contradictions that make them ever more intriguing and compelling. That said, they're supposed to be coming out with a John Lennon ... training shoe? Uh ... (Sources: MSNBC, AOL News)

Rock Collectors Bidding Market Up

Tue, 06 Dec 2005 19:16:53 GMT

Blame it on eBay? The market for rock memorabilia is red hot right now, with some collectible items going easily into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to Rolling Stone, an emerging generation of collectors with deep pockets are starting to snap up all kinds of music-related items that tie to their nostalgic pasts. Says John Collins of the auction house Cooper Owen, "These collectors were rock fans in the Sixties and Seventies, and now they have a lot of money. They're buying their history."

As well, Ed Kosinski, a collector and dealer, opines that the market is also encouraging these purchases as investments with a personal touch, suggesting that today's memorabilia fans are, "looking for alternative investments, and for something that gives them some sort of gratification." (We think the driving force is more the latter, rather than the former. Somehow, we can't imagine buying a leather jacket worn by [fill in star here] or handwritten lyrics on a cocktail napkin are necessarily the most sound investments. Then again, we liked tech stocks in 2000 and where did that get us?)

Interestingly enough, some of these collectibles are being bought by the musicians or their families in an attempt recoup items that were undervalued in the earlier days of their career. For example, Beatles' enthusiast Andy Geller says that George Harrison's widow, Olivia, has been cornering the market on Harrison's guitars: "There aren't that many Beatle instruments out there, and if it's George's guitar, Olivia's gonna buy it."

The market began in the 1970s but really took off in the 1980s, especially around Beatles material (George Michael reportedly paid $2.1 million for the piano that John Lennon composed "Imagine" on) and then, in the 1990s, it went stratospheric as millionaires and billionaires jumped into the fray.

We're just curious how this might extend to newer genres like house music or hip-hop. Will Run DMC's iconic black hats and white Adidas one day go for the kind of money that an Elvis costume or Hendrix guitar can command? We'll see ... (Source: Rolling Stone)