RIP: Amos Heilicher, Owner of Soma Records, Founder of Musicland Chain, Independent Distributor

By Shane Mack on

From The Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune:

He was considered one of the most powerful people in the music industry, landing on an Esquire magazine list in 1970 with Mick Jagger, Paul Simon and Motown founder Berry Gordy. Amos Heilicher could take a local record such as the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird," the Castaways' "Liar, Liar" or Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road" and make it a national hit.

Heilicher, the godfather of the Minnesota record business, died Sunday of pneumonia at University of Minnesota Hospitals Fairview. He was 90.

"He was working on Wednesday, and that evening he went to the hospital," said his son, Ira Heilicher, a Minneapolis businessman. "His life was to make deals and work and be productive."

Heilicher was powerful because he was involved in so many facets of the music business: an indie record label (Soma, or Amos spelled backwards), distribution of major-label recordings to retail shops, "rackjobbing" (running record departments for dime stores and department stores) and retail (the Musicland and Discount Records chains). At their peak, Heilicher's companies accounted for about 10 percent of all recordings sold in the United States.

- Soma Records Wikipedia entry
- Musicland Wikipedia entry
- Billboard article: "Musicland Founder Heilicher Dies"

Oh, Great: President Bush Signs Strong Anti-Piracy Act Into Law

By Joe B. on 10-15-2008

After nearly a year of being soundly criticized by various industry groups and copyright law concerns, the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008, or PRO-IP Act, has been passed into law. The act, among other things, allows for the creation of a "copyright czar" and permits the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct civil lawsuits on behalf of private copyright holders.

The most troubling part of the PRO-IP Act — to me, at least — is that it extends the concept of forfeiture to IP piracy. Usually used in cases of large-scale drug-dealing, Publicknowledge.org's Art Brodsky sums up forfeiture as it relates to IP thusly: “Let’s suppose that there’s one computer in the house, and one person uses it for downloads and one for homework. The whole computer goes.”

There's a whole tangled mess of lobbying and special interest that I'm sure will reveal itself as this law becomes more widely practiced, but for now we're left with one salient point made by the White House on the day of the bill's signing: "Terrorist networks use counterfeit sales to finance their operations."

The King Khan & BBQ Show To Go On Massive Tour, Hope You’re Hungry… For ROCK‘N’ROLL!!!

By C. Schell on 10-14-2008

If it's not one thing, it's another (or two) for King Khan. He put out a compilation on Vice (The Supreme Genius Of) with his other band, The Shrines, and recorded a band or two, all while going on tour after tour. BBQ, a.k.a. Mark Sultan, is no slouch either, playing countless shows in support of his excellent LP from last year, The Sultanic Verses (In The Red)

Nonetheless, these too seemingly never-tiring musicians have not put out a new record together since 2006's What's For Dinner (though, 2007 saw the reissue of the band's first, self-titled LP from 2004). Unfortunately, 2008 won't yield a new LP from the duo, but there is solace for fans, coming in the forms of a new 7-inch and a huge tour. The single is "Animal Party" b/w "God of Raisins" (Fat Possum). You can buy it on the duo's tour of pretty much every major American city, plus the Canadian cities that even the most brainless American can identify as being in Canada. These shows will also feature a bevy of first-rate openers, including Women, Vivian Girls, Jacuzzi Boys, and a few less gender-specific groups. Don't miss it.

Tourdates:

Beastie Boys Announce Voter Awareness Shows; Also Claim McCain Fathered Terrorist Babies in Top-Secret Ménage à Quatre with Chemical Ali, Carlos the Jackal, and the ghost of Timothy McVeigh [Wow, thanks GOP! Fabricating Conspiracy IS fun!]

By David Nadelle on 10-14-2008

Perennial good time candidates Beastie Boys have announced shows as part of their "Swing State Voter Awareness Tour." Can't pronounce "vote?" Vote! Do you regularly abuse the elderly? Vote! Are you using 12 aliases to claim government benefits and are in hiding from child support collectors? America needs your vote(s)! Vote, vote vote! Before that, these shows should entertain your mind as you ponder how you want the next four years and the future of the United States to look. Given the forum, Obama terrorist-cahoots claims will be at a minimum, Republican scorn at a maximum.

All yuks aside, Beastie Boys rear their charged heads whenever they see the need to drop some political science, and around election time, they are as noisy as a herd of hiphopopotamuses. This time around is no different. The band issued this soundbite regarding the shows:

We are going to do a few shows in hopes that we can remind people to vote. This election is too important, too much is at stake to stay at home. We hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possible can to get out and vote.

A vote for Beastie Boys is a vote for democracy... and a chance to see all your favorite big-ticket artists in one (sure) shot. The dates feature heavy-hitting support from Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Santogold, Tenacious D, and Crosby & Nash (I'll assume the Canadian turncoat, Republican-turned-Democrat-turned-Monster Raving Loony Party supporter Neil Young was not available?). Representatives from Rock the Vote will be on hand to make sure that, come November 4, your vote will be soundly rocked

10.27.08 - Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend $
10.28.08 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Coliseum $$
10.29.08 - Youngstown, OH - Chevrolet Centre $$$
10.30.08 - Dayton, OH - Hara Arena $$$$
11.01.08 - St. Paul, MN - Roy Wilkins Auditorium $$$$$
11.02.08 - Milwaukee, WI - U.S. Cellular Arena $$$$$$

$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Santogold

$$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, Santogold

$$$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper, Norah Jones

$$$$ w/ Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper

$$$$$ w/ Ben Harper, Tenacious D

$$$$$$ w/ Ben Harper, Crosby & Nash, Tenacious D

SHRIMP SCAMPI: Mike Relm Talks About His FAME, Then Stops Talking Altogether

By Chris Lindsey on 10-14-2008

Read the full coverage of Treasure Island Music Festival 2008 here, where you can also find more videos.

RIP: Jim Yunker, Drummer and Artist, Younger Brother of Michael Yonkers

By Shane Mack on 10-14-2008

According to Destijl Records:

Jim Yunker, younger brother of Michael Yonkers and the drummer of "Microminature Love", died yesterday morning [October 12, 2008].

Aside from music, Jim was interested in and created art. One of his major works was a sculpture called "Matrix Village" and was displayed for long periods on both the east and west bank campuses of the University of Minnesota. He was also worked with wood and has produced countless beautiful toys, and custom display cases for various local stores. He held a variety of straight jobs, and the one that meant the most to him was teaching science to ESL students in the Saint Paul School System. His amazing connection to the students, and the extremely high quality of the work they produced attracted the attention and support of 3M. His program, and his spirit, were downsized and left behind, within the last few years.

His solid drumming for the Grenadiers Drum and Bugle Corp in the 60s helped create the style that he used in Michael And The Mumbles and the Michael Yonkers Band.

He was 60 years old when he passed on October 12th 2008, after year
long bout with leukemia.

- Microminature Love @ Destijl
- Microminature Love @ Sub Pop
- Michael Yonkers official website
- Michael Yonkers MySpace

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