Beck and His Father, David Campbell, Are Obviously Playing a Sold-Out Show at the Hollywood Bowl on My Father’s Birthday On Purpose
By Heidi Vanderslice on Sep 3 2008
Gee, that was pretty nice of them. Though I won't be sending any thank-you notes until some gold-engraved invitations show up at my pa's place, you hear?
In case you didn't know, Beck's pater, David Campbell, is kind of a big deal. In the course of his career, composer-arranger Campbell has racked up credits on more than 400 gold and platinum albums, including performances on sessions with Marvin Gaye and Carole King and arrangements for Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. Campbell will now direct the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Strings as Beck performs a sold-out show in Los Angeles September 20. While he's done many of the string arrangements on his son's albums, this is the first time they'll take the stage together.
What finally made them decide to share the stage? Was it that bonding experience over a bottle of cognac? Campbell's tearful admission that he wishes he'd come up with the hook for "Sexx Laws"? The world may never know... but I'm going to go on the record and say that this is probably all happening in honor of my dear ol' dad's 64th birthday. If you think of a better reason, call me.
Chinese Democracy Leaker Hatches Devious Pyramid Scheme
By Joe B. on Sep 3 2008
So far: Axl Rose and his record company are suing the pants off this Kevin Cogill guy because Cogill leaked songs off the upcoming Guns N' Roses album Chinese Democracy.
In a new blog post, Cogill is both asking for donations towards his legal defense fund and posting a cool picture of Public Enemy:
Hi everyone. As you are all undoubtedly aware, I was arrested at gunpoint last Wednesday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and I am now facing a federal criminal charge by the United States Government of copyright infringement, after allegedly hosting a stream of 9 Guns N’ Roses songs, for a brief period of time in June.[...]
I am trying to take full responsibility for my predicament. I consider the burden of legal fees ultimately mine to bear; I have independently raised the funds required to retain my attorney. However, it has definitely been by far the biggest expense I have ever faced in my entire life, and my resources are very limited while formidable costs shall continue to pile up. It’s beyond daunting, being a single independent citizen facing a full-force prosecution by the most powerful government in the world.
I am aware that the re-emergence of Guns N' Roses is intended to hail some recapturing of the bombastic zeitgeist of the late 1980s, but this trickle-down Reagnomics nonsense is taking it a bit too far.
As far as I know, I'm the first person to call it: This is nothing but a viral marketing ploy for Chinese Democracy. If it's not, though, we should all learn from Cogill and use any leaks that come our way to fatten up our ratios on torrent websites instead of as a publicity stunt for our crummy music blogs.
RIP: Jerry Reed, Country Star, Actor
By Shane Mack on Sep 2 2008
From an article by the Associated Press:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jerry Reed, a singer who became a good ol' boy actor in car chase movies like "Smokey and the Bandit," has died of complications from emphysema at 71.His longtime booking agent, Carrie Moore-Reed, no relation to the star, said Reed died early Monday.
"He's one of the greatest entertainers in the world. That's the way I feel about him," Moore-Reed said.
Reed was a gifted guitarist who later became a songwriter, singer and actor.
As a singer in the 1970s and early 1980s, he had a string of hits that included "Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "East Bound and Down" and "The Bird."
- Jerry Reed Wikipedia entry
- Jerry Reed IMDB entry
- R2K Records
- Associated Press article: "Singer-actor Jerry Reed dies at the age of 71"
- YouTube video: Jerry Reed - Lightning Rod 1977
Bob Dylan Endorses Hohner Harmonica Line; Steven Tyler Reminds You That He’s Already Done That
By Nobodaddy on Sep 2 2008
So how many endorsement deals must a man sign-on for, before you can call him a shill?
Better not ask Bob Dylan, who, in an uncharacteristic eschewing of his longstanding Freewheelin’ Policy, decided to settle down with a nice, church-going instrument manufacturer named Hohner USA to create his own line of harmonicas (at least, that’s the way she tells it!).
“Hohner is extremely proud to celebrate the artistry of Bob Dylan, one of America’s musical treasures,” says Hohner president Clayman Edwards. “This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Bob Dylan fans, and we hope that those who are able to own these items will treasure them as a reflection of his musical genius.” Edwards also hopes that Hohnor is able to make some money, probably, but... you know, he didn’t print that part.
Anyway, this limited “Bob Dylan Signature Series” of harmonicas -- available individually or in sets of seven -- will feature a machine stamp of Dylan's signature and a Dylan-designed logo, thus out-classing by far any mouth-harp you have ever locked lips with to date. But before you go throwing away all of your old Alvin and the Chipmunks harmonicas, keep in mind that Hohner will only manufacture 25 sets of seven Marine Band harmonicas (in the natural keys of C, G, D, F, A, B, and E) that Dylan himself has apparently pre-tested, plus an additional 100 individual Marine Band harmonicas (in C). Both of these limited run items will bear Dylan's actual signature and will be available exclusively via Sam Ash Music beginning October 29.
Meanwhile, bobo-master Stephen Tyler presumably remains unimpressed by this whole situation... not to mention this guy.
Bob Dylan Dates:
09.04.08 - Temecula, CA - Pechanga Resort and Casino
09.06.08 - San Diego, CA - Concerts on the Green @ Qualcomm Park
09.07.08 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl
Comcast To Limit Customers’ Data Bandwidth; I’m Feeling All Tiery-Eyed
By Julbucket on Sep 2 2008
Comcast has announced that it will enforce a bandwidth cap on how much data customers can transfer in a month. Now, before everyone freaks out, according to this site, 250GB is about equivalent to 50,000,000 emails or 124 full-length films.
I know there are some obsessive folks out there, but really, I’d like to challenge you all to try to send 50,000,000 emails to me in one month. That means you’re gonna have to send me 1,666,666 emails a day. Which means you’re gonna have to send me 64,444 emails per hour. Which means you’re going to have to send me 1,157 emails a minute. Which means you’re going to have to send me almost 20 emails per second. So get on it! I am so going to be the most popular person ever after this.
But seriously, the thing to worry about is perhaps not the fact that Comcast is restricting the bandwidth of purportedly just 1% of their customer base; it’s more the fact that this could be the start of a slippery slope in which the major ISPs slowly roll out a new, tiered broadband service. I weep for the future.
