11.04.05 (RockAndMetal.com) THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT are climbing back into their tour bus to bring their music to the American masses and spread the word about their most recent studio release, "Revival." This time around, The Good Reverend is loading up his thirty-ought-six with rock salt and fiery rhetoric, bringing a double-barreled serving of brimstone and Rockabilly raunch to the newly converted. Reverend Horton Heat, a.k.a. Jim Heath, always gets asked about is the story behind his unusual and rather clerical moniker. "Well, there used to be this guy who ran this place in Deep Ellum, Texas who used to call me Horton - my last name is Heath," says Heath. "Anyway, this guy hired me, and right before the show he goes, 'Your stage name should be Reverend Horton Heat - your music is like gospel!' "And I thought it was pretty ridiculous. So I'm up there playing and after the first few songs, people are saying, 'Yeah, Reverend!' What's really funny is that this guy gave up the bar business, and actually became a preacher! Now he comes to our shows and says, 'Jim, you really should drop this whole Reverend thing.'" It's been an almost 20-year journey for Heath, whose Country-flavored Punkabilly and onstage antics have brought him and his band a strikingly diverse fan base and a devoted cult following, not to mention the respect of fellow musicians worldwide. "Revival," the band's first release for Yep Roc Records, is a return to Heath's roots - musical and geographical. The album was recorded at Last Beat Studios in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, just a block from where he played his first gig, and next door to where the group currently rehearses. Along with eating a lot of world-class Mexican food and BBQ, the band recorded the album's 15 tracks with a minimum of overdubs, bells and whistles. With tour manager/engineer Dave Allen at the board, they wanted an album they could duplicate live. Reunited with veteran producer/engineer Ed Stasium, who mixed the album, "Revival" is a 40-plus minute slab of Rockabilly, Blues and old-school R&B that shows THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT in their prime. 11/05 Paradise Valley, AZ [Sanctuary Resort] • 11/12 Norfolk, UK [Vauxhall Park] • 11/16 Houston, TX [Engine Room] • 11/17 San Antonio, TX [Jack's Bar] • 11/18 San Marcos, TX [Lucy's] • 11/19 Ft. Worth, TX [Axis] • 12/01 Kansas City, MO [Beaumont Club] • 12/02 Columbia, MO [Blue Note] • 12/03 Chicago, IL [Metro] • 12/04 Milwaukee, WI [Shank Hall] • 12/05 Minneapolis, MN [First Avenue] • 12/06 Madison, WI [High Noon] • 12/08 Indianapolis, IN [Vogue Theatre] • 12/09 Lansing, MI [Temple Club] • 12/10 Columbus, OH [Newport Music Hall] • 12/11 Cleveland, OH [House Of Blues] • 12/12 Troy, NY [Revolution Hall] • 12/14 Lancaster, PA [Chameleon] • 12/15 Brooklyn, NY [Southpaw] • 12/17 Asbury Park, NJ [Asbury Lanes] • 12/18 Atlantic City, NJ [House Of Blues] • 12/19 Norfolk, VA [NorVa] • 12/20 Cincinnati, OH [Top Cats] • 12/21 Louisville, KY [Jim Porter's] • 12/28 Tempe, AZ [Marquee Theatre] • 12/29 San Diego, CA [House Of Blues] • 12/30 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 12/31 Santa Rosa, CA [Last Day Saloon]
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11.04.05 (RockAndMetal.com) New Jersey-based quintet AGENTS OF MAN are currently preparing for a flurry of Fall touring activity, which kicks off on November 12th with GOD FORBID and CANNAE, leading immediately into a month long trek with Danny Diablo and RINGWORM. The group recently completed a highly successful European tour alongside AS I LAY DYING, EVERGREEN TERRACE and HEAVEN SHALL BURN in support their stunning debut album, "Count Your Blessings," which was released this past Summer. The critically acclaimed new album, tracked at Purple Light Studios with producer Mike Barilie (Candiria, 40 Below Summer), is an extremely dynamic offering that evolved into a brilliant fusion of catchy and melodic yet aggressive music that can't easily be categorized. AGENTS OF MAN quickly caught the genre's attention with their highly energetic live show on their last U.S. tour with SWORN ENEMY and WINTER SOLSTICE, and are determined to further establish themselves as one of the scene's freshest new acts. The group also recently shot a video for the track 'Without A Trace' with acclaimed director David Brodsky (All That Remains, Fight Paris, God Forbid). Look for it to make its "Metal Asylum" and "Headbangers Ball" debut later this year. With a rock-solid lineup rounded out by bassist Mike Cools (Sworn Enemy, Cold As Life), AGENTS OF MAN spent years honing their craft by combining a stunning blend of underground and pop culture alike, which evolved into a brilliant fusion of catchy and melodic, yet aggressive, music that can't easily be categorized. They also put more emphasis on developing captivating hooks and vocal melodies, and as a result greatly matured as songwriters, making them more determined now than ever before. 11/10 Pittsburgh, PA [Mr. Smalls Theatre] • 11/11 Buffalo, NY [The Buffalo Icon] • 11/12 Portland, ME [The Station] • 11/13 Manchester, NH [The Bomb Shelter] • 11/14 Lemoyne, PA [Champion Ship] • 11/25 Montclair, NJ [Bloomfield Ave Cafe] • 11/26 New York, NY [CBGB's] • 11/27 Baltimore, MD [Otto Bar] • 11/29 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade - Downstairs] • 11/30 Jacksonville, FL [Fuel] • 12/01 Ft. Lauderdale, FL [Revolution] • 12/03 Tampa, FL [Masquerade - Infinity Room] • 12/06 St. Louis, MO [Creepy Crawl] • 12/07 Arlington Heights, IL [Knights Of Columbus] • 12/08 Detroit, MI [Alvin's] • 12/09 Cleveland, OH [The Agora Ballroom] • 12/10 Buffalo, NY [Mohawk Place] • 12/13 Philadelphia, PA [North Star Bar] • 12/14 Troy, NY [Hudson Duster] • 12/15 Poughkeepsie, NY [Club Crannel - Chance] • 12/16 Hartford, CT [Webster Underground] • 12/17 Levittown, NY [Ritual]
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11.03.05 (RockAndMetal.com) ROGUE TRADERS have unleashed their new album "Here Come The Drums" in Australia, rocketing onto the charts for a #9 debut on the ARIA Top 50 Album chart. The band's new single 'Way To Go!' is also causing a crossover ruckus at #1 on the Dance chart and #9 on the Top 50 Singles chart. Two years may have passed since they last graced the Australian charts, but the Electronic Rock single that signalled their return, 'Voodoo Child,' exploded across the airwaves with a fresh immediacy - debuting in the Top 10 back in June with its warped, insistent Hammond organ riff and singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte's cracked, Rock snarl. But for ROGUE TRADERS, the song was always more than just a single. "It was a signpost for the album", says band member James Ash. No longer a Dance act, the group has evolved on "Here Come The Drums" with a new look, a new member (Bassingthwaighte), and a whole new sound. The seeds of their evolution can be traced all the way back to October 2003, when ROGUE TRADERS Ash and Steve Davis stood on the podium at the Sydney Convention Centre grasping their ARIA Award for "Best Dance Single" for their inspired remix of the INXS classic, 'One Of My Kind.' Although Ash and Davis were thrilled with the recognition, they secretly wondered if they would ever taste such success again. Despite the fact their debut album 'We Know What You're Up To" was predominantly self-penned, 'One Of My Kind' was such a monstrous crossover hit that Ash and Davis were immediately stereotyped as producers, not as artists who could write their own songs. "At that moment", recalls Ash, "We drew a line in the sand and said, 'We are going to be known for our own material.'" The early success of "Here Come The Drums" is sweet vindication of their self-belief and their creative integrity. Two years in the making, self-written and self-produced, the album is the sound of a band finding their voice within the genre that they were perhaps least associated: Pop/Punk. "We were at a point where we felt that we had gone as far as we could go with conventional dance music," says Ash. "And we wanted to have a sound that broke out of it. At that time dance music was taking itself very seriously, and the music that we'd really been enjoying for the past couple of years had been rock acts. They had loads of energy, but they also had amazing production and really big melodies and the musical depth that I was after." "Here Come The Drums" siphons the guitar Rock energy of young British acts like BLOC PARTY, melds it with the Glam-tinged 80s Pop-smarts of BLONDIE, ROXY MUSIC and Gary Numan, then lashes it together with the Punk snarl of the mid to late 70s. It's a heady mix that's intoxicating and infectious. "We love our rock music and we love our electronic music, and on this album we're meeting right in the middle", says Ash. "We're making music that will work on the dance floor and on radio. We're not afraid to have a pop influence, but we also wanted attitude. So that's why I'd say The Sex Pistols are the single biggest influence on the album. They were about energy, and it's exciting to listen to them."
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11.03.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Canadian extremists STRAPPING YOUNG LAD recently embarked on the much-anticipated Decibel magazine-sponsored "Transgression Tour" alongside genre titans FEAR FACTORY, SOILWORK and DARKANE, which kicked off on October 28th and runs through December 5th. The group completed a highly successful run on the inaugural "Sounds Of The Underground" tour this past Summer in support of their genre-defying breakthrough new album, "Alien," which critics hail as their best offering yet. Their overly intense live performances captivated the uninitiated crowds who were immediately drawn to the band's perfect blend of melodic industrial thrash insanity. The group just completed a new video for the track 'Zen' with director Marcus Rogers (who also filmed the SYL DVD). Look for the clip to make its Metal Asylum debut late this month. STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars) checks in with the following report: "Hey all, Devin here. We are now on tour with Fear Factory, Darkane and It Dies Today (soon to be Soilwork). It's a good tour, and we're playing venues that we're familiar with, so it's pretty low stress. Metal Edge made it out like we're cool, naming 'Alien' as "One Of The Best Metal Albums of 2005." What a foreign feeling! Oh well, we'll savor it while it's here, 'cause it all goes away at some point. I've been entertaining a shitload of production offers and tours for next year. I want SYL to get some cool stuff done, and I really want to show people the Devin Townsend Band project. I think you'd like it. Rock and roll, metal brethren." 11/05 Detroit, MI [Harpo's Concert Theatre] • 11/06 Toronto, ON [Opera House] • 11/08 New York, NY [Irving Plaza] • 11/09 Worcester, MA [The Palladium] • 11/11 Sayreville, NJ [Starland Ballroom] • 11/12 Philadelphia, PA [Electric Factory] • 11/13 Towson, MD [The Recher Theatre] • 11/14 Norfolk, VA [The Norva Theatre] • 11/15 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 11/16 Lake Buena Vista, FL [House Of Blues] • 11/18 Houston, TX [Meridian] • 11/19 Fort Worth, TX [Ridglea Theatre] • 11/20 San Antonio, TX [Graham Central Station] • 11/21 Tulsa, OK [Cain's Ballroom] • 11/22 Albuquerque, NM [Sunshine Theater] • 11/23 Denver, CO [Ogden Theatre] • 11/25 Las Vegas, NV [House Of Blues] • 11/26 Scottsdale, AZ [Venue Of Scottsdale] • 11/27 San Diego, CA [House Of Blues] • 11/28 Anaheim, CA [House Of Blues] • 11/30 Hollywood, CA [House Of Blues] • 12/01 San Francisco, CA [The Pound] • 12/02 Orangevale, CA [The Boardwalk] • 12/03 Portland, OR [Roseland Theater] • 12/04 Seattle, WA [El Corazon] • 12/05 Vancouver, BC [Croatian Cultural Centre]
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11.02.05 (RockAndMetal.com) A new live DVD from WHITESNAKE is being released via AFM Records on February 6th, 2006. Recorded during the band's 2004 "Live . . . In The Still Of The Night" UK tour, the "Whitesnake: Live - In The Still Of The Night" DVD features all of the band's greatest hits, plus many fan favorites. Formed from the ashes of DEEP PURPLE by lead singer David Coverdale, the DVD captures the excitement and vitality of WHITESNAKE's performance before adoring all-ages crowds, who sing along to every song. In concert, the band present captivating shows that in the words of Coverdale, "Grabs you by the short & curlies & doesn't let go!!" Produced by Coming Home Studios in association with Done & Dusted, and shot in 1080/24PfS High Definition, "Whitesnake: Live - In The Still Of The Night" features four different audio soundtracks - stereo, 5.1 SRS Circle Surround, 5.1 Multi-channel, and 5.1 DTS. The DVD, directed by celebrated live concert director Hamish Hamilton (U2, Madonna, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Westlife), also boasts a behind-the-scenes documentary and photo gallery. A 10-track bonus CD is also included, featuring such well-known WHITESNAKE songs as 'Love Ain't No Stranger,' 'Is This Love,' 'Fool For Your Lovin'' and 'Here I Go Again.' The heart and soul of WHITESNAKE, David Coverdale was born on September 22nd, 1951 in Saltburn-By-The-Sea, North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Coverdale's parents managed a pub called The Red Lodge in town, which was also the scene of his first public solo performance at the age of 12. He went to school at Huntcliffe Secondary Modern in Saltburn, later studying for a short time at Green Lane Art College in Middlesbrough, training to be a graphic design artist and a teacher, during which time he sang with an assortment of local bands in his spare time. Inspired by his all-time hero, singer/guitarist Jimi Hendrix, American Blues singers such as Muddy Waters and Bobby "Blue" Bland, and Soul singers Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, David Coverdale soon decided to concentrate on making a career in music. In 1973, 21 years old and working in a men's boutique by day, and singing in a local club band called FABULOSO BROTHERS by night, he answered an ad in Melody Maker for the job of lead singer with DEEP PURPLE, famously enclosing a photo of himself as a boy scout with his audition tape. In a classic rags-to-riches story David Coverdale was plucked from obscurity and became the front man for one of the biggest bands in the world at that time. He remained with DEEP PURPLE from 1973 to 1976, and was featured on such classic albums as "Burn," "Stormbringer," "Made In Europe" and "Come Taste The Band." From their humble beginnings in 1977, WHITESNAKE gradually went from strength to strength. 'Fool For Your Loving,' a song Coverdale had originally written for Blues artist B.B. King, became the band's breakthrough hit in the UK. Through one EP and 7 albums over the next seven years, the band established itself as a major force in Europe - exploding worldwide in 1987 with Pop and Rock crossover smashes like 'Here I Go Again' and 'Is This Love.'
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11.02.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Former Rob Zombie guitarist Riggs and his new band SCUM OF THE EARTH are currently touring the United States once again along with DEAD BY WEDNESDAY and TILL WE DIE. The band are supporting their debut release "Blah...Blah...Blah...Love Songs For The New Millennium," which was released via Eclipse Records and is in stores now. When asked about the tour, Riggs said the following in a recent interview: "Jagermeister & Lucky13 have both been great in supporting this tour... they gave us tons of cool custom Jager-SOTE swag to give away, and even hooked me up with a Jager Tap Machine for my tour bus! The Devil Girl contest, sponsored by Lucky13 Clothing, is gonna be lots of fun as well, probably end up being like a xxx strip show, but with blood..." Lucky13 Clothing will be holding a SCUM OF THE EARTH "Devil Girl" contest at all tourdates, bringing those who think they've got what it takes to be the next Lucky13 Devil Girl, and let the crowd decide who the hottest Devil Girl is in each city. The winner gets a Lucky13 gift bag containing some custom Lucky13 clothing. Free Jagermeister swag giveaway items will also be available at all shows (to those 21 and over). The strong Rob Zombie influence that one hears in SCUM OF THE EARTH's material is no coincidence. Riggs, the in-your-face vocalist/guitarist, songwriter and producer who spent six years in Zombie's employ, wrote and played all the Rob Zombie guitar grinds on radio hits such as 'Dragula,' 'Living Dead Girl,' 'Superbeast' and others. SCUM OF THE EARTH's lineup is filled out by fellow Rob Zombie bandmate and drummer John Tempesta along with his brother, guitarist Mike Tempesta from POWERMAN 5000. Tour Dates: 11/03 Amarillo, TX [Club Oxygen] • 11/04 Oak City, OK [TBA] • 11/05 Golden, CO [Buffalo Rose] • 11/08 Lincoln , NE [Knickerbockers] • 11/10 Cedar Rapids, IA [3rd St Live] • 11/11 Chicago, IL [Nite Cap Lounge] • 11/12 Taylor, MI [Trolley Stop] • 11/13 Allagan, MI [Groundsphere] • 11/14 Grand Rapids, MI [Ten Bells] • 11/16 Lansing, MI [Temple] • 11/18 Southbend, IN [Cheers] • 11/20 Cleveland, OH [Hi Fi] • 11/23 Bedford, NH [Mark's Showplace] • 11/25 Summerville, MA [Goodtimes Emporium] • 11/26 Bedford, NH [Mark's Showplace] • 11/27 Worcester, MA [Palladium] • 11/29 Springfield, MA [Hippodrome] • 12/01 New York City [Nick & Sam's] • 12/02 Glaucester, NJ [Pirate's Den] • 12/04 West Springfield, VA [Jaxx] • 12/05 Virginia Beach, VA [The Jewish Mother] • 12/10 Fayetville, NC [Jester's] • 12/11 Jacksonville, NC [Planet Rock] • 12/13 St. Petersburg , FL [State Theater] • 12/14 Jacksonville , FL [The Imperial] • 12/15 Gainsville , FL [Higher Ground] • 12/17 Cocoa Beach, FL [900 N Beach Club] • 12/22 Little Rock, AK [Juanita]
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11.01.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Drive-Thru Records is ready to release "OMG HGB DVD ROTFL" on November 22nd, a two-hour DVD featuring Drive-Thru recording artists HELLOGOODBYE. Bursting at the seams with HELLOGOODBYE goodness, the DVD features five music videos, four of which are unreleased, live footage from their sold-out performance at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California, acoustic performances, tour documentary, making of the videos and behind the scenes extras, plus a slideshow from the lens of HELLOGOODBYE vocalist/guitarist, leader and creative force Forrest Kline. Each video pops with the band's effervescent personality. Brand new videos, 'Bonnie Taylor Shakedown 2K1' with it's nutty nod to the woe-be-gone-boy-band era and ode-to-Baywatch beach themed "Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn" will have fans rolling on the floor laughing, while the sweet and tender finger puppet playhouse of 'Dear Jamie' will tug at the grouchiest of heart strings. This unique DVD, produced with the fans in mind, features HELLOGOODBYE'S packed-to-capacity show at the House Of Blues, with that concert presented in its entirety. With exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and extras, "OMG HGB DVD ROTFL" offers a truly dynamic and extraordinary look at this Orange County quartet. Meanwhile, HELLOGOODBYE are currently recording their full-length debut album. The new release, produced by Matt Mahaffey, is slated for release in May of 2006. In addition, the band can be seen in recurring episodes of MTV's "The Real World Austin" and have been receiving over 15,000 plays a day on their Pure Volume site (www.purevolume.com/hellogoodbye). HELLOGOODBYE is rounded out by keyboardist/vocalist Jesse Kurvink, bassist Marcus Cole and drummer Chris Profeta. The band will head out on a month-long tour beginning November 19th with the likes of PEACHCAKE, THE ROCKET SUMMER, HIT THE LIGHTS, and Drive-Thru artist Dave Melillo. Tour Dates: 11/19 Phoenix, AZ [Mesa Amphitheatre] • 11/25 Houston, TX [Java Jazz] • 11/26 Ft. Worth, TX [The Door] • 11/28 Jacksonville, FL [Fuel] • 11/29 West Palm Beach, FL [Rays Downtown Blues] • 11/30 Orlando, FL [The Social] • 12/01 Tampa, FL [Infinity Room - Masquerade] • 12/02 Atlanta, GA [Masquerade] • 12/03 Raleigh, NC [The Brewery] • 12/04 Baltimore, MD [The Ottobar] • 12/06 Providence, RI [The Century Lounge] • 12/07 New York, NY [The Knitting Factory] • 12/08 Randolph, NJ [Obsessions] • 12/09 Rochester, NY [Steel City Music Hall] • 12/10 Allston, MA [The ICC] • 12/11 Philadelphia, PA [Theatre Of The Living Arts] • 12/13 Cleveland, OH [Grog Shop] • 12/14 Detroit, MI [Magic Stick] • 12/15 Chicago, IL [Beat Kitchen] • 12/16 Milwaukee, WI [The Eagles Club] • 12/17 St. Louis, MO [Creepy Crawl]
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11.01.05 (RockAndMetal.com) OZZY OSBOURNE's gone under cover to pay tribute to the songs he covets the most on a new DualDisc released today by Epic Records. Entitled "Under Cover," the audio side of this 13-track disc features newly recorded versions of Osbourne's personal favorites, including 'Woman' (John Lennon), 'Rocky Mountain Way' (Joe Walsh) and 'Go Now' (The Moody Blues), plus songs he recorded for 2005's gold-certified box set "Prince Of Darkness," such as 'In My Life' (The Beatles), '21st Century Schizoid Man' (King Crimson) and 'For What It's Worth' (Buffalo Springfield). The DVD side of the "Under Cover" DualDisc contains the video for 'In My Life,' a stirring collection of archival footage spanning OZZY OSBOURNE's career. Other highlights include the half-hour presentation "Dinner With Ozzy And Friends" where Osbourne, as only he can, tells some of his favorite stories to guests who include son Jack Osbourne and MOTORHEAD's Lemmy Kilmister. In addition, there are classic moments showing Ozzy's repeated attempts to light BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward's beard on fire, and his encounter with a group of nuns at an airport. 35 years into a massively successful music career -- with over 90 millions albums sold -- OZZY OSBOURNE told Revolver (3/05): "For many years now, I've thought that it would be great to do some covers, old songs that mean something to me... It's just me having a bit of fun with some songs that are already proven." In his Esquire feature (1/05), Osbourne clarified the basics for interpreting other artist's songs, saying: "If you're going to do a cover of a song that has a great melody, don't change the melody." Rolling Stone's David Fricke reacted to the new cover songs that appeared on Osbourne's four-CD, 52-song "Prince Of Darkness" box set by noting (3/24/05): "...the greatest shock is the authentic force that Osbourne, who was born into poverty and never finished school, brings to his whispered-goth reading of John Lennon's 'Working Class Hero.'" "If you want to be a hero," Osbourne sings in a searing whine uncannily like Lennon's, "well, just follow me." Revolver's J.D. Considine raved (5/05), "...(covers of) King Crimson's '21st Century Schizoid Man,' for instance, or Mountain's 'Mississippi Queen,' are pure genius. OZZY OSBOURNE recorded the new songs with producer Mark Hudson, a powerhouse band in Jerry Cantrell (guitars), Chris Wyse (bass) AND Mike Bordin (drums), and guest musicians that included Ian Hunter (vocals on 'All The Young Dudes'), Leslie West (guitar solo on 'Mississippi Queen') and Robert Randolph (pedal steel on 'Symphony For The Devil,' guitar solo on '21st Century Schizoid Man'). Ozzy has several upcoming TV appearances scheduled to promote the release of "Under Cover," as he will be a guest with Jimmy Kimmel on November 2nd, and on CNN's "Showbiz Tonight" on November 4th. Then he will appear on "Last Call With Carson Daly on November 11th," and will be a guest on an upcoming episode of "Too Late With Adam Corolla" (air date yet to be confirmed).
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10.31.05 (AP) Ten hours, 28 minutes. That was the sum of the music recorded and released by THE BEATLES before breaking up, a volume of work that changed lives, careers and the course of music history. Eight years, 2,792 pages. That was the effort author Bob Spitz put into telling their story, although editors whittled his manuscript down to 856 pages (minus the end notes). "The Beatles: The Biography," available November 1st, is a compulsively readable history that brings the same exhaustive level of scholarship to the Fab Four that Robert Caro brought to Robert Moses and Lyndon Johnson. "The Beatles' story is all of our stories," says Spitz, 55, a manager for Bruce Springsteen and others before turning to writing. "It is about how the youth culture emerged, the drug culture emerged, how politics rose to the fore as a universal debate. It's about rebellion, it's about the growth of the British entertainment system, the growth of the Rock 'N' Roll entertainment system." "The Beatles changed music forever. They took rock 'n' roll from a medium that was about cars and girls and gave it context, interesting chord changes and true musicianship." Get the idea he's passionate about the subject? Spitz lived it, writing six days a week for six years, spending six months in Liverpool and retracing THE BEATLES' steps. He could practically smell the stale cigarette smoke from the old clubs, and even ordered the band's favorite scotch and Coke drinks just to taste what they had tasted. It almost makes up for the school yard beating that a teenage Spitz suffered for suggesting that THE BEATLES were no-talent bums who wouldn't last; he was an avid Bob Dylan fan at the time. He feels differently now. But his love and respect for THE BEATLES doesn't blind him as a writer; he draws a complete portrait of brilliant musicians who were human after all. Several initial reviews have been positive, and his publisher's first printing of nearly 200,000 copies is considered a positive sign of the biography's potential. The New York Times' Janet Maslin called it a "consolidating and newly illuminating work. For the right reader, that combination is irresistible." "As with all great history writing, Spitz both captures a moment in time and humanizes his subjects," wrote Publishers Weekly. "While some will blanch at the unsettling dark sides of THE BEATLES, most will come to appreciate the band even more for knowing the incredible personal odysseys they endured." Spitz's biography is one of four BEATLES-related books in the stores this Fall, including one each by both of John Lennon's wives. "I get a new Beatles book submitted almost every month, and sales are varied," said Kim Corradini, a buyer for Barnes & Noble Booksellers. "Books that offer something new - new revelations, new photos, an insider's view - do much better than those that are just rehashings." The project was daunting for more reasons than just the effort it entailed. There have been more Beatles books published than there are... [full story]

10.31.05 (RockAndMetal.com) Relapse Records recording artists BURST have completed shooting a video for the song 'Where The Wave Broke,' the lead-off track from the band's new album, "Origo." BURST drummer Patrik Hultin comments: "The video shoot for 'Where The Wave Broke' was all in all a great experience. To have someone outside the band visualize our music was a new experience for us. To let go of a song and let someone else interpret it gives everything an entirely new feel, and judging from the sneak peeks we've gotten, the end result will be stark, intense, and suggestive. Peter and Kim (Reinholdsson and Petersen, the video directors/producers from Harvest Light Productions) and their dedicated crew really went out of their way with this." The video, the first from the "Origo" album and the band's second overall, will make it's international debut in November. Sweden's BURST plow headlong into eternity with their sophomore effort, "Origo." With flowing grace and force of conviction, the album's lush layers of sound crush and caress in equal measure. Fragile, melodic vocals intertwine with explosive screams, while waves of guitar weave songs as expressive and elaborate as human emotion itself. "Origo," BURST's masterwork of complex, commanding music, was released in the UK and Europe on October 24th, and will see a North American release via Relapse on February 7th, 2006. On the band's 2002 debut album, "Prey On Life," BURST constructed powerful, crisp and perfectly balanced music that molded both emotion and intensity. With a sound firmly rooted in Metal and the Punk/Hardcore aesthetic, BURST relies just as heavily on ambience, atmosphere, and tone as it does complexity, aggression and raw emotion. A wholly original entity, "Prey On Life" delivered unquestionably brilliant music that consumes and digests the listener with huge and hypnotic waves of sound. BURST kick off a new European tour supporting OPETH beginning November 27th. Upcoming Tour Dates: 11/09 Goteborg, Sweden [Pustervik] • 11/10 Stockholm, Sweden [Alcazar] • 11/26 Sneek, Netherlands [Het Bolwerk] • 11/27 Nottingham, UK [Rock City] • 11/28 Glasgow, UK [Garage] • 11/29 Leeds, UK [Blank Canvas] • 11/30 London, UK [The Forum] • 12/02 Exeter, UK [Lemon Grove] • 12/03 Oxford, UK [Brooks University] • 12/04 Utrecht, Netherlands [Tivoli] • 12/06 Paris, France [La Locomotive] • 12/07 Toulouse, France [Ramier] • 12/08 Bergara, Spain [Sala Jam] • 12/09 Madrid, Spain [Arena] • 12/10 Barcelona, Spain [Apolo] • 12/11 Lyon, France [Le Transbordeur] • 12/13 Milan, Italy [Rolling Stone] • 12/14 Florence, Italy [Flog] • 12/15 Zurich, Switzerland [Abart] • 12/16 Munich, Germany [New Backstage] • 12/17 Vienna, Austria [Szene Wien] • 12/18 Budapest, Hungary [Petofi Hall] • 12/19 Prague, Czech [Republic Roxy] • 12/20 Hanau, Germany [Halle 2] • 12/21 Stuttgart, Germany [Die Rohre] • 12/22 Zoetermeer, Netherlands [Boerderij] • 12/29 Gothenburg, Sweden [Tradgarn]
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[Music News: 10.24.05 - 10.30.05]
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