elton john becomes a father
Elton John and his partner have become the proud parents of a son born to a surrogate in California 25 December 2010.
His name is Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces.
"We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment. Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents."
Elton and his partner, who entered into a civil union in 2005, tried to adopt an AIDS-infected orphan in Ukraine last year, but were thwarted by government regulations.
franz ferdinand - take me out
Franz Ferdinand are a rock band formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2002. The band is composed of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals and guitar), Bob Hardy (bass guitar), Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar, keyboards and backing vocals) and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion, guitar and backing vocals).
The band has been nominated for several Grammy Awards, becoming one of few Scottish bands or artists to be nominated for a Grammy Award.
velvet revolver getting ready to reveal new singer
Slash and Duff McKagan's rock group Velvet Revolver wants to make a comeback - the band is close to securing a new frontman, more than two years after Scott Weiland was ousted from the job.
The group has been without a lead vocalist since parting ways with Weiland in April 2008.
They revived efforts to find a replacement earlier this month and drummer Matt Sorum admits they have narrowed down the search - although he's hesitant to reveal the identity of the star until they've jammed together a little longer.
He insists the mystery vocalist is a "known guy", who he describes as "younger and stronger".
And he's urged fans to remain patient as they work out the finer details.
Sorum adds, "I know it's been like this long-winded, 'Oh, Velvet Revolver this, Velvet Revolver that.' We're tired of it, believe me. But we don't have the ability to just jump out there with any singer. We can't do it."
The group has been without a lead vocalist since parting ways with Weiland in April 2008.
They revived efforts to find a replacement earlier this month and drummer Matt Sorum admits they have narrowed down the search - although he's hesitant to reveal the identity of the star until they've jammed together a little longer.
He insists the mystery vocalist is a "known guy", who he describes as "younger and stronger".
And he's urged fans to remain patient as they work out the finer details.
Sorum adds, "I know it's been like this long-winded, 'Oh, Velvet Revolver this, Velvet Revolver that.' We're tired of it, believe me. But we don't have the ability to just jump out there with any singer. We can't do it."
aaron lewis of staind - country boy
Staind frontman Aaron Lewis is making the jump to country music, similar to other rock-oriented stars like Kid Rock and Darius Rucker.
His solo debut, Town Line, is due out in February 2011 with the disc's first single, "Country Boy". "Country Boy" features George Jones, Charlie Daniels and Chris Young.
Lewis explained that he grew up listening to country music, and the genre change isn't as drastic as it might appear.
"Country was the background music to my childhood. My grandfather listened to Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Hank Williams, Jr., and all of the greats," Lewis said.
Lewis says that another rock-turned-country star, Kid Rock, was another part of the inspiration to go country.
"When Staind did our first tour with Kid Rock in 1999, I rode the bus with him on a couple occasions and we bonded over this music," Lewis said. "I haven't been able to let go of it since then."
farro brothers leaving paramore
On 18 December 2010, Paramore announced that brothers Josh and Zac Farro were leaving the band, confirming rumors that had begun earlier in the week.
In a blog post on the band's official site Paramore wrote that the Farros had actually decided to leave the group "a couple of months ago," and that, while fans might be shocked by the news, the remaining three members — frontwoman Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis and guitarist Taylor York — weren't.
"None of us were really shocked. For the last year it hasn't seemed as if they wanted to be around anymore," the statement read in part. "We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy and if that isn't here with us, then we support them finding happiness elsewhere."
The Farro brothers, guitarist Josh and drummer Zac, founded Paramore with Williams and Davis in 2004 (York was made an official member of the band around the release of 2009's Brand New Eyes album), and though the group has lost two of its core members, they pledged to continue on ... with a tour scheduled for February 2011.
"We never for a second thought about leaving any of this behind. We really hope that you can be encouraged by the fact that the three of us who are still here are ready to take on another chapter of our journey together," the statement read. "You have always been what keeps us going so why would we stop now? We want to stick by you. Knowing that we have a unified passion and a clear vision makes us feel stronger than ever."
Earlier this week, a blog post announcing the Farros departure began making the rounds. And though it was credited to the band, in their statement on Saturday, Paramore denounced it as "a fake."
"The blog that was posted regarding everything that is going on with our band ...we aren't sure who did it or why... And we aren't sure how they timed it this way," their statement read. "This is the first time that we have spoken out about what's going on and we wouldn't have released an official statement that important through a personal blog. So, we're sorry for any confusion and just to remain clear, this is the first time we have spoken out about this."
Paramore concluded by thanking their fans for standing by them, and promised that 2011 will be a big year for the band. Farro brothers, or not.
"We have some amazing things lined up for next year starting with our tour in South America. We are still coming to you and we are excited about who we are bringing with us! The tour is still on and we can't wait to see you all," they wrote. "As we look back, and now as we look with excitement to the future, in all of this what truly matters are the good times. The pictures of us with our arms around each other, the long van rides, your faces while you sing along as we play. Thank you for getting us right here to this very moment. We look forward to our best times. And we hope you will go there with us."
In a blog post on the band's official site Paramore wrote that the Farros had actually decided to leave the group "a couple of months ago," and that, while fans might be shocked by the news, the remaining three members — frontwoman Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis and guitarist Taylor York — weren't.
"None of us were really shocked. For the last year it hasn't seemed as if they wanted to be around anymore," the statement read in part. "We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy and if that isn't here with us, then we support them finding happiness elsewhere."
The Farro brothers, guitarist Josh and drummer Zac, founded Paramore with Williams and Davis in 2004 (York was made an official member of the band around the release of 2009's Brand New Eyes album), and though the group has lost two of its core members, they pledged to continue on ... with a tour scheduled for February 2011.
"We never for a second thought about leaving any of this behind. We really hope that you can be encouraged by the fact that the three of us who are still here are ready to take on another chapter of our journey together," the statement read. "You have always been what keeps us going so why would we stop now? We want to stick by you. Knowing that we have a unified passion and a clear vision makes us feel stronger than ever."
Earlier this week, a blog post announcing the Farros departure began making the rounds. And though it was credited to the band, in their statement on Saturday, Paramore denounced it as "a fake."
"The blog that was posted regarding everything that is going on with our band ...we aren't sure who did it or why... And we aren't sure how they timed it this way," their statement read. "This is the first time that we have spoken out about what's going on and we wouldn't have released an official statement that important through a personal blog. So, we're sorry for any confusion and just to remain clear, this is the first time we have spoken out about this."
Paramore concluded by thanking their fans for standing by them, and promised that 2011 will be a big year for the band. Farro brothers, or not.
"We have some amazing things lined up for next year starting with our tour in South America. We are still coming to you and we are excited about who we are bringing with us! The tour is still on and we can't wait to see you all," they wrote. "As we look back, and now as we look with excitement to the future, in all of this what truly matters are the good times. The pictures of us with our arms around each other, the long van rides, your faces while you sing along as we play. Thank you for getting us right here to this very moment. We look forward to our best times. And we hope you will go there with us."
phantom planet - california
Phantom Planet is an alternative rock band from Southern California. The band consists of vocalist-rhythm guitarist Alex Greenwald, lead guitarist Darren Robinson, bassist Sam Farrar and drummer Jeff Conrad. The band is best known for its track "California", which became the theme song for the Fox TV series, The O.C.. While the band is often mentioned as the group that featured actor Jason Schwartzman on drums, they have continued on in his absence and have released a number of well-received albums. On November 25, 2008, the band announced in a blog entry on their website that they are going on "hiatus, and will not be playing any more live shows or making any new records, indefinitely." They played their last show on December 12, 2008, in Los Angeles. Alex mentioned numerous times during their last show that the band was, in fact, going on a hiatus, not breaking up.
pink floyd won selling rights
After nine months, rockers Pink Floyd have won the right to have the band's music sold only in album form and not as individual tracks.
The group triumphed over record bosses at EMI after they admitted breaching an agreement with the band to only sell their music as full albums, reports the Daily Express.
EMI had signed a deal with the group that banned them from selling single tracks online or songs as ringtones.
They were found to have violated the order in March and immediately filed an appeal challenging the court's decision.
The case went before the Court of Appeal in London on Wednesday and the officials ruled in Floyd's favor once again, stating the deal was put in place to preserve the band's integrity.
joel madden and nicole richie married
Joel Madden from Good Charlotte and Nicole Richie are officially husband and wife.
The couple, who began dating four years ago and have two children together, tied the knot at the Los Angeles home of Lionel Richie, the bride's father. An array of stars helped the couple celebrate their nuptials, including No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani, celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson and Madden's twin and Good Charlotte band member, Benji.
People reports a unique guest made an impression at the wedding: the affair apparently included a trained elephant that was seen being led to the wedding site.
The duo have a son, Sparrow, and a daughter, Harlow, together and announced earlier this year that they were ready to head down the aisle. Madden took to Twitter to announce the news in February.
"Yep. I'm engaged. Very happy," he said. "Yeah, we've been engaged for a while, so you're all kind of late on that. But thanks for the hoopla all the same."
While Madden turned to social media to inform fans of the engagement, Richie went to late-night TV, confirming to David Letterman that she and Madden were slated to swap vows.
"We actually recently are engaged, yes," Richie said.
paramore taks time off road
Paramore are definitely wrapping up a year that included a slew of chart-ruling hits and a huge cross-country trek.
"We don't have much more for the rest of this year. We're going on a tour in South America and then we're taking time off and we're writing for a new record," York said. Although a new project beckons, York admitted that moving on from the success of Brand New Eyes is a bit difficult. "We're kind of at the end of this record but it's bittersweet."
As Paramore heads off to craft their fourth LP, Williams said they plan to take the same time-tested approach to making new music that proved successful with their previous work. Although their "Twilight" soundtrack smash "Decode" was penned on the road, the front-woman maintained they prefer to knock out a record at their home base in Tennessee.
"We wrote 'Decode' [while on tour] ... we didn't expect it and then everything happened with that one and so that was good. You never know," she conceded. "We like to do it at home mostly. We like to wait and kind of really focus on the records when we have time off."
a day to remember ~ the downfall of us all
A Day to Remember is an American rock band from Ocala, Florida. Founded in 2003 by guitarist, Tom Denny, and drummer, Bobby Scruggs.
The Downfall Of Us All ***** lyrics
Songwriters: Denney, Thomas H Jr; Mckinnon, Jeremy Wade; Shelnutt, Alexander T; Westfall, Neil S; Woodard, Joshua Steven;
Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh
Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh
Let's go
It's not easy making a name for yourself
Where do you draw the line?
I never thought I'd be in this far
Let's have some fun and never change that for anyone
Try not to miss me when I'm gone
I sold my soul to the open road
I live my life alone
You'll find me in the same spot believe me
I could never stop, my life's turned upside down
Meet me out past the train tracks
I'm leaving and not coming back
You're right and I was wrong
This town will be the downfall of us all
I'm gonna need you to try to follow along
I did the best that I could to try to write you songs
Now go tell them we sold out
Like we're the ones who changed
I wrote the feeling's new to me, in my sincerity
I sold my soul to the open road
I live my life alone
You'll find me in the same spot believe me
I could never stop, my life's turned upside down
Meet me out past the train tracks
I'm leaving and not coming back
You're right and I was wrong
This town will be the downfall of us all
Don't forget yourselves, we've made up our minds
And we signed 3, 4, 5 on the dotted line
Don't forget yourselves, we've made up our minds
And we signed 3, 4, 5 on the dotted line
You'll find me in the same spot believe me
I could never stop, my life's turned upside down
Meet me out past the train tracks
I'm leaving and not coming back
You're right and I was wrong
You'll find me in the same spot believe me
I could never stop, my life's turned upside down
Meet me out past the train tracks
I'm leaving and not coming back
You're right and I was wrong
This town will be the downfall of us all
This town will be the downfall of us all
Downfall of us all, downfall of us all
Downfall of us all, downfall of us all
freelance whales - hannah
To call them multi-instrumentalists might be a little overdone. The members in Freelance Whales are really just collectors, at heart. They don’t really fancy buffalo nickels or Victorian furniture, but over the past two years, they’ve been collecting instruments, ghost stories, and dream-logs. Somehow, from this strange compost heap of little sounds and quiet thoughts, songs started to rise up like steam from the ground.
The first performance of these songs took place in January of 2009, in Staten Island’s abandoned farm colony, a dilapidated geriatric ward, in one of New York’s lesser visited boroughs. A seemingly never-ending jigsaw of small rooms, the farm colony ate them whole and threatened to never regurgitate them. And even though the onlookers were only spiritual presences, the group was still palpably nervous and visibly cold. After a bit of singing, strumming and stomping asbestos, they realized that they’d found a good crowd. They heard a bit of clapping from an adjacent room, also some laughing, but not a single soul asked about their record.
Since their brief residency at the Farm Colony, Freelance Whales have taken to city streets, subway platforms, and stages with their swirling nostalgia. Many people who found them playing in those public spaces, managed to forget what train they were supposed to take; some of them forgot what language they originally spoke. And so, after playing in New York City, almost exclusively, for about a year, they embarked on their first tour of the United States, and Canada. They saw buffalos posted on hilltops, armies of windmills, and lots of lovely people who let the music run their blood in reverse.
the limousines - internet killed the video star
INTERNET KILLED THE VIDEO STAR - THE KIDS ARE DISCO DANCING THEY’RE TIRED OF ROCK ‘N ROLL I TRIED TO TELL ‘EM HEY THAT DRUM MACHINE AIN’T GOT NO SOUL BUT THEY DON’T WANNA LISTEN NO THEY THINK THEY’VE HEARD IT ALL THEY TRADE THOSE GUITARS IN FOR DRUMS MACHINES AND DISCO BALLS WE CAN’T REWIND NOW WE’VE GONE TOO FAR THE INTERNET KILLED THE VIDEO STAR THE KIDS ARE DISCO DANCING THEY’RE TIRED OF ROCK ‘N ROLL DON’T BOTHER TELLING THEM THAT DRUM MACHINE AIN’T GOT NO SOUL YOU KNOW WE NEVER LISTEN WE THINK WE’VE SEEN IT ALL LIKE EVERYTHING WE’RE DOING NO ONE’S EVER DONE BEFORE DID YOU HEAR WHAT THEY SAID THAT ROCK ‘N ROLL IS DEAD YEAH IT’S LIKE A ZOMBIE IT’LL DIG ITSELF BACK UP AGAIN I TUNE IN THE SIGNAL BUT IT’S FADING OH SOME GHOST STRUMMING HIS GUITAR ON THE RADIO SINGING GLORY DAYS ARE GONE BUT EVERYTHING’S OK CUZ WE STILL LOVE OUR SEX AND DRUGS JUST LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS THE KIDS ARE DISCO DANCING THEY’RE TIRED OF ROCK ‘N ROLL DON’T BOTHER TELLING THEM THAT DRUM MACHINE AIN’T GOT NO SOUL THE KIDS ALL JUST GO DANCING THEY’RE TRYING TO ROCK ‘N ROLL DON’T BOTHER TELLING THEM THAT DRUM MACHINE AINT GOT NO SOUL WELL I’M A HORRIBLE DANCER I AIN’T GONNA LIE BUT I’LL BE DAMNED IF THAT MEANS THAT I AIN’T GONNA TRY YEAH I’M A SHITTY ROMANCER BABY AIN’T GONNA LIE BUT I’LL BE DAMNED IF THAT MEANS THAT I AIN’T GONNA TRY AND GETCHA TO GET UP GET UP GET UP AND DANCE THE KIDS ARE DISCO DANCING THEY’RE TIRED OF ROCK ‘N ROLL DON’T BOTHER TELLING THEM THAT DRUM MACHINE AINT GOT NO SOUL WE CAN’T REWIND NOW WE’VE GONE TOO FAR THE INTERNET KILLED THE VIDEO STAR
vampire weekend file lawsuit
The band are being sued for $2million by Ann Kirsten Kennis, who appears in the photo on the cover of the album, released earlier this year. She claims she did not give permission for the image to be used.
Vampire Weekend is saying that liability lies with photographer Brody, because he presented them with a release form supposedly signed by Kennis. However, she claims Brody never even took the photo, despite selling it to the band to use.
Normally lawsuit papers have to be supplied in person, but as the band and court officials were unable to track the photographer down they were given permission to file them by mail and email. From 3 December 2010 it will be legally considered that he has received the papers.
If he doesn't respond, a default judgement against him could be made early next year.
the temper trap ~ sweet disposition
The Temper Trap won two 2010 ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) awards.
They won 'Best Group' and 'Most Popular Single' for Sweet Disposition.
blink-182 ~ stay together for the kids
Blink-182 has confirmed a run of UK arena dates summer 2011 – their first UK headlining arena tour in over seven years.
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