Morrissey Mulling New Deal

Morrissey finds himself without a record deal these days, but things are looking up. In response to fan questions on www.true-to-you.net, Morrissey tells fans that while he has no current deal, he has received an offer from Warner Brothers.

Answering fan questions on the site True-to-you.net, when asked if he would be releasing another album soon, the former Smiths singer said: "I presently have the option to tour for the remainder of 2007, or start a new album."

He added: "I don't have a deal, but I have an offer from Warner Brothers." Yet he indicates he has some great touring opportunities that make it a tough decision.

Morrissey says, "As the same time, there are some great touring offers - New Zealand, South Africa, my beloved Scandinavia, Israel and Iran," he said. "I would love to sing in Tehran. So, for this week, it's a dilemma."

Source: NME.com

Exclusive Interview with Jack White of The White Stripes In NME

Yeah, I'm usin' the old-fashioned White Stripes picture. I like the old picture.

In a world wide exclusive in this week's issue of the NME Jack White explains some of the lyrical themes in the new White Stripes' single ICKY THUMP.
In answer to queries about the song's seemingly political content, in particular the lines: "White Americans, what?/ Nothing better to do?/ Why don't you kick yourself out/You're an immigrant too”, Jack explains "I've always been interested in the double-edged sword of being proud of your culture,” elaborates Jack. “It’s a very touchy subject in America. You can’t be too proud or you tip the scale. But at the same time, America is made up of nothing but immigrants. It’s a big melting pot, yet there’s a lot of segregation still to this day. It’s an intricate minefield of a topic.”



You can read more excerpts from his revealing interview at NME's site.

Gorillaz To Stop Creating Albums

The best news I've heard all week: Damon Albarn confirms no more Gorillaz albums, saying "there won't be another pop record."

I'm so happy to see the Gorillaz go. Pure shtick, too unbelievably ubiquitous considering the lack of substance in any of their songs. Bye bye!

Source: NME

Slash Won't Deny Possibility of Guns N' Roses Reunion

Slash has stated he wants Velvet Revolver to stop playing Guns N' Roses (still no Chinese Democracy?) and Stone Temple Pilots songs, and wants the two groups (GNR and Stone Temple Pilots) to get back together, if only "just for the fun of it."

I guess it's up to Axl to give up the ghost on Chinese Democracy, and give peace a chance.

Thanks to Kristen for pointing out this story!

Source: NME

Stream The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible on NME.com. . .hear it before it comes out March 6

Fans of The Arcade Fire rejoice: Neon Bible is available for streaming on NME.com. The album will be released for purchase stateside on March 6.

Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello Discusses RATM Reunion

Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello recently took a few minutes to talk about the recently-announced reunion, saying that there was a political element involved with the band getting back together (you don't say?). As Morello put it, "It occurred to all of us that the times were right to see if we can knock the Bush administration out in one fell swoop, and we hope to do that job well."

Morello told MTV that, although the Coachella show is a one-off, he would not rule out future collaboration.

Dexys Midnight Runners Making A Comeback, Post First Track In 22 Years

According to NME, Dexy's Midnight Runners ("Come On Eileen") have just posted a new track on their MySpace from their forthcoming album, It's OK Joanna.

When asked to comment by Any Given Tuesday, frontman Kevin Rowland said, "Don't call it a comeback, we've been here for years." OK, he didn't say that. But the MySpace page does say "In 2003, Dexys were at last reinvented for a critically acclaimed and rapturously received tour. Again, it wasn't a greatest hits tour, and many of the ideas approaches that were received with bewilderment in 1985 were employed again. But this time, those ideas were understood and very warmly welcomed. The world had caught up with us. 2007 could be a good year for fans of Kevin and Dexys."

Bloc Party: Jack White Is "Treacherous"

According to Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke, Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs) is a punk when it comes to speaking out on political issues. Okereke states that he was amazed when White "said it wasn't his job to be critical about foreign policy because he was being paid to be an entertainer. I thought that was treacherous because it's complicit with the capitalist society. Selling more records is the only thing that's important to him, not provoking debate." Source: NME

Capitalist society aside, how does Meg White feel? We already know Bob Dylan (who had the Raconteurs open on his recent tour) is hanging his head in shame for poor Jack.




Bloc Party's Weekend in the City releases next Tuesday, February 6.

Dispute Over James Brown's Will Gets Hairy

According to an NME report, the dispute over James Brown's will is far from over. Brown's marriage to Tomi Rae Hynie is being questioned for validity, as her prior marriage was not annulled at the time she married the Godfather of Soul. The will itself does not name Hynie, or Brown's son with Hynie, James Brown, Jr.
Georgia law provides that if a will names specific children of the decedent (the dead person), any children not named have no claim through the parent's estate. However, if Hynie can prove the validity of the marriage, she may be entitled to a portion of the estate (by taking an elective share) as Brown's widow, regardless of the contents of the will. Think she'll be sharing with baby James? I doubt it.

The lesson? Keep your affairs in order. If you have a significant life change, update your will. That's my personal finance tip for the day.

Oh, and the estate's attorney is Strom Thurmond, Jr.

REM Makes Surprise Appearance In Oxford; 2007 Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced Today

REM made a surprise appearance in Oxford, UK last night at a Robyn Hitchcock show. Peter Buck has been performing with Hitchcock and his group The Venus 3 (whose lastest album you can read about here), and Michael Stipe and Mike Mills joined the party onstage, performing "Electrolyte" and an unreleased, as-yet unidentified song. Don't believe me? Ask Thom Yorke of Radiohead, he was there. Source: NME

The word is that REM began working on their next album this past September. Their nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame may turn into an induction very soon, as the inductees are to be named by press release sometime today.

The British Invasion Is So Over! NME Invades America

British magazine NME begins its trek into the American market with its new website, www.nme.com. NME is nothing new to the world of music, having been around for 54 years, but this site is its foray into the US, along with brand marketing concerts in a "NME Presents. . ." series. The site has been around for a short time, but is already the third most popular music magazine site on the web. Source: DMNews.

New Metallica in the works, Rick Rubin to produce

Metallica is set to record its ninth studio album, the follow-up to "St. Anger", with producer Rick Rubin at the helm. Lars Ulrich spoke to NME and said the album will hark back to the seminal 1986 "Master Of Puppets".

"The Black Parade" To Become A Musical? Plus, U2 Best Of Tracks Announced

I don't want to cover this band, I don't. But when I read that they are going to make a musical out of Welcome To The Black Parade, well, I have to say something. Concept albums get a bad rap. And I think that is generally because most popular bands are mediocre as artists. Yeah, they can play instruments, but they aren't really making something with real force behind it. And when a half-wit wants to drag it out into a multimedia foray, well, we have a problem.


NME also reports that U2's imminent 'Best Of' collection, called U218 Singles, now has a tracklisting:
'Beautiful Day'
'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For'
'Pride (In The Name Of Love)'
'With Or Without You'
'Vertigo'
'New Year's Day'
'Mysterious Ways'
'Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of'
'Where The Streets Have No Name'
'Sweetest Thing'
'Sunday Bloody Sunday'
'One'
'Desire'
'Walk On'
'Elevation'
'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own'
'The Saints Are Coming'
Plus one new song, title TBD.