Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger.
My latest obsession being photographs of unseemly musicians pictured together...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
First Dawn of Italo Pop in America?
Italo Pop refers to a specific genre of electronic-based dance music that came out of the disco era of the late 70's and into the age of electro-pop within the early 80's but died out quickly by 1985 (at least in American and British dance clubs). Some italo pop showed promising talent in the realm of creating new and fresh melodies in an era dominated by heavier, synthpop with a very "English" sound and American hard rock, heavy metal or R&B and dance music. Not a lot of info out there in America about italo pop, as it never did catch on outside of sweaty gay clubs and discos. Twin Sister (an American indie rock/dance band from New York) recently performed La Bionda's song "I wanna Be Your Lover" live on their last tour of 2010. Therefore, I predict at least some peaked lukewarm interest in a long lost yet intriguing genre of European dance music.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
RIP: Mike Starr dies at 44
Mike Starr, the original bassist in Alice In Chains who recently appeared on VH1's Celebrity Rehab, died March 8th in Salt Lake City of unknown causes. He was 44. Starr played with the grunge band on their first four studio LP's – including their hit singles "Rooster" and "Man In The Box" – before leaving the band in 1993. He struggled with drugs during much of the past two decades, and last month was arrested in Salt Lake City after being caught with unauthorized prescription drugs. 
Alice In Chains came together in Seattle in 1987, right as the local music scene was taking off with groups like Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone. Sensing the changing times, Columbia Records signed the band in 1989 and the next year they released their debut Facelift. The group opened up for Iggy Pop, Van Halen, Extreme and Poison as their song "Man In The Box" climbed the charts – but Starr battled with drug addiction during much of his tenure in the band.
In 1993 he left the group. "I was just a difference in priorities," lead singer Layne Staley told Rolling Stone in 1994. "We wanted to continue intense touring and press. Mike was ready to go home." Starr later claimed that he was fired due to his drug addiction. The next year he served 90 days in jail after being caught stealing luggage from a Houston airport.
Three years after Starr left, Alice In Chains dissolved as Staley faced his own drug problems. He died of an overdose in 2002, and Starr later claimed to be the last person to see him alive. "I wish I hadn't been high on benzodiazepine [that night]," Starr said on Celebrity Rehab. "I wouldn't have just walked out the door."
Starr's appearance on the VH1 reality show rankled his former bandmates. "Addiction is no joke, and we know that first hand," Alice guitarist Jerry Cantrell said in 2010. "We lost a good friend of ours to that. Mike deserves a better life.”
Dr. Drew Tweeted about Starr's death yesterday. "Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness," he wrote. "So very sad. Our prayers are with his family."-rollingstone.com
Alice In Chains came together in Seattle in 1987, right as the local music scene was taking off with groups like Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone. Sensing the changing times, Columbia Records signed the band in 1989 and the next year they released their debut Facelift. The group opened up for Iggy Pop, Van Halen, Extreme and Poison as their song "Man In The Box" climbed the charts – but Starr battled with drug addiction during much of his tenure in the band.
In 1993 he left the group. "I was just a difference in priorities," lead singer Layne Staley told Rolling Stone in 1994. "We wanted to continue intense touring and press. Mike was ready to go home." Starr later claimed that he was fired due to his drug addiction. The next year he served 90 days in jail after being caught stealing luggage from a Houston airport.
Three years after Starr left, Alice In Chains dissolved as Staley faced his own drug problems. He died of an overdose in 2002, and Starr later claimed to be the last person to see him alive. "I wish I hadn't been high on benzodiazepine [that night]," Starr said on Celebrity Rehab. "I wouldn't have just walked out the door."
Starr's appearance on the VH1 reality show rankled his former bandmates. "Addiction is no joke, and we know that first hand," Alice guitarist Jerry Cantrell said in 2010. "We lost a good friend of ours to that. Mike deserves a better life.”
Dr. Drew Tweeted about Starr's death yesterday. "Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness," he wrote. "So very sad. Our prayers are with his family."-rollingstone.com
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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