music news

Arcade Fire Change Tune, License Song To NFL For Haiti

Arcade Fire is teaming up with the NFL for a cause.  While the group has previously balked at selling the rights to their songs for commercial ventures, the band is allowing the NFL to use their track “Wake Up” to help soundtrack breaks during the Super Bowl.  Band members say they’ll give all the money they make from licensing the song to Partners In Health, to support the charity in its Haitian earthquake relief efforts.  The track will earn money for the organization during the live broadcast of the game this weekend, as well as with any future broadcasts of the game on the NFL Network.  Super Bowl 44 takes place this Sunday in Miami.  The Indianapolis Colts are facing the New Orleans Saints in the big game, which will air on CBS.

Aussie Court Rules Against Men At Work

Men At Work is involved in a new a legal dispute.  HollywoodReporter.com states that a Federal Court judge in Australia ruled on Thursday that the ‘80s band had lifted portions their breakthrough hit “Down Under” from another song.  Judge Peter Jacobson said the rockers pulled a “substantial part” of their signature song from the campfire tune “Kookaburra Sits In The Old Gum Tree.”  The judge added that “Kookaburra’s” publisher Larrikin Music Publishing may now pursue damages from songwriters Colin Hay and Ron Strykert, as well as from Men At Work’s record label.  Larrikin first initiated compensation proceedings in 2008 against Hay, Strykert, EMI Songs Australia, and EMI Publishing Australia.  “Down Under” was recorded for Men At Work’s 1981 LP, “Business As Usual.”  The song hit number one on the U.S., British, and Australian charts.

Oasis Attacker To Be Sentenced Friday

The man accused of shoving Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher at last fall’s Virgin Festival in Toronto is scheduled to be sentenced today.  Daniel Sullivan rushed the stage during Oasis’ set at the 2008 edition of the Canadian event, and knocked Gallagher into some monitors.  He then targeted Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, but security guards were able to stop him before he reached the singer.  Noel Gallagher suffered three broken ribs along with other cuts and bruises in the incident, and Oasis was forced to cancel several tour dates to give the guitarist time to recover.  “The Toronto Star” says that at his hearing last November, Sullivan entered a guilty plea concerning the attack.  He also admitted to being intoxicated, and said he had no memory of how he made it to the stage.

Unreleased Weezer Song Featured In Cancer Research Download Fundraiser

Weezer is one of several acts taking part in the new “The Right Track: Tunes To TargetCancer” download series.  The group is contributing the previously unreleased song “The Rat Race” to the fundraiser.  The track dates back to 2003, and was originally recorded for an acoustic album that ultimately never surfaced.  In addition, Ween, The Donnas, Cowboy Junkies, and Buffalo Tom are also featured in the first “Right Track” batch, along with Linda Thompson, Mike Viola, The Gravel Pit, and others.  More songs will be added over time.  Each download costs a minimum of 99-cents, but those who want to give more are welcome to bump up the purchase price.  Proceeds will support research efforts into finding cures for rare and lesser known cancers.  To learn more about “The Right Track: Tunes To TargetCancer” or to download a song, visit http://www.righttracktunes.org.

The Cure Frontman Singing With Others

The Cure’s Robert Smith is finding other outlets for his voice these days.  The musician recently revealed that his solo track “Very Good Advice” would turn up on the “Alice In Wonderland” soundtrack, and he’s noted that he has a few other projects in the works with other artists as well.  According to Twentyfourbit.com, one of Smith’s new collaborations will be with vocalist Anik Jean on a cover of the Earl Slick song “Believe.”  A second pairing finds Smith teaming with the instrumental rock outfit 65daysofstatic on a track called “Come To Me.”  The song is slated to appear on the band’s upcoming CD.  Smith is also reportedly working with a third artist, but details on that collaboration haven’t been announced yet.

Temper Trap Trap Producer By Chance

Temper Trap credits their catchy, hypnotic-atmospheric sound in part to their producer.  Singer Dougie Mandagi says the Australian band feels fortunate they had Jim Abbiss at the helm for their debut album, “Conditions.”  Abbiss has also worked with such groups as Editors, Kasabian, and Arctic Monkeys.  Mandagi says the pairing came about through a series of lucky breaks.
Mandagi notes that Abbiss got Temper Trap’s demo purely by chance.  He explains that Abbiss’ manager was in Australia to check out another band sharing the bill with Temper Trap, and thought Temper Trap and Abbiss would work well together.  Mandagi adds that Abbiss was just what his group needed.  He explains, quote, “We always had the atmospherics and knew what we wanted it to sound like, but didn’t have the equipment or know-how, so it’s a good thing he came along.”  Temper Trap is currently promoting their debut album, “Conditions.”

Crash Kings Are Guitar-Free, And Plan To Stay That Way

Crash Kings are doing their best to differentiate themselves from other groups.  The rockers have one unique trait—there is no guitar player in the group.  Frontman Tony Beliveau says that was intentional, noting when he and his brother Mike, the band’s bassist, talked about their group they wanted to, quote, “figure out a way to do it without guitar.”  He says he thinks they’ve been successful in bypassing the standard rock instrument.
Beliveau says their unusual sound helped land them their record deal with Linda Perry’s label, and adds that she’s encouraged them to remain guitar-free.  Crash Kings’ music has a certain guitar-like sound to it which comes from a clavinet—an instrument Tony plays that combines a keyboard with strings.  Crash Kings are promoting their self-titled debut album, which features the hit “Mountain Man.”

Cavo Survives Long Hours In A Maze For “Crash” Clip

Cavo is trying something new with their latest video.  The group shot the clip for “Crash” in a junkyard.  Singer Casey Walker says this was the band’s first true introduction to a concept video, noting their clip for the song “Champagne” basically just required them to play live.  He says he had fun at the shoot, but admits it included a lot of time just hanging around—which he didn’t expect.
Guitarist Chris Hobbs says Cavo picked the salvage yard for the location because they thought it was “a cool spot.”  He adds, quote, “It was kind of funny because we’d do certain shots, and you’d go in this maze of cars and rust just to get back to the certain spot that they wanted you at.  It was like being in a labyrinth or something.”  Cavo’s “Crash” video is posted online on YouTube.

Celebrating The Man In Black

The late Johnny Cash’s birthday is coming up later this month.  To honor the legendary “Man In Black,” fans are encouraged to support the “Wear Black For Johnny” campaign.  The campaign has already inspired a Twitter account and a Facebook event in which fans can post Cash photos.  Those who participate in the birthday photo salute will be eligible to win the five-disc Cash box set, “Unearthed,” as well as his new studio album, “American VI: Ain’t No Grave.”  The lucky recipient will be picked March 12th.  Fans wanting a preview of Johnny’s new music can check out the track “Ain’t No Grave,” which is posted online on Lost Highway Records’ Johnny Cash page.  Cash’s “American VI: Ain’t No Grave” will be in stores February 23rd—three days before what would have been Johnny’s 78th birthday.

Jay Reatard Died From Cocaine, Alcohol Mix

Memphis musician Jay Reatard died from a combination of cocaine and alcohol, according to autopsy results released Wednesday.  The Shelby County Medical Examiner’s office says the 29-year-old rocker had “cocaine toxicity” and that “alcohol was a contributing factor in his death.”  Reatard, whose real name was Jimmy Lee Lindsey Junior, was found dead January 13th in the bed of his Cooper-Young neighborhood home in Memphis, Tennessee.  He reached a wide audience in 2009 with the album “Watch Me Fall” and a notable performance at the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, last spring.