March 29, 2024

Rock & Roll Garage Sale

April 14, 2004
The “Icons of 20th Century Music* Auction is set to take place on April 17th as part of the 27th Annual Dallas Guitar Show and Music Fest in Dallas, Texas. Among the items up for bid will be the late Kurt Cobain‘s 1960‘s Mosrite Gospel guitar, still strung upside-down for Cobain‘s left-handed playing preference; this is reportedly the first instrument from the Nirvana frontman that has been put up for sale. Other items in the auction will include a 12-string guitar owned by George Harrison; Elton John‘s old composing piano; a pair of Elvis Presley jumpsuits; and assorted clothing and other items from such musicians as John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Johnny Rotten and the Sex Pistols, Paula Abdul, The Cars, The Rembrandts, The Monkees, and Whitney Houston. Many of the items can be viewed online at www.route66guitars.com , where interested buyers can also start placing bids...
An electronica album by Faultline that was originally released a scant two years ago is now set for re-release this spring, complete with three new songs. Why, you ask? Well, most likely because of the album‘s inclusion of Coldplay‘s Chris Martin and R.E.M.‘s Michael Stipe as guest vocalists. Faultline‘s *Your Love Means Everything* will hit stores (again) on May 17th, with a single feature the tracks “Biting Tongues“ and Faultline‘s cover of The Rolling Stones‘ “Wild Horses“ preceding the album itself to stores and radio on May 10th...
Popsters Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, whose MTV reality series *Newlyweds* has turned into quite an unexpected hit for the network, will be bringing their quirky brand of coupledom to yet another network for *The Nick and Jessica Variety Hour,* a (like the title says) variety show that will help introduce the duo to a beyond-MTV audience. The show is set to feature music and comedy sketches, and will also feature a head-scratchingly zany, genre-crossing roster of guests including Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, singer Jewel, celebrity Mr. T., baseball star Johnny Bench, and, uh... country singer Kenny Rogers. Will Jess and Nick become the Sonny and Cher of 2004? Tune in to ABC on April 11th to find out...
Modern hip-hop master Talib Kweli is getting set to release his new album, *The Beautiful Struggle,* this spring, on which he utilizes the talents of a range of producers from Hi-Tek to Kanye. The first single from Kweli‘s disc will be the track “I Try,“ which features a Kanye beat, a hook by keyboardist John Legend, and distinctive vocals from Mary J. Blige. *The Beautiful Struggle* hits stores on June 22nd...
And influential producer Rick Rubin has been quietly putting together a compilation album that‘s getting nearer to seeing the light of day (or the laser light of your CD player) - starting back in 2003, Rubin, while working on various albums, would ask each artist to record a “song of peace,“ which the producer has kept in a private collection. So far, Rubin has acquired “peace songs“ from the likes of Sheryl Crow, Johnny Cash, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Audioslave, and System of a Down. The as-yet-untitled compilation disc, which is slated to feature both covers and originals, will include both the abovementioned contributions he‘s collected and others that will be recorded specifically for the album project. No release date has been given yet for Rubin‘s peaceful collection, but with Rubin scheduled to work with Weezer, The International Noise Conspiracy, and Semisonic‘s Dan Wilson over the next few months, he could have a whopper of a CD by the time his project is completed...

MINI BUZZ:
The Pixies have announced plans to spent 9 weeks on a European tour this summer, playing festivals and headlining gigs in over 15 countries...
They‘re being called “the second wave of Detroit garage rock“ - and Lansing, Michigan band The Hard Lessons have been tapped to open for The Dirtbombs at Lansing‘s own Temple Club on April 23rd...
Detroit White Striper Jack White back in the news yet again this week - this time as producer for Loretta Lynn‘s first album in four years, *Van Lear Rose,* which will hit stores on April 26th on Interscope Records...
A Simple Plan have contributed the new track “Don‘t Wanna Think About You“ to the soundtrack for the new Sarah Michelle Gellar/Freddie Prinze Jr. movie *Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed*...
Presidential candidate John Kerry‘s rock n‘ roll past has been revealed - the politician was reportedly the bassist for a band called The Electras back in 1961; extremely rare copies of The Electra‘s self-titled album (only 500 were pressed) have been selling on EBay for over $2,000...
Brit band The Lostprophets have just logged some time in Los Angeles filming a video for their latest single, “Make A Move,“ from their sophomore album, *Start Something...*

And hoping to log some time on your CD and DVD players are this week‘s new releases... ON CD: ex-Spice girl Emma Bunton drops *Free Me*... Status Quo presents *The Complete Pye Collection*... John Wesley Harding wonders *Why We Fight*... groundbreaking girl-pop group The Bangles drop *Essential Bangles*... and Ben Kweller offers up *On My Way*... ON DVD: Terence Trent D‘Arby: *In Concert Ohne Filter*... *On the Road with The Dropkick Murphys*... and Simply Red‘s *Home Live in Sicily*... and that‘s the buzz for this week‘s Modern Rock.

Questions, comments, rants, raves about your fave artists or this column? Send ‘em to Kristi at expressmodernrock@hotmail.com!



Trending

Mysterious Michigan Reads

We can’t think of a better way to spend spring break than with a great book. Northern Express asked local bookseller... Read More >>

Heirloom Recipes With Heritage, History, and Nostalgia

Before we begin to stash our coats and put winter behind us, let us remember what years past have taught us…fake sp... Read More >>

A Floral Family Affair

In the quaint downtown of Elk Rapids sits Golden Hill Farms, a shop where the artistry of floristry meets the rustic charm... Read More >>

A Look at Originalism

O Tempora O Mores! Oh the times, oh the culture. This Latin phrase relates to both the 18th century and our current times.... Read More >>