Modern Rock: David Bowie the subject of a new ebook

Nov. 8, 2009

Modern Rock/David Bowie the subject of New eBook
Kristie Kates 11/9/09

An exclusive Ziggy Stardust eBook App is now available exclusively at the iTunes App store for a mere $2.99; the interactive electro-book chronicles David Bowie’s 20-month journey in the early ‘70s as his Ziggy Stardust character and Ziggy’s metamorphosis into Aladdin Sane. Over 600 images by world-renowned photographer Mick Rock are included in the ebook, some of which are being published for the first time. The images utilize the new Photomosiac technology that enables views to tap or pinch to zoom into full resolution of the images; it’s a perfect mini-gift for any Bowie fan...
Eclectic-electronic DJ and producer DJ/Rupture, known for combining a wide variety of not-necessarily-obvious-together genres in his b-i-g DJ mixes, rocked the house at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, and now he’s taking his sound to CD. DJ/Rupture is collaborating with NYC beatmaster Shadetek on a new mix album on which the pair will combine original productions with remixes from the likes of Telepathe, Luc Ferrari, and Nico Muhly to make for one big danceable brew. The set, dubbed Solar Life Raft, is in stores this week; keep an eye out for its accompanying separate digital release called Solar Life Raft: The Ingredients, which will feature unmixed selections from the album...
Minneapolis music-book publisher Voyageur Press are rockin’ the fall with a trio of books dedicated to three quite diverse - but all renowned - artists. Their books on The Velvet Underground (The Velvet Underground: A Walk on the Wild Side) by Chicago Sun-Times writer Jim DeRogatis, and Minneapolis writer Jon Bream’s take on Neil Diamond (Neil Diamond is Forever) are in-stores as you read this. The newest effort will be by London journalist Phil Sutcliffe, who has taken on Queen for Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock, due in-stores on November 15. All three volumes include detailed packaging and are packed with histories of each artist’s career as well as photos and other artifacts; to get more info, check out www.voyageurpress.com...
Yo Gabba Gabba!, the hit hipster musical Nickelodeon Jr. TV series that features a host of actors/actresses and rock/hip-hop musical guests from The Shins and The Roots to Jack Black and Tony Hawk, has launched its first U.S. live-action tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: There’s a Party in My City, which centers around DJ Lance Rock and his five costumed monster sidekicks. The monsters, of course, jump to life when DJ Rock says the magic words “Yo Gabba Gabba!” (which hail from The Ramones’ chant, “Gabba Gabba Hey”) - the show itself is a lively half-hour of music, animation, and dancing. Tix can be snagged at www.yogabbagabba.com and www.ticketmaster.com for the remaining quartet of two-per-day shows - NYC (11/21) and Chicago (12/5)...

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK:
Spoon took over an Austin, Texas outdoor music venue for three nights this summer (calling it the SPOONX3 Music Festival), and recorded all three sets in multi-track HD, so if you couldn’t make it to Austin, you can hear the concerts anyway. Just stop by Spoon’s website at www.spoontheband.com to buy these recordings in mixed MP3 or FLAC format, a mere $15 bucks for all three shows...

MINI BUZZ:
Gwen Stefani and No Doubt have pushed back the release of their next band album until next year, so they can focus more on the remainder of their tour dates and taking time to properly record their new songs...
Madonna is the subject of a fall/winter 2009-2010 ad campaign for Louis Vuitton, shot by fashion photographer Steven Meisel...
Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland recently told a Las Vegas paper that the band is currently working on material for a brand new STP album, due in 2010...
Billy Talent is staying on the road in Europe to continue promoting his newest album, Billy Talent III, just released this past summer; his tour dates will include Prague (11/21), Berlin (11/23), and Milan (12/2)...
Adam Levine and bandmates are currently working away in a European recording studio with producer Mutt Lange, right in the middle of tracking for what will be the next radio-friendly Maroon 5 album...
And in the waaay retro department, cult classic Monkee Davy Jones has embarked on a tour of his own, and will be making stops in Las Vegas (11/21), Tecumseh, Michigan (1/30/2010), Tampa, Florida (3/10-3/12/2010), and Pembroke, North Carolina (3/26/2010)...

Capturing your attention in a modern fashion are this week’s new releases... ON CD: Russian Circles’ newest set... Carrie Underwood’s Play On... and Stephen Stills’ Live... ON DVD: The Rolling Stones: The Rolling Stones in the ‘60s and The Who, The Mod, and the Quadrophenia Collection ... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Questions, comments, rants, raves, suggestions on this column or your favorite musicians? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com