Beatles‘ song beamed Across the Universe

To both mark NASA’s 50th birthday and the 40th anniversary of the Beatles’ song “Across the Universe,” that same song was recently selected by NASA to be the first musical track to be beamed directly into outer space. Using the Deep Space Network of antennas, the appropriately-titled Beatles’ tune was broadcast towards the star Polaris, 431 light years from Earth; Beatle Paul McCartney called the broadcast “an amazing feat.” NASA also asked Beatles fans to join in on the peaceful space-communications event by playing the song themselves at the same time as the transmission, which took place on midnight on Monday, February 4...
In other Paul news - well, a different Paul, that is - there will be plenty of Paul Simon events to go around this spring. The Brooklyn Academy of Music has announced that they’ll be staging three tributes to the legendary musician under the title “Love in Hard Times: The Music of Paul Simon.” The first event, “Songs from the Capeman,” will feature doo-wopsters Little Anthony and the Imperials on April 1-6; the second, “Under African Skies,” will co-star David Byrne and will take place April 9-13; and the third, “American Tunes,” on April 23-27, will include an appearance from Grizzly Bear. A live CD set to include previously unreleased recordings from Simon and Garfunkel’s late ‘60s tour is also set to appear first as a Starbucks-exclusive CD early in March, then as a regular retail recording in Fall 2008; the disc will include early versions of songs such as “Why Don’t You Write Me” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”...
Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) and Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs) new project, The Gutter Twins, are a mere month away from the release of their debut album, Saturnalia,which is set to hit stores on March 3. In the meantime, they’ve announced that they’re about to embark on some live dates, with opening act L.A. band Great Northern in tow. Stops on the Gutter Twins/Great Northern U.S. trek will include Chicago (3/7), Minneapolis (3/8), Toronto (3/14), Boston (3/18), NYC (3/19), and New Orleans (3/22); Great Northern’s own new album, their Sleepy Eeepe EP, will arrive February 19 digitally, with its physical release on March 18...
Tapes N’ Tapes are prepping to release a new disc, too, only this one will be their second; the indie-rockers’ Walk It Off is set to hit stores this spring. Produced by Dave Fridmann and recorded at Fridmann’s own Tarbox Studios, it was the band’s first album with, as they put it, “a budget and a real studio,” and will include tracks “Le Ruse,” “Say Back Something,” “Hang Them All,” “Demon Apple,” and “Anvil.” The new album will hit stores on April 8 via XL Recordings; the band will precede the album’s release with a live appearance at the SXSW event in March...

MODERN ROCK LINK OF THE WEEK: Busy Billy Bragg, who, in the past few years, has published his first book (“The Progressive Patriot”), collaborated with Wilco, written lyrics for a Beethoven composition for an event attended by the Queen of England, and founded Jail Guitar Doors, a program supplying free guitars to prison inmates, is also releasing his first album in six years; Bragg’s Mr. Love and Justice will be previewed at the SXSW Music Fest in Austin, Texas this March, but you can find out more about this influential (and did we mention busy?) performer’s latest works now at www.billybragg.com...
MINI BUZZ:
Well, are they, or aren’t they? First, rumors of an imminent Blur reunion were pretty much confirmed; but now, Blur (former?) frontman Damon Albarn says it was nothing more than some guys having a laugh over dinner - only time will tell...
Another questionable interview may or may not take place between singer Scott Weiland and the rest of Stone Temple Pilots; in a recent newspaper interview, Weiland said that we should “be on the lookout” for an STP reunion in the coming months; so there’s another we’ll just have to wait for...
Some bands reunite while others break up - UB40’s Ali Campbell has announced in a formal statement that he’s leaving the group - which he’s been a part of for almost 30 years - after a final round of concerts in Australia and Uganda next month...
In other mini-news, Aussie country musician Keith Urban just wrapped up a quick studio session in L.A. with popster Nelly Furtado to record a duet that will appear on Furtado’s next album...
U2 is one of two bands reportedly currently in negotiations with Live Nation similar to Madonna’s recent deal, in which the company is set to mastermind Maddie’s career from music to film to licensing and more, with benefits leaning heavily towards the artist...
Legendary BBC music show Later...with Jools Holland, which
regularly showcases several bands per show playing live in the show’s London studio, just celebrated its 200th birthday show with sets from Radiohead, Feist, and
Robyn Hitchcock...
And showcasing their new efforts this week for you and your wallet are this week’s new releases... ON CD: British Sea Power’s Do You Like Rock Music?... Speakeasy’s All Your New Favorite Songs... Steve Smith’s This Town... Big Sleep’s Sleep Forever... Air Traffic’s Fractured Life... and Apes’ Ghost Games... ON DVD: Olivia Newton-John: Live at the Sydney Opera House... Donovan Live in L.A.... The Wiz: 30th Anniversary Edition and This is Tom Jones: Legendary Performers ... and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
Questions, comments, rants, raves,
suggestions on this column or your fave
musicians? Send ‘em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com View On Our Website