News - Page 414

Former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones has started a new rock project with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters). They are currently in the recording phase of a much anticipated album. In April, Jones had said the following: “I’m working on some other music, which is more rock based, with a couple of...

Panic at the Disco has announced they will be splitting in half. The primary song writer Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker will be creating their own project to continue “on a new musical excursion.” Panic at the Disco will continue though, frontman Brandon Urie along with drummer Spencer Smith plan to find replacement members and continue to play their...

Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous, an original member of Weather Report, has released his latest album Remembering Weather Report. The album is acoustic and features Vitous’s original compositions with Franco Ambrosetti (trumpet), Gary Campbell (tenor saxophone), Miroslav (double-bass), Gerald Cleaver (drums) and Michel Portal (bass clarinet). Remembering Weather Report manages to keep with the original, free-flowing spirit of Weather Report’s “we...

Mr. Big: Raw Like Sushi 1 and 2 re-released Mr. Big, featuring bassist Billy Sheehan, have re-released four albums on 2 CD sets, on the Wounded Bird label. Raw Like Sushi: Live/Take Cover includes hte 1994 release Raw Like Sushi-Live and the EP, Take Cover. Raw Like Sushi-Live!/Take Cover track list: Blame It on My Youth (Live) How Can You...

The Mars Volta have released their new album Octahedron, the fifth studio album by the band and first with Warner Bros. The Mars Volta features bassist Juan Alderete del la Pena, who compliments the band with a dynamic playing style as they explore new artistic aural spaces. There is a 2500 copy limited edition available of the CD with a...

The California Chronicle has posted a feature piece on bassist Les Claypool. The piece explores Claypool’s dark sense of humor, the formation of Primus, how he chose to play bass, the zen of tractor riding and his new work with Mike Dillon, Paulo Baldi and Sam Bass. The best quote by far is: “Some people do yoga. Some people run....

In celebration of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary this summer, Sony Legacy is releasing The Woodstock Experience, a collection of double CD sets from a variety of bands who performed at the landmark festival. Each set includes the band’s 1969 album on one disc, and their complete festival performance on the other. This is the first time the complete concert recordings are...

In a recent interview with the Seattle Times, Death Cab for Cutie bassist Nick Harmer reminisces about the band’s humble beginning and the years that have gone by since then. From the band “playing for five bucks” and selling $3.00 tapes at shows way back when to playing the Hollywood Bowl this weekend, Harmer has been through it all. Harmer...

A dedicated fan took it upon himself to restore the headstone of bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe was the bass player for the Beatles in the early 1960’s. Sutcliffe’s headstone had fallen into disrepair at Huyton cemetery in Liverpool, so Colin Unwin, a dedicated 61-year-old fan not only restored the stone, he also repainted all the lettering in gold.

A new CD has been released in commemoration of Taiwanese professor Chi Da-wei, also known as the “Father of Double Bass.” Professor Chi was once the head Double Bass player of the Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei Symphony Orchestras, president of countless societies in Taiwan, such as the Youth Music Society, and professor at the National Taipei University of Arts until...

Les Claypool has updated his summer tour dates with O’Death, Capillary Action, a few festivals and other performances. July 1, 2009: Fargo, ND at The Venue @ The Hub with O’Death July 2, 2009: Omaha, NE at Anchor Inn with O’Death July 4, 2009: Rothbury, MI at Rothbury Festival July 5, 2009: Indianapolis, IN at The Vogue with O’Death July...

A bass guitar once owned by Kurt Cobain sold at auction recently for $43,750 to a private collector. According to the certificate of authenticity, the tragic Nirvana star’s Sears model bass guitar was used to record his early demos. It was one of many iconic items sold at Christie’s pop and rock memorabilia sale.