September 2005 News

PURE MANIA

One of our favorite first-wave U.K. punk bands have headed back to these shores. Yes, The Vibrators are on tour from September 8 to October 19 on what they’ve deemed the “Knox Turns 60 Tour”, as September 4 the singer celebrated his birthday. He may be 60, but he still can rock. BELIEVE us. www.vibrators.com for dates.

R.I.P. BISCUIT

In other punk legend news, Texas’ Big Boys frontman Randy “Biscuit” Turner, who along with guitarist Tim Kerr, drummer Rey Washam, and bassist Chris Gates, brought spice, funk, and humor to hardcore punk during their time with the band from ’78 to ’84, was found dead in his Austin home August 18.

FORMING

Filming has wrapped on the Germs movie WHAT WE DO IS SECRET, intended to be screened at next year’s Sundance Festival. Director Rodger Grossman has had SECRET in the works for 10 years. Germs guitarist Pat Smear played a heavy role in the film’s coming together, as he taught the “movie Germs” (led by Shane West as frontman Darby Crash) how to play, and the film features music by both the “real” Germs as well as the “movie” Germs. Other performances include The Bronx as Black Flag and Mai Shi as The Screamers.

BORDER PATROL

After their trek across the U.S. with The Spill Canvas and The Terminal in late August, Rufio head out to conquer Canada with Yellowcard and Moneen from September 12 to 27. The Nitro band are out spreading the word on their latest album, THE COMFORT OF HOME, out now.

IT REALLY IS THEIR RUIN NOW

L.A.’s My Ruin have some news to report: they’ve added new bassist Chris Lisee and drummer Jason Brunk, following the recording of THE BRUTAL LANGUAGE, which will be out September 27. The album is to be released on the band’s own imprint, Rovena Recordings, meaning they have total creative control over their music and how it’s presented. As singer Tairrie B. said, “We’ve always been a DIY band so this makes sense for us on many levels.”

IS THIS MY WORLD?

While orbiting the earth, the crew of the shuttle Discovery, which launched July 26, said that they can see the environmental damage humans have wreaked upon the planet, with Commander Eileen Collins saying it’s possible to see widespread deforestation and erosion, and that “the atmosphere looks like an eggshell on an egg, it’s so very thin,” adding, “We know that we don’t have much air, we need to protect what we have.”

SCARRED FOR LIFE

SoCal’s The Scarred have joined forces with Punk Core, planning to record their first LP for the label (and second overall) in late 2005. Billed as having “made a mission of returning to the roots of punk rock and bridging the gap between modern street punk and the inspired sounds of 1977,” the band are planning a pre-release tour for fall 2005 as well as more touring in support of the album throughout 2006. Go to www.thescarred.com to hear some songs.

DAMAGED GOODS

In more Punk Core news, the LI-based label just signed Damage Case, a hardcore punk outfit from Dallas featuring founding members of Spazm 151. They plan to release their debut for the label in early 2006 and are in the midst of planning a tour of Europe and Asia, with the intent of touring North America afterwards. www.damagecase.org.

PUSSY GALORE

Sleazy rock ‘n’ roll purveyors Nashville Pussy release their fourth album, GET SOME, September 20 on Spitfire Records. In support, they’re touring throughout September and October. See www.nashvillepussy.com for details.

BNO WRECKS BILLBOARD CHARTS

With the release of TRAINWRECK (Ferret) in late-July, Boys Night Out garnered several positions in the Billboard Charts, selling 5919 albums the first week it was out, breaking Ferret Music’s sales records. Some of their Billboard accomplishments: #194 on the Top 200, #2 in the Alternative New Artist category, and their Heat Seeker rank was #9.

FROM VAUX, WITH LOVE

This from the band: “Greetings from VAUX! It’s been a while since our last release and for good reason. Here (www.purevolume.com/vaux) is our newest song “Are You with Me” from our upcoming album BEYOND VIRTUE, BEYOND VICE. Look for it October 25! We’ll be heading out on tour soon, so we’ll see you then.” Also at the site, you can now hear another tune, a live version of “Cocaine James”.

CUTE BUNNY RABBIT CAUSES GENGHIS TRON TO CANCEL TOUR

Genghis Tron managed to save not only their own lives but also that of one lucky rabbit in Ft Sumner, NM when it ran into the middle of a road they were traveling on. Their equipment and van were not as lucky, which forced the band to cancel the remaining dates of their summer tour.

THE PLOT THICKENS

The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower were nominated for two San Diego Music Awards, Best Punk Album and Best Punk Band.

(INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY’S DEMAND

Check out the new video for “A Small Demand”, the first single off (International) Noise Conspiracy’s upcoming album, ARMED LOVE at:
http://www.warnerreprise.com/asx/inc_asmalldemand_56-v.asx

THE MILITIA GROUP PANICS

The Militia Group has signed San Antonio’s Panic Division. The band, which can be described as “rock music that brings an electronic vibe to pop-sensible songs with hints of darkness,” are tentatively set to release their Militia Group debut, VERSUS, November 1.

AMERICAN EYES GET SIGNED, RELEASE DEBUT

SideOneDummy recently welcomed L.A.-based five-piece American Eyes into the fold. The self-described “neo-goth dance-punk” band release their debut EP, NEVER TRUST ANYTHING THAT BLEEDS, October 11.

NOT STRETCHED THIM

Exmortem guitarist Martin Thim has joined Illdisposed, saying his new position in the band will not affect his time in Danish death metallers Exmortem, who are at present working on their follow-up to NIHILISTIC CONTENTMENT (Earache). Illdisposed’s next album will be available in ’06 on Roadrunner.

MATERIAL MOM TAKES A SPILL

It wasn’t a very happy 47th birthday for Madonna mid-August when she landed in hospital after she fell off a new horse she was riding. Don’t worry none, however, for though she suffered a broken collarbone and hand and three cracked ribs, M is expected to make a full recovery in three months.

NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT

After going through a series of names (Puffy, Puff Daddy, and most recently P. Diddy), hip-hop mogul Sean Combs shall just be known as Diddy. Seemingly totally serious, he proclaimed, “We made it [the name] simpler. We removed the P. The P was getting in between us.” Whatever you say, man…

SINGLE FRAME LINE-UP CHANGE

Austin, TX’s Single Frame have lost guitarist Brendan Riley, who left in order to pursue a career in science. Taking his place is Ian Graham. The band will play at CMJ in NYC September 17 and will be on tour with Mommy and Daddy in October.

UNEARTH ON TOUR

Unearth will be heading out this fall to headline a club tour to begin September 16 in Erie, PA. Nora, and A Life Once Lost will be supporting the first two dates, with Dillinger Escape Plan, Zao, and A Life Once Lost completing the tour, which runs through October 8. See www.metalblade.com/toursna2004.html#unearth for more.

BORN TO DIE IN THE GUTTER

Every Time I Die are doing some major touring in support of their latest release, GUTTER PHENOMENON (Ferret). They’ll be out with High on Fire, The Red Chord, and The Chariot September 7 through 25; with The Esoteric September 26 to October 7; and then from October 8 to 24 with It Dies Today and Haste the Day, with A Life Once Lost to play select dates. Check www.ferretstyle.com/tourdates.php for details.

DANCE HALL SOULS

Episodes 18 (Dance Hall Crashers) and 19 (Bouncing Souls) of Kung Fu’s highly successful THE SHOW MUST GO OFF! series hit stores September 13 and September 27, respectively.

EVIL TOUR

The “Cities Of Evil” tour featuring Avenged Sevenfold, Saosin, Death By Stereo, Bullets N’ Octane, and Opiate for the Masses starts October 7 in San Diego and runs until December 2nd. Confirmed dates can be found at: www.avengedsevenfold.com.

R.I.P. GODMOTHER OF PUNK

Esther Wong, a punk rock and new wave music promoter, died at age 88 after suffering from cancer and emphysema. Born in Shanghai and relocating to L.A. in 1949 after the Communist takeover, Wong got started as the owner of Madame Wong’s clubs, and when Polynesian bands she originally booked weren’t filling her restaurants, she decided to try booking rock bands in 1978, showcasing such notables as X, The Knack, The Police, The Go-Gos, and The Ramones. Eventually this led to her nickname as the “Godmother of Punk”. She closed the original Madame Wong’s in 1985 and Madame Wong’s West in Santa Monica in 1991.

BTK TO ROT IN JAIL

Dennis Rader, the self-proclaimed BTK (bind, torture, kill) killer who was arrested in February, was sentenced August 18 to 10 consecutive life terms for his sick and heinous crimes that left Wichita, Kansas in fear for decades. He was not eligible for the death penalty, as he murdered his 10 victims before Kansas reinstated capital punishment in 1994, three years after his last killing.

GOING OUT WITH A BANG

“Gonzo journalism” pioneer Hunter S. Thompson, who committed suicide six months ago, received one helluva farewell when August 20 his ashes were blasted into the night sky from a 15-story tower in Woody Creek, CO modeled after the writer’s logo, a clenched fist, holding a peyote button, rising from the hilt of a dagger. The 2.5 million dollar extravaganza was paid for by Johnny Depp, who portrayed Thompson in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS, and the bash was also attended by the likes of Bill Murray and Senator John Kerry.

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY

Heavy metal purveyors Iron Maiden were honored August 19 when they added their handprints (along with that of skeleton mascot Eddie’s!) to the Hollywood Rockwalk.

DOWN WITH FEARLESS

Ottawa’s The Fully Down have signed to Fearless and are set to release their debut LP for the label in November. To find out more about the band, check www.thefullydown.com.

THE MEAN REDS, TOGETHER AT LAST

The Mean Reds are set to release their debut full-length October 25. To get a taste of what these maniacs are about, read this from a press release: “TOGETHER AT LAST, AND THIS IS OUR WEDDING starts off with jingle bells and tips off a cliff into something like the Bad Brains with Bauhaus makeup and a Butthole Surfers sense of decorum. Part punk rock, part hardcore, part Jesus Christ Superstar, part castle-boss-theme-from-LEGEND-OF-ZELDA-II, TOGETHER AT LAST feels like a 33-minute journey through Wonderland, or Disneyland, or the Chocolate Factory with Darby Crash as your tour guide.”

WISE UP

Skate punk stalwarts Pennywise, in support of their awesome new full-length THE FUSE, are out on the road now through the beginning of October with Death By Stereo. Check out www.epitaph.com for all related info.

REEL BIG TOURING

In support of this year’s WE’RE NOT HAPPY TIL YOU’RE NOT HAPPY (Jive), Reel Big Fish will head to the UK in September for a tour with The Matches after which they’ll hit New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii with Goldfinger. In October, RBF’ll be tearing through college towns near you, and in November, they’re launching their second-annual Beast Feast tour. Check out www.reelbigfish.com for the latest tour dates.

PANDORA’S BOX

Somerset have been touring on their debut LP PANDORA (Punknews Records) this August and are continuing into September and October. See www.somersetrock.com for details.

INSOMNIACS

Victory Records has announced the Never Sleep Again tour, which will take place between October 15 and December 11 in North America and the U.K., with Hawthorne Heights headlining and Silverstein and Bayside in support for all dates. Spitalfield accompanies on the U.K. dates, while Aiden will take their place in North America. See www.victoryrecords.com for all details.

STONES GET SIRIUS

A new “all-Stones, all-the-time” channel of Sirius Satellite Radio launched August 23 and runs through September 29. The aptly titled Rolling Stones Radio (channel 99) features previews of The Stones’ latest album, A BIGGER BANG, and content chosen by Mick and Keith themselves.

PUTTING SCISSORS WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE

On September 5, Bullet Train to Vegas kicked off an extensive national tour with The Valley Arena. Check www.bullettraintovegas.com for all show listings.

IT’S YOUR ROCK

Fireball Ministry are to release their debut for Liquor and Poker Music (and third album overall), THEIR ROCK IS NOT OUR ROCK, October 18. The album was produced by Nick Raskulinecz and recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 West and the late Elliott Smith’s New Monkey Studios.

HELLUVA TOUR

Hellcat artists Horrorpops, Roger Miret and the Disasters, and new addition Left Alone are currently on a North American tour through the beginning of November. See www.hell-cat.com for more info.

DAPHNE LOVES TOURING

Daphne Loves Derby will be touring in support of ON THE STRENGTH OF ALL CONVINCED this fall with Copeland, The Spill Canvas, and Melee. Check for dates at: www.daphnelovesderby.com.

DISCOVERING SUCCESS

With DISCOVERING THE WATERFRONT (Victory), their follow-up to WHEN BROKEN IS EASILY FIXED, Silverstein debuted at #34 on the Billboard Top 200 with 26,299 units sold. The band also scored at #11 on the Alternative Chart and #3 on the Independent Chart.

2005, THE YEAR OF ANTHRAX

Celebrating their 20th anniversary, thrashers Anthrax are touring for the first time in 13 years with their original line-up, playing classics from 1985-’91 on the Gigantour early-September and then with Judas Priest September 24 to October 18. Moreover, September 20 sees the release of four projects: their first two-CD retrospective, ANTHOLOGY: NO HIT WONDERS (1985-1991); the same-titled DVD video collection; and separate live CD and DVD packages, ALIVE 2, documenting Anthrax’s summer 2005 reunion tour.

ASKING FOR IT

On August 29, Courtney Love’s mortgage company, Mercury Capital Corp., filed suit in Manhattan State Supreme Court against the Hole singer/guitarist for not making the July or August payments on the $3-million mortgage she has on her 4200-square-foot loft in Soho. The loft, which Love bought in 2001 for $2.4 million, went on the market in may for $5.5 million. The rocker is presently in drug rehab, stemming from myriad run-ins with the law as of late.

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