Music Industry

Who would have thought when I glanced through the music headlines this morning that I would see a brief blurb about Jane's Addiction supposedly returning to the studio... all of them, the original line up.

During the time the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll was being redesigned and reborn, there was a lot of music news that I didn't get to discuss. One of the most exciting (at least for a big Pumpkins fan like me) was the announcement that the Smashing Pumpkins would be releasing their next album, a 44 song epic called Teargarden By Kaleidoscope would be released a song at a time online.

Exciting rock news in the past few days/weeks/months. What is easily one of the most exciting super groups of all time, Them Crooked Vultures, announced that their debut album will be officially released in just a few days on November 16-17, 2009. I don't know about you all, but I've got my copy on pre-order and have been anxiously awaiting that very first listen.

The rock and roll and guitar communities have unfortunately lost a true legend in the past few days. Les Paul passed away last Thursday from complications with pneumonia. He was 94 years old and was still playing clubs and making music right up into the end.

As I'm sure just about everyone has heard, the music community has lost one of the most well known, most influential artists of all time: Michael Jackson. Jackson died at the age of 50 yesterday after being rushed to the hospital.

I'm sad to once again have to report the death of a great musician. Jay Bennett, age 45 was found dead just this past Sunday in his home in Urbana IL. A member of Titanic Love Affair and Wilco, as well as having an extensive solo career, Bennett's songwriting is unique, powerful and complex...the music community is surely a less creative place without him.

It's been busy times in the music industry recently. I have unfortunately been a little busier still, and busier than I would have liked. Isn't it annoying when your day job gets in the way of what's really important? Like going to concerts, finding new bands or spending entire an day listening to free form jazz fusion and the progressive styling of Frank Zappa...

Well perhaps you've heard on one of the major music sites around, it appears as if my beloved Smashing Pumpkins are once again going through a lineup change. It has been announced that Jimmy Chamberlin, original drummer and only original member in the band since the "reunion" other than Billy Corgan, has left the band.

There's been some surprising music news in recent days/weeks. A new collaboration between artists (if you choose, read: super group) has been assembled and their first single has shown up over at Rolling Stone. The band is called Tinted Windows and is made up of a... well, lets say unique... range of characters. Band members include: Adam Schelsinger, bassist of Fountains of Wayne; James Iha, ex Smashing Pumpkin, and former touring guitarist with A Perfect circle (if memory serves); Bun E. Carlos, drummer for Cheap Trick; and... Taylor Hanson? (Yes, that Taylor Hanson).

Unfortunately tragedy has struck the rock and roll community yet again. Earlier this week Ron Asheton, guitarist for the Stooges was found dead in his home, apparently from a heart attack at age 60.