Fender, Gibson offer online resources for guitar lovers in quarantine

As more than one billion people have been asked to stay home in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the music community is coming together to entertain and support self-isolated fans.

In an effort to keep aspiring musicians busy at home, Fender is now offering three months of free guitar, bass and ukulele lessons through its Fender Play platform.



“With everything happening in the world, music has the power to connect us. We want to do our part to see you through, the way we know how. We’re all going to be spending more time inside, so we might as well make some noise,” the guitarist brand wrote on its Twitter announcement.

The new three-month offer is available to the first 100,000 new subscribers to Fender Play, where music lovers of all levels can discover easy-to-follow video tutorials from “world-class instructors.”

Normally priced at $9.99 (around P506) a month, the Fender Play app also includes how-to videos for hundreds of chart-topping songs by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Shawn Mendes, Ed Sheeran and more.

Meanwhile, Gibson has just launched his own “HomeMade Sessions” initiative, where the instrument brand will offer exclusive to at-home performances and interviews from the world’s best guitarists.

“As world leaders in music, we are stepping in and bringing both legendary and new artists, music brands and industry partners together across the globe to launch ‘Gibson HomeMade’; a worldwide program to unite music lovers everywhere and spread hope through tough times,” Cesar Gueikian, chief merchant officer of Gibson, said in a press statement.

The initiative, available on Gibson TV, will include full-length performances and original content from Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer artists such as ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Slash and Warren Haynes.

“When times are tough and uncertain, music provides a comfort and dependability we all need. Music unites us all, even when we are apart and ‘socially distanced,'” Haynes said of “Gibson HomeMade Sessions” in a statement.


While Fender and Gibson have announced their own music initiatives, a handful of artists have created their own tutorials from home.

Among them are Queen’s guitarist Brian May, who launched his “Micro Concerts” series by teaching fans how to master the iconic guitar solo from the band’s 1975 hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.


“This is my contribution to the Common Good tonight. A raw cheer-up outburst. Living Room Rock! IG-ROCK! Is this the future? To all you folks out there feeling as disorientated as I do – let’s isolate together!!! And keep rockin’ together !! OK? With love. Yours truly – your friendly neighborhood chap who clearly imagines he’s in Hawaii!!!” said the legendary guitarist. JB

source: pop.inquirer.net

Stevie Nicks surprises ‘School of Rock’ crowd, talks Prince

NEW YORK — Stevie Nicks surprised the audience at Broadway’s “School of Rock” with a riveting performance of “Rhiannon” after the cast took its curtain call.

Backed by the show’s very young band, Nicks brought the house to its feet. Afterward, she had nothing but praise for the young musicians.

“I have Fleetwood Mac, and then I have my solo band that I’ve been playing with since 1980, and now I have one more fantastic band to add to my roster, so I’m very happy,” Nicks said Tuesday night backstage at the Winter Garden Theater.

Nicks also shared her memories of Prince while recording her 1980s hit, “Stand Back.” She said the idea came to her while listening to “Little Red Corvette” while driving, and she was compelled to call him about it.

“I asked him if he would come over to Sunset Sound in Los Angeles. Never in a million years expecting that he would say yes or that he was even in Los Angeles, and he was there in like 20 minutes,” Nicks said.

Then she added: “I didn’t have to call and tell him that I kind of ripped off his song, but I did because I’m honest. So it turned into a really amazing relationship. Is my heart broken? Absolutely.”

But Nicks said it felt “fantastic” playing music with the young stars of “School of Rock.” She saw the show on opening night, and came back to see it again.

Performing at the show was something she wanted to do, especially because her appearance would help raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. The organization provides financial support for people with AIDS, HIV and HIV-related diseases.

“It’s not work, it’s just great fun … so it’s a great, easy way to make money to give to people that really need it,” Nicks said.

The audience was filled with kids that seemed to enjoy her performance. But connecting her music with a younger audience has never been a concern for Nicks.

“I don’t feel like I’m a songwriter that just writes for old people or just writes for young people,” Nicks said.

Instead, she sees herself as the same timeless writer she was at 14.

“I don’t think we’re stuck in a time machine that they only have to write stuff for people their age, and I only have to write stuff for people my age. Obviously, that’s not true because look at what we just did.” TVJ

source: entertainment.inquirer.net

Singer / singwriter Fiona Apple arrested - police mugshot revealed

Fiona Apple has been arrested in Texas for possession of drugs found by police in a routine search of her tour bus.

The singer-songwriter, who came back with her first album in seven years earlier this year, was caught in possession of hashish by police in Sierra Blanca, Texas.

TMZ reports that Apple is still being held in Hudspeth County Jail. Fellow musicians Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg have both been arrested in Texas on similar charges in the past.

source: gigwise.com

Deep Purple's Jon Lord dies at 71

Lord co-founded Deep Purple in 1968 and co-wrote many of the group's songs including Smoke On The Water. He also played with bands including Whitesnake.

He had been receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer since last August.

He died at the London Clinic on Monday, surrounded by family, a statement said. "Jon passes from Darkness to Light," it added.

Lord was influenced by classical, blues and jazz but played his Hammond organ with a rock attitude and helped Deep Purple become pioneers of progressive and heavy rock.

Tributes have been paid by musicians including one-time Deep Purple bandmate Joe Satriani, Iron Maiden and Anthrax.

Ex-Rage Against the Machine star Tom Morello wrote on Twitter: "RIP the great Jon Lord, Deep Purple's cornerstone/keyboardist. So many great great songs and that incredible SOUND of his! Thankyou."

Former Yes keyboard player Rick Wakeman was a friend and said he was "a great fan".

"We were going to write and record an album before he become ill," he said. "His contribution to music and to classic rock was immeasurable and I will miss him terribly."

Born in Leicester, Lord learned classical piano at an early age before being seduced by watching early rock 'n' roll star Jerry Lee Lewis and jazz organist Jimmy Smith.

He could have chosen a career as an actor after receiving a drama school scholarship, but started playing in pub bands including short-lived outfits with future Rolling Stones star Ronnie Wood and his brother Art.

He also worked as a session musician and is thought to have played piano on The Kinks' hit You Really Got Me.

After meeting guitarist Ritchie Blackmore through another project, the first incarnation of Deep Purple was born.

Lord's classical influence surfaced when Lord composed Concerto for Group and Orchestra, which the band performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in 1969.

But the group refined their heavy rock sound and found mass success at the start of the 1970s with albums including Deep Purple in Rock and Machine Head.

In their classic years, the band also included Blackmore, singer Ian Gillan, drummer Ian Paice and bassist Roger Glover.

Lord continued to compose classical works alongside the group's output and, when they split in 1976, he joined other groups Whitesnake and Paice, Ashton and Lord.

Deep Purple reformed in 1984 and resumed at the height of their commercial prowess, playing to tens of thousands of fans around the world.

They sold a total of 150 million albums and Lord remained an ever-present amid numerous line-up changes until he left in 2002.

Still composing, he had signed to a classical music label and performed a concert to mark the 30th anniversary of Concerto for Group and Orchestra.

"Thirty years later the piece came back and changed my life again... It gave me the courage to step outside and carve a career for myself outside the band," he told an interviewer.

He broke the news of his cancer diagnosis on his website last year, telling fans he would continue to write music as part of his therapy.

source: bbc.co.uk

Rock Stars Who Should Take Up Acting (But Only On The Side)

It seems a tad bit ridiculous that one of the most naturally talented musicians of my generation, Justin Timberlake, has not released an album in nearly six years (his last being ‘06’s FutureSex/ LoveSounds, of course). The guy is missing out on what would be the prime of his music career. With that said, there’s got to be something to this acting business that keeps driving musicians – rockers and rappers alike – to the medium.

Timberlake’s undeniable good looks and wealth of talent help make him a perfect candidate for a career in film career, but there are plenty of other rockers who we feel would be right at home on the silver screen.

Here are the six rock musicians that we want to see take up the acting game the most.

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips
Sure, zany Wayne does have one acting credit under his belt as “The Alien Super-Being” in the film he wrote and co-directed, “Christmas on Mars.” However, we’d like to see Wayne tackle more serious work. He would have been right at home appearing in Richard Linklater’s surreal film “Waking Life” or even a Tarantino film (provided he can truly act). Not to mention Wayne is known for being one hell of a dapper dresser.

Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters
This is the big no-brainer. Anyone who's seen a Foo Fighters’ vid knows Grohl is a natural comedian. Their greatest video, “Everlong,” was directed by Michel Gondry and is one of the many that shows Grohl’s chops. Additionally, his role as Satan in Tenacious D’s “Tribute” music video would’ve gone unnoticed due to the heavy use of makeup if they had not revealed his identity. He’s already like the Paul Rudd of the music world – loved by all.

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails
The only thing that seems to have stopped Reznor from acting is himself; any photo Reznor is packed with character and emotion. At one point, he was rumored to be set for a surprise cameo in his director friend Timur Bekmambetov’s recent flick “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” but alas, it didn’t happen. Given his newfound affinity for pumping iron, Reznor should go ahead and appear in his upcoming HBO TV mini-series based on his Year Zero album.

Brent Hinds of Mastodon
You may recall Hinds’ hilarious appearance in a commercial for an Atlanta restaurant, where he gave personal testimony that the cantina helped him to eliminate his diagnosis of OHP: overwhelming hunger pains. Hinds would be great at the acting game, because as intimidating and downright frightening as he appears, the man is notorious for being a comical prankster. We would like to envision him as the Caucasian Danny Trejo, and wouldn’t even mind seeing him randomly appear in a Judd Apatow comedy.

Jared Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars
Sure, Leto is a rather tongue-in-cheek choice, having begun his career in acting before turning to music in 2002. He continued to make films at first, but the last five years seem to indicate that music is his full-time gig now – appearing in only two films since 2007, one of which was a Belgian science fiction film that very few actually saw. But when he was good, he was great, and we long to see him in dark films like Darron Aronofsky’ “Requiem for a Dream” and David Fincher’s “Fight Club” again.

source: newsroom.mtv.com

Olympics bosses try to avoid paying bands

Organisers of the London Olympics are trying to make professional musicians perform for free – using the tired old excuse they should “do it for the exposure.”

Management committee Locog are already a laughing stock in rock music quarters after asking whether long-dead Who drummer Keith Moon was available to appear at the event.

And they recently drew the ire of live music fans by confirming all acts who play at the opening and closing events in London will be miming.

Bands including Paul McCartney, the Stereophonics, Snow Patrol and Duran Duran have been confirmed to play, while the Sex Pistols, the Who and Paul Rodgers all declined.

Now the fatcat bosses are being criticised for spending £11billion on the international athletics event – more than the already-extended £9.3billion they were allowed to spend.

And instead of trying to renegotiate “bad deals for the taxpayer” including paying double the agreed amount for security arrangements, Locog appears to be trying to save cash by ripping off professional musicians.

Corporate Watch say they’ve seen an email which instructs Locog staff not to spend money on music “across the board.”

One performer reports: “Locog said they were really keen for us play on major stages at different events. We replied quoting our normal fees. After months of meeting they offered us a raft of gigs – but said it was policy not to pay any musicians for performing.

“They should stop trying to capitalise on the image of the Olympics and pay a fair rate for our services.”

Another source said they’d been asked to sign a contract agreeing they were volunteering and there was no obligation to pay them.

A spokesman for the Musicians Union says they’re investigating the reports, adding: “If it turns out to be true then it flies in the face of assurances we’ve been given. It would appear to be a breach of the Principles of Cooperation that LOCOG agreed with trade unions.”

The 2012 Olympic Games take place in London between July 27 and August 12.

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Sazi's/Mayric's music bar bows out after almost three decades

Arguably the oldest artist bar in the metro, Sazi's Music Bar (formerly known as Mayric’s) recently closed shop 29 years after it was opened to the public back in 1983.

The storied establishment is known for fostering upstart musicians.

News about the closing of Sazi's/Mayric's started to circulate within the music community a month before its last day of operations on May 31, 2012.

"Nakakalungkot talaga," said owner Sazi Cosino, whose extensive history with the bar formerly and more popularly known as Mayric's dates back to 1984 when she started performing at the then Folk club. She eventually managed the bar in 1990 and in 2009 ultimately bought the business rights and renamed the establishment "Sazi's Music Bar" due to what she described as legalities.

The move to cease Sazi's Music Bar operations came on the heels of a recent change of management of the building that houses the venue. "Hindi na ni-renew ‘yung contract namin dito sa place. Kasi, the whole building, pina-lease. Ire-renovate siya ng July. We had to move out," explained Cosino.

Bar operations stayed constant during its last month, with independent music events producers (colloquially and simply referred to within the independent music community as "prods") such as IndieMand Events and Outer Limits Productions going about their business of staging shows at the venue. Defunct prods such as "Sunday Grabe Sunday" also did one show to pay tribute to Sazi's/Mayric's.




The bar was especially packed on the last day, with patrons of old and regulars of the present coming together to experience the sights and sounds of the venue one last time. In true Sazi's/Mayric's fashion, the iconic venue hosted a farewell party that featured a diverse lineup of performers that include ska bands, percussion ensembles and folk groups.

When asked what her plans would be immediately after the final curtain call at Sazi's/Mayric's, Cosino revealed that she intends to find a new location where she can set up Sazi's Music Bar. She however implied that it's not going to be the same given the historical significance of the spot along España Boulevard in Manila that she, along with generations of musicians, called home for 29 years.

"Maaaring bagong simula uli. Lahat naman ng katapusan, may (kakabit na) bagong simula eh," she said. –KG, GMA

source: gmanetwork.com

Color It Red

The alternative pop/rock band Color It Red was formed in 1989 after a teen film inspired three schoolmates, mainly vocalist Cooky Chua, then keyboardist Maricar Florendo and rhythm guitarist Barbi Cristi-Paraguya.

Taking their name from a crossword puzzle, the band became a fixture at colleges and universities, performing in different events and finally at the RJ Pinoy Woodstock concert after winning in a talent contest.

In the early '90s, the group's numerous appearances at the celebrated Club Dredd carved a significant following. Color It Red's debut album, Hand Painted Sky, was released in 1994 by Alpha Records where it went platinum, and the band was voted Best New Artist at the Awit Awards soon after.

Color It Red has established themselves as one of the most popular and critically praised alternative acts. One of the band’s hit songs is "Paglisan", a song that tells of the sentiments of departing from one’s love, has become part of Philippine pop culture as one of the better OPM ballads. Currently, the band consists of Cooky Chua, Barbi Cristi-Paraguya, Bopip Paraguya, Ariel Policarpio, Jayvee Torres and Kwanchi Vergara, all of which have been in the industry for at least close to 3 decades. Nowadays, though each having day jobs already, Color It Red occasionally gets invited for corporate events and launches, continuing to play the music we all have grown up with.

source: http://www.artisteconnect.com/projects/color-it-red

Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell Honored with Stevie Ray Vaughan Award

Jerry Cantrell received the Stevie Ray Vaughan award – or as his Alice in Chains bandmate Mike Inez joked, the "Junkie of the Year" award – at Thursday night's eighth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit in Los Angeles, for work helping fellow musicians through addiction recovery. Cantrell follows in the foosteps of previous honorees including Anthony Kiedis, James Hetfield, Chris Cornell, Alice Cooper and Dave Gahan. Several of his friends were on hand to perform and show their support, from Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart to ex-Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan and singer-songwriter Mark Lanegan.

"It's been an amazing day. It's overwhelming," said Cantrell, who has been sober for nine years since grappling with drug addiction. "I'm as imperfect as they come. I just don't get high today and wake up the next morning and try and do the same thing."

For those that have been by Cantrell's side through his rough patches, the night was equally joyous. "This is a triumphant night because things have been very dark," Ann Wilson told Rolling Stone. "We've all hit different kinds of bottom and been there for each other, trying to help each other. 'Send money,' or, 'We need people with cars that are not drunk to drive.' All of those things that you can think of, we probably had it all."

When Rolling Stone spoke with Cantrell a few weeks ago about the honor, he reflected on his late bandmates Mike Starr and Layne Staley, who both succumbed to drug overdoses. "A lot of people stand and get the fuck back up after falling," Cantrell said. "Some people don't get that chance. My band's been a harsh example of that – what happens when you don't deal with it." Cantrell and the rest of Alice in Chains played a five-song set, including a moving rendition of "Got Me Wrong" as well as "Your Decision," "No Excuses," and "Would?," to close out the night. "We really miss Layne and Mike, and we carry them with us in our hearts," said Cantrell.

McKagan played musical director for the evening, leading his own band Loaded through a three-song set that included the Johnny Thunders cover "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" and wrapped with a snippet of Guns N' Roses "Patience." He then brought out the Wilson sisters for a sterling pair of covers, of the Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers" and Elton John's "Curtains." The latter was intended to be a surprise for Cantrell, Ann Wilson revealed onstage, "but you walked in on sound check. So act surprised."

Billy Idol, who was on hand because his band members Steve Stevens and Billy Morrison are old friends of Cantrell's, rocked a trio of hits highlighted by "Rebel Yell." Quipped Idol, "It's a good thing we're only doing three songs cause I can only remember three these days."

Moby served as the DJ during dinner and helped pay tribute to Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein, who died of an overdose in 2009 and was the first DJ to perform at a MusiCares MAP Fund event that same year. The organization is launching a new partnership with a memorial fund set up in Goldstein's name to help provide addiction recovery services. "Back in my days of being a crazy bottomed-out drunk, I tended to hang out at places like the Mars Bars in New York, just really sleazy dive bars, and Adam tended to play much fancier places – so unfortunately our paths never crossed," Moby told Rolling Stone. "I had so much respect for him as a person, as an advocate for sobriety, as a musician and as a DJ ... I'm just slightly below a glorified wedding DJ tonight, but I'm honestly completely happy to be of service in any way I can."

source: rollingstone.com

Sydney Harbour Bridge turns 80

SYDNEY — A group of Sydney Symphony Orchestra musicians scaled the city’s Harbour Bridge for an exclusive concert on Monday to celebrate the sweeping structure’s 80th birthday.

Known as the “Grand Old Dame” of Sydney, or more colloquially “The Coathanger,” the bridge was officially opened to traffic on March 19, 1932, joining the harbour’s northern and southern shores for the first time.

It was an ambitious project that took eight years to complete, with construction of the 1,149-meter span claiming the lives of 16 men.

To celebrate its 80th anniversary, 11 brass section musicians from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra—also turning 80 this year—climbed to the top of the bridge’s 134-metre high arch to perform for a select group of guests.

“The musicians performed Aaron Copland’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ plus the theme music from the movie ‘Chariots of Fire,’” a Symphony spokeswoman said.

The small audience featured six “Bridge heroes” with a special connection to the structure, according to event organizers.

They included descendants of the bridge’s engineer J.J.C Bradfield, a man whose uncle placed the very first rivet, and one woman who was born in an ambulance on the span.

The bridge is one of Sydney’s most-photographed and best-known landmarks and is often the centerpiece of fireworks displays in the city.

source: japantoday.com

Karl: The spirit of Pinoy rock

MANILA, Philippines - It would seem to most people that when forming a rock band, playing any part besides the frontman would be getting the short end of the stick and the late, great Karl Roy appeared to be proof of that. Though he shared the stage with great musicians like Ian Umali, Harley Alarcon, Ira Cruz, Nathan Azracon, and at one point, the legendary Louie Talan, no one can deny that as he jumped around like a maniac, all the attention was on him. It was his infectious energy and charisma that drew a crowd and made them dance — a gift that not many vocalists have been given. That’s what separates real rock stars from mere frontmen who at most, can get a crowd to sing and pump their fists in the air. But Karl? He got people to drop their inhibitions and groove the way he did — at the expense of their dignity, yes, but with Karl leading them, they just can’t be bothered to give a flying f***.

Take a look around. Not another frontman like Karl has arrived since and now, he’s left a gaping hole in the music scene. It’s hard to believe that he’s gone, especially when he was so alive when we was still here, despite being paralyzed on his right side after a stroke. In his last major interview, with Rogue in 2008, he promised his fans he would come back. That’s alright, Karl. Even the toughest rock stars have to take a break at some point. — Cai Subijano

“Dad was truly amazing. He was such a good father to me. Every night Dad would text me ‘Good night’ and random quotes. It’s still too surreal. I can’t believe he’s gone. There are still so many things I wanted to do with my dad. He was always there for me and he always will be — it’s just different this time. I always knew he wanted to be with me every day, and now he is. I love you, Dad.” —Arianna Roy, daughter


“As a kid, I always thought it was so damn cool being related to Karl. Back then it was because he was the rock star. But today, the relationship is something to be proud of. He shaped the music scene. And the music that he made is something we can all take pride in as Filipinos.” — Sansan, niece

“If I ever see your face again, I’ll ask you why so soon. And in your grand debut from death reborn again to life, I pray.

I hate to see you haunting or in your private hell.

I hope you make it.

This prayer’s for you.” — Prayer by Kapatid, originally written for deceased guitarist Chico Molina

In truth, I did not like Karl Roy very much when I was a child. He was relentless in his teasing and I would always end up red-faced and growling, “Stop it!” He did, however, give me the most precious gift when I was older: He would take me to gigs, even to those where he was a spectator and not a performer. He unknowingly changed my life forever when he introduced me to jazz music. He also got me my first tattoo, although I’m fairly certain that my mom disapproved of that kind of “support' from him. More than anything, it’s the overwhelming support from others that tells us how he lived his life." —Krystal Roy, sister


“The moment I saw Karl strut his stuff with Advent Call in Club Dredd in 1990, I knew he was going to be big. Onstage and off he was a photographer’s delight. His moves and ink made sure of that. My camera will miss him.” — Eddie Boy Escudero, photographer

“Karl was an inspiration. Seeing Karl at 13 years old made me want to be him. Karl was The Man. I so wanted to be him. He asked me to be myself… and I did. I learned my rasp from him. I learned some moves from him, to his dismay.” — Kevin Roy, brother and lead vocalist of Razorback

source: philstar.com

Can Rush, Peter Gabriel Legally Order Limbaugh to Cease Using Their Songs?

In the clamor over Rush Limbaugh's personal attacks on Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, who recently testified at a Congressional hearing on contraception, musicians including Peter Gabriel and the band Rush have demanded that the conservative talk-show host stop playing their songs on his broadcast. Legally, the bands may not have a case, says attorney Larry Iser.

Iser has some experience with such disputes. In 2008, he went to court to stop the campaign of GOP presidential candidate John McCain from using "Running on Empty" in an ad attacking his opponent, Barack Obama. He also helped David Byrne force former Florida Governor Charlie Crist to stop running an attack ad using the Talking Heads song "Road to Nowhere."

Limbaugh's case is different, says the attorney. His clients sued for copyright infingement – their songs were used in audio-visual media, requiring licenses for the musical composition and the use of the recording under the terms of the Copyright Act. By contrast, radio networks are covered under blanket agreements for "public performance" of all songs in the publishing catalogs of ASCAP, BMI and, in the band Rush's case, SESAC, the Society of European Stage Authors & Composers. The fact that Limbaugh's show has a political agenda does not interfere with his right to play music, so long as it's paid for, says Iser.

"What he did is in fact the essence of what 'public performance' is," Iser says. Networks like Premiere, which syndicates The Rush Limbaugh Show, "all take public performance licenses for the performing societies . . . Artists who make money from public performance royalties don't have the right, typically, to control who plays their songs. Once they choose to add their songs to the public performance catalog, they're out there for anyone [with a licensing agreement] to use."

However, explains Iser, if a cease-and-desist order in such cases would not likely be upheld in court, the band that issues it is effectively working the court of public opinion. The Fabulous Thunderbirds' Kim Wilson is the latest performer to demand Limbaugh stop using his music. Yesterday he released a statement saying he would serve Limbaugh with a cease-and-desist; though Limbaugh has used the Thunderbirds' song "Tuff Enuff" for years, the incident with Sandra Fluke was the last straw, the singer said.

"I don't want people to think I'm affiliated in any way, shape or form with him," Wilson said. "The message he promotes is something I'm totally against."

That kind of public distancing is usually more than enough to shame the offending party into voluntarily dropping the song, says Iser. Just as Limbaugh ultimately has the right to say offensive things – and advertisers have the right, as dozens have done in the past few days, to withdraw their support of his show in consequence – artists can and should express their disapproval, he says.

"The Constitution is the Constitution, and thank goodness for it," says Iser. "They do have a legal right to stand up and make as much noise as possible about how appalled they are."

Despite appearances, Iser says, it is not only liberal songwriters balking at conservatives who use their songs. He points out that lawyers for Sam and Dave objcted when Obama used the soul duo's song "Hold On I'm Comin'" in 2008 – not for political reasons, but because the campaign had not asked permission.

Ultimately, the solution is simple. "There are so many songs," says Iser. If the artist takes issue, "go find a different one."


source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/can-rush-peter-gabriel-legally-order-limbaugh-to-cease-using-their-songs-20120308

Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and More Celebrate Hubert Sumlin in New York

Close to midnight last night at New York's Apollo Theater, Eric Clapton had just finished a thunderous take on classic blues number "Forty Four" when Keith Richards ambled onstage with no introduction. Wearing a dark blazer, long green scarf, fedora and a huge grin, he embraced Clapton and stood center stage to massive applause, delivering a smoky take on Wolf’s "Going Down Slow," a chronicle of a frail man who has savored life’s greatest pleasures. "Man, I've had things that kings and queens will never have," Richards growled. "In fact, they don't even know about them, let alone get ’em. And good times? Mmmm...." He hovered around Clapton and then stood sidestage by the piano while Clapton delivered a throaty verse and then weaved clean-toned solos with young Austin guitarist Gary Clark Jr.

There were many highlights at Howlin for Hubert – a tribute to guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who played in Howlin’ Wolf’s band for decades and passed away on December 4th due to heart failure – but that was the peak. It was Richards’ first major musical appearance since the Rolling Stones last toured five years ago, and he showed little rust. After "Going Down Slow," he sat down and played metallic 12-string slide while singing "Little Red Rooster," and then strapped on a Gibson electric guitar to sing and trade licks with Clapton on "Spoonful." "It’s good to be back," Richards said, peering up to the balcony before breaking into a cackle. "Goddamn, it’s good to be back."

The entire show, which featured all-stars including Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Jimmie Vaughan, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II and Elvis Costello – plus overlooked legends like Wolf’s former bandmates, harmonica player James Cotton, guitarist Jody Williams and saxophonist Eddie Shaw – was one for the history books. The event originated while Sumlin was still alive as a celebration to mark his 80th birthday. It stayed that way; Guest after guest recounted Sumlin’s unfaltering positivity and passion for his instrument. At one point, Toni Ann Mamary, Sumlin’s longtime manager and companion, tearfully recalled Sumlin tellling her, "I’m gonna be there. I don’t care if I play – I’m going to be there." She added, "Can you feel him?"

The night began with a film featuring classic Sumlin performance footage and a recent interview with him, where Sumlin humorously described how he found his own piercing signature sound after Wolf strongly urged him to lose the guitar pick. The stage lights then revealed two massive portraits of Sumlin behind the stage. His sunburst Stratocaster sat on a stand at center stage, with his trademark feathered cap hanging off of it. Clapton emerged – with short, slicked-back hair and wearing a blazer – with Cotton, Sumlin’s old musical partner. Clapton kicked the night off howling an acoustic, stomping "Key to the Highway," complemented by Cotton’s razor-sharp harp fills....

source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/keith-richards-eric-clapton-buddy-guy-and-more-celebrate-hubert-sumlin-in-new-york-20120225

Feds shut down file-sharing website

McLEAN, Virginia (AP) — One of the world's largest file-sharing sites was shut down Thursday, and its founder and several company executives were charged with violating piracy laws, federal prosecutors said.

An indictment accuses Megaupload.com of costing copyright holders more than $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films and other content. The indictment was unsealed one day after websites including Wikipedia and Craigslist shut down in protest of two congressional proposals intended to thwart online piracy.

The Justice Department said in a statement said that Kim Dotcom, formerly known as Kim Schmitz, and three other executives were arrested Thursday in New Zealand at the request of U.S. officials. Two other defendants are at large.

Megaupload was unique not only because of its massive size and the volume of downloaded content, but also because it had high-profile support from celebrities, musicians and other content producers who are most often the victims of copyright infringement and piracy. Before the website was taken down, it contained endorsements from Kim Kardashian, Alicia Keys and Kanye West, among others.

The Hong Kong-based company listed Swizz Beatz, a musician who married Keys in 2010, as its CEO. He was not named in the indictment and declined to comment through a representative.

Before the site was taken down, it posted a statement saying allegations that it facilitated massive breaches of copyright laws were "grotesquely overblown."

"The fact is that the vast majority of Mega's Internet traffic is legitimate, and we are here to stay. If the content industry would like to take advantage of our popularity, we are happy to enter into a dialogue. We have some good ideas. Please get in touch," the statement said.

The site boasted 150 million registered users.

A lawyer who represented the company in a lawsuit last year declined comment Thursday.

Megaupload is considered a "cyberlocker," in which users can upload and transfer files that are too large to send by email. Such sites can have perfectly legitimate uses. But the Motion Picture Association of America, which has campaigned for a crackdown on piracy, estimated that the vast majority of content being shared on Megaupload was in violation of copyright laws.

The website allowed users to download films, TV shows, games, music and other content for free, but made money by charging subscriptions to people who wanted access to faster download speeds or extra content. The website also sold advertising.

The indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia, which claimed jurisdiction in part because some of the alleged pirated materials were hosted on leased servers in Ashburn, Virginia.

Dotcom, a resident of both Hong Kong and New Zealand, and a dual citizen of Finland and Germany, made more than $42 million from the conspiracy in 2010 alone, according to the indictment.

Dotcom is founder, former CEO and current chief innovation officer of Megaupload.

source: philstar.com