Grateful Dead plans tour
It looks like the old Dead are gettin' on.Surviving members of The Grateful Dead say they'll regroup for a 19-city tour, their first since 2004, beginning April 12 in Greensboro, N.C.The group, which now just calls itself The Dead, announced its plans Thursday.Original band members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann have toured sporadically since the 1995 death of guitarist Jerry Garcia, but struggled to get along personally and artistically. They told Rolling Stone in November

Wasserman, 'Man of La Mancha' writer, dies at 94
Dale Wasserman, author of the book for the Tony-winning musical "Man of La Mancha," as well as the stage adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," has died. He was 94. Wasserman died Dec. 21 of congestive heart failure at his home in the Phoenix suburb of Paradise Valley, his wife, Martha, said Saturday. "Man of La Mancha," the tale of the intrepid, ever idealistic Don Quixote, was one of Broadway's biggest hits in the 1960s. The show, which starred Richard Kiley and Joa

Grateful Dead: Grateful Dead tours as “The Dead” (video)
The band called The Grateful Dead will tour US. The Grateful Dead will tour under a new name called The Dead. The Dead will kick off their musical tour on April 12 in Greensboro, N.C. The Dead will now comprise of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Warren Hayes and Jeff Chimenti. The newcomers [...]

Jerry Garcia, Merle Saunders, The Grateful Dead: Jerry Garcia vs. Merle Saunders: Afterlife lawsuit
When you're a rock star, the controversies don't stop coming just because you're dead. Especially if you're The Grateful Dead. In life, the Dead's visionary leader Jerry Garcia was a longtime friend of/collaborator with Merle Saunders, a Bay Area keyboardist who played with the Dead, was a member of the Jerry Garcia Band, contributed to Garcia solo recordings, and worked with the guitarist in a duo. Saunders passed away in October, having outlived his old friend by 13 years.   Now the ghos

Grateful Dead Announces First Tour in Four Years: Deadhead Mania Explained
Grateful Dead music is mesmerizing. Grateful Dead music alone IS the escape. Ironically, it's not the drugs that set you free at a Grateful Dead concert. xhttp://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1357882/grateful_dead_announces_first_tour.html

Surviving members of Grateful Dead To Tour for first time in 5 years
They may be ‘The Dead’ but they’re ready to keep on Truckin. Surviving members of The Grateful Dead say they’ll regroup for a 19-city tour, their first since 2004, beginning April 12 in Greensboro, N.C. The group, which now just calls itself The Dead, announced its plans Thursday. This incarnation includes original Dead members Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, along with keyboardist Jeff Chimenti and Allman Brothers Band/Gov’t Mule guitarist

Alex: Still Top
There was no need for any pressies under the tree for Alexandra Burke this Christmas. A win on X Factor and a number one single... the babe's got it all. And it looks like Alex has more celebrating to do this New Year's Eve too. The X Factor winner is still in the number one hot spot in the charts, with her version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Now that's something to pop the corks over.   Alex's version of the poetic song has maintained the top spot for

Mercury Man
Possible ways for Jeremy Piven to redeem himself: (a) return to Broadway in a sharp, well-reviewed play (not a revival) and stay with it to the end of his contact; (b) swear off poon by way of a Leonard Cohen celibacy at an ashram in eastern Oregon, (c) deliver a strong performance in a first-rate film that expands his range (i.e., nowhere near Ari Gold ); (d) buy some work boots, strap on a utility belt and help build low-income housing in some economically hurting area, a la Jimmy Carter, or

List of the topselling music of 2008
X Factor's Alexandra Burke's version of the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah has topped the charts to become the best-selling single of 2008.   Last Updated: 12:59PM GMT 29 Dec 2008 Here are 2008's official top-selling singles and their record labels, as well as a list of the top-selling albums and soundtracks/compilations. The singles: 1. Hallelujah/Alexandra Burke (Syco Music) 2. Hero/X Factor Finalists (Syco Music) 3. Mercy/Duffy (

Kings of Leon, Franz for Benicassim
The Spanish festival's organisers also announced that Paul Weller will be playing the event next July. Oasis are rumoured to be one of the other headliners. Last year's festival featured performances from Gnarls Barkley, Leonard Cohen and My Bloody Valentine. Benicassim takes place on July 16, 17, 18 and 19. Tickets are currently on sale at 2008 prices.

Oasis. Kurt Cobain, Blur, Winehouse - NME.COM's biggest stories of 2008
From Arctic Monkeys Alex Turner covering The Strokes with Lightspeed Champion in January, through Noel Gallagher and Jay-Z's feud over Glastonbury in the summer to the recent 'Hallelujah' battle between 'X Factor', Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen 2008 has been a busy year for music news.

Leonard Cohen - Being Xmas No1 Is Crazy Alexandra Says
X Factor winner Alexandra Burke has said that achieving a Christmas number one with her debut single Hallelujah is absolutely crazy.The Londoner, who … Leonard Cohen - Being Xmas No1 Is Crazy Alexandra Says From: Contact Music

Famous People We're Afraid Will Die in 2009
No one could have called Heath Ledger's untimely demise in 2008, but there are some olds who just take on that look of imminent death, as if their essence is draining away. It won't be long once someone takes on the death look, and no one seems to ever shake it off. Paul Newman had it this year. (RIP, Best Guy to Die in 2008.) The ones with the death look are dancing a tango with the Grim Reaper as we speak. Another dead giveaway is if you are reminded about an older celebrity and can

Country Music shrine to keep historic instruments
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will get to keep historic instruments from Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash and Mother Maybelle Carter pledged by a man who committed suicide after being accused of defrauding millions from investors. The settlement between the Country Music Foundation, which operates the museum, and the trustee handling the bankruptcy for Bob McLean was filed Tuesday in bankruptcy court in Nas

Book Review: 'Stories Done'
Mikal Gilmore's devastating 1994 memoir, "Shot in the Heart," was part "Brothers Karamazov," part Johnny Cash ballad, and it was a remarkable bookend to Norman Mailer's "true life novel" "The Executioner's Song." In recounting the story of how his brother, Gary, in a senseless act of anger murdered two men and in 1977 became the first American in a decade to be executed after a Supreme Court decision restored the death penalty, the author created a wrenching portrait of the

Ryan Gosling’s Band Debuts ‘In The Room Where You Sleep’
Ryan Gosling’s band, Dead Man’s Bones debuted their first video for “In The Room Where You Sleep” via Myspace. Ryan’s voice is mesmerizing in a Jim Morrison kind of way and the song is very goth sounding. I love how it wants to mix The Doors with Johnny Cash in a smooth and mellow delivery. [...]

The final word?
The great WNCW, public radio station out of Spindale NC, has released its Top 100 CD's of the year. I'm pleased to see several of my favorites here, especially Drive By Truckers and Alejandro Escovedo. My list here. WNCW's Top 10: 1 Avett Brothers - The Second Gleam 2 Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 3 Old Crow Medicine Show - Tennessee Pusher 4 Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark 5 Wood Brothers - Loaded 6

CD review: Cat Power, 'Dark End of the Street'
RATING: (POLITE APPLAUSE) Cat Power's "Jukebox" album, in which singer Chan Marshall sleepwalked her way through covers of songs by James Brown and Bob Dylan, was 12 shades of boring. So why would anyone want the six songs that were left on the cutting-room...

Battlestar Galactica Ends With Ultimate Mind-Frak? [Battlestar Galactica]
So far, all you've heard about Battlestar Galactica's final episode has been bloodshed and despair — but after all that, there may be an even weirder coda. Mega-spoilers!The other day, we cast doubt on SyFy Portal's report that the planet the Galactica crew found in the mid-season finale was "Earth," but the survivors of that disaster had traveled elsewhere and founded a new planet, also called "Earth" — and that second Earth was the planet where you and I are living now.Now, SyFy Portal has upped the a

[VIDEO] Of Montreal cover “Let’s Spend the Night Together”
Not the greatest quality video, but it’ll have to do until a real recording surfaces. Of Montreal did a largely covers set New Years Eve in Athens, including this take on Bowie’s take on the Rolling Stone’s “Let’s Spend the Night Together.” The band played a great deal of covers, so expect to catch those here when a recording of the show surfaces. Until then, just turn the volume down and enjoy this video… | Tags: Uncategorized

Best of Pop Quiz 2008
Aidin VaziriFriday, January 2, 2009Here's a look back at some of our favorite conversations from the past year:SARAH SILVERMANQ: Why do you like touching your butt so much?A: Just making sure it's still there.KATY PERRYQ: Is "I Kissed a Girl" based on a real experience?A: All of my songs are kind of like chapters from my brutally honest diary of my life. With that song, I was reading a magazine and opened it up to a picture of either Scarlett Johansson or Megan Fox, and I turned to my boyfriend and said, "Y

Kelly Clarkson to Release New Single on January 19
She will be back. In January. With a brand-new single, followed by a new album in March. The title of the new single is "My Life Would Suck Without You." Very to the point indeed. Reporters of Rolling Stone heard a few album tracks and described it as filled with "primo pop hits reminiscent of 'Breakaway.'" As long as it is not a rehash to please Clive Davis, fans should have something to look forward to.

Jade Jagger, Daughter Mick Jagger, Plans To Release Some Tracks
Jade Jagger, daughter of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, is now planning to try her hand at music this year. The English jewelry designer, socialite and former model is reportedly working with East London DJ Jaguar Skills.Jagger, who set up her own music, fashion and art production company Jezebel in 2007, says she is now looking to release some tracks, reports Digital Spy.Jezebel Soundsystem parties helped boost the careers of Lily Allen and Estelle. The socialite now promotes a lifestyle concept