music

Bob Rubenstein: Good Riddance To the Music Industry

Gawker · 04/22/04 04:26PM

V2, Virgin's independent record label which puts out The Datsuns, Mercury Rev, and Tom Jones, apparently lost an employee today. Fortunately, Bob Rubenstein, the disgruntled employee in question, fired off one of the best "take this job and shove it" emails we've ever been privileged to see.

Britney Stalker

Gawker · 04/08/04 09:56AM

Given these stalker sightings sent in by readers, I'm getting this strange psychic feeling that Britney Spears is in New York:

Worst Press Release of the Week: Lollapalooza

Gawker · 04/06/04 02:48PM

The lineup for the ninth Lollapalooza has been announced — as has the accompanying magazine/"collector's guide" — but not before creator Perry Farrell smoked up some hash and issued a statement: "The theme of the magazine, like this year s festival, will embody the spirit of solar gypsies on a traveling caravan." Wait, seriously, dude? Because that was my New Year's Resolution, to embody the spirit of solar gypsies. Sweet. The caravan is totally optional, but what the hell.

Opera: Still Sucky

Gawker · 04/06/04 10:01AM

New York City has a trade imbalance: there are way more "artistic productions" per potential audience member than need be. Rosecrans Baldwin of The Morning News busts out of his alternative zipcode and learns how some of the 10021 lives, surveying the state of dance, symphony, and opera:

The Strokes: New York City's Poet Laureates

Gawker · 04/05/04 01:29PM

Every generation has its poets. Take Allen Ginsberg, or Frank O'Hara, or Dylan Thomas... and yet still we get stuck with Julian Casablancas. Some notable quotables from this weekend's Strokes show in Hell-A:

Kurt Cobain: 10 Years Later

Gawker · 04/05/04 09:47AM

Kurt Cobain did himself in ten years ago. (Or maybe Yoko, I mean, Courtney did it. Whatever.) Apparently there's a lot of people waiting for him to come back. Listen up: Jesus came back in three days. Kurt's just fucking with you.

Kurt Cobain: Still Dead

Gawker · 04/01/04 04:51PM

Simon and Schuster is holding a press conference on Monday to announce "shocking new evidence" in the death of a yet-to-be-identified rock icon:

Worst Press Release: Axl Rose v. Buckethead

Gawker · 03/30/04 02:34PM

Scratch our previous "Worst Press Release" winner: today's Business Wire memo from Axl Rose, AKA William Bailey — but yeah, that Axl Rose — jumps to the top of the trash heap. Who thought having Axl himself serve as the band's PR dude was a good idea?

Jann Wenner: "Turn That Crap Down, You Lousy Kids!"

Gawker · 03/26/04 11:28AM

After N.E.R.D. performed at FYE, the store received noise complaints, causing later in-store shows to be cancelled. Where did the complaints originate? At least one is said to have come from the neighboring offices of Rolling Stone. Whoo! Rock and roll will never die!

Courtney's World, Then The Fireworks

Gawker · 03/26/04 10:34AM

Courtney Love's gone back to LA, thank God, after an endless week of riding New York City like a ten-dollar whore. [Update: it's been reported that Courtney is still here. Can it be true? No arrests, no boob-flashings, no leaning out hotel windows? Could it... all be an act? Can Courtney turn the crazy off and on like a psychotic lightswitch?]

iTunes Guest DJ, Mischa Barton

Gawker · 03/24/04 09:45AM

I've never noticed that iTunes lets celebrities embarrass themselves by picking out music they like for public promotion/ridicule. Uncle Grambo ranks on The O.C.'s Mischa Barton:

Courtney Love, The Morning After the Morning After

Gawker · 03/19/04 09:33AM

For some bizarre reason, nightclub Plaid's spokeswoman would only speak anonymously to the New York Times about the Courtney Love Trainwreck, East Village Edition. Perhaps it's because she's incoherent?

Courtney's Big Night Out

Gawker · 03/18/04 01:10PM

A reader reports: "I saw Courtney Love last night at the Union Square Wendy's, coked/doped/siliconed up as all hell. She was leaving and making a scene, yelling at people to say her name right and then flashing a group of teenagers that were yelling at her. There was a homeless guy on the street tipping people off that she was inside, Courtney's apparently that kind of celebrity that transcends the classes. Good luck with that whole getting-your-kid-back thing, Court."

Janet Jackson: Nipples At The Ready

Gawker · 03/12/04 10:08AM

Janet Jackson, America's most dangerous performer, will suit up and show up (with a slight televised delay) for "Good Morning America" this month. The Times claims they don't know when or where, but the Daily News and other sources say March 31st, Battery Park, free show. Let's all attend half-topless in solidarity to America's richest political prisoner.
Janet Jackson, Almost Live! [NYT]
'GMA' Janet-Proofs Show [NYDN]

Buzz Status for NYC Bands

Gawker · 03/11/04 08:33AM

Just move here? Attending NYU? Considering an apartment in Williamsburg but nervous about the neighborhood? Coolfer has a guide to help people just like you know if you're somewhere cool or not:

Hip Hop Porn Stars: A Brief History

Gawker · 03/08/04 07:18PM

Jay Smooth over at Hip Hop Music takes the NYT to task for its story yesterday on Lil John's new porn career. Is Lil John, as they claim, the first rapper to do porn? Not hardly:

Know Your Strokes

Gawker · 03/05/04 01:12PM

If there's one important thing we can do as New Yorkers, it's to properly identify each member of the Strokes. (That will help Rush & Molloy and Page Six not go into shock if, say, some drunken Gawker reader reports that Stroke Fabrizio is making out with a non-Drew Barrymore. Because in fact the gentleman in question is not Fabrizio, it's Albert.) You've had TWO YEARS now to get them straight, but you've failed, so let's study up:
Albert: Sideburns, nasty head of clumpy ringlets. The most schmo-ey of the bunch. Easily confused with...
Fabrizio: Sideburns, slightly less nasty head of clumpy ringlets. More distinguished jawline, slightly more heroin chic. Looks like one of those boys in Milan who'll make out with you and steal from your purse.
Nik: His hair will obscure his face. May resemble Duran Duran member. Has a strange Andy Warhol affect.
Julian: straight hair, usually suffers the most from sleep-exhaustion and dark puffy eyes. Could have been cast as Donnie Darko.
Nick: Pretty and sensitive. Extra-prone to bedhead. Could have played a Lord of the Rings elf.