music news
A daily update on everything that goes down in the 'biz.
Metallica go download
March 02, 2004 3:31 p.m. EST
Band launches site for live, soundboard-quality downloads
METALLICA ARE LAUNCHING a downloading site. No, don't rub your eyes; you did read that correctly.
Hetfield, Ulrich and Co. are set to kick off livemetallica.com, which gives their fans the opportunity to buy MP3s from their upcoming North American tour, which begins tonight in Phoeniz, Ariz. Downloads will be available starting March 6.
The band says that the MP3s uploaded onto the site will be of songs they have not performed live for several years. They plan to change their setlist every night during the tour, so as to play as many of their songs as possible.
Drummer Lars Ulrich says this is the next step after a 1991 promotional spot which saw the band set up specific areas for fans to tape Metallica concerts. "This technology will enable our fans to get the best possible recording of the show," he said, "without having to hold a microphone in the air for the entire night!"
Before you go rushing off to the site, though, these downloads don't come cheap. Each MP3 costs a whopping $9.95 (U.S.) and FLAC files are going for $12.95 (U.S.). The band is also making printable booklets available with the downloads for those who want to burn the downloads to a CD.
Metallica is not the first band to offer such services to their fans, however. Pearl Jam and Phish have been offering bootleg downloads to their fans for years.
Kittie settle suit with Artemis
March 02, 2004 3:57 p.m. EST
New album due out later this year
CANADIAN NU-METALLERS Kittie have settled a rather nasty legal dispute with their record label, Artemis, Billboard reports.
Details of the settlement were not available to the press, but the band are currently recording a new album with producer Steve Thompson (Anthrax, Korn) in a Massachusetts studio. It should be ready for a summer release.
The band, which is now a trio after losing guitarist Fallon Bowman and bassist Talena Atfield (Jennifer Arroyo was added on bass last year), originally took Artemis to court along with producer GGGarth Richardson over royalties, saying they had been miscalculated and Artemis owed them money.
Now that the suit is settled, though, the band are set to release a new album, Until The End, which should hit stores this summer. They're also very excited about it.
"We are excited that the suit is over and done with," guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander says. "The number one thing is the music and we are looking to make a great album!"
The band have also posted demos of what looks to be the album's first single, "Burning Bridges," and another untitled song on their official website, (kittierocks.com). Go download it! Unlike Metallica's stuff, it's FREE.
Ash Meltdown U.K. with spring tour
March 02, 2004 3:58 p.m. EST
Band out in support of upcoming new album
NORTHERN IRISH ROCKERS Ash have just announced a U.K. tour slated to take place this May and June, the British press reports.
The trek, which is in support of the band's upcoming new album, Meltdown, kicks off May 21 in Glasgow and folds June 4 in Portsmouth. It will coincide with the release of the album, which is expected sometime during May.
In addition, a download of the album's first single, "Clones," is available at (ash-official.com) for only 99 pence.
Here are those dates:
May 2004:
Fri 21: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland @ Glasgow Academy
Sat 22: Manchester, Lancashire, England @ University of Manchester
Sun 23: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England @ Northumbria University at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Tue 25: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England @ University of Leeds
Wed 26: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England @ Rock City
Fri 28: Truro, Cornwall, England @ Truro Hall of Cornwall
Sun 30: London, England @ Apollo Theatre (Hammersmith)
Mon 31: Birmingham, West Midlands, England @ Birmingham Academy
June 2004:
Tue 01: Bristol, Avon, England @ Bristol Academy
Thu 03: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England @ Brookes Academy
Fri 04: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England @ Guildhall
Gomez announce U.K. dates
March 02, 2004 3:59 p.m. EST
Split the Difference due out later this year
GOMEZ HAVE ANNOUNCED a U.K. tour in support of their upcoming new album, Split the Difference, NME says.
The band will hit the road in May, playing eight dates to push the album. Here's where you can catch them:
May 2004:
Sun 23: Manchester, Lancashire, England @ University of Manchester
Mon 24: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland @ Barrowland
Tue 25: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England @ Rock City
Thu 27: London, England @ Apollo Theatre (Hammersmith)
Fri 28: Birmingham, West Midlands, England @ Birmingham Academy
Sat 29: Truro, Cornwall, England @ Truro Hall of Cornwall
Sun 30: Southampton, Hampshire, England @ Guildhall
Mon 31: Bristol, Avon, England @ Bristol Academy
Fri 21: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland @ Glasgow Academy