Fleetwood Mac will reunite for their first tour in five years, starting March 1 in Pittsburgh. Thus far, only 15 dates for the 2009 Unleashed tour have been announced, primarily on the east cost, but the trek will likely be expanded well into 2009. It is not expected that Christine McVie will rejoin the lineup for the tour. Additionally, the band's classic album Rumours will be re-issued next year as a special CD/DVD box set, including previously unreleased tracks.
Nine Inch Nails in 2008
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Trent Reznor has posted on Nine Inch Nails' Web site that he plans to take a break from touring after 2009, and also his plans for a high-tech concert film of this year's Lights In The Sky tour have fallen through. Reznor wrote that he had hoped to film the concert in 3-D for a theatrical release, with an eventual DVD/BluRay to follow, but could not get the funding together in time. He added, "This was an amazing tour and production - certainly the best thing I've ever been involved with and likely the final tour for NIN on this scale. Thank you to those who came out to see it and forgive me for having a Kanye West moment, but this was FOR SURE the best show of the year and any bullshit end-of-the-year poll you may read in the next few weeks that says otherwise simply has it wrong. Those of you who saw it know I'm right. The shows we have announced in 2009 and any more that may be announced will be a completely different approach with some different personnel and will likely be the last for the foreseeable future."The Guns N' Roses/Dr. Pepper saga continues, as the soda company's lawyers told Rolling Stone, "We are disappointed that GN'R's lawyers are turning a fun giveaway into a legal dispute... We simply commented on the delayed release of Chinese Democracy and openly encouraged the band to release it before the end of the year. Axl even expressed support for our efforts earlier in the year." Axl Rose's lawyers recently ripped Dr. Pepper for the limited nature of the free soda giveaway.
Paramore singer Haley Williams spoke to Rolling Stone about beginning to write for the follow-up to the group's breakthrough album, Riot! She revealed they will write and record back home in Tennessee. "I have a lot to say this time around, and there’s a lot of things I thought I knew that I was absolutely wrong about," Williams says. "Things happened that are very normal, but they were so magnified by distance and being busy. I can’t believe we’ve made it out of this, and I feel we’re stronger because of it." Paramore could have a new record out as soon as summer of 2009.
The track list for the soundtrack to the upcoming Notorious B.I.G. biopic Notorious has been announced. According to MTV News, the majority of the soundtrack will feature Biggie's hit singles, as well as demo versions, along with a few new tracks. A new Jay-Z song featuring Santogold and produced by Kanye West, "Brooklyn Go Hard," appeared online this week and will be on the soundtrack. "A Letter To B.I.G." from Jadakiss with Faith Evans will also make the soundtrack, as will a cameo from B.I.G.'s son C.J. on a new version of "One More Chance." The soundtrack to Notorious will be out January 13, with the film arriving January 16.
Alice In Chains have updated fans from the studio on their progress on the band's first new studio album since 1995. New singer William DuVall and guitarist Jerry Cantrell are reportedly about to begin recording their vocals, while "guitars and bass are heading down the home stretch, and although the drums are done, [drummer] Sean [Kinney] is coming in almost every day to provide input."
Akon is the star of Clear Channel Radio's latest installment in the online Stripped series. In his performance, Akon sings four of his own hits, along with a cover of Michael Jackson's classic "Wanna Be Starting Something." You can currently find Akon Stripped at www.iheartmusic.com and on over 115 CCR stations' Web sites.
Elton John is considering working with producer Mark Ronson for his next studio album. A source tells Billboard that there have been conversations between the two, but nothing is official yet. John could release a new album late next year.
Tori Amos
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Tori Amos has signed with Universal Republic for her next album, expected out in late spring or early summer of next year. Billboard reports that Amos' next project will be a mix of music and visual elements. She is also currently writing a musical, The Light Princess, for the British National Theater.Metal band Killswitch Engage will record their fourth album with ubiquitous Rock producer Brendan O'Brien, with an eye on a release sometime in the Spring of 2009. KSE will spend the winter in the studio and tour in the Spring. KSE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz has produced the band's three previous albums, and will co-produce the new record alongside O'Brien.
