Eddie Van Halen revealed to Rolling Stone that he is recovering from surgery on his left hand. He says that three months ago, he was unable to play guitar and that "my pinky and my thumb were totally locked up and felt like there was something broken." Van Halen says that the surgery was a success and "in about four months my hand will feel like I am 18 again." However, he will still need four-to-six months of rehab.
R&B singer-songwriter The-Dream claims that his next album, Love King, will also be his last. Via Twitter, The-Dream said he is engaged and that Love King will be his last release because "everybody is trying to 'KILL THE DREAM!' [The Dream is] the ONLY one that can end [his] career." The-Dream will still continue as a producer and songwriter for other acts. Love King is expected out in late 2009, according to Billboard.
Thom Yorke
(photo: Jim Rinaldi) |
Director Chris Weitz has confirmed rumors that a new solo recording from Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is slated to appear on the soundtrack to New Moon, the anticipated sequel to Twilight. Weitz told HitFix.com that he has the new Yorke track in hand and also says the soundtrack could include indie-folk artist Bon Iver, British rock trio Band Of Skulls and potentially a track from Kings Of Leon. Yorke debuted a new song, "The Present Tense," at the Latitude Festival in England earlier this month as part of a rare solo performance.Phish will combine its Phish festival and Halloween concert traditions this year as the three-day "Christened Festival 8." The event will take place in Indio, CA, the site of Coachella, on October 30-31 and November 1. It is the band's first three-day festival, their first on the West Coast and the first time a band has played multiple dates at the venue.
System Of A Down's Serj Tankian has announced he is writing his second book of poetry, with art from Roger Kupelian, who directed the video for his song "Honking Antelope" from Tankian's solo album Elect The Dead. He writes in a blog post that the project will have "a visual/interactive element."
Wilco has announced a North American tour in October, including their performance at Farm Aid in St. Louis. The new dates begin in Iowa City, IA on October 1 and wind up with two hometown shows in Chicago on October 18 and 19. The band will head overseas for European touring in November. In other Wilco news, Sirius XM's Outlaw Country channel will broadcast a series of interviews with the band every weeknight next week at 9 p.m. ET.
The Vans Warped Tour will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a two-hour theatrical special event, screening in over 460 movie theaters on Thursday, September 17. The two-hour film will include live performances, backstage footage, interviews and more from Bad Religion, Blink-182, Rise Against, Katy Perry, Ice T, NOFX, Ozomatli, The All-American Rejects, Underoath and others.
Star Wars In Concert, a touring symphonic tribute to the films, will launch this fall and head around the globe. Narrated by Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), the music will synch to footage screened on a three-story-tall screen. The tour begins in Anaheim, CA on October 1. More information can be found here.
Flight Of The Conchords' sophomore album, I Told You I Was Freaky, will be out on October 20 via Sub Pop. The album collects songs from season two of the hit HBO comedy.
Musician John Dawson has passed away at the age of 64. Dawson was a collaborator with The Grateful Dead and co-founded the New Riders Of The Purple Sage in 1969 with Jerry Garcia. Dawson, nicknamed "Marmaduke," also co-wrote a number of Dead songs, including their classic "Friend Of The Devil." He died on Tuesday in Mexico, where he had retired to, from stomach cancer.
