Music In The News

Hate and “Theft”

In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine last week, music legend Bob Dylan came out swinging at critics who claimed he neglected to properly cite his sources when using quotes in his songs. Dylan stated that quotation in folk and jazz is a rich and enriching tradition.

“Wussies and pussies complain about that stuff. It’s an old thing – it’s part of the tradition. It goes way back.” He also let loose about some old wounds that evidently still haven’t healed for him, referencing the controversy over his incorporation of electric guitar in the late sixties.

“These are the same people that tried to pin the name Judas on me. Judas, the most hated name in human history! If you think you’ve been called a bad name, try to work your way out from under that. Yeah, and for what? For playing an electric guitar? As if that is in some kind of way equitable to betraying our Lord and delivering him up to be crucified. All those evil motherfuckers can rot in hell.”

 

Poems for imprisoned Pussy

A new e-book documenting the trial and tribulations of Russian punk group Pussy Riot, who made headlines around the world  this year for their protest at a Moscow Cathedral back in February,  is slated to be released near the end of the month. According the press release on the band’s website, PUSSY RIOT! A Punk Prayer for Freedom will feature “previously unavailable material including letters from prison, closing courtroom statements by the defense attorneys and poems, in addition to the infamous punk prayer and new translations of the powerful courtroom statements. ” Additionally, it will include tributes written by artists like Yoko Ono, Karen Finley, Eileen Myles and Johanna Fateman.

 

 R.E.M. – Free Fox

The American right wing once again got lambasted for using music without the artist’s consent as R.E.M. criticized Fox News’ use of their 1991 hit “Losing My Religion” in their coverage of the Democratic National Convention. In a press release on the Band’s official site, the group made their feelings known regarding Fox’s use of the song.

“R.E.M. today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song. Michael Stipe said, ‘We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.” R.E.M. are the latest in a long line of musicians demanding conservatives not use their tunes, including bands like Twisted Sister, Silversun Pickups and Heart.

 

2Pac’s dead, and now so is his hologram

Earlier this year, video of a 2Pac hologram performing at Coachella with Snoop Dogg caused quite a stir online and in the news, with the company behind the digital effect being touted as the next big thing. Now, Digital Domain Media Group Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its listed debts totaling $214.9 million. This means that the possibility of seeing a digital ‘Pac perform is slowly becoming a fantasy again. It also means that the holographic Elvis they were working on will most likely be scrapped as well, though Searchlight Capital Partners, the company set to buy Digital Domain’s production business, hasn’t made any official statements on the matter just yet.

 

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