HIM new song, Dead Lovers Lane video here

Watch HIM's performance of Dead Lovers Lane, a new song from their yet-to-be released album, "Venus Doom." Valo promised this album would be harder than previous albums and from what I'm hearing, I think it may deliver. Find out more about the show here.

Virgin Festival Lineup

The Coachella of the northeast, the Virgin Festival has more re-united bands.

August 4:* The Police* Beastie Boys* Modest Mouse* Incubus* TV On The Radio* LCD Soundsystem* Fountains Of Wayne* Peter Bjorn and John* Sasha and John Digweed* The Fratellis* Danny Tenaglia* Amy Winehouse* Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals* Sander Van Doorn* Shout Out Out Out Out* Cheap Trick* Felix Da Housecat* Paolo Nutini* Booka Shade* Miguel Migs* Fiction Plane

August 5:* The Smashing Pumpkins* 311* Interpol* Yeah Yeah Yeahs* Velvet Revolver* Chris Cornell* The Crystal Method* Wu Tang Clan* Matisyahu* Girl Talk* Bad Brains* Deep Dish* Regina Spektor* Spoon* Dieselboy and Andy C* M.I.A.* Infected Mushroom* CSS* James Zabiela

How far of a drive is Baltimore from KY? Like, 8 hours or something?

Link

Hilarity Ensues

All kinds of funny shit today - enjoy.

Menudo is reforming! I knew you would be excited. For those of you not privy to Menudo-ness, it's like if the Backstreet Boys were all A.J.'s and Howie D's. To those of you who do remember it, don't even lie, you know you wanted to run your fingers through one of those Jeri Curl mullets.

Link

Now, don't get me wrong, there should be no confused about how much I detest R. Kelly, but seriously, this guy is perfect snark fodder. If you remember, Trapped in a Closet was a song-soap opera he had created. It's so funny you feel bad for laughing because he was so serious about it. When it came out he was under the impression that it was going to be "ground-breaking." In reality, it was the work of someone not right in the head. Then again, he does pee on people so what do you expect?

Link

The link isn't funny, but my story about ?uestlove (drummer for the Roots) is, so go with it.
?uestlove was detained by the DEA in the airport and was, to put it gently, humiliated. However, being the true artist he is, his commentary is amazingly accurate, intelligent, humorous and makes a great statement about our society and it views stereotypes. Genius.

Link

I once had a run-in with ?uestlove at the Starbucks in downtown Cincinnati, OH. He was two people in front of me in line so of course I look around to see if anyone else has picked up on what's happening. I'm surrounded by business men in suits who clearly have no clue. I pull out my cell and call my hetero-life partner and tell him who I am in line with. The reponse is, "Holy Shit! Get his autograph!" Mind you, it's 8:30 a.m. and I do not want to be that guy. I get off the phone and the guy behind me, who was apparently eavesdropping says, "Is there someone famous in here or something?" The line moves, ?uestlove gets his order and the second he walks out the door the barista yells, in front of at least 20-25 people, "Holy shit! That was f**king ?uestlove!" Hilarious, particularly since only about 3 people, including myself knew who he was.

Link it like you mean it

New Machine Head video

Link

Deftones Kerrang! podcast

Link

New Foo Fighters album is in the works. Who can do 6 degrees of separation and connect Alanis Morissette to Gavin Rossdale using Foo Fighter guitarist Taylor Hawkins? Impress me.

Link

Rage Against the Machine reunites - show review here

Link

Courtney Love to sell Kurt's belongings.

Link

Serpico + AFI = amazing show!

Our favorite MySpace metallers were given an opportunity last night to open for none other than AFI. I know, I almost shit my pants too. As some of you have probably seen my Mikey's (Serpico's lead singer) frantic message in our comment section - it was a crazy story which you can read here. What amazing news to awake to, right?! Be sure to make to at least mid-way through his message to read this, "And then people clapped along in Kultura, without me even asking... that was doubly fucking awesome." Mikey's so funny. ;)

See...I told you they were a good band. If you didn't believe me before - now you do.

Link it like you mean it

Spinal Tap coming together for global warming.
Link

Dita Von Teese says she left because of Marilyn's "inappropriate relationship." *cough*Even Rachael Wood*cough*
Link

Buckcherry tour dates
Link

Les Claypool solo DVD
Link

Michael Todd, bassist for Coheed has returned to work on the new album. I guess hanging out with coked-up Josh got old. I have a whole narrative about being a leader and a follower but none of you would read it all the way through. I'm sure you can figure it out for yourself.
Link

There are some pretty stupid band names out there, but this might be the worst. Trying to sound cool really never actually makes you sound cool.
Link

Pete, Lily, Avril, her dirty-ass husband = a mess

Pete Wentz is opening a bar for rejects because he thinks it sucks to be VIP watching people use their Blackberry's. Ok, I'll agree with him on that, however, a club that only holds 200 people and is owned by Pete Wentz won't really be eliminating the problem of making people feel like outsiders will it? If I show up, will I get in? Probably not. Same club, different tactic.
Link

Also, he's listed in People's 100 most beautiful people and if they reference that 'guy-liner' joke like it's new one more time, I might gauge my eyes out. Damn old people and their lame-ass jokes. Next we'll be hearing, "Pete Wentz; he's all that and a bag of chips."
Link

As you all know Lily Allen cancelled most of her North American tour dates. While I won't make any judgment calls on why, I am sure excessive amounts of alcohol had something to do with it. PitchforkMedia interviewed her with some lame-o questions that I hope I never have to resort to asking. Accept maybe the favorite food one, that's pretty Teen Beat and we all know how into Teen Beat I am. (insert eye roll here)
Link

Avril Lavigne's new album beat the new NIN album in sales last week by 100,000 copies. It's a sad, sad, SAD day when she can beat out NIN particularly because she has no talent, she's so tiny I could crush her between my thumb and forefinger, she's an uber-bitch as clearly displayed in her "Girlfriend" video and she's a poseur. If you like her, feel free to hate on me now. Normally I would have been more objective but the hateful tones of the "Girlfriend" video put me over the edge on her.
Link

I don't talk politics on here. However Avril's husband Deryck Whibley (I know, ew, right?) is talking smack about President Bush. Don't get me wrong, I think President Bush is a putz just as much as anyone else, but Deryck Whibley is not only a moron who I doubt knows much more about politics than does this Sharpie marker here next to me, he's also Canadian. Hey Matt, yes, Matt-O-Matic, you there, you're Canadian. I'm sure if you guys had a political leader whose abilities were questionable you probably wouldn't want Britney Spears opinion on it – am I correct?
Link

Who knew?

Did I miss this memo or something? Apparently Howard Jones, lead singer of Killswitch Engage is a huge HIM fan. He recently said this to Kerrang magazine:

"I got a heartagram tattoo after my first European tour with Killswitch Engage. I felt very alone and homesick during that tour. I missed people at home who I love, I missed my family, I missed my friend, and I basically got through it by listening to HIM almost constantly on the bus. It's very honest music about missing someone, or losing someone, which I think everyone can relate to at some point or another.

Razorblade Romance is my favorite record. That's the first one I heard, and I was completely blown away by how heavy it was, even though it's got a real pop edge to it. It's just so dark, but really uplifting at the same time. That's what everything with HIM seems to be like, a mix of dark stuff and light stuff. Love is a very good thing, but it can cause a lot of pain.

A lot of people when they talk about emotion in music think it just means anger, but that's not true. You can have songs about losing something that made you happy, without it sounding like a cheesy love song. I can identify a lot with HIM's lyrics, it's very simple because everybody misses people, everybody has people they love."

hmm...veeery interesting. Wasn't expecting that.

Link it like you mean it

Mikey Way has left the current MCR tour to enjoy his newly wedded-ness. (yeah, yeah, yeah, it's old - shut it)

Link

Smashing Pumpkins song titles released.

Link

Deftones interview

Link

The Gorillaz will not be releasing another album.

Link

Beyonce is getting sued by my girl Des'ree (the artist who I mentioned months ago that no one knew who she was.) Apparently Beyonce likes to steal peoples songs and release them as singles without paying rights. Shame on her.

Link

Watch new The Prize Fighter Inferno (Coheed side project) video here.

Link

Link it like you mean it

Davis of Korn has a love of Guitar Hero - he just went up a couple of notches in my book. ;)

Link

Rescheduled TOOL dates

Link

Fall Out Boy band contest

Link

Speaking of Fall Out Boy - I know I should be able to recite this entire incident, but I have no idea what they are talking about. Someone should fill me in in about 4 sentences so I don't have to look it up.

Link

Speaking of MeaganBilly (har har har you FOB fan you <3)>

Link

NIN spawns some trivia for you guys. Impress me!

As many of you know, NIN has released a new album entitled, Year Zero, which has been getting tons of press for the unique way it has been marketed. There have been secret messages, thumb drives randomly strewn about, strange websites - you know, all that wierd shit. This type of conspiracy/concept/storyboard marketing has been done before, maybe not to this magnitude, but it's nothing new. However, I am intrigued by what the sticker on the cd says.

"Bureau of Morality

Consuming or spreading this material may be considered subversive by the United States Bureau of Morality. If you or someone you know has engaged in subversive acts or thoughts, call 1-866-445-6580. BE A PATRIOT- BE AN INFORMER!"

To all of you who have made it through high school english - major I.Q points if you can tell me what this seems to be directly taken from. There really is only one right answer. I'll be uber impressed if you can not only tell me what book it's from, but also what the Bureau of Morality represents in reference to the book.

Link - no, the answer is no where in here

Stupid or asshole? They're both pretty bad.

Stupid #1)

Remember when Alanis Morissette made that hi-larious "My Humps" video? Well, Fergalicious has responded by sending Alanis a cake shaped like an ass - yes, as in, a butt and a note that read, "Alanis, You're a genius, Love, Fergie." I can't tell is she was trying to be clever or trying to me mature - either way, she still pees her pants. Yes, I like to take the low-road sometimes. ;)
Speaking of being a shit singer - someone has given Fergie (not Stacy, bitches!!!) the right to cover Barracuda. I shed a single tear like the native american in those litter commercials from a hundred years ago.

Stupid #2)

Bill Wyman, formerly of The Rolling Stones has created his own metal detector. Uhh...ok, that's random.
Link

Asshole #3)

Sully Erna of Godsmack has commented in reference to his collision which put 25 year old Lindsey Taylor in the hospital. In a statement from his manager Erna claimed he was "shaken up" and that "He's deeply concerned for the girl who was hurt in this unfortunate accident." He then went on to say that on Saturday afternoon, Sully be appearing at Borders to sign copies of his memoir, "The Paths We Choose."

I would like to point out a few things here:

1.) He's "shaken up?" How about the girl in the coma? I think you should be a little more than "deeply concerned." How about deeply regretful?

2.) "...for the girl who was hurt...?" Let's try "for the girl who could die and who is currently in a coma."

3.) Take notice of the fact that they didn't miss an opportunity to get his new book some press. For someone who almost killed someone by running over them with their gas-guzzling Hummer one would imagine you would cancel your book signing escapades, but, that's just me I guess.

4.) Why does he have a memoir? Who f**king cares? Really? You're short. You have a wierd beard. Your band has like, 2 good songs. You're a wiccan who ironically doesn't care anything about the enviornment (isn't that part of being a wiccan - or am I way off base here) hence the Hummer. You almost killed someone with your tank you call a car.
Yup, I think that just about sums it up.

Manson and Rossdale

Anyway – Marilyn Manson's official MySpace is streaming a song from his new album. The title should please those of you who gave me a rash of shit for making fun of the new HIM song titles. It's called, "If I Was Your Vampire." Upon hearing this I immediately broke out into, "all the things I'd do to you. But I'm not, so I won't, then I can't, if I was your girl…er…I mean, vampire." ;)


Gavin Rossdale, sex on toast extraordinaire is releasing a solo album. The new show on Fox, "Drive" (which MySpace has been endlessly promoting) will feature one of his new songs by the same name as the title song. I will have to say though that this new song sounds a hell of a lot like "When Animals Attack," a song off the one and only Institute album (the band Gavin was in after Bush.) Damn, I'm the music trivia queen. Someone go find me a crown.

Link it like you mean it

Lily Allen cancels most U.S. tour dates - wasn't she just starting to get really huge? Buck up!

Link

Is Sharon Osbourne really crazy or does she just play one on tv?

Link

Say it isn't so.

Link

This is really sad. An open letter to Sully Erna:

"Driving a Hummer doesn't make you look like any bigger of a man than the lifts you put in your shoes. You never really bothered me until I read this news report. While I am sure it was an accident, driving a Hummer is not very ecologically responsible to begin with and to rear-end someone in a Camry with one is just being careless. I hope she comes out of her coma and I hope you've learned a lesson."

Link

Undisputed Guilty Pleasure Bands

I'll admit to liking some of these. But then again, I own the fact that I like Alanis and Phil Collins too. Word.

Oh yeah, I don't think Rush is a guilty pleasure. As for the other artists on the list, to say that at one point in my life I was OBSESSED with The Monkees might be an understatement and I may or may not know how to play Dust in the Wind on guitar. God, my cool factor just went up like, 10 points.

1. Rush

2. E.L.O.

3. Journey

4. ABBA

5. Chicago

6. Boston

7. Foreigner

8. Bread

9. Bon Jovi

10. New Edition

11. The Monkees

12. Motley Crue

13. STYX

14. Eddie Money

15. Simply Red

16. Kelly Clarkson

17. America

18. Wham

19. R.E.O. Speedwagon

20. Poison

21. Lionel Richie

22. Kansas

23. Air Supply

24. Hall & Oates

25. Britney Spears

Link

Link it like you mean it

Eighteen Visions is no more

Link

D'arcy and James not in new SP

Link

Rob Zombie's 'Halloween' trailer

Link

The Used: New album and single

Link

Ready........Set............OZZFEST! (this already sounds like a lot of work)

Link

HIM news HIM news HIM news

This news will most likely be a repeat of things you already know but excuuuuuse me if I actually have a life sometimes. ;)

HIM's news album, tentatively titled "Venus Doom" is set to release on July 10th. Song titles include, "The Kiss of Dawn", "Love in Cold Blood" , "Passions Killing Floor", "Dead Lovers Lane." You all know we here at Shame-free love us some HIM. However, these song titles are a little corny.

"The Kiss of Dawn" - sounds like a bad horror movie title.
"Love in Cold Blood" sounds like the title of a thriller novel.
"Passions Killing Floor" sounds like a level on James Bond for N64
"Dead Lovers Lane" sounds like the title of an R.L. Stine book from the Fear Street series.

They're a little cheezy - I'm just sayin.

However, I will love this album as I have loved the others and will over look the cliche-ness of it all. How could I not, right? ;)

Link

HIM to open for Metallica - Link
*thanks for Supa B for the heads up.

Link it like you mean it

Even if he's kidding, he's still an ass.

Link

Manson's "Eat Me. Drink Me." track listing.

Link

Punk documentary starring Green Day, Blink 182 to be released in 2008.

Link

Word on the street is that this isn't really happening. I think it's pretty much a joke either way you look at it.

Link

We need to talk

This is a very serious matter of which I will expect very serious consideration. I found out some information today of which my opinion pertaining to it will probably upset some of you - Bam Margera has been chosen to host the VH1 Rock Honors and I feel the end of the world may be near. I know many of you feel like Bam is the obnoxious big brother who gives you swirlies and wedgies you never had or maybe you want to make out with him, which is also beyond me. Either way, in my humble opinion he's a joke. His career is built on being a joke and if anything, I think HIM's association with him is a liability (I don't care what Ville says.) I mean, really reason this out in your heads. Even if you like him or think he's funny, you can't really feel like he has a right to be honoring rock legends.

This of course is neither here nor there. The real issue is that he will be hosting this show which will be honoring four of the most amazing rock bands to ever grace our ears. Legends, if you will. Oh, and you will.

ZZ Top
Genesis
Heart
Ozzy Osbourne

In case you didn't think him hosting and honoring the above artists could get any worse, you'll be even more annoyed by who will be covering them.

Keane
Gretchen Wilson
Nickelback

I can't deal with it. As Sterogum.com put it, "it's absurd." Yes, Mr. Stereogum, it is indeed absurd. Is it really that hard to find someone legitimate to host and some legitimate bands to cover them? VH1 really is all we have left. MTV sold us out to rap music and TRL. MTV2 loops Modest Mouse and All-American Rejects like it's going out of style. Fuse is about it and it's limited. I would have been a better choice to host this and nobody even knows who the f**k I am. Sheesh.

Link

Stop, Look & Listen

New Lostprophets video



Videos after "I Don't Love You" really seem kind of, simple don't they?

Stream the entire new NIN album here - I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet so let me know what you think.

Alanis does "My Humps"

This is the funniest shit I've seen in weeks.

From the horses mouth

You know me and I love some juicy gossip - especially if it's true. MWAHAHA
Ok, so here's some true shit. Names have been omitted for their protection, and mine. ;)

#1 - "What "screamo" singer recently performed and made a very specific snide remark about the recent release of a former drinking buddy's album while performing in NY? He chose to NOT make the same remark in NJ."

#2 - "The guitarist for this up-and-coming punk/pop/rock band with a new release "shrouded in mystery" had to quickly change his clothes before a performance during their current tour because he laughed to hard he shat his pants. Yes, shat."

#3 - "Parting is such sweet sorrow. This lead singer and apparently soft-hearted frontman of a pop/punk band out of Cali. cut ties with his girlfriend this past week right before a performance and sobbed until reaching the stage."

Now for some gossip that probably isn't true:

Rolling Stone asked it's readers to name the most prolific gossip stories about musicians they would think of. This is what they came up with.

1. Paul McCartney is or has ever been dead.

2. Stevie Nicks' assistant had to blow coke up Stevie's ass due to Nicks' destroyed nasal passages.

3. Mama Cass died after choking on a ham sandwich.

4. Angie Bowie caught her husband in bed with Mick Jagger.

5. Mark David Chapman was an assassin programmed by the CIA.

6. Members of Led Zeppelin pleased a teenage groupie using a red snapper/shark as their sex toy of choice.

7. Jim Morrison was killed by members of the Nixon administration/faked his own death/died from a heart attack brought on by masturbating in a Parisian bathtub.

8. Deborah Harry was once abducted by serial killer Ted Bundy.

9. Keith Moon drove a car into a Holiday Inn pool on his 21st birthday, knocked out a couple of teeth and got the Who banned for life from all Holiday Inns.

10. Gene Simmons had a cow tongue grafted onto his own tongue after a car accident.

11. Rod Stewart/Lil' Kim/Jordan Knight had to get their respective stomachs pumped after ingesting a gallon of semen.

12. During a drug bust on Mick's place Marianne Faithfull was once found with a Mars bar between her legs.

13. Marilyn Manson had his lowest set of ribs removed so he could blow himself.

14. Alice Cooper and Frank Zappa attempted to gross each other out by shitting onstage, then eating it.

15. Bob Marley was assassinated/given cancer in his toe by the CIA.

16. Phil Collins' tune "In the Air Tonight" was written after Collins witnessed a gruesome incident in which one man let another man drown.

17. Keith Richards routinely has in the past/continues today to get full-body blood transfusions.18. Jack and Meg White are brother and sister.

19. "Hotel California" is about a Christian church that was abandoned then taken over by Satan worshipers, the Eagles are Satan worshipers and Satan him (or her) self appears in the window on the album jacket.

20. Bob Ezrin, who produced Lou Reed's Berlin, got the anguished children's cries you hear on "The Kids" by telling his own children their mother was dead and recording the sounds they made.

21. Pearl Jam was named after a peyote-infused jam Eddie Vedder's grandmother used to make.

22. Charles Manson auditioned for the Monkees.

23. Marilyn Manson played Kevin Arnold's friend Paul Pfeiffer on the Wonder Years.

24. Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for his guitar-playing gifts.

25. Roy Orbison was an albino and wore dark glasses because he was blind.
Pretty funny, eh?

This is not so funny - poor Frank is off the MCR tour again. Link

Gerard and Davey and Ville, oh my!

Ville in his underwear. Take special notice of the shorty shirt he wore during his RR phase. Eeek.

Ville

Oh Davey, you're so perfect for this game. I'm glad they didn't leave you out.

Davey

Lauri, I can't lie, your hair freaks me out a little. Why does it look like feathers? I thought they were dreads.

Lauri

Are you still all tore up over Gerards hair? Click here to make it instantly longer and blacker. Don't forget the eyeliner.

Gerard

and if you would like to be completely disturbed check out this one - Link

Think you can guess hair metal bands just by their, er, uh, hair? I got 6. I should have done better.
Link

Link it like you mean it

Just because it's true doesn't mean you should say it.

Link

Even if I had 1.5 million dollars the LAST band I would buy would be Rednex. Seriously...I wouldn't even admit to owning the rights to "Cotton Eyed Joe."

Link

FOB talk about the TAG product placement in their latest video.

Link

Killswitch Engage added to Warped Tour

Link

I love me some locals - check out some acoustic stuff and an interview with Black Stone Cherry.
Link