R.I.P. Willy Deville

Maybe not one of the great innovators of the CBGBs scene but still a

worthy one, he's died of pancreatic cancer at age 58.

He Slept With Joey Ramone

Mickey Leigh. Joey's brother. He also roadied for his band and sang with him.

Mickey's family memoir on his life growing up with Joey - presumably containing all sorts of insights into the in-fighting that occurred within the band and that continued unabated after the passing of the principal members - was written with Legs McNeil (Please Kill Me co-author with Gillian McCain.)

It's due in December.

James Williamson returns to live music (2)

James Williamson is warming up for his pre-Stooges return to the stage with a local band on September 5 with an interview in the NBC Bay Area Online. It turns out country-fied backing band The Careless Hearts are putting aside their usual set list for a night of "Raw Power" covers.

Here's what James says about past and future Stooges set lists:

One of the things about The Stooges in the old days that was very stupid was that we very rarely played the same stuff very often. We would be playing new stuff as we went along because we thought we were being creative and also because we got bored very easily. So as entertainment we kind of failed because no one really knew the songs. This time around we are trying to draw on things the audience knows and that covers a lot of territory. A lot of "Raw Power" stuff and we'll hit on the first two Stooges albums, maybe a couple of Iggy's solo things.

More here and watch for the I-94 Bar's chat with James after the Stooges rehearsals are done.

Danny Fields tells tales (2)

Part two of Thirsty magazine's excellent danny Fields interview is here. In case you missed part one of the talk with the guy who discovered the Ramones, the MC5 and the Stooges, it's here.

And just think about the fact that the guy has 2000 taped interviews with various people in his sock drawer.

Wall of Sound gets some Helter Skelter attention

Apparently Charlie Manson wants to work with Phil Spector now they're neighbours. Phil's horrified (presumably because they won't let him pack a sidearm in a correctional facility.) More here.

The Posies tell how to make a living from music

An interesting link from Aussie musician James Dilger of The Reactions and The Sole Stickers.

"The Posies' members were barely out of their teens when they got a major-label record deal and saw their power-pop records storm commercial radio. But that was 15 years ago, and they've been absent from the airwaves for a while now. Still, they've managed to continue making a living with music, even through fluctuations in the industry and in their own careers."

More here.

Let the Snuggie Choir into YOUR life

The Snuggie is one of those late night TV/home shopping network wunder products that's really a piece of crap. It's not even The Emperor's New Clothes, more like a dressing gown worn backwards, made in a sweat shop in South-East Asia and sold through low-cost channels at heavily marked-up prices in vast numbers. Never mind the quality, feel the width.

Its migration from the US to Australian morning TV has spawned this appalling promo. Thanks for Michelle Nicol for the tip:

And there is a response to the Snuggie, also on YouTube:

The Truth About Michael Jackson

Two Australian journalists (using the term loosely) have lifted the lid. Baseball is not your friend.

David Byrne gives U2 both barrels

The ex-Talking Head on Bono and Co's latest tour:

"Those stadium shows may possibly be the most extravagant and expensive (production-wise) ever: $40 million to build the stage and, having done the math, we estimate 200 semi trucks crisscrossing Europe for the duration."

More here. Can you tell I think Bono's a twat?

Hydromatics = Hi-Energy

They're probably past tense but who can tell? The Hydromatics remind you how great hi-energy rock and roll can be.

There's a live DVD in the wings. Maybe its release will be the catalyst for a re-animation.

Iggy duets with his granddaughter

At least that's what it sounds like to me but Jemina Pearl isn't a household name where I come from. I know she's on Thurston Moore's label and you can cop an earful of her collaboration with Mr Osterberg here.

The Pop sure gets around.

I guess this must suck badly, then

Another Dee Dee cash-in.