Zappagram #32
Kirk Hammett turns 60, Elton interviews Joni, and Springsteen takes over The Tonight Show...
Hey everyone,
I’ve been working on my art a lot lately with a focus on some of my favorite musicians. Check out my Instagram to see more of my latest work.
In music news, the year may be coming to a close but things aren’t slowing down for our favorite musicians. There’s a ton of news and new releases this week, so let’s dive in…
“Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best.”
―Frank Zappa
HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST #32
Manchester Orchestra • Smut • The Arcs • The Ocean Greys • Fascinations Grand Chorus • Valley Palace • Frances Cone • Maribou State • Naxatras • Zola Jesus
MASTER PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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Keith Levene, Founding Member of the Clash and Public Image Ltd, Dead at 65
Inventive guitarist left the Clash before their first album dropped and formed PiL with John Lydon and Jah Wobble. [RollingStone]
Paul McCartney Announces Vinyl Box Set of 80 Singles
McCartney chose the 7" set, which comes in a wooden art crate. [Pitchfork]
The Tonight Show Announces Bruce Springsteen Takeover
Springsteen will serve as guest and musical performer for four November episodes. [Consequence]
Iggy Pop Announces New Album ‘Every Loser,’ Promises the Music ‘Will Beat the Shit Out of You’
The musician will release his 19th solo studio album on Jan. 6. [RollingStone]
Hear New Fleet Foxes Song From Upcoming Documentary Wildcat
”A Sky Like I’ve Never Seen” sports vocal and guitar work from Brazilian musician Tim Bernardes. [Spin]
Watch the First Trailer for Upcoming Neil Young Documentary ‘Harvest Time’
The new film, out next month, documents the creation of Young's classic 'Harvest' LP and celebrates its 50th anniversary. [NME]
Paul Weller Lobs Profane Insults At The Cure’s Robert Smith
Paul Weller went off on the Cure’s Robert Smith in a new interview that appeared in the December issue of Record Collector. [Stereogum]
Peter Gabriel Announces First Concerts in 7 Years With European Tour
A new album, I/O, is on the way from the former Genesis member, and North American dates will follow. [Pitchfork]
Dan McCafferty, Nazareth Lead Vocalist, Dies At 76
Scottish band was best known for ’70s rock radio staples ‘Love Hurts’ and ‘Hair of the Dog,’ the latter famously covered by Guns N’ Roses. [Spin]
Phoebe Bridgers Wins Dismissal of ‘Frivolous’ $3.8 Million Defamation Lawsuit
A Los Angeles judge tossed the lawsuit, but lawyers for her accuser say "an appeal is currently being filed." [RollingStone]
Joni Mitchell Announces New Live Album of Comeback Newport Folk Festival Performance
The singer told Elton John of the plans in a rare new interview on his 'Rocket Hour' radio show. [NME]
Don Lewis, Electronic Music Pioneer, Dies at 81
The musician and composer created the “Live Electronic Orchestra”—a precursor to MIDI—and helped develop the Roland TR-808 drum machine. [Pitchfork]
Bruce Springsteen Says He Scrapped An Entire Album Before Recording New Covers LP
This week, Bruce Springsteen released his soul covers album Only The Strong Survive, and he revealed that he’d actually scrapped an “entire record” prior to arriving at the final cut. Speaking to Edith Bowman, Springsteen said that the initial choices “didn’t feel quite right.” [Stereogum]
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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Elon Musk’s Twitter Acquisition May Upend The Music Industry’s Biggest Forum
We talked to publicists about how their artists are responding to the changes happening at Twitter. [RollingStone]
Watch ZZ Top Perform With A 17-String Bass
Dusty Hill, the longtime bassist for Texas boogie-rockers supreme ZZ Top, died last year at age 72. But the band has carried on without him, with longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis taking over on bass. Francis has ensured that the instrument is a bigger part of ZZ Top’s stage show than ever — literally. [Stereogum]
Julian Lennon Says ‘Hey Jude’ is a “dark reminder” of His Dad John Leaving Their Family
Paul McCartney wrote the song about John Lennon's break-up with Cynthia Lennon, leaving Julian alone with his mother. [NME]
Rainn Wilson Changes Name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson
Rainn Wilson has said he changed his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson to bring attention to the world’s impending climate crisis. [Consequence]
Gallagher, the Watermelon-Smashing Comedian Whose Act Turned Bigoted, Dead at 76
Once one of the biggest stand-ups in the world thanks to his Sledge-O-Matic routine, Gallagher's later career featured racist and homophobic jokes. [RollingStone]
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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Joni Mitchell Talks ‘Blue’, “Both Sides Now”, & Newport Folk Festival with Elton John
In this special episode of Rocket Hour, Elton John sits down with legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell for a rare and personal interview. The two reminisce on the stories behind some of Joni's classic tracks, as well as some of the personal favorites she's selected from other artists. [via YouTube]
NEW RELEASES
Listen to these recently dropped albums
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Bruce Springsteen: Only the Strong Survive [listen]
Fitz and The Tantrums: Let Yourself Free [listen]
Groove Armada: GA25 [listen]
Larkin Poe: Blood Harmony [listen]
MGMT: 11•11•11 [listen]
Phantogram: Eyelid Movies (Expanded Edition) [listen]
Sharon Van Etten: We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong (Deluxe) [listen]
Smut: How the Light Felt [listen]
Warhaus: Ha Ha Heartbreak [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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NOVEMBER 15
The Smashing Pumpkins: ATUM – Act 1
NOVEMBER 18
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Los Angeles Forum: April 26, 1969 • Mandrake Handshake: The Triple Point of Water EP • Neil Young & Crazy Horse: World Record • Queen: The Miracle Collector’s Edition • Röyksopp: Profound Mysteries III • Vince Guaraldi: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (Deluxe Edition) • Weyes Blood: And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow • Willie Nelson: Live at Budokan
NOVEMBER 25
Alex Chilton: Live In London (Encore Edition) • David Bowie: Divine Symmetry • David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band: Live at the Capitol Theatre • The Doors: Paris Blues • The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (20th Anniversary Edition) • Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band: Live at the Greek Theater 2019 • Sigur Rós: ( ) 20th Anniversary Reissue (Physical Release) • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Fillmore (1997) • Type O Negative: Dead Again (Reissue)
DECEMBER 2
The Beach Boys – Sail On Sailor – 1972 • Neal Casal: Rain, Wind and Speed (Vinyl Reissue) • Neil Young: Harvest (50th Anniversary Edition) • NOFX: Double Album • Yusuf / Cat Stevens: Catch Bull At Four (50th Anniversary Edition)
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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NOVEMBER 14
Birthdays: Steven Bishop (1951) • Brendan Benson (1970) • Douglas Payne, bassist with Scottish rock band Travis (1972) • Travis Barker (1975) • Joy Williams of The Civil Wars (1982) • Led Zeppelin were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame by Roger Taylor of Queen. (2006)
NOVEMBER 15
Birthdays: Petula Clark (1932) • Jay Bennett (1963) • A cardboard sign reading “Bed Peace" created by John Lennon for his 1969 bed-in peace protest in Montreal, was sold by Christie's auction house to an anonymous telephone bidder for $155,600. (2011)
NOVEMBER 16
Birthdays: Diana Krall (1964) • Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver (1966) • Patsy Cline recorded “I Fall To Pieces.” (1960)
NOVEMBER 17
Birthdays: Gordon Lightfoot (1938) • Gene Clark of The Byrds (1944) • Jim Babjak of The Smithereens (1957) • Jeff Buckley (1966) • American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin died aged 78. (2014)
NOVEMBER 18
Birthdays: Graham Parker (1950) • John Parr (1954) • Cindy Blackman Santana (1959) • Kim Wilde (1960) • Kirk Hammett (1962) • Richard Hell and the Voidoids made their debut at CBGB's New York. (1976) • Nirvana recorded their MTV Unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York. (1993) • Malcolm Young of AC/DC died, age 64. (2017)
NOVEMBER 19
Birthdays: Ray Collins, vocals, Frank Zappa band (1937) • Matt Sorum (1960) • Justin Chancellor of Tool (1971) • R&B singer-songwriter Tony Rich (1971) • Record producer Terry Melcher, who was behind hits by the Byrds and The Beach Boys, died aged 62 after a long battle with skin cancer. (2004)
NOVEMBER 20
Birthdays: Dr. John (1941) • Norman Greenbaum (1942) • Duane Allman (1946) • Joe Walsh (1947) • Mike Diamond of The Beastie Boys (1965) • Jared Followill of Kings of Leon (1986) • Bob Dylan started recording his debut album over two days at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. (1961)
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CZ
Wait, these drawings are your own work?! I just assumed you were sharing them from somewhere. Not sure how I missed that! At any rate, they're fantastic!
Such Neil Young faire makes me happy