Zappagram #34
Irene Cara dead at 63, Elton John performs his last ever U.S. concert, and there's not nearly enough shopping days left until Christmas
Hey everyone,
I don’t know a soul who is upset that 2022 is finally winding to a close. Or is it more so grinding to a halt? Either way, we’re about to welcome December’s chill and all that accompanies it, like it or not. Christmas music has already taken over the airwaves signaling the pending holiday which we look ahead to in terms of how many shopping days are left until it’s upon us.
Aside from this, there’s plenty of music news to fill your stocking and stuff under your tree, though as is typical for this time of year, new music releases mostly taper off until early next year. Regardless, we’ve got a lot to cover this week, so without further adieu, let’s get into it…
“You've got to understand your limitations. It's your limitations that make you the wonderful disaster you most probably are.”
―Nick Cave
HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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WEEKLY PLAYLIST #34
Foster The People • Fanfarlo • The Backseat Lovers • Mitski • The Boas • Parcels • Hello Mary • David Bowie • Tom Petty • Bye Beneco
MASTER PLAYLIST (ALL WEEKS)
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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Irene Cara, ‘Fame’ Star and ‘Flashdance’ Singer, Dead at 63
"She was a beautifully gifted soul whose legacy will live forever through her music and films," publicist says of Oscar- and Grammy-winning actress. [RollingStone]
Elton John Takes Final Bow at Dodger Stadium With Fireworks and a Message to His Fans: “Be Kind to Each Other”
John, now 75, gave Los Angeles his all one last time, closing out a three-show run Sunday night back inside Dodger Stadium, taking a final bow as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour. The concert marked the legendary entertainer’s final North American tour stop as he looks toward retirement from the road. [HollywoodReporter]
Bob Dylan Addresses Book Signature Controversy
Bob Dylan has apologized to fans who purchased what they believed to be hand-signed copies of his new book, The Philosophy of Modern Song, but were later revealed to contain reproductions of the songwriter’s signature. [Pitchfork]
Neal Schon Suing Journey Bandmate Jonathan Cain For Access To Corporate Amex
Schon filed a lawsuit last month in California accusing Cain of refusing to give him access to records from an American Express account, through which “millions in Journey funds have flowed.” [Stereogum]
Morrissey Releases First Single In Three Years, “Rebels Without Applause”
Track is from the artist’s upcoming Andrew Watt-produced album, Bonfire of Teenagers. [Spin]
Axl Rose Asks Guns N’ Roses Fans to Stop Flying Drones at Their Gigs
He requests that attendees to go and "play with your toys somewhere else." [NME]
Original Misfits Cancel Las Vegas New Year’s Eve Show Due to “Personal Matter”
Circle Jerks and Tiger Army were set to open the high-profile gig, which would have been a perfect way to ring in the New Year for punk fans. Unfortunately, ticketholders will instead have to seek a refund. [Consequence]
Fifth Person Details Arcade Fire Frontman Win Butler’s Allegedly “Manipulative, Toxic” Behavior
Following a Pitchfork report on Butler’s alleged sexual misconduct, another woman claims the Arcade Fire frontman “exploited my body at times that were convenient for him.” [Pitchfork]
Robbie Williams’ Songwriter Guy Chambers Shares NSFW Song “Thank Fuck It’s Christmas”
The track is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and an anonymous vocalist by the name of Trickster. [NME]
Watch Black Crowes Eject Stagecrasher With A Guitar To The Face
At their show in Melbourne over the weekend, Black Crowes dealt with a stagecrasher by ejecting him with a guitar to the face. [Stereogum]
Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend 2023 Features Nathaniel Rateliff, Mavis Staples, More
The lineup also includes Hozier, Bonnie Raitt, Daniell Ponder, The Milk Carton Kids, Katie Pruitt, and Fancy Hagood. [Consequence]
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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How Bassist Paz Lenchantin Went From Teenage Pixies Fan to Member of the Band
She also looks back on her early years as a member of both Zwan and A Perfect Circle, and the rare coloring book she still hopes to get back from Billy Corgan. [RollingStone]
Spotify's Hidden Music Recommender
There's a cool little music recommender built into Spotify that you've probably never used. [MusicMachinery]
Faking the Funk: How Bootsy Collins Impostors Pulled Off the Ultimate Music Biz Scam
With star-shaped shades and platform boots, the Bootsy fakes bilked friends and family out of money over decades. [RollingStone]
Stanley Donwood on New Exhibition, Working with Radiohead and Making Art for Glastonbury
The artist – who has made all Radiohead and Thom Yorke artwork since 1994 – tells us about his new exhibition ‘Sacred Cartography’, and his hopes for the future of the band. [NME]
Banksy in Ukraine: Seven New Works Appear in War-Torn Sites
The pieces are located throughout the country, from Kyiv to Borodyanka. [TheArtNewspaper]
The Lost History of New York's Eighties Hardcore Punk Scene
Brooke Smith will forever be known to moviegoers for her role as Buffalo Bill's kidnap victim, Catherine Martin, in The Silence of the Lambs. But before she "put the lotion in the basket," Smith was a part of a New York hardcore punk scene that congregated at dingy clubs on the Bowery like CBGBs. [RollingStone]
A Daft Punk Helmet is a Hidden Item in New Pokémon Games
A website has given pointers on how to unlock the so-called 'Cool Helmet' in 'Pokémon Scarlet' and 'Pokémon Violet.' [NME]
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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Weyes Blood: “It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody”
Watch the incomparable Natalie Mering, a.k.a. Weyes Blood dancing her way through a bizarre dystopian hellscape in her latest video for her new album that came out last week. [via YouTube]
NEW RELEASES
Listen to these recently dropped albums
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David Bowie: Divine Symmetry [listen]
Elvis Costello & The Imposters: The Boy Named If (Alive at Memphis Magnetic) [listen]
The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (20th Anniversary Edition) [listen]
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band: Live at the Greek Theater 2019 [listen]
Sigur Rós: ( ) 20th Anniversary Reissue (Physical Release) [listen]
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Fillmore (1997) [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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DECEMBER 2
The Beach Boys: Sail On Sailor – 1972 • Brendan Benson: Low Key • 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)
DECEMBER 9
Alabama Shakes: Boys & Girls (10 Year Anniversary Deluxe Edition) • David Crosby & The Lighthouse Band: Live at the Capitol Theatre • IDLES: Five Years of Brutalism • Journey: Live in Concert at Lollapalooza • Love and Rockets: The Albums 1985-1996 • My Morning Jacket: Circuital (Deluxe Edition) • Patchnotes: Golden Hour (Deluxe) • Puscifer: Existential Reckoning: Rewired • Queens of the Stone Age: …Like Clockwork (Vinyl Reissue) • Queens of the Stone Age: Villains (Vinyl Reissue)
DECEMBER 16
Cheap Trick: Live at the Whisky 1977 • Frank Zappa: Waka/Wazoo
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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NOVEMBER 28
Birthdays: Founder of Motown, Berry Gordy (1929) • Randy Newman (1943) • Drummer Matt Cameron (1962) • Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend (1983) • R.E.M. had their first entry in the Top 10 on the U.S. singles chart with “The One I Love.” (1987)
NOVEMBER 29
Birthdays: John Mayall (1933) • Chuck Mangione (1940) • Denny Doherty of The Mamas & the Papas (1941) • Drummer Keith Carlock (1971) • John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album was released. Lennon would be killed three weeks later. (1980) • Curtis Knight died aged 54. (1999) • George Harrison died. (2001)
NOVEMBER 30
Birthdays: Dick Clark (1929) • David Sancious of the E Street Band (1953) • American singer and ukulele player Tiny Tim (Herbert Khaury) died from a heart attack on stage while playing his hit “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” at a club in Minneapolis. (1996) • A block of East 2nd Street in New York City was officially renamed Joey Ramone Place. (2003)
DECEMBER 1
Birthdays: Lou Rawls (1936) • Sandy Nelson (1938) • Bette Midler & John Densmore of The Doors (1944) • Gilbert O'Sullivan (1946) • Jaco Pastorius (1951) • Julee Cruise (1956) • Keyboardist Isaiah "Ikey" Owens (1974) • Buddy Holly and the Crickets appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing “That'll Be The Day” and “Peggy Sue.” Sam Cooke was also a guest on the same show performing “You Send Me.” (1957)
DECEMBER 2
Birthdays: Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters (1968) • Charlie Puth (1991) • The first day of the photo shoot for the forthcoming Pink Floyd Animals album cover took place at Battersea Power Station in London, England, with a giant inflatable pig lashed between two of the structure's tall towers. A trained marksman was hired ready to fire if the inflatable pig escaped, but was not needed on this day. Unfortunately, the following day the marksman hadn't been rebooked, so when the pig broke free from its moorings, it was able to float away, eventually landing in Kent where it was recovered by a local farmer, reportedly furious that it had “scared his cows.” (1976) • Singer, songwriter, civil and human rights activist Odetta died, aged 77. (2008)
DECEMBER 3
Birthdays: Andy Williams (1928) • Ozzy Osbourne (1948) • Mickey Thomas of Jefferson Starship & Starship (1949) • Scott Weiland died aged 48. (2015)
DECEMBER 4
Birthdays: Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys & Chris Hillman of The Byrds (1944) • Southside Johnny (1948) • Danny Weinkauf of They Might Be Giants (1963) • The Montreux Casino in Switzerland burnt to the ground during a gig by Frank Zappa. (1971) • Frank Zappa died of prostate cancer, aged 52. (1993)
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🤘🏻
CZ
Read the note about Zappa--hard to believe it's been almost 30 years since he passed.