Zappagram #8
Depeche Mode's Andy Fletcher passed away, Springsteen announces European tour dates, and there's a new Wordle-like game just for music lovers
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“I refuse to believe that Hendrix had the last possessed hand, that Joplin had the last drunken throat, that Morrison had the last enlightened mind.”
―Patti Smith
RECENT ESSAYS
The latest music essays by Chris Zappa
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The Voice of Jeff Buckley Defines the Word Grace
The phenomenally gifted singer died 25 years ago today
Celebrating World Goth Day
Bela Lugosi may be dead, but goth subculture is alive and well
The Best Podcasts for Serious Music Lovers
If we're not listening to music, we're listening to people talk about music
MUSIC NEWS
The latest happenings in the world of music
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Depeche Mode’s Andy Fletcher dead at 60 [via Stereogum]
Bruce Springsteen announces 2023 European tour [via Pitchfork]
Alan White, drummer for Yes and John Lennon dead at 72 [via Consequence]
Hulu nabs streaming rights to Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival [via Hollywood Reporter]
The Ryman Auditorium has been designated one of 12 official Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame landmarks [via MusicRow]
Neil Young releasing lost 2001 Crazy Horse LP Toast [via Rolling Stone]
Harry Styles and Live Nation join together and pledge $1 million to Everytown for gun safety [via Rolling Stone]
Jack White releases statement calling for stricter gun control following school shooting in Texas [via American Songwriter]
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay buys Kurt Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” guitar for $4.5 million [via Consequence]
RECOMMENDATIONS
Great content to check out this week
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The Spotify Newsletter is a weekly digest of timely, must-read news about Spotify (and is not run by Spotify.)
The Platform & Stream Newsletter is a daily digest that covers breaking news as it relates to all music streaming services.
The Art of Longevity podcast dives deep into classic artists’ careers. They talk about the stories behind the music, from the fan and industry point of view.
HEAVY ROTATION
New weekly playlists highlighting great music
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This week’s playlist features patchnotes, Bonobo, Lou Reed, Dayglow, Wilco, Pond, Inhaler, The Ramones, Iggy Pop, and Starcrawler.
Leave a comment and tell me if you find a new favorite here!
NEW RELEASES
These albums have recently dropped
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Liam Gallagher
C’mon You Know [listen]
Patchnotes
”Prose” (new single) [listen]
Wilco
Cruel Country [listen]
UPCOMING RELEASES
These albums are coming soon
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JUNE 3
Andrew Bird: Inside Problems • Angel Olsen: Big Time • Frank Zappa: Zappa/Erie • Neil Young: Official Bootleg Series 3: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Official Bootleg Series 4: Royce Hall, Official Bootleg Series 5: Citizen Kane Jr. Blues (Live The Bottom Line) • The Kills: No Wow
JUNE 10
Billy Howerdel (of A Perfect Circle):What Normal Was • Elton John: Madman Across The Water (50th Anniversary Reissue) • Rufus Wainwright: Rufus Does Judy At Capitol Studios
JUNE 17
Alanis Morissette: the storm before the calm • Alice Merton: S.I.D.E.S. • Foals: Life Is Yours • Nick Cave: Seven Psalms
JUNE 24
Caamp: Lavender Days • James Vincent McMorrow: The Less I Knew • Wire: Not About To Die
ON THIS DATE
Musical happenings of historical significance
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MAY 24
Bob Dylan born (1941) • Cynthia ‘Plaster’ Caster born (1947) • David Bowie released his eighth studio album, Diamond Dogs. (1974)
MAY 25
Paul Weller born (1958) • Jay Bennett, a former member of Wilco, who was suing the band over a royalties claim, died at his home in Illinois at the age of 45. (2009)
MAY 26
Miles Davis born (1926) • Levon Helm born (1940) • Mick Ronson born (1946) • Stevie Nicks born (1946) • Lenny Kravitz born (1964) • The Beatles recorded “Yellow Submarine” at Abbey Road studios in London. (1966) • John and Yoko began an eight-day “bed in” in room 1742 of The Hotel La Reine Elizabeth, Montreal, Canada, to promote world peace. (1969)
MAY 27
Siouxsie Sioux born (1957) • Neil Finn born (1958) • The Sex Pistols single “God Save The Queen” was released in the UK. (1977) • Gregg Allman, founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, died at the age of 69 at his home in Savannah, Georgia. (2017)
MAY 28
T-Bone Walker born (1910) • John Fogerty born (1945) • Wendy O. Williams born (1949) • Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull were arrested at their London home and charged with possession of cannabis. They were later released on £50 ($85) bail. (1969)
MAY 29
Noel Gallagher born (1967) • Singer songwriter Jeff Buckley disappeared after taking a swim in the Mississippi River. (1997)
MAY 30
Klaus Flouride born (1949) • Topper Headon born (1955) • Tom Morello (1964) • A leaked copy of the new White Stripes album Icky Thump was played on Chicago's radio station WKQX. Jack White personally called the U.S. radio station from Spain, where he was touring, to voice his displeasure. (2007)
TOUR DATES
Currently on tour
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Aimee Mann • Andrew Bird • Arcade Fire • B-52’s • Bob Dylan • Broken Social Scene • Bruce Springsteen • Caamp • Chvrches • Dead & Co • Dead Kennedys • Death Cab For Cutie • The Doobie Brothers • Father John Misty • Florence and the Machine • Gorillaz • Interpol • Jackson Browne • James Taylor • Jane’s Addiction • Jenny Lewis • Khruangbin • Local Natives • Lollapalooza • The Melvins • Monophonics • The National • Primus • Ray LaMontagne • Red Hot Chili Peppers • Robert Plant & Alison Krauss • Roger Waters • St. Paul and the Broken Bones • The Shins • Smashing Pumpkins • Soccer Mommy • Spoon • Stevie Nicks • Tears For Fears • Tori Amos • The War on Drugs • The Who • Wilco
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
See it to believe it
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This week, we’re going back in time to watch Queens of the Stone Age perform live from Düsseldorf, Germany in 2013. [via YouTube]
OFF TOPIC
May or may not be music-related
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FILED UNDER: GAMES PEOPLE PLAY
Move over Wordle, there’s a new game in town and this one is especially for music lovers. [via Featurle]
FILED UNDER: R.I.P.
Ray Liotta, who portrayed mobster-turned-FBI-informant Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s 1994 cinematic masterpiece Goodfellas, died last week at the age of 67. [via Hollywood Reporter]
FILED UNDER: BOWIE
The trailer for the new David Bowie documentary “Moonage Daydream” is out and based on it, if you’re a Bowie fan (and who isn’t?) you are not going to want to miss this. Release is set for fall, but no date just yet. [via YouTube]
FILED UNDER: COMIC RELIEF
“Weird Al” Yankovic has teamed up with Z2 Comics for the release of a new graphic novel. The Illustrated Al: The Songs of “Weird Al” Yankovic was penned by Yankovic, and features illustrated interpretations of over 20 of his songs. [via Pitchfork]
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Inquiring minds want to know
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What are you listening to right now? What’s been in heavy rotation for you lately? Something new or old? Leave a comment and share with the class.
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Peace and love,
CZ 🤘🏻
Listening to Robert Pollard and The Loyal Seas, but also lots of Genesis, Berlin, and The Cars over the last few days. Honestly feels like I'm a time machine.