Journey to China: Suck It

Some dog mounts Nikki’s bitch

You would think after Kid Rock got into the mix with Tommy Lee back in 2007, no one would want to bother with any of the members from Motley Crue.

Oh, no.

Nikki Sixx was minding his own business before some dog decided to get friendly.

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Meanwhile, Tommy had his own battles to contend with.

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In case you didn’t hear us before…

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Last Tuesday marked the end of a two-week, marathon “eulogy” for Lou Reed by Rolling Stone magazine.

Reed died on October 27th, after a long bout with liver disease.  And, the magazine was not about to let anyone forget him.  Each day, for two-weeks, they tweeted something regarding the deceased.

After serving as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of the Velvet Underground, Reed’s solo career spanned several decades. The Velvet Underground were a commercial failure in the late 1960s, but the group has gained a considerable cult following in the years since its demise and has gone on to become one of the most widely cited and influential bands of the era – hence Brian Eno’s famous quote that while the Velvet Underground’s debut album only sold 30,000 copies, “everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band.”

After his departure from the group, Reed began a solo career in 1972. He had a hit the following year with “Walk on the Wild Side”, but subsequently lacked the mainstream commercial success its chart status seemed to indicate.

More than 150 people attended a memorial service in New York City’s Lincoln Center last Thursday.  Reed, himself, was a New York resident. His voice resonated through the air by means of mounted speakers speckled throughout the park. Many who speak of Reed’s talent, speak of the intimacy of his delivery; singing as if he was having a direct conversation with his audience.  Perhaps that’s why RS felt the need to stretch out this period of mourning.  But, the national attention that the magazine garners, coupled with the low-turnout for the memorial, makes one wonder whether or not such attention was in the service of his fans, or merely a few editor’s morning in public.

Happy Birthday

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Pearl Jam took a moment to pay tribute to one of their influences, when they wished Neil Young a happy birthday.

Young’s time in the spotlight started as a member of Buffalo Springfield, and later playing on as a fourth member to Crosby, Stills & Nash.  But, his fame is predominately established through his own, solo work, which spans nearly 45 years. In certain circles, Young is considered the founder of the grunge sound that made Pearl Jam successful back in the early 90s, thanks in part to the heavily modulated guitar play in “Hey Hey, My My” off of Rust Never Sleeps.  He was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 as a solo artist, and again in 1997, as a member of Buffalo Springfield.

Young turned 68 last Tuesday.

Journey: “Send Her My Love”

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Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippine Islands on Thursday, November 7th.  It registered as a Category 5, “super” hurricane.  At it’s peak, it was recorded with sustained winds of 195 miles per hour (mph), with gusts of 235 mph.

In its wake, nearly 11 million people were impacted directly by the storm, many of whom are believed to be homeless and deprived of food.  Climatologists and some politicians have quickly linked the strength of the storm to global warming. While politicians continue to squabble over the facts of climate change, there are some within the music industry already taking arms in providing aid to the Philippines.  One that stood out the most last week was Journey, who donated $350 thousand.

The band announced the donation on November 15th, and it will go to the United Nations World Food Programme, which is providing Filipinos with food assistance.  The donation should provide 1.4 million meals.  Arnel Pineda, the band’s lead singer, is Filipino.

To lend perspective on the band’s contribution, the rockers in Journey donated three times more than the country of China alone, who donated only $100,000.

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