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September 16, 2009
Keith Wants To Record While Ronnie Squabbles With Girlfriend
We don’t normally get too many juicy details about squabbles that take place between celebrities behind closed doors unless the paparazzi happen to be lurking nearby, but apparently a recent domestic dispute between Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood and his girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova got to the point where the neighbors could overhear some of the fight, which apparently was quite heated and even led to Ivanova threatening to kill herself.
Neighbors report that the couple fights frequently, although this latest dustup was one for the record books, and resulted in police being called to the scene. It was apparent that no suicides or other forms of physical violence were evident since police left after questioning the couple.
Meanwhile, band mates Mick Jagger and Keith Richards seem to be fully immersed in the music business, with Richards having just completed recording some material with Jack White.
Richards is hoping to begin work on a new Stones record next year and there are some signs that White could be involved. “I couldn’t fuel that rumor any more than to say Jack and I are in touch,” according to Richards.
Both Richards and Mick Jagger are said to be pouring over outtakes from the group’s 1972 album Exile on Main Street in preparation for a new deluxe edition that will feature some of those excluded tracks.
“There’s new songs on there, stuff we’ve forgotten about,” Richards says. “Mick and I were looking at each other like, ‘Ah, did we do that?’”
Is it any wonder I cannot help but think of Johnny Depp’s swashbuckling character from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies whenever I see Keith Richards? Swashbuckling yes. Sober? Well, perhaps not.
Richards has been cited as an inspiration by Depp for his style during his portrayal of Capt. Jack Sparrow. A fact which apparently conjured no negative feelings towards Depp by Richards, since he appeared in the third Pirates movie, playing the part of Capt. Sparrow’s father. Credit to Keith Richards for being a good sport.
See The Mirror for more on Ron and Ekaterina’s rowdy row and Rolling Stone for more on Richards and Jagger.
June 23, 2009
Jimmy Page And Jack White No Guitar Heroes
Not in the virtual world of video games anyway. It’s probably safe to say that neither of the two real-life guitar heroes have spent much quality time with either of the two wildly popular music-themed video games “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band.” In fact, both Page and White recently shared their thoughts about the new genre of games.
“It’s depressing to have a label come and tell you that [Guitar Hero] is how kids are learning about music and experiencing music," said White. "If you [the artist] have to be in a video game to get in front of them, that’s a little sad.”
Page also added his two cents, saying, “You think of the drum part that John Bonham did on Led Zeppelin’s first track on the first album, ‘Good Times Bad Times’," he said. "How many drummers in the world can play that part, let alone on Christmas morning?”
Kind of hard to argue with that one. That particular Zeppelin song has been a favorite of mine for years, and surely takes a drummer with a quick foot and great sense of timing to pull it off properly.
I’ve mostly considered the popularity of these games as a good thing, since they seem to have been instrumental (I’m not even going to say it) in introducing a younger generation of fans to some great classic rock music, and I dare say that some of them have become fans as a result.
For the kids who don’t have any plans to actually learn how to play an instrument, and that’s probably the majority of them, it seems there would be little harm in allowing them to have a little fun pretending to be a rock star. It is a bit discouraging to think that it could sway someone who has some interest in learning a real instrument away from the hard work and time that’s necessary and taking the easy way out with a fake guitar and a video game.
I suspect, however, that the young people who are really passionate about playing will not have their goals derailed by the existence of a video game. Think about how many other kinds of video games are there out there for a moment. Will there be fewer future NASCAR drivers because of “NASCAR Kart Racing” or fewer aspiring car thieves because of “Grand Theft Auto?” Now, that would be something, but I don’t think these games have the dampening effect on the aspirations of young people that others seem to.
Although I can see the point that Jack White and Jimmy Page are trying to make, I don’t think these new games are having as negative an impact as they suggest. I can honestly say that I don’t think games like that would have deterred me from playing (real) drums if they had been around when I was a kid. I think it would have only increased my desire to get my hands, or sticks as the case may be, on the real thing.
I suppose some statistician could track the emergence of new bands in the coming years and perhaps come to some conclusions about whether or not games like “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” actually diminished the number of young people who decided to learn to play a real instrument, but that probably won’t happen.
I’m not terribly concerned. I think the kids who are serious and dedicated enough to learn on a real instrument will be able to pull themselves away from the game console and invest the time and effort required to become a musician because they realize the value of the sense of accomplishment they will experience. To say nothing of how much fun it is to get together with a few other people and just jam. A game cannot replicate that experience.
And there’s always that possibility, however remote, that learning how to play the real thing could be the start of a journey that lands them on a real stage in front of a few thousand screaming fans some day.
Thanks go out to NME.
October 15, 2008
Classic Rock Briefs For Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Ozzy Says Bats Taste Like McDonald’s Food
Those of us who ever watched the The Osbournes when it was on MTV a while back will know that strange things come out of Ozzy’s mouth from time to time. This time he may have outdone himself.
Speaking of the infamous incident that took place at one of his concerts back in 1982, where he bit the head off of a live bat, Ozzy says, “It tasted all crunchy and warm… like a Ronald McDonald’s." I’m sure McDonald’s will be pleased to hear about that comparison. Full Story.
Jack White Says There Is No Zeppelin Without Plant
White Stripes lead singer, Jack White, who is apparently another one whose name has taken a turn or two on the Led Zeppelin rumor mill, denies that he was being considered as a replacement for Robert Plant on a Zeppelin tour.
White’s name, along with Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy have come up since we started hearing rumors that the rest of the Led Zeppelin team are ready to go on tour with or without a reluctant Robert Plant.
White says, “I do not believe you can have a band called Led Zeppelin, singing Zeppelin songs, without Plant.” Full Story.
Rolling Stones Ron Wood Sticking With New Girlfriend
Having been seen recently with his new 20-year-old girlfriend, walking a dog in the vicinity of a London Park, it appears that the 61-year-old guitarist had decided to keep the newer model partner and leave his wife of 23 years. He has reportedly been meeting with divorce lawyers of late.
According to witnesses, Wood “looked more careworn than carefree.” Perhaps that’s because he’s preoccupied with the potential amount of a sizable divorce settlement that may be in his future. Generally speaking, wives don’t care much for husbands leaving them for younger women. Full Story.
Famous Pink Floyd “The Wall” Guitar Up For Auction
Although it’s just a plain-old Fender Stratocaster at heart, the one in question has some impressive history in its background. Designed by UK artist Gerald Scarfe, who worked closely with the band on the album and film of The Wall, the guitar is up for auction, with the proceeds benefitting the a homelessness charity called Crisis.
The guitar’s scratch guard was signed by all four members of the band only weeks before Richard Wright’s recent passing, and will be accompanied by a Scarfe On The Wall Limited Edition Box Set. Full Story.
