Alias R.E.M.

It Crawled From The South. On Halloween 1983 R.E.M. adopted this monicker for a surprise set opening for the Cramps at New York City's Peppermint Lounge. The set consisted entirely of cover songs, many of them learned specifically for the occasion.

Phrase of The Day

I just never let anything bother me, man. I know myself really well. Nobody's opinion of me can shake my opinion of myself.

Ruben Studdard

Wrestle Quotes

"I'm The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be."

-Bret Hart

Today In Alternative Music History: March 30, 1978

Clash members Topper Headon and Paul Simonon are arrested for shooting at pigeons from a London rehearsal hall roof. This is an illegal activity.

Born On This Day: Norah Jones, March 30, 1979

The singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, New York celebrates her 31st birthday. Norah was born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar. She is the daughter of Indian sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar and dancer Sue Jones, and the half-sister of Anoushka Shankar.

Today In Alternative Music History: March 30, 1976

The Sex Pistols play their first London show and attract an audience of 50 or so.

Naming Names: How Bands Got Their Names: The Stone Roses

The band was known for a while as English Rose, after a song by The Jam, before altering its moniker to acknowledge an equal fondness for the Rolling Stones.

Alternative Bands Forced To Change Their Names, Sorta

Superchunk. As there was already a Chunk- a New York avant jazz combo led by drummer Samm Bennet- Chapel Hill's answer to the Buzzcocks were forced to change their name.

R.E.M. Firsts

First dispute over original material: Bill Berry initially threatened to refuse to play "Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)" onstage.

The Discreet Charm of Morrissey

“I've always assumed there's a dark river flowing beneath my fans' desires.”

Born On This Day: Perry Farrell, March 29, 1959

The frontman for Jane's Addiction has a birthday today. Born Perry Bernstein. He was born in New York City , New York.

Born On This Day: James Atkins, March 28, 1967

The vocalist for EMF has a birthday today. James was born in Birmingham, England.

Phrase of The Day

Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter because nobody listens.

Nick Diamos

SUNDAY'S TOP 5: MARCH 28, 2010

MY TOP 5 ALBUMS FOR THIS SUNDAY ARE:

1. OPERATOR PLEASE - GLOVES

2. THE FUTUREHEADS - THE CHAOS

3. MORLEY - FOR GOOD AGAIN

4. DUM DUM GIRLS - I WILL BE

5. BIG STAR - IN SPACE

Phrase of the Day

True friends are those who really know you but love you anyway.
Edna Buchanan

Born On This Day: Damon Albarn: March 23, 1968

Ex-Blur, current lead singer of Gorillaz has a birthday today. Damon was born in Whitechapel, England.

Phrase of the Day

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

LUSH Remembered, Respected and Loved

Here is another article about the band from Alternative Press titled A Different Shade of Grunge from March of 1990. Click on the pic to read the article. Enjoy!!!

News From Outside the Bubble

Alby the owl discovered skateboarding while in town with his friend Brian. Brian Maxted who runs the Folkestone Owl Sanctuary was in town, Folkestone, Kent in the UK, with some of the owls hoping to encourage donations for the sanctuary. Alby jumped on a skateboard and stayed on when pulled around. He enjoyed it so much that Brian got him one of his own. Now he powers his ride by flying in and landing on the board and riding out the momentum then doing it again.

Check out the full report at

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7472405/Skateboarding-owl-is-a-hit.html

Phrase of The Day

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.

G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936)

The Discreet Charm of Morrissey

"I'm not very good at being dull."

Born On This Day: Sean Dickson, March 21, 1967

The former lead singer and guitarist for The Soup Dragons and The High Fidelity has a birthday today. Sean was born in Bellshill, Scotland.

Today In Alternative Music History: March 21, 1977

Bassist Sid Vicious makes his debut with the Sex Pistols. It’s at Notre Dame Halls in London, England. Sid’s future significant other, Nancy Spungen, is in the audience.

SUNDAY'S TOP 5: MARCH 21, 2010

MY TOP 5 ALBUMS FOR THIS SUNDAY ARE:

1. BIG STAR - RADIO CITY

2. THE REPLACEMENTS - PLEASED TO MEET ME

3. MOTHER LOVE BONE - APPLE

4. THE TEMPER TRAP - CONDITIONS

5. PHANTOGRAM - EYELID MOVIES

Today In Alternative Music History: March 19,1990

This day marks the 20th anniversary of Andrew Wood's death. Andrew ws the lead singer of two influential bands that marked the pre-Grunge period, Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone. He was only 24 when he died of a heroin overdose coupled with a cerebral hemorrhage just before the release of Mother Love Bone's debut album Apple.
As a musician, his trademarks were his exuberant on-stage personality, glittery, outlandish clothes and whimsical, unabashedly dreamy lyrics which he would sing in a tenor heavily reminiscent of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. However, his vocal stylings eventually matured and drew heavily upon the similar technique of late guitarist and singer Marc Bolan. Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament along with Matt Cameron and Chris Cornell formed the tribute band Temple Of The Dog in honor of Andrew. Stone and Jeff went on to form the massive band, Pearl Jam.

Born On This Day: Jerry Cantrell, March 18, 1966

The guitarist of Alice In Chains has a birthday today. Jerry was born in Tacoma , Washington.

Phrase of the Day

Friends are born, not made.

Henry Adams (1838 - 1918)

Today in Alternative Music History: March 18, 1977

The Clash release their first single “White Riot.”

Sad News Today

2010 seems to be the year that we are losing are great alternative artists. I found out yesterday evening that Alex Chilton passed away yesterday. Singer and guitarist of Big Star, one of the most influential rock groups to come out of the 1970s died at the age of 59 reportedly suffering from a heart attack in New Orleans, just days before Big Star were scheduled to perform at SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas.

Chilton had been complaining about his health earlier in the day, and was eventually taken to a New Orleans hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Big Star drummer Jody Stephens confirmed Chilton’s passing, “Alex passed away a couple of hours ago,” Stephens said. “I don’t have a lot of particulars, but they kind of suspect that it was a heart attack.”

Chilton began his musical career in his teens as a member of the Box Tops before returning to his native Memphis to form Big Star with guitarist/co-songwriter Chris Bell, drummer Jody Stephens and bassist Andy Hummel. Blending power pop with the sound of the Beatles and the Beach Boys, Big Star were critically acclaimed but largely ignored commercially. In their short time together in the early-’70s — though Bell exited the band after #1 Record, Hummel after Radio City — Big Star only released three studio albums, but what three incredible albums they were: 1972’s #1 Record, 1974’s Radio City and 1978’s dark but beautiful Third/Sister Lovers all placed on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and their classic tracks “Thirteen” and “September Gurls” both made the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
While they only lasted a few years, Big Star’s impact continues to reverberate decades later. R.E.M. and the Replacements both named Big Star and Alex Chilton as major influences, and the Replacements’ Pleased to Meet Me features a song titled “Alex Chilton.” Chilton became a cult musical icon, and artists as diverse as Beck, Wilco, Elliott Smith, R.E.M., Cheap Trick, Jeff Buckley, Garbage, Bat For Lashes and Whiskeytown have covered Big Star’s songs. Renewed interest in the band’s music led to a reunion of sorts in the early ’90s and a new album in 2005’s In Space, which featured two members of the Posies, Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer. Just last year, a box set celebrating Big Star’s entire catalog, Keep an Eye on the Sky was released.

Paul Westerberg and the Replacements spoke for countless artists and diehard fans when they wrote a song called "Alex Chilton" in 1987.

"Children by the millions sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round/They sing, 'I'm in love, what's that song?/ I'm in love with that song.' "

RIP ALEX CHILTON, you will be missed!

Phrase of the Day

Paradise is exactly like where you are right now... only much, much better.

Laurie Anderson, Language Is A Virus

Today In Alternative Music History: March 16, 1977

The Sex Pistols’ "antics" cause them to be dropped by A&M Records (who endured internal protests over signing the group six days earlier). The Pistols are allowed to keep their six-figure advance and sign with Virgin Records two months later.

Born On This Day: Melissa Auf der Maur, March 17, 1972

Vocalist and former bassist for Hole and The Smashing Pumpkins has a birthday today. Melissa was born in montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Born On This Day: Mark McGrath, March 15, 1968

The lead singer of Sugar Ray has a birthday today. Mark was born in Hartford, Connecticut.

Phrase of the Day

Forever is composed of nows.

Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Alternative Bands Forced To Change Their Names, Sorta

The Three O'Clock. This Paisley Underground band's original name was The Salvation Army. A suit from the real Salvation Army forced them first to change their name to the Salvashun Armee. They didn't like it so they then changed it into The Three O'Clock.

Wrestle Quotes

“Id like to report a Robbery, It seems as if Trish Stratus has stole the show!"

- Trish Stratus

Movies With Alt-Rockers in Acting Roles

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains (1985)

This comedy about an all-female teen punk combo features former Sex Pistols Paul Cook and Steve Jones(who wrote the movie's songs) and former Clash member Paul Simonon as members of a fictional band, along with Fee Waybill of the Tubes as a dissipated rock star, and an appearance by L.A.'s infamous Black Randy and the Metrosquad.

SAD NEWS

I just found out about this, but on Thursday March 11, John Hill, better know to the wrestling world as Gentleman Jerry Valiant died in Franklin, Indiana. He had his last big run with the Dick the Bruiser, owned WWA in Indianapolis in the middle 80s.
He was part of the famous or infamous Valiant Brothers in the 70s with "Handsome" Jimmy and "Luscious" Johnny. They held the WWF tag team titles in 1979. He passed away after a battle with alzheimers.

Naming Names: How Bands Got Their Names: Sonic Youth

According to Thurston Moore, the band got their name as a tribute to ex-MC5 member Fred "Sonic" Smith and reggae dub master Big Youth.

News From Outside the Bubble

VERONA (AFP) – Shoppers wondering how to deal with the afterlife found an answer Friday -- a cell-phone-equipped golden coffin, one of many items on display at the opening of an international luxury fair in Verona.

The coffin was priced at a mere 280,000 euros (381,000 dollars), while a diamond-studded, cancan-style wedding gown in pink chinchilla fur could be scooped up for 220,000 euros.

More traditional items include a boat running on a Ferrari engine and a crystal-covered piano, whose price was undisclosed.

A limited-edition sports car was priced at 1.3 million euros, while the more ecologically conscious could opt for a 24-carat gold racer bicycle.

An armchair covered with the skin of 20 crocodiles, decorated in gold, diamonds and rubies was on sale for 200,000 euros; a hand-crafted billiard table covered in golden sheets retailed at 60,000 euros.

R.E.M. Firsts

First Demo: Eight songs- "Dangerous Times", " I Don´t Want You Anymore", " A Different Girl", "Narrator", "Just A Touch", "Baby I", "Mystery To Me", and "Permanent Vacation" - recorded on four-track facility at Tyrone's in Athens, Gerogia, late 1980.

The Discreet Charm of Morrissey

“Life would be so colourful if only I had a drink problem.”

Phrase of The Day

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.

Thomas H. Huxley (1825 - 1895)

SUNDAY'S TOP 5: MARCH 14, 2010

MY TOP 5 ALBUMS FOR THIS SUNDAY ARE:

1. LUCKY SOUL - A COMING OF AGE

2. HAFDÍS HULD - SYNCHRONISED SWIMMERS

3. MONSTER MOVIE - EVERYONE IS A GHOST

4. NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB - THE OPTIMIST

5. THE POWER STATION - THE POWER STATION