Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has launched a new podcast series called In Conversation, which will feature, according to Smith, "intimate conversations with some of the most inspirational musicians of all time." The inaugural podcast features a conversation with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.
The National will headline Laneway Festival Detroit in Rochester Hills, Michigan, just outside of Detroit on September 14. Laneway Festival Detroit, an American offshoot of the Aussie fest of the same name, will also feature performances from Frightened Rabbit, Sigur Ros, Deerhunter, Flume, My Brightest Diamond and more . . .
Nine Inch Nails will have to find another bassist for their upcoming world tour. Bass player Eric Avery has decided not to hit the road with Trent Reznor's reformed group. Avery, who was a founding member of Jane's Addiction, announced the news in a Facebook post. "It's with very mixed emotions I tell you all that I'm pulling out of NIN . . ."
Following complaints from fans that entry into Mumford & Sons' two day Gentlemen of the Road gig in Lewes, U.K. precluded readmission, the band has announced that it has changed its policy. "Following exhaustive discussions with partner agencies, Gentlemen Of The Road and production staff are pleased to announce that they will be implementing a reconfiguration of the festival site . . ."
David Bowie's classic hit "Space Oddity" has been covered a lot of times, but perhaps never before like Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, who performed the song while aboard the International Space Station. In Hadfield's version of "Space Oddity," he altered the lyrics to include a mention of the Soyuz capsule aboard which Hadfield will return to Earth.
Metallica are headed to the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, but they aren't going alone. They are coming armed with their new 3D film, Through the Never. According to Variety, the band has intentions of both shopping and screening the film at the festival.
Oasis have dominated a vote by NME readers to establish the Greatest Britpop Anthem Of All Time with the top five spots all being filled by songs from the band. "Live Forever," the 1994 single taken from the band's debut album, Definitely Maybe, topped the poll . . .
Jack White's Third Man Records has teamed with Sun Records for a series of releases. Third Man will be reissuing a number of songs from Sun's iconic cataloge on 7" black vinyl, an inventory that includes Johnny Cash's 1956 single "Get Rhythm," which was originally backed with "I Walk The Line."
The Lumineers have been nominated for Song of the Year ("Ho Hey") at the upcoming Americana Music Honors. The band takes on Shovels & Rope ("Birmingham"), Richard Thompson ("Good Things Happen to Bad People") and JD McPherson ("North Side Gal") for the honor. Winners will be announced September 18 at Nashville's famed Ryman Auditorium.
Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys says that the LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy owes him $150 for breaking his refrigerator. Speaking with Vulture at a screening of the new Noah Baumbach film, Ad saw Murphy, and explained the situation to his interviewer. The Beastie Boys memoir will be released in 2015 by Random House.
Queens of the Stone Age have released the video for their new track "Kalopsia." The track is featured on the band's upcoming release Like Clockwork, and the video was directed by the U.K.-based artist known as Boneface. The vid release comes at a busy time for Josh Homme and company, as they've been previewing new tracks live in Europe.
Puddle of Mudd frontman Wes Scantlin has been arrested on domestic violence charges after allegedly beating his ex-wife. The rocker was picked up May 13 at a business in West Hollywood, where Scantlin was reportedly seen dragging the woman through a parking lot. Police picked up Scantlin on the scene and he was said to be combative with the arresting officers.
Vampire Weekend took the stage on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Monday where they played two new songs—"Ya Hey" and "Everlasting Arms"—from their new album, Modern Vampires of the City. On the first track the band was backed by a string section, for a "lovely, lilting version" of the song, according to Stereogum, while on the second track the boys sped things up.
Video of the Smashing Pumpkins covering David Bowie's classic "Space Oddity" from SXSW is now circulating the web. The band played the track at their Guitar Center Sessions show, which, according to Rolling Stone, will be aired on DirecTV on May 17 at 9PM EST. The band blasted the 1969 single from a rooftop in Austin, Texas, much to the delight of the crowd below.
Blur's Alex James will narrate a Never Mind the Buzzcocks spin-off show on BBC 2 called, What a Load of Buzzcocks. The new show will air in late spring and will look back at 16 years of pop history by revisiting key episodes and clips from the original Buzzcocks show. James said, "I've always been a big fan of the show and I'm looking forward . . ."