Quick Hits!!

August 31, 2011

In the most surprising collaboration news in a while, Jack White has produced a new single from the Insane Clown Posse, and it is an interpolation of a Mozart song. The single, "Leck Mich Im Arsch," will be released on White's own Third Man Records label on September 13 and features rockers Jeff The Brotherhood backing up the controversial Detroit rappers. The song uses a melody from a Mozart composition from 1782. You can see a video from Third Man announcing the unusual news below:

Justin Bieber was involved in a minor auto accident on Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Times. A Honda Civic collided with the singer’s black Ferrari, and no damage was done to either vehicle, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement. A mass of photographers were first to hit the scene snapping photos of Bieber and an unidentified passenger believed to be his assistant.

Rapper T.I. was released from prison early Wednesday morning and will enter a halfway house to serve the remainder of his 11-month sentence for probation violation. The name of the facility will not be released until after his arrival. T.I. quickly announced his return: “Feels great to be back where I belong...Back in the arms of those who need me the most," he tweeted. "The storm is over & da sun back out. IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!! Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!"

The-Dream has released a new album, while fans await the release of The Love, IV (Diary of a Mad Man). Released under his birth name Terius Nash, the 10-track 1977 is now available for free download on his website. The-Dream tweeted, "chances 'DefJam' puts a Cease and Desist on 1977 unfortunately Very High. but i think yall will have it before lawyers make me take it down."

Sting plans to release a special box set entitled Sting: 25 Years on September 27. The four disc set will be released via Cherrytree/A&M Records/Universal Music Group. Produced by Rob Mathes and manager Kathryn Schenker, Sting: 25 Years contains 3 CDs featuring 45 remastered tracks that were "personally curated by Sting" in addition to the previously unreleased live concert DVD Rough, Raw & Unreleased. Additional remixing was done by Robert Orton and Steve Fitzmaurice. A hardcover book of intimate and rare photos from world renowned photographers, lyrics, commentary and an introduction by Sting is also included.

The Beach Boys are also looking towards the past as they plan to release the lost 1966-67 SMiLE sessions. Dropping October 31 internationally and November 1 in the U.S., the SMiLE sessions will be released in multiple formats (2xCD and 2xLP, digital album, iTunes LP, and box set) through Capitol/EMI. Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and Mike Love all participated to put forth "an approximation of what was intended to be the complete SMiLE album, compiled from the Beach Boys’ original session masters," according to a press release, in addition to bonus tracks, demos, and stereo mixes. The box set contains five CDs, two LPs, two 7”s, a 60-page book, and a "three-dimensional shadowbox lid."

After releasing his new single, "Good Feeling," Flo Rida will appear on America’s Got Talent tonight. The rapper will hit the stage live with both David Guetta and Nicki Minaj to perform Guetta's new hit, "Where Them Girls At."


Scott Weiland
Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland has released a digital album of covers, aptly titled A Compilation of Scott Weiland’s Cover Songs. Artists covered include Radiohead, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Stone Roses, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and The Flaming Lips. The compilation is now available to download on his personal website for $15.

Jack’s Mannequin’s Andrew McMahon is now satisfied with the complete work of the group’s third album People and Things. Originally due out October 4, 2009, the album was written, alongside producer John Fields, in a style similar to that of the previous two records. "I'd go in with a song, sit down at the piano, record piano and vocal and then build a track around that," McMahon told Billboard.com. "I thought that's what I was looking for. I thought I wanted to be in a studio space without a lot of people around me so I could really flesh out what I was hearing." After playing a date in June of 2010, McMahon had a realization that the current album was not the one he wanted to put out at the time. The project was revised, keeping some material, and composing a substantial amount of new material with different producers - Jim Scott, Rob Cavallo and longtime cohort Jim Wirt. Additional musicians include ex-Soul Coughing bassist Sebastian Steinberg, Jane's Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, guitarist Tim Pierce and arranger Patrick Warren. "Everything developed over time," McMahon says. "Rob kind of came in and saved the day in a lot of ways, at a moment when we ran out of a little steam in January (of 2011). When all was said and done, we had so many hands, so many talented and selfless people who helped us get from point A to completion."

Soulja Boy, Matt & Kim and Andrew W.K. have released a video for their song "I'm A Goner," which was recorded as part of Converse's Three Artists, One Song project. Converse released the zombie film-inspired music video, which features all of the artists, their fans and close friends as zombie versions of themselves partying along to the anthem of the summer in an abandoned hospital in New Jersey. Fans can check out the single and the video at www.converse.com/music.

Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham will release his new self produced and recorded album Seeds We Sow on his own label September 6. The album was recorded in Buckingham’s home studio. "Most days I'd wake up, have my coffee, do my crossword puzzle and get there by 10:30 a.m.," he tells Rolling Stone. "And work through dinnertime. I didn't come up for air unless I had to." The release will be followed by a 50-day theater tour this fall. Buckingham also shed light on a Fleetwood Mac return: "We're doing something for sure," Buckingham says. "I wouldn't be shocked if it was a tour and possibly an album. We'll have to wait and see. Nothing is on the books right now. With Fleetwood Mac, there's a lot of landmines out there politically and it's hard to get everybody on the same page at the same time – but I think this might be one of those years where everyone will want to do the same thing. Whatever that is."

Aerosmith plans to release their 14th studio album sometime around May 2012, according to a recent web post by longtime producer Jack Douglas. Sessions began in July, but were interrupted by South American and Japanese tours this fall and early winter. The album will be the first release of original material since 2001’s Just Push Play. Despite drama surrounding Steven Tyler’s decision to serve as a judge on American Idol, bassist Tom Hamilton says he’s excited about the new project. "For those of you who don’t know who Jack is, he’s the guy who we worked with, producing our best albums of the ‘70s – Get Your Wings, Toys In The Attic and Rocks," Hamilton said on the Aerosmith website. "And it’s really gonna be cool, because there’s no one that knows more about the soul of this band and the creative part of this band [than] Jack."