The B-52’s are working with New Order’s producer Steve Osbourne on their first new album since 1992. The band have described the new material as "Rock ‘n Roll-Glam-Electro-Soul". The band’s last album was 1992’s ‘Good Stuff’ but they haven’t recorded with founding member Cindy Wilson since 1989’s ‘Cosmic Thing’. On their Theb52s.com, guitarist Keith Strickland discussed their lengthy lay off: "We took a short break which ended up lasting several years with each of us going our individual ways musically… I considered doing a solo album, but in a moment of clarity I decided that I would rather put my energy into a new B-52’s album." The band began working on the album in 2003 and decided to record with New Order producer Steve Osbourne. "(He) produced the New Order album ‘Get Ready’ which I love," said Stickland. "When we were discussing producers for the album, I suggested Steve." Strickland also explained the new album would contain a theme but he would not reveal what it was. "About halfway through these sessions we noticed a theme developing," he said. "However, I don’t want to spoil the experience for you by giving it away. You’ve got to hear it to believe it." A release date for the untitled album has yet to be announced.
Twisted Sister’s MySpace
I always love when Jews do Christmas, but at least they had fun with it! That video is so cool, don’t you think? The only negative thing I can say about it…is the song gets stuck in your head!
More crushing news for those who have been fretfully waiting the golden-haired swordsman’s exultant return to cinemas – he might not be. Yup, seems Fox2000’s proposed film version of “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” may have gone the way of “Batman Vs. Superman”, “Broadway Brawler” and “The Crusades” – swallowed by a black hole with an appetite for languishing film projects. It seems the film version of the popular 80s toon is essentially dead. Executive Producer Rodney Ferrell (“Flicka”), of Fox2000 pics, tells Moviehole that they’ve just literally just wiped their hands clean of the property. “This was a project set up at Fox”, begins Ferrell, “but in the recent months we gave the project back to Mattel and are no longer involved”. The film had John Woo attached as a producer and Adam Rifkin (“Underdog”) attached as the writer. Fox2000 were set to produce and distribute the movie. Its been a long and tumultuous journey for the “He-Man” pic – its been delayed multiple times, has seen several writers come and go (They were unsure about Rifkin’s script too – suggesting another writer may have even been approached before the project left Fox’s hands), and seemingly had to wait until a space cleared in the ever-so-busy calendar of producer, Woo. (The studio even tried to coax Woo into directing at one stage). Mattel may still be interested in making a “He-Man” film – and it may still involve Woo’s company, LionsRock – but the book’s now closed on this incarnation.
If you’re searching for signs of the Apocalypse and presume that it’s nigh, look no further than this: Billy Idol — Billy Idol! — cutting his very own Christmas album. And I swear this is genuine and not a joke (at least not in the conventional sense). Don’t believe me? Just looky here. Or here. Just don’t stare too long at that CD cover or it could well cause a seizure. The cheeseball shot — which evidently is meant to be serious rather than ironic — is pretty much guaranteed to get you all kinds of creeped out, with Billy sitting at a piano looking disturbingly like the lounge lizard love child of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Goulet. Oh my f—ing God, you say? Well, the bleached spiky-haired, sneering, "Rebel Yell" hellraiser of yore is 50 now (51 on Nov. 30). He’s got an 18-year-old son. It was perhaps inevitable that William Michael Albert Broad would mellow into the mainstream. But not this main. Middle-aged is one thing, middle-of-the-road quite another when your past is all sex, drugs, motorcycles and rock ‘n’ roll. I mean, Billy Idol singing…"Silver Bells"? And "Frosty the Snowman"? And "Here Comes Santa Claus"? And "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"? And "White Christmas"? And "Let It Snow"? And "Silent Friggin’ Night"? (The Friggin’ is my addition.)
I just do not know what to say to that, what can you say to that? In the meantime while I try to get my composure back, listen to a song from the album on Billy Idol’s MySpace page.
Now that I have my composure back…I came up with some song titles for the album:
1 – Rebel Yule 2 – (Rockin’ the) Christmas of Love 3 – Dancing with Myself (under the mistletoe) 4 – Gifts for Fantasy 5 – Cold in the City 6 – White Christmas 7 – Money Money
If you’re searching for signs of the Apocalypse and presume that it’s nigh, look no further than this: Billy Idol — Billy Idol! — cutting his very own Christmas album. And I swear this is genuine and not a joke (at least not in the conventional sense). Don’t believe me? Just looky here. Or here. Just don’t stare too long at that CD cover or it could well cause a seizure. The cheeseball shot — which evidently is meant to be serious rather than ironic — is pretty much guaranteed to get you all kinds of creeped out, with Billy sitting at a piano looking disturbingly like the lounge lizard love child of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Goulet. Oh my f—ing God, you say? Well, the bleached spiky-haired, sneering, "Rebel Yell" hellraiser of yore is 50 now (51 on Nov. 30). He’s got an 18-year-old son. It was perhaps inevitable that William Michael Albert Broad would mellow into the mainstream. But not this main. Middle-aged is one thing, middle-of-the-road quite another when your past is all sex, drugs, motorcycles and rock ‘n’ roll. I mean, Billy Idol singing…"Silver Bells"? And "Frosty the Snowman"? And "Here Comes Santa Claus"? And "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"? And "White Christmas"? And "Let It Snow"? And "Silent Friggin’ Night"? (The Friggin’ is my addition.)
