The Long Road Back, What October 2011 Might Be Famous For, and More!

How long is 5 months? You might say, "Well.. it's 5 months... duh". Or you could be sarcastic and say it's approximately 152 days (going from June to October), or 3,648 hours, or 218,880 minutes... and then we'd smack you upside your head. It can be a short period of time (like in the case of summer where it truly flies by), or a long, dragged out period where it seems the current situation never ends. Thus is the case of certain aspects of 360 Degrees of Alternative.

You may (or may not, but most of you did), noticed that the station was "not available to all listeners" on our host site Live365.com. This is because, for the last few months, we have been a VIP membership only station. Are we giving the middle finger to any and all non-paying listeners? Hardly. The music industry did that for us. Allow me to explain.

When I originally set up this station almost 2 years ago, I made it so anyone - paying or not - could listen along. If you were a non-paying listener, you just had to stomach some occasional commercials. To offer this service, I pay royalty fees on all the songs I play. Back then, they were very nominal, so it was no big deal. Everything was pretty hunky-dory until last May. At that time, the music industry announced that royalty fees would be increased through such services because profits are way down. At first, I didn't think too much of it, because I've heard this crap before. At worst, I thought, the fees would increase a little... and I mean very little. Well, they did... sort of.

When you think of an increase of 3 cents, many times you wouldn't bat an eyelash. However, when you add multiplication to the equation, that's when things got dicey. My royalties went up 3 cents per song... per month. I currently have over 4,200 songs in the stations current playlist. You can do the math. Needless to say, my monthly expenses to operate the station skyrocketed overnight. We didn't want to cut the station off at the gonads, so we went "private" for a while until we could sort things out. It looks like they're may be a light at the end of the tunnel.

We are hoping by January 1st 2012, we will return to the "all type of listener" access. We will once again be free-form or free-based, or whatever you want to call it. We still have listeners adding us as their favorites and the support emails are still being received. And for this, we thank you.

The blog has been no exception. It has been truly absent over the past 5 months. Between my regular job, working with the station, and a few other distractions this summer (including the process of finding new digs), the blog really took a back seat. Check that... more like moved to the trunk... and stuffed in a suitcase. Well, let's unpack and air it out!


The 2nd tag line is in reference to the people and events that have passed on this month. I was talking with a friend of mine and he mentioned that October is a rite of passage of sorts from summer to winter where many things in nature die... but this month, so far, is getting ridiculous.

By now, everyone is aware of the passing of Steve Jobs who helped revolutionized how we listen to music, work with computers, enjoyed movies, you name it. He will be missed. It's also old news that R.E.M. is done after 31 years. The latest issue of Rolling Stone has a big interview on this, so you can check out all the dirt there. I must admit, the band was spot on by saying, "... we don't hate each other, we haven't run out on creativity, we're just... done." It reminds me of what Johnny Rotten, former front man for the Sex Pistols once said in an interview; "We knew (the Pistols) were done. So we just stopped. It's the easiest thing in the world. People won't understand, and that's their problem. If you don't want to be a rock star anymore, just stop being one."

I was also glancing at some music news that took place over the past week. This seems to be the month for ending things in one form or another;
- Jani Lane, the current lead singer of Warrant dies of alcohol poisoning.
- RCA announces it will pull the plug on Arista, Jive & J Records.
- Ex Weezer bassist Mickey Welsh died in a Chicago hotel room.
- The Academy Is... calls it quits after 9 years & 3 albums.
- The Monkees cancel the remainder of their 45th anniversary tour.

... and this is just in the past few days! Jeez!!


However, there were also some highlights -
- My Chemical Romance's guitarist Frank Iero designs a guitar that will be sold for charity.
- Smashing Pumpkins finally kick off their tour in L.A. - and kick ass.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline for MTV's Europe Music Awards.
- Jane's Addiction rocks late night TV

... and this was just in the past few days! Cool!!


That's about it for now. We'll keep you posted with more updates when we get closer to our target date. Until then, keep listening & thanks again for the support. We'll still be here for you!

Peace out,
Dave

What's Old Is New Again... and Vis-Versa!

Some very interesting tidbits came down the alternative pike lately, so if you haven't heard some of the dish, pull up a chair & get ready for the musical buffet! First off, if you haven't had a chance to check out 360 Degrees of Alternative lately, you should give us a serious listen. We've added even more songs from the 60's to today... and I mean literally today. We're talking classics to cutting edge to the top hits on the Alternative Rock charts. It's all here!

OK, I can hear you chomping at the bit... what's up with the title. Well, first off, The Cure played last Tuesday night at Australia's Sydney Opera House as part of the Vivid Festival - and it brought out its most passionate fans. Rumor has it that one couple paid $3000 apiece for front-row seats. We're also talking teased hair, grown-up Goths in black clothes everywhere, the works... and these people were in their 40's and 50's. The Cure did an epic performance of its first three albums -- Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds and Faith -- Reports stated it was the best kind of (Addams) family reunion... at 2000-people strong. Seriously though, it was noted as a "triumphant, three-and-a-half-hour set that was tight, efficient and high on nostalgia without lingering on what once was".

This just in - According to Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day are writing music for their 21st Century Breakdown follow-up, and they've already laid down a "ton" of new songs. "The direction is fresh and hi energy," Armstrong posted on Twitter. "Feels great…Me, Mike [Dirnt], Tré [Cool], and Jason [White, touring guitarist] are collaborating and having the best time playing music. And that's not bullshit!"

Here's a match made in heaven; After winning an Oscar for their score to The Social Network, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and songwriting partner Atticus Ross are now tackling the soundtrack for David Fincher's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, an adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestselling book. The movie is not due out until Christmas, but a trailer has leaked — and it features Reznor and Ross teaming up with Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O for a hot cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song." I do believe the song has also leaked onto You Tube as well.

File this one under either "Been there, done that - will repeat again" category. After a one-week stint, Amy Winehouse has checked out of a London rehab and is set to embark on a summer European tour. Winehouse's rep did not disclose why the singer was seeking treatment. Alright, let's try this one... who cares.

Lastly, here's another shot of "What's old is new again"... With a comeback album slated to be released later this year, pop-punk vets Blink-182 will hit the road for a mammoth summer tour — and they've enlisted plenty of A-list help for the 40-date trek, which kicks off August 5 in Holmdel, NJ, and wraps up on October 15 in San Diego, CA. My Chemical Romance will join Blink-182 for the entire string of dates, while Rancid, Manchester Orchestra, and Matt and Kim will sign on for select stops.

Unfortunately, that's about all the time I have for right now. This post was short but hopefully sweet. We'll catch you next time. Until then keep listening!

Peace Out,
Dave

CBGB's Movie, Lifebeat, Pearl Jam's B-Day Bash, and More!

To quote the immortal band Motorhead; "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something animal!" That, right there my friends, sums everything up right there in regards to this entry with the blog.

When I first read the news about a CBGB's movie, my first thought was "Hasn't someone done this already?" I mean, there have been numerous books written and released over the years (all of which are somewhat difficult to find for some odd reason), special programming on various cable channels, and some "pseudo" documentaries. But this release should be quite different from the rest. Lisa Kristal, the daughter of New York's iconic punk club and its late owner Hilly Kristal, will be co-producing a new movie tentatively titled CBGB that's slated to begin production this fall. The movie will look at the punk mecca's '70s heyday, where Talking Heads, the Ramones, Television, Patti Smith and countless others got their start. Yours truly hopes it will feature a full scope of features - from concert footage to interviews to God knows what else!

This next tidbit seemed to mushroom out of nowhere and is the buzz of the internet as well as eBay. Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Keith Richards, Mark Ronson, Panic! at the Disco, and other artists have teamed up with designer Ben Sherman for an auction to benefit Lifebeat, which raises awareness about HIV/AIDS. The artists will auction off signed guitar picks along with a personal note about where the pick was used and a personal photo; the items will be housed in a collector's frame. The auction lasts from May 29 through June 19 on eBay.

From the "Milking it to the nth degree" department, we have Pearl Jam and the finally released details of their 20th anniversary birthday bash, after months of anticipation. The band will host and headline a Labor Day weekend festival at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin with special guests the Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age, Mudhoney, Joseph Arthur, Liam Finn, Glen Hansard and John Doe of X. Tickets for the event will go on sale May 23rd for fan club members and June 4th for the general public. Pearl Jam have pledged to donate $2 from each ticket to their Vitalogy Foundation, which grants funds to nonprofit organizations selected by members of the band.

I hit on this piece of news in my last post - The Cars and their comeback album and tour. As many of you remember... well, maybe not many of you, it was 23 years ago... when the group called it quits back in 1988, any talk of a reunion was flatly discouraged. Of course, that's all in the past. Last week saw the release of a new studio album, Move Like This, and a reunion tour that unexpectedly bridges the band's New Wave past with a fresh batch of songs in the present. On the second date of their U.S. tour last Thursday night (5/12), the Cars performed to a packed room at the Hollywood Palladium, opening amid icy waves of synth, electric guitar and Ocasek's unhurried growl on "Let the Good Times Roll," the first track off the Boston act's 1978 debut. We always talk about how, in many cases, change is good. According to reports however, the band looked much as it did the last time we saw them, except for the significant absence of bassist Benjamin Orr, lead singer of such hits as "Just What I Needed" and "Candy-O," who died in 2000 of pancreatic cancer. The surviving quartet lined up together as equals at the front of the stage, with Ocasek calmly plucking his guitar in a black jacket and shades. This is a good thing indeed...

I've been seeing more & more of this... especially recently. The latest buzzword in rock n' roll is "memoir". In this month alone, we've had three reports of major artists either releasing or had press releases about the future release of their work. Steven Tyler has been all over the media plane with his new book, but adding to the mix is Pete Townsend (who's book will hit the shelves during the Fall of 2012) and the forth-coming release of Scott Weiland's memoir entitled, "Not Dead and Not For Sale". I read some excerpts from it on-line - like most memoir's, it should be an interesting read.

I'm going to close out this session with some more history. We received some cool feedback and emails regarding the last batch of cool tidbits we highlighted, so here's another round.

1975 - May was a big month that year, but you would've never known it at the time. Blondie seems to be so close to finally making it big, when more setbacks occur. Drummer Billy O'Connor leaves the group to go to law school but is replaced by the talented Clem Burke. Bass player Fred Smith quits to fill Richard Hell's void in Television. They eventually get down to a three piece band due to the fact that their two back-up singers quit because they feel the band is finished. They still cut some demos including one song, (actually a comedy number), called "The Disco Song", which would resurface in 1979 as "Heart Of Glass" and would be a world-wide hit.

At the same time, a bizarre band from Cleveland called The Electric Eels release their "anti-music" indie single containing their now influential cut "Agitated" (which we feature on 360 Degrees). The band features Nick Knox on drums who would later join The Cramps. The single is raw and distorted and is in reality one of the first true punk records ever. Although they've been together for three years, they're music could easily include a piece of sheet metal and a sledgehammer - it's that crude and obnoxious. They describe their concerts as "art terrorism". They also wear ripped t-shirts with rude slogans on them and safety pins.

1977 - The Police release their debut single on Illegal Records. Although Sting would become the focal point of the band in years to come - at this point, it's all drummer Stewart Copeland. He started the band, wrote both songs ("Fall Out" & "Nothing Achieving"), arranged the recording session, started the label with his brother Miles Copeland, and did the artwork for the single!

1980 - There's a new band out of Basildon England. The trio consists of school friends Vince Clarke, Andy Fletcher, and Martin Gore. While they start out with mostly guitars, within a few weeks they switch over to more synthesizers. Some of the names they are considering; Airport Coffee, The Glow Worms, and the Lemon Peels. They finally decide on Depeche Mode.

That's about for now. Until next time, keep listening!
Peace out,
Dave

The Ramones, Unlikely Cover Songs, Pearl Jam, As Well As Some History - Come On In, Take A Seat & Enjoy!

I have to admit - some of the latest news in the world of alternative has finally gotten mixed up a bit... and that's a good thing. For a while, all the news seemed to be about new releases, upcoming tours & concerts, and more of the same old blah, blah, blah. Don't get me wrong - I'm diggin' on the new releases and other cool tidbits, but it seemed we just had a steady diet of it for weeks.

Yeah, that type of news is still out there and I'm going to leave it alone on this entry. If you really need to know, Goggle it... that info is everywhere.

About a week ago, we celebrated a true milestone. Back on April 29th, we noted the 35th anniversary (sorry 'bout that) of the release of the Ramones 1st album. Whether you liked it or not, it changed the world of music - period. While the album only peaked at #111 on the Billboard charts, the influences it created are still being felt today. Released at a time when rock 'n roll was truly a bullshit leisure industry for the most part, it not only threw the punk movement into high gear, both here and abroad, but brought back the true DIY mentality and attitude that was flushed out of the industry by 1970.

I also had a chance to "revisit" a DVD I hadn't seen in a while; "Ramones: Raw". Clocking in at 5 hours worth of material, it's not something you sit through in one sitting, even if you're a die-hard Ramones fan. The only bummer about this DVD is, that while it slogs through a bunch of very cool band history and concerts, it starts at 1979. The early years are missing. Someone needs to release an "early years only" Ramones documentary. Still, it is still a cool DVD. The parts that feature the band receiving their lifetime achievment award, and the dedication of Joey Ramone Place in NYC is almost worth it alone. Maybe Cameron Crowe will do it...

Speaking of which, that leads me to this next bit I stumbled across. It seems for their 20th anniversary (which is this year), Pearl Jam are throwing one hell of a party: They've rolled out deluxe reissues of Vs. and Vitalogy. Their pal, director Cameron Crowe, is also digging through hours of video footage to compile a documentary that traces the band's entire history, which is due to hit theaters in September.

While thinking about what to write about for this entry, it seems I've been doing quite a bit of stumbling... and this next one is no exception. Found this story on Rolling Stone. It's called "The 12 Most Unlikely Covers of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". No biggie you think? Well, what if I told you the cover versions were done by artists ranging from Miley Cyrus to Paul Anka? It has some cool pics as well as links to videos via You Tube. Click here to check it out. You've been warned...

Getting back to the anniversary thing, we celebrated another one of sorts. Hard to believe, but it's been 25 years since we first heard the Beastie Boys scream over the airwaves and through stereo speakers, much to the dismay of parents everywhere. Remember back in 1986, when they released their debut Licensed to Ill? That album that proved three white kids from New York could deliver hip-hop as hot and groundbreaking as Run-D.M.C. or Public Enemy. It was also the first hip-hop album to hit No. 1 on the charts. Since then, Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA have become one of the genre's most consistent acts — even when they were experimenting with organ-driven funk on Ill Communication or opting not to rhyme at all on The Mix-Up.

We're going to wrap things up a bit here with something we haven't touched on in a while... some history. We've always said here at 360 Degrees that you need to respect the past in order to appreciate the present.
- 1959; Ian McCulloch lead singer of Echo and the Bunnymen is born.

- 1983; the 1000th edition of Top of the Pops broadcast on BBC TV. This show was the equivalent to American Bandstand and featured many now-famous groups and artists. The show, for a while, even featured "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" by The Who as it's opening theme.

- 1973; David Bowie's Aladdin Sane LP was #1 in the UK.

- 1974; A big milestone on this day - Television & The Stilettoes (Blondie in less than 2 years) are on a double bill at CBGB's. This is the first gig of many where Television would be a "regular" every Sunday night. An ad in Soho Weekly News noted that Television would be "the next big break-through group" coming out of New York.

- 1978; another milestone. The B-52's release their debut single on their own label. The two songs on the 45 single are Rock Lobster and 52 Girls. Both songs are primitive versions far different than what would show up on their debut album. The bands contact address at that time (and on the back of the 45 sleeve) is the El Dorado Restaurant... that's where singer Fred Schneider works.

- 1981; We save the weirdest for last. The Dead Kennedy's are barely on vinyl for 2 years, and are already having problems getting their songs released... even on their own label! Their new single Too Drunk To Fuck is running into roadblocks in England due to the title. Many people never knew that the DK's actually own two record labels - Alternative Tentacles is here in the US. Cherry Red Records is their label in the UK. The band thought this would save hassles in regards to worldwide distribution. Oh well...
They have to get the single pressed in France, presumably where they have no problem with the title or can't read it. With that solved, they run into another snag - their overseas distributor Rough Trade wants to hear the single BEFORE they will send it out! I guess the F word was can be too controversial, but not politics...

Until next time, keep listening. We added more than 30 songs this week, so let us know what you think... and thanks!

Peace out,
Dave

April Was A Month Of Change, Passings, Additions, and More!

Hard to believe it's been almost a month since the last blog. Time flies when you have no free time... having fun has nothing to do with it sometimes! Between work, some freelance writing & their deadlines, and a few other things tossed into the mix, I realized this morning the absence of blog entries for April.

Moving forward, a bunch of stuff has come down the pike recently. Some of this may be old news to some, but we hope other tidbits are more timely and entertaining -

The big news this past week, is that we lost another punk rock pioneer; the 2nd one in less than 6 months and another female singer to boot (remember Ari Up passed away not that long ago). Poly Styrene, the frontwoman for the classic punk rock band X Ray Spex, died at the age of 53. Styrene, whose real name was Marianne Elliot-Said, had been battling both breast and spinal cancer for a few years. Inspired by an early Sex Pistols gig, Styrene formed the X Ray Spex when she was 18 with her friend Laura Logic, who was also the groups 1st saxophone player. The band went on to record a string of five singles – including the enduring punk anthem "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" – and one highly influential full-length album, Germ Free Adolescents, before breaking up in 1979. There has been a number of articles on-line about her passing, so if you want to glean more info about her, it's there. Bottom line here though is we lost another great artist too soon.

This was also a month of anniversaries... sort of. The finishing touches were finalized for Lollapalooza's 20th birthday or anniversary, depending on how you look at it. The festival will take place this summer with a three-day event at Chicago's Grant Park on August 5-7th with headliners Eminem, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Muse and My Morning Jacket. The bill will also include artists such as the Cars, Ween, Cold War Kids, and Big Audio Dynamite.

April was also a month of changes. On the personal front, I finally had to update the website complete with the latest video of "Rope" by Foo Fighters. Click here to check it out as well as the website.
Another big change of sorts is going on with U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr. No, he's not leaving the band, but he is going to trade in his drumsticks for a bit and try his hand at acting as well as producing. Mullen will make his first foray into acting in Man on the Train. The Irish-Canadian movie, also starring Donald Sutherland, is set to debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. Mullen will play a mysterious stranger who arrives in a small town with plans to rob a bank. He is also one of the film's co-producers.

The past 30 days has also seen a re-emergence of sorts. Hardcore punk icons Fugazi is putting the finishing touches on a huge concert archive. The bands been, more or less, on hiatus for about 10 years, but the veteran D.C. punks are in the homestretch of archiving every single live show from their 15-year career, which will be available online for fans. Yeah, you read that right - every single live show... 15 years worth! Wow! Frontman Ian MacKaye says the group is deep in the process of converting "thousands" of live recordings from DAT and cassette tapes to digital files. I found this news a little ironic, because last week I finished watching their self-released DVD "Instrument". While it's not for everyone, it is a good documentary. Very gritty, quite raw, but very insightful. One of the highlights is the free concert they did in front of the White House! if you ever have a chance to check it out, do so. Click here to watch an older video of their classic "Waiting Room".

Lastly, I'd like to wish Kate Pierson of the B-52's a happy 63rd birthday! If you ever met her, or just looking at her, you'd never know! She's still very young at heart. When she's not working with the other members of Georgia's best known punk band (aside from R.E.M.) she's busily running her own restaurant!

That's about it for now, until next time, (hopefully less than 28 days), keep listening!
Peace out,
Dave

** BONUS! ** Is There Really Such A Thing As "Best Of..." Or Why I Hate Top 100 Of All Time Lists

I was cruising a few web sites doing some R&D for the station when I felt a need to address this topic. I get an email every once in a great while about this subject, which I never reply to, but at least I don't receive nearly as many as I used to. I know everyone has an opinion. We can also agree to disagree even though we listen to and enjoy the same genre. But that's not what this post is about - ie; meaning who's right and who's wrong.

I visit numerous web sites several times a week to do the following;
1). Keep informed - I want to know what's going on in the alternative music world, listen to new releases, as well as several other things. In my opinion, this keeps the station fresh, diverse, and up to date.
2). Get opinions - I enjoy people's feedback about music, new and old. Sometimes one can learn a new perspective about something that one had never thought of before.

Taking those two concepts, I went on the web site of a radio station that I listen to... a lot. Currently, they are playing the "Top 1000 Alternative Rock Songs Of All Time". The web site features a complete list. I thought to myself, "Cool... maybe there's a song or two I can add to the station that I hadn't thought of or that a listener hasn't mentioned yet".

I discovered two things. One, is that 360 Degrees of Alternative actually plays a good majority of the songs listed. At least we've covered the "popular" aspect. Second, and this was actually quite depressing, was the true lack of historical or influential material. This prompted me to get in touch with the morning drive DJ as we have known each other for a number of years. We both agreed that the list was jaded and very biased or in other words, a popularity contest, as most of these lists are. Being in professional radio myself for years, I know this is an accepted fact of the profession... it helps pay the bills. We both expected to see bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Green Day to have numerous entries. In fact, each of these bands have 3 songs each in the top 30.

What we found discouraging was the lack of historical and influential songs, or even the fact that there were very few songs on the list that were released prior to 1990. In fact, it was a little scary. Out of 1,000 songs, there were two, count 'em, two songs by The Ramones. They had the position of #186 and #369. There were two songs by The Clash, taking up residence at numbers 439 and 721. The true bummer, however, was there wasn't a single song on the list by The Sex Pistols... none. Out of 1,000 songs. Also painfully absent were songs by Iggy Pop, Talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, and countless other bands. My friend told me, "You know, if we played select songs by those artists, the listeners would probably enjoy and embrace them. Of course, once they found out just how old they those songs were, a number of listeners would probably go into shock! (Laughing) But that shouldn't matter - they're still great songs. Bottom line, though - it's a crime that some songs didn't make the cut... a true crime. In a way I feel like we're screwing over our listeners."

The final nail in the coffin, however, was the fact that there were songs on the list by Metallica (Relax - I like Metallica, but they are not alternative), Eminen and Outkast. Seriously! I love "Hey Ya" as much as the next person, but it ain't alternative! And it doesn't belong on this list!

In my opinion, that's where 360 Degrees as well as other internet and satellite radio stations come in. We play the diversity the genre truly deserves. In order to appreciate the present, we must respect the past... and not just the past 20 years worth. We must dig deeper and go further. We at 360 Degrees will never conform to a "top whatever" list. It has to be a balance of popularity, diversity, history, and a slight mix of obscurity. And best of all... we don't have to "pay the bills" like a commercial station. Which means we can let the station and the music do the talking.

Until next time, peace out.
Dave

How Can There Be So Many Currents In Such A Little Puddle?

I feel the title for today's blog is pretty fitting. Over the past week, we've seen and read, good news, not so good news, and downright ugly news... never mind the wave of new music that was promised for the Spring. On that note, let's stop the lally-gagging and get right to it.

Arcade Fire and their latest release Suburbs won big... no make that REALLY big at Canada's Juno Awards ceremony Saturday night (3/26) in Toronto. The scooped up kudos for Best Album of the Year, Group Of The Year, Best Alternative Album Of The Year, and Songwriter Of The Year. Congrats, guys!

Mark your calendar for this next one - April 16th or more commonly known as Record Store Day. To honor this occasion, the Beastie Boys, Beck, Bat for Lashes, Jack White, as well as other artists will all release 7-inch vinyl singles. The Beasties' will be submitting the track, "Make Some Noise", which is from the trio's long-awaited album Hot Sauce Committee Pt 2.

I hit on this release last week - and for good reason. Songs For Japan can be found on iTunes for only $9.99 and it contains 38 songs all done by well known artists. Regardless that it's quite the mix of genre's, the cool thing is that all - and we mean all - the money goes to Japan for earthquake relief efforts. Click here for more details and the complete song / artist list.

Moving onward or in this case downward, Lou Reed's manager Tom Sarig was arrested following allegations he threatened to kill a consultant over a financial dispute. Sarig was charged with aggravated harassment after making threats to a consultant who sought back payment of $11,500 for helping Reed find a personal assistant. Guys, guys, guys... I hate to say it, but that's what contracts and lawyers are for. Jeez...

If that wasn't bad enough, it seems that the SWSX festival had numerous problems this year and was a miracle that the whole thing didn't go down in flames. Rumor has it, that several groups were dropped from the roster, which did wonders for relations... not! But adding insult to injury (no pun intended here) was Ben "Weasel" Foster, frontman for the Screeching Weasels. According to reports (and the cell phone video posted on You Tube), he had a meltdown on stage during the bands gig on March 18th. Apparently, Foster railed against the media and even punched two female fans, one of whom allegedly threw ice in his face. As a result, Foster's backing band has called it quits, calling his actions "shameful", "embarrassing", and "...does not represent the band members' view points or moral compasses", according to a statement in Punk News. Foster also released a statement prior to that apologizing for the incident and his behavior.

Finally, let's wrap things up by taking a look at some upcoming releases that really look promising... and that's a good thing;
- The Kills "Blood Pressures" due out on April 5th - A band named the Kills is probably not going to be especially shy or demure, but still: Few groups these days make as good on the rawness and romance embedded deep within rock'n'roll.
- The Ravonettes "Rave In The Grave" due out on April 5th - There's reverb and then there's the jacked up, thick as hell, reverb that makes up this band.
- Foo Fighters "Wasted Light" due out April 12th - this band gets better every year. This album is no exception. It's not even officially out yet, but is getting rave reviews.
- Gorillaz "The Fall" due out April 19th - There are very few cartoon bands that have ever counted as bands first and cartoons second, but one of more impressive aspects of Gorillaz is you don't necessarily have to choose. What makes this release more important is the fact that it's more than the result of what Damon Albarn says was "just me and an iPad really mucking about."
- My Morning Jacket "Circuital" due out May 31st - This band has changed A LOT since their inception 10 years ago by going well beyond golden southern rock and into a different realm where such a time-tested sound is refracted into the future.

That's about the time I have for now. Thanks again for all the support and patience with our recent upgrades so we can make the station that much better. Keep the comments, suggestions and emails coming... it is appreciated!

Peace out,
Dave

New Music, New Titles, New Arguments

This may seem to be an odd way to start this post, but... Hi!! The reason for this beginning is that it has been almost 2 months since the last entry. It's not that there wasn't anything to write about, it's just I was consumed with upgrading the station. Everything from adding more storage space for more music on the server, to doing research, to converting and uploading files - there never seems to be enough time in a day. Then factor in the "full time job" thing, and time really seems to slip through the fingers.

We pressed on, however, and we're getting there. As of this writing, over 225 titles have been added to the station... and more are coming, a lot more! Patience is a key word with this process. I never realized just how difficult it is to find mp3 versions of songs done by Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention without having to resort to vinyl. This also holds true with countless other bands and artists. In some cases, material is just not available yet.

Of course, I always welcome emails. I really do read all of them and respond to most. Note that key word there - MOST - because some do not warrant a response. I expected some emails (and flack) about some of the songs I added. I was actually kind of looking forward to it. Now, don't get me wrong here - it's not like the station is out to win some kind of contest or award or is trying to piss people off. 360 Degrees is definitely not going to get the nod for the Captain Obvious category because we are just not that mainstream, even when it comes to alternative music. On the other hand, we're also not trying to be the Kings of Obscurity, either.

Just like our mantra or mission statement, 360 Degrees is "classic to cutting edge". We feature four decades of alternative rock. We did this when we started and things haven't changed. The only thing that has changed, is the scope or depth of the music. What I mean by that is, we are finally able to feature more artists and titles that fit into this genre. Remember, alternative is not just a term or a type of music that ranges from the 90's through today. It's also about the music's influences - and I'm not just talking about the Ramones or the Sex Pistols either.

Face it - even the Ramones and the Pistols had influences. It's called music from the 60's like the Who, the Faces, MC5, Iggy Pop, and more. Here's another thought - all those artists had influences as well... like music from the 50's. Imagine that...

This is one reason why I've added artists like The Pink Fairies, The Troggs, The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds. The last two bands, I have to admit, raised some eyebrows. First off, the songs I added were some very early material done by each band; I'm talking circa 1965. All the songs are basic, straight forward, blues riff rock and roll... the very foundations taken almost 10 years later, modified somewhat, and turned into punk. I hate to break it to some people out there, but without the Stones and the Yardbirds, there ain't any modern rock n' roll. Period. Need further proof? Try to find a music rag from that era. Both those bands were flagged as "a new alternative sound to rock n' roll".

One of the greatest conversations I've ever had was with Seymour Stein of Sire and Warner Brothers fame. This was a number of years back, but during the conversation, he mentioned that when he first heard the Ramones, he heard music from the 60's, influences from surf, the Beach Boys, and more. He actually thought their music was "very catchy" believe it or not. So, just think... if he didn't listen to his gut and listened to these other people who told him he would "fuck up his label" if he signed The Ramones, where would we be today?

For those of you who are longing for more "obscure and/or non-mainstream" stuff from the 70's and beyond, we've got you covered. We're also added bands that truly cover the spectrum. Everything from Crass and The Plasmatics, to The Selector and Fishbone, to brand new material by Five Finger Death Punch, along with way too much more material to list.

So, keep your eye on our Facebook page as well as the blog along with an ear to the station. It will be different, cool and diverse. From classic to cutting edge. It will encompass 360 Degrees of Alternative music! Enjoy!

Until next time, keep listening.
Peace out,
Dave

Midlife Crises... What Midlife Crises? Tribal Knowledge & Passing Traditions, Bruised Egos, and More!

I gotta admit - today's title for the blog actually has me pumped! 2011 is not even a month old, and already we've had a bunch of things come down the pike and this past week was no exception. Everything from TV to emails - stuff seemed to come out of the woodwork about almost everything!

I received a very interesting email from a "new" listener of 360 Degrees of Alternative. They wrote saying that they found the station by accident, checked it out, and really liked what they heard - cool! They checked out our Facebook page & became a fan - really cool! From there, they clicked the link & visited our website. Now here is where I'm unsure if we took a detour or not. As they were reading my bio on the website, it "suddenly dawned on them how old I was"... ouch! The email went on to ask if I was experiencing some sort of a mid-life crises, because this listener did not know anybody in their late 40's who listened to ALL this type of music.

This isn't the first time I've been asked - no wait, told - I'm too old for this genre as well as this racket called rock 'n roll radio. Well, sorry to disappoint, but no crises here... just keeping the faith. The good news was, in the conclusion of the email, this listener said they would keep 360 Degrees as one of their favorites; "I like the station so much that I can overlook the fact of your age." Good - 'cause I may have to send my 55 year old friend who loves this stuff after you...

You read (or hear) the headlines - corporate buyouts, budget cutbacks, downsizing, and layoffs. The bummer about these things is that they take a toll on tribal knowledge. It seems this happens more so during tough times. Radio is not immune from this. In the commercial field, it only takes advertising revenues to fall or a decline in the ratings book for upper management to start screaming for changes. Unfortunately, it's usually the music along with the common worker that gets marked with a bulls eye.

There's an old saying - rock n' roll may not change the world, but it can change your life. I feel that this genre is one of the few that have the power to do that. The sad part is, music is a tradition - it should be passed on to generations. Artists do this on a regular basis. It's called influences. We should be doing the same. I've done it with my kids and I have friends who have done the same. I'm attempting to do the same with a world wide audience with 360 Degrees. That's why I offer four decades of music. You cannot appreciate the present unless you respect the past. This is one thing I'd like to leave the next generation, because sometimes it seems people just don't care...

Need further proof? Check out the video of the performance of 73 year old Wanda Jackson, who has been dubbed the Queen of Rockabilly, with Jack White on Letterman a few nights ago. Not only is rockabilly an influence on punk and alternative, but we also have this genre of music spanning the generations as well as being introduced to new ones. They smoke through Johnny Kidd and the Pirates' 1960s hit "Shakin' All Over." We feature the version done by The Syndicate of Sound. The performance was so hot, it nearly left Letterman speechless: "Oh my god! Holy crap! Whoa!" he said, before insisting they continue playing to close out the show. Check it out here!

I may jack a few people out of shape with this next one, but I have absolutely no sympathy for this guy. I'm talking about the creator of the TV show "Glee" Ryan Murphy. It seems that since this show is so hot, that it thinks it's exempt from some of the follies of Hollywood. Rumors have been circulating lately about the enormous egos this show has produced in such a short time and I feel some are starting to actually show themselves through the cracks in it's supposedly perfect porcelain face.

Kings of Leon have had offers out the ying-yang to appear on numerous successful TV shows. However, the band has turned every offer down. No big deal, right? Well, I guess Glee creator Ryan Murphy has a real problem with rejection. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he was quoted as saying, "Fuck you Kings of Leon. They're a bunch of self-centered assholes." According to Murphy, he was very upset and feels KOL are missing the whole point of his show. He says it's about kids, heart, and music.

The band has responded to Murhy's harsh critisim. The main reason why KOL turned down the invitiation is because the band has never even seen the program. Drummer Caleb Foolowill also added the following Twitter post; "Dear Ryan Murphy - let it go. See a therapist, get a manicure, buy a new bra. Zip your lip and focus on something else besides teaching kids how to say fuck."

Like I said... 2011 is off and running! Check that - stampeding...

Until next time, keep listening.
Peace out,
Dave

Remembering Don Kirshner, "Comeback" Seems To Be The New Buzzword, And More!

It's hard to believe that were more than halfway through January already, (which is a good thing if you live in the "snow belt" here in the US), but it seems the music news is coming at us fast & furious - even faster than the time seems to be flying by.

By now, my first topic can be considered "old news" in this digital world... even though the unfortunate event only happened 2 days ago. With the untimely passing of Don Kirshner, rock music has, bar none, lost a major figure and icon. While it's possible that anyone under the age of 25 may not have a clue as to who this man was, you should. If it wasn't for Kirshner, rock music would not be what it is today - period.

Without going into a historical diatribe on the man, (there's plenty of that to be found on the net), I considered Kirshner to be kind of a living irony. The guy couldn't sing or play an instrument if his life depended on it, but was so influential. How influential? Rumor has it that he persuaded The Rolling Stones to play on his show instead of on other TV networks, simply based on his reputation. Kirshner could only pay them $300 per man, while other network offers were around one million dollars. He also took chances. He aired bands on his late night TV show (which was 100% live) when other forms of media barely gave those bands passing glances. And this was an extreme rarity in the 70's. It's even rare today. You will be missed, Don.


Over the past few weeks, it seems "comeback" is the new buzzword for 2011. Artists from Amy Winehouse to Britney Spears have been using the term in regards to their music career. Well, add three more names to that list. Archers of Loaf, Camper Van Beethoven, and Cracker.
- Archers of Loaf, the indie icon from North Carolina, performed their 1st live gig since 1998 at the Love Language show at Carrboro, N.C.'s Cat's Cradle last Saturday. Listed only as "special guests" on the program, word still got out & the place was packed to capacity. According to reviews, the performance was outstanding.
- Camper Van Beethoven & Cracker; I can cover both these bands in one shot. Why? Because David Lowery delivered a two-for-one at New York City's Highland Ballroom last Friday night. He led Camper Van Beethoven through the entirety of 1989's Key Lime Pie, took a break, and then returned to whip through 1993's Kerosene Hat with his later group, Cracker. I'm unsure if this is a first of sorts, but it was a win-win for the fans.

Some quick notes about albums that are out today;
- The Decemberists, The King Is Dead
- Social Distortion, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

After weeks of rumors, a formal announcement was made regarding some of the bands who will be playing the 2011 Coachella Festival, which will be held April 15-17 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. For a while, everyone from Neil Young to The Rolling Stones were rumored to be playing. When the dust settled, it seems Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, the Strokes, and Kanye West are set to headline the event. Other artists who will take the stage during the festival will be The Black Keys, The National, as well as Mumford & Sons. Tickets go on sale this Friday the 21st.

While we rarely tackle anything Broadway, I do know we have some fans of U2 as well as Spider Man. There's been much anticipation for the official opening, but U2's Spider-Man musical has been delayed for a fifth time and will now premiere on March 15, producers for the show announced yesterday. The delay will allow for "more time to fine-tune aspects of the show, including the new ending," according to the New York Times. Also, well known U2 producer Steve Lillywhite has been called in to work on the show's music. I guess the $65 million dollar price tag of the show (the most expensive in Broadway history) can't buy everything...

Dabbling into a bit of interesting history, it was this week back in 1982 when the band Gene Loves Jezebel played their 1st gig under their new name at the London Institute of Contemporary Art. The band consists of identical twins Jay & Mike Aston, Ian Hudson, and a drum machine. The ironic part of all this is how the band got the gig in the 1st place. Apparently, the bartender working for the ICA highly recommended the band and was also a fan. His name? Mike Aston.

Also, this week back in 1979, the Ramones came to Hollywood to start filming the Roger Corman film, "Rock n' Roll High School". One scene calls for the Ramones to drive up to the front door of the Mayor Theater in a big pink Cadillac with leopard upholstery and a New York license plate "Gabba Gabba Hey". Hollywood would never be the same...


Until next time, keep listening!
Peace out,
Dave

2011 - This Time In The Other Direction, Meet The Staff At 360 Degrees, Live Green Day, And More!

Welcome to 2011... again! In the last blog, I highlighted a few stories on how 2011, barely a week old, got off to an interesting start. We also looked back at 2010 for a bit. Moving forward, we'll look at more upcoming stuff and who knows what else.

The big buzz over the past few days has been about the live Green Day album that's coming out in March. This may be old news for some of you, but the band is releasing a 2 disc CD on March 15th called "Awesome as F**k". All material was recorded on their latest tour. No other details are available at this time, except Amazon.com states that a DVD will also be included with the bundle that contains footage of the band performing live. The trailer has been all over the net, so what the heck - let's throw our hat into the ring!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZcCJBr_Nh4

In some other "tag line" news bits, we look at some polar opposites;
- We mentioned a while back that Coldplay is working on a new album. There's still no release date yet, but they'll be working two producers - Brian Eno and Markus Dravs. Rating = Cool!
- After a two year hiatus, Britney Spears "couldn't wait" to leak her new single, "Don't Hold It Against Me" through iTunes over the weekend. As a good friend of mine said about the song, "Sometimes the jokes just write themselves". 'Nuff said. Rating = Not Cool!

Trent Reznor, the front-man for Nine Inch Nails, is doing another movie soundtrack. You may remember he did the music for David Fincher's movie The Social Network. Trent's latest project will be the score for the American film adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestselling book The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which is also being directed by Fincher and slated to hit theaters around Christmas 2011. According to Reznor, the upcoming soundtrack will be more performance oriented and less programmed.

Here's your chance to shape the future of rock n' roll! Converse in association with Rolling Stone magazine is hosting a contest called "Get Out Of The Garage". Kind of like an on-line "American Idol", you get to vote for one of the top 10 finalists. The winning band will be the opening act on the Get Out Of The Garage tour that kicks off in March down in Austin Texas for a 6 city tour including stops in NYC and LA. Click here to cast your vote.

Speaking of "shaping the future of rock n' roll", I was looking through some history that happened during this week:

- Back in 1977, The Clash sign a world-wide deal with CBS Records with an initial signing bonus worth over 100,000 pounds. Their are rumblings in the underground that The Clash, being the last bastion of the political left, have "sold out". The band plans to release their debut single in less than eight weeks.

- Back in 1978, The Sex Pistols implode in San Francisco, less than 3 months after the release of their debut record on Warner Brothers. The band, at this point, is an absolute train wreck. The bands manager, Malcolm McLaren, is trying to stop the chaos. After their performance at Winterland in the bay city, Johny Rotten says he is through with the Sex Pistols and takes off to San Jose. Bassist Sid Vicious is depressed, suicidal, and constantly wasted. He almost OD's on heroin 2 days after the show. No one in the band wants anything to do with him. Guitarist Steve Jones & drummer Paul Cook actually plan to go on with the tour without Vicious and Rotten. The final nail in the coffin, is after expenses are subtracted for the show (and everything else) from the bands money, they are left with only $67 to split between the four of them. A day later, Johnny Rotten is in New York & makes a statement to the The New York Post stating that The Sex Pistols are finished... no more... done. He stays with various New York bands, attends some gigs, goes to some clubs, and then disappears into the city.

Finally, I received an email on Saturday asking an unusual question. The sender (also a fan of the station) wanted to know how come there are no pictures of the staff at 360 Degrees of Alternative on the website, on the Facebook page, etc. I had to admit, I never really thought about it. But, without further ado, here is the staff -


1). Gunther; IT specialist - Gunther is our "go to" guy when we experience any technical glitches, which thankfully, are very few. It's amazing what this guy did with all this equipment in a space the size of a small closet. He's working on some cool upgrades that we hope to have on-line in the very near future. He also keeps me in line when we experience "hiccups" and gives me those puppy dog eyes...


2). Yogi; Human Resources Manager - Yogi comes to us from overseas with a wealth of knowledge and life experience. He keeps the station flowing and keeps everyone on track (including me) when things get a bit hectic. I must admit, he is one of the more relaxed characters I've ever met and that's one of the main reasons why is is so key to this operation.

3). Baxter; Assistant Program Director & "Party Animal" - Believe it or not, Baxter is not all fun and games. He has quite the pulse on the alternative rock scene, especially on what's new and up & coming. He helps me keep on top of the latest news, trends and groups. Ironically, he and Gunter get along great!





That's about it for now. Until next time, keep listening and thanks!
Peace out,
Dave

Post Christmas Wishes & Resolutions, Getting Ugly, Denying Rumors, & More Chekky Dribble!

Welcome to 2011!

Alright, it's January 8th as I'm writing this, so we're more than a week into the New Year, but hey - better late than never! Over the past 2 weeks, I took a break from the blog and looked back at the 12 months we called 2010. I made some notes, as well as a list of belated Christmas wishes and resolutions to the music industry. But more on that in a bit...

First off, it seems that 2011 is off to an ugly start for Paramore. On January 7th, the band did a broadcast interview on MTV about two of their founding members leaving the band and responding to ex-guitarist Josh Farro's... "bitter" shall we say... blog post about the split. It seems that the post aimed the bulk of his aggression against singer Hayley Williams (whom he had once been romantically involved with... oops), alleging that she was a controlling force in the band, and that Paramore was really all about her.

Williams has candidly admitted that, just like Farro wrote in his blog post, the band's deal with Atlantic Records was solely under her name, (oops again...), she emphasized how she's always worked to make Paramore a real band and not just a one-woman show. As for the future, they will finish up their latest tour with replacement musicians and plan to release new music at some point in 2011.

Speaking of things getting ugly, it seems the brothers Gallagher, both formally of Oasis, (who haven't even spoken to each other since the split years ago) are feuding yet again. Noel Gallagher has a new solo album due out soon and brother Liam says Noel "stole the songs for his solo album". According to a Uncut Magazine interview, Liam says it all, "I've heard his fucking new record 'cos I fucking sung on half of it. Fucking nonsense." Wow! There's brotherly love for you! However, some music industry insiders have a few questions:
- How exactly, does Liam know that Noel stole them?
- And if Noel wrote the songs during the 2008 session of Oasis' final album "Dig Out Your Soul", how exactly do you steal your own songs?

I wrote a month or so back that Adam Yaunch of the Beastie Boys was on the mend from cancer. It's now been 18 months since he started treatments - and yes, Adam says he is feeling much better. Yes, the boys will be releasing "Hot Sauce Committee Part 2" in the spring. However, Adam will be the first to deny rumors that he is cancer free. In a recent interview with the BBC, Yaunch stated that his better health and the new release "is a good thing... we're all very excited about it. But where these rumors and statements came from, you've got me. If I'm totally cancer free, I'd like to know about it. That would be really cool!"

Ah, all this drama, rumors, etc. Reminds me of a line from a famous movie; "How can there be so many currents in such a little puddle?"

Now, since we've finished celebrating the 12 days of Christmas & hopefully still have some unbroken New Years resolutions, here's my list of gifts and wishes that I would like to pass on to the music world. I hope these artists found these "gifts" under their tree or made it part of their commitments for the New Year. My apologies in advance...

1). Lady Gaga - originality
Yes, she's popular... yes, she's everywhere. However, this artist does not have an ounce of originality. It has been noted that all her costumes ideas have been taken from other artists throughout the past 3 decades, especially Madonna. Her music contains countless rhythms, hooks, concepts, and sounds...that from other artists. Lady G - you've got the fame, the money, and the clout. Now use this leverage to actually do something that is TRULY your own.

2). Katy Perry - remembering her age & some talcum powder.
As popular as Lady Gaga except that the majority of her audience consists of 4th-9th graders. Katy dear... act your age, not your shoe size. Please mature a little bit & bring your music along for the ride. You are not the next Hanna Montana. As far as the talcum powder - with all the latex you wear, you must be running out...

3). Any friend, family member or associate of Michael Jackson - a copy of MJ's death certificate.
People please... the guy is dead. Leave him alone for once...

4). Christina Aguilera - an identity.
Christina - note to self. You are NOT Lady Gaga. For future reference, imitation sometimes is not the most sincerest form of flattery. When you tried to be something you were not, your latest album flopped and you had to cancel your tour because it bombed. Go find yourself.

5). The Who - some rehearsal time.
I love The Who. Pete Townsend is one of my favorite guitarists & biggest influences. However, when The Who played at last years Super Bowl halftime show, it became excessively apparent that they did not rehearse enough (they started a week before the gig). C'mon guys - you're better than that.

6). Courtney Love - her memory.
I know she hasn't had the easiest life over the past 15 years, however her comeback would have been better if she included one important aspect... her memory. She released a new album & went on tour using her old band's name Hole. One big problem was she forgot her former band-mates... and she needed them. She also needed to remember that she's not 25 anymore. Her voice was borderline shot or at least way out of practice. Courtney - remembering at least some of the past is a good thing.

7). Justin Bieber - an exit sign.
Justin... dude... just go away. Hang the exit sign over any door & don't come back... please.

8). To all the emo music loving teens in the malls - tissues.
OK - Fall Out Boy broke up. Cry a little, get over it. Worse things happened this year... deal.

9). Scott Weiland - rehab & sticking with it.
Maybe it was because he started drinking again. How he got out of Velvet Revolver is still a mystery to me. He should have stuck with them... at least they were very successful. As a result the Stone Temple Pilots reunion was a flop and resulted with Scott's meltdown in Houston.

10). Kesha - a reality check.
Sorry, I refuse to put a dollar sign in her name. I will admit - many people enjoy an auto-tune once in a while. However, this artist probably needs more help than anyone on this list. A HUGE reality check in fact. She honestly thinks she has talent... but she has none. She thinks she's cute... but comes across like a blithering idiot. She thinks she has a great voice... but it's unbearable. Maybe it's the ridiculous group of people around her who constantly pump her ego telling her she's so great... I don't know. But maybe Kesha can share her gift...

Here's to a prosperous (on many levels), blessed, and safe 2011!
Until nest time, keep listening and thanks!
Peace out,
Dave