Ziggy the Comment Bot

This is the discussion topic for: Thom Yorke: 'I downloaded Radiohead album for free, for my mum' Radiohead have revealed that 15 fans paid the maximum amount for ’In Rainbows’ when the band allowed fans to name their own price for the download of the album last year. “£99.99, that was the limit we had set beforehand and until now 15 (have paid that for the album),” Thom Yorke told The Independent. “And I swear the band members are not among that 15.” “I always pay, well I got our own album from our webpage free of charge,” he explained, though claimed he did it with the best intentions. “I wanted to play my mum the new songs and downloaded them on to her computer,” he said. “A journalist found out and he announced immediately that I wouldn’t pay for music from the internet. But why should I pay for my own possessions and in practice, just shovel my money from one pocket to the other? That’s ridiculous.” He said that he was not bothered by the fans who downloaded the album for free but explained: “If you think our songs are no good after listening to them, that’s a pity indeed.”

This is the discussion topic for: Kevin Greening, former Radio 1 DJ, dies in his sleep aged 44 The former Radio 1 and Radio 5 Live DJ Kevin Greening has died at the age of 44, his agent said last night. Greening, who rose to prominence when he partnered Zoë Ball on Radio 1's breakfast show in the late 1990s, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, his agent, Chris North, told the BBC. Radio 5 Live presenter Simon Mayo, who knew Greening from Radio 1, told listeners last night: "He had a very, very dry sense of humour and he was quite shy really, sometimes embarrassed about having achieved the level of fame that he did have. "Anyone who listened to his programmes could tell he was extremely bright, extremely clever. If he had a 40-second voiceover for his first record he would probably put in eight, nine, 10 little funny bits just to get the whole thing going. He was a fantastic example as to how much work should go into a programme. He was naturally gifted, and I frankly find it rather hard to believe that he's not with us any more." Fellow 5 Live broadcaster Nick Wallis said he was held in "very high regard" by "the entire industry".

This is the discussion topic for: REM name new album REM have named their new album 'Accelerate'. The band's 14th studio LP, the follow-up to 2004's 'Around The Sun', will be released in April. The band worked on the album in Vancouver and Dublin with Bloc Party and Snow Patrol producer Jacknife Lee.

This is the discussion topic for: Ozzy Osbourne and Paul McCartney To Duet At Brits? The UK Sun reports an informer from the Brit Awards has told them that Sharon wants Ozzy and Paul to sing 'Live and Let Die' at the 2008 Awards show. Ozzy is a huge fan of McCartney. The Beatles are his favourite band. Sharon said "They go together really well. It will be amazing". The source “Sharon is a very determined woman and wants it to be the best Brits ever. She’s been in touch with lots of the legendary music business names she knows personally. It was her idea for a duet between Ozzy and Sir Paul. If it happens, it will be unmissable.”

This is the discussion topic for: Radiohead to webcast New Year gig Radiohead will broadcast a performance of their new album In Rainbows on TV and the internet on New Year's Eve. The pre-recorded set will go out on US and UK cable and satellite channel Current TV, and online on Current.com and Radiohead.tv. Thom Yorke said it would begin on the band's website at midnight GMT, while the Current site said it would be webcast there from midnight EST. He also said it would include them playing "some songs and other bits". "This is a wee celebration of the release of the physical manifestation of In Rainbows," he wrote on the band's site.

This is the discussion topic for: James Bond stamps to be launched James Bond is just one of the stars of British Royal Mail’s 2008 Special Stamp programme unveiled today. To mark the centenary of the birth of Bond creator Ian Fleming, six extra-long stamps will be issued on 8th January featuring different editions of six of his most famous novels. The two 1st Class stamps feature Fleming’s first novel Casino Royale (1953) and Dr No, the first novel of the Bond series to be filmed. Fleming himself was responsible for the design of the Casino Royale & From Russia With Love covers. The 54p stamps reveal the covers of Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever, while the final 78p pairing features For Your Eyes Only and From Russia with Love. Full press release here.

This is the discussion topic for: Police have highest-grossing tour The Police had the highest-earning music tour in North America in 2007, official figures show. The band's 54 gigs in the US and Canada generated $131.9m, almost double the total of the second-placed act, country star Kenny Chesney. Complete list: 1. The Police ($131.9m) 2. Kenny Chesney ($71.1m) 3. Justin Timberlake ($70.6m) 4. Celine Dion ($65.3m) 5. Van Halen ($56.7m) 6. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ($52.3m) 7. Rod Stewart ($49.0m) 8. Genesis ($47.6m) 9. Josh Groban ($43.0m) 10. Rascal Flatts ($41.5m) Source: Pollstar

Christmas is here! Enjoy it!

This is the discussion topic for: Idiot of the Week: Chuck Norris Chuck Norris sued publisher Penguin on Friday over a book he claims unfairly exploits his famous name, based on a satirical Internet list of "mythical facts" about him. Penguin published "The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 facts about the World's Greatest Human" in November. Author Ian Spector and two Web sites he runs to promote the book, including www.truthaboutchuck.com, are also named in the suit. List of facts can be found here.

This is the discussion topic for: New Smashing Pumpkins songs on the wayThe Smashing Pumpkins have recorded four new songs for an acoustic EP, “American Gothic,” set for release Jan. 2 via iTunes. The tracks are “The Rose March,” “Pox, “Again, Again, Again (The Crux)” and “Sunkissed,” and will be available as part of a deluxe version of the band’s 2007 disc “Zeitgeist.” “We have always regretted not recording more in between tours because albums have never caught the full story of the group ... it's sort of ‘Zeitgeist’-plus,” says band leader Billy Corgan in a statement released today. The title, “American Gothic,” is “continued comment on the state of our country,” Corgan says. “I had written a bunch of material during the residencies in Asheville and San Francisco” he says, “and fans kept asking us if we were gonna put any of that stuff out. iTunes came to us wanting to do something together, so it just felt right.” “I have performed ‘The Rose March’ occasionally solo on tour, and the response from the audience always seemed to indicate the song had the ‘X’ quality. The song had an early unveiling in November 2006 when Corgan performed it in Los Angeles as part of a series of shows assembled by Pete Townshend’s girlfriend and songwriter partner Rachel Fuller. "Afterwards, Pete came up to me and asked me if we were putting that song on ‘Zeitgeist.’ I told him we weren't, and he told me I was crazy. That stuck with me — Pete certainly knows more than I.”

This is the discussion topic for: Led Zeppelin to headline Glastonbury Led Zeppelin are to headline next year's Glastonbury Festival. According to reports, a world tour will kick off at next year's Glastonbury after Robert has finished touring with American country star Alison Krauss. Led Zeppelin first inspired Michael Eavis to organise the Glastonbury Festival after he saw the band perform an open air concert in 1970. It has also been reported the rockers plan to return to New York's Madison Square Garden - where they played three historic sell-out concerts in 1973 - as part of the world tour. Although the group has previously hinted at playing further shows together, there has still been no official announcement. Earlier this month, Plant said: "It wouldn't be such a bad idea for Led Zeppelin to play together from time to time." Page has previously stated: "It's a bit selfish to do just one show. If that's it, we probably shouldn't have taken the genie out of the bottle."

This is the discussion topic for: REM set date for new album release REM will return April 1st 2008 with their new album, lead singer Michael Stipe has revealed. The band have spent two years working on the follow-up to 2004's 'Around The Sun' and speaking to journalists at a charity function in New York City, he says fans should expect something very different. Stipe said of the band's 14th album, "Let me tell you a secret: we have a great fucking record in the bag. It's a big change. It's coming out on April Fool's Day."

This is the discussion topic for: Alabama 3 to headline Hope Not Hate 2008 Alabama 3 is proud to announce that they are to headline the Hope Not Hate gig in 2008 marking the 30th anniversary of the Rock Against Racism carnival. The event will feature the Alabama 3 plus Misty in Roots, veteran orator Tony Benn and some very special guests on Wednesday 30th April 2008 at the Carling Academy Brixton. All proceeds from the gig will go to a legacy project taking the modern history of Rock Against Racism into schools and colleges.

This is the discussion topic for: British actress Gemma Arterton is the next Bond girl British actress Gemma Arterton will be the next Bond girl. According to IMDB, she has only been in 2 films and she is currently filming 2 more. The 22-year old beat out 1,500 other women to co-star with Daniel Craig in the movie which is tentatively titled Bond 22. After getting the confirmation, Arterton sent an SMS to her mom saying, “I got Bond!" Cute!

This is the discussion topic for: McDonald's Steals Artwork from Nine Inch Nails A Digg user points out how McDonald's UK stole the artwork from a "Fragile" teaser from the Nine Inch Nails.

This is the discussion topic for: White Stripes could drop touring forever Meg White is pondering her future as a touring musician this week, with news that the White Stripes may never tour again. The band came off the back of a massive world tour earlier this year, with Meg White being diagnosed with acute anxiety and unable to continue with more planned U.S. and UK dates this winter. Although the drummer has now recovered from her illness, Jack White has hinted in a recent interview that her problems may be too big for them to consider hitting the road again. When asked if the band would tour again by the Los Angeles Times, White revealed, "I don't know. I guess it's up to Meg. "The Beatles did it. I'm joking, but if we didn't ever tour again it wouldn't matter to me". "If something isn't working for you and it's detrimental to you, then you have to figure out a new way to attack it, a new way to look at it. I think that's what Meg's doing".

This is the discussion topic for: Coldplay post Christmas song online A version of ‘2000 Miles’, a hit for The Pretenders in 1983, has been posted up on the Coldplay website, allowing fans to listen to it now. The track was initially available for download on their official site in 2003. It was the top selling UK download that year, with proceeds from the sales donated to Future Forests and Stop Handgun Violence campaigns. Writing on the site, frontman Chris Martin writes: “We love Christmas songs, but every time we try and write one it’s awful. So we cover them. Well, once or twice actually. The one song I would most liked to have written is ‘Fairytale of New York’ by de bloody Pogues of Ireland.”

This is the discussion topic for: Tori Amos Tells 'Fans' To Get The Fuck Out! During a gig in San Diego on Wednesday night, Tori Amos blasted two women in the audience telling them to “get the fuck out” of her show. Tori was performing her track ‘Code Red’ at the Copley Symphony Hall when she became irate with the ‘fans’ on the front row who kept leaving and re-entering the auditorium. Midway through the track, she lost her nerve and told the women: “Get the fuck out of my show! Get the fuck out! It's a privilege to sit in the front row and I reserve those seats for people who appreciate music, get the fuck out!" Watch video below

This is the discussion topic for: Ike Turner dies at 76 The great mysician, who became famous for beating Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in San Diego. He was 76. Turner died at his San Marcos home, Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's career, told The Associated Press. There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by web site TMZ.com. Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in later years, touring around the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical acclaim for his work. He won a Grammy in 2007 in the traditional blues album category for "Risin' With the Blues." In a 2001 interview with The Associated Press, Turner denied his ex-wife's claims of abuse and expressed frustration that he had been demonized in the media while his historic role in rock's beginnings had been ignored. "You can go ask Snoop Dogg or Eminem, you can ask the Rolling Stones or Clapton, or you can ask anybody — anybody, they all know my contribution to music, but it hasn't been in print about what I've done or what I've contributed until now," RIP

This is the discussion topic for: Morrissey Unveils New Single And Greatest Hits Album Morrissey is set to release a new single, ‘That’s How People Grow Up,’ on January 28th. The song is one of two new songs that also feature on the singer’s greatest hits album, which is due for release the following week. ‘That’s How People Grow Up’ was recorded in Huston alongside Jerry Finn – who also produced Morrissey’s 2004 album, ‘You Are The Quarry.’ The singer is currently working on a new studio album with Finn which is expected towards the end of 2008.

This is the discussion topic for: Led Zeppelin Reunion Triggers Huge Sales Surge Sales of Led Zeppelin's albums and merchandise have surged following their reunion concert in London. According to figures published yesterday, the band’s recently released and digitally re-mastered greatest hits album, ‘Mothership,’ has overtaken the Spice Girls to become the weeks number one selling record in UK. Gennaro Castaldo, a spokesman for HMV said: “It was our best-selling album today, up from number eight last week. Led Zeppelin t-shirts have also been our most popular since the concert.” Gennaro told the Telegraph that sales of the band’s back catalogue and DVD, ‘The Song Remains The Same,’ had increased by 500% since Monday’s concert.

This is the discussion topic for: Billy Joel releases anti-war song Billy Joel has released a new pop single, the anti-war "Christmas in Fallujah." Just don't expect to hear his voice on it. At 58, Joel felt he was too old to sing the song, which was inspired by letters he received from soldiers in Iraq. So he gave it to Cass Dillon, a 21-year-old singer-songwriter from Long Island. "I thought it should be somebody young, about a soldier's age," Joel said in a statement on his Web site. "I wanted to help somebody else's career. I've had plenty of hits. I've had plenty of airplay. I've had my time in the sun. I think it's time for somebody else, maybe, to benefit from my own experience." Dillon said he was thrilled. "When someone of that stature, with that history of great songs behind him with such a huge catalog asks you to sing something he's written, there's nothing you can do but be completely honored to perform," Dillon said in a statement. "Christmas in Fallujah" went on sale Tuesday on Apple Inc.'s iTunes. Net proceeds will be donated to Homes for Our Troops, which builds homes for severely wounded veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. AP

This is the discussion topic for: Idiot of the week: Nicky Wire Nicky Wire from the Manic Street Preachers have slammed Radiohead accusing the Oxford band of “demeaning” music by releasing their album ‘In Rainbows’ as a ‘pay what you want’ download saying that by allowing fans to decide their own price, such a move could have serious reverberations in the music industry. Wire said: “Fair play to Radiohead for doing something different. It’s certainly great publicity but I think it kind of demeans music. “Music used to be a market, now it’s all gone digital. It’s worrying and it seems to be the way of the world at the moment.” “Sales are doing well everywhere else. Cinema is doing well, video games are doing well but music isn’t. The free download phenomenon is ruining the industry.” Continuing his rant, and totally unrelated to Radiohead, Wire turned is attention the way in which reality TV is saturating society. He told the Daily Star: “I can’t bare the X Factor judges and the shit they put out every year. It’s just a load of untalented fuckwits that destroy the music industry.”

This is the discussion topic for: 50 Cent: File-Sharing Doesn't Hurt Artists, Industry Should Adapt Before getting up on stage at a club in Oslo, 50 Cent gave an interview. In it he denied taking coke on live TV in Zagreb and thencommented on file-sharing: “What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn`t hurt the artists!” 50 Cent was asked: “How are G-Unit Records doing in these times of file-sharing? “Not so good. The advances in technology impacts everyone, and we all must adapt. Most of all hip-hop, a style of music dependent upon a youthful audience. This market consists of individuals embracing innovations faster than the fans of classical and jazz music.” “What is important for the music industry to understand is that this really doesn’t hurt the artists. A young fan may be just as devout and dedicated no matter if he bought it or stole it.” “The concerts are crowded and the industry must understand that they have to manage all the 360 degrees around an artist. They have to maximize their income from concerts and merchandise. It is the only way they can get their marketing money back. The main problem is that the artists are not getting as much help developing as before file-sharing. They are now learning to peddle ringtones, not records” he said. “They don’t understand the value of a perfect piece of art.” The rest of the interview? "I didn't do coke on camera" over and over again. Ok... Source: Torrentfreak

This is the discussion topic for: Abba get museum in Sweden Plans for Stockholm's museum dedicated to supergroup Abba have been unveiled by organisers in Sweden. The new attraction, due to open in the Swedish capital in June 2009, will include an area where fans can make their own recordings of Abba hits. The three-floor complex will also feature a wardrobe room dedicated to the band's famous fashions. Link