By Hans Fink
In this month’s top story, multi-instrumentalist and FOO FIGHTERS frontman DAVID GROHL is moving to the East Coast to embark on a hip-hop project entitled the Foo-Tang Clan. Okay, just kidding. The real story involves a new Foo Fighters album being in the works. Be sure to check out tease.foofighters.com for a 10-second taste. This will be the Foo Fighters seventh album, which to be honest, I did not even realize they had that many albums, as there is little distinction between any of their songs. The cool thing about this album is Grohl and producer BUTCH VIG decided to go old school and record the entire thing on analog tape in Grohl’s garage in the San Fernando Valley. In the 818, some people make porn in their garages, others apparently hearken to the days of analog to make rock albums. Concurrent with the release of the as-yet-untitled album will be a full length documentary directed by Academy Award winner JAMES MOLL (The Last Days, Running the Sahara). As the Foo Franchise grows, it’s possible that a children’s cartoon entitled Winnie the Foo may soon debut.
And apparently, the line between gangsta rapper and Wall Street mogul is a very thin and blurry one, as rap star 50 CENT, otherwise known as “Fitty,” managed to boost the value of H&H Imports stock nearly fourfold using the power of Twitter. What an age we live in. To avoid any possible confusion of inside trading (yes, Fitty does have some interest in the company) some cautionary notes were posted alongside the tweets . . . the same tweets that were eventually erased from his Twitter account. Apparently, CARMEN ELECTRA and SHAQUILLE O’NEAL have jumped on the band wagon for touting penny stocks but truth be told I don’t care. Who needs Warren Buffet when we have entertainment celebrities to rely on for investment advice?
Speaking of musicians branching out into areas beyond music, rock guitar icon SLASH has started his own film production company entitled Slasher Films in partnership with MICHAEL WILLIAMS and ROB ERIC of Scout Productions (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Three Musketeers, Fog of War, etc.). As you may have expected, they will be producing independent horror films. This comes hot on the heels of Slash’s successful 2010 solo release, which was creatively entitled Slash.
In legal news, BOB MARLEY’s heirs have one a law suit in Nevada Superior Court regarding misuse of the legendary reggae icon’s image. Jurors ruled against Leo Valencia, owner of a company called AVELA who apparently was going around making and distributing Bob Marley plush toys and bobbleheads. SO far, $300,000 has been awarded to Marley’s heirs. This isn’t the first time AVELA (not to be confused with the male enhancement product) has been sued for misappropriation of an iconic image in their merchandise. In 2009, BRUCE LEE’s estate also filed suit against the company.
And in exciting Coachella news, this year’s lineup has been announced, but I don’t really feel the need to report this because if you have the Internet and you love music, then you already know. But in case you’ve been offline for the past month, here’s some hints: Friday night will be headlined by the KINGS OF LEON, Saturday by ARCADE FIRE and Sunday by KANYE WEST. For a complete line up and Coachella news, do the logical thing and log on to www.coachella.com.
