Drugs | Music Vixen Blog

Break-Up: Aerosmith Worried About Tyler’s Sobriety

Published November 19th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: After 40 years, Aerosmith’s train may have finally stopped rolling. Will fans accept a new singer?

It has been a dramatic few weeks for Aerosmith, to say the least.

After a seemingly jinxed tour plagued by injury, both common (twisted knee) and bizarre (singer dances right off the front of the stage), the band recently made headlines as guitarist Joe Perry announced that singer Steven Tyler had left the band. Set to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the band is now faced with the challenge of finding a new singer.

(VIDEO: Top Rockers Audition for Aerosmith)

Of course, break-ups are never quite that simple.

Tyler then shocked everyone as he Continue reading »

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New Sublime Reunion Tour: Cool or Creepy?

Published October 27th, 2009 by Karen

13 years after Sublime singer Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose, the Long Beach, CA ska-pop reunited and hit the stage for a performance at the Smokeout Festival in California over the weekend, with plans for a full tour in the works.

We’re curious to know what Sublime fans think about the reunion, which included an array of Sublime hits, including “What I Got.”

Spin and other sources report that Nowell’s estate is seeking to squash the reunion and prevent the remaining members from using the band name.

(Read: Alice in Chains Reform After Singer’s Death)

BELOW: How well does new vocalist Rome Ramirez do with Sublime?
Check out videos below and tell us what you think.

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Guilty Lil Wayne Faces Jail Time for Guns, Drugs

Published October 22nd, 2009 by Karen

photo credit: Krysten_N

Until recently, Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne, 27, was on top of the world with critical praise and massive fan support surrounding his recent efforts, and buzz building around the delayed release of his anticipated rock album, Rebirth, now set to hit stores in December.

However, following a court date in New York on Thursday, things for the artist born Dwayne Carter have turned sour.

Although he had previously pleaded not guilty to gun charges, this morning the rapper entered a guilty plea on an attempted weapon possession charge.

According to an AP report, Carter likely faces a jail term of up to Continue reading »

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Amy Winehouse’s Dad: Rehab Money is Wasted

Published October 20th, 2009 by Wendy

photo credit: Terra Vermelha

Taking a hard line, Amy Winehouse’s dad says Great Britain is throwing out its money on the treatment of drug addicts who are too quick to say “yes, yes, yes” to rehab, according to an Associated Press report.

Mitch Winehouse told British lawmakers on Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee Tuesday that many addicts who take up treatment as an alternative to a jail time have no intention of trying to quit drugs. He further said officials are too ready to offer rehab to convicted criminals while non-offending addicts have to wait months for treatment.

Of course, Amy Winehouse is famous for “Rehab,” a song about a woman who refuses drug addiction treatment. Winehouse is also well-known from her various run-ins with the law regarding her own drug usage. She was fined in Norway for illegal marijuana possession in 2007, but has never spent time in prison for any drug offense.

Lawmakers are holding an inquiry into cocaine abuse in Great Britain.

BELOW (video): South African Creed-rock band Seether covers Amy Winehouse’s drug clinic anthem, “Rehab.“

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Lil Wayne Faces Drug Charges in Arizona

Published October 4th, 2009 by Karen

photo credit: killa_kam

Rapper Lil Wayne will go on trial next March on the felony drug possession and weapons charges he faces in a court in Yuma County, Arizona, according to an Associated Press report. The trial date was set during a court hearing on Thursday.

The case against Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, stems from his arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8 east of Yuma in January 2008. Authorities said they found cocaine, Ecstasy and Continue reading »

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Autopsy: Michael Jackson Was Healthy Before Death

Published October 3rd, 2009 by Karen

photo credit: Lord Jim

Michael Jackson was for the most part healthy at the time of his death on June 25, according to the Associated Press, which obtained a copy of Jackson’s still-unreleased autopsy report.

The news service reports that despite rumors that Jackson appeared gaunt and was “listless” at rehearsals in the weeks leading up to his death, the autopsy showed that Jackson weighed 136 pounds, within the normal range of a 5′ 9″ man, and that “his heart was Continue reading »

"[...] (Read: Alice in Chains Reform After Singer’s Death) [...]"

New Sublime Reunion Tour: Cool or Creepy? | Music Vixen Blog

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REVIEW: New Alice in Chains Black Gives Way to Blue Sounds Too Familiar

Published October 1st, 2009 by Karen

Black Gives Way to Blue

Alice in Chains

2009

MusicVixen Rating:

Recommended if you like:
Alice in Chains, Weekend at Bernie's

After singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002, it looked like things might be over for gloomy grunge kings Alice in Chains.

On Black Gives Way to Blue, Alice in Chains’ first new studio effort since Staley’s death, the band is back with a new singer and the same old sound—which might be exactly what fans wanted.

Replacing singers with soundalikes almost never works—AC/DC and Journey (shudder) may be the rare exceptions to this rule. Alice in Chains seems determined to join that club—and it just might work.

Alice in Chains fans are likely well aware the much of the band’s music was and is Continue reading »

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Reunion Alert: Iggy and the Stooges Reunion Concerts

Published September 8th, 2009 by Karen

photo credit: aleksey.const

It had previously been announced that Iggy Pop and the Stooges would be performing at the May 2 and 3 editions of All Tomorrow’s Parties in London, one of ATP’s 10^th Anniversary events.

In a new twist, the band has decided to perform the seminal album Raw Power in its entirety–with members of the original Stooges line-up.

Obviously, guitarist Ron Asheton passed away last year, rendering a proper reunion impossible. However, on 1973’s Raw Power, Asheton temporarily switched to bass while James Williamson took over guitar duties. Pop has asked Williamson to re-join the band for ATP-something he hasn’t done since 1974.

Fueled by addiction and in-fighting, the Stooges broke up following the release of 1970’s Funhouse, reformed to record Raw Power, and ultimately folded again in 1974.

Pop’s most recent album, 2009’s Preliminaires, is jazz-influenced concept album inspired by Michel Houellebecq’s novel “La Possibilité d’une île.” Uh-huh. In 2003 the punk icon took a detour into pop-punk, recording Skull Ring: a collection of songs featuring collaborations with the likes of Green Day and Sum 41 (featuring Avril Lavigne’s husband).

The Stooges are always full of surprises, but the one thing we can guarantee: sinewy Iggy Pop will be frighteningly muscular and shirtless (shudder).

Rock’n'roll.

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NEW: New Billy Corgan: Psychedelic Band with Navarro, ’60s Icons
GAMES: Kurt Cobain Sings Bon Jovi? Courtney Love Sucks.
WEIRD: Spiderman Joins Jonas Brothers: Disney Buys Marvel.

BELOW: Iggy performs the classic title track from 1973’s Raw Power LP-and a pair of Madonna hits, too! Continue reading »

"This dude has been a drug user even before the plane crash, his life has een a f---ed up mess since the day he started DJ'ing. I have no sympathy for..."

Averre

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RIP: DJ AM Dead, 36. Drugs Suspected, Autopsy Inconclusive.

Published August 31st, 2009 by Karen

photo credit: timsnell

Authorities will need to conduct toxicology tests, expected to take weeks, to find out what killed celebrity disc jockey DJ AM over the weekend, according to an Associated Press report. This was after the medical examiner’s office revealed that an autopsy of the 36-year-old had proven inconclusive.

A law enforcement official further told the AP that the police had discovered a crack pipe and prescription drugs in the NYC apartment where DJ AM’s body was discovered on Friday evening.

DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, had openly discussed past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs. Ironically, he was set to host a reality show on MTV called “Gone too Far” in which friends and family members would stage interventions for loved ones who were drug abusers.

In 2008, DJ AM and drummer Travis Barker (Blink 182) were the only survivors of a plane crash that killed four people.

DJ AM rose to fame for his creative mash-ups, blends of at least two songs, at clubs, concerts and celebrity parties. He also dated Mandy Moore and Nicole Richie, guaranteeing him tabloid interest.

BELOW: DJ AM discusses the difficulty of being a recovering drug addict hosting a show about interventions, as well as his struggles with the trauma of surviving a plane crash. Continue reading »

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VIDEO: Snoop Dogg iPhone App? Yes, Please.

Published August 12th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Another excellent use of modern technology, courtesy of Snoop Dogg (and Conan O’Brien!).

Ok, sometimes things don’t really need a long explanation to clarify why they’re awesome: like this, the new Snoop Dogg app for the iPhone.

It basically just seems to offer random soundbites from Snoop at your fingertips—a feature Conan makes good use of in the video by pressing all of the buttons at once to recreate “Thanksgiving at Snoop’s house.” Hopefully more features are available—like GPS driving directions read in Snoop’s smoky mumble.

Do you use music, band or musican-related apps on your phone?
Which ones are your favorites?
Tell us about it in the comments section!

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