Author Archives: robert duffy

donewaiting.com’s Atomic Ned is back with the new weekly installment of In My Ear. Read what Chip has to say about The Used, American Hi-Fi, Def Leppard and more.

Don’t do it. Please. Please don’t do it. It’s early enough that you can just stop this nonsense right now. Please. Please.

I was cruising Rolling Stone’s website today where I came across this article that said you were starting a VH1 Reality TV Show:

The former members of Guns n’ Roses might just have a job for you. Guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum and newcomer guitarist Dave Cushner are holding tryouts in Los Angeles to replace Axl Rose — who splintered the original combo in the Nineties — and VH1 is filming the proceedings for a new show. (full story)

Slash, I know how you feel. Every time I see Webster on The Surreal Life I just burst out laughing in a fit of utter glee. It’s great. I even like Survivor, Real World, and sometimes even The Mole. So I see where you’re coming from: you’re a big enough star to get in on the Reality TV world. That’s cool and all, but I think you’re making a mistake.

First of all, no one is going to take you seriously. No one. Not even that guy who wears a fried chicken bucket on his head who is pretending to be the new you in Guns N Roses.

Till this day, not anyone takes The Monkees seriously, and they were formed on television. And what about American Idol? Sure the single from Kelly Whatshername sold a ton, but as we like to say in the industry, “she’s got no legs!” No one will remember her name in 2 years, and Slash, the people who do remember her name, do you want them to remember your new band? No.

Finally, one word: Flickerstick. Decent band, but that VH1 “Band on the Run” show might have done more harm than good in the long run.

Slash, you don’t want to be the next Flickerstick.

Also, I hear one of the people you’re considering for the new lead singer is the guy from Skid Row, Sebastian Bach. Slash, let’s take a trip down memory lane:

That’s Gary Cherone, the guy who took over lead vocal duties for Van Halen. He used to be in a little band called Exxtreme. Remember how everyone made fun of him when he joined VH? I bet you did too.

Slash, if you continue with this show, GARY CHERONE WILL MAKE FUN OF YOU. You don’t want that, I don’t want that, Michael Jackson doesn’t want that.

I’m not that dillusional to think that you read my site, Slash, but maybe a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend does. If so, please pass this letter on to the master of the Snake Pit. Slash can e-mail me here or talk to me about this matter via AIM using my account duffyDW.

I’m considering this a high level emergency. Slash, Axl has ruined most of what was good about Guns N Roses, you’re our only hope. Please don’t go on with this game show. Please. Please.

Bonus! donewaiting.com readers, there is strength in numbers. If you believe in this cause, sign our petition! Together, we can make a difference.

If you have a second, head on over to the forum and let us know what program you use to listen to music on your computer.

Thanks.

Full details are expected to be announced Monday, but this is how it’s shaping out so far:

After five years on ice, Lollapalooza will return this summer with a heavy-hitting lineup featuring Incubus, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Jurassic 5 and festival founders Jane’s Addiction, a spokesperson for the tour said Friday. (full story)

I’m digging Queens of the Stone Age, Jurassic 5, and even Jane’s Addiction. But both Audioslave and Incubus are yawners for me, so unless more amazing bands are announced, and the tickets are on the cheaper side (doubtful), you can probably count me out for this one.

Much more interesting fantasy line-ups are being developed in the donewaiting.com message board.

The fine men and women of Zwan debuted this week @ #3 in the Billboard charts, and have just begun announcing new tourdates.

You may think donewaiting.com is a high tech, highly funded website.

Okay, who am I kidding, you probably would never think that.

Anyway, donewaiting.com spends $0 on advertising, and in return also puts zero ads on the site. We don’t do this site for money. The words written inside the walls of this website are important, not annoying pop up ads and blinking “You’ve Won!” graphics.

So anyway, what I’m asking is if you like the site, if you’re down with what we do, and you run your own website, big or small, put up a link to it. Seriously, every person that comes to the site is important, so anything you can do helps. A lot. And we appreciate it.

Link to us, sign up for The Growl (on your right), tell people about us. We’re running off of great momentum lately thanks to the launch concert and the redesign, and I want to keep it up.

Ain’t too proud to beg.

Okay, let me see if I’ve got this straight, because it’s sure making my brain hurt.

Ray Manzarek and Rob Krieger of The Doors are on the road, touring, doing the Leno show, starting a media blitz. They’ve got Ian Astbury (The Cult) on vocals
and Stewart Copeland (The Police) on drums. They’re calling the project “The Doors, 21st Century Live.” And they’re playing Doors songs. “Come on baby light my fiiiire..” That sort of thing.

Jim Morrison, lead singer, has been dead for quite some time, so that leaves him out. Okay, I get that. You can’t really have a dead guy singing.

But what about ol’ John Densmore? You know, the original drummer who is still alive? I’m glad you asked. See, Johnny had some ear problems which forced
him to not play drums anymore (but it’s been recently fixed). On top of that, he’s suing his former band mates Manzarek and Krieger for using the “Doors” name without his permission. Lay it on us, John:

“There are Doors cover bands in every city; we shouldn’t join that, should we? No disrespect to Ian Astbury or Stewart Copeland; they are wonderful musicians. But my point is they are not the Doors.” (full story)

Amen to that. Now while I can’t really comment on the lawsuit, I will agree with Densmore in the fact that replacing two members of a band and still calling it
the Doors is pretty weak. Typical of old school classic rock bands, yes, but still weak.

Why can’t these guys move on? Start new bands. Have you ever heard of WINGS? Okay, maybe a bad example. What about Zwan? Or Audioslave. Or Wilco. Or Sparta/Mars Volta. Or Foo Fighters. Or The Breeders. Or Porno for Pyros. Christ, even Big Audio Dynamite.

It seems that modern bands are able to let go of their former glories and move on with their lives (Axl Rose excepted). Not the old classic rock dinosaurs. They
love hanging on to every bit of their past, clenching it like a dead man’s fist on a dollar bill. In the end it ends up ruining the image of the band, a tarnish on
your perfect memories of the good ol’ days.

Greedy mother fuckers.

As much as I loved The Doors during my highschool years, seeing this version is sad. If you see me at one of these concerts, you have my permission to shoot me. Many times. In the head.

If you were booking Lollapalooza 2003, who would you book?

Rock the Vote’s 10th Annual Awards show is featuring a cool diverse line-up of talent: Flaming Lips, Robbie Williams, Vanessa Carlton, and Public Enemy for starters. Good cause, good music. Get out there and buy tickets, New York people. It all goes down 2/22.

Holy moley. Steve Miller just gave Throwing Muses a great breakdown in his donewaiting.com column, England Made Me.

Some time last year, I made a list of my ten favourite albums of all time, and, much to my surprise, ?The Real Ramona? slotted right in. It was an album that I hadn?t listened to for a long time, and yet one that I knew intimately. I don?t know if the new album can live up to the huge weight of expectation that I?m placing on it, but I don?t care. I have tickets for the London show, and for me, the new Throwing Muses album is the one I?m most excited about this year. (full report)

Good Job, Steve-O.

And while we’re at it, Atomic Ned laid down another installment of In My Ear. Find out what Chip thinks about Sullen, Aereogramme, and yes, Anthrax.