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The Germs reunited | 29.09.2005 |
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US and European Tours in the making...
The Germs will be performing live for the first time since December 3, 1980 to commemorate the 25-year anniversary of the band’s final show.
For their first live performance, THE GERMS will join Suicidal Tendencies, The Dead Kennedys, Marky Ramone and Flipper at the legendary Grand Olympic Auditorium for the “Waking the Dead” show on Saturday, October 29. In an unprecedented move, these punk rock luminaries will share a stage in a bona fide old school show at a venue known for holding the best punk rock shows in Los Angeles back in the day.
Actor, musician and star of popular television series E.R., SHANE WEST will be the frontman for the newly reformed and otherwise all original GERMS. This unlikely teaming was spawned from one those so-crazy-that-it-works scenarios:
It all started when WEST was cast in the role of late and legendary punk icon Darby Crash in the upcoming GERMS biopic What We Do Is Secret. Original GERMS members PAT SMEAR, LORNA DOOM, and DON BOLLES were consultants on the film, and at the wrap party THE GERMS performed with SHANE at the mic. Those in attendance were blown away--not only by the insane punk rock apocalypse that still happens when PAT, DON and LORNA play those songs together 25 years after the ball, but also by SHANE’s intense performance and uncanny similarities to original GERMS singer Darby Crash.
The chemistry was so undeniable that they decided on the spot that it was finally time to perform GERMS shows for the generations that never got the chance to experience the band in its heyday--even though they had all said it would never happen.
Now, THE GERMS’ line-up is: Original members PAT SMEAR (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) on guitar; LORNA DOOM on bass; and DON BOLLES (45 Grave, Celebrity Skin) on drums; and new addition SHANE WEST on vocals.
The Germs will do a US and European tour very soon. We will keep you posted.
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Author:  David |
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Ladyfest Mannheim is coming...14.-16. October 2005 | 19.09.2005 |
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Genderconfusion rocks
Ladyfest Mannheim is for everyone who likes feminist and queer parties, shows, workshops, exhibitions, lectures....
Ladyfest Mannheim will take place at different places in Mannheim like JUZ Mannheim, Jugendkulturuenrum Forum, ASV or the local free radio station bermuda.funk.
Since the first Ladyfest 2000 in Olympia/Washington there have been hundreds of Ladyfests all over the world. Alone this year there have been and will be five Ladyfests in Germany. Ladyfests have their roots in the RiotGrrrl Movement of the nineties, but Ladies consider themselves to be more adult and self-conscious than the Grrrlz - but they are still cool, funny, beautiful...
To be a Lady is not necessarily linked to any gendered construct:
If you feel like a Lady - you are a Lady
Ladyfest Mannheim hopes to make a powerful feminist statement and to provide fun, great music, interesting workshops etc.
For more information have a look at their homepage (see below)!
Further Links:
Ladyfest Mannheim
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| Author: Jan |
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Germany's eDay | 18.09.2005 |
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A German round-up for international readers
The next general elections in Germany weren't actually supposed to happen until 2006. Instead, the country votes today. How did the vote get moved up and what are the issues facing the country.
Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schörder was facing a major lack of support from the people and his party by having lost several fedaral election (the last one was the loss in the federal state of Nordrhein-Westfalen in which Schröders Social Democratic Party (SPD) had a majority over the past decades). With his agenda 2010, high unemployment rates (around 4,7 million people in September 2005) and a cut in social welfare and unemployment benefits, his party was following a strict reform agenda. In order to be able to continue with his agenda, Chancellor Schröder, in his view, had to ask the people directly wheather to side with him and give him the legitimacy by winning the popular vote or to move to the oposition in Parliament (Bundestag).
It wasn't, of course, supposed to be this way. By moving the elections to this Sunday he was hoping to take advantage of simmering infighting in the opposition Christian Democrats (conservative, republican party CDU/CSU) and regain enough support to get re-elected. Others speculated that he wanted a national referendum on his reform policies - a vote that would force him to leave office, but spare him the humility of having to resign.
So how exactly could Schröder move election day and dissolve Parliament?
After the historic events of the Weimarer Republik when Hitler took office in 1933, Chancellor Schröder does not have the power to dissolve parliament at will (which obviously is a necessary precondition for unscheduled new elections). Due to historic events the legal hurdles in the German Constitution are set high. Schröder's first task was demonstrating that he no longer had the confidence of his governing coalition (Vertrauensfrage), made up of his own Social Democrats and the Green Party. He called a confidence vote in parliament. As planned, he lost the vote and Schröder and formally asked German President Horst Köhler to dissolve parliament. The Federal Constitutional Court gave its approval for snap elections which the country is facing today.
The campaigns were more or less turning around topics of unemployment, a low birth rate, climbing federal debts and a sluggish economy and reforms of bureaucracy (a uniform fiscal law among other issues). Still, despite the fact that surveys indicate the famously pessimistic Germans are ready for tough reform, it has not proven a healthy basis on which to run a campaign on either political sides. As polls indicate right now, Germany will be facing a grand coalition between the Socail Democrats and the Christian Democrats which in fact has been installed (without legitimicy of course) already looking at the past reforms as Schröder did not have a majority in both, Parliament and Bundesrat (most laws have to pass both).
So in any way, if you live in Germany, please go to the polls and mark your favourite spot. For all the international readers, we will keep you updated on the situation....
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| Author: David |
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Wasted Festival is Wasted Away | 16.09.2005 |
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Not Enough Tickets Sold Combined with Bands Asking for Too Much Money
The 2005 Wasted Festival was suppose to take place on October 8-9th in the San Bernardino California. San Bernardino is about 60 miles or 96 km east of Los Angeles. The organizers decided to pull the plug.
The organizers have stated that the reason for the cancellation of the 2 day festival was due to the lack of tickets sold and that some of the bands were demanding "tens of thousands of dollars." 100 bands were suppose to play over the two day festival. The lack of interest in this concert may also be due to the location of the concert and the lack of publicity it received in the Southern California area. Some of the great bands that were going to perform included: TSOL, Flogging Molly, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Dickies, Angry Samoans, Street Dogs, The Exploited, The Adicts, Youth Birgade, Steve Jones, Marky Ramone, Agent Orange and many more.
Here is part of what the Wasted Festival Officials had to say:
"With just 24 days to go ticket sales were less than 1000 and while we appreciate that buyers in the US do buy tickets a lot nearer the show we could not take the risk that the show would not break even.
Added to this was the fact that the venue and other services and some bands were demanding tens of thousands of dollars in advance which we simply did not have, it was hopeless. When we do festivals in the UK/Europe, not many services or bands require up front monies and those that do tend to want them pretty close to the festival which means that because we sell lots of tickets in advance it all works out. This is not the case in the US and we are just not big corporate promoters with loads of cash in the bank. We rely on the support of the whole of the punk scene to put these gigs on and that support was not there."
Further Links:
wastedfestivals.com/pages/USA2005.html
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| Author: Adam |
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Fat Wreck Chord Tour In Full Effect | 14.09.2005 |
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The 2005 U.S./Canadian Fat Tour is Going Across America
The 2005 Fat Wreck Chord Tour is shaping up to be one of the biggest tours of the year. It starts this Sunday in New Haven, Connecticut on Sept 18th and runs until Decemeber 7th in Toronto, Ontario. The bands on tour include: Against Me, Epoxies, Smoke or Fire and The Soviettes. The tour plans to hit all 50 states in the U.S. (including the "deep south" which we all have come to love so much). Hawaiians should not fret because the tour is heading out to Hawaii for 2 shows and Canadians should be stoked to see them in Montreal and Toronto.
Fat Wreck Chords created a "Fat Sub-Site" for people to check out the latest news from the tour. Fat Wreck Chords has also posted the new Smoke or Fire video, "California's Burning."
Further Links:
fatwreck.com
fattour.com
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| Author: Adam |
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Seldon Hunt Interview | 08.09.2005 |
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Get a track on a free European MP3 sampler | 05.09.2005 |
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Go-Kart Records Europe lately announced their new project - the "Liberating Music" MP3 Sampler
Labels and bands watch out: Go-Kart Records Europe is now accepting submissions for their new MP3 project (after the commercially sold MP300 Raceway). This time the European branch of the label offers the unique opportunity for bands from all-over the world to get Europe-wide exposure by having a track on their freely distributed MP3 sampler called "Liberating Music". The label guarantees 20.000 copies+ which will be handed out at shows, lifestyle store, record shops and magazines across Europe. Interested bands can now contact the label in order to get on. Go-Kart is asking for a small contribution fee. Similar to the MP300 Raceway Sampler, Liberating Music will also have an interactive Flash Interface where you can gather more information about the band (bio, links to websites, album cover etc.). The CD-Rom will play on Macs, PCs, DVD players and newer CD Players. The sampler will see the light in December. Submission deadline ends October 17.
Further Links:
Liberating Music Info-Page
Go-Kart Records Europe
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| Author: David |
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New Orleans and Other Cities Are in Desperation | 03.09.2005 |
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The Poverty Stricken Area Hit Hard by the Hurricane
A week ago, Hurricane Katrina, a category 5 hurricane hit the southern gulf region of the United States. Thousands are dead, stranded, hungry and missing. Many could not evacuate the city of New Orleans because they were either too poor or did not take the warnings seriously.
Government officials underestimated the power of this storm. The government response has been slow and many have died not only from the hurricane itself but the lack of quick relief efforts given to the people in need. The hurricane exposed poor Americans who are usually swept under the rug and ignored in the United States. It is sad that a country as rich as the United States cannot rescue and provide food to the victims in a faster manner. We hope the best for the victims. Many concerts around the country have been set up to raise funds for those who have been affected by the hurricane.
Further Links:
msnbc.com
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| Author: Adam |
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Lagwagon's New Album | 01.09.2005 |
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Lagwagon's New Album Out November 1st
Lagwagon's latest album will be called "Resolve" which will be out November 1st.
The track listing is as follows:
01 Heartbreaking Music
02 Automatic
03 Resolve
04 Virus
05 Runs In The Family
06 The Contortionist
07 Sad Astronaut
08 Rager
09 The Worst
10 Creepy
11 Infectious
12 Days Of New
Their last release was the 2003 full length, "Blaze."
The art work is available on the Fat Wreck Chord website. This album is much anticipated after the tragic suicide of original drummer, Derrick Plourde.
Further Links:
lagwagon.com
fatwreck.com
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| Author: Adam |
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