Queens of the Stone Age http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/rss/C627 This BMI RSS feed contains news articles, events, and musicworld articles for a specific affiliate or group. en affiliates@bmi.com Copyright 2008 2008-07-23T22:00:01-05:00 Mastodon http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/534634 Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, Rock, Hitmaker Concept albums aren’t just for nostalgic ’70s lava-lamp owners, as recent releases by such diverse acts as Green Day and The Mars Volta have proved. And still more new life is being breathed into the model by Atlanta-based quartet Mastodon.

New album Blood Mountain (Reprise) tells of a quest to ascend the titular crag to find a crystal skull, reach the peak and insert the skull inside the band members’ own heads in order to transport them to the next phase of human evolution — all aided and abetted by the band’s trademark melding of crusty prog, speed metal, death imagery, and a surprisingly catchy cache of tunes.

“We get lost, face starvation, have to kill our own food and eat it. We get trapped in an avalanche and we meet all these creatures along the way,” expands drummer Brann Dailor, who writes the lyrics along with singer/bassist Troy Sanders and guitarist Brent Hinds.

And, as evidenced by the group’s moniker, it’s all pretty heavy. “This album is a nice collaboration of everybody’s character and individuality,” Sanders says. “We’ve combined to make a meal with wicked ingredients. But most important, everything we do is completely pure and honest.”

With guests ranging from Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme to The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler, Blood Mountain continues to forward momentum begun on Mastodon’s last album, 2004’s Leviathan (based on Moby-Dick), which led to Kerrang labeling them “The Best Band on the Planet.”

The group came together from the ashes of hardcore acts Four Hour Fogger (Sanders and Hinds) and Today Is The Day (Dailor and singer/guitarist Bill Kelliher). “Within five minutes it felt like a done deal,” Sanders attests.

“When we started, we never imagined getting to where we are today,” he adds. “It's all been part of this crazy journey that we’ve lived, and we’ll keep rolling forward. We feel like we’ve still got so far left to go.”

]]> 2007-03-18T23:55:00-05:00 Lollapalooza: Chicago http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/3483 Artists, Death Cab For Cutie, Queens of the Stone Age, Shins, The, West, Kanye, Wilco, Regions, Chicago Lollapalooza 2006, August 4-6 in Grant Park. Among the 120-plus artists are Lolla veterans Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chicago sons Kanye West, Wilco and Common, Manu Chao (in a rare U.S. appearance), Death Cab for Cutie, the Raconteurs, Queens of the Stone Age, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Matisyahu, and many more. With a vibrating mixture of hipster pop, meaty garage, and Midwest cool topped with a frosting of hometown hip-hop, Lollapalooza claims a multi-flavored lineup worthy of true music seekers.]]> 2006-08-04T15:00:00-05:00 God or Julie http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/533501 Artists, God or Julie, Queens of the Stone Age, Musicworld, On The Scene Some rock ‘n’ roll families snort up mountains of blow and fookin’ belittle each other in every interview. Some rock ‘n’ roll families outgrow their evangelical heritage and nail every aspiring model on either side of the Atlantic. Other rock ‘n’ roll families freak out when they share rehearsal space with former Spacehog members, blog extensively about their infatuation with other bands, and name their band after… we’re not going to divulge that just yet. God or Julie has plenty of time to emulate Oasis or Kings of Leon’s tabloid theatrics. For now, the modest Colorado transplants are preoccupied with wreaking sultry melodies, colossal walls of distortion, and indelible hooks.

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. Two blues brothers and their cousin, move to the Big Apple to make it as a hard rock band. But trust us, the punch line kicks ass. In their early high school years, J.P (Jon Paul), Adam and Aaron Johnson were obsessed with playing the blues, sneaking into Denver clubs, trading licks and downing shots with players four times their age. Networking paid fast dividends. One of their first gigs was opening for surf legend Dick Dale. But once puberty kicks in, the blues seems like an old man’s game, and the Johnson boys soon found themselves intoxicated by not just the dreamy sway of Ours and Our Lady Peace, but the aggressive guitar rock of Queens of the Stone Age, STP and Silverchair. Now fast-forward 3 years, the Johnson clan relocated to Manhattan, befriended drummer Marc Slutsky (ex-Splender), and rechristened themselves God or Julie.

The band’s name, like it’s songs, eludes simple explanation. “I think if people like it it’s because it ties into something way down inside them,” says Jon Paul. “The music altogether is deeper than words,” continues Aaron, “and it has its own meaning for everyone because it’s filtered through their unique experience, including the four of us.” So about the name? Adam quips, “The band was discussing a friend who wrote literally every song about either God or his girlfriend Julie. In turn “God or Julie” got thrown into our grab bag of album title ideas, but when I suggested it as our band moniker, the light bulb went on and we all jumped on it. Mainly because of it’s wide-open “what-the-fuck?” quality.”

Recording the band’s debut full-length “What Doesn’t Kill You” wasn’t an arduous process so much as an intense one. As the album was being recorded, J.P. kept spawning new ideas, the band’s sound continued to be refined, and their identity was reformed. For example, in the self-produced opening tandem “Let It Bleed Again” and “Say Your Last Goodbye” God or Julie carries the smoldering melodic torch of Placebo, HIM and Muse, but JP’s emotive falsetto and Adam, Aaron, and Marc’s lockstep confidence make these songs entirely their own. As JP puts it “I wouldn’t say our writing’s cryptic, per se, but it’s less story-oriented and more about conveying emotion.” “All the songs are a little bit on the darker side,” adds drummer Marc, “But it’s not necessarily dark music.” Other “softer side” classics such as “Fallen Soldier” and “Oxygen” only add to the brilliance and diversity of the disc. “Our musical style and sound comes more from playing together for the past seven years than anything else,” muses Adam. Little wonder God or Julie can intertwine euphoria and melancholy so effectively - you can leave the blues behind, but the blues never leave you.

http://www.godorjulie.com/

]]> 2006-07-14T16:20:01-05:00 ‘Honor’ Shows Foo Fighters at Their Finest http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/533323 Cobain, Kurt, Foo Fighters, Grohl, Dave, Hawkins, Taylor, Jones, John Paul, Jones, Norah, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Rock, Feature The Foo Fighters‘ career has been, as even its members concede, an unlikely one. Starting out with a handful of self-recorded demos never meant for release, former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl has grown the group into one of rock’s most energizing and accessible acts, scoring Best Rock Album Grammys for two consecutive releases (1999’s There Is Nothing Left to Lose and 2002’s One By One) and selling out concerts around the world.
To celebrate its 10 th year of existence—and to thank its numerous fans—Grohl hit upon the plan to make its fifth album, In Your Honor (RCA), a double disc. And if that wasn’t enough, he decided the album would be evenly split between one hard rocking set and one acoustic, more introspective one.
“By splitting the difference,” he explains, “you eliminate the middle ground. We can make the acoustic record far more delicate and beautiful and atmospheric than anything we’ve ever done, and we can make the rock record far more brutal and aggressive and powerful than anything from our past. I’ve always sort of believed we were capable of doing both—just not as well as this has turned out.”
Indeed, In Your Honor has received critical hosannas across the board, with comparisons to Led Zeppelin’s double album Physical Graffiti making practically de rigueur appearances in reviews. Ranging from the intensely personal single “Best of You” and the throbbing title track, to quieter numbers like “Still” and “Friend of a Friend”—the latter apparently a tribute to the late Kurt Cobain—the release comes off as two very distinct records, albeit of one dedicated mind.
“Everyone in the band has so much to offer,” Grohl says of fellow Foos Nate Mendel (bass), Taylor Hawkins (drums) and Chris Shiflett (guitar). “But we’d sort of remained in this one ‘thing’ for so long that I felt it was time to break out, to branch out, that maybe we should make the acoustic record. But then this band just has to make some rock music so I thought, ‘Okay, why don’t we do this? Why don’t we make a double album?’”
Throw in an impressive range of guest stars—from Norah Jones on “Virginia Moon” and Queens of the Stone Age leader Josh Homme on “Razor” to Zep’s own John Paul Jones on “Miracle” and “Another Round,” and you have a work that’s musically beefy yet also just fun to listen to, as is the case with the best of the Foos.
“In 20 years, when some kid asks his dad, ‘You ever hear of Foo Fighters? Which record should I get?’ they should say In Your Honor,” Grohl affirms. “I want people to say, ‘Wow, that’s the album they’ll be remembered for’.”

]]> 2006-06-02T15:27:00-05:00 Eagles of Death Metal http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/4060 Distillers, The, Eagles, The, Queens of the Stone Age, Rock, On The Scene It seems that with each change of season, a member of Queens of the Stone Age is issuing a new album by one of their many side projects. 2004 saw the release of the debut full-length by the Eagles of Death Metal, Peace, Love Death Metal. The group’s chief contributors include QOTSA main man Josh Homme (who goes by the alias of Carlo Von Sexron, and handles drums, rather than his usual guitar/vocal duties) and Jesse Hughes (vocals, guitar). Both hail from Palm Desert, Calif., and have been friends since Hughes’ family moved to the aforementioned arid location in 1979. The pair bonded as teenagers while playing together on the same local soccer team, but went in separate career paths after graduation—Homme went on to form the underappreciated Kyuss before launching Queens of the Stone Age, while Hughes attended the University of South Carolina and became a journalist. Homme later re-entered the picture, and convinced his old friend (who was down in the dumps at the time over a divorce) to start jamming on music. The Eagles of Death Metal were formed soon after, as the group debuted with a few tracks on Volumes 3-4 of Homme’s ongoing Desert Sessions series in 1998.

Despite their misleading name, the group’s sound was more akin to classic garage rock, with some elements of the Rolling Stones added in for good measure. But the new group was put on the back burner while Homme got Queens of the Stone Age off the ground (interestingly enough, with another high school friend of both his and Hughes, bassist Nick Oliveri). When QOTSA quickly became one of the world’s most talked-about hard rock bands (due to such exceptional releases as 1998’s Queens of the Stone Age, 2000’s R, and 2002’s Songs for the Deaf), Homme sought to re-launch the Eagles of Death Metal as more than just a one-off project.

Reconvening in 2003, the duo recorded three-days worth of material (almost all of the songs being taped on the very first take). A buzz surrounding the group began amongst the QOTSA faithful when Homme wore an Eagles of Death Metal t-shirt throughout QOTSA’s Lollapalooza road jaunt that summer, while a sneak preview track, “I Only Want You,” was mysteriously leaked via mp3 among fans online. With QOTSA taking a breather, Homme and Hughes (with guitarist Timmy VanHamel in tow) then set out on the Eagles’ very first tour, as they opened up for Placebo during late November/early December. The group’s highly anticipated debut full-length, Peace, Love Death Metal finally surfaced in March of 2004 (after several proposed release dates came and went)—issued via Homme’s own Rekords Rekords label, and AntAcidAudio (a sister label of Ipecac Records, run by Mike Patton). The group’s first European tour followed shortly thereafter, opening for the Distillers. Additionally, Hughes supposedly recorded a solo album, Fabulous Weapons, a year before the recording of Peace, Love Death Metal. The recording was ultimately shelved, but as reported on the Eagles of Death Metal’s website, it may surface as a limited release.

Hughes and Homme reconvened in fall 2005 to make the second Eagles of Death Metal album; joined by Jack Black, Brody Dalle, Mark Lanegan and QOTSA’s Joey Castillo, they recorded Death by Sexy in eight days. After a brief U.K. tour late that year, the Eagles of Death Metal toured with the Strokes in spring 2006, leading up to Death by Sexy‘s release.

Greg Prato, All Music Guide

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]]> 2006-05-18T21:30:00-05:00 It’s Eight Grammy Nods for Mariah, Kanye and Legend http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334631 Artists, Adams, William, Adams, Yolanda, Aguilera, Christina, Audio Adrenaline, Audioslave, Austin, Dallas, Ayala, Ramon, Ball, Marcia, Barretto, Ray, Big & Rich, Black Eyed Peas, Blanchard, Terence, Blue Highway, Bolcom, William, Boyer, Peter, Brooks & Dunn, Bush, Sam, Carey, Mariah, Carr, Kurt, Casting Crowns, Cerf, Christopher, Chapman, Steven Curtis, Cherryholmes, Childs, Billy, Chirino, Willy, Clapton, Eric, Clark-Cole, Dorinda, Common, Cooder, Ry, Copeland, Stewart, Crow, Sheryl, Cunliffe, Bill, D'Rivera, Paquito, Daft Punk, Daniels, Charlie, De La Soul, Death Cab For Cutie, Del McCoury Band, The, DiFranco, Ani, Dixie Chicks, Douglas, Dave, Douglas, Jerry, Du Prez, John, Elfman, Danny, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Floetry, Foo Fighters, Foster, David, Foxx, Jamie, Franklin, Aretha, Franklin, Kirk, Game, The, Gatlin, Larry, Gil, Gilberto, Gill, Vince, Golijov, Osvaldo, Gorillaz, Guy, Buddy, Haggard, Merle, Hancock, Herbie, Hanna, Jeff, Hill, Faith, Holland, Dave, Houghton, Israel, Hummon, Marcus, Hunt, Van, Idle, Eric, Intocable, Jamiroquai, Jars of Clay, Jerkins, Rodney, Jones, Norah, Keane, Kee, John P., Keith, Toby, Kelly, R., King, B.B., Krauss, Alison, La Tropa F, LaBelle, Patti, Lawrence, Donald, Legend, John, Linkin Park, Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5, McBride, Martina, McClinton, Delbert, McClurkin, Donnie, McGehee, Vicky, McGraw, Tim, McLachlan, Sarah, Metheny, Pat, Miguel, Luis, Mo, Keb, Molotov, Mos Def, Munizzi, Martha, Murphy, Walter, Nelson, Willie, Neptunes, The, Nickelback, Orishas, Palmieri, Eddie, Prine, John, Queens of the Stone Age, Rascal Flatts, Redman, Joshua, Rollins, Sonny, Seal, Shakira, Shorter, Wayne, Souza, Luciana, Sturr, Jimmy, Sugarland, System of a Down, Turtle Island String Quartet, Urban, Keith, Vega, Louie, Vincent, Rhonda, West, Kanye, White Stripes, The, Williams, John, Wilson, Brian, Winans, Bebe, Winans, CeCe, Winter, Paul, Yazbek, David, Ying Yang Twins 48th Annual Grammy Awards with eight nods each when contenders were announced at a star-studded press conference held December 8 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Their three-way tie pushed the total number of BMI-nominated songwriters and artists to an astounding 70% in the general fields.

Mariah CareyKanye WestJohn Legend

Mariah Carey's multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, and its smash single "We Belong Together," helped the pop singer score three of the most coveted Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The hit ballad also picked up mentions for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while Mimi added Best Contemporary R&B Album to Carey's haul.

Presenters for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards nominations included BMI songwriter/artists John Legend, CeCe Winans, Mariah Carey, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Patti LaBelle. Photo by S. Lovekin/WireImage

Rapper Kanye West continued his red hot streak, also earning nominations in the Album and Record of the Year categories with his sophomore release Late Registration and the hit "Gold Digger," respectively. He will compete against himself for the Album of the Year title as a producer on Carey's disc. As a songwriter, West will battle for the Best Rap Song crown with his "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," as well as Best R&B Song as a co-writer on the Alicia Keys track "Unbreakable."

Black Eyed Peas Brooks & Dunn

Soul singer John Legend is up for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for his debut Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Song of the Year for "Ordinary People," which he also co-wrote. Legend joins his mentor Kanye West and rapper Common on the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ticket with "They Say."

Casting Crowns Common

Coming in with six nominations was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas who, as a songwriter, has a shot at Song of the Year and Best R&B Song as co-writer of Legend's "Ordinary People" and Best Rap Song for the Peas' hit "Don't Phunk with My Heart." The band is also up for Best Rap and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Death Cab for Cutie Foo Fighters

In addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Common earned three other mentions, including Best Rap Album for Be. Four nods also went to Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Billy Childs and BMI producer/songwriters the Neptunes, who have production credits on two Album of the Year nominees -- Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi and Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

The Game GorillazJohn Williams

Earning three nominations apiece were Sheryl Crow, with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Good is Good"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Wildflower) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the single "Building Bridges," featuring Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill; Eminem (Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album); and film composer John Williams, up for Best Score for Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for both "Anakin's Betrayal" (from Revenge of the Sith) and "The Ferry Scene" (from the War of the Worlds soundtrack).

Maroon 5 Norah Jones Sheryl Crow

Double nominees included rappers The Game and T.I., songwriter Marcus Hummon, singer Norah Jones and gospel diva CeCe Winans.

Other BMI songwriters and artists collecting Grammy nominations were Christina Aguilera, Dallas Austin, Casting Crowns, Eric Clapton (PRS), Death Cab for Cutie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Elfman, Fall Out Boy, Osvaldo Golijov, Dave Holland Big Band, Intocable, Keane (PRS), Maroon 5, Sugarland, Ying Yang Twins, and BMI Icons Charlie Daniels and Brian Wilson.

SugarlandT.I.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 8.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Nominees:

8 NOMINATIONS
Mariah Carey
John Legend
Kanye West

6 NOMINATIONS
William Adams

4 NOMINATIONS
Billy Childs
Common
Foo Fighters
Gorillaz (PRS)
The Neptunes

3 NOMINATIONS
Yolanda Adams
The Black Eyed Peas
Sheryl Crow
De La Soul
Eminem
Herbie Hancock
Faith Hill
Alison Krauss & Union Station
John Williams

2 NOMINATIONS
Bobby Boyd
Brooks & Dunn
Andrew Coleman
Andrew Dawson
Dixie Chicks
The Game
Michael Giacchino
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Norah Jones
Delbert McClinton
Donnie McClurkin
Joel Moss
Willie Nelson
Al Schmitt
Fat Man Scoop
T.I.
The White Stripes
CeCe Winans

MORE NOMINEES
Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill
Christina Aguilera
Trey Anastasio
Audio Adrenaline
Audioslave
John August
Dallas Austin
Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Marcia Ball
Ray Barretto
Steve Berkowitz
Big & Rich
Terence Blanchard
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Blue Highway
Printz Board
William Bolcom
Peter Boyer
Solomon Burke
Burning Spear (PRS)
Sam Bush
Gary Calamar
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels Orishas (SACEM)
Kurt Carr
Casting Crowns
Christopher Cerf
Steven Curtis Chapman
Cherryholmes
The Chieftains (IMRO)
Willy Chirino
Eric Clapton (PRS)
Dorinda Clark-Cole
Conjunto Progreso
Ry Cooder
Stewart Copeland
The Crabb Family
Robert Cray
Bill Cunliffe
Rivers Cuomo
Daft Punk (PRS)
Charlie Daniels
Day of Fire
Death Cab for Cutie
Deep Dish
Mos Def
Jack De Johnette
The Del McCoury Band
Ani DiFranco
Jerry Douglas
Dave Douglas
Paquito D'Rivera
John Du Prez (PRS)
Jerry Duplessis
Nokie Edwards
Danny Elfman
Ahmet Ertegun
Bill Evans
Fall Out Boy
Sammy Figueroa
Béla Fleck
Floetry
David Foster
Jamie Foxx
Aretha Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Carlos Franzetti
Larry Gatlin
Joachim Garraud (SACEM)
Gilberto Gil
Vince Gill
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Osvaldo Golijov
The Grascals
Grits
Buddy Guy
Merle Haggard
John Hammond
Raiatea Helm
Dave Holland Big Band
Israel Houghton
Van Hunt
Eric Idle (PRS)
Intocable
Jamiroquai (PRS)
Jars of Clay
The Jazz Chamber Trio
Rodney Jerkins
Eric Johnson
George Jones
The Jordanaires
Ledward Ka'apana
Keane (PRS)
John P. Kee
Garison Keillor
Toby Keith
R. Kelly
B.B. King
Kitaro
Kraftwerk (GEMA)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SAMRO)
Las 3 Divas
La Secta Allstar
The Last Poets
La Tropa F
Donald Lawrence
Ricky Lewis
The Light Crust Doughboys
Lil Wayne
Harold Lily
Aaron Lindsey
Linkin Park
Little Joe
Los Lonely Boys
Los Pleneros de la 21
Andre Lyon
Maroon 5
Joeworn Martin
Martina McBride
Delbert McClinton
Vicky McGehee
Tim McGraw
Sarah McLachlan (SOCAN)
Meat Beat Manifesto
Pat Metheny Group
Luis Miguel
Mingus Big Band
Ministry
Keb Mo
Molotov
Rick Moranis (SOCAN)
Mudvayne
Martha Munizzi
Walter Murphy
Meshell Ndegeocello
North Mississippi Allstars
The Oak Ridge Boys
Claus Ogerman (GEMA)
Walter Ostanek (SOCAN)
George Pajon, Jr.
Eddie Palmieri
John Prine
Queens of the Stone Age
Rascal Flatts
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
Sonny Rollins
The Royal Jesters
Eddie Santiago
Marvin Sapp
Seal (PRS)
José Serebrier
Shakira
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Ron Sluga
Omar Sosa
Luciana Souza
Jimmy Sturr
Sugarland
Tierney Sutton
System of a Down
Ali Farka Touré (BUMDA)
Tiempo Libre
Turtle Island String Quartet
Keith Urban
Bebo Valdés
Marcello Valenzano
Louie Vega
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
Brian Wilson
BeBe Winans
George Winston
Paul Winter Consort
Hugh Wolff
David Yazbek
Ying Yang Twins

]]> 2005-12-11T17:00:01-05:00 The Royal Highness http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/4028 Artists, Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Highness, The, Musical Styles, Rock, Musicworld, On The Scene What is it about Denmark? Not many people live there, but every year they seem to throw up another band capable of taking up residency within the rock ‘n roll establishment.  The Royal Highness is this year’s debutant and are about to crash the ball…

If you like a classic voice that could fit anywhere in time from 1970 through to the present day, if you like your riffs big and bold, if you want your blood to pump when listening to music, then the Royal Highness make up that prescription. Seriously, if you took every great rock vocalist over the past 35 years and rolled them into one, you’d end up with Dennis from the Royal Highness. He opens his mouth, we listen. If you like your loud, screaming “melody, melody, melody,” then the Royal Highness are for you. If you like rock to sound like a hybrid of Nirvana, Queens of the Stone Age with a touch of Soundgarden thrown in for good measure, then the Royal Highness are for you.

Formed a mere 10 months ago, and having only played half a dozen shows, the band has progressed enormously. Now ready to share their music with the world, they travel to the USA and the UK in September to venture into the establishment’s own back yard and take up a well-earned residency.

The Royal Highness are Dennis, Thomas and Mads. A lot of noise for just three Vikings.

]]> 2005-08-31T19:07:00-05:00 BMI Pick of the Month http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/500041 Artists, Queens of the Stone Age, Run Run Run, Musical Styles, Rock, Regions, Los Angeles, Songwriter / Industry, Showcase, Showcase Templated BMI sprinted over to the Troubadour to catch Run Run Run, its Pick of the Month for July. The packed crowd was treated to a full set of their dreamy but abrasive rock music, which has this band gaining the lead.
Shown after the show are (back row l to r): Bandmembers Jeramy Gritter, Xander Smith, Ed Keller, Charlie Paulson and Daniel Dod. Front row (l to r): BMI’s Barbara Cane, Tracie Verlinde and Myles Lewis.
Formed in 2001, Run Run Run was created when Smith went to Joshua Tree to record with producer Fred Drake (Queens of the Stone Age, Earthlings). Creating dreamy but abrasive rock music, Smith created Rx3 with Jeramy Gritter (bass/vocals), Peter Martin (guitar), Daniel Dod (drums) and Ed Keller (French horn). The group released their The Drizzle EP in the fall of 2003 on The First Time Records - a musical introduction to their infectious melodies, droning guitars, aggressive rhythms and cutting lyrics. Their first featured track, "Drizzle," was featured on the Osbournes' first season DVD and each song on the EP received radio airplay around the country including KEXP in Seattle, KROQ, KCRW, INDIE 103.1 and KXLU in Los Angeles. The group also garnered support from print press, with Mean Street magazine comparing Rx3 to musical pioneers My Bloody Valentine, Love and Rockets, and Spaceman 3 (Spiritualized).
 
An engaging and powerful live act, Rx3 has played with a number of innovative bands including The Strokes, And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, The Vines, Stellastarr*, The Psychedelic Furs, Zombies, The Cranes, Black Box Recorder and Haven. Run Run Run has also made two videos, one with acclaimed director/cinematographer Tom Richmond (Killing Zoë, Pearl Jam's Jeremy, the Verizon "Can You Hear Me Now" spots) for "Skyscraper," and one on their own for "All of A Sudden." "All Of A Sudden" is now featured on the national Cornerstone video sampler. ]]> 2004-07-22T02:00:00-05:00 BMI Plays ‘The Game of Love’ for Song of the Year at 52nd Annual Pop Awards http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234056 Martin, Ricky, 3 Doors Down, Aguilera, Christina, Anderson, Bill, Arnold, Brad, Audioslave, Bedingfield, Daniel, Berry, Chuck, Big Tymers, Bowie, David, Branch, Michelle, Brown, James, Cam'ron, Carlton, Vanessa, Christy, Lauren, Christy, Lauren, Creed, Crow, Sheryl, Diddley, Bo, Dilemma, Dixie Chicks, Edwards, Graham, Eminem, Evanescence, Foo Fighters, Fountains of Wayne, Game, The, Grohl, Dave, Hayes, Isaac, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Horowitz, Andrew, Ja Rule, Kelly, R., Kid Rock, Lennon, John, Linkin Park, Little Richard, Lopez, Jennifer, Matrix, The, Nicks, Stevie, Ono, Yoko, Parton, Dolly, Queens of the Stone Age, Roberts, Matt, Spock, Scott, Twain, Shania, Uncle Kracker, Williams, Pharrell, Wilshire, Wilson, Brian, Country, Pop, Rock, Foundation, Feature, BMI Pop Awards The Game of Love" as Song of the Year, Lauren Christy and Scott Spock as Songwriters of the Year and Warner/Chappell Music Group as Publisher of the Year. Frances W. Preston, President & CEO, and Barbara Cane, Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, presented BMI Citations of Achievement during the dinner event honoring the writers and publishers of the top 50 songs. A highlight of the gala, staged at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, was a tribute to artist/writer/producer Brian Wilson, named a BMI Icon.

Click here for photos from the event
Click here for the 2004 BMI Pop Awards Song List
Click for bios of: Brian Wilson | Gregg Alexander | The Matrix

"The Game of Love" earned the BMI Pop Song of the Year Crystal for songwriter Gregg Alexander and his publishing company Keepin' It Real How 'Bout You Music Publishing; this distinction is given to the song tallying the most feature broadcast performances during the eligibility period. Recorded by Santana featuring Michelle Branch, "The Game of Love" was a #1 single from Santana's Arista album Shaman and has already been certified as a BMI Million-Air (one million broadcast performances). Multi-instrumentalist and producer Alexander won a Pop Award in 1999 for "You Get What You Give," a hit for his former group, the New Radicals. Alexander co-wrote "The Game of Love" with Rick Nowels (share not licensed by BMI).

Brian WilsonGregg AlexanderThe Matrix

Lauren Christy and Scott Spock contributed three to the Most Performed List of 50 to share the BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year crown. The songs earning Christy and Spock the title were "Complicated" and "I'm With You," both #1 singles for Avril Lavigne, and "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)," recorded by Jason Mraz. Christy and Spock, along with Graham Edwards (PRS), are also known professionally as songwriting/production team The Matrix. Other artists for whom they have written songs are Christina Aguilera, David Bowie, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating, Liz Phair and Hootie & the Blowfish.

With 11 songs represented, Warner/Chappell Music Group (through its companies Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Unichappell Music, Inc.) claimed the BMI Pop Publisher of the Year prize. Les Bider, Chairman & CEO of Warner/Chappell Music Group, accepted the crystal obelisk. The Publisher of the Year accolade is given to the publishing concern with the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Warner/Chappell's top performing tunes were "Are You Happy Now?," "Crazy In Love," "Complicated," "Dilemma," "I'm With You," "In A Little While," "Mesmerize," "Miss You," "Picture," "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" and "Soak Up The Sun."

Brian Wilson was saluted as a BMI Icon for his "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." One of the most revered pop music creators of the last 50 years, Wilson co-founded the Beach Boys and co-wrote such seminal rock and pop songs as "Good Vibrations," "I Get Around," "God Only Knows," "California Girls," "Help Me, Rhonda" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice," among many others. Collectively with the Beach Boys and individually, he helped to create the sound that defined a generation and painted the picture of the West Coast "surf" sound. His genius is embedded throughout the group's history, but it particularly resonates on their legendary 1966 release, Pet Sounds.

After an Icon video tribute, Fountains of Wayne performed "Be True To Your School," followed by Wilson Phillips - featuring Wilson's daughters Carnie and Wendy - singing "In My Room." Wilson and his band took the stage for several songs, closing with "Good Vibrations."

Wilson enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons including Isaac Hayes, Bill Anderson, James Brown, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Dolly Parton, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley . He is also the first person to be honored by BMI as both an Icon and with the President's Award (in 1995).

Of the 80 songwriters cited, nine were double winners: Sheryl Crow, R. Kelly, Jennifer Lopez, Shania Twain, N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell Williams, Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel and Chris Shiflett, and matchbox twenty's Rob Thomas.

Other writer/artists earning awards were Audioslave, Daniel Bedingfield (PRS), Big Tymers, Michelle Branch, Cam'Ron, Vanessa Carlton, Creed, Eminem, Evanescence, Ja Rule, Kid Rock, Linkin Park, Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 3 Doors Down, Uncle Kracker, and Unwritten Law.

Publishers garnering three or more awards were EMI Music Publishing (EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc./EMI-Unart Catalog, Inc./EMI-Virgin Songs, Inc.); Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc.; Universal Music Publishing Group; Dwight Frye Music, Inc.; Mr. Spock Music/Scott Spock Songs; Rainbow Fish Publishing (Christy's company) and Sony/ATV Songs LLC.

"When I'm Gone" by 3 Doors Down enjoyed Most Performed Song on College Radio kudos for songwriters Brad Arnold, Todd Harrell, Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts of the group. Included on 3 Doors Down's Republic/Universal CD Away From the Sun, "When I'm Gone" is published by Escatawpa Songs and Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.

Another special presentation was the announcement of Andrew Horowitz as the 1st Place winner of the 2004 John Lennon Scholarship Awards. A student at the University of Michigan, Horowitz earned a $10,000 scholarship for his song, "Goodday." Established in 1997 by Yoko Ono in conjunction with the BMI Foundation, the John Lennon Scholarship Awards recognize the talent of young songwriters between the ages of 15 and 24. More than $125,000 has been awarded over the last seven years through generous donations from Ono and Gibson Musical Instruments. The BMI Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging the creation, performance and study of music through awards, scholarships, commissions and grants.

Five of the 2004 top Pop songs are repeat achievers: "Heaven," first honored in 1985 for writer/artist Bryan Adams; "Landslide," a 1998 Pop Award winner for Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and the 2003 BMI Country Song of the Year via its recording by the Dixie Chicks; plus last year's winners "Complicated," "One Last Breath" and "Soak Up The Sun."

BMI's Citation of Achievement performance certificates are given annually in recognition of popularity in the field of popular music, as measured by feature broadcast performances on American radio and television. This year's Pop Awards eligibility period ran October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003.

]]> 2004-05-10T19:00:00-05:00 Queens of the Stone Age http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/233998 Artists, Foo Fighters, Grohl, Dave, Queens of the Stone Age, Musical Styles, Rock, Musicworld, Hitmaker

Given that these "Queens" are five pretty macho-looking men, it's clear this is one band that has a sense of humor about itself. (Titling their 2002 CD Songs for the Deaf is further proof of their ironic bent.) And while "Stone Age" may conjure up visions of Fred Flintstone — and yes, they are Rock with a capital R, with some calling them "stoner" rock — there is much fluid finesse tin their music.

The Southern California band, formed in 1997, is fronted by singer/guitarist Josh Homme, a tall redhead who looks more like a basketball player than a rock star. But thanks to songs like the hypnotic "Go With the Flow" and "No One Knows," everyone is digging QOTSA's post-grunge, semi-hippie hard rock, including Foo Fighters' frontman Dave Grohl. Grohl, in fact, played drums on the Songs For the Deaf and toured with the band for a time, although the current lineup is rounded out by vocalist Mark Lanegan, drummer Barrett Martin, bassist Van Conner and drummer Gary Lee Conner, all formerly of Screaming Trees, a band Homme guest-toured with.

Homme, who has been in bands since high school, used to be contrary for the sake of it, saying about the songs for his late, lamented band Kyuss, "I wouldn't even write a chorus, even though I had 'em. Now, personally, it's like whatever's there and sounds good. We want to be able to play anything we want to play."

That playing earned QOTSA a tour with the Chili Peppers, a spot on the 2002 Coachella music festival (spitting distance from Homme's desert origins) and Grammy noms in both 2003 and 2004. Cleary, this lineup will be Queens for much longer than a day.]]> 2004-03-09T17:00:00-05:00