May 2003

Just over six months after playing its first show, Hookah Brown has split due to “personal and business issues.” The group, led by former Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson made the announcement on its official Web site www.hookahbrown.com.
“Due to some personal and business issues that we were unable to overcome, Hookah Brown is no more. I thought we were becoming a really good band, but sometimes life gets in the way of people being able to make music together. I appreciate all the love and support that we received from you over the past year, and I hope to see you soon.” Thanks- Rich
Just a few weeks ago, Glide sat down with Rich to discuss Hookah Brown. Read the indepth interview here.

So much for water breaks, as 25-year-old Nepalese Sherpa Pemba Dorjie broke the Everest speed climbing record set in 2000 by the late, legendary Babu Chiri Sherpa on May 23rd. The previous record was 16 hours 56 minutes

Ellis Marsalis Jr. and his four jazz musician sons; trumpeter Wynton, saxophonist Branford, trombonist Delfeayo and drummer Jason just finished a tour of sold-out concerts this spring. Now, Ellis and Wynton, America’s most prominent jazz spokesman, will perform together again in a concert billed as “Marsalis at the Penthouse.” It airs Thursday as part of the PBS “Live at Lincoln Center” series.
The performance, which celebrates the music of the late New Orleans drummer James Black (1940-1988), originates in a cabaret setting at the Kaplan Penthouse above Lincoln Center.
Thursday’s 90-minute penthouse concert features Black’s best-known piece, “Magnolia Triangle,” with its intricate 5/4 beat. Besides the Marsalis duo, the penthouse band includes Victor Goines on tenor saxophone and clarinet, Walter Blanding Jr. on saxophone, Reginald Veal on bass and Herlin Riley on drums. Ed Bradley, the CBS news correspondent, serves as master of ceremonies.
Source yahoo.com.

A star of MTV’s “Jackass” and member of the upcoming Lollapalooza tour, was arrested in Sweden after admitting he swallowed a condom filled with marijuana, police said Friday. Stephen Glover – known as Steve-O on the now defunct series on the American cable channel – was arrested Thursday after police raided his hotel room in Stockholm. Glover, along with other “Jackass” regulars, had performed their “Don’t Try This At Home” show in the Swedish capital Wednesday night. Prosecutor Gunnar Fjaestad said the raid happened after Glover said he swallowed the condom as a stunt. Glover could face charges of narcotics smuggling and possession of illegal drugs. A detention hearing is scheduled for the weekend and a judge will decide if Glover should be kept in jail while prosecutors prepare any charges.
Source Billboard.com.

The Flaming Lips, Hot Tuna (acoustic), Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Steve Winwood, The Radiators, Umphrey’s McGee, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Acoustic Syndicate, Lake Trout, RANA, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Yerba Buena, The Bad Plus, and Mr. North have been added to Bonnaroo NE to be held at Enterprise Park in Riverhead, NY August 8-10. They join the already impressive roster, which includes The Dead, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as headliners.
Source Bonnaroo.com [/ur].

Suffolk County has denied a mass gathering permit for the two-day festival in Calverton, NY, meaning “for now” the event can’t go ahead.
County health officials denied the permit today after Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller said his force wouldn’t be able to handle the expected crowd of 50,000. On Friday, county officials informed the town they wouldn’t be able to help with extra police officers because doing so would require an agreement between the Riverhead town board and the Suffolk county legislature. This wouldn’t have been possible, since the legislature doesn’t meet until after the June 7 and 8 concert.
Source newsday.com.

Back in the 1980s, McCartney had tried to get into Russia but was told a concert was out of the question. This time, he got the red-carpet treatment, including a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, who confessed that in Soviet times the Beatles were considered “propaganda of an alien ideology.” Putin, an ex-KGB agent, had no such hang-ups Saturday, giving McCartney and his wife, Heather Mills, a personally guided tour of the Kremlin. In return, McCartney serenaded Putin with “Let it Be.”
“Good evening, Moskvichi,” McCartney yelled to the fans, some who arrived in chauffeur-driven Mercedes and others wearing old Beatles concert T-shirts.
Tickets ranged from about $30 to $300. With average monthly wages around $140, the concert was a splurge for many.
Source yahoo.com.

Atari Inc. said it had sold more than 1 million copies of “Enter the Matrix” one week after the computer and video game hit shelves in the United States and Europe.
The game was released May 15, the same day as the movie it is tied to, “The Matrix Reloaded.” The game includes additional footage and is one of the most expensive ever made.
In early May, the company said it expected to sell 4 million units of the game for a total of $160 million in revenue. Infogrames had total sales of $770 million for the year ended in June and does about 65 percent of its sales in the United States. Atari sales expectations, if reached, would put “Enter the Matrix” on track to be one of the best-selling games of all time.
Source yahoo.com.