July 14, 2003

Concert Industry To Make Record Profits

Thanks at least in part to rising ticket prices, the concert industry is poised for record profits this year. Attendance overall jumped by 24 percent in the first half of this year, with the Elton John/Billy Joel tour leading the way with a gross of $57.2 million.Perennial leaders The Rolling Stones weren’t too far behind, at $37.4 million, with the Dixie Chicks, Celine Dion, and Cher all following closely.The Top 50 tours together collected $678 million in gross receipts, a 26 percent increase from last year.Much of the boost can be attributed to surging ticket prices – the average ticket for a Top 10 tour went up 11.5 percent. The average Rolling Stones ticket, for example, cost $158, up from $119 when they toured last year.Undeterred fans bought 13.1 million concert tickets to the Top 50 concert tours from January to June, compared to 10.6 million sold during the same period last year.
Source Pollstar.com.

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Two Music Legends Pass Away At Age 95

Compay Segundo, one of Cuba’s oldest “troubadours” and charming frontman for the Buena Vista Social Club group, died this morning (July 14) in Havana. He was 95
Segundo shot to international fame with the 1997 Grammy Award-winning recording “Buena Vista Social Club” produced with the collaboration of American guitarist Ry Cooder. The record brought back into the limelight a group of talented musicians who had all but been forgotten in Cuba, including Segundo, pianist Ruben Gonzalez, and singers Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo.

Legendary jazz pioneer and big band leader Benny Carter, who helped break Hollywood’s bar to black composers, died Saturday in Los Angeles, he was 95. Carter, who was one of the first black composers and arrangers to work on mainstream Hollywood films, including such classics as “Stormy Weather,” had been hospitalized for about two weeks, complaining of bronchitis and fatigue, said family friend Virginia Wicks.
In a career that spanned seven decades, Carter played with such jazz luminaries as pianist Willie “The Lion” Smith, Fats Waller, Miles Davis and Dizzie Gillespie. He is also credited with launching Ella Fitzgerald’s career by introducing her to bandleader Chick Webb. Carter’s compositions, including “Blues in My Heart” and “When Lights Are Low,” have become jazz standards.
A largely self-taught musician, Carter established the swing-era, big band sound through ensemble compositions for the Fletcher Henderson orchestra and later his own band.
Source Billboard.com.

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Warped Tour Bands Team For Film

Rancid, Simple Plan, the Used, Less Than Jake, the Ataris and other acts on the 2003 Warped Tour will appear in “Punk Rock Holocaust,” a feature-length slasher flick being filmed on this summer’s tour. The movie went into production June 19 at the opening date of the Warped Tour in Nampa, Idaho. “Punk Rock Holocaust” is being directed by 23 year-old Doug Sakmann.
The film will be shot at each venue along the 44-date tour. The plot centers around a number of mysterious deaths happening during the festival. In the film, many believe a fictional band is seeking revenge from beyond the grave for being kicked off the tour six years ago. Nearly every band on this year’s outing is slated to appear in the film to try to solve the mystery.
Source Billboard.com.

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Dave Matthews Solo Album – Very Personal

Dave Matthews mentions his recently completed solo debut reveals a side of the singer/songwriter that his fans have not yet seen. Matthews says “Some Devil,” due in September on RCA, includes some of his most introspective material to date. “This was very, very, very, very personal,” he says. “It was a good soul-searching thing for me to do. I think the songs are more introspective in many ways.”
The album features an as-yet-untitled track co-written by Matthews and Phish’s Trey Anastasio, who also adds guitar work to the record. Steve Harris, who produced Dave Matthews Band’s last studio effort, “Busted Stuff,” played on “Some Devil” and co-wrote and arranged some of the songs with Matthews.
Matthews says there’s really no comparison between the songs on “Some Devil” and those on his band efforts. And as the album nears release, he says that he’s excited, but he is being cautious not to get his hopes up: “Like most of what I’ve done, it’s done, and so now I just move on from it. I’m excited, I hope people like it, but I try not to get too excited because what if everyone f***in’ hates it? Then I can let it go like an empty beer can. That’s the way I look at it now: My part in it is done, and I hope people like it. But in case they don’t, I’m gonna try not to invest too much in it that I might be disappointed.”
Source Billboard.com.

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Flaming Lips Play As The White Stripes

The Flaming Lips came to the rescue of the Witnness festival in Kildare, Ireland, replacing the White Stripes on the main stage last night (July 13). The Stripes had to cancel at the last minute after frontman Jack White broke his finger in a minor car accident in Detroit (apparently, the car’s airbag caused the damage).
In tribute, the Lips played their gig attired in White Stripes-inspired red and white outfits. They also began their set with a cover of the group’s hit “Seven Nation Army” and performed a new song called “Thank You Jack White for the Fiber Optic Jesus That You Gave Me.” As usual, the band was joined on stage by about 20 people dressed in animal costumes, beneath which were members of Irish bands the Divine Comedy and Snow Patrol, as well as several prominent media figures.
Source Billboard.com.

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moe. To Play Heavy Metal For Halloween

moe. will play a 2 night-stand at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL Halloween weekend (10/31 and 11/1) hosting “The Headbangers’ Left Ball: An Evening of Heavy moe.tal” on Halloween. A limited number of tickets go on sale through moe.ticketing on August 5th.
Also announced, the band will play two nights at New York’s Beacon Theater on November 28th and 29th, over Thanksgiving weekend. Tickets for the Beacon Theatre will also go on sale through moe.ticketing on August 5th.
Source Moe.org.

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