Artist info:

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Just learned the news from DJ Premier’s blog. Definitely go there for the true tribute. Here’s an excerpt:

classic Gang Starr

While in hospital with terminal cancer, Guru wrote a letter, which was provided by Solar, to his fans addressing his illness, his shining music career, his family and loved ones.

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Buju was originally scheduled to go to trial in Florida next week, but a judge has postponed the trial another 2 months without explanation. Banton is still imprisoned and has been since December 2009. Here is audio of a brief phone call between Buju Banton and IrieFM recorded last month (before finding out the trial would be delayed):

And here’s his lawyer speaking on the case:

And finally, some new-ish music:

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Jimmy Cliff was indicted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame this week (check out how psyched he looks in all the vids)! Wyclef Jean introduced Cliff, repeatedly calling him “The Godfather”:

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Just got word that DJ AM was found dead in his apartment. Cops had to bust down his door after he wasn’t seen for a few days. ([More →])

Hard to find a better role model for the ladies to learn from – then or now. BIG UP Killer Mike for being so direct and honest with Lyte about her positive influence. A tuff gyal like she is needed in this game now more than ever. Keep blazin MC Lyte!! Ya voice not too ruff, too gruff – I think it’s sexy…

Chili Bowl at Protrero del Sol!.

Grind for the Green.

I’m enthralled with this MASSIVE collection of art/word/sound/power being released by Penny Ante in August. (I just pre-ordered a copy this very night, so ya know I ain’t jivin’!) 320 pages of interviews, artwork, photography, comics, etc. contributed by 80 different experimental artists, mostly veteran audionauts of the DIY, punk, noise and experimental music scenes from 1980-the present. Plus the limited edition CDs that accompany the 1st 2000 copies feature a grip of unreleased tracks by well-known bands and stuff I haven’t heard yet by avant-garde noise projects.

Check it out:

Direct Link to “Three” on Penny-Ante website

DIY publishing house, Penny-Ante has compiled what will be their third anthology, dubbed a “Mag/Book” by readers, properly titled Three, which will hit streets September 15.

Three marks Penny-Ante’s largest issue yet, 320 pages (with no advertisements), with over 80 contributors ranging from New York-based artist TERENCE KOH to prolific lo-fi artist JAD FAIR (HALF JAPANESE) to garage’s godfather SEAN BONNIWELL (of 60s garage band, THE MUSIC MACHINE). A portion of book sales will be given to Chicago-based nonprofit ARTS OF LIFE, which provides art and music programs for adults with developmental disorders.

Compiling indie icons into one forum, Three’s pages feature personal art, photographs, and written submissions from the likes of Robert Pollard (GUIDED BY VOICES), Thurston Moore (SONIC YOUTH), UK’s garage god BILLY CHILDISH (Damaged Goods), New Zealand’s CHRIS KNOX (Tall Dwarfs, The Enemy, Toy Love, The Nothing), Roger Miller (MISSION OF BURMA), Martin Phillipps (THE CHILLS), Bettina Koster (from 80s German post-punk band, MALARIA!), Kill Rock Star’s riot grrrl Allison Wolfe (BRATMOBILE, PARTYLINE), influential acid-rocker Helios Creed (CHROME), Rob Roberge (of the significant art-punk band URINALS), 4-track forefather Martin Newell (CLEANERS FROM VENUS), Mick Farren (of the 60s proto-punk band THE DEVIANTS), psychedelic electronic artist Simeon Coxe of SILVER APPLES, artist Jill Emery (previously of HOLE, MAZZY STAR), New York photographer Mark C (of 80s no wave band LIVE SKULL), and many more.

Also featured:

JIM SMITH (union organizer by day, and owner of Los Angeles all-ages venue THE SMELL by night) interviews inspiring DIY force and singer/songwriter BILLY BRAGG.

Others interviewed: IAN MACKAYE (Dischord Records, Fugazi, Minor Threat), ROBERT POLLARD, John Whitson from label HOLY MOUNTAIN, music director @ WFMU: Brian Turner, George Parsons (head of DREAM MAGAZINE), Caleb Braaten: owner and operator of New York’s SACRED BONES RECORDS (BLANK DOGS, PINK NOISE, FACTUMS), New York-based artist MAYA HAYUK, Los Angeles-based performance/artist DAWN KASPER, and more.

Paired with such indie veterans are music leaders from today’s generation: Cassie Ramone (New York’s VIVIAN GIRLS), Joe DeNardo (GROWING – Social Registry), Matt Valentine (MV/EE – Ecstatic Peace Records & Tapes), John Dwyer (San Francisco’s THEE OH SEES), In The Red Records newcomers TV GHOST, Portland’s Honey Owens (VALET – Kranky), Phil Elverum (MICROPHONES, MT EERIE – K Records), Finland experimental rockers CIRCLE, Matt Maust (COLD WAR KIDS), Stephen McCarty (DEAD MEADOW – Matador Records), Sumi Ink Club (aka LUCKY DRAGONS), Wynne Greenwood (TRACY+THE PLASTICS), ROBEDOOR (Not Not Fun), ex-Phantom Limbs frontman Loto Ball (now of Chicago’s LOTO BALL SHOW), POCAHAUNTED (Not Not Fun), ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO (OLD TIME RELIJUN – K Records), Australia’s dark rockers NAKED ON THE VAGUE and much more.

Penny-Ante also “ups the ante” in the art and lit department in issue Three bringing in well-respected New York-based artists TERENCE KOH (Peres Projects), Ukranian American artist MAYA HAYUK, Swedish artist HANNA LIDEN, and MATHEW CERLETTY. From Chicago, Gregory Jacobsen (also from LOVELY LITTLE GIRLS), Los Angeles’ Julian Hoeber (Blum & Poe), Dawn Kasper (Circus Gallery), Jed Ochmanek and Portland’s Liz Haley.

Writers include the well-loved BETT WILLIAMS (Out Magazine, Flaunt Magazine, St. Martin’s Press), novelist and short story writer LARRY FONDATION (Fictional International, Harvard Business Review, Raw Dog Screaming Press), and ANDREW POGANY (poet and editor-in-chief at Flaunt Magazine) + many more.

COMPLIMENTARY CD INFO

FEATURES MUSIC BY:

JAD FAIR, ROBERT POLLARD, BILLY CHILDISH, CHRIS KNOX (THE NOTHING), ROGER MILLER, GROWING, BETTINA KOSTER, INT’L SHADES, NAKED ON THE VAGUE, ROBEDOOR, LUCKY DRAGONS, LOTO BALL SHOW, TV GHOST, PHIL ELVERUM, ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO, WARMER MILKS and ADAM PAYNE.

PLUS:

– Unreleased track from CROCK, the brand new music project from Book #2 contributor Sam Coomes (QUASI) & Spencer Seim of HELLA.
– Music from artist Maya Hayuk’s project with Andrew Deutsch, OPEN ARMS
– An unreleased track from PHIL ELVERUM paying tribute to OLD TIME RELIJUN
– An unreleased track from Book #2 contributors and guest editors to Three, THE MOON UPSTAIRS
– From the archives, a previously unreleased track from THE CHILLS, “Find Your Own Way Home”

PREORDERS FOR THREE AVAILABLE NOW: http://www.penny-ante.net (and will ship as early as August 15th). Three is a limited edition (2000) squarebound soft cover BOOK that will ship with a complimentary CD featuring music by contributors (Robert Pollard, The Chills, Billy Childish, Jad Fair, Chris Knox + more), plus a rather large poster for a wall’s enjoyment.

DIRECT LINK: http://www.penny-ante.net/three.html

Ninjaman may have changed his “gun pon teeth Don Gorgon” ways, but yesterday Desmond Ballentine was charged with murder + conspiracy in Kingston for a gun slaying that took place on Marl Road on Monday (March 16th). Assistant Police Commissioner and Head of the Major Investigations Task force, Les Green, thinks the police have a “good” case against Ballentine, according to the Jamaica Observer. ([More →])

It seems like only yesterday our little monster was rampaging around the Bay Area like a bass wave on a sugar high. Hard to believe this will be the 5th time the loosely associated autonomous mobile soundsystems of the mutant variety have convened on an undisclosed, secret underground location for maximum sound reinforcement and fun times. That’s right – 2 monstrous walls of sound will be erected, combining the earth-trembling bassbins of 5lowershop & Army of Love with the massive mid-range towers of HAVOCSOUND, crowned by Czech-technology rocket tweeters of the notorious S.P.A.Z. soundsystem for ONE MASSIVE MONSTER OF LOVE 5!!!

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Roy Shirley goes wild for the crowd with his “Rock Steady” show:

Excerpted from the reggae episode of the Aquarius tv show circa 1976. (Imagine the 1980 cult film Babylon if it were a BBC documentary and you’d have the reggae episode of Aquarius.)

Someone needs to do this:

To The Sopranos:

Roni Size, DJ Hype, Dynamite MC and MC Daddy Earl, all appearing at Dublin’s Button Factory on March 16th, thanks to Dublin club promoters Remedy.

More here:
Roni Size and Pendulum Remedy DJ sets.

Leftfield hip-hop group Themselves, Rainbow Arabia, Yoni Wolf of WHY? and Boy In Static perform live in SF:

Terrorbird Day NoisePop Party @ Apple Store in San Francisco, Feb. 28, 2009