Headlines for March 2, 2010
By: Christina Ivanowich
Polyphonic Spree and Yeasayer Heading to Uganda
Uganda is currently enmeshed in a 24+ year civil war, as the Lord's Resistance Army tries to take down the government through destruction, torture, and the kidnapping and forced enlistment of likely thousands of child soldiers. It is a mounting crisis, and it is difficult to see a solution, but the organization Invisible Children is one of many that is attempting to help. Later this year, The Polyphonic Spree and Yeasayer—along with another band yet to be announced—will embark on a trip to Uganda with Invisible Children in the hopes of showing the world "the power that film and music can have on educating and motivating individuals". The plan is to stage several concerts and film a documentary highlighting what the bands learn about the effects of the war and the work being done to stop it. The film will be sold to raise funds for this very worthy cause; please visit the website to learn more and give your support.
Unreleased Rolling Stones Tracks Coming Soon
Last year, The Rolling Stones re-released 13 of their previous albums, starting with Sticky Fingers (1971), and finishing with A Bigger Bang (2005). But they've been holding on to the real treat: a re-release of the 1972 double album Exile on Main Street, widely considered as among their best work. The Stones dug through their own files to find ten unheard songs from the period, in various stages of completion, and have polished them to be included in the deluxe edition of the album (as well as the super deluxe edition which will also include a documentary, a photo book and the album on vinyl). Keith Richards said about the new tracks, "I really wanted to leave them pretty much as they were... They still had that great basement sound." Find it in stores May 18.
Rapper Guru in a Coma
Guru, rapper and member of the group Gang Starr, is reportedly in a coma after suffering a heart attack over the weekend. DJ Premier, the other half of Gang Starr, confirmed the story in an interview, and said that Guru (real name Keith Elam) was set to undergo surgery Monday afternoon (Mar. 1). While he has been laying relatively low the last few years, Guru is considered a pioneer in combining hip hop and jazz, and has numerous albums to his credit. We wish him well.
