With Halloween swiftly approaching, this week is all about spooks and scares in the world of music. Let MXDWN guide you through the funhouse.
Gigantour will walk the earth again, thanks to Megadeth and its upcoming 13th studio album, TH1RT3EN. Metal fans will unite come 2012 for the revival of Gigantour, a festival for heavy, fast-paced metal bands, conceived by Megadeth front man Dave Mustaine back in 2005.
As dates for the event are being conjured up at the moment, fans can expect a shared stage between the celebrated Megadeth, Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil. With TH1RT3EN out November 1st, it can be expected that Megadeth will perform new material for Gigantour.
Cartoon Gorillaz bassist Murdoc Neccals is spooking out fans with vague and ludicrous acronyms for “TEN,” the amount of years the group has been together. In celebration of 10 years of music, The Gorillaz are releasing The Singles Collection on November 28th. In celebration of this 10-year anniversary, Neccals took to twitter, tweeting that “TEN” stands for, “The End is Nigh,” and then “This Era’s New” and “This Extravaganza’s Nuts.”
Fans became worrisome of a break-up, and adding to the fire is front man Damon Albarn’s recent statements describing his desire to record a solo album soon. Besides that, Albarn’s side project, The Good, The Bad & The Queen has recently gotten back together. Despite the scary break-up rumors, fans can satiate their fear with their upcoming singles compilation and an interactive widget.
Fittingly, in time for Halloween, RCA is putting a stake in the heart of their labels Arista, J and Jive. According to The Hollywood Reporter, RCA has confirmed that they will stop releasing records through the labels. Artists currently signed to Arista, J and Jive will continue to release records through the primary RCA label.
The labels have represented many successful musicians- Arista released records from Patti Smith, Lou Reed and Iggy Pop. Jive reached success through hit albums from pop sensations such as Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, and J released hits from Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys. The reason for the retirement of the labels is, according to RCA COO Tom Corson, an attempt to freshen the label and make for a “clean slate.”
Thoroughly creepy, though not in a good way, was last week’s death of Mikey Welsh, former Weezer bassist. He passed away at the age of 40 in a Chicago hotel last Saturday. Toxicology reports are being processed, but narcotics are suspected. Super creepy is Welsh’s death-prediction posted via twitter not long before his death: “dreamt i died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.”
Welsh joined Weezer in 1998 after original bassist Matt Sharp left the group. His primary contributions to Weezer can be heard on their Green Album. After suffering a mental breakdown, Welsh left the group in 2001 and pursued a career in painting. Since Welsh’s death, the members of Weezer have expressed their condolences via Twitter.
Finally, after much confusion, the major Los Angeles “Halloween dance music festival” Monster Massive has been cancelled, much to the despair of eager ravers. Flav.or.us, the event’s ticketing site, has discontinued ticket sales, and ticketholders will be refunded in 3-5 days.
As vast numbers of ticketholders stood by with confusion, wondering if they would get to rave to scary synth beats and ghostly grooves come October 29th, James Event Productions released an official statement regarding what was to be the venue of the event, Oak Canyon Park in Orange. After a contradictory back-and-forth between James Event and Go Ventures, the promotional company for Monster Massive, the major uncertainty as to the location for the event has now led to its disappointing cancellation.
Go Ventures have yet to update their social media sites and informpeople of the event’s cancellation. However, the official websites of Monster Massive and Flav.or.us have officially announced the cancellation. A former employee of Go Ventures claims they never had a contract, and have been promising performers that the event will take place in a location that was never rightfully secured. Whatever the truth may be, over 70,000 ticketholders must now be refunded.
Unplugging in Brief:
Monster Massive 2011 Venue and Location Currently in Doubt – The upcoming Halloween rave is cancelled.
Megadeth to Re-Launch ‘Gigantour’ for First Time in Nearly Four Years in Early 2012 with Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil – In addition to their upcoming studio release, Megadeth has revived the metal-fest, Gigantour.
Gorillaz to Release Singles Collection on November 28 – In celebration of 10 years together, the group is releasing a singles compilation. In the meantime, Murdoc Neccals took to twitter to spark break-up rumors.
RCA Confirms the Closing of Arista, J and Jive Record Labels – RCA is putting successful labels Arista, J and Jive to rest in the name of freshness and a clean slate.
Former Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh Found Dead in Chicago-Area Hotel Room – At the age of 40, former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead, not long after tweeting an oddly death-predicating tweet.
