Warrant
Photo: Columbia

On The Record: Emo Overload

Recently, Maureen Callahan wrote a piece for the New York Post about Crush Management, the NYC cadre that shepherds the careers of Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, the Academy Is ... and Armor for Sleep (or, as Callahan puts it, "basically any band that a 13-year-old girl with a blog and a Hot Topic habit obsesses over").

Aside from providing readers with some genuinely bananas quotes from songwriter/ rock-and-roll vampire Butch Walker about credibility (especially considering this is on his résumé), the article is excellent primarily because it floats the hypothesis that the artists Crush represents are basically the modern-day equivalent of Warrant or White Lion: good-looking, commercially successful bands that no self-respecting music fan would be caught dead listening to. Hair-metal acts for the MySpace generation.

And if that's true (and it probably is), then that raises the question: Are we currently living in the Trixter/Winger era of the genre? Has emo-punk — a term that, at this point, is so indefinable that it somehow encompasses My Chemical Romance, Panic and Cute Is What We Aim For, three bands that are neither particularly "emotional" nor particularly "punk," unless you count ripping off Queen, dressing up like a marionette or being terrible as such — become so same-y, so formulaic and so watered down that it now borders on self-parody? Is 2007 really just 1989 but, you know, worse?

Well, yes.

Let's compare: Both hair-metal and emo-punk acts exist almost primarily on the aesthetic plane — the obvious connection here is the hair — and count among their chief reasons for success the physical attributes of one bandmember (be it Kip Winger's toothy grin or Pete Wentz's, um, pouty lips). As a result, both appeal primarily — nay, almost exclusively — to young girls, those who, as Callahan puts it, are "not yet ready for real rebellion." Both are critically derided, save one act that is begrudgingly admired by critics (Extreme, MCR). And while both do, in fact, rock, no dyed-in-denim rock fan would ever admit to liking them (i.e. a Metallica fan would've never said, "Skid Row is kind of awesome," inasmuch as no Linkin Park fan would admit that "Boys Like Girls totally brought it last night").

And, of course, there's the songs, which tend to tackle serious issues in seriously bantam-weight ways (Skid Row's "18 and Life," Taking Back Sunday's "A Decade Under the Influence"); the overtly crass accessibility (hair metal, by definition and execution, was tailor-made for radio, whereas emo-punk is neatly customized for MySpace players); and, uh, the fact that both genres died (or are dying) under the sheer weight of "bands" operating underneath their respective umbrellas.

The comparison brings up several rather, uh, troubling questions: Are MCR and FOB this generation's Guns N' Roses and Metallica — i.e. rock acts that are actually pretty awesome yet won't be truly recognized for their brilliance until all other pretenders to the throne die off? Who will be the 2007 version of Firehouse? (Coheed and Cambria?) And will we all, in 20 years' time, clamor for a Taking Back Sunday reunion tour?

And — perhaps more importantly — when emo-punk finally does die off, what will take its place? We all know that hair metal begat Nirvana, primarily because Kurt Cobain was the very antithesis of hair metal's Pablum and posturing (but also because Nirvana were a great band). So what will succeed emo? If history is correct, it'll be a band as far removed as possible from Fall Out Boy, one that plays totally insincere, totally ripping rock, and one fronted by a totally un-hirsute, totally ugly dude.

Which totally describes the Bronx, who are, coincidentally, also managed by Crush. There is no escape.

B-Sides: Other Stories I'm Following This Week

No Doubt write songs without Gwen; Gwen totally reminded she used to be in a band. (See "New No Doubt Songs Ready To Roll — Once Stefani Is.")

I think the RATM clock countdown could've ended more anticlimactically. Actually, wait ... no I don't. (See "Rage Against The Machine Clock Counting Down To Wisconsin Concert.")

Also on "Transformers" fans' wish lists: Bumblebee to be played by "totally hot chick," move out of parents' basement. (See " 'Transformers' Fans Wanted Peter Cullen — Not Clooney — To Voice Optimus Prime.")

Cleaning Out My Inbox (Or "Interactivity, While A Touchstone Of So-Called 'New Media,' Is Actually Overrated And Kind Of A Waste Of Time")

Last week's edition of BTTS (see "White Stripes Give Radio Station A Case Of The Stupids, In Bigger Than The Sound") caused a mini-maelstrom on radio stations across the country, which resulted in my inbox being overstuffed with e-mails from super-angry listeners and irate rock jocks (meaning a 150 percent increase in letters from dudes named "LAZLO," "CHAOS MOTOR" and "DASH"). Some — read: most — were just exercises in profanity, but a few actually included a coherent sentence or three, so I'm including them here.

"There is a much, much, much bigger issue here. Every album this year has leaked. Every single album. Modest Mouse, 5 weeks before. Chevelle, a month. Manson leaked a month ago. Queens leaked 3 weeks ago. Lots and lots and lots of people have access to this music. If the record company still wants to use radio as a tool to expose new music, it sounds completely insincere and a lot of times like an outright lie to have World Premiers and debuts of songs and albums that are not new. Even if the label were to come to us and ask us to host an exclusive stream of the album on our website and we could point to that rather than playing it, that would be great too. They don't though. They are no longer able to control the time of the release of these albums. We can sit here and debate whether that's good, bad or indifferent, but regardless, it happens and we've got to find a way to deal with it. To kick and scream and stomp and wonder where the good old days of album artwork and getting excited for new music Tuesday went is a waste of time. That's what we're doing."

-Spike, music director, Q101, Chicago

"Mr. Montgomery, as a DJ at my school's student radio station, I can tell you that we are encouraged to play any leaked material we have obtained from an outside source, and we do this because we know our rights as a station, and because it's what listeners want to hear. Was this stupid of Q101 to do, knowing what a nutjob Jack White can be? Probably. But does that mean they shouldn't have done it to avoid the wrath of Mr. White? No, not really. I'm no expert in media law, but I hope this clarifies a few things. Thanks."

-Garrett Lawton, WIUX, Bloomington, Indiana

"Wait ... hang on ... someone at MTV actually has an opinion that is somewhat relevant, and is allowed to voice it, in print no less, and borders on amusing? WTF? I guess I should tune in again, maybe you guys aren't just hanging out with the lead singer from Filter and showing 4th rate quasi-reality half-hour bullsh-- anymore."

-Ted Taylor, somewhere in the wilds of the Internet

"I just read your article about the radio station playing a leaked copy of the White Stripes' new album. While I agree with you that it wasn't the most intelligent thing for them to do, do you actually believe that it was because of them that it was later found on P2P networks? If anything, it would have just created more awareness that it was out there to be had — but on the internet, you don't need much to get the word out. ... While I agree it was wrong, I don't see the harm. If anything, it generates interest in the album. The people who are going to download it illegally are still going to no matter where they hear it first. Oh, and what the hell is wrong with the Squirrel Nut Zippers?"

-Doug Turley, Edwardsville, IL

"Hola a todos, es un agrado para mi comunicarme con ustedes y enviarles una información de mucho valor para los interesados en adquirir Bienes Raíces únicos de nuestro hermoso país que es Chile ...A continuación verán algunas fotos de una Hacienda que posee mas de 7000 (Siete Mil) Hectáreas de terreno, cuyos paisajes absolutamente envidiables hacen de éste, un paraíso de lugar, tanto comercial como personal para quienes gustan de la naturaleza, el agua, la nieve, la vegetación, las riquezas mineras y todo tipo de apasionados deportes extremos. En su interior hay una extensión plana, llamada planicie de la Luna, la que puede ser usada como pista de aterrizaje en tiempos y condiciones aptas para el vuelo. El valor comercial de esta Hacienda supera los $1.400.000.000."

-Francisco Javier Salgado Contreras, Antuco, Chile

Questions? Concerns? Drop me a line at BTTS@MTVStaff.com.

• Taking Back Sunday
• Warrant
• Trixter
• White Lion
• My Chemical Romance

Jessica Simpson at her Treats cosmetics launch in New York on Wednesday
Photo: Evan Agostini

Brooklyn Mint, a clothing line the Notorious B.I.G. started almost a decade ago, will finally come to life this year. T-shirts from the collection will debut at the Magic Fashion convention on Monday in Las Vegas and hit stores on March 9, the anniversary of Big's murder. The late MC's mother and managers are now spearheading the project and received help from Jay-Z to get the company off the ground. Jay and Big will appear together on a Brooklyn Mint tee called "Brooklyn's Finest." ...

Ever the entrepreneur, Jessica Simpson launched yet another fragrance product line on Wednesday in New York, what she calls the "fun and flirty kid sister" of her Dessert line. "Treats" are more affordable, simpler, single-note scents, coming in six varieties: bubble gum, lollipop, creamsicle, cotton candy, butterscotch toffee, and Jess' favorite, banana split. Her husband, Nick Lachey, was on hand to test out the "kissability" of the lip gloss, which, like the body lotions, shimmers, mists and creams, will be available at drugstores and Sephora. ... Nicole Richie is partnering up with someone other than Paris Hilton for her next reality role: Richie will star alongside DJ Adam Goldstein (a.k.a. DJ AM) in her upcoming gig as ... a wife. The pair, who have been dating for a year, have gotten engaged, according to The Associated Press. A wedding date has not been announced. ...

Longtime Doobie Brothers drummer Keith Knudsen died of pneumonia on Tuesday at age 56, according to a band spokesperson. Knudsen, who played on such Doobie hits as "Takin' It to the Streets" and "Black Water," joined the band in 1974 and played with the group on its 1982 farewell tour. He rejoined in 1993 after releasing four albums with his side project, Southern Pacific. ... Nas has teamed with filmmaker Spike Lee for his latest endeavor, "Miracle's Boys." Nas wrote and performed the theme song for the miniseries, which will premiere on the N on February 18. The six-part series chronicles the lives of three biracial orphaned teenage brothers living in New York's Harlem neighborhood. ...

In celebration of Black History Month, rapper Cormega will take over teaching duties for a "Black Culture/ Hip-Hop" class at Philadelphia's Temple University. The class, taking place February 18, will also mark the kickoff of Cormega's brief promo tour in support of his upcoming album, The Testament. ... Given the triumphant return of leg warmers and Mötley Crüe, it was only a matter of time before more '80s staples came out of hiding. Enter Warrant, who have announced that they began recording a new album on Friday with producer/engineer Pat Regan (Kiss, Mr. Big). The band hopes to release the album in the summer and tour behind it later this year. Good news for Warrant fans hoping to hear another "Cherry Pie": The band says on its Web site that the album will have "the classic hard rockin' Warrant sound that we all want to hear." ...

Ex-Libertines frontman Pete Doherty finally made bail on Tuesday after spending the weekend in jail on charges of robbery and blackmail, according to The Associated Press. His manager lent a hand by paying $185,000 of the $280,000 bond that Doherty had been unable to produce. The singer's label had already given the court the rest of the bond money. Doherty, arrested on February 2 after he reportedly fought with a man in a London hotel, was jailed on Friday. Now that he's out, Doherty has to attend drug rehabilitation, follow a 10 p.m. curfew, and be accompanied by a security escort whenever he leaves his home. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 21. ... As they prepare for the final weeks of shooting on their long-awaited feature-film debut, "Christmas on Mars" (due, naturally, at Christmas), the Flaming Lips are also gearing up to film the first video for their upcoming album, At War With the Mystics. The clip will be for the song "Mr. Ambulance Driver." Speaking of outer space, the band's bassist/guitarist, Michael Ivins, longtime Lips manager Scott Booker and Booker's wife have all snagged cameos in an upcoming episode of the soon-to-be-canceled "Star Trek: Enterprise." Booker, a huge "Star Trek" fan, said the trio will play miners. ...

The San Diego Padres may have finished six games out of first place in the National League West last season, but they're determined to at least have the best theme music in the Majors. So they launched "Rock the Padres," a call to musicians to pen the official theme for the 2005 season. Fans can go to Padres.com and choose from more than 120 submissions, from acts like the Buckos, Atomic Groove Featuring Carrie Weiland and, um, Gary Hoey (who scored an actual radio hit in 1993 with the song "Hocus Pocus"). Voting ends on Sunday. ... Apparently there's only room for one Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame in Cleveland filed suit against the online Jewish Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday alleging that the Web site, due to launch in March, infringes on the Rock Hall's name, according to The Associated Press. The suit — which comes one month after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the Jewish Hall's application for a name trademark — asks the Jewish Hall to cease using its name and asks for unspecified damages. ...

The Beastie Boys are joining Al Sharpton's call for KFC to enact reforms, and have sent a letter to the fast-food chain asking that it make its suppliers improve the lives of the chickens they raise for slaughter. "You need to require that your suppliers stop chopping off the beaks of birds and require that they stop breeding and drugging chickens to grow so big that they can't even walk," the letter reads. The rappers suggest that if KFC does as they ask, it will improve its business in the process, calling it a "win-win situation." ... Elton John's been called the "Rocket Man," but now, it's more like the "Jet Man." A colorful rendering of the singer sporting his trademark glasses adorns about 20 of AirTran Airways' planes as part of a promotion to demonstrate that those Boeing 717s feature complimentary XM Satellite Radio service on certain flights. ...

02.08.2005

Kanye West and John Legend teamed up Monday night to host a party at Duvet in New York. Legend performed his current single, "Ordinary People," and two other songs from his debut album, Get Lifted, to a packed house that included Missy Elliott, L.A. Reid and hip-hop power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé. ...

Hilary Duff has begun taking classes online from Harvard University. The singer is not a student at Harvard proper, nor has she gone through the school's notoriously difficult undergraduate admissions process, but she is auditing courses through the Harvard Extension School, a continuing-education program that allows the singer to take a few classes online, including sociology, so that she can cram some book-learning in between her music and movie projects. Her sister Haylie will also be taking at least one class with her. ... Fantasia, who was just tapped to co-host the 19th annual Soul Train Awards on March 12 with Brian McKnight, Nick Cannon and Nicole Richie, is deciding between "Baby Mama" and "Free Yourself" as the next single from her debut album, Free Yourself. Meanwhile, the LP was just certified platinum. ...

Stay with us here: Nickelback drummer Ryan Vikedal recently split with the multiplatinum Canadian rock group. Not long after, 3 Doors Down drummer Daniel Adair bolted to join Nickelback — at least that's what 3 Doors Down singer Brad Arnold told Howard Stern on Tuesday morning; Nickelback's representatives would not confirm the defection. To confuse matters further, Puddle of Mudd drummer Greg Upchurch took leave from his band to play with 3 Doors Down on their current tour. A Puddle of Mudd spokesperson said Upchurch is just filling in temporarily while the rest of POM continue work on their next album. So how did all this inter-band shuffling come about? All three groups share a management company, though Arnold told Stern there is no love lost between his band and Nickelback. ...

With five nominations, including Artist of the Year, Avril Lavigne leads this year's pack of nominees for the Juno Awards, Canada's answer to the Grammys. Jazz songstress Diana Krall follows with four nods, while rapper k-os, Shania Twain, Simple Plan and Billy Talent all got three nominations. Since it just wouldn't be an awards show without a nomination for Usher, Mr. Entertainment will compete in the only category he was eligible for: International Album of the Year. He'll duke it out with Eminem, Green Day, Norah Jones and U2 for the award. The Juno ceremony takes place on April 3. ... The release date for Beanie Sigel's The B. Coming has been moved to April 12. Previously slated for December 14, the album is led by Beans' current single, "Feel It in the Air." Sigel, serving a year in prison for a gun charge, has filmed several videos for the album. ...

Lenny Kravitz has announced the dates for his Electric Church: One Night Only Tour. The 27-city North American trek — which will take Kravitz to smaller theaters around the U.S. and Canada — kicks off April 5 in Dallas. ... Kings of Leon have pulled out of a Japanese tour scheduled for later in the month due to a chronic injury in Caleb Followill's hand. The singer/guitarist is expected to be healed in time to perform February 21 on "Late Show With David Letterman" in support of the band's second album, Aha Shake Heartbreak, due the following day. ...

Oasis will play four North American shows this summer, with opening act Jet, in support of their as-yet-untitled sixth studio album, due in late May. The shows are June 18 in Detroit, June 20 in Chicago, June 22 in New York and June 25 in Philadelphia. An Epic Records spokesperson said it's possible a few more dates may be added. ... Never one to half-step, Ryan Adams has announced plans to release three albums this year. Cold Roses, a double album, is slated for release on April 19 and is credited to Adams and his group the Cardinals. A pair of solo albums, Jacksonville (July 19) and 29 (November 1), will follow, accompanied by spring and summer U.S. tour dates. ...

• Notorious B.I.G.
• Jessica Simpson
• The Doobie Brothers
• Warrant

Poison's<BR>Bret Michaels
Photo: Poisonweb.com

It's a good thing Spandex stretches, as metalheads of yesteryear will want to dust off that skintight attire and ready the hairspray for the summer's Glam Slam Metal Jam 2001 — an extensive, 41-date tour featuring Poison, Warrant, Quiet Riot and Enuff Z'Nuff, among others.

Scheduled to kick off May 23 in Amarillo, Texas, the quadruple bill heads through the South before swinging through the Northeast in early July, according to a Poison spokesperson. Confirmed dates for the trek end north of the border, August 5 at Minnedosa, Manitoba's Little River Rockfest, a four-day festival that also includes fellow retro hitmakers Styx, Survivor, the Knack and Dr. Hook, according to a Rockfest spokesperson. More dates are expected to be added to the outing, the Poison spokesperson said.

Selected dates will feature Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil, Great White and the Bulletboys, the spokesperson confirmed.

Poison are touring with original members singer Bret Michaels, drummer Rikki Rockett, bassist Bobby Dall and guitarist C.C. DeVille behind last summer's Power to the People, their eighth studio album. The group's recently recorded new single, "Rock Star," can be heard on their official Web site, www.poisonweb.com. On June 5, Poison make their DVD debut with Greatest Video Hits, a collection of videos, interviews and backstage footage.

Warrant toured with Poison in 1990, and singer Jani Lane, guitarist Erik Turner and bassist Jerry Dixon are hoping to revisit that outing's old glory. The band is putting the finishing touches on its fifth studio album, expected to be released in September, according to their manager.

Quiet Riot — with the Metal Health lineup of 1983 — Kevin DuBrow (vocals), Rudy Sarzo (bass), Carlos Cavazo (guitar) and Frankie Banali (drums) — will release their 10th full-length LP, Guilty Pleasures, on May 29, according to Banali. Enuff Z'Nuff are touring in support of their 10th and most recent album, last year's 10. The Glam Slam Metal Jam 2001 itinerary, according to Poison's spokesperson:

• 5/23 - Amarillo, TX @ Amarillo Coliseum
• 5/24 - El Paso, TX @ El Paso County Coliseum
• 5/26 - Schertz, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (w/ Vince Neil, Great White and the Bulletboys)
• 5/27 - Spring, TX @ C.W. Mitchell Pavilion (w/ Vince Neil, Great White and the Bulletboys)
• 5/28 - Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff Music Centre
• 5/30 - Pelham, AL @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
• 5/31 - Atlanta, GA @ HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
• 6/2 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Mars Music Amphitheatre
• 6/3 - Tampa, FL @ Ice Palace
• 6/5 - Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
• 6/6 - Raleigh, NC @ Alltel Pavilion @ Walnut Creek
• 6/7 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
• 6/9 - Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion
• 6/10 - Hershey, PA @ Hersheypark Amphitheater
• 6/13 - Wilmington, DE @ Kahuna Club/Kahunaville
• 6/15 - Hartford, CT @ ctnow.com Meadows Music
• 6/16 - Saratoga Springs, NY @ Performing Arts Center
• 6/17 - Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Six Flags P.A.C.

• 6/19 - Manchester, NH @ Singer Family Park
• 6/20 - Scranton, PA @ Coors Light Amphitheater @ Montage Mountain
• 6/22 - Green Bay, WI @ Oneida Casino
• 6/23 - West Fargo, ND @ Red River Valley Fair
• 6/27 - Bonner Springs, KS @ Sandstone Amphitheatre
• 6/29 - Bottineau, ND @ Wild Rose Ridge Amphitheatre
• 7/1 - Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre
• 7/3 - Tinley Park, IL @ New World Music Theatre
• 7/4 - Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
• 7/6 - Wantagh, NY @ Jones Beach Amphitheater
• 7/7 - Mansfield, MA @ Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
• 7/8 - Holmdel, NJ @ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center
• 7/19 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
• 7/20 - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
• 7/21 - Columbus, OH @ Polaris Amphitheater
• 7/22 - Burgettstown, PA @ Post-Gazette Pavilion @ Star Lake
• 7/24 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
• 7/25 - Noblesville, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
• 7/27 - Dubuque, IA @ Dubuque County Fair
• 7/28 - Maryland Heights, MO @ Riverport Amphitheatre
• 7/29 - Antioch, TN @ AmSouth Amphitheatre
• 8/04 - Huron, SD @ South Dakota State Fair
• 8/05 - Minnedosa, MB @ Little River Rockfest

• Poison
• Warrant
• Quiet Riot
• Enuff Z'nuff

The triple bill of Slaughter, Warrant, and Quiet Riot, who made the rounds this summer under the banner Rock Never Stops, will resume their trek this week with another leg of the tour. The three glam metal holdouts will kick off the run on Friday in Salt Lake City, and will gradually roll east through mid-November.

• 10/23 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Wasatch Event Center
• 10/24 - Denver, CO @ Grizzly Rose
• 10/28 - Indianapolis, IN @ World Mardi Gras
• 10/29 - Evansville, IN @ Veterans Memorial Coliseum
• 10/30 - Sedalia, MO @ Missouri State Fairgrounds
• 10/31 - Kansas City, MO @ To Be Announced
• 11/1 - Sauget, IL @ Pop's Annex
• 11/6 - Toledo, OH @ Citi Lounge/Theatre
• 11/7 - Detroit, MI @ Harpo's

• L.A. Guns
• Quiet Riot
• Slaughter
• Warrant