“Nobody really knows why Isis didn’t use their full time [on stage], but [their early departure] allowed Earthless to literally steal the festival,” says Steve Dolcemaschio of Tee Pee Records. He refers to this summer’s …

Local record label Single Screen Records was launched in 2007 by Jackson Milgaten (singer-guitarist for the Vision of a Dying World) and Craig Barclift (bassist for the Powerchords). “Both of our own bands are on …

The song “Higher Than Hope,” by Finnish metal band Nightwish, is about local deejay Marc Brueland, who lost his battle with cancer five years ago this week, on October 25, 2003. Sample lyric: “The hopes …

“I’ve been a musician since I found out what musicians do for a living,” says guitarist Joey Harris. “I tried being a salesman once, and it sucked just as bad as I sucked at it. …

Before Jimmy Buffett takes the spotlight at Cricket Amphitheatre tonight, October 16, “purchaser, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide Artist with five limousines or four 15-person passenger vans.” When dinner is served for …

On October 4, Ray Suen appeared on Saturday Night Live, playing instrumental backup with the Killers. Though he wasn’t seen on the band-photo cards preceding each of the band’s two songs, he was prominently featured …

“I get to keep my minivan,” says MP3tunes owner Michael Robertson, who is claiming a victory in the copyright-infringement lawsuit filed by EMI last year. The record company accused Robertson and his Sideload.com of illegally …

“I couldn’t speak English at all when I moved from Japan to America [in 2003],” says Four Minutes Til Midnight guitarist Kenta Hayashi. “I had a really hard time. I was totally alone.” He says …

The Penetrators got their break in the mid-’70s, opening for the Ramones at SDSU’s Montezuma Hall. “During that period,” says singer Gary Heffern, “we racked up a number of concert disasters all over San Diego. …

Twenty-nine years ago tomorrow (10/10/79), the Clash headlined a bill at downtown’s Golden Hall that included the Standbys, a local band. For this date on the “Clash Take the Fifth” tour (a few weeks before …

“The Ranchita Rocks music festival in Ranchita near Ramona was a disaster,” emails attendee Andrew MacDonald of the three-day concert event held September 12—14. “The thousands of attendees got much less than what they paid …

“I got a call from a friend that works with Stevie Wonder,” says local percussionist Steve Haney. “He mentioned that he had an opportunity for me to record with Stevie. Stevie had an idea to …

“I’ve been offering free music-video production, but either the bands suck or the singers who respond are 16-year-old girls,” says Shannon Wafford of Snow Productions, a local production company. “I ran ads in the Reader …

“For years, I drank and used drugs out of shame over it,” says Adriana Smith, known by Guns N’ Roses fans as the girl heard having sex with Axl Rose in the recording studio during …

Before Journey appears at the Pechanga casino in Temecula on October 1, “All announcements must be done 20 minutes before the performance.” They want — on call — an ear, nose, and throat doctor, an …

“We record nearly all of our shows because every performance is a unique one-off and we want to capture the magic,” says bassist Larry Vernec of Blue44. All three albums by the Encinitas band were …

“If things in the music biz continue to fall apart,” says Manganista singer Matt Rhea, “maybe we’ll have [X-Ray Babies] to fall back on. People may stop paying for music, but they’ll never stop having …

White Gold and the Calcium Twins are a Spinal Tap-esque glam band created for the “Got Milk?” advertising campaign. White Gold’s spandex-clad singer plays a milk-filled guitar and encourages milk consumption in humorous ads alongside …

“Lestat’s is my favorite spot to hang out and perform,” says singer-songwriter Josh Damigo. “I’m pretty much there every night. I’m a huge fan of acoustic music, and the soundman Louie Brazier and I just …

Brain Bucket's song “You Rock ’n’ Roll,” from the band’s new album, is featured in the upcoming film Lonely Street. “It’s about the ‘Second Coming’ of Elvis,” says guitarist Chris Kelly. “It stars Jay Mohr, …

“The cops keep shutting us down,” says Aaron Witherell, who has been staging outdoor concerts with friends at “the Yard,” a makeshift performance space outside a four-unit rental property on 17th Street, between Imperial and …

“I was brought to San Diego via the hand of the judicial system,” says Chris Powers, aka 3ntra-P, one half of the hip-hop duo Clay Pigeons. Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, he says, …

Forty-two years ago today — September 11, 1966 — Del Mar was renamed “Clarksville” as part of a promotion for the Monkees’ TV show to debut the following night. The Sunday event marked the first …

“We just had Lol Tolhurst, one of the founding members of the Cure, sit in with us,” says Zippy Twombly of the Cured, a local tribute group. The British drummer joined Twombly’s band onstage for …

Infant massage educator Suzanne P. Reese is releasing a CD, Talk to Me, with music intended to be sung along while massaging infants. The album is a musical follow-up to her book Baby Massage: Soothing …

When Kid Rock appears at Pala Casino on Wednesday, September 17, his dressing room requires a clothes rack with 12 hangers, a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of hair conditioner, a pack of white crew …

Before Willie Nelson plays Harrah’s Rincon Casino on Sunday, September 7, he requires the venue to post a $5000 deposit with the William Morris Agency and another $10,000 “shall be presented to the Artist’s representative, …

Comedic singer-songwriter Happy Ron – aka Ronald Hill – recently attended a weeklong “How Music Really Works” seminar/retreat in Canada. “On one of the last days,” says Hill, “I had the opportunity to perform my …

“We are the creators of the personal paparazzi phenomenon,” says Reggie Waller, president of Private Paparazzi, which he calls “the first company to offer an authentic paparazzi experience.… They’ll never know you aren’t famous.” The …

“Eyes on first class from Cleveland to San Diego/ Will I return or stay, though my enemies don’t want me to go/ From snow to sunshine, it never rains, they lied/ But I rather move …

“ ‘The Motherhouse’ and ‘The Ascended Master Moves On (Hang Gliding in Heaven)’ are our homage to Father Yod, the spiritual master of musical vegetarianism,” says Eric Nielsen of High Mountain Tempel. The two songs …

With a band name like Moontucky Risin, you might expect to hear Southern-fried or Cajun-cooked rock, perhaps with a side of bluegrass or a pinch of rockabilly. And that’s what listeners got, back when cofounders …

+44 bassist Mark Hoppus filed a lawsuit on August 11 against Missicom LLC of San Diego, alleging the firm embezzled funds “to the tune of over 1.5 million dollars.” Hoppus’s attorney, Howard King, says, “This …

“The Static Lounge show was great, until that shooting during the last set by Cherry Chuck Gang,” says 40oz Chris of Massterpiece Entertainment, who helped promote the August 7 “DayGo Unity Concert.” The downtown event …

Twenty-five years ago today (8/14/83), Peter Gabriel performed at SDSU’s outdoor amphitheatre with the Call as opening act. Though battling marital problems and dealing with financial trouble due to his failed Womad festival, Gabriel pulled …

Moondoggies in PB has been found in contempt of court for substituting generic energy drinks for Red Bull without telling patrons who order the beverage by its brand name. “This is the second time that …

“Dance, like words, is a form of expression, a way of explaining who we are,” says Adelaide of the Shimmy Sisters, a belly-dancing duo she formed in 2006 with her sister Leilainia. “A dance can …

Twenty-nine years ago this week (8/5/79), Jack Murphy Stadium hosted Blue Öyster Cult, Cheap Trick, UFO, Pat Travers, and Shakin’ Street. To launch the all-day show, promoter Marc Berman battled the fire department over attendees …

Local hip-hop artists Kayo, Play B, and Young Mass are joining forces as the Three Rappers. “We’re doing it mainly because there is a lack of unity [in San Diego],” says Kayo. “We got Bloods …

“I’ve always enjoyed music and singing,” says singer/songwriter Jodi V, “but I grew up in a religious household, so singing anywhere else but at church was not an option.” Her first public performance was at …

Local power trio Off Track recently paid for a recording session with A-list producer Ryan Greene (NOFX, Megadeth, Guitar Hero 3). “We looked briefly at local studios and even thought about recording it ourselves,” says …

Local singer/songwriter Charlie Imes’s new album includes the song “Worst Presnadent Ever,” featuring the George W. Bush impersonator from Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. “James Adomian is also the guy always playing Bush …

“My checkered past includes skippering a tugboat on the San Francisco Bay and sinking boats as a brown-water river sailor with the Vietnamese Navy,” says blues singer/guitarist Jeffrey Joe Morin. “As soon as I left …

Before hip-hop duo Gnarls Barkley plays the Infield Stage at the Del Mar Racetrack on Saturday, July 26, the venue is required to purchase one million dollars of insurance “to cover all claims, liabilities and/or …

It’s been almost a year since James Benham, a former Navy SEAL, was found guilty of two felony counts of assault. He’s still yet to be sentenced for those crimes and two misdemeanor counts related …

Comedy Central debuts its new version of The Gong Show tonight with host Dave Attell. In 1980, local band Four Eyes appeared on the original show, which was mostly known for the participants’ lack of …

Village People policeman Victor Willis underwent surgery at a local hospital on July 7, reportedly to remove nodules from his vocal cords. The former singer tried to launch a comeback last year with his first …

Several music-themed events will take place at downtown’s Comic-Con International, beginning July 24. Rapper Method Man will promote his upcoming eponymous comic book from the Hachette Book Group. The former Wu-Tang Clan member will do …

At the beginning of June, Greg Laswell’s songs were picked up by the Muzak canned-music firm, which is developing what it calls the “audio architecture” for Courtyard Hotel lobbies. In addition, two tracks from Laswell’s …

According to Tijuana’s La Prensa newspaper, on June 21, Mexican federal agents raided the Little Devil social hall in Tijuana. They reported seizing thousands of rounds of ammunition, 19 high-caliber weapons, and a pound of …