"Yeah, there was a rumor on MySpace that we were doing [Vans Warped Tour] 2006, but we had nothing to do with that, it was just some dingdong posting." Former Miniskirts guitarist Roxy says she …

John Bertrand has been in the karaoke biz since 1984, when the singing machines ran on eight-track tapes and video screens were years away. With two local retail shops and an online store, his company, …

“Nothing worse than watching a bunch of meatheads trying to hook up with their brainless female roommates.”

Twenty-seven years ago today (12/15/78), I saw the Ramones play Montezuma Hall. The band was still breaking in "Marky," fresh from Richard Hell and the Voidoids. That night, they played "Rockaway Beach," "Sheena Is a …

I have dozens of answering-machine messages from Larry "Wildman" Fischer, onetime Frank Zappa protégé and Doctor Demento perennial. We became friends while he lived at various downtown flophouses in the late '80s and early '90s. …

At Blind Melons on November 11, "We had just finished playing a song, 'The Way Sean Drives,' where I make fun of his crazy driving," says Revenge Club singer Amy Paddick of bass player Sean …

Along with many vidiots my age, television was the teat that nurtured us all, and I was less weaned than most. I recall "discovering" the Beatles on a Smothers Brothers show from October 1968 (which …

Local singer/guitarist John Pertle, of the four-man group Johnny Love Sound, pled guilty on November 28 to five felony counts of distributing child pornography and four felony counts of possession of child porn with intent …

"We were at a bar in San Diego," Nickel Creek mandolin player Chris Thile told starwars.com, "when low and behold, Carrie Fisher appears accompanied by two of her friends. It turned out that she had …

"You don't remember who I am, do you?" Gary Wilson asked me via e-mail. I'd been interviewing the indie-rock pioneer about his rediscovery since being name-checked in Beck's "Where It's At" ("Like my man Gary …

Local firm Pro-Stars filed a lawsuit on November 8 against Paula Abdul, alleging "breach of contract." The suit contends Abdul agreed to let the company exclusively represent the trademark for a jewelry line called "Innergy …

This is “a rich bitch, paint-the-ghetto-psychedelic kind of town.”

"The cops killed Francisco, plain and simple, and they'll probably put me in jail for saying so," says Hoover High student Amanda M. She claims she was arrested for "obstruction" after being questioned about her …

When Fiona Apple appears at the House of Blues on Monday, November 28, her contract states she "presents an extremely dynamic, yet subtle show and consequently will require a state-of-the-art sound system." She wants her …

"It turns out [my father has] been living in San Diego, and he even knows about the band," says Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor. He says his mother never told him who his father was. "My …

Thirty-two years ago today (11/17/73), Tom Waits played at Folk Arts Rare Records, then located in Hillcrest at 3743 Fifth Avenue. "He did our open-mike nights back when he was still at Hilltop High," says …

During his 13 months editing Fahrenheit magazine (published from May 2003 until July 2004), Portland, Oregon, transplant Adam Gnade formed a lot of opinions about local performers. Today he says, "Right now, most San Diego …

“I really do love my brother.”

Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin spent the early '90s touring with the Pleasure Barons, featuring Mojo Nixon and Beat Farmers drummer/singer Country Dick Montana. Their rowdy stage show was chronicled on a 1993 concert album that …

When Def Leppard plays the Sports Arena on Friday, November 4, "all cell phones, pagers, walkie-talkies, UHF repeaters, etc., must be switched off," including by any police, security, paramedics, fire officials, or staffers on-site. Such …

Twenty-five years ago today (11/3/80), the Police played Golden Hall with opening act XTC. The Police's Zenyatta Mondatta (and its first single, "Don't Stand So Close to Me") was in the U.S. top ten. The …

Whether you're goth or you just dig celebrity graves (that's "dig" as in "enjoy"), you might be interested to know of these famous former neighbors entombed at a gravesite near you. BOBBY DRISCOLL (1937-1968) starred …

Norwegian hacker DVD Jon has taken up residence in San Diego to work for MP3tunes founder Michael Robertson. The 21-year-old (real name, Jon Lech Johansen) made headlines during the past few years for writing and …

"We've played every place there is to play in San Diego," says Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante. "The arena, that outdoor place at the college, and...what's that place, hotter than hell with the walls melting...Soma, we …

San Diego native RuPaul is working on a remix album, RuPaul Reworked, featuring a new version of his/her 1992 hit "Supermodel (You Better Work)." "I kind of laid low for awhile during the reign of …

Former 4 Non Blondes singer Linda Perry, who grew up in San Diego, wants her 1996 album In Flight to get another shot. The record was made after Interscope Records dropped 4 Non Blondes but …

When the Black Eyed Peas play Cox Arena tonight, they request the purchaser/promoter "provide at his/her expense an experienced, professional, English speaking, sober monitor engineer" (with "sober" underlined) as well as a "first class lighting …

While in rural northern Georgia during the first weekend of October, I learned that Hammerfest 2005 would take place nearby. The event would include Fallbrook resident Tom Metzger performing karaoke between sets by Whitelaw, Kremator, …

"He arrived at the UCSD Medical Center having lost one-third of his blood from 15 knife wounds to his head, neck, face, arms, and torso," says Lourdes Ayon Jimenez. Her brother, musician Fernando Ayon, was …

Thirty-one years ago today (10/13/74), T Rex and Blue Oyster Cult were scheduled to play Golden Hall. T Rex had just undergone personnel changes and singer Marc Bolan was in the midst of splitting with …

Twenty-nine years ago tomorrow (10/7/76), the Who made their third appearance in San Diego at the Sports Arena. Beneath Keith Moon's drum kit that evening was a Persian rug that the day before had graced …

"Before, it was this really old dingy dive bar, but now it's classy and funky," says Bethany Main, an SDSU senior majoring in interior design. She got the job of remodeling the Morena Club from …

"It is not my fault that the sound man didn't even show up until after 11 p.m.," says Candye Kane in an e-mail to fans titled "Tio Leos Controversy," referencing a September 9 show. Phat …

Remember when Christian rock conjured up images of guys with poodle perms wearing bumblebee stripes (Stryper) and high school productions of Jesus Christ Superstar stiffly performed to an amplified vinyl record? Those a bit more …

"The Hurricane Hit Us dead on [in Miami]," says Gavin Allen, director of Visual Underground. At the end of August, the local firm was in Miami to work MTV's Video Music Awards; they assisted the …

When the Foo Fighters play Cox Arena Tuesday, September 27, they request that "if for some reason purchaser [promoter] actually promoted the show with a real live ad campaign and accompanying cool posters or lithos, …

When Live play House of Blues on September 19, their contract requests the band dressing room have a "spotlessly clean and sanitized bathroom" with "soft toilet tissue, odorless air freshener [and] toilet seat covers." In …

"10 Years without Dick," a November 11 Casbah tribute to the late Dan McLain (a.k.a. Country Dick Montana), will feature a reunion of Montana's pioneering punk band, the Penetrators. Montana died during a Beat Farmers …

Dave Mustaine's Gigantour -- with Megadeth, Dream Theater, and others -- had big booking problems. Several venues, including SDSU's Open Air Amphitheatre, couldn't accommodate the show's second stage, and promised bands (such as Symphony X, …

Twenty-two years ago today (9/15/83), Elvis Costello and the Attractions played an experimental "amphitheater seating" show at the Sports Arena with two thirds of the venue blocked off. The bands (Aztec Camera opened) were set …

Jewel has decided not to release a book of love poems she calls "too steamy, too private" for publication. In a message posted at www.jeweljk.com, the 31-year-old explains, "They're too explicit...when I wrote these poems, …

"Rampant Liver-Defying Consumption" is promised at Rocket From The Crypt's final show on Halloween. "After 16 years of scars and ear damage all in the name of spreading goodwill and the Rock N Roll doctrine," …

Candye Kane won't be doing lap dances at Tio Leo's tomorrow night; she'll be singing with her blues band. However, members of the Fat Bottom Girls will shake their booties during the ten-woman burlesque troupe's …

One of Hot Snakes' final recordings is featured on Activision's video game soundtrack to Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. They do a cover of Government Issue's "Time to Escape." Saves the Day, Thrice, My Chemical Romance, …

“I suggested that we stay on the raft and sing.”

"There's always a backlash when a band lands a major-label deal without paying their requisite 'dues' beforehand," says Augustana frontman Dan Layus. Former locals STP were scorned for their seemingly "instant" success; now it's time …

The band's performance after an August 28 high school football game in Birmingham, Alabama, was to be televised on ESPN. When parents got ahold of The Best Little Secrets Are Kept CD and found a …

Twenty years ago today (9/1/85), Black Flag, the Minutemen, and SWA played Palisade Gardens Roller Rink on University near 30th. Police stopped the show four times due to noise complaints. Nearby businesses frequently petitioned owner …

Twenty-eight years ago tomorrow (9/2/77), concertgoers could choose from Mahogany Rush at the Civic Theater, Leon Russell at SDSU's Open Air Amphitheatre, and Bob Marley at the Civic Theatre. The Marley show (and the rest …

"Some fans who've followed me for years thought it was weird, having Slash on the record and in the video [for 'Street Child']," says Elan of her last album's guest guitarist. "But I grew up …