Jason Sears of Rich Kids on LSD died January 31 in a Tijuana clinic that reportedly specializes in alternative methods of drug detox. The clinic, operated by the U.S.-based Ibogaine Association, occupies a two-story house …

A January 24 hip-hop show at 4th & B reportedly ended in a melee after an onstage comment by rapper Tony Yayo (whose debut CD Thoughts of a Predicate Felon was mostly written while he …

Aerosmith plays the Sports Arena tomorrow, February 10. From thesmokinggun.com: "Police escorts must be arranged in order to facilitate Artist arrival to and departure from the venue." On load-in, the production manager expects to be …

When I heard the Beauty Bar was opening at the corner of El Cajon Boulevard and Euclid (the same place my convertible was carjacked at a stoplight), I thought I must have heard wrong. But …

"We started this one off with a nice 20-second feedback solo," says Crash Carter singer/guitarist Casey Gee of the band's "worst gig ever," at the Hard Rock Café in La Jolla. Drummer John Mears elaborates …

“This is somewhat of a false dichotomy for me.”

"It was a four-star hotel, and there was our roadie Gizmo, naked and duct-taped to a cot that was propped up in the hallway," says Kicking K8 drummer Billy Nychay of the band's stay late …

If you like the beat writing of Kerouac or spoken-word essays by the likes of Henry Rollins and Eric Bogosian, then Adam Gnade may be your cup of tea. If you're accustomed to innocuous pop …

Even though the FCC and U.S. marshals shut down Free Radio 96.9 in July 2005, transmissions resumed in November, and the station seems to be operating from the same rented building in South Park. "We …

Thirty-eight years ago tomorrow (1/20/68), the Strawberry Alarm Clock played downtown's Community Concourse. Though they performed their hit "Incense and Peppermints," the record's 16-year-old lead singer, Greg Munford, was not onstage. "He was never in …

Local pastor and Grammy-nominated gospel artist Tonex (pronounced Toe-nay) says his newest CD, Oak Park: 92105, is the first Christian-artist album to carry a parental advisory sticker. Released on iTunes.com, the 24 tracks document his …

Al Kooper played keyboards for the Stones ("You Can't Always Get What You Want"), Bob Dylan (the organ on "Like a Rolling Stone"), and various Beatles tracks. Yet, as of this writing, he hasn't yet …

Even before 18-year-old pianist Eldar Djangirov played on Late Night with Conan O'Brien last June, the 2005 graduate of Linda Vista's Francis Parker School had sold over 50,000 copies of his debut CD Eldar (his …

“We were signing autographs, and he actually has us sign the baby.”

"My phone is tapped," claims guitarist John Pertle of Johnny Love Sound, who pleaded guilty in late November to distributing and possessing child pornography. The 36-year-old had his mother contact me via e-mail. Through her, …

Ken Bethea, lead guitarist of Old 97s, writes on his blog about the recording of his Dallas band's sixth album, Drag It Up. "We finished up in sunny San Diego at producer Mark Neill's vintage …

"I started off with no idea of what's involved in putting on a concert," says Debbie Siegelman, "but [Dougie Maclean] hasn't been in San Diego since a 1998 show at the La Paloma Theatre, and …

An incident at a recent holiday program in Chula Vista has resulted in a lawsuit against the city. On December 3, recreation department supervisor John Gates allegedly prevented a Christian hip-hop dance group from performing. …

Twelve years ago today (12/29/93), Nirvana played the Sports Arena. The band's 24-song set was the source of two widely circulated bootleg albums: Smells Like TJ captures all 100 minutes onto a Hi8 master, while …

"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 …