by Andrew Sacher

Smashing Pumpkins at Terminal 5 in 2010 (more by Jen Maier)

Billy Corgan's current version of The Smashing Pumpkins (he's the only original member) are set to release their new album, Oceania, next week (6/19) and it's streaming for the week leading up to its release on iTunes. BIlly says it's the band's best record since Mellon Collie. I wouldn't go that far, especially because the overly show-offy drummer makes me long for anything with Jimmy Chamberlain in the band, but it's somewhat refreshing to hear Billy's voice on a batch of new songs, and the writing isn't half bad.

The Pumpkins will be in NYC on the day of the album's release, June 19 for a show at the P.C. Richard & Son iHeartRadio Theater. It's an intimate/private show (200 people) and you can enter for a chance to be there by "liking" this P.C. Richard & Son facebook app. All dates including a Chicago show this week, are listed below.

In other news, Billy Corgan is finally making a pro-wrestling reality TV show. ProWrestling.net reports:

Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins joined Mister Saint Laurent on MLW Radio to discuss his new wrestling company, Resistance Pro, as well as his upcoming album, Oceania. He also revealed that he intends to launch a reality TV show about what it's like running a wrestling organization.

"I'm doing a lot of behind the scenes stuff. We're trying to get a reality show made," Corgan said. "We just signed a deal with a big reality show producer. A guy with an incredible track record. We're in good hands."

"We believe that wrestling is fascinating on many many levels. Socially, politically, even economically. The struggles independent wrestlers go through to try to find work. Those are real struggles that anybody can identify with. We want to show what goes on in a wrestling company behind the scenes.

Bleacher Report will be posting a new video about Billy's wrestling endeavors every Tuesday for the next month (starting today). Watch part 1 below, along with a list of all dates...

Continue reading "Billy Corgan making a pro-wrestling TV show; Smashing Pumpkins streaming LP, playing a small show in NYC next week"

"Macho Man" Randy Savage

Professional Wrestling great "Macho Man" Randy Savage died after a car crash on Friday near his home in Seminole, Florida, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Savage, whose real name was Randy Mario Poffo, appeared to have lost control of his 2009 Jeep Wrangler for unknown reasons at 9:25 a.m. local time, crash investigators said.

He drove over a concrete median into oncoming traffic lanes before crashing head-on into a tree, a crash report said.

He died of his injuries at a nearby hospital. He was 58.

The crash was not alcohol-related, officials said. The cause of death will not be confirmed until an autopsy is performed, investigators said.

Savage and his female passenger, Barbara L. Poffo, were both wearing seat belts. She suffered minor injuries. -[Reuters]

Hulk Hogan's partner and then arch rival in the WWF,"Macho Man" was also a member of the NWO in the WCW, and much more (including the ex-husband of Miss Elizabeth who died in 2003). He also gave some of the craziest wrestling promos of his era. RIP Randy Poffo, you will be missed. Videos below...

Continue reading "RIP 'Macho Man' Randy Savage"

photos by Chris La Putt

After conquering the Warsaw in Brooklyn, Kaiju Big Battel invaded B.B. Kings last night (Saturday, April 9th) with live monster wrestling from Steam Powered Tentacle Boulder, Unibouzu, Slo Feng, The Grudyin, Dusto Bunny, French Toast, Cycloptopuss, Hell Monkey, #13, American Beetle, Metal Wing Black, Kung-Fu Chicken Noodle, and, despite rumors of his death, the return of Dr. Cube. There were crushable blocks and there was cereal.

A set of pictures from the event, and video of the entire show (that was captured from a live stream), below...

Continue reading "Kaiju Big Battel invaded B.B. Kings in NYC (pics & video)"

Madeline Follin of Cults & Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast

It was like a buzz band explosion on Sunday when Bethany of Best Coast, who were playing the same stage later, came on stage during Cults' set to lead the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday" to Cults member Madeline Follin who then wished Toro y Moi, who played the same stage earlier, a Happy Birthday as well. Cults were good too. I didn't see any of Best Coast's actual set, though Tim did.

The reason I missed all of Best Coast's set was due to the veggie hot dog eating contest happening on the Yellow Stage. I first met Mike Litt in 2008 when we partnered on a SXSW day party (which was also in partnership with Transmission who puts on Fun Fun Fun). At the time, I didn't know much about Mike except that he was vegan, a bit of an activist, a local Austin event promoter, and that he was responsible for throwing an annual veggie hot dog eating contest every July 4th in Austin. And it was those reasons that made me immediately want to start working with him and we've stayed in contact each SXSW since, and so there was no way I was missing this special edition of his veggie dog eating contest which was happening right at the festival (not to mention I've seen Best Coast multiple times already, I've seen the Bronx, and I wasn't really planning on catching P.O.S. who was also on at the same time).

yum

And I wasn't alone. A healthy size crowd showed up to view the grossness. Unfortunately there were too many contestants to fit at the table on the stage (forcing them to, at the very last minute with the timer ticking, add a 2nd table in the back for more contestants who couldn't be seen by most of the crowd), and there were a lot of introductions and comedy at the beginning that included getting volunteers from the crowd, plugging local comedy shows and musicians, some guys playing the National Anthem, and all the setup of plates and hot dogs and cups of water (not necessarily how you want to spend your valuable music festival minutes), but all in all (after a bit of anxiety waiting for the actual contest to begin), it was a good time, a rare break from the music for me, and for a worthwhile cause (I think). I (literally) love Mike Litt.

More pictures of the eating contest, metal jean jackets, Suicidal Tendencies, and other sights from Sunday (some which were not covered in the last TWO SUNDAY POSTS), below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Day 3 pics (part 3) - Cults w/ Bethany Best Coast, veggie hot dog eating contest, Hold Steady, more "

by BBG

Digital Retribution: When I last interviewed you, you said of the Dead Kennedys reunion, "I thought it was fucking pathetic, though, when The Dead Kennedys went out without Jello as their singer." What I meant to say instead of whatever monosyllabic witticism I spouted is: What's the difference between DK and the reformed Misfits, who GWAR toured with?

Dave Brockie (aka Oderus): I think there is a big difference, but don't expect the original product in either. I like Jerry and I would rather have him out touring and having fun than have him working in his machine shop. You can't blame him for wanting to cash in on how great The Misfits were, and enjoy himself in the process, plus give all of his pals jobs in his crew, and show his kids the time of their lives! So in that aspect, I think Jerry and what's left of The Misfits is cool, as long as you don't go in there expecting to see Glenn Danzig! I feel Jerry has earned the right to do whatever the fuck he wants through 30+ years of dedication to this music. Jerry never lets up, he is always gigging. Whereas the Dead Kennedys thing was just a one-shot money grab. They knew they could get away with it, do a year or two, cash in, and bail...and also, The Misfits actually got away with replacing their singer, with Mike Graves, and did a couple of great records! That was when we toured with them, and that was great! American Psycho is a great fucking album!

With 46 acts spanning multiple genres, all worth at least checking out, and most worth more than that, playing on four stages in a 10 hour period along with side attractions like a bungee jumping thing and a mechanical bull, and with three of us at Fun Fun Fun Fest, it shouldn't be surprising that it took us ONE, TWO, THREE, and now FOUR posts to cover just the pictures from Saturday. They continue below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Day Two in pics (part 4) - Gwar, Jeff the Brotherhood, Municipal Waste, Dam-Funk & more"

Legendary pro wrestling manager Captain Lou Albano died this morning, MTV.com is reporting.

Albano, who was sent home from the hospital earlier this week and place under hospice care, was 76 years old.

Albano is best known to non-wrestling fans as the father in Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" video. That helped kick off the Rock 'n Wrestling connection that launched the then-WWF to national prominence in the 1980s. [LA Times]

Captain Lou! RIP

video memories below...

Continue reading "Captain Lou Albano, RIP"

photos by Tim Griffin

Between matches we were treated to a bit of burlesque, all of it wonderful, but I am proud to say that at the end of the day the girls from New York outshone their Los Angeles counterparts with audacity and grit.

During the intermission, L.A.-based Lux LaCroix--who had earlier in the evening made her star turn doing a reversedrag striptease as a Purple Rain-era Prince -- told me, "New York burlesque is more performance art, L.A. is more rockabilly."

This made little sense coming from a girl sporting a Zorro moustache. Fortunately, in this case, the "performance art" was local gogo heroes the Wau Wau Sisters, whose trapeze act set to a Guns 'N Roses song featured not only death-defying stunts but also a giant baggie filled with drugs. Never let it be said that I am not an appreciator of fine art.

By the end of the night there had been enough high-flying grappling, giant Day-Glo insects, booby-shaking and gender-bending to satisfy even purists like myself, and certainly the curiosity seekers had something to text each other about on their way back to the L train. [NY Press]

LA's Lucha VaVOOM visited Webster Hall last Sunday (9/20). More pictures from the show, below...

Continue reading "Lucha VaVOOM (wrestling, comedy & burlesque) came to Webster Hall in NYC - pics (NSFW)"

Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy

Lucha VaVOOM is a non-stop, action-packed scream-a-thon, where Mexican Masked wrestlers flip and fly, performing breathtaking acrobatic feats. It's good vs. evil played out in a one fall, Lucha Libre exhibition-style match for maximum enjoyment.

In between matches, the finest, handpicked burlesque acts from around the world astound us; at Lucha VaVOOM, we like a little sexo with our violencia. Raucous aerial acts, Pogo-stick peelers, hula-hoop hotties; we've got it all.

But wait there's more! Our color commentary is handled by comedians Tom Kenny, Dana Gould and Blaine Capatch. Other guest commentators include Fred Armisen, Brian Poussein, Patton Oswalt, Jeffrey Ross, Chris Hardwick and Bobcat Goldthwait. Even Jack Black sat in, proclaiming "Lucha VaVOOM is the sh*t!

Lucha VaVOOM sounds like a good time, and Lucha VaVOOM visits NYC Sunday night (9/20). The show is at Webster Hall and tickets are still available, and I have two pairs of them to giveaway. The flyer with more details and the exact lineup, and a promo video, are below...

Continue reading "Lucha VaVOOM is Mexican Masked Wrestling + Burlesque + Comedy. Sunday night it's @ Webster Hall (win tix) "

photos by Chris La Putt

Motorhead

Thorr

"Triple H and wife Stephanie were in attendance at last night's Motorhead Concert at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The concert started off with Triple H's "The Game" theme music blaring over the PA system with the man himself appearing on stage. Triple H introduced the band and stood on the left side of the stage in clear view of the crowd for the entire 90-minute show. Stephanie was also there with Triple H, headbanging throughout the concert and "wearing way too short a skirt for a mother of two," according to the person in attendance. At one point, Stephanie jumped on stage to high five drummer Mikkey Dee. During their third song, Lemmy said, "I'd like to dedicate this next song from Motorizer to Triple H and his lovely wife." The song was "Rock Out," the theme for the Unforgiven pay-per-view. After the show was over, Triple H came on stage to take a final bow with the band." [Professional Wrestling Mania]

ASG, Year Long Disaster and Valient Thorr (but not the Misfits) rounded out the Volcom Tour bill. More pictures below...

Continue reading "Motorhead & Valient Thorr @ Roseland Ballroom, NYC - pics"