Culture :: Paste

Charles Manson and Phil Spector's Jailhouse-Rock Collaboration a Hoax, Says Dept. of Corrections

By Caroline Klibanoff on 2:35 PM on August 4, 2009

On Thursday we reported on an overture allegedly made by Charles Manson to recently-incarcerated music producer Phil Spector. Blogs and newspapers were lighting up with the story, including the New York Post's Page Six, which spoke to Spector's wife and publicist. Apparently, the bearded man pictured above wanted to work with the man known for the Wall of Sound.... read more

Green Day Play Moves Forward, as Movie Rumors Fly

By Ani Vrabel on 1:30 PM on August 4, 2009

In 2004, Green Day released American Idiot, a punk-rock opera that was written as an anthem to a generation fed up with the Bush Administration and everything that went along with it. For a while now, the band has been plotting a musical based on the album, to open early next month at California’s Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It was an unforeseen turn of events, to be sure (even frontman Billie Joe Armstrong told the New York Times, "It doesn't make a lot of sense."), but it's definitely going to happen, as the actors who will bring St. Jimmy, Jesus of... read more

Eugene Mirman Preps New Album, Comedy Festival in Brooklyn

By David Marek on 12:00 PM on August 4, 2009

Eugene Mirman, everyone's favorite comedian/sketchy Flight of the Conchords landlord/occasional three-star general, is currently prepping the release of a brand-spankin'-new comedy album. Always a politically correct comedian, Mirman has titled his latest record God Is a Twelve-Year-Old Boy with Asperger’s. Hey, wait a second...... read more

Newseum Commemorates Woodstock Anniversary with Look Back at Rock Journalism

By Caroline Klibanoff on 1:20 PM on August 3, 2009

The 40th anniversary of the legendary Woodstock festival at Yasgur's Farm has brought a number of varied commemorations, from a feature film to a box set to rumblings of a Woodstock 2009 concert. Now, the Newseum in Washington, D.C. will add its unique perspective to the mix, using the anniversary not only to display artifacts and rare film footage, but also to chronicle the role of the press and the development of music journalism.... read more

Pricey Watches and Greatest Hits: SpongeBob Celebrates 10th Anniversary

By Walton Murphy on 11:30 AM on August 3, 2009

It's hard to believe that SpongeBob has been hanging around Bikini Bottom for 10 years. So what better way to celebrate your decade-long relationship with a sea sponge than with limited-edition high-end timepieces? Finally, children and adults alike can rep Spongebob wrist bling for a mere $170-$275.... read more

Former Football Player Now Member of New York Metropolitan Opera

By Ani Vrabel on 2:00 PM on July 31, 2009

During his days as a football player (first at the University of Colorado, then in Finland and finally with the Arena Football League), Keith Miller didn't listen to stereotypical motivation music. While teammates spent locker-room sessions jamming to hip-hop and metal, Miller confesses that was never his scene. "I used to listen to the 'Queen of the Night' aria before games," he told The Savannah Morning News. This interest has evolved considerably since those days and has become a new career for the former fullback. Miller studied at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, and he's now a member... read more

Gilberto Gil: An Exit Interview

By Jesse Jarnow on 1:30 PM on July 30, 2009

Gilberto Gil, the onetime tropicalismo dissident, has returned to his life as a massive global superstar... read more

Lily Allen Unveils Jewelry Designs

By Angela Pham on 12:30 PM on July 30, 2009

With her frothy pop songs, fantastical music videos and sugary-sweet voice, Lily Allen is altogether rocking an adorable vibe, so it really comes as no surprise that her newly debuted, self-designed jewelry line could be best described as "cute."... read more

Yahoo! and Microsoft Partner on Search Engine

By Angela Pham on 1:54 PM on July 29, 2009

It was announced today that Yahoo! will team up with Microsoft's Bing to form a search engine dream team of sorts, and while Google may not yet be quivering in its steel-toed boots, the partnership is still literally a big deal. Big, as in the 10-year planned partnership is expected to boost Yahoo!'s annual profits by $500 million.... read more

Bob Dylan Unveils Eight More Signed, Limited-Edition Paintings

By Caroline Klibanoff on 11:53 AM on July 28, 2009

Last year, Bob Dylan drew acclaim for his other creative outlet: painting. The Drawn Blank Series, a collection of the songwriter's artwork reworked in full color, was released as a hefty book and an exhibition at the Halcyon Gallery in London, to much success. Now, Castle Galleries is extending the collection with eight more signed, limited-edition pieces from the series, which were unveiled July 25.... read more

Patton Oswalt Tours Following Album and Movie Releases

By Michael Saba on 11:25 AM on July 28, 2009

August and September are shaping up to be banner months for Comedian of Comedy Patton Oswalt. In between bouts of the usual wackity-schmackity doo, he'll star in Big Fan, one of Sundance 2009's surprise hits. The flick is currently slated for an Aug. 28 release, mere days after his fourth standup album, My Weakness Is Strong!, hits the streets.... read more

Apple, Record Labels Team Up to Boost Album Sales

By Angela Pham on 2:30 PM on July 27, 2009

Very soon, your next album purchase on iTunes might contain more than just a handful or two of tracks. Although the project reportedly deemed "Cocktail" is characteristically still under wraps, Apple is said to be planning a virtual, interactive CD experience with every full-album download.... read more

Flint, Michigan to Host Rock Poster Exhibit This September

By Liz Stinson on 11:18 AM on July 27, 2009

From the widely-celebrated psychedelic art that was birthed from the Fillmore in San Francisco to the hand-made posters plastered on the wall at your favorite local venue, the gig poster has always been intricately woven into the fibers of the rock and roll fabric.... read more

Brian Eno Premieres New Arrangement of Apollo at London Science Museum

By Catherine Prewitt on 12:45 PM on July 24, 2009

In two live performances at the Science Museum in South Kensington, London, Brian Eno presented a new arrangement of his 1983 record Apollo. The sold-out concerts took place on July 20 and 21 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.... read more

Amazon and Zappos Join Forces

By Angela Pham on 2:30 PM on July 23, 2009

Like the forested land it's named for, Amazon.com is big. Really big. Even bigger now that it has acquired Zappos, the internet's biggest online shoe retailer. News of the partnership was announced yesterday by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh via an all-employee e-mail, and it's a bit of a shocker for all.... read more

Ghostly International's Free iPhone App Streams Playlists Based On Listener's Mood

By Gray Chapman on 11:20 AM on July 23, 2009

While iPhone apps for music lovers are a dime a dozen, a new release from indie imprint Ghostly International seems to be setting a new standard. Yesterday, the record label heralded the arrival of Ghostly Discovery, a Pandora-like app that streams a playlist from Ghostly's catalog based on the listener's mood and other factors.... read more

Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Charlize Theron, 22 More Commemorate Nelson Mandela's 91st Birthday With Audio Book

By Catherine Prewitt on 2:10 PM on July 21, 2009

Nelson Mandela celebrates his 91st birthday this year, and in celebration, a slew of Hollywood staples have partnered with Hachette Book Group and Artists for a New South Africa to present the audio book Nelson Mandela's Favorite Folktales. Matt Damon, Whoopi Goldberg, Scarlett Johnassen, Don Cheadle, Hugh Jackman, Charlize Theron and Samuel L. Jackson are just seven of 23 actors and two musicians who donated their dynamic voices to bring new life to these old stories. The three-disc set also includes a message from Archbishop Desmond Tutu of Cape Town.... read more