Live4MusiC

Coldplay is being sued by a man who calls himself a "well-talented" yet "unknown" songwriter. The man claims the band straight up jacked three of the nearly 4,000 songs he's written in his lifetime, reports TMZ.com.

Sammie Lee Smith filed a lawsuit against the UK indie band yesterday (January 13) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, alleging that they stole his songs "Yellow", "Clocks" and "Trouble".

In the lawsuit,Sammie claims since 1976, he has "recorded approximately 100 tapes, each tape containing approximately 40 songs."Sammie does not say if any of his other 3,997 songs were ever stolen by anyone.

As obtained by TMZ, Smith states that he wants Coldplay to stop performing the tracks live.

This isn't the first lawsuit the band have faced - last year Joe Satriani filed for copyright infringement when he claimed the group had used elements of his song "If I Could Fly".

 

Garage-punk rocker Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., a.k.a. Jay Reatard, has died at his home in Memphis, TN, according to Memphis newspaper The Commerical Appeal. He was 29 years old.

The Memphis police have opened an investigation into the rocker's death, said spokesperson Jennifer Robinson. Lindsey was found around 3:30 A.M. in his bed.

Memphis' Goner Records, Lindsey's onetime label home, posted about the death on their website: "It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night. We will pass along information about funeral arrangements when they are made public."

Details regarding his passing are scarce, but just days ago Lindsey Tweeted that he was feeling sick.

Lindsey began performing in bands at age 15, and later recorded under the Reatards and the Lost Sounds monikers. In 2006, after a series of short-lived side-projects, Lindsey released Blood Visions, his first album under the Jay Reatard moniker.

As a three-piece band, Jay Reatard -- picked for SPIN's Big in '08 package -- built a loyal following with a fusion of punk and garage rock, and their intense live shows, which wowed SPIN deputy editor Steve Kandell at 2008's SXSW. "[Jay Reatard] rocked harder in 15 minutes than some bands will their entire silly careers," he wrote.

After being picked up by New York-based indie powerhouse Matador Records in 2008, Jay Reatard toured relentlessly, then started running into problems: earlier this year Lindsey's longtime backing band, bassist Stephen Pope and drummer Billy Hayes, left the group.

- SPIN

BEIJING — Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Aerosmith, and the Black Eyed Peas will headline a free April concert on Beijing's Olympic Green, promoters said Wednesday.

The "Show of Peace," is scheduled for April 17 to mark Earth Day, which is celebrated each year to promote awareness of environmental issues, promoter Rick Garson said.

He called it the first-ever global peace and environment concert in China featuring world famous celebrities and musicians.

"Tickets are free. You can't charge for peace and green. It is going to be for everybody, it's like China's gift to the world and the people," Garson told reporters.

"What we are going to do is raise money, obviously, from sponsorship, international distribution, merchandising, Internet, ringtones, DVDs, CDs. That's how we are doing it, it is being self-funded as we speak."

Organisers were also talking with other artists about performing, such as Pearl Jam, Lady Gaga, Green Day, and 50 Cent, while numerous Chinese musicians were being brought in too, he said.

Organisers hope the concert will be beamed live around the world via television and the Internet to mark this year's 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

"My belief in music as a universal language is the reason I returned to Beijing to voice my support for the Show of Peace," said Page, who performed the Led Zeppelin classic "Whole Lotta Love" at the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics last year.

"This (concert) is a tribute to the power of music and its positive effect. Music has been one of the most powerful languages that speaks to the heart of the people around the world."

Sponsors include the Chinese People?s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China-based non-profit Joint-US China Collaboration on Clean Energy, the United Nations? NGO Pathways to Peace, and Ted Turner's Captain Planet Foundation.

The Olympic Green is the park encompassing key venues built for the 2008 Olympics including the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium.

Discussions were under way on the numbers of concert-goers who will be allowed to attend, which organisers hoped would number up to 100,000, Garson said.

- AFP 

Blink-182 are reentering the studio this month to resume work on the first album since their 2003 self-titled LP, and cameras will be following the trio’s recording sessions for an upcoming film calledThe Blinkumentary. Watch the first trailer for the doc here, and check out another teaser on the film production companyHandsomerandsome's website.

According to MTV, cameras have been following Blink full-time since the band embarked on their reunion tour in May 2009. Mark Hoppus,Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker said they planned to record a new album from the start, but pushed the studio time back until their trek was completed. After Blink’s 2005 split, DeLonge formed Angels & Airwaveswhile Hoppus and Barker started +44, andDeLonge says in the clip that the new musical directions that the members had in their post-Blink bands will undoubtedly influence the new disc.

"No one really knows what to expect from the next Blink record, I don’t think anyone expects it’s going to be a straight-forward rock record," DeLonge says, adding that the upcoming album will likely feature Blink’s "most ambitious songwriting" to date. No word yet when the entire Blinkumentary will be released or whether it’ll unfurl piecemeal to form sort of video diary about the recording sessions.

Thanks for the report to Rolling Stone.com.

 

Band member hint as reunion after being inactive since 2006

System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjia has hinted that the rockers may be reuniting this year.

The band have not been active as a band since 2006 – but Odadjiaposted a message on his Twitterpage, Twitter.com/officialshavo, suggesting that a comeback may be on the cards.

"Are u guys ready for System???" he wrote.

Rumours of a System Of A Downreunion have abound at various points since they went on hiatus. Frontman Serj Tankian embarked on a solo career, while last November three of the band members joinedDeftones on stage together inHollywood for a benefit gig forDeftones bassist Chi Cheng, who is currentl hospitalised.

- NME.com

Guitarist says no amount of money could prompt reunion

Guns N' Roses' former guitarist Slashhas revealed that he has turned down "seven, eight digit kinds" of sums of money to reunite with his old band at various times since his departure.

'It's time to move on,' mogul says about decision

Simon Cowell is to quit his role as a judge on the American Idol TV show to launch The X Factor in the USA, he has confirmed.

Marking the first contest Live4MusiC ever organised, this has been an amazing contest to say the least! Could never have done it without the enthusiasm all our participants have for Big Night Out 2010, in particular, MUSE!

Without further ado, let us present to you our deserving winner, all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aidil! 

This video is really, my personal favourite! Who says voting contests are always unfair? (Oops Singapore Idol >.<)

Happy 2010 to one and all! 

In our latest update, Coffee & Tea Dreamworks is proud to present the Caricature illustrations of our "Be The SUPERSTAR In You" Winners, Naguib & Si Hui!

Let's see how Coffee, the Creative Director of Coffee & Tea Dreamworks, have characterized both Naguib & Si Hui with our signature Caricature-style of illustration!

Si Hui's Illustration