Andrew W.K. has released a official statement about his cancelled trip to Bahrain, he said, “I’m disappointed and puzzled by their change of heart and last minute decision. I was personally invited to take this trip by The U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain over a year ago. They came to me. The first email they sent me is dated September 13th, 2011 asking me to give a motivational lecture in Bahrain. I was overjoyed and accepted their invitation immediately. We moved forward and completed their extensive approval process, background check, booked all the flights and travel, and had numerous phone calls with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office in Manama, Bahrain, who were handling the details. I was scheduled to fly to Bahrain on Saturday, Dec. 1st, 2012. We received our official itinerary from the State Dept. at 5:58am, on Monday, November 26th, 2012. Less than six hours later, we received an urgent telephone call informing us that the entire trip had been canceled, due to some higher level controversy. We couldn’t get any more information or answers as to why this was suddenly canceled at the last minute. When I was originally invited by our contact, it seemed everyone was aware of what I stand for with my positive attitude. They were aware of how I look and my high-energy rock music. They were excited to bring my message of living life to the fullest to the people in the Middle East. I was thrilled at the opportunity to represent my country and the spirit of inclusive and open-minded freedom that makes our nation so special and inspiring. So, for a Department of State representative to say Andrew W.K. ‘doesn’t meet their standards’ after they invited me and planned my trip for a year… well, that doesn’t meet my standards either. You can’t judge a book by its cover. I would’ve done a great job and represented our nation with dignity and pride. Despite all these challenges, I still would love to go and I vow to continue partying, and working everyday to to unite our human race through the power of positive partying.”
Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox will make his major screen acting debut starring as Jared Leto's lover in Dallas Buyers Club. The film, which also stars Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner, takes place in 1986 and is about a man (McConaughey) who experimented with non-FDA-approved drugs after being diagnosed with AIDS and given only a few months to live. No word as to when the film will be released.
Palma Violets are set to release their yet-to-be titled debut album on February 25 via Rough Trade.
While today would have been Jimi Hendrix's 70th birthday, the tracklisting of an album of never-before-released material was announced. The record, People, Hell, & Angels, will arrive on March 25, take a look at the tracklisting below:
'Earth Blues'
'Somewhere'
'Hear My Train A Comin''
'Bleeding Heart'
'Let Me Move You'
'Izabella'
'Easy Blues'
'Crash Landing'
'Inside Out'
'Hey Gypsy Boy'
'Mojo Man'
'Villanova Junction Blues'
While recovering from a successful vocal chord surgery, Bjork has announced she will be taking her Biophilia live shows to Paris for a residency in February and March of 2013 at a new venue Le Cirque En Chantier, which will be a specially constructed circus tent on L'Ile Seguin, an island on the Seine in the French capital.
The Dillinger Escape Plan will release a new record in 2013. To get fans excited they cut a teaser video, take a look:
