Listen to Jonesy's Jukebox For Your Fix of The xx, Little Dragon, Sweet, and Other Delights

Posted yesterday at 8:12 am by Duff McKagan

The xx

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about his current listening habits every Monday.

​I was glad to find out that Steve Jones has a new radio show at long last. The former Sex Pistols guitarist is on the "airwaves" every day from noon to 1 p.m. at IAMROGUE.com. For those of you who weren't fortunate to hear it the first time around, Jones had a highly rated and widely listened-to radio show on Indie 103 in Los Angeles aptly called "Jonesy's Jukebox." Indie 103 had to close last year, however, due to dwindling advertisement revenue.

What Steve does with radio probably hasn't existed in this form since sometime in the early '90s: He plays what he wants and has on any guest that he finds interesting. From the newest and hippest band on the road to a cop who walks the local beat, Jonesy makes it all somehow human, and totally listenable and interesting. Here are a few of his musical choices that you may hear when you listen to his new show:

Little Dragon, "My Step" (Machine Dreams): One dose of Beach House mixed with a touch of Cocteau Twins. I don't know, but Little Dragon are a sweet and dreamy affair.

The xx, "Heart Skipped a Beat" (XX): I know that these guys have received a ton of media play in The Weekly already... that doesn't mean that I'VE heard them, though! I have now and I like it a lot.

Sweet, "Action" (The Very Best of Sweet): One of the great things about Jonesy's show is that he plays music that he likes NOW, and also music that influenced him as a kid. The '70s glam era gets little play or recognition these days. Listen to the Sweet, Slade, T. Rex, Bowie, Mott the Hoople, and Jonesy's Jukebox if you want more!

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Duff McKagan: Underground Is the New Mainstream

Posted Feb. 4 at 8:51 am by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​Somebody asked me last week if I could open up for discussion the difference between "mainstream" success for a band or artist, and "underground" success. So here goes:

Back when I was a lad and punk rock was all the rage, the movement itself was self-supporting and eventually made its way to college FM radio, which was then a new and burgeoning way of spreading musical ideas.

In the early '80s, bands like R.E.M. and U2 were gaining speed on college radio as underground successes. They were selling records for their indie labels, and selling out shows on college campuses around the world. Of course, when you put the word "success" or "sales" up against a marketplace, nothing can really sustain its core underground-ness.

Major labels tried to capitalize on the success of the underground dollar by creating imprint indie labels. That is to say, the same major-label muscle with a new street cred name (GN'R's label, Geffen, created DGC sometime in 1986 or '87 just for this purpose. The Muffs or the Waterboys on Geffen Records would seem like a sellout to their fan base, but DGC? Well, that was fine!).

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Yes to the Rock Party!

Posted Feb. 3 at 10:06 am by Duff McKagan

​Just to briefly respond to Mr. Novoselic's fine column this week: I think a Rock Party or some sort of political alliance that is community-based and not allowed to raise dough outside of itself is a great and brave idea. Too often these days, we are promised "transparency" or "change" in government, only to find these slogans as nothing more than marketing tools for an election.

Lobbying, too, is a practice that leaves the common man on the roadside somewhere, scratching his head in bewilderment with no bandages for the accrued road rash. Did anyone catch the moment last July when the Health Care Reform Bill was left at the door of the Senate right before their summer vacation?

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Duff, We Don't Need More Politicians, We Need the Rock Party

Posted Feb. 2 at 2:00 am by Krist Novoselic

In Rock, Or, Sweet Child 'O Time. Krist Novoselic's column runs every Tuesday on Reverb. Check back on Friday when he writes about what he's listening to.

​Dear Duff:

Thanks for including me on your political ticket. I like the idea of a McKagan /Novoselic candidacy—but I must respectfully decline. I don't believe we need more politicians—we need more people to become personally invested in the political process.

The ticket you propose would have a lot of name recognition. And that works in politics, but the hard part is actually changing things. Mentioning change is cheap talk anymore. Voters are constantly electing these supposed "agents of change" who, as lawmakers, manage only to fit as cogs in the political machines that actually run things.

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Duff McKagan: Well, If I Held the Grammys ...

Posted Feb. 1 at 8:04 am by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​I am down here in L.A., and the Grammys were all of the rage down here last week. Personally, these awards shows have never proved to me to be any sort of true indicator of what is good or not. Sometimes, though, they get it right.

Best New Artist nominee: (Silversun Pickups). My favorite track is "Lazy Eye" off of Carnavas. There is really nothing 'new artist' about these guys, as they have been around for 10 or so years, long enough to show that they are indeed a truly great and inspired band.

Best Hard Rock Performance nominee: (Alice in Chains, "Check My Brain"). This category has too long of a name, really, and is really meant to give bands that may rock a little harder a chance at a Grammy. Bands that rock a little harder, though, usually don't give a crap about WINNING a Grammy, and neither do their fans. Can you believe that Alice has never won a Grammy before? Great song. Great band.

Best Song If I Held The Grammys nominee: (Loudermilk, "Ash To Ash"). Lush, beautiful, brutal, and thought-provoking. The perfect trifecta (plus one!).

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The Future: Hawks, Rock, and a McKagan/Novoselic Ticket In 2012

Posted Jan. 28 at 9:00 am by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​Sometimes I just can't find that one defining thing to write about. It is often at this point, when I can't focus, that I realize that a bunch of stuff is all going on at once. For instance:

Music: "I think records were just a little bubble in time, and those who made a living from them for a while were lucky. There is no reason why anyone should have made so much money from making records, except that everything was right for this period of time. I always knew that it would run out sooner or later. It couldn't last, and now it's running out. I don't particularly care that it is,` and like the way that it is going."
— Brian Eno

I think what Eno is trying to get across here is that corporate music America got too fat and greedy, and pushed true art aside for the next big thing that would sell more copies rather than be an important and brave musical adventure. Oh, sure, Ticketmaster and Live Nation just completed a big merger this week (President Obama? Antitrust? Anyone?), but the major labels are in their death-rattle stage.

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Duff McKagan: I've Been Listening to Aerosmith, Frampton, and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Posted Jan. 25 at 2:17 pm by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​For the first time, I saw the 1978 movie Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on Saturday night. Crappy movie, but a truly great line up of artists and, of course, great songs to cover. I think this was the last thing that Aerosmith did before they basically broke up (Jimmy Crespo in the band did NOT make it Aerosmith). You can sense the tenseness between Tyler and Perry during their part in the movie.

The Beatles, "She's leaving Home" (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band); What can I say about the Beatles that hasn't been said a million times before? This song is so beautiful.

Peter Frampton, "Do You Feel Like I Do?" (Frampton Comes Alive): I was 12 years old when this record came out, and it was a huge deal. Up to this point, Frampton was a little known commodity. Humble Pie had it right.

Aerosmith, "Seasons of Wither" (Get Your Wings):Maybe the best American rock song of all time. Well, at least to me this very day.

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Taking Iraq War Vets to the Summit

Posted Jan. 21 at 8:51 am by Duff McKagan

Tim Medvetz. Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​In the past, I have written a few times about some of the adventures I have been able to experience because of my friend Tim Medvetz. For those of you who don't know him from the Discovery Channel series Everest Beyond the Limit that aired a couple of years ago, he was not only a team member of that Mt. Everest expedition, he also summited the mountain in 2007—an amazing feat for anyone, and for this man in some respects even more so.

I met Tim a few years ago through a mutual best friend, Richard Stark, and it immediately became evident that we shared the same sense of adventure and humor. Tim was fresh from summiting Everest, and I was full of questions for him that night (mixing humor and wanderlust from me may come in the form of "Everest, huh? Cool! Was it high?" Stupid for sure, but Tim dug my line of questions/humor . . . I think).

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Duff McKagan: I've Been Listening to The Binges, The Mentors, Orianthi, and Plenty of NAMM Chatter

Posted Jan. 18 at 9:07 am by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​Every year, I participate in the NAMM convention in Anaheim, California. It is a meeting of music instrument and accessory manufacturers and all of the retailers that are looking for new product. My part in this is that over the years, I have worked with a few companies that basically supply me with my gear and in return, I will show my support at a public forum like NAMM.

If you are me, it is sometimes cool to be in a place where everyone knows where you are gonna be if only because new bands will do ANYTHING to get a guy like me a copy of their new CD. Well, I found a couple of gems this past weekend and here they are.

The Binges, "Motorcycle Song" (Self-Titled): These two tiny female Japanese imports came to California to ROCK! Check out this band only if you want to fuck some shit up!

The Mentors, "Peepin' Tom" (Get Up and Die): I met the new singer for the Mentors over the weekend, which brought up a chuckle of good times and sick thoughts (former lead singer El Duce was hit by a train and killed in 1997). This band is NOT for the faint of heart or for those who can't take a joke.

Orianthi, "According To You" (Believe): This little girl played at the NAMM Convention on Saturday and I must say I was quite impressed. Shredding guitarist singing pop songs. Different!

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Duff McKagan Will NOT Be Appearing on VH1's Fantasy Camp

Posted Jan. 15 at 5:17 pm by Chris Kornelis

​I just got a note from our friend and columnist Duff McKagan who has informed me that contrary to multiple news reports, he will not be performing on VH1's Fantasy Camp. Duff says he's not sure how the rumor got started, but it's not in the cards.

"I like the people at Fantasy Camp and think it's a cool chance for people to rock with their favorite peeps," says Duff, "but I am not a real TV guy."

And with that, have a good weekend, y'all!

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The Wheels on My Bike ...

Posted Jan. 14 at 9:10 am by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. Check back on Monday when he writes about what's playing on his iPod.

​A couple of years ago, I became the proud owner of a black 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycle. And why not? I am sober and of relatively good faculties and judgment. A lot of my good friends ride motorcycles, and I would sometimes feel left out. No, the time was definitely perfect for me to start my life as a motorcycle enthusiast.

The man who has produced everything Loaded has ever done is Martin Feveyear. Jupiter, his studio here in Seattle, lies in the heart of Wallingford, and in summer the area becomes a veritable crossroads for bikers going to and from anywhere else in Seattle. In 2001, I made the first Loaded record with Martin, and he would lay out photos of a bike, still in pieces, that he was putting together. The story goes that this same bike had been in Martin's family from the day he was born in the south of England. It was a 1951 Sunbeam SX, and his family's lone mode of transportation!

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Duff McKagan: I've Been Listening to Antony & the Johnsons, Beach House, and Kate Bush

Posted Jan. 11 at 7:55 am by Duff McKagan

Jason Nocito

Beach House's new record, Teen Dream, drops on January 26 via Sub Pop Records. Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​Antony & the Johnsons, "Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground" (The Crying Light): I was turned onto this record after a friend of mine saw AATJ somewhere in Manhattan. He and his wife cried through the whole gig. I love it when music has this affect, and "Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground" is a good taste for anyone looking to find new music that challenges.

Beach House, "Norway" (Teen Dream, out Jan. 26): Beach House does for me now what Kate Bush did in say 1981, and that is, completely transform my mood and state of being. These guys are, hands down, my favorite new band. (Download "Norway" for free at SubPop.com)

Kate Bush, "Wuthering Heights" (The Kick Inside): I'm not sure what ever happened to Kate Bush. And I'm not sure she ever really toured the States. The result is a massive mystique, at least with me. When I was a very young musician, Kate Bush helped me to realize that anything was indeed possible. I am pretty sure she can take your breath away. Try it.

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New Year, New Dog, New Furniture

Posted Jan. 7 at 3:44 am by Duff McKagan

Buckley the house-trained dog. Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. Check back on Monday when he writes about what's playing on his iPod.

​For the last 10 years, my wife and I have dreamed and schemed and saved to remodel our 83 year-old Germanic Tudor house in Seattle. While yes, I did buy this house back in 1994 before I had a real prospect of a wife and kids, my hope was in fact that one day it would happen. It did.

The house was a fine size when both the girls were tiny, but as they grew, the walls just seemed to get a little closer and the ceilings not quite as high as I once thought. My first thought and hope was to put a new master bedroom where our massive attic is, extending the staircase up a floor and adding a master bathroom and huge windows to an even bigger view that we'd now have.

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Duff McKagan: I've Been Listening to Queensryche, Judas Priest, and Motorhead

Posted Jan. 4 at 3:19 pm by Duff McKagan

Motorhead

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​Queensryche, "Gonna Get Close To You," (Rage For Order): I was a real late-comer to Queensryche (to put in lightly). Not until last year, when Sean Kinney took me to a QR show at the House of blues in LA, did I finally understand the full power of this band. "Close To You" was a stand out that night.

Judas Priest, "Hellion," (Best of Judas Priest): Kick-ass metal. I wasn't exposed to a ton of heavy metal in my teens, but JP was a band that we punkers in Seattle could totally appreciate.

Motorhead, "Emergency," (Ace of Spades): Motorhead rules and no one really needs to say anything more!

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Starting Over

Posted Dec. 31, 2009 at 1:01 am by Duff McKagan

Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. He writes about what's circulating through his iPod every Monday.

​Somehow, I had to turn everything around. Two weeks spent in the hospital doing a no-blink stare confronted with the fact that things in my life would have to change drastically left me exhausted, confused, and actually somewhat exhilarated.

In my 20s, there were two things I never really had to come to grips with or deal with: taking responsibility for my actions and thinking about what I would do other than music. I just didn't think that I would be around to deal with this shit.

After being mired in and shackled with the constant blackness of drugs and drink for as long as I was, a person just gives up. Sure, there is a weird hope for things like a miracle cure, but that is as close as you get to hope. A tragic event is more likely the case. And bracing for something like death happening to you gets somewhat softened by the cushioning narcotic fuzz. But suddenly here I was: sober and in a doctor's care, my two-week withdrawal softened by intravenous morphine for the pain and Librium for the delirium tremors.

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