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Writer/director Jack Hill’s 1967 film Spider Baby or, the Maddest Story Ever Told (watch it Here) – which boasts a cast that includes Lon Chaney Jr. and Sid Haig – ranks up there as one of my all-time favorites, so I’m happy to see that it has finally, nearly sixty years after the film was originally released, been given the novelization treatment! Written by Dayna Noffke, the novelization has been published by Encyclopocalypse Publications and is available for purchase, in paperback and Kindle editions, at This Link.

Here’s the description of the novel, which has a page count of 210: In a crumbling mansion on the edge of nowhere, the Merrye children live a secret life, watched over by their devoted caretaker Bruno and cursed by a rare genetic condition that causes them to regress into violent, childlike states while retaining the strength and appetites of adults. Virginia catches...

Encyclopocalypse has published a novelization of Spider Baby in paperback, mass market paperback, and e-book.

Based on the cult classic from writer-director Jack Hill, the book is written by Dayna Noffke. It includes a foreword by cult film scholar Mike Watt, as well as reconstructed “deleted scenes” and annotations that expand the twisted lore of one of the cult classic.

“In a crumbling mansion on the edge of nowhere, the Merrye children live a secret life, watched over by their devoted caretaker Bruno and cursed by a rare genetic condition that causes them to regress into violent, childlike states while retaining the strength and appetites of adults.

“Virginia catches flies in her imaginary web—then slashes them to pieces with butcher knives. Elizabeth sulks and plots. And Ralph… well, Ralph scuttles in the shadows, twitching, grinning, watching. When distant relatives arrive to claim the family estate, Bruno can only hope the “children” remember their manners.

Embattled singer Perry Farrell appears to be on shaky ground with his bandmates both past and present.

Adding to the fallout from his onstage fight with guitarist Dave Navarro and the possible disbandment of Jane’s Addiction, one of Farrell’s former bandmate in Porno for Pyros, bassist Martyn LeNoble, has posted an eviscerating takedown of the singer and his wife Etty Lau Farrell on social media.

“I can say, unequivocally, that Perry has been the worst frontman I’ve ever worked with,” LeNoble wrote in series of posts on X/Twitter Sunday night (September 29th). “Always a kind word, followed by shitty actions. The fish rots from the head down. I still don’t understand how he channeled some of those great lyrics & vocals on the first two Jane’s records.”

LeNoble went on to cite other “difficult” singers he’s worked with, including the late Mark Lanegan, Scott Weiland,...

Singer-songwriter Jesse Malin appeared on CBS Saturday Morning on September 21st for his first public performance since a medical emergency left him paralyzed from the waist down. The punk rocker played a three-song set on the TV program, and discussed his health battle with host Anthony Mason.

Malin was at a restaurant with friends in May 2023 when he suffered a rare spinal stroke that left him paralyzed from the waist down. He has been undergoing physical therapy and stem-cell treatments, and is set to return to the stage for two benefit shows at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on December 1st and 2nd, with proceeds going toward his Sweet Relief Fund. The first gig is already sold out, but you can still get tickets to the second show via Ticketmaster, or tickets to either concert via StubHub.

Ahead of the Beacon Theatre gigs, Malin and his band performed “State of the Art,...

A covers compilation benefitting the relief fund of singer-songwriter Jesse Malin, who suffered a spinal stroke last year, is set for release on September 20th. The latest single to be released from the effort is Billie Joe Armstrong’s cover of Malin’s “Black Haired Girl.”

The full 27-song tracklist for Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin was also unveiled and features many of Malin’s friends and colleagues covering the D Generation frontman’s songs, including Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, Bleachers, and many more.

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Billie Joe Armstrong’s take on Malin’s “Black Haired Girl” finds the Green Day frontman is fine form, with the cheerful power-pop tune falling right in his wheelhouse.

“Jesse is a dear friend to me,” commented Armstrong in a press release. “I love his songwriting. He is all heart… His passion is endless. We send...

John Mulaney’s wildly chaotic six-episode run of Everybody’s In LA featured old punks, phone-ins and just about every top comedian in the states.

But the show, which ran for six episodes around the Netflix Is A Joke Festival between May 3 and May 10, was originally designed as a variety show. “I wanted everyone to go make what they wanted and I will put it on. We can’t get renewed. We should actually be a variety show,” he said.

Mulaney was asked why he wanted to make a show that was largely difficult? He said that Netflix approached him as they wanted to do something live across the comedy festival but weren’t entirely sure what. “One idea they had was stand-up at the Geffen Theater. Only with only David doing stand-up, just Laura Nyro stories. He had a tight hour,” Mulaney joked. “I liked that it was an...

Porno for Pyros recently wrapped up their “Horns, Thorns En Halos” farewell tour, and now they’ve released their final song ever, a tune called “Fingernail.”

“Fingernail” is one of three new songs Porno for Pyros recorded last year, and follows the release of the tracks “Agua” and “Little Me.” Each of the tunes were written in the ’90s but never properly recorded at that time.

Like the other two tracks, “Fingernail” features Porno for Pyros’ original lineup of singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Peter Distefano, drummer Stephen Perkins, and bassist Martyn LeNoble. The tune also includes piano and string arrangements by Robert Adam Stevenson, who co-produced all three songs.

“The moment the melody touched the words I knew it would be a special song,’ said Farrell of “Fingernail,” adding. “But I was too immature to understand the essence fully.”

He continued, “There is no pain in the cutting of our hair,...

Porno for Pyros kicked off their “Horns, Thorns, En Halos Farewell Tour” on Tuesday night (February 13th) at the Observatory in Santa Ana, California.

Perry Farrell and company’s final outing is also their first proper tour in 27 years. The band reunited a couple years ago to play a few festival gigs and club shows, but haven’t embarked on a full tour since 1997. The farewell trek is set to run through a March 10th show in Montclair, New Jersey, with tickets to the upcoming shows available here.

Featuring a lineup of Farrell (vocals), Peter Distefano (guitar), Stephen Perkins (drums), and Mike Watt (bass), along with Robin Hatch on keyboards and Farrell’s wife Etty on backing vocals, Porno for Pyros played a 17-song set during the kickoff show.

The set included nine songs from the band’s 1993 self-titled debut, including favorites such as “Pets,” “Meija,” and “Cursed Female”/”Cursed Male.

Porno for Pyros have unveiled the new song “Little Me” ahead of their upcoming farewell tour. The tune follows their comeback single “Agua,” which was released in November.

The alt-rock band reunited in 2022 to play their first shows in a quarter century. Their first full-fledged outing in 27 years — dubbed the “Horns, Thorns en Halos Farewell Tour” — kicks off February 13th in Santa Ana, California, and runs through a March 10th show in Montclair, New Jersey. Tickets are available here.

Last year, the band’s original lineup of singer Perry Farrell, drummer Stephen Perkins, guitarist Peter Distefano, and bassist Martyn LeNoble recorded a handful of songs for an as-yet-untitled forthcoming EP. LeNoble will not be part of the upcoming tour. Instead, Mike Watt, who played with Porno for Pyros from 1995 to 1998, will handle bass duties.

“Little Me” rocks a little harder than the mellow “Agua,” with Farrell’s instantly recognizable voice...

A number of big tours are set to launch in February 2024, including Olivia Rodrigo’s “Guts World Tour,” Stevie Nicks’ latest run of solo shows, Fall Out Boys’ trek with Jimmy Eat World, Noah Kahan’s “We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour,” and more.

See what other acts are heading out on the road and learn how to get last-minute tickets…

Olivia Rodrigo

The pop superstar will officially launch her “Guts World Tour” starting on February 23rd in Palm Springs, California. The massive trek spans more than 75 shows across North America and Europe with support acts like The Breeders, Remi Wolf, and more. [Tickets]

Stevie Nicks

The Fleetwood Mac member will kick off a run of shows beginning on February 10th in Atlantic City, with dates also scheduled in Baltimore, Greenville, New Orleans, and Omaha. [Tickets]

Fall Out Boy with Jimmy Eat World

The elder emo acts will kick off a...

After playing a few reunion shows last year, Porno for Pyros recently announced a 2024 North American farewell tour.

And while a press release announcing the tour revealed that original members Perry Farrell (vocals), Peter Distefano (guitar), and Stephen Perkins (drums) would be taking part, a bassist was unconfirmed.

That led us to wonder: Would it be original bassist Martyn LeNoble or latter-era bassist Mike Watt? Or someone else altogether?

So, when Heavy Consequence caught up with Farrell recently to discuss the band’s upcoming EP and farewell tour (tickets available here), the singer gave us the scoop on who will be playing bass on the 2024 outing, albeit a bit cryptically at first.

“Martyn LeNoble is a wonderful guy – he loves the outdoors, he loves to track animals out in the wild,” began Farrell. “He really is a naturalist. By the time we got the tour together, Martyn was heading out to the forests.

On the heels of announcing their farewell tour, Porno for Pyros played a secret loft party in downtown Los Angeles over the weekend. The gig saw the band performing with Mike Watt, who served as the group’s bassist from 1995 to 1998.

Watt actually played with Porno for Pyros during their first reunion show last year at Welcome to Rockville, while original bassist Martyn LeNoble joined the band for their other 2022 gigs. A press release for Porno for Pyros’ 2024 farewell outing lists Perry Farrell, Peter Distefano, and Stephen Perkins as the touring band, leaving it a bit of a mystery as to who will be playing bass on the full tour.

During the loft show, Porno for Pyros performed a four-song set that included the live debut of recent comeback single “Agua,” along with classic tracks “Good God’s://Urge!,” “Tahitian Moon,” and “Pets.”

As previously reported, the band’s “Horns,...

Mark Stewart, the hulking and dynamic vocalist who shouted, whispered, and squealed over the Pop Group’s dubby, deconstructionist post-punk, died early Friday morning. A rep confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone but did not disclose any additional details. He was 62.

“Mark was the most amazing mind of my generation, Rip,” the Pop Group’s guitarist and saxophonist, Gareth Sager, said in a statement.

“Thank you, my brother,” dub artist and one of Stewart’s longtime collaborators, Adrian Sherwood, said. “You were the biggest musical influence in my...

Perry Farrell reunited Porno for Pyros for their fist full performance in 26 years at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona, Florida on Sunday, May 22.

Farrell got the group — which also features Stephen Perkins, Peter Distefano, and Mike Watt — together in a pinch after Jane’s Addiction was forced to drop off the bill (Dave Navarro continues to struggle with a “long bout with Covid,” Farrell said in a statement). While the band has reunited for a couple of small sets over the past decade or so — two songs at a 2009 event in Vegas,...

Exclusive: Passion River Films has picked up worldwide digital rights to the desert rock documentary Desolation Center and is planning to launch it later this year.

The film, which has screened at a number of film festivals around the world including Cph: Dox, Indie Lisboa and Sheffield Doc Fest, tells the story of a series of gigs in Southern California that paved the way for corporate festivals such as Burning Man, Lollapalooza and Coachella.

Desolation Center, directed by Stuart Swezey, is the untold story of a series Reagan-era guerrilla desert happenings now that includes performances by bands including Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets and Einstürzende Neubauten. It tells the true story of how the risky, and at times even reckless, actions of a few outsiders can unintentionally lead to seismic cultural shifts. Swezey, the creator and principal organizer of these events, offers up never-before-seen archival video, live audio recordings, and...

Psychic Temple is another name for Chris Schlarb, a self-styled cult leader from Long Beach, California, who’s really just a wickedly skilled producer, songwriter and musician. His Bandcamp page is full of sweet, strange sounds on the outskirts of folk-rock, jazz and psychedelia, and even further out than that — check his fantastic 2016 remake of Brian Eno’s Music for Airports (complete with a new proletarian B-side, “Music for Bus Stops”).

The rest of Psychic Temple is a rotating studio ensemble that often feels like the names from a bunch...

Iggy and the Stooges - "Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans", from Mvd Entertainment Group is now available on DVD and Blu-ray :

"...Iggy and the Stooges 'Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans' is the visual document of the reformed Stooges' (Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton, James Williamson, Steve Mackay, Mike Watt) 'Raw Power' performance @ the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival, Friday, September 3, 2010.

"'Iggy Pop', now 63, was well aware that his body language translated into still photographs resembling Mannerist paintings..."

"Getting this top-notch performance of the entire 'Raw Power' album by The Stooges realized a life long dream," said Iggy . "We are so obviously a crack band in a class of our own."

Mvd launched the 'In the Hands of the Fans' series to utilize the energy and talents of fans.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Iggy and the Stooges -...

Release Date: Sept. 27, 2011

Price: DVD $16.95, Blu-ray $19.95

Studio: Mvd Entertainment Group

Iggy has faith in his fans in Raw Power Live.

Clocking in at 2½ hours, Iggy & the Stooges – Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans captures the re-formed Stooges (63-year-old Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton, James Williamson, Steve Mackay and Mike Watt) performing their seminal punk rock album Raw Power (originally released in 1973) in concert at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival on Sept. 3, 2010.

The In the Hands of the Fans part of the title refers to an online contest conducted last year wherein six fans were selected to film the Stooges’ reunion show at the festival. Following the live performance, the fans also had a chance to meet and interview the band.

Their footage is included in the Blu-ray and DVD, as well as lots of additional numbers performed by the band alongside the eight Raw Power tracks.

Billed as “part concert film,...

Iggy & the Stooges - "Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans", from Mvd Entertainment Group will be released on DVD and Blu-ray, September 27, 2011 :

"...Iggy & the Stooges 'Raw Power Live: In the Hands of the Fans' is the visual document of the reformed Stooges' (Iggy Pop, Scott Asheton, James Williamson, Steve Mackay, Mike Watt) 'Raw Power' performance @ the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival, Friday, September 3, 2010.

"'Iggy Pop', now 63, was well aware that his body language translated into still photographs resembling Mannerist paintings..."

"Getting this top-notch performance of the entire 'Raw Power' album by The Stooges realized a life long dream," said Iggy . "We are so obviously a crack band in a class of our own."

Mvd launched the 'In the Hands of the Fans' series to utilize the energy and talents of fans.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek Iggy & the Stooges - "Raw Power...

Razor Days An all star cast of horror vets including Amy Lynn Best (A Feast of Flesh), Debbie Rochon (The Colour from the Dark) and Bette Cassatt (ThinkGeek), come together for Razor Days, a grim story of survival and revenge set in the very real world from director Mike Watt.

Razor Days tells the story of three women, each a survivor of horrific violence, who bond together first for support and then to exact revenge on those responsible for their horrific pasts, including a group of cannibalistic “weekend warriors”. Co-starring in Razor Days is Jeff Monahan, David Marancik, Alan Rowe Kelly and Michael Varrati. Razor Days is currently in post production.

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Mike Watt: Hyphenated-Man (Original Recordings Group)

The former bassist (and occasional vocalist) of Minutemen has not suddenly reverted to his style of a quarter-century ago, but with 30 tracks fitting easily onto a single CD, some of his old band's brevity and stripped-down approach is here, far more than on his other solo albums. Like his past few, this is a concept album of sorts (every song title ends with "-Man, " including such witty gems as "Man-Shitting-Man" and "Blowing-It-Out-Both-Ends-Man" and such riddling constructs as "Arrow-Pierced-Egg-Man" and "Lute-and-Dagger-Man"). However, it is not a narrative, is not telling a story that binds things together, and that's somehow liberating for the listener and, it seems, for Watt as well.

read more...

Punk rock icon Mike Watt stopped by The Grove talked about his new album and give an impromptu performance. Watch!

As a former member of punk bands fIREHOSE and the Minutemen, Watt has released his fourth album, "Hyphenated-Man," which was inspired by listening to the Minutemen for the first time since band mate and lifelong friend D Boon died in a van accident in 1985

Watt is now on a 51-date North American tour, which started...

Directors: Lev Anderson, Chris Metzler Writers: Lev Anderson, Chris Metzler Starring: Laurence Fishburne (narrator), Norwood Fisher, Angelo Moore, Chris Dowd, Dirty Walt Kibby II, David Kahne, Ice T, Larren Jones, Kendall Jones, Flea, Gwen Stefani, George Clinton, Mike Watt, Vernon Reid, Questlove, Dazireen Moore Let’s start at the very beginning...and the Black history of Los Angeles leads effortlessly right into the meeting of the original core members of Fishbone at a predominantly Caucasian high school. From there John Norwood Fisher (bass, vocals), Phillip "Fish" Fisher (drums), Angelo Moore (vocals, saxophone), Kendall Jones (guitar), "Dirty" Walter A. Kibby II (vocals, trumpet) and Christopher Dowd (keyboards, trombone, vocals) plunged right into the white La punk scene of the early 1980s. As a band, they were a pure democracy; everyone with their own personality and input, creating a sound that is still to this very day an unclassifiable hodgepodge of musical styles.

It's hard to remember it now, but there was a time when Donnie, Danny, Jordan, Jonathan, Joey, A.J., Brian, Nick and Howie ruled the world. In their prime (roughly 1984-2000), the members of the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block ruled the teen pop world. That explains why the news about their blockbuster joint tour has set hearts aflutter across the popscape. And though some of their vocals were rough trade at points during Sunday night's (November 21) American Music Awards TV debut, the energy, dance moves and magnetic pull of the respective bands' greatest hits were undeniable.

But that's not what excited me.

See, I'm a word guy, and nothing delights me more than clever wordplay (which might explain why we speak almost exclusively in "Runny Babbit" language in our house) and I suspect that the clever accountant who realized that these two group's names combined made...

Raine Brown and a slew of other Indie Horror stars are breaking out the butcher knives and buckets of blood and joining in on the battle against breast cancer. The Hot Honeys and Hunks of Horror 2011 Calendar is the brainchild of Andrew Rose and Eve Blaack and will feature fan favorites posed in classic horror moments from creepy killer clowns to provocative serial killers gone wild. Participants include: Tyler Tackett, Kelli Maroney, Azman Toy, Dai Green, Marv Blauvelt, Deneen Melody, Alan Rowe Kelly, Debbie Rochon, Bart Mastronardi, David Marancik, Bart Butler, Andrea Schweers, Kevin Tenney, Michelle Tomlinson, Tony Simmons, Denise Gosset, Mike Watt, Amy Lynn Best, JimmyO Burril, April Burril, Abel Berry, Lynn Lowry, Kerry Beyer, Julin Jean, Denise Williamson and Roxy Vandiver. The Hot Honeys and Hunks of Horror 2011 Calendar is on sale now and all profits from the sale of the calendar will be donated to [...]...

Pennsylvania-based independent production company Happy Cloud Pictures is set to begin production on its sixth feature film, Razor Days, a grim story of survival and revenge starring Amy Lynn Best and Debbie Rochon.

Razor Days represents quite a departure from the hybrid films Happy Cloud is known for (i.e., the “zombie-noir” The Resurrection Game, the meta-fictional Splatter Movie: The Director’s Cut, the horror-comedies Severe Injuries and Demon Divas and the Lanes of Damnations) and is set in the very real world.

From the Press Release:

Razor Days tells the story of three women, each a survivor of horrific violence, who bond together first for support and then to exact revenge on those responsible for their horrific pasts, including a group of cannibalistic “weekend warriors”. This gritty, character-driven thriller begins production in mid-November.

“We’ve been developing this script for six or seven years now,” says writer-director Mike Watt.

 

Following the 2009 Hot Hunks of Horror Calendar and the 2010 Hot Honeys and Hunks of Horror Calendar, producers Andrew Rose and Eve Blaack continue the fight against breast cancer, with the 2011 Hot Honeys and Hunks of Horror Calendar.

As in previous years, 100% of the profits from the sale of this calendar will be donated to The Lynn Sage Foundation (http://www.lynnsagefoundation.com). The Lynn Sage Foundation, established by the family of Lynn Sage, a victim of this terrible disease, is committed to the discovery of a cure for breast cancer. To achieve this goal, the Foundation has partnered with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, a nationally recognized leader in breast cancer care, education and research. The Cancer Center, under the direction of Dr. Steven T. Rosen, is one of only two National Cancer Institutes designated "Comprehensive" Cancer Center in the State of Illinois. The Cancer Center's solid,...

Lady GaGa has shown her assets during her recent performance with John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, at the We Are Plastic Ono Band concert on Saturday, October 2. GaGa gave audience a clear view of her rear end as she donned a black bejeweled one-piece jumpsuit and a matching hippie-style headband.

During the concert, which was held at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles in honor of John whose birthday is October 9, GaGa and Yoko collaborated for a song called "The Sun Is Down" which is featured in Yoko's latest album. Other stars who joined the night were Yoko's son Sean Lennon, Jane's Addiction's Perry Farrell, Wu-Tang Clan rapper RZA, Iggy Pop and Mike Watt.

Beside showing her bottoms in her see-through-behind catsuit, GaGa, on the same day, also showed off her rear end when making her way at JFK Airport in New York City. Revealing not only her buttocks,...

Perry Farrell, Iggy Pop, RZA alsojoin We Are Plastic Ono Band shows in Los Angeles next month.

By Gil Kaufman

Lady Gaga

Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

There's no word yet if she's going to take a seat at the signature white piano again, but Lady Gaga has signed on to perform at one of the John Lennon tribute concerts taking place in Los Angeles in October.

According to Yoko Ono's website, Gaga will join a star-studded list for a pair of We Are Plastic Ono Band shows at the Orpheum Theater on October 1 and 2 that will include performances by Lennon's widow Ono, Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell, Wu-Tang Clan's RZA, experimental solo artist Tune-Yards, punk icon Iggy Pop and Lennon's youngest son, Sean. The shows will pay tribute to Lennon on what would have been the ex-Beatle's 70th birthday.

Gaga is slated to take the stage on...

The newly recreated Plastic Ono Band will be joined by some very special guests during its two scheduled shows in Los Angeles this fall. Yoko Ono, her and John Lennon's son Sean Lennon, Cornelius (full band) and Yuka Honda – the core of the revamped act – will perform alongside Iggy Pop, Nels Cline and Mike Watt on Oct. 1 and with Lady Gaga and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore on Oct. 2. It appears that RZA, Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell, actress/author Carrie Fisher, Japanese songwriter Haruomi Hosono, Paul Simon’s musical offspring Harper Simon, songwriter Tune-Yards and...

Start: 08/29/2010 Start: 08/29/2010

Montreal filmmaker Blackthorne will introduce her horror anthology during the film fest.

On Sunday, August 29th at 12pm (Room 206B) at the Canadian Fan Expo, Montrealean filmmaker Melantha Blackthorne will present her new horror film Graveyard Picture Show, featuring a staggering seven twisted tales of the undead from some of underground horror's most notorious directors. Each story revolves around one fateful accident in the same small town. Blackthorne is 'Countess Bathoria' in the wraparound/host segments, and she directs one herself. Other directors include Jimmyo Burril, Jan Pivon, Justin Powers, Steve Villeneuve, Mike Watt, and Kevin Woodhouse.

I haven't seen the film, but I like this part...

Members of Snow Patrol, R.E.M. and Belle and Sebastian aren’t the only musicians forming supergroups these days. Pitchfork reports that Mike Watt (Minuteman and Stooges bassist) has teamed up with Nels Cline (guitarist for Wilco), keyboardist Yuka Honda (formerly of Cibo Matto) and drummer Dougie Bowne (Iggy Pop/Brian Eno/John Cale collaborator), to create Floored by Four....

Shadowy Canadian indie band announces return for Nightmare Before Christmas shows in England.

By Gil Kaufman

Godspeed You! Black Emperor's Efrim Menuck

Photo: Konstandinos Dagas

Indie fans everywhere rejoiced on Thursday when it was announced that shadowy Canadian instrumental rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor will be ending their nearly seven-year self-imposed hiatus to curate and play at All Tomorrow's Parties' Nightmare Before Christmas event in England on December 3-5.

In their typically cryptic fashion, the multimember collective known for their inscrutable combination of classic and avant-garde rock announced the return in an oddly worded online statement.

"After a decade's retreat, god's pee has decided to roll again," the statement reads. "We are, as always, stoked, stubborn and petrified. It's been a while, and left in the rain the brakes have rusted and seized — we'll have to go it with a hammer probably, with elbow grease and with fury, just like...

Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, the Hollies also inducted in show featuring Phish, Green Day and more.

By James Montgomery

The Stooges' Iggy Pop performs with Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong at the 25th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

New York — It opened with a Phish show, nearly exploded into a (very well-heeled) proto-punk riot, got giddy on a fix of sunshiny Swedish pop, and finally wrapped up with a '50's-tinged tribute. It was the 25th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, back in NYC after a one-year sojourn in Cleveland (where the titular hall actually exists). And while it may have been lacking the star power of previous years' ceremonies — Eminem and Metallica in 2009, Madonna and Justin Timberlake in '08 — it certainly showcased the breadth and depth of this thing we call rock music.

Abba, Genesis, the Stooges,...

'These four songs — they seem to have a different feel altogether,' frontman Nathan Willett says.

By James Montgomery, with reporting by Matt Elias

Cold War Kids' Matt Maust, Nathan Willett and Jonnie Russell

Photo: MTV News

San Pedro, California — The Cold War Kids were looking for a place to disappear. For more than 100 years, San Pedro, a roughly hewn, ethnically mixed port town in the southern tip of Los Angeles County, has been about as good a place as any for people to do just that. Every morning, fishermen head out into the Pacific to ply their trades. In the lead up to World War II, the Navy kept a fleet of battleships docked here. And in the early '80s, local legends the Minutemen left town packed in a van, powered by their proletarian brand of punk.

So, naturally, San Pedro was where the Kids chose to...

Vampires, ghosts and other scary types help us wring in the new year on Fangoria Radio. Tonight’s show (airing live on Sirius Xm Stars satellite radio, Sirius channel 108/Xm channel 139, from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Est, with a repeat immediately thereafter), hosted by Debbie Rochon, Fangoria editor Tony Timpone and special guest co-host Lloyd Kaufman, takes you from Down Under to the spirit world and back:

The long-awaited Aussie vampire epic Daybreakers hits theaters this weekend, and star Sam Neill will give us his insights on playing a creature of the night Oren Peli, director of last year’s breakout hit Paranormal Activity, comes on to promote the movie’s new disc release and perhaps share some details about his already-wrapped follow-up feature Area 51 Ellen Sandweiss is back on the big screen as The Evil Dead begins a regional midnight rerelease this weekend, and she’ll offer...

Curious to know what frightful films and devilish discs will be available to view in the privacy of your own digital dungeon this week? Fango's got you covered.

Below the jump you'll find the full list of titles arriving in-stores this Tuesday, October 6, 2009 in our weekly version of the famous Fangoria Chopping List. It's a Big week, with Trick 'R Treat finally hitting the home market, along with re-issues of The Gate, Audition, and a whole lot more!

Note: Clickable links lead to Amazon.com

Audition (Bd)

New 1080P High-Definition Transfer From The Negative!

Deceptively innocent at first, Takashi Miikes Audition finds Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi, Suicide Club, The Grudge), a middle-aged widower of many years, urged by his teenage son and his film producer friend Yasuhisa Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura, Ichi The Killer) to get out and start dating again. To help Aoyama meet women, Yoshikawa devises a plan to...

As the Halloween season approaches, all kinds of fright fare past and present will be turning up at festivals and specialty theaters across the country. Here’s a rundown on a bunch of screenings and genre-film events we’ve been alerted to:

The first annual Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival launches tonight and continues through this Sunday, September 20 in Seattle, Wa at the Siff Cinema at McCaw Hall (321 Mercer Street). The event is hosting 33 shorts and six features from the realms of horror, science fiction, fantasy and animation; the full-length films are Jim Isaac’s Pig Hunt, D. Kerry Prior’s The Revenant (see our advance rave here), Faye Jackson’s Strigoi, Rustin Thompson’s The Ends Of The Earth, Scott Norwood’s TIMETRAVEL_0 and Aaron Aites and Audrey Ewell’s black-metal documentary Until The Night Takes Us. In advance of the Fantastic Fest that begins next week, Austin, TX...

James Williamson has rejoined The Stooges and the reformed band will reportedly play next year's All Tomorrow's Parties in the UK on May 2 and 3. Williamson first joined the group, renamed Iggy & The Stooges, for their 1973 album Raw Power, but has not played live since the break-up of that lineup the following year. The guitarist has rehearsed with bassist Mike Watt, drummer Scott Asheton and saxophonist Steve McKay in Los Angeles and will return to practise with Iggy Pop later this month, Rolling Stone reports. Williamson said: "[Iggy] asked me if I wanted to play guitar again. I was about to take an early retirement from my job in Silicon Valley, so I figured, 'What the hell, let's do it'. "It's been (more)...

"Splatter Movie: The Director's Cut" Starring: Amy Lynn Best, Tom Sullivan ("The Evil Dead"), Debbie Rochon ("Nowhere Man"), Sofiya Smirnova ("A Feast Of Flesh"), Elske McCain ("Poultrygeist"), Rachelle Williams (Jess Franco's "Take-away Spirit"). A surreal and off-beat "documentary" about the making of a slasher movie called "Tessaract" (which, in turn, is about a group of filmmakers shooting a movie called "Splatter Movie") whose cast and crew is being stalked by a killer masquerading as the film's fictional killer. Written by Mike Watt and directed by and starring Amy Lynn Best, "Splatter Movie" quickly spirals into bizarre territory as the line between film and reality blurs?then disappears entirely! DVD Extras Companion movie (29 minutes) Outtakes Easter...

Amy Lynn Best got in touch with Fango over the weekend to let us know that Splatter Movie: The Director's Cut (which we last mentioned here) has officially been released on a special edition DVD.

The film was written by Fango scribe Mike Watt, and directed by Best - who also stars in the film alongside Evil Dead FX artist Tom Sullivan, Fangoria Radio's Debbie Rochon, Sofiya Smirnova (A Feast Of Flesh), Elske McCain, (Jessika Rabid, Poultrygeist), and more. The film also features the song “Spot the Psycho” by Cornbugs, featuring vocals by Choptop aka Fango fav Bill Moseley.

Splatter Movie is a “documentary” on the making of the slasher opus Tesseract—whose makers are stalked and slain by a murderer dressed as their film’s villain.

Special Features include:

• The Splatter Movie Companion 25-minute movie • Deleted scenes • Outtakes • Trailers

Happy Cloud is also simultaneously publishing a Splatter Movie screenplay book,...

May 23-25, George, Wash. SasquatchFestival.com

Music highlights: The Decemberists, Of Montreal, The Avett Brothers, Mos Def, Sun Kil Moon, Blk Jks, Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Girl Talk, Bon Iver, Animal Collective, Explosions in the Sky, Mike Watt and The Missingmen, Viva Voce, Erykah Badu, Mugison, King Khan & the Shrines, The Wrens, Passion Pit, DeVotchka, Silversun Pickups

Comedy highlights: Tim & Eric, Todd Barry, Maria Bamford, Zach Galifianakis, Aziz Ansari, Demetri Martin, The Whitest Kids U Know...

Two independent genre stalwarts sent along full details of their latest horror DVDs. Happy Cloud Pictures has the official disc of its latest production, Splatter Movie: The Director’S Cut, shipping in April, while Tempe Video releases Platoon Of The Dead June 16.

Splatter Movie, directed by and starring Amy Lynn Best and written by Mike Watt, also features Evil Dead FX artist Tom Sullivan, Fango Radio’s Debbie Rochon, Sofiya Smirnova and Elske McCain in a “documentary” on the making of the slasher opus Tesseract—whose makers are stalked and slain by a murderer dressed as their film’s villain. Special features include:

• The Splatter Movie Companion 25-minute movie • Deleted scenes • Outtakes • Trailers

Happy Cloud is also simultaneously publishing a Splatter Movie screenplay book, annotated by Best and Watt and illustrated with behind-the-scenes photos. You can pre-order the DVD for $19.99 here; the book will be $13 and both will be available...

Indie filmmaker, journalist and Fango contributor Mike Watt has set out to give you Phobophobia. His short story collection, named for “the fear of fears, or developing a phobia,” boasts 13 of Watt’s tales, six of which are appearing for the first time anywhere.

The anthology contains stories concerning everyday people in everyday situations that turn into nightmares in which nothing is what it seems. Objects and events that take unexpected turns include a classic Mustang, a visit to an art exhibit, a Valentine’s Day gift and even Christmas morning. The book contains an introduction from Buffy The Vampire Slayer actress Amber Benson, who writes, “What I love most about this collection is that Mike takes everyday, normal scenarios and infuses them with a pinch of fear, making the reader want to turn around just to check that they’re alone before embarking on the next story.”

Watt, better known for writing,...

From Mike Watt's blog

Sirens of Cinema #14 - Final Issue on Sale Now!

"With mixed feelings, publisher Kuiper and editor Mike Watt announce that Sirens of Cinema Magazine will complete its regular quarterly run with the publication of Issue #14, a Collector's Edition. Boasting yet another of their signature gorgeous covers, this time around by Vampirella artist Louis Small, Jr., the women-oriented magazine’s Issue #14 offers interviews with Lucy Lawless (Xena, Bedtime Stories), Zoe Bell (Bitch Slap, Angel of Death), an exclusive pictorial with Sybil Danning, a rare interview with original 'queen' Michelle Bauer and much more. [...]

For the time being, fans and supporters are invited to check out Issue 14, on sale now, and sign up for future announcements via the magazine’s official site at www.sirensofcinema.com" | Many thanks to Barbara Davies for the info.

At the beginning of last week, I gave you the scoop on a forthcoming horror/comedy indie with an 80.s cheese vibe called Coventry Lanes. Well, the flick has just wrapped and Fango scored a couple of very tasteful pics (above and below). From the look of those images, I.d say that Mike Watt and Amy Lynn Best of COVENTRY.s production company, Happy Cloud Pictures, weren.t kidding when they said that this flick would be a .sexy horror/comedy, like something you.d catch on USA.s Up All...