Marc Jacobs is countersuing Nirvana after the influential grunge band successfully lodged a lawsuit against the fashion designer for infringing on their iconic smiley face logo. A year ago, the fashion house unveiled the Marc Jacobs Redux Grunge Collection, which contained a T-shirt that the group led by the late Kurt Cobain argued blatantly and illegally appropriated the design from a similar Nirvana-branded garment.
But Jacobs doubts that Cobain and his band created the smiley face logo in the first place, as The Hollywood Reporter revealed Wednesday (Nov. 27). Via the designer’s counterclaims the previous day, Jacobs is seeking a declaration that the group’s copyright registration for the logo is invalid and unenforceable. See a comparison of Nirvana’s classic tee and the 2018 Jacobs redux toward the bottom of this post.
Earlier this year, the fashion designer attempted to dismiss the band’s initial lawsuit after Nirvana claimed the logo Jacobs used was a “blatant ripoff” of their design. However, a federal court in California allowed the suit to proceed when a judge ruled the group’s complaint sufficiently alleged that Nirvana owned the logo’s copyright and that the design was similar enough to the T-shirt to survive the motion to dismiss.
Here’s where it gets sticky. Since that time, lawyers for Jacobs have deposed surviving Nirvana members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic in an attempt to find out who created the logo. But the musicians testified they didn’t know who designed it. In subsequent briefings, Nirvana’s lawyers fired back that neither musician got questioned on the basis as to if they believed Cobain was the logo’s creator.
“The apparent absence of any living person with first-hand knowledge of the creation of the allegedly copyrighted work in question, coupled with numerous other deficiencies in the 166 Registration that is the basis for Nirvana’s infringement claim are the basis for the counterclaim asserted,” Jacobs’ countersuit states.
Seemingly the next step for the case will be determining which side has the burden of proof for the logo. But, for now, it appears that Nirvana’s copyright registration has the presumption of validity. Interestingly enough, Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was employed as a spokesmodel for Marc Jacobs in 2017.
In the above right photo, Jacobs is pictured wearing the “ripoff” shirt in question while enjoying a performance from Sonic Youth‘s Kim Gordon at the opening of Marc Jacobs Madison on Dec. 3, 2018, in New York City.
Video of Aretha Franklin’s stunning solo piano rendition of the yuletide classic “O Tannenbaum” —performed in 2015 at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center — has been released for the first time.
The Queen of Soul served as surprise guest at the Wynton Marsalis-led 2015 Big Band Holidays concert, where she sang the seasonal favorite both in English and its traditional German. The rendition is a highlight on the recently released Big Band Holidays II compilation, featuring selections from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis’ annual Christmas shows.
NPR Music, which debuted the “O Tannenbaum” video Wednesday, notes that Franklin previously performed the song at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1994 and recorded it, alongside an orchestra, for the A Very Special Christmas 2 benefit compilation; however, Franklin did not include her “O Tannenbaum” on her own 2008 seasonal album This Christmas Aretha.
“O Tannenbaum” marks one of a handful of previously unreleased Franklin songs to be unveiled since the Queen of Soul’s death in August 2018.
We pair up musicians and chefs in four cities across North America to share their individual artistries and craft their perfect Lightlife Plant-Based Burger
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The holidays are upon us, and many of you are probably scrambling around wondering what the heck to buy for some of your loved ones. Fret not — Loudwire has you covered for all the music fans in your life with our 2019 Holiday Gift Guide.
While concert tickets, albums and band merchandise make for the perfect gift for a music fan, we wanted to dig a little deeper and pick out some options that all rock and metal lovers can appreciate. There’s some electronics for listening pleasure, household items made from vinyl, organizers for memorabilia collectors and more. As far as the cost goes, there’s something in all price ranges.
Browse through our holiday gift guide below. Links to see more details or purchase the items are included below each photo. Happy rockin’ holidays!
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Click through the gallery to check out 14 Ugly Rock + Metal Holiday Sweaters! Purchase links have been included in the description.
Metallica
Sure, you can be like millions of other metal fans and sport a Metallica t-shirt, but if you really want to show your love for the band during the holidays, here’s your chance. In the name of “ugly,” the thrashers served up a sweater that lives up to its name.
Guns N’ Roses
This one made us laugh pretty hard. Guns N’ Roses are touting their own holiday sweater as “Welcome to the Jingle.” The back isn’t displayed, but hopefully it says “Welcome to the jingle, we’ve got reindeer games. We have eight reindeer to flaunt and we know all their names!”
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters chose to go the more discreet route than some of the other band sweaters in this gallery. Their name is spelled out across strings of holiday lights with evil little elf faces above them.
Anthrax
While everyone else is hopping on the ugly Christmas sweater train, Anthrax got a head start and released this limited edition Hanukkah sweater!
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne as santa would be a terrifying notion, but the Prince of Darkness as the Grinch makes complete sense. Keep a sharp eye on the tree this year and make sure the singer doesn’t sneak in and try to steal your presents and delicious Roast Beast.
Black Metal Snowman
Black metal is grim and frostbitten and there’s nothing more frostbitten than being an actual snowman.
Blink 182
Every year Blink 182 release a different ugly holiday sweater. This year’s design is festive and simply says “Merry Christmas.” Of all the sweaters on this list, this one is the closest to a traditional holiday sweater.
Pantera
It’s a vulgar display of the holidays! Oh and do we mean vulgar! This Pantera sweater is not just ugly, but loud with “F-king Holdays” simply branded under the band’s logo. It doesn’t even say “Happy F-king Holdays” in typical blunt Pantera fashion.
BabyMetal
If you wear this sweater to some family parties, good luck explaining BabyMetal to everyone. This garment is downright creepy with the band looking like a trio of undead girls, which is going to make your explanation especially troubling.
Five Finger Death Punch
Looking for a present for the toughest member of your family? You’ve found it! This Five Finger Death Punch sweater features the band’s mascot, Knucklehead, and brandishes Santa’s favorite words, “Ho, ho, ho!” across the bottom.
Queens of the Stone Age
This Queens of the Stone Age sweater seems a little too festive! They’ve turned a reindeer into a piñata and it’s been split open! Hopefully it wasn’t Rudolph otherwise Santa is going to have to scramble to find another reindeer to guide his sleigh.
Slayer
Nothing screams “Happy Holidays!” louder than Slayer, right? Uhhh, well maybe not until now! Sure, it has skulls decorated all over it, but this Slayer sweater is meant for the season. On second thought, there’s nothing here that resembles any holiday here, but wouldn’t be Slayer if it did.
Devildriver
Devildriver have struck a find balance between band merch and festival holiday warmth. With their name across the top and their emblem in the center, two reindeer look like rams about to collide on each side.
Shinedown
Shinedown are joining in on the fun and have released a holiday sweater of their own! Show everyone at the holiday party how much you rock by rocking this festive garment. The band’s name is displayed across the top with their sigil interspersed between snowflakes.Categories: Galleries, Metal, News, Rock
The 2020 Slam Dunk Festival lineup has been revealed, with more than 30 bands making up the first announcement with more artists to be disclosed soon. Listed at the top of festival bill are Sum 41 and Don Broco, alongside other icons and up-and-comers.
The U.K.-based fest will feature back-to-back installments in Leeds on May 23 and 24, with all bands performing at each individual stop. The first night will occupy Temple Newsam and then the fest travels over 150 miles south to Hatfield Park to do it all over again.
View the 34-band lineup below and be on the lookout for further announcements as more bands will be revealed in due time. For ticket and more information, visit the Slam Dunk Festival website.
The festival also absorbed Fat Mike‘s Punk in Drublic Music and Beer Festival European lineup consisting of NOFX, Pennywise, Reel Big Fish, The Vandals. Another highlight is that Young Guns will be performing All Our Kings Are Dead in its entirety in celebration of the album’s 10th anniversary.
Sum 41 Don Broco NOFX Billy Talent State Champs The Used The Story So Far Refused Pennywise Reel Big Fish Mayday Parade The Wonder Years Motion City Soundtrack Four Year Strong Basement Young Guns We Are The In Crowd Knuckle Puck Your Demise The Vandals Face to Face Ice Nine Kills Bedouin Soundclash Comeback Kid Issues Bayside Dream State Hands Like Houses Deez Nuts Movements Fit For A King Mom Jeans Grayscale Free Throw
Thanksgiving can sometimes be a little stressful as family members gather to see each, sit around the table, share some (hopefully polite) conversation and dine on the fixings of the day. But before someone trips on their tongue bringing up a touchy topic, why not turn your attention elsewhere? The Prince of Darkness has you covered, as Ozzy Osbourne has created a Spotify playlist that nods to some of what Thanksgiving is all about.
Don’t let the lead off song fool you. As it is an Ozzy playlist, “Straight to Hell” is more of a promotion for his current single than it is setting the table for what’s to come. More on point Ozzy tracks like “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and his cover of the Beatles’ “In My Life” make the cut, while he also dips into his Black Sabbath years with “After Forever” and “Sweet Leaf” among others.
Osbourne also picks out some favorites from his metal peers. There’s “Indians” from Anthrax, Megadeth’s “Good Mourning / Black Friday,” Twisted Sister’s “Under the Blade” and Motorhead’s “Beer Drinkers and Hellraisers.”
You’ll also find a few Thanksgiving nods from Adam Sandler, ZZ Top, John Lennon, REO Speedwagon, Brian Wilson and Les Claypool among others.
So celebrate the holiday right with Ozzy Osbourne curating your Thanksgiving Day music. Check out his Spotify playlist below.
Purple Rain may be Prince’s biggest-selling and arguably best album, but 1999 was his most pivotal. After releasing four scandalously excellent records of erotic R&B, he put some pants on, toned down the Lothario act, and rebranded himself as a pop savant, and the record’s synthy crossover bids like “Delirious” and “1999” coupled with the steamy vulnerability of “Little Red Corvette” set him up for superstardom. But perhaps the most surprising aspect of 1999’s success was that it was a double album without too much bloat (though the lyrics to “Lady Cab Driver” have not aged well). It was a lot of music, but it was also just enough, and that fact is all the more impressive considering Prince was busier than ever, writing for the Time and Vanity 6 in addition to making the album. Somehow he kept the quality up.
This has never been more apparent than on the six-disc, Super Deluxe Edition 1999 box set, which pairs the album with two discs of mostly unreleased outtakes from the fabled vault and electrifying live recordings from the era. It’s like an alternate universe for the album.
On an early version of the Batman-era B-side “Feel U Up,” he plays a scuzzy, squeaky keyboard line, as if it were an extension of 1999’s synth masterpiece “D.M.S.R.” There are also stunning live-in-the-studio takes of 1999’s “International Lover” and the B-side “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?” that show how the album might have sounded looser if that’s what suited his whimsy. “Vagina” is a regrettably titled guitar rocker about a hermaphrodite (the refrain goes, “Half boy, half girl, best of both worlds”) that could have worked perfectly on Controversy or Dirty Mind. “Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got” is a Farfisa-organ–accented rocker that radiates the same positivity as Controversy’s “Private Joy.” He plays a jaw-dropping guitar solo throughout most of the funky “Rearrange,” flexes the Minneapolis Sound in a way that might inspire Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson to rip him off again on “Bold Generation,” and even dabbles with a reggae skank on “If It’ll Make U Happy.”
The collection also contains artifacts that Prince obsessives have long read about but never heard, like an early studio version of “Possessed,” which marries his loose, funky Seventies sound with the keyboard overload that became his fixation in the early Eighties. And even though casual Prince fans probably won’t care to hear four more minutes of 1999’s already perfect “Delirious,” there’s now a full-length version of it with even more drum machine honky-tonk turnarounds (something he experimented with more on another outtake, “No Call U”). And then there’s the “music-as-a-drug” song “Purple Music,” which, along with the purple sky in “1999,” is notable as one of the first times Prince sang about his favorite color.
None of the bonus songs are necessarily better than the ones that made the cut on 1999, but they show just how curious he was at the time, trying out new and different ideas, musical themes he would still be exploring in the decades that followed. You can also hear how “professional” he and his band were at the time, as they flit between airtight funk on songs like “Head” and loose jamminess on “Little Red Corvette” on the live recordings. There are a few well-known outtakes that could have been added to the bonus disc — most notably, the collection’s producers omitted “Extralovable,” a track he originally wrote for Vanity and rewrote it for himself in 2016, because the original referenced sexual assault — but then again, how many discs would be in the collection if everything was included?
As with the Purple Rain box set a couple years ago, this macro look at 1999 shows not just Prince’s genius but the breadth of his brilliance at the time. The songs that made the cut on 1999 — which already lasts more than 70 minutes — were just a sliver of what he was doing at the time. What’s left is for you to ponder all the musical thoughts and ideas he didn’t record.
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