Big news: The Breeders are getting back together and coming to Eugene. Music fans may find the news less than surprising as talk of a reunion seemed to stir the moment the band parted ways. The news is that a tour actually came together, and it’s stopping in Eugene. The Breeders will pop by the W.O.W. Hall on Oct. 26. Tickets for the all-ages show go on sale Aug. 17 for $13 at FASTIXX.
More minuscule news: Debbie Gibson is getting back together … with herself, I guess, and she’s coming to … well, the closest she’ll get is Texas. But, performing under the more mature Deborah Gibson moniker, Ms. Gib is embarking as the opening act for six of *NSYNC‘s Pop Odyssey Tour dates.
More important news: In Friday’s A&E section of The Oregonian, The Dandy Warhols‘ frontman, Courtney Taylor-Taylor, was part of a group interviewed about their dirty musical pleasures. Mr. Taylor said none other than *NSYNC.
Although The Dandys can’t even make the “Hot List” for America’s Rolling Stone, the band is the top dog in the U.K. and Australia , where “13 Tales From Urban Bohemia” is nearing platinum, and the Australian Rolling Stone did a feature on artists’ favorite albums, including Mr. Taylor. *NSYNC didn’t make this list, but a few other timeless classics did. He picked, among others, “Dre 2001” from Dr. Dre, “Blonde on Blonde” from Bob Dylan, “London Calling” by The Clash, “Back in Black” from AC/DC and “Voodoo” from R&B ab-master D’Angelo.
Further Dandys-based news: “Solid” from “13 Tales” will be the theme song for the FOX college show “Undeclared.” Mr. Lang declares this will be another instance where the quality of the music outweighs the quality of the show itself. Time will tell. You can call him on that one if you want.
Interesting news: One of Mr. Lang’s Weezer fanatics whispered a tidbit on the street yesterday that the band will reshoot the video for the current “Island in the Sun” single with video-genius/god Spike Jonze, who directed the band’s “Buddy Holly” clip. Jonze just wrapped shooting on his second film, the follow-up to “Being John Malkovich.”
Rolling Stone reported that bassist Mikey Welsh has left the band and returned to his hometown due to a “private medical condition,” making this, in Mr. Lang’s mind, the Official Summer of Rehab. As the band prepares for a massive fall tour and writes material for a new album, the boys will look for a new bassist — their third since their debut album.
Annoying news: Tori Amos has joined an elite club of artists to announce major tours without an Oregon stop. Amos, with Rufus Wainwright, will hit Vancouver, British Columbia, on Nov. 8, Seattle on Nov. 9 and Oakland, Calif., on Nov. 11.
Back From the Dead News: The Smashing Pumpkins will release a two-disc set on a yet-to-be-determined fall date. The first will be a greatest hits collection with a bunch of new photos in the liner notes. The second disc, currently titled “Judas,” will be a B-sides collection from the latter part of the band’s discography, much like “Pisces Iscariot” covered the lost-but-not-forgotten tracks from the Pumpkins’ first albums. The disbanded group also have plans to release a DVD of all their music videos with documentary footage about the making of the clips.