Following a short batch of dates with Clutch in December, Raleigh, North Carolina legends CORROSION OF CONFORMITY are pleased to announce a U.S. headlining tour this March. Set to commence on March 1 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City, the trek will hit 15 cities including two performances at this year’s SXSW Music Conference in Austin. The band will be joined by Torche, Valient Thorr and A Storm Of Light.

Commented vocalist/bassist Mike Dean of the upcoming shows: “We think the lineup of music on this tour is really compatible without every band doing the same thing. We’re really proud to be on this bill and touring on a new album.”

As a precursor to the tour, the band will play one-off show with Hail!Hornet at the Orange Peel in Asheville, North Carolina on January 22. The special performance will coincide with a screening of Slow Southern Steel, the long-anticipated southern metal documentary produced by Rwake vocalist, CT.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY w/ Hail!Hornet
1/22/2012 The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY w/ Torche, Valient Thorr, A Storm Of Light
03/01/2012 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
03/02/2012 Sonar – Baltimore, MD
03/03/2012 Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
03/05/2012 Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
03/06/2012 Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
03/07/2012 Double Door – Chicago, IL
03/08/2012 Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN
03/09/2012 Beaumont Club – Kansas City, MO
03/10/2012 Downtown Music Hall – Little Rock, AR
03/11/2012 Hi-Tone Café – Memphis, TN
03/12/2012 Trees – Dallas, TX
03/14/2012 SXSW – Austin, TX ! #
03/15/2012 SXSW – Austin, TX ! #
03/17/2012 One Eyed Jacks – New Orleans, LA #
03/18/2012 Zydeco – Birmingham, AL #
! = No Torche
# = No Valient Thorr

The U.S. run of dates will coincide with CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’s self-titled full-length, set for North American release on February 28, 2012 via Candlelight Records. Recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Los Angeles, the 11-track offering was produced by the band in cooperation with long-time collaborator John Custer, mixed by John Lousteau (Foo Fighters) and sports artwork by Seldon Hunt (Melvins, High On Fire). Featuring the esteemed Animosity line-up of vocalist/bassist Mike Dean, guitarist Woody Weatherman, and drummer/vocalist Reed Mullin, the album’s release closes a six year recording gap and completes over a year of concentrated writing and recording for the band.

“C.O.C. weren’t following any trends. They just incorporated all the things they liked about thrash, punk and ‘70s metal originators Black Sabbath into their constantly evolving sound. It secured them artistic and commercial credibility.” — Allmusic.com

The Hammer Museum presents Made in L.A., the first in an ongoing series of exhibitions focused on artwork created in the Los Angeles region. Made in L.A. 2012, organized by the Hammer Museum in collaboration with LA><ART, will be presented at the Hammer Museum, LA><ART and the L.A. Municipal Art Gallery at Barnsdall Art Park from June 3 – September 2, 2012. Building upon the tradition of Hammer Invitational exhibitions, Made in L.A. 2012 will feature roughly 60 artists with an emphasis on emerging and under-recognized artists. The Hammer is also pleased to announce that Wells Fargo has come on board as Made in L.A 2012’s Presenting Sponsor, an important and substantial commitment to this inaugural citywide event.

Made in L.A. 2012 is organized by a team of curators from both institutions including Hammer Senior Curator Anne Ellegood, Hammer Curator Ali Subotnick, LA><ART Director Lauri Firstenberg, LA><ART Associate Director and Senior Curator Cesar Garcia, and LA><ART Curator-at-large Malik Gaines. The exhibition will debut new installations, videos, films, sculptures, performances, and paintings commissioned specifically for the exhibition and will offer a snapshot of the current trends and practices coming out of Los Angeles, one of the most active and energetic art communities in the world.

Made in L.A. 2012 will also include the Venice Beach Biennial, from July 13 – 15, 2012, made possible through the generous support of the Teiger Foundation. For this unconventional and slightly unpredictable project directed by Ali Subotnick, the Venice Beach boardwalk will become a readymade exhibition space inspired by the Arsenale at the “real” Venice Biennale. Over the course of the weekend, 40 to 50 artists will collaborate with boardwalk artists, creating new bodies of work, displaying site specific sculptures and/or installations, and presenting performances along the boardwalk.

***
For more info, visit http://hammer.ucla.edu/

The Hurley Australian Bowl-Riding Championships are coming to you from Bar Beach Newcastle on January 28, 2012. Save the date, should be interesting if the OZ riders we know are present. Head to www.abcskate.com.au for more information or hit their facebook page.

Saturday, Jan 28th – ELIMINATIONS & FINALS

REGISTRATION CLOSES Friday 27th 4:00 PM
8:00 – 9:00 OPEN PRACTICE
DEW AM JAM:
Format: 2 Heats; Jam format, top 6 scores advance to Final.
9.00 – 9.20 Practice Heats 1-2
9.20 – 9.40 Heat 1
9.40 – 10.00 Heat 2
Master’s Eliminations:
Format: 3 Heats; Jam format, top 6 scores advance to Final.
10.00 – 10.20 Practice (Master’s only)
10.20 – 10.40 Heat 1
10.40 – 11.00 Heat 2
11.00 – 11.20 Heat 3
Pro Eliminations:
Format: 5 Heats; Jam format, top 8 scores advance to Final.
11.20 – 11.50 Practice Heats 1-4
11.50 – 12.20 Heat 1
12.20 – 12.50 Heat 2
12.50 – 1.20 Heat 3
1.20 – 1.50 Heat 4
1.50 – 2.20 Practice Heats 5-8
2.20 – 2.50 Heat 5
2.50 – 3.20 Heat 6
3.20 – 3.50 Heat 7
3.50 – 4.20 Heat 8
WOMEN
Format: 1 Heat; all in, Jam format, skaters ranked 1st to last.
4.20 – 4.30 Practice

The film is being distributed via digital and home video by Cinema Guild, which will present the film exclusively via ITunes starting February 1st, 2012 as part of the celebration of Black History Month and then via home video starting   February 22nd, 2012.

When Fishbone first emerged from California, no other band sounded or looked like them, and the weight of their innovative and iconic presence is still being felt decades later.  Coinciding with the group’s 25th anniversary, filmmakers Lev Anderson & Chris Metzler have directed a compelling new documentary, narrated by Laurence Fishburne.  Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone is both a fascinating and brutally honest look at the band’s history for longtime fans, as well as a perfect entry point for newcomers.

Everyday Sunshine is a documentary about the band Fishbone, musical pioneers who have been rocking on the margins of pop culture for the past 25 years.  From the streets of South Central-Los Angeles and the competitive Hollywood music scene of the 1980′s, the band rose to prominence, only to fall apart when on the verge of “making it.”

Laurence Fishburne narrates Everyday Sunshine, an entertaining cinematic journey into the personal lives of this unique Black rock band, and an untold story of fiercely individual artists in their quest to reclaim their musical legacy while debunking the myths of young Black men from urban America.  Highlighting the parallel journeys of a band and their city, Everyday Sunshine explores the personal and cultural forces that gave rise to California’s legendary Black punk sons that continue to defy categories and expectations.

At the heart of Fishbone’s story is lead singer Angelo Moore and bassist Norwood Fisher who show how they keep the band rolling, out of pride, desperation and love for their art.  To overcome money woes, family strife, and the strain of being aging Punk rockers on the road, Norwood and Angelo are challenged to re-invent themselves in the face of dysfunction and ghosts from a painful past.

The documentary includes interviews with: Gwen Stefani (No Doubt), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Ice-T (rapper), Branford Marsalis (saxophonist), Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction, Porno For Pyros), Questlove (The Roots), and more.

Trailer:

Official Documentary Website
Official Band Website

New EP, Crazy Glue, Available in Stores Now!

Stacy Peralta’s film, Bones Brigade : An Autobiography will have it’s West Coast premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on the evening of Thursday, February, 2nd at 8:00pm. The red carpet starts at 7:00pm.

Tommy Guerrero, Steve Caballero, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, Mike McGill, Stacy Peralta and George Powell have all confirmed their attendance. A Q & A will follow the film. Unfortunately, Tony Hawk will be out of the country and will not be able to attend.

Following info provided by the Film Festival. The film will be screened in the 2000-seat Arlington Theatre. Admission is sold only through the Santa Barbara International Film Festival via passes or Mini-Paks (10-pack for $125 and $57 for the 4-pack). The 4-pack Mini-Pak acts as a punch card where four people can see one film, one person can see four, or any combination thereof. As per the Festival’s longstanding policy, THERE WILL BE NO INDIVIDUAL MOVIE TICKETS SOLD. All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please direct any inquiries to

Santa Barbara International Film Festival
1528 Chapala Street, Suite 203
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
phone: 805-963-0023
email: generalinfo@sbfilmfestival.org

January 11, 2012 – Los Angeles, CA – Red Hot Chili Peppers regret to announce that they must postpone the start of their upcoming U.S. tour due to multiple foot injuries sustained by lead singer Anthony Kiedis. Kiedis recently underwent surgery to remove a crushed sesamoid bone and correct a detached flexor tendon in his foot and is expected to make a full recovery.

Tickets for the postponed dates will be honored at the rescheduled dates. The band is touring in support of current Grammy-nominated album I’m With You.

Old Date        New Date        City                             Venue
01/20              04/02              Sunrise, FL                Bank Atlantic Center*
01/21              03/31              Orlando, FL               Amway Arena*
01/23              03/29              St. Petersburg, FL     St. Pete Times Forum
01/25              04/06              Charlotte, NC            Time Warner Cable Arena
01/27              04/04              Raleigh, NC                RBC Center*
01/28              04/07              Columbia, SC             Colonial Life Arena*
01/30              04/10              Atlanta, GA                Gwinnett Center*
01/31              04/09              Greensboro, NC        Greensboro Coliseum
02/03              04/12              Memphis, TN              FedEx Forum*
02/04              10/04              New Orleans, LA        New Orleans Arena*
02/17              08/14              Oakland, CA               Oakland Arena*
02/18              08/15              Oakland, CA               Oakland Arena*
02/26              08/11              Los Angeles, CA         Staples Center*
02/27              08/12              Los Angeles, CA         Staples Center*
02/29              09/23              San Diego, CA            Valley View Casino Center*
03/02              09/25              Phoenix, AZ               Jobring Arena
03/04              09/27              Denver, CO                Pepsi Center*
03/06              09/29              San Antonio, TX        AT&T Center*
03/08              10/20              Houston, TX              Toyota Center*
03/09              10/02              Dallas, TX                   American Airlines Arena*
03/13              10/24              Tulsa, OK                   BOK Arena
03/15              10/22              Oklahoma City, OK  Chesapeake Arena
03/16              10/25              Little Rock, AR           Verizon Arena

* denotes the show is sold-out

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ANNOUNCE MORE NORTH AMERICAN
TOUR DATES ON I’M WITH YOU WORLD TOUR
REVISED:  January 20, 2012 – Los Angeles – Multi-platinum rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that a series of North American shows in April and May have been added to their upcoming I’m With You World Tour. Due to multiple foot injuries sustained by lead singer Anthony Kiedis, and subsequent surgery, the tour will now kick off on March 29th in St. Petersburg, FL, and crisscross the continent throughout 2012. Please see below for all upcoming confirmed dates. More will be announced in the coming weeks.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are touring in support of their current album I’m With You, which has received a Grammy nomination for “Rock Album of the Year.” In addition, the band will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April.

NEWLY ANNOUNCED TOUR DATES:

04/27              Toronto, ON                          Air Canada Centre (on sale 1/27)
04/30              Ottawa, ON                           Scotiabank Place (on sale 1/27)
05/02              Montreal, QC                        Bell Centre (on sale 1/28)
05/04              Newark, NJ                            Prudential Center (on sale 1/28)
05/07              Boston, MA                           TD Garden (on sale 1/27)
05/10              Washington, DC                   Verizon Center (on sale 1/27)
05/11              Philadelphia, PA                   Wells Fargo Center (on sale 1/27)
05/25              St. Louis, MO                        Scottrade Center (on sale 1/28)
05/26              Grand Rapids, MI                 Van Andel Arena (on sale 1/27)
05/28              Chicago, IL                             Allstate Arena (on sale 1/28)
05/30              Pittsburgh, PA                      Consol Energy Center (on sale 1/27)
06/01              Detroit, MI                            Joe Louis Arena (on sale 1/27)
06/02              Cleveland, OH                      Quicken Loans Arena (on sale 1/27)
06/04              Columbus, OH                     Schottenstein Center (on sale 1/27)
06/06              Cincinnati, OH                      U.S. Bank Arena (on sale 1/27)
06/07              Louisville, KY                        KFC Yum Center (on sale 1/28)

* denotes the show is sold-out

You can hear more Wayne Kramer on SK8TRACKS Volume 3.  He’s alongside Jello Biafra, Duane Peters & The Great Unwashed, OFF! and many more and you can download them all for FREE! Don’t wait.

Palm Springs folks can see Olson’s cameo in Machotaildrop when it premieres at The Ace Hotel Palm Springs courtesy of Epidemic Skateboard Shop. It’s tomorrow January 11th, 2012 at 8pm sharp by the moroccan pool.  Sounds fancy so if you’re worried about a dress code or have any questions call Epidemic at (760) 346.4760.

Flipper | Photo: Edward Colver

FLIPPER
CONCEIVED: 1979
WHERE: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
REUNITED: 2005
BAND MATES: Bruce Loose(vocals), Ted Falconi(guitar), Rachel Thoele(bass).
MUSICIAN NAME: Stephen DePace (Drummer)

In your memory, what was the first punk band ever?
I have to say Iggy & The Stooges. For me that was the first Punk Band. I think Iggy kicked it off around 1969 or so. I also believe that Punk Rock goes beyond any one style of fashion or one style of music. If you only think of Punk as someone sporting a liberty spike and stud covered leather jacket with patches of their favorite hard core bands, then you are missing the point. Punk is not a uniform, it’s an attitude and the courage to get out and rebel against the shit music that the industry wants to sell you, or the way the government wants you to bend over and take it, or the way mainstream society expects you to look. People can decide to be what they want, so you can choose to be what everyone wants you to be, or you can blaze your own trail. Blazing your own trail, and doing it the way you want to do it, is Punk Rock.

What made you want to be in a band?
The Sex Pistols show at Winterland in January of 1978. I wanted to be in a band before that, but seeing that show is what made me go do it. We had the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco, which was the city’s punk club, and that was all I needed to find the people to play with, and the place to play.

Who is the better band of brothers, the Ramones or the Meat Puppets?
Meat Puppets, and we are taking with them about trying to do some shows together this year. Let’s make it happen!

Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and his iconic hand drawn Flipper T

What does it feel like to know you are looked up to by aspiring and accomplished bands alike?
It feels great, like we have accomplished something that will live on. Not only have we influenced countless bands, but countless individuals have expressed gratitude for our music having gotten them through tough times, and given them great memories of some of the wildest shows ever.

What is your favorite kind of fish?
Salmon. And like salmon, we have been swimming upstream for 33 years now. We have spawned many new bands, but we don’t die from spawning. We are Flipper and Flipper Still Rules!

Ultimate band to open for?
I would like to open for the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their current world tour. There, I said it. It’s out in the Universe. LOL

Why do you want to open for the red hot chili peppers?
I have known Flea and Anthony since they started in the Peppers. In the early days we hung out a lot, and I went to a ton of their shows, with my housemate, D.H. Peligro, drummer from DKs. He ended up playing with them for about a year, just before Chad Smith. I have always been a fan, and I think it’s amazing that they stuck it out, and have survived and thrived in spite of all they have been through. As far as why I would like to open for them, it’s because I do have that respect for them, and they are one of the biggest bands in the world. Who wouldn’t want to take the opportunity to play on a big stage like that, at least once.

Best band to open for you?
Violent Femmes opened for us in the early 80s, and Green Day opened for us in the early 90s. Can you believe it?

Favorite bands you have opened for?
Melvins / Iggy & The Stooges / Sonic Youth / GWAR

What do you think about Green Day and the success they’ve had while still claiming punk?
Once you start doing epic power ballads and Broadway plays, I think you give up the Punk thing. The term Punk, is used for marketing by the music industry.  Punk Rock in America, was originally the rebellion against what we called “corporate rock,” which was the status quo in the 1970s. Big commercial rock bands that had no connection to the kid in the street. Music had become so technical, and perfect, and sterile. If you were a kid and wanted to play in a band, it seemed unattainable because you felt like you had to be so technically proficient, that it would take you years of schooling, before you could even try to jam with someone. Punk Rock needed to come along to tear all that down. Johnny Rotton in 1978, said that the goal of the Sex Pistols was to destroy Rock n Roll. That is what he was talking about. You didn’t come out of the gate sounding like “Dookie.” You wanted to sound raw like “Search and Destroy.” If you were a kid and wanted to play in a band, at least you had a starting point. Punk Rock was about, “Anyone could do it.”

What was your favorite gig?
There have been so many amazing gigs that we have played, it’s impossible to name just one as a favorite. But one of the stand outs was, Bad Brains / Flipper / Gang Green, in the early 80s at the Rock Hotel in NYC.

What is your favorite Flipper album?
GENERIC FLIPPER, and it so happens that this album is celebrating it’s 30 years @ 33rpm anniversary in 2012. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GENERIC FLIPPER!!!
A limited anniversary edition on colored vinyl, will be available sometime this year.

What is your favorite live album? Favorite Flipper live album?
The first live album I got into was Iggy and the Stooges, TV EYE.  Another classic is Lou Reed’s ROCK N ROLL ANIMAL.
As for Flipper live albums, of course Public Flipper Limited is awesome, not only for the music but the fold out Flipper game board cover on the vinyl album will give you countless hours of fun! What other band gives you a full on board game to play while you listen to classic live Flipper recorded between 1980 & 1985. The story of how PFL got it’s name is classic too. Public Image copied the Generic concept for an album they released in 1985. We had this double live album planned for release, and I came up with the idea to call it Public Flipper Limited, so as to pay back the complement. The sincerest form of flattery and all….

Next serious studio session for a new album?
We are planning to write new songs beginning in January and will be recording in spring or summer, with a new release planned by fall 2012.
We will also be releasing “Kali” which is an album of never before released studio recordings from early 80s. This album is epic and classic Flipper!!! Also releasing a Live at CBGBs album from 1983.

Describe what CBGBS was to you.
CBGBs was AWESOME for me. We played there many times and every show was sold out and packed to the gills. It was a magical place to play. The sound on stage was the best anywhere. I have no clue why, since all the equipment looked like it had been to war and back. And I guess it had… We had a huge fanbase in NYC in the 80s. We played everywhere, but the favorite spot was always CBGBs. The first time we play was a two night stand, and we got lucky with parking spot directly in front of the club. The club manager from the prior gig, had given us a truck load of beer and booze to take with us. So we ended up setting up bar and serving drinks to everyone in front of CBs. That was classic… We left the truck parked out in front overnight, and when we came back the next afternoon, it was covered in graffiti. Welcome to the Bowery…

Describe your first “rockstar” moment.
Playing a gig at the infamous Studio 54 in NYC around 1983 or so…

Tell us your favorite punk story.
Getting shut down under threat of violence by gorilla sized bouncers and thrown out the back door of Studio 54, once they realized we were a PUNK BAND.

Which of the 7 dwarves are you?
The one that nailed Snow White. You didn’t know about that one, did you… ha ha ha

Was snow white easy or did you have to work for it?
Me being so small, I could easily slip under her dress as we danced and sang Flipper songs into the wee hours of the night. She never seemed to mind….
The toughest thing was keeping the other dwarves away. They all wanted a piece of my action.

How has technology changed your career?
The only thing that has changed for me is the way we record. The last studio record we recorded, “Love” was done on Protools, start to finish. We have also done mixing and mastering of old analog recordings in digital as well. We used to do all of that in analog on recording devices the size of a washing machine. Doing edits on tape with a razor blade, and rewinding over and over again during mixing. All of that is done inside a computer now. We used to walk away from recording sessions with these big heavy tapes, and now all the albums you ever recorded can fit on a pocket size hardrive. If we could afford to record on tape, we probably would, but digital is so much cheaper and more efficient. And you don’t have to store those big heave tapes anymore.

Gone Fishin' Album artwork

What is your legacy?
All the recordings that we have released over 33 years. All the shows and tours we have done, as well as all the memories of all the crazy shit that we have lived through. All the fans and people we have touched with our music and insane shows. Having given our friends and fans the memories of those crazy shows and the stories to tell about them. I will close by saying this of our legacy… “FLIPPER SUFFERED FOR THEIR MUSIC, NOW IT’S YOUR TURN.”

CHECK OUT SOME LIVE FOOTAGE