$110M NYC Penthouse

Meet the most expensive home listing ever in Manhattan — a $110 million glass-walled penthouse overlooking Central Park on top of what will soon be New York’s tallest luxury condo. The six-bedroom penthouse covers 10,923 square feet at One57 Tower, currently under construction on West 57th Street near Carnegie Hall. It has a 57-foot-wide, double-height “grand salon” facing Central Park. The penthouse at One57 is on the top two floors of the 90-story Christian de Portzamparc-designed tower that will include 95 condos above a Park Hyatt hotel. Residential amenities will include a 24-hour doorman and concierge, screening and performance space, on-site parking, triple-height indoor swimming pool and custom Jacuzzi, library, catering kitchen, function room, arts and crafts atelier room, private fitness center, yoga studio and pet wash room. The One57 tower, which opens in 2013, will rise to more than 1,004 .feet 

Alfa Romeo 4C Is Coming In 2013

Alfa Romeo's all-new Alfa Romeo 4C sports car will be appearing in prototype form during the middle of next year before going on sale in 2013, Fiat engineering chief Mauro Pierallini has revealed. He is also forecasting a 45,000 euro (£38,000) price tag for the mid-engined machine, and targeting a 900kg kerb weight. With Alfa’s 230bhp direct injection 1750 turbo four powering it, the 4C is expected to hit 62mph in 4.5sec. By the time it’s launched the 1750’s block will have been switched from cast iron to aluminium, says Pierallini, saving 25kg. Early development of the car was carried out by Italian race-car specialist Dallara, but Alfa has subsequently taken the development process in-house, handing responsibility to a small specialist team headed by Pierallini. Dallara also developed the carbonfibre structures for the Alfa 8C, Bugatti Veyron and the KTM X-Bow. Tub-mounted aluminium frames carry the running gear and the 1.8-litre turbo powertrain, while the 4C’s exterior panels are made from sheet-moulded composites. Dallara’s aerodynamic work is also said to generate positive downforce, improving the 4C’s high speed grip. Pierallini says that Alfa will build 18,000 4Cs over the lifetime of the car, although the factory that will make it has yet to be chosen.

BBC Radio 6 Music Goes Vinyl-Only On New Year's Day

BBC Radio 6 Music are to celebrate New Year's Day 2012 with a vinyl-only marathon, seeing star-studded hosts and jockeys playing tracks only available on the physical format. Presenters such as Jarvis Cocker and Elbow's Guy Garvey will play a selection of their favourite records, as well as DJ Don Letts, Richard Hawley, Andrew Weatherall and singer Cerys Matthews. 6 Music boss Paul Rodgers said: "In a world dominated by digital music, vinyl is a format still close to the hearts of many music lovers and increased sales demonstrate its enduring appeal." Most BBC radio stations phased out vinyls over a decade ago, now predominantly preferring digital tracks. But 6 Music will buck the trend with this vinyl-only day to round off a month-long celebration of the music form. So get ready to welcome 2012 in with a bit of nostalgia and style, that's if you're not suffering a hangover from the year before.

A Sneak Peek At The Next "Acura NSX"

Acura at long last plans to unveil a prototype of its long-awaited next-generation NSX supercar in just four weeks at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Some quick highlights on the 2013 NSX, shared with us by Acura executives:

• It will be a midengine two-seater, like the original.
• Unlike the earlier NSX, the new Acura performance flagship will feature a V6 hybrid powertrain.
• The new NSX will be similar in proportion to the original car, but with more aggressive styling.

The next-generation NSX is expected to share Honda's new SH-AWD hybrid system with the 2013 successor to the Acura RL sedan. The system mates a high-output V6 engine with a pair of electric motors and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Honda says the V6 hybrid system, which drives all four wheels, will provide "acceleration equivalent to V8 engines," with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder. The NSX prototype that will be shown in Detroit will be an exterior design "buck" only, with no interior. It will ride on five-spoke alloy rims shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires — 255/35ZR19 front and 275/30ZR20 rear. The front end of the new car resembles that of the movie car Acura built for the new Avengers movie currently in production. The prototype features a low nose, low cowl and thin A-pillars, much like the original NSX, but is wider, with edgier styling. Honda's ground-breaking, midengine NSX was built from 1990-2005 and sold in the U.S. under the Acura brand. In 2008, the company killed a proposed front-engine V10 four-wheel-drive supercoupe, ostensibly to rival Lexus' LFA, but a racing version with a 3.4-liter V8, carbon-fiber chassis and rear-wheel drive survived as the HSV-010, winning Japan's Super GT series championship in 2010.

"Rapier Wielding" Shark Among New Species Found In 2011

Four new sharks—including a "rapier wielding" sawshark—are among 140 new species discovered by California Academy of Sciences researchers in 2011, the institution announced in December. The African dwarf sawshark (Pristiophorus nancyae) was accidentally captured in a 1,600-foot-deep (490-meter-deep) trawl off Mozambique. The animal is only the seventh species of sawshark known to science, according to David Ebert, a research associate at the Academy. The predator has a long, tooth-studded snout that it uses like a sword, whipping the appendage through schools of fish and then returning to eat any casualties. (More)

Members Of Agnostic Front & Insted Form Hardcore Supergroup, "The Alligators"

Four of some of hardcore's most important names from both coasts got together to finally bring back that early 80's hardcore sound; this sound is called The Alligators, and they will be releasing a new record on Bridge Nine Records in 2012. Featuring members Roger Miret (Agnostic Front), Rich Labbate (Insted), Steve Larson (Insted) and Barret Burt (Insted), The Alligators sound a bit like something that might've been filed in between Miret's primary band, Agnostic Front's, landmark albums United Blood and Victim In Pain and is undoubtedly an old school hardcore band. The Alligators wear their influences on their sleeve - tipping their hat to bands like SSD, Antidote, Negative Approach, Poison Idea, Scream and more.Vocalist Roger Miret commented:  "The Alligators has been a fun side project i've been doing with the guys from Insted (California hardcore band from the 80's) - an odd fit you might think, but make no mistake: those guys are hard. Rich and I have been friends since the early 80's and periodically talked about doing music together, so this is a record I've been meaning to do for a long time coming. With the addition of DYS and Antidote to B9 roster and the re-release of Agnostic Front's 'VIP/United Blood,' we are happy to add this to the Bridge 9 family." The Alligators' debut full-length for Bridge Nine Records, titled Time's Up, You're Dead, is slated to hit stores on March 27th, 2012 and more information regarding album details, new song premieres and upcoming shows will surface soon.

Back To The Future 3 DeLorean Sells For $541,200

One of the original DeLorean DMC-12 cars used as time machines in the "Back To The Future" movie trilogy was put on auction and sold for a high bid of $541,000, Hemmings.com reports. Part of the proceeds for the car, one of seven built for the film series and allegedly one of only three remaining, went to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Had the car not been one of the DeLoreans used for the Robert Zemeckis-directed film, it'd be worth around $30,000. The DeLorean has been experiencing a pop culture revival of late. In October, it was announced that the DeLorean Motor Company of Texas, a new company formed in 1995 dedicated to buying up old parts from original model DeLoreans, would produce an electric version of the car made partially from those old parts.

"F&M Evantra" Supercar Unveiled

A relatively new and smaller Italian carmaker, Mazzanti Automobile, has released images of its new midengine supercar, the F&M Evantra. Known earlier in its development as Project Mugello, the Evantra (the name is said to represent the ancient Etruscan goddess of immortality) was designed by Zsolt Tarnok for Luca Mazzanti, who earlier partnered with Walter Faralli on F&M Auto. Mazzanti is using the F&M brand to launch the Evantra, which will be produced next year in an extremely limited run of five cars. Customers can selected from a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter flat-6 engine rated at 397 horsepower or a 595-hp twin-turbo variant. They are also offered a choice of body material — aluminum or carbon-fiber — over a lightweight steel chassis. With a curb weight as low as 2,465 pounds, the more potent model will jet from zero to 60 in less than 3.7 seconds, according to Mazzanti. No word yet on pricing.

Tyga's "Rack City" Video

Check out the latest video from YMCMB artist Tyga “Rack City” from his new cd “Careless World: Rise Of The Last King” in stores and on-line 2012.

Outstanding Illusion Paintings By Oleg Shuplyak

 

Ukrainian artist Oleg Shuplyak masters the optical illusion in his incredible scenic oil paintings.Through strategically placed characters, objects and coloring, Shuplyak's surrealist works depict historical famous figures, including Darwin, Van Gogh and Shakespeare. Shuplyak makes the second image so easily recognizable in many of his paintings, that observers might miss the original image. Check out Oleg Shuplyak's selection of illusion oil paintings below.

Djokovic On The Cover Of "Grand Slam Tennis 2"

One of the greatest moments in an athlete’s career has to be when they are announced for the cover of one of EA Sport’s games. Today the people to grace EA’s “Grand Slam Tennis 2″ were revealed. John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, and Maria Sharapova were selected for the “Grand Slam Tennis 2″ cover, with the game itself being available on February 10th everywhere save North America, with the North American release date being set for the 14th. McEnroe is exclusive to the franchise while Djokovic and Sharapova hold seven Grand Slam tournament singles titles between them – with Djokovic holding the ATP Tour number one ranking. In game there will also be a variety of talent from all corners of the world, both past and present, to play. Other athletes include Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Boris Becker. This will be the premiere of the series in HD for Xbox 360 and PS3 – including the PlayStation Move controller. Play on Wimbledon’s incredible Centre Court – the French Open, the U.S. Open, or at the Australian Open. More features include the all new total racquet control (letting you control every shot with the right analog stick to send powerful forehands, backhands, overheads and volleys with a level of accuracy that is simply stunning), “Become a Champion” via winning all four championships in succession, PS Move support puts the game right in your hands, Legends of Now and Then (play against over twenty of the best tennis players in history), P.R.O. (Professional, Realistic, Organic) AI, and the ESPN Grand Slam Tournament Classics where you can unlock and relive of some the most breathtaking moments in history.  

Motorhead’s Lemmy Kilmister Turns 66 Today

Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister turns 66 today. For those of you who don't know him, he's the lead vocalist & bass player for Motorhead. He's also an icon in the music industry, influencing musicians like Slash, Lars Ulrich, Dave Grohl and countless others.

Kakslauttanen: Finland's Igloo Village

The Kakslauttanen Hotel and Igloo Village, in Finland's snowy Arctic Circle, boasts 20 thermal glass rooms based on the traditional Eskimo lodgings. But luckily for the guests they have been equipped with a few creature comforts too, including central heating, anti-frost glass panoramic roofs and mini bars.Visitors can enjoy meals of roast reindeer, warm up in the world's largest smoke sauna or enjoy a cold one in the ice bar. There's even a snow chapel that is built fresh every winter for Sunday prayers. Nestled in the wilderness near Finland's Urho Kekkonen National Park, Hotel Kakslauttanen has one of the Arctic Circle's best views of the Aurora Borealis or northern lights. The sparse trees and complete lack of light pollution reveal millions of stars each night, and during the peak winter months the location offers incredible views of the Northern Lights. Each glass igloo is fitted with thermal glass walls and ceilings, that insulate the interior to keep it warm at night. The glass also contains a frost preventative, maintaining crystal clear panoramic views even when temperatures outside drop to minus 30c. Fitted for two people, the igloos are small enough to be efficiently heated without consuming too much energy.

"Refused" to reunite for Coachella Festival?

A year ago, when Refused were gearing up to reissue their iconic 1998 album Shape of Punk to Come, there was speculation of a reunion, which was eventually denied by their lead singer Dennis Lyxzén. Well, recently, there have been reports that they do plan to get back together and are on the bill for next year’s Coachella Festival in Indio, California. The advertisement shown above claims they will be playing the Friday gigs, which take place on April 13 and 20, 2012. For time being, don’t start marking your calendars because we don’t know if the reunion is “officially” confirmed or that the advertisement is fake. Refused called it quits sometime back in 1998, not long before or after the release of Shape of Punk to Come. 

"Prometheus" Trailer

This is the official trailer to Ridley Scott's Prometheus. The 20th Century Fox film was originally designed as a prequel to Scott's famed 1979 classic "Alien" - which later spawned three direct sequels. However, the movie was later altered, and the British director has insisted it is not officially part of the "Alien" series. It stars Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron. The movie will be in theaters on June 8th, 2012.

Raptors Unveil Camouflage Jerseys

The Toronto Raptors are donning camouflage jerseys to honour Canada's military heritage. The Raptors announced on Wednesday that they would debut alternate jerseys with a green camo background on March 21 when Toronto hosts the Chicago Bulls. "We're excited to be the first NBA team to have a jersey that honours the work of military personnel," said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the Raptors' parent company, in a statement. "This jersey is just a small gesture that shows our organization's commitment and appreciation for the men and women who serve our country." The jersey will make its first on-court appearance as part of the team's annual Canadian Forces night. That won't be the only appearance of the alternate jersey. Toronto will also wear the camouflage on March 26 versus the Orlando Magic, April 1 against the Washington Wizards and April 16's game with the Atlanta Hawks. All three games will be played at Air Canada Centre. Also, the jersey will be an option for the Raptors in the popular "NBA 2K12" video game.

"High On Fire" Recording New Album

Oakland-based metal outfit should be rolling out some new bangers sometime next year, as they're currently holed up in a recording studio tracking a follow-up. According to a press release, High On Fire has entered Salem, Massachusetts' GodCity Studios with producer and Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou to begin tracking its as-yet-untitled new album. Tentative songtitles set to appear on the CD include "Serums of Liao", "Madness Of An Architect", "De Vermis Mysteriis", "Spiritual Rites" and "Warhorn". "We are really stoked about recording this album," said bassist Jeff Matz. "The new songs are turning out absolutely punishing; there are some seriously sledgehammer riffs on this one! Working with Kurt has been awesome as well. He's super easy to work with and is full of good ideas. The sounds that the guy gets are ridiculous and raw as fuck but also clear and HUGE. I think this album will capture the essence of the band really well. It's still early in the process, but so far it's sounding amazing." A release date is still to be determined, but the as-yet-untitled affair is said to be "direct, eye-opening and powerfully supernatural."

Mazda Announces New Fuel-Saving Braking System

Mazda says it has developed a brake-regeneration system that will boost fuel economy by as much as 10%. Called i-Eloop, the system converts energy generated under braking into electricity, which is then used to power the stereo, climate control and other electrical components and ancillaries. The energy is stored in a capacitor, which, Mazda says, can be regularly drained and recharged without damaging its storage capabilities. The system starts to reclaim energy as soon as the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator. Mazda believes this is the first system in the world to use a capacitor, and it will appear in vehicles from 2012. The system will make its debut at the Tokyo motor show, where it will be fitten in the Takeri mid-sized saloon concept car. The Takeri will also use Mazda’s new fuel-saving Skyactiv engine technology, which will be launched in the CX-5 small SUV in the spring.

The Bouncing Souls Finish Writing New Record

Punk act the Bouncing Souls announced today that they have finished writing what will be their ninth studio album. Check out the humorous video announcement for the as-yet-untitled album via their Facebook page. The album will follow 2010s “Ghosts on the Boardwalk”, and will presumably be released by frontman Gregory Attonito’s own Chunksaah Records. 

"Casa De Mi Padre" Trailer!

The Spanish language comedy has premiered its first trailer. Ferrell plays a rancher who must deal with the Mexican mob and their efforts to steal his land.  Armando Alvarez (Ferrell) has lived and worked on his father’s ranch his entire life. The property has fallen on hard times when Armando’s brother comes home with a new fiance and promises of riches. When the fiance falls for Armando and those riches come with a cost, our adventure begins.

Enter Alan Wake's American Nightmare

Remedy Entertainment offers an early look at the story in Alan Wake's American Nightmare and hands-on with the XBLA exclusive title's new survival-focused Fight Till Dawn mode. Alan Wake's American Nightmare draws thematic and narrative inspiration from pulp action-adventures such as From Dusk 'Til Dawn and other Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez material. The XBLA follow-up is a return to Alan Wake's open-world roots, featuring a hub structure which will see players returning to locations multiple times during the story. The game is described as "significantly bigger than any episode of the original game." American Nightmare takes place two years after the events of the original game. Since saving Alice, his perpetually in danger other half, and confining himself to the 'Dark Place' beneath Cauldron Lake Alan has become an urban-legend. In his absence fans of the writer have re-imagined him as a Candyman of sorts, the legend goes that Alan vanished into the woods of Bright Falls and returned as Mr Scratch, a maniacal serial killer. Like all good urban myths uttering Mr Scratch's name a few too many times is rumored to summon him, and since things have a way of mysteriously coming true in Alan's world, the evil doppleganger has manifested and is on his way to finish Alice off, leaving a trail of bodies and video evidence of his murderous activities for Alan to find. During the game players will learn what became of Alice, as well as Alan's agent Barry, after the events of the first game through new manuscript pages, TVs and radios, Xbox World reveals. Although it still relies on the same combat mechanics as the original game, enemies now respond to Alan's light-based attacks in different ways that force him to switch up his tactics. A new crossbow weapon which can pierce through the darkness protecting enemies has been introduced, along with and Uzis, military-grade rifles and a nailgun, which Alan can use to overwhelm his foes.

 

Ministry Reveal Cover Art for New Album

Industrial icons Ministry had us believing they called it quits with 2007's The Last Sucker, but following a few posthumous remix and covers collections, the group have announced their first new album in over four years. It's called Relapse, and that's the off-putting, puke-and-pills-filled cover up above. The album will be released March 30 via bandleader Al Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records, and it will be preceded by iTunes single "99 Percenters," which goes up for sale on Friday (December 23). The song will also be streaming on the group's Facebook page on Christmas. Jourgensen explained that the song, which features the chorus "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 99 percent," is a rally cry for the Occupy movement. "Putting out this song is the least I could do," Jourgensen told Revolver. "We wanted to fly to New York and protest and get arrested and pepper sprayed. But we can't do it because I got a Christmas deadline on this album. But I'm with 'em in spirit so the least I could do is give them a chant-along song. I'm going, 'Hey man, here's your song. All you gotta do is chant the chorus.'" A tracklisting has yet to be revealed, but Jourgenson told Metal Hammer last summer that the new tunes were the "fastest and heaviest" he'd ever done. Expect more info in the new year.

 

The Handcrafted Aston Martin Cygnet

You might have never imagined that Aston Martin would create a car such as the Cygnet but they did, and the lavish nature of the Aston Martin line carries over into a pint sized car that is creating new buzz for the car brand and creating new Aston Martin fans in the commuter set. The Aston Martin Cygnet is the bespoke luxury commuter car with the same Aston Martin craftsmanship and attention to detail matched with exquisite form.  This results in 6 speed manual car that gets on average 57 MPG and tops out at 106 MPH.  To maintain Aston Martin’s luxurious association, each car is handcrafted and takes 150 man hours to complete. At a starting price of just under € 40,000, the Cygnet isn’t cheap. That price includes the basic model, however a few ticks on the option list can quickly bring the price up. It’s with this in mind that Aston Martin decided to release this insider view of the Cygnet build process. The Cygnet shares the same philosophy as the Aston Martin One-77 in this respect. No two cars are ever likely to be the same. 

Orange Goblin Song Premiere: 'Red Tide Rising,'

Orange Goblin will be releasing "A Eulogy for the Damned" on February 14th via Candlelight Records. We finally get our first taste of new music below! The track is titled "Red Tide Rising" and it comes to the internet via our friends at Noisecreep. Vocalist/guitarist Ben Ward told Noisecreep that "We all knew that this would be the lead song on the album as soon as we wrote it. It felt kind of special and it set the tempo and feel for the whole record. It’s one that we all had a lot of input on, so it’s a real band effort and it definitely wasn’t rushed; the ending must’ve been changed half a dozen times or so until we were all satisfied! It’s a very typical Orange Goblin song and I’m confident that it’s going to be a live favorite for many years to come."

Cardboard Police Cars Slow Traffic

Traffic police in China have come up with a cost effective way of slowing down speeding motorists - with a cardboard cut-out of a squad car. The cut-outs, which look like police vehicles from behind, are being used as a traffic calming technique in eastern China's Jiangsu Province. One motorist, Liu Yuan, said: "I spotted what I thought was a police vehicle parked on the hard shoulder so I hit the brakes. "It when I went past it, I was stunned to see that it was just a thin piece of board painted to look like a cop car. "It was so realistic. It even had a solar panel to power a flashing light to make it look even more realistic at night." A spokesman for the local police, in Wuxi City, confirmed that cardboard cut-outs of police vehicles were being used to slow traffic.

New Donkervoort D8 GTO: 400 HP!

Almost a year after it was first teased, specialist sports car builder Donkervoort Automobielen of Lelystad, Netherlands has presented the next generation of their D8 range; the GTO. The Donkervoort D8 GTO has been in development for over two years and features a number of new features, including a new engine. This time around, Donkervoort have chosen to use a, five cylinder 340hp 2.5 TFSI Audi motor. This makes it possible to provide either a standard 340hp model or an uprated 400hp model. Torque tops out at 450Nm from about 1,600rpm. To access the extra power, a switch is located in the dashboard, next to a button for the traction control, another first for the D8. The D8 platform has had to be enlarged to take the bigger engine. About 35 centimeters has been added to the length and 15 centimeters to the width. The GTO shares only five present of its parts with the D8 270RS and about 30 present with the GT. Extreme performance is guaranteed thanks to a total weight of 700kg. The weight saving has been partly realised by a number of modifications to the standard Audi engine. A new intake manifold has been added which is one of the reasons Donkervoort were able to reduce the engine’s weight by 30kg. New manufacturing techniques were used for the chassis and the doors are now one-piece. The doors can withstand crash forces of 1,500kg and the hinges are rated at 1,100kg despite the low total weight of only 980 gram. The front and rear axles have also been equipped with a totally new anti-roll bar. Production of the new car starts in 2012 with delivery in the summer. The price of the new GTO is between € 100,000 and € 150,000 excluding taxes. At the first viewing half of the first 25 specially designed GTOs were sold.  

Hublot Introduces New Alloys for Watchmaking

Watchmaker Hublot has announced it has created a new gold alloy to use on its timepieces which it claims will be scratch resistant  A watch manufacturer has worked with a technology institute to develop what it claims is a scratch resistant gold alloy. Hublot watches, which is owned by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, have announced they are planning to introduce their first watch made from the material at a trade show next March, Bloomberg reported. However, there are also plans to take advantage of the development by creating a line of branded jewellery, with a selection of rings and cufflinks made from the new material also to be released. "There is a market for branded jewellery and therefore I believe, if we have a unique selling proposition in our gold, we should use it and go into jewellery," said chief executive officer of the company Jean-Claude Biver. For those who prefer more modern designs a new timepiece has been produced which features a keypad instead of a screen to show the time. 

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Heroes Mode Trailer

Capcom has released a new video for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. The new video features cinematic sequences, as well as LOTS of gameplay footage, of the new "Heroes Mode" that will be available in multiplayer. Not only will gamers have the option to play as some of the heroes from the Resident Evil franchise, but they'll be up against some of the most notorious villains of the franchise. The new video highlights not only the new characters, but also showcases some of the weapons, abilities and alternate costumes/skins available in the game. 

 

Mysterious Viking-Era Graves Found With Treasure

Sword at his side, the so-called Young Warrior (left) is among the thousand-year-old discoveries in a newfound cemetery in Poland, a new study says. The burial ground holds not only a hoard of precious objects but also hints of human sacrifice—and several dozen graves of a mysterious people with links to both the Vikings and the rulers of the founding states of eastern Europe. (more)

Guttermouth Release Trailer For 'Goes On Vacation'

Guttermouth, arguably one of the most feisty and/or offensive bands in punk rock, have announced plans to release a tour documentary called “Goes On Vacation” in which filmmaker Rhys Day follows the band unrestricted for nearly two months (16 shows) around Australia & South East Asia.  The full documentary comes out next year but the trailer released yesterday on BlankTV is packed with enough fighting, coke sniffing, drinking, vomiting and nudity to fully entertain (or shock) you for at least 5 minutes. The trailer comes out as a precursor to the band’s upcoming January-February tour dates in Australia. 

Resonance To Release Lost Wes Montgomery Tapes In March

Resonance Records will release Echoes of Indiana Avenue, the first full album of previously unheard Wes Montgomery music in over 25 years, on March 6, which would have been Montgomery’s 88th birthday. The tapes are the earliest known recordings of Montgomery as a leader, pre-dating his 1959 debut on Riverside Records. The album showcases Montgomery in performance from 1957-1958 at nightclubs in his hometown of Indianapolis, Ind., as well as rare studio recordings. The release contains previously unseen photographs and insightful essays by noted music writers and musicians, including guitarist Pat Martino and Montgomery’s brothers Buddy and Monk. (more)

 

Gil Scott-Heron Memoirs To Be Published Next Year

Gil Scott-Heron's posthumous memoir "The Last Holiday" will be published by Canongate on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. "Holiday" is said to focus on Scott-Heron's 1980s tour with Stevie Wonder to campaign to get King's birthday recognized as a national holiday. "Holiday" will also cover his music career and work in the civil rights movement Scott-Heron, who died in May of this year, is one of those individuals for whom the term "influential" is insufficient. As a writer, poet, spoken-word artist and musician he helped lay the seeds for what would become hip-hop, and he's remained an important counter-culture touchstone. He's been shouted out by LCD Soundsystem, worked with British electronic musician Jamie XX and on Wednesday night My Morning Jacket covered his song "The Bottle" while on stage at Madison Square Garden.

“Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” New Trailer!

Building the hype ahead of its February 17th release, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” has released a new teaser trailer. The film follows Johnny Blaze as he hides out in a remote part of Eastern Europe where he’s recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy from the devil. Initially, Blaze is reluctant to take the gig, but it’s the only way to protect the boy and possibly rid himself of the curse. “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” stars Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Fergus Riordan, Violante Placido, and Johnny Whitworth. Check out the trailer!

Russell Brand To Host Late-Night FX Show

FX has made a deal with the British comic actor to host a late-night comedy show in front a live studio audience. Currently described as “specials,” the six half-hour installments will feature the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star’s “unfiltered take on current events, politics and pop culture” in front of an audience and drawing “heavily on interaction with that audience.” If that sounds a bit vague, that’s because the format is still being hammered out, but sources say that the description shouldn’t be mistaken for a talk show. “I am so excited I’m on the point of climax, in fact I will put the ‘O’ into FX, which spells Fox, which is actually the channel’s real name,” Brand said. “That’s the only thing that worries me about all this to be honest. At least I’ll be able to have a Christmas drink with Bill O’Reilly.”

100 Years Of Antarctica Discovery

A celebration has taken place to mark 100 years since Roald Amundsen led the first expedition to the South Pole. On December 14, 1911, not long before the outbreak of World War I and with nationalism on the rise in Europe, the Norwegian explorer and four members of his team were the first to arrive at the southernmost tip of the globe, planting a Norwegian flag at the pole to mark their epic victory over British adventurer Robert Scott. On Wednesday dozens of scientists and explorers joined Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg at the South Pole to pay tribute to Amundsen and his team. Homage was also paid to Scott, known as Scott of the Antarctic, as well as to Scott's four companions, who all died on their return expedition. Mr Stoltenberg said it was important for him to make the journey south to honour "one of the most outstanding achievements of mankind", but also paid tribute to Scott and his men. "Scott and his team paid the ultimate price," he said. "Their names will forever be inscribed in Polar history," Mr Stoltenberg said, hailing "their courage and determination in reaching one of the most inhospitable places on earth." Mr Stoltenberg also unveiled an ice bust of Amundsen at the US scientific base station Amundsen Scott.

Alice Cooper Documentary Film ‘Vincent Goes to Hell’ Set For 2012

A documentary on Alice Cooper is slated for release in summer 2012. The film will be produced by Banger Films (which has worked on films on other metal stars including Iron Maiden and Rush) and will be directed by Sam Dunn, who noted: "We're in the early stages of telling the story of his career. We're probably going to focus in on his early years up to his comeback in the '80s." Dunn added: "We're exploring a different stylistic approach with this film. It won't be talking heads; it's going to be more of an archival and animated journey through his career." The feature-length film is expected to debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Cooper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. Welcome 2 My Nightmare (his last album) debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 18,000 copies. Cooper recently had a haunted maze at Universal Studio's theme park named after him.

Pulp To Reissue First Three Albums In 2012

Pulp are set to reissue their 1983 debut album 'It' along with their 1987 LP 'Freaks' and 1992's 'Separations'. The re-releases were supposed to come out in August on the Fire label, but a delay means that all three albums will now be released in February 2012. The albums will be accompanied with new liner notes from rock critic Everett True and have been remastered, as well as coming with new artwork and added bonus tracks. The 'It' reissue will feature four bonus tracks, including the single version of 'My Lighthouse', an alternative mix of 'Blue Girls', the previously unreleased 'Sink Or Swim' and 'Please Don't Worry' from the band's 1981 John Peel Session. 'Freaks' will come with a bonus disc made up of the non-album singles 'Little Girl (With Blue Eyes)' and 'Dogs are Everywhere' as well as b-sides 'Tunnel' and 'Manon', while the 'Separations' bonus material includes 'Death Goes To The Disco', 'Is This House', an extended version of 'Countdown' and 'Death Comes To Town'.

'The Dictator' Trailer: Sacha Baron Cohen's New Movie

Actor Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles have collaborated once again on “The Dictator,” a mockumentary inspired by “Zabibah and the King,” a novel originally published anonymously in Iraq in 2000 that is now believed to be written by Saddam Hussein. The film also stars Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley, Megan Fox and John C. Reilly and will be in theaters on May 11.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Details Released

Renowned game designer Hideo Kojima took the stage Saturday night at the Spike TV Video Game Awards to announce Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, the new incarnation of what was once Metal Gear Solid: Rising. Revengeance will star a cybernetic version of Metal Gear Solid 2 protagonist Raiden as he slashes his way through enemies. The studio Platinum Games, best known for stylish hack-and-slash action game Bayonetta, is working with Konami to develop Revengeance.