Pop Quiz: New Order

Pop Quiz: New Order

Aidin Vaziri | What do young hot bands like Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, the Killers, Bloc Party and the Bravery have in common (aside from wearing too much eyeliner)? They should all be sending royalty checks to New Order for its immeasurable influence. The veteran British synth-pop quartet returns this week with its eighth studio album, "Waiting for the Sirens' Call," and a show on Friday at the Henry J. Kaiser Arena in Oakland. We spoke with singer Bernard Sumner about three decades of making music, fighting and imbibing.



Bernard Sumner of New Order
Q: You guys are getting along.
A: Yeah, we are, really.
Q: What happened?
A: It's quite simple. We just took the drugs and the booze out of the equation.
Q: You were also business partners. A surefire way to hate anyone.
A: Right. Our businesses were hemorrhaging money like there was no tomorrow.
Q: Did Peter have to work on his hygiene as well?
A: No, he's a hygienic person, but he does have a few annoying habits. After he eats potato chips, he sucks each one of his fingers individually. We have to put a stop to that.
Q: So, for future reference, if anyone wants to reunite New Order: 1) Get rid of the drugs and alcohol, 2) Get rid of the bad businesses, and 3) Get rid of Peter sucking on his fingertips after eating chips.
A: Yeah, except it's get rid of some of the alcohol, not all.

Live Review: Queens of the Stone Age

Live Review: Queens of the Stone Age

Time To Rock Harder: Aidin Vaziri | Just a week ago, Queens of the Stone Age had to cancel its Minneapolis show because leader Josh Homme was running a delirium-inducing fever. Two months earlier, the group scrapped its European tour because he was coughing up blood in Paris. And that was before guest vocalist Mark Lanegan unexpectedly quit, citing exhaustion. By the time the band arrived at the Fillmore on Saturday, you'd think, it was either going to walk out onstage and just keel over or, best-case scenario, vomit out of its eye sockets. Yet for a band that seems to thrive on chaos (its signature song is 2000's "Feel Good Hit of the Summer," with the chorus "Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and alcohol! Co-co-co-co-co-cocaine!"), its live show was disappointingly free of third-degree burns and goat sacrifices. The whole thing, in fact, was rather horrifyingly professional, with the band pretty much just standing there, barely uttering a word to the audience or even going so far to lift a leg up to a monitor, with a boring light show on loan from Tori Amos. The music was loud and intense and all, and the part where Homme said, "F -- Huey Lewis" was almost funny, but for a band that practically came back from the dead to stand on that stage, it was kind of a downer. Perhaps Queens of the Stone Age hasn't suffered enough.

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man: Joel Gion on 'Dig!'

Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man: Joel Gion on 'Dig!'

Joel Gion didn't want his band to find fame in failure, but that's just what happened, thanks to 'Dig!': Aidin Vaziri | Tuesday marked the DVD release of "Dig!," the riveting documentary exploring the destructive relationship and rivalry between star-crossed rock bands Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols. Shot by director Ondi Timoner, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning film traces the wildly different paths the two groups take over a seven-year period beginning when they first hook up in 1996. The latter ends up signed to a major label, makes a $400,000 video with photographer David LaChapelle and fills stadiums in Europe. The former goes down in a hail of violence, drug-fueled paranoia and just plain bad luck. The only thing that keeps them connected through it all is their mutual jealousy. Gion, who was there to witness all the drama firsthand as the famed tambourine player for San Francisco's Brian Jonestown Massacre, has been traveling with the film to various festivals (Sundance, Slamdance, Rotterdam, Edinburgh and South by Southwest) since its cinematic release last year, to offer handshakes, commentary and answer questions such as, "What was the high point for you?" by saying things like, "There was a point where I stayed up for five days -- I was pretty high then." The San Francisco screening conveniently marked the end of Gion's promotional duties for "Dig!" Even as he politely mingled with fans, friends and co-workers, he seemed relieved that in a few hours he would never have to sit through the movie again. "I've had to see this thing 30 times," he said.

Pop Quiz: Velvet Revolver

Pop Quiz: Velvet Revolver

Aidin Vaziri | When the ramshackle cast of Velvet Revolver was first announced -- Duff McKagan, Slash and Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses, singer Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and Dave Kushner -- people hardly expected the rock super group to make it past the gates of the rehab clinic, let alone onto the concert stage. Yet, so far, the band's first album, "Contraband," which debuted at No. 1 on the album charts, has sold 1.62 million copies in the United States. Last month, the band graduated to playing arenas.



Duff McKagan of Velvet Revolver
Q: How weird is it to go through all this again?
A: Oh, there are times when Slash and I look at each other onstage and the crowd is going crazy and it's like, "F -- , dude. We did it again." It doesn't happen very often. But it's pretty great. People tell us we saved rock 'n' roll..
Q: I just wish your pancreas was here to enjoy it.
A: No, it's here. That's why I'm here. My pancreas expanded and burst, but I made it through that and realized I was given a second chance. I saw myself from above the bed. I realized I'm here for a reason. There's a lot out there that I haven't even come close to experiencing yet.

CD Review: 'Friends and Lovers: Songs of Bread'

CD Review: 'Friends and Lovers: Songs of Bread'

'Friends and Lovers: Songs of Bread': Aidin Vaziri | As far as bands deserving hipster re-evaluation go, Bread is probably just a few notches below poofy-haired '70s soft-rocking Air Supply. But because all the good acts like the Velvet Underground and Depeche Mode have already gotten their tribute albums, this happens to be Bread's lucky week. And what luck. Who wouldn't die to have Call and Response bring its gentle bossa nova sway to a hippie love song as ridiculous as "Baby I'm-a Want You"? Or have Kings of Convenience singer Erlend Oye strip down "Friends and Lovers" in what sounds like a living room? And what about Oranger's epic take on "Make It With You" -- so good it feels as if it could have originally been a Beach Boys tune instead. Has Bread really earned this? The band members had mustaches.

Pop Quiz: Garbage

Pop Quiz: Garbage

Aidin Vaziri | It's a small miracle that Garbage, whose string of hits includes "Stupid Girl" and "Only Happy When It Rains," ever finished its fourth and latest album, "Bleed Like Me." Even before a note was recorded, drummer Butch Vig was diagnosed with Type A hepatitis, Shirley Manson lost her voice, and bassist Steve Marker and guitarist Duke Erikson were at each other's throats. And that was before the band broke up -- albeit temporarily.



Butch Vig of Garbage
Q: What the hell happened?
A: To make a long story short, I think we sort of bottomed out. I don't think we realized how damaged we were from touring and being in each other's faces for two years. But once that happened we realized how important this band was to us and that we were on the verge of losing it.
Q: Besides arguing about everything else, you couldn't even agree if the band actually broke up.
A: There's still no consensus. Shirley, Steve and I know that we broke up, and basically Duke is in denial.
Q: Is it because Duke set off the whole thing by eating all the doughnuts before everyone else got to the studio?
A: Yeah, you don't want to get into the food issue.

CD Review: Mariah Carey's 'Emancipation of Mimi'

CD Review: Mariah Carey's 'Emancipation of Mimi'

Mariah Carey's 'Emancipation of Mimi': Aidin Vaziri | It would be nice to talk about the music on Mariah Carey's big comeback album, but frankly, it's hard to get past that cover. I mean, the music is just whatever -- screams, strings and lots of bad metaphors involving butterflies. But that cover. Just look at it. Now, that's something. If album review ratings were assigned strictly based on artwork, then this one would get five-stars shooting a streak of flames. Some people say Mariah is trying too hard to look like Beyonce. Well, she's not only trying too hard but succeeding too hard to look like a wax museum figure with Diana Ross' wig, Dolly Parton's boobs and George Hamilton's tan. I don't even know whose face that's supposed to be, but it's awesome. Photoshop clearly doesn't get the credit it deserves. And just what exactly is she emancipating herself from? Dresses that don't have built-in rainbows? This is better than that Millie Jackson album cover where she's sitting on the toilet and grimacing.

Pop Quiz: Lisa Marie Presley

Pop Quiz: Lisa Marie Presley

Aidin Vaziri | Yes, Lisa Marie Presley is the daughter of Elvis and ex-wife of both Nicolas Cage and Michael Jackson. But rather than hitting every lousy celebrity party with Nicole Richie on one arm and a Chihuahua on the other, she's actually doing something with her life. This week, Presley releases "Now What", the follow-up to her 2003 debut album, "To Whom It May Concern." The new CD features collaborations with Pink, former Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones and songwriter Linda Perry, as well as a cover of Don Henley's '80s hit "Dirty Laundry."



Lisa Marie Presley
Q: Didn't you have an Ashlee Simpson moment on the "Today Show"?
A: Oh my God. I fell off the stage on live television. But I jumped up in time to catch the next line. I think if I had a meltdown, that would have been an Ashlee Simpson moment. But I kept going.
Q: And you're actually showing your face in public again.
A: You know, what am I going to do? At least I recovered from it somewhat. I had other singers tell me they would have run crying. I had no choice.