Bret McKenzie Golden Man or Muppet?

Congratulations to Bret McKenzie taking home his first Golden Man an Academy Award for Man or Muppet.



Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Whitney Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room

Rolling Stone reported that Whitney Houston was found dead on Saturday the 11th in a Beverly Hills hotel room. Paramedics arriving at the Beverly Hilton found the singer's body.

While the cause of death is still unknown, Houston's publicist Kristen Foster has confirmed the sad news.

Houston had been scheduled to attend the annual pre-Grammy party of music mogul Clive Davis, who discovered her, tonight and had attended rehearsals for the event earlier this week. The party was still held, and Davis asked for a moment of silence as they dedicated the evening to Houston.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said at the pre-Grammy gala that Sunday's Grammy ceremony would include "something appropriate" in tribute to the singer, including a performance by Jennifer Hudson. "What's beautiful about Whitney is the legacy she left."

"Whitney always hit you with that beautiful smile, that incredible energy" said Diddy, who also attended Davis' pre-Grammy gathering. "Whitney Houston had the greatest voice in the world. We truly lost an angel."

The Recording Academy released the following statement on Saturday evening:

Six-time GRAMMY(r) winner Whitney Houston was one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades. Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs. A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice.

Houston, the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and cousin of singer Dionne Warwick, was known for her string of hits in the Eighties and Nineties, including "The Greatest Love of All," "I Will Always Love You," "How Will I Know" and "I'm Every Woman." She also had an acting career, appearing in The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.

In addition to her six Grammys, Houston also won two Emmys and 22 American Music Awards. Her rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl in 1991 is often considered the standard by which other versions are judged.

She was married to R&;B singer Bobby Brown from 1992 to 2007, and the couple had one daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, born in 1993. The couple appeared in the reality TV series Being Bobby Brown in 2005.

In recent years, Houston was more known for her tumultuous personal life and struggles with addiction.

Reaction to her death began pouring in throughout media outlets, including Twitter.

Mariah Carey released the following statement:

Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston. My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth.

“Whitney was family to me," Smokey Robinson told CNN. "I will always love her. She is one of the greatest voices in the history of music."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com


Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Let me hear you scream, but not at my wedding...

Ozzy Osbourne won't sing at his son Jack's wedding.

Ozzy's daughter Kelly Osbourne explained that the kind of rock the Black Sabbath lead singer would perform isn't suitable for the romantic nuptials.

Kelly's sibling is expected to wed fiancée Lisa Stelly this year after a whirlwind romance. The couple got engaged after only four months and announced Lisa's pregnancy shortly after.

"No," Kelly told US publication E! Online when asked if her dad would sing at the happy event. "I don't really think rock music is quite appropriate for a wedding!"

The 27-year-old can't contain her excitement and wells up every time she sees her younger brother.

Kelly is incredibly proud that Jack has turned his life around after struggling with addiction.

The 26-year-old has been sober since 2003. Before his stint at rehab, Jack went into a downward spiral consuming drink and taking OxyContin pills.

"He makes fun of me because every time I'm around him I get teary eyed now," the Fashion Police host admitted.

"He's like, 'Stop it! Go Away. Stop being dramatic. Get out of my face.' Because I'm like, 'I'm so proud of you. You're moving into a new house. You're getting married. You're having a baby. You have the most amazing fiancée ever!'"

stuff.co.nz

Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Big Day Out NZ has had its day

The Auckland leg of the Big Day Out has been going for 18 years and organiser Ken West says it has been incredible, but now it must come to an end.

West says the compounded stress of the day in Auckland on a Friday and then on the Gold Coast on a Sunday has taken its toll.

Big Day Out cancelled in New Zealand, as of next year
“In terms of what has been put on the line every year for Auckland, flying everything through, it has felt the risk of taking it on next year would be too great,” he says.

For music fans this end of an era is surreal. The Big Day Out has been an integral component of the New Zealand festival scene, but West says getting past the inaugural Big Day Out was odd.

“I had never dreamt this event would go for 20 years,” he says.

“I’m happy I don’t have to think about it [the decision to cancel the Auckland Big Day Out] anymore, because I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”

“I have found over that time I wouldn’t have swapped any part of it.

“I love New Zealand audiences, and I mean that, it’s not a spin, otherwise I wouldn’t have kept doing it.”

Watch the interview on 3 News here www.3news.co.nz/Full-interview-with-Ken-West-on-Auckland-Big-Day-Outs-end

Shortly after this announcement was made, a petition was started on Facebook to 'Keep Big Day Out in New Zealand' with a growing number of fans 'liking' it. facebook.com/pages/Petition-to-keep-Big-Day-Out-in-New-Zealand

Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz

Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Will.i.am on IAMAUTO

WILL.I.AM UNVEILS IAMAUTO CAR

will.i.am is getting behind the wheel of a new business venture. The enterprising Black Eyed Peas frontman debuted his new automobile on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”

The white futuristic vehicle, which he calls IAMAUTO, was developed to create more jobs in the East Los Angeles neighborhood where he grew up.

“I’m a big technology freak and a geek and I invested my money in building my own vehicle ’cause I want to bring jobs to the ghetto that I come from,” explained will. “I invested in making a demo to start the Black Eyed Peas, now I want to invest to have a car company in the neighborhood where I come from.”

The vehicle was built using OEM parts from Chrysler and features a Beats by Dr. Dre sound system. “It’s sick, it’s really fresh,” said will, who will drop his solo album #willpower later this year.



Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Dragon will roar at AmeriCARna

Glenn Shorrock, the original voice of Australia's Little River Band, and Mark Williams, the front man for legendary rock band Dragon, will perform at the TSB Stadium on February 23.

Americarna is a huge celebration that is based around American vehicles.

Americarna 2012 will bring up to 600 cars and some 2,000 entrants together to enjoy organised cruises throughout Taranaki and the opportunity to showcase their vehicles to the locals.

Over four days entrants will be spoiled with entertainment, food, shopping and great Taranaki hospitality. Including a concert on Thursday night at the TSB Stadium which is opposite registration. Glenn Shorrock and his band. Glenn is the “original” voice of Little River Band. They will play all LRB hits along with some Beatles numbers and a number of other hits that will have us all up going for it. Supporting act is kiwi Mark Williams who has had No1 hits in NZ.

As for the talent, Shorrock is the singer behind hit songs including Help Is On Its Way, Reminiscing, Cool Change and Lonesome Loser and will be backed by his own world-class band during Americarna.

Williams, who comes from Northland but has ties with Taranaki, Tainui and Tuwharetoa is a member of New Zealand's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ticket information below:
http://www.americarna.com/Events/Americarna-Taranaki-2012/Thursday-Concert/



Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomes GNR & RHCP

Welcome to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Guns N' Roses & Red Hot Chilli Peppers

The seminal rock band of the late 1980s and early '90s, best known for hits like "Welcome to the Jungle," ''Sweet Child O' Mine" and "November Rain," leads the 2012 class of inductees announced on Wednesday. Also making the cut is the hip-hop trio Beastie Boys; rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers; the late singer-songwriter Laura Nyro; Donovan; and influential British rock group the Small Faces/the Faces, which included Rod Stewart and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.

Nyro, who wrote such hits as the 5th Dimension's "Wedding Bell Blues" and Blood Sweat & Tears' "When I Die," is the only female act to make it this time around. The hall passed on Donna Summer, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Heart and Rufus with Chaka Khan, who were on the ballot for 2012.

But it wasn't just women who were denied entry into the rock hall for next year. Voters also passed on hip-hop pioneers Eric B. & Rakim, War, the Cure and the Spinners.

Guns N' Roses blazed on the rock scene in 1987 with their official debut, "Appetite for Destruction." Fronted by siren-voiced singer Axl Rose, with Slash and Izzy Stradlin on guitars, Duff McKagan on bass and Steven Adler on drums, the group dominated music with its aggressive rock grooves. Early in their career they were criticized for lyrics in the song "One in a Million" deemed as homophobic, misogynistic and racist. They were also defined by their dysfunction, gleefully embodying the mantra of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll.

The band sold millions and millions of albums, providing a sharp contrast to a pop world defined by the likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson. But the group's turmoil, often on display before the whole world, would cause the core to fall apart by 1996.

Their trajectory was the opposite of the Chili Peppers. Despite troubles that included the drug-related death of guitarist Hillel Slovak and the departure of guitarist John Frusciante, the band, fronted by Anthony Kiedis, with Flea on bass, drummer Chad Smith and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, released its 10th album, "I'm With You," this year.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com

Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

The king of all rockin' Christmas presents

We will wrap up (pun intended) the last minute Christmas presents with the king of all presents, a lifelike singing and talking Elvis.

Designed using motion-captured facial animations and a leather jacket styled from the Elvis Presley '68 Comeback Special, the robot lets you listen to, sing along with, and learn more about the life of the King of Rock and Roll.

The robot offers four primary modes: Alive mode, which animates Elvis, tracks movements, and makes the occasional famous Elvis remark;
Song mode, in which Elvis sings eight of his best-loved songs;
Monologue mode, where Elvis describes his life and times;
and Sing Through mode, which lets you sing along with Elvis or turn his vocals down and sing over the top

Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Rockin' Christmas present - HB #2 Drumstick

You know the type of person (or are the person) that picks up a pair of office pencils and does an impromptu drum solo, like they're playing to a crowd of thousands - not to a water cooler and the laser printer. Indulge their (or your) fantasy with these perfectly formed drumstick pencils!


Excellent for musical kids or adults who haven't yet out grown the rock star dream. Now you can take your drum solos to the office, school, or anywhere else the drumming bug hits you!
Made from wood with a HB / #2.

Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz

Rockin' Christmas present - Guitar speakers

How about a set of guitar speakers

They will look fantastic on the wall in the man cave!

Until next time keep rockin'
The 0800 Jukebox crew.
www.0800jukebox.co.nz