Germs get a new lead singer: “Nearly 30 years after the original Germs lead singer died of a drug overdose at the age of 21, the Los Angeles snot-punks have a new lead-singer: actor Shane West. That’s right, the former E.R. star is the new Darby Crash—he of the infamous appetite for peanut butter (spread on his chest) and heroin (injected squarely into his veins).” | Source: NY Observer

Dexter Holland of the Offspring profile: “Holland keeps his planes in tricked-out hangars in Long Beach and Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and, when he rolls out to the runway, heads turn and jaws drop, a fact that Holland plainly enjoys. He is full of surprises. He has a master’s degree in molecular biology from USC and he owns a Newport Beach company, Gringo Bandito, that bottles 120 gallons a week of his hot sauce recipe. “It’s on sale now at Albertsons, that’s huge for us,” said Holland, who also has been dabbling in software design for BlackBerrys that has led to a patent but, so far, no profits.” | Source: LA Times

Against Me! via AP: “Though their youth, tattoos and punctuation might suggest they’re another run-of-the-mill pop-punk act, they are something different entirely. They’re both loud AND smart.” | Source: Associated Press

Sex Pistols not punk: “We never liked the moniker ‘punk’ right from the start,” declared Lydon. “That’s something like the press gave to us or attached to us. I’ve always, myself personally bitterly rejected it. I don’t like the term. It means in American, you know, Mr Big’s Bum boy in prison. I really don’t think any big fat Yank fancies my bottom!” | Source: NME

Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers: “I think music should be free, you just got to be a bit more clever. Maybe I won’t sell many records because people can get it for free but by God I’m going to see a few more people coming to my shows. So if I don’t get them buying my album I’ll get them somewhere else or they’ll buy a T-shirt or something in the back catalogue. It’s a good ethos and a good ethic for the future, I think.” | Source: Toronto Sun

Siouxsie Sioux interview: “I think everyone has something from their childhood that leaves some kind of scar and everyone has to try to come to terms with, and face it. You see, you’ve always got to look for the positive. And although you wouldn’t wish it on yourself, you can look back and say, well, I didn’t enjoy it at the time, but I learnt from it.” | Source: The Independent

Alkaline Trio partner with Nike: “Chicago goth punks Alkaline Trio have partnered with Nike to release the Heart and Sole Air Zoome Cush. But wait, the shoe comes with more than just a clever title: the shoes have custom-designed Alkaline Trio colourways and feature the band’s logo alongside the swoosh.” | Source: Exclaim!

Tod A. of Cop Shoot Cop and Firewater: “Tod A. concocted an ambitious plan to tour India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iran with a microphone and a laptop computer, recording a new batch of songs with local musicians he met along the way. He checked into cheap hotels in Jodhpur, Lahore, and Peshawar and ordered up so-called nautch parties, with a traditional wedding band featuring a ululating singer and a G-rated belly dancer.” | Source: New York magazine

Donita Sparks of L7 live review: “For more than an hour, she was barely still. She shimmied, head-banged, high-kicked, pogoed, and go-go danced at every opportunity. Even when she stood at the microphone to sing, her eyes darted seductively and her fingers waggled playfully.” | Source: Boston Globe

A punk tribute to Elvis: “Sporting their best quivering-lip sneer and alter egos as Elvis of Nazareth, Elvis ‘56, and “Has-Been” Elvis, members of the Bad Samaritans, NOFX, Ill Repute, and Stalag 13 have formed G.G. Elvis & the TCP Band.” | Source: River Cities’ Reader

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