We took last week off in mourning of David Bowie, though we ran quite a few tributes, as did the rest of the world.
Even though he’s been dead a week, Bowie’s still a newsmaker — Blackstar became Bowie’s first number one album in the United States. And, if you want to find out what records by other people Bowie loved, this piece he wrote for Vanity Fair is making the rounds.
More sad news: Glenn Frey of the Eagles also died this week, as did Kevin Junior of Chicago band The Chamber Strings. If that weren’t enough death, Celine Dion also lost her husband and brother in a span of three days. Here at Unicorn Booty, we take a very strong anti-death stance, and so far, 2016 has just steeled our resolve.
Together, we can stand firm against death — if we all work together, we can beat this!
Yasiin Bey, also known as Mos Def, has announced his retirement. In a post on Kanye West’s website, Bey shared a new track, “No More Parties In S.A.”; while it’s technically the “Retirement Remix” of Kanye and Kendrick Lamar’s “No More Parties In L.A.”, it’s an a capella track featuring Bey rapping about being detained in South Africa for overstaying his visa and trying to leave with a “World Passport“. Near the end of the track, he does say there will be one final album coming.
The CEO of Life Or Death PR, Heathcliff Berru, has stepped down over allegations he repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted women in bands and other professionals he worked with. The news broke this week when Amber Coffman from The Dirty Projectors came forward on Twitter:
Was just re-telling/re-remembering a story abt how a very popular music publicist RUBBED my ass and BIT my hair at a bar a couple years ago
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
This was someone I barely knew and had just met. He did it in front of 4 of my male friends. Still makes me so damn mad thinking about it
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Still mad at myself as well for not punching him in the nose, but I totally froze up. Weird survival instinct I guess
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Just was looking at their current roster and it’s amazing. People I know even. Funny how shitty, fake ass people can have so much success
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
And in case anyone was wondering who the ass rubbing, hair biting mother fucker was, I’m not afraid to say it-
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
It was Heathcliff Berru, at Life or Death PR and MGMT
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
I’ve been told many women have had scary stories about him for years but are scared to speak up. And dudes overlook it and keep hiring him
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Tired of sketchy ass dudes and sexual predators getting a pass from their “bros.” Grow a spine and hold your friends accountable ✌?️
— Amber Coffman (@Amber_Coffman) January 19, 2016
Soon after Coffman’s story, other women started coming forward with similar claims. Berru’s firm represented many other acts including Killer Mike and Run The Jewels, though Killer Mike immediately cut ties with the company:
Shortly after Berru’s exit from Life Or Death, the remaining employees left as well to create their own company with no connection to Berru. There is also a new tumblr for anonymous people to come forward about abuse they’ve suffered in the music industry.
Finally, here’s the firehose of good news: The Pet Shop Boys have just announced their new LP, Super, due out on April Fool’s Day. They’ve also shared the first single, “Inner Sanctum,” making it less likely they’re just pulling a really mean prank on the world.
Radiohead is the headliner for the OpenAir St. Gallen festival in Switzerland, and it’s rumored to be the first stop on a festival tour for the band!
Iggy Pop and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and the Eagles of Death Metal are collaborating on a new LP, due out March 18th. The album will be called Post Pop Depression.
This cover of Yoko Ono’s “Catman (The Rosies Are Coming” by Miike Snow is pretty rad too!
New Music This Week: Cait Brennan‘s debut album Debutante is out this Friday!
Sonya Kitchell’s putting out her album We Come Apart.
Will Oldham’s twentieth album under the Bonnie “Prince’ Billy name, Pond Scum is out on CD and vinyl.
Conrad Keely of …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead is putting out his first solo album, Original Machines.
Progressive rock star Steven Wilson’s new album 4½ comes out.
Long-running avant-punk band Half Japanese has their newest album since 2014’s Overjoyed, Perfect.
Post-rock legends Tortoise have their ninth album and first since 2009, The Catastrophist.
Chairlift’s long-awaited third album, Moth, is finally out today.
