8ball Tshirts Podcast

Good news for all prog rockers out there, Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason has said he is “pretty sure” the band will perform live together again. The veteran band have sold over 200 million records worldwide with their seminal albums, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here and The Wall.
The ’70s rockers performed at Live8 in July 2005, but Mason doesn’t believe that will be the last time the band will be together live on stage. Speaking to The Sun newspaper he said: “I’m pretty sure we’ll play together again. We’re not at each other’s throats now.”
The band originally split up when Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters fell out in the 1980s over who owned the group’s name.

Another week, another movie remake but this time we got a bit more excited with news that Dimension Films has confirmed it plans to remake classic 80s movie Short Circuit. For those of you who don’t remember, Short Circuit followed the story a military robot, ‘Johnny’ Number 5 who gains a personality after being struck by lightning. 80s hero Steve Guttenberg was cast in a main role, but isn’t likely to be recast.

It’s that time of year that some would say is as much fun as Christmas, when everyone goes Irish for one weekend in the pub. We’ve brought out a whole host of funny St Patricks day t-shirts for just that purpose..if you order before 12pm we will dispatch your Paddy’s Day t-shirt the same day! All our tees are made by our leprechaun crew in our t-shirt shack in Ireland.
Heres a few interesting St Pat’s day facts while you decide which one of our fine shirts to get for the big day.

1. St. Patrick was not actually Irish! He was born in Britain where he was taken as a slave to Ireland by a marauder called Niall of the Nine hostages.

2. On March 17th it is usually said that there are two types of people in this world-
the Irish and people who want to be Irish. Well, there is no better way to describe St.
Patrick’s Day than “Everybody is Irish.”

3. It’s the done thing to ‘go green’ on St. Patrick’s Day. But in Ireland traditionally the color
was long considered to be unlucky.
Go as subtle or as wild as you like. T-shirts are of course the finest article of clothing to wear proudly!

4. Almost unbelievable today but by law, pubs in Ireland were closed on St. Patrick’s Day as offically it is a religious holiday,
but this law was relaxed in the 1970’s.

5. To truly celebrate St. Patrick’s Day raise your pint and wish your drinking buddies
“Slainté!”(pronounced SLAN-cha) which means “health!”

6. Guinness, first brewed in Dublin in 1759 is the unoffical drink of St Patricks day
and 1.9 billion pints are downed around the world every year!

7. Guiness saves lives - Offical! If people try and tell you that you have had one too many pints of the black stuff on St Patricks day,
tell them this little gem;
At a meeting of the American Heart Association in Florida researchers
reported that Guinness is effective in reducing the blood clots that cause heart attacks.

Have a cheeky, happy and merry St Patricks day with our selection of St Paddys day t-shirts!

New year, new tips for the hottest new music talent and bands. The BBC have compiled a Sound of 2008 poll, using tips from critics and broadcasters. Heres the top 5. Are there any bands you think should be on here? Let us know!

1. ADELE
This 19-year-old acoustic singer-songwriter is pigeon holed in the same bracket as Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash. Her style is youthful love songs with a poignant and soulful voice.
The panel say: “Adele’s voice melted our hearts when we first heard her.”
8Ball rating: 6/10

2. DUFFY
This Welsh soul singer has been dubbed the new Dusty Springfield. With her classic, rough round the edges style and rousing vocals, she could have stepped straight out of a grainy 1960s music TV show. We think her sound touches on the master Phil Spector.
The panel say: “You can’t help but be amazed that such a powerful voice can come from such a little person.”
8Ball rating: We like! 8/10

3. THE TING TINGS
Boy-girl duo Katie White and Jules De Martino, who play jagged, lo fi tunes who’s mix of pop sensibility and indie credibility has generated much buzz.
The panel say: “They have huge tunes, untouchable Manc street cred and a sassy charm that puts others to shame.”
8Ball rating: Can’t see them lasting the year, we think they’re a bit of a fad 4/10

4. GLASVEGAS
This Glaswegian four-piece play vintage rock with brooding guitars, like the “Jesus & Mary Chain covering the Grease soundtrack”.
NME magazine said they had put out the best debut single since the Arctic Monkeys.
The panel say “Glasvegas already sound like a classic band.” Jonas Woost, Last.FM head of music
8Ball rating: 7/10 but is 2008 ready for doo-wop and ’50s rock ‘n’ roll?

5. FOALS
A punk-funk five-piece from Oxford who build intelligent indie with layers of pulsating guitars and beats, who say their influences lie are outside the mainstream and defy the conventional approach at every turn.
The panel says: “There’s enough depth to suggest they could be around for some time.”
8Ball rating: The juries still out, 7/10

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The internet is abound with rumours this week that Christian Bale has reportedly signed up to appear in the fourth Terminator movie. The Batman star is set to become a much older John Connor in Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins. Its even been touted that Bale will take over the role of The Terminator! But we wonder if Arnie will put down his politicians hat and pick up his ‘acting’ one again?

We were aghast to hear that Ricky Gervais has passed off the opportunity to work with Woody Allen because he reckons the New York legend has ‘lost his touch’.
While we agree Woody’s last few movies have been pretty pants, The Office ’star’ Gervais revealed that he was offered a role in one of the director’s recent productions, but lost interest when he found out who else was lined up to appear.
He said “When I saw the rest of the cast - other British people on telly - I just pulled out of it. I thought: that’s no fun.” Hang on, Ricky, aren’t you just someone who was ‘on the telly’?

Ian Brown has said that he will never get back together with the Stone Roses no matter how much the fans want it, or how much money he is offered. “I know the Roses mean a lot to people, but I haven’t really thought about it much in the last ten years. We get offered a lot of money to do it. I know they say every man his price, but I’m not for sale.”
In a recent interview he said he’s enjoying being a solo artist too much to reunite the legendary Madchester band. “I’ve got offers to play in 15 different countries [as a solo act]. I really enjoy collaborating with whoever I want and going round the world.”

Internet DVD shop Lovefilm has compiled the top 10 music biopics as voted for by its customers, with the Johnny Cash movie Walk The Line coming top of the crop.

The movie about legendary country rock star Johnny Cash was followed at number two by 8 Mile, made by Eminem about himself, Amadeus about Mozart then Ray Charles film Ray.

A spokesperson for Lovefilm said “This poll showcases the very best the genre has to offer - whether it be a portrayal of a foul-mouthed rapper, a Motown legend or a classical composer.”

The top ten in full:

1. Walk The Line (2005) - Johnny Cash
2. 8 Mile (2002) - Eminem
3. Amadeus (1984) - Mozart
4. Ray (2004) - Ray Charles
5. The Doors (1991)
6. What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993) - Tina Turner
7. Control (2007) - Joy Division
8. Sid And Nancy (1986) - Sid Vicious
9. La Bamba (1987)
10. Backbeat (1994) - The Beatles

There’s not many more music biopic’s - but would this be your Top 10? Let us know!

In more movie news, Sacha Baron Cohen or Borat as we prefer him is to be sued yet again by unsuspecting Americans. Well, we say unsuspecting but Cathy Martin the Alabama etiquette expert, signed an agreement to let the comedian film a dinner sequence at her home where Cohen, dressed as Borat for the movie, poked fun at her and her friends.
Martin is suing Cohen for fraud, emotional distress and invasion of privacy.

There are reports that Led Zeppelin fans have been told they may be refused entry to the band’s reunion gig at the o2 arena if they paid for tickets using someone else’s credit card.
Several thousand people won a password allowing them to purchase tickets in a lottery draw earlier this week.
But promoters now say that tickets will be cancelled if the password holder’s name is not the same as the one on the card used to pay for the tickets. Fans have reacted angrily, claiming the terms changed after they made payments.

The US distributors of Anton Corjbin’s new Ian Curtis biopic Control have requested the late singer performs at the premiere.
Ex-bandmate Peter Hook claims he received a phone call from America asking if Joy Division would perform at the film’s screening.
The bassist told Shortlist: “Someone from the film’s US distributor’s office phoned up saying that the New York premiere was on September 25 and would Joy Division play?
“I replied, ‘Well, the last I heard, the lead singer was dead but I’ll give them a ring and see if anything has changed’.”
The new biopic about the Joy Division frontman’s life is released this week in the UK and on October 10 in the US.

8Ball is sad to learn that the writer of some of the UK’s best loved and our favourite classic TV sitcom theme tunes has gone to the great recording studio in the sky. Ronnie Hazelhurst is the unsung hero of some of the UK’s all time classic TV shows and can list The Two Ronnies , Wogan and Only Fools & Horses as some of his accomplishments. BBC TV’s head of comedy, Jon Plowman, said: “He was the composer of many of the best-loved signature tunes of the last 40 years of television - and some of his work is still heard today. He’s associated with some of the best-loved shows of our lives.”

Martin Scorsese has revealed he is to make a documentary film about the life of the late Beatles star George Harrison.
The Taxi Driver director, who has already made similar projects on Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, will direct the film and produce it with Nigel Sinclair and Harrison’s widow Olivia.
Scorsese plans to focus on Harrison’s religious beliefs and his rise to fame with The Beatles. He will be given total access to his family archives and will interview the two remaining Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, for the film.
The director told Variety: “George Harrison’s music and his search for spiritual meaning is a story that still resonates today and I’m looking forward to delving deeper.”

In a disturbing development here at 8Ball are worried by rumours of a Karate Kid remake in the pipeline. Apparently Will Smiths’s son who starred along side his dad in The Pursuit of Happyness is reportedly lined up to take the role of Daniel-San, or Daniel Larrusso to give him his full name. Sony Pictures has been in talks to make a modern version of the movie, but it has not been indicated who would take the role of Mr Miyagi, played by the late Pat Morita. We really wish they’d leave this one alone - what do you think?

8Ball’s ultimate movie hero and Caddyshack star Bill Murray has been busted for driving a golf buggy through Stockholm city centre whilst under the influence. Whilst attending the Scandinavian Masters golf tournament he took a detour off the green to his hotel via a restaurant. Bill was forced into giving a blood test after refusing a breathalyser according to police commander Jan-Olov Lundgren who said “He was very calm and friendly. No problem at all, there were no obvious signs, like when someone is really tipsy”. The golf tournament’s organiser Fredrik Nilsmark said the golf buggy was not intended for guests but added: “I don’t hold any grudges against Bill Murray borrowing our cart for a while.”

Not that it would make the tiniest dent in their fortunes, but both Ronnie Wood & Keith Richards of the The Rolling Stones may be fined £50 each for flouting the UK smoking ban and lighting up a cigarette whilst on stage in London. But Greenwich may let them off satisfied that it was a one-off - and their cigarettes were “extinguished almost faster than the message to put it out got to stage,” an official said. Truly Rock n Roll!

When ex-Guns n Roses and Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash was honoured by The Hard Rock Cafe for his services to ROCK he showed his gratitude by giving them a guitar….one that he had stole from them years before.

The guitar slingers illustrious career was celebrated in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and Slash surprised officials by handing back the long guitar he ‘took’ without asking years before.

He says, “The guitar has the best story. I stole that from the Hard Rock in Orlando. It was in the dressing room. I didn’t know what it was doing there, so I took it. I mean, it was in the dressing room and no one claimed it. So I’ve had it all these years and been playing it.

“But then I thought what better way to honor the Hard Rock for honoring me than to give it back, sort of.”
Brilliant.

This follows hot on the heels of news that the original ‘Appetite For Destruction’ era G n’ R would be reforming to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the debut albums release. The original line up of Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler will get together later in the year, but minus singer Axl Rose, who is still perservering with the newest incarnation of Guns.

The Good, The Bad and The Queen take their roadshow to the last ever gig at the legendary Hammersmith Palais. The band line up consists of a whos-who of great British bands with Ex-Blur Damon Albarn, ex-Clash bassist Paul Simonon, ex-Verve guitarist Simon Tong are complemented by afro beat pioneer Tony Allen. The gig will mark the closing weekend of the Hammersmith Palais, immortalised in The Clash’s (White Man) In The Hammersmith Palais, when bulldozers move in on Monday April 1st to demolish the venue, making way for yet more office blocks. The flea pit venue has seen some of Britain’s great musical events, hosting performances from The Sex Pistols, The Rolling Stones and U2 not to mention The Clash. Its music credentials today were still being proved by the recent billing of My Chemical Romance, Idlewild, & The Fall. Another embodiment of Great British music quite literally bites the dust. RIP.

In other news, Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has flown a charter flight for Glasgow Rangers for their UEFA cup game aginst Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv. Bruce is qualified as a commercial pilot and flies for UK-based charter firm Astraeus, between Maidens tours and albums. He specifically asked to fly the Ibrox team to the Israeli city when he learned that his charter firm had got the contract. Rangers manager Walter Smith told the club’s website: “I know their stuff quite well. I remember going to meet the band when they played in Edinburgh a few years ago.”