To tide fans over until the fall release of its first studio album in four years, Ween will on June 8 release the five-song “The Friends” EP through its own Chocodog label. None of the songs will appear on the as-yet-untitled new album; the EP will at first only be available online and at shows.
“We have recorded a lot of new material the past year and we wanted to give you an appetizer for the summer,” says guitarist Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo on Ween’s As previously reported, Stone frontman Mick Jagger has also teamed with Scorsese to produce the music business-centered film “The Long Play.”
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
The nascent movie arm of Sony BMG Music Entertainment is developing a movie about Chicago bluesmen Muddy Waters, Little Walter and Howlin’ Wolf.
“Cadillac Records” will be directed for Sony BMG Film by Darnell Martin (“Their Eyes Were Watching God”), who also wrote the script. Casting is underway, and Sony BMG anticipates landing some of its artists in the film’s lead roles. Production will begin this year in Chicago.
Sony BMG Film was established in August 2005 to make music-related films for theatrical release.
— The Hollywood Reporter
After a five-year absence, rock act Imperial Teen will on Aug. 21 release a new album, “The Hair, the TV, the Baby and the Band,” via Merge. The set was produced Steve McDonald and Anna Waronker, who have both contributed to prior Imperial Teen albums.
“The Hair…” will feature the band’s original lineup: former Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum, singer Will Schwartz, drummer Lynn Truell and former Wrecks bassist Jone Stebbins.
The set is the follow-up to the quartet’s third studio effort, 2002’s “On.” They also released “Live at Maxwell’s” later that year.
— Katie Hasty, N.Y.