A former model, French actor Gilles Marini entered the nation’s consciousness last summer with his naked shower seen in “Sex and the City: The Movie,” raised his profile as a finalist on “Dancing with the Stars” and now he has a calendar shot by photog Fred Goudon (buy it here).
Source: Huffington Post
Photo: Fred Goudon
A brand new OTEP track, “Rise, Rebel, Resist”, is available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page. The song comes off the Los Angeles-based group’s fourth full-length studio album, “Smash the Control Machine”, which is scheduled for release on August 18 via Victory Records. Look closely at the new cd cover, it is not what it appears to be!
“Smash the Control Machine” track listing:
01. Rise, Rebel, Resist
02. Sweet Tooth
03. Smash The Control Machine
04. Head
05. Numb And Dumb
06. Oh, So Surreal
07. Run For Cover
08. Kisses & Kerosene
09. Unveiled
10. UR A WMN NOW
11. Serv Asat
12. Where The River Ends
13. I Remember
Singer, songwriter, renegade Otep Shamaya says of the album, “The economic crisis is hitting every working family in this country. The album and its title track, ‘Smash The Control Machine’, will lay bare the greed and corruption that fostered this calamity, but will also focus on the undying spirit of the working class that always fights the good fight. The title is a line from a William S. Burroughs poem. It is my intention to create an album that serves every head of the hydra that is OTEP. From poetry, to politics, to shock and awe, to sex and righteousness, to standing up and fighting back. Like the mystical symbol of the Ouroboros (the sacred serpent swallowing its tail) all things will be brought back to circle.”
OTEP’s all-encompassing musical approach coupled with her shaman like artistic qualities and other creative musings have lead to over half a million albums sold over the course of three studio albums. Shamaya describes the band’s music as “a total and complete mutiny on the senses. We are a fusion band by nature, inspired by many styles and tones from a variety of musical genres- rock, punk, metal, hip-hop, spoken word, jazz and classic rock. We never allow the antiquated limits of a genre confine or restrict us. Our music is universal and does not belong nor can it be contained in a nice, neat, little box.”
OTEP was originally signed after only four shows, without a demo, strictly on the power of the band’s live performance. Sharon Osbourne offered the unsigned act on the 2001 Ozzfest tour, leading to three appearances on the festival.
Shamaya, is well respected for her lyrical content and dramatic live performances. She has also published two books of poetry, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2008, is a gifted painter and Revolver magazine compared Otep to Woodie Guthrie and Zack de la Rocha (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) for her fusing of political activism and music.
In addition to lending her support to numerous groups and causes (some being the genocide in Darfur, women’s and artists’ rights, marriage equality, the war in the Congo and support of President Obama), Ms. Shamaya, an accomplished, captivating and astute technophile, has started the social networks All Shapes and Sizes and Girls Out Now. On December 21, 2008 she created a popular and highly trafficked blog entitled “I’m Not A Monster”. The site was an instant success and a reliable source for current events and her latest musings. Her loyal and passionate fan base are active followers of her frequent Facebook and Twitter postings. Coupled with Victory’s proprietary marketing and promotional platforms (VicTorV, VictorStream, VictoryMetal and VictorME) a truly interactive and real-time artist/fan/label fusion has been realized for selling music in 2009.
Story and Photo source: Victory Records
There is a lot of speculation surrounding the young man in dark shades sitting with the Jackson family at Michael Jackson’s memorial service. Omer Bhattiv sat between Rebbie Jackson, the eldest Jackson sibling, and Prince Michael II. He’s 25, a Norwegian rapper and rumored to be Michael Jackson’s secret son.
Michael reportedly told close friends several years ago that Omer was the result of a one-night stand he had with a Norwegian fan, Pia Bhatti, in 1984.
“He was the King of Pop,” Pia told The Sun after the singer’s death. “But for us he was so much more.”
Her Pakistani husband Riz said, “Make what you like. I don’t want to discuss anything.”
Omer met Michael in 1996 during the HIStory tour, when he impressed the King of Pop with his dance moves. He later spent some time at Neverland, performed with Michael and took his MJ tribute act around the world.
Source: Huffington Post
Photos: Gary O’Shea The Sun U.K.
// Your r
There is a lot of speculation surrounding the young man in dark shades sitting with the Jackson family at Michael Jackson’s memorial service. Omer Bhattiv sat between Rebbie Jackson, the eldest Jackson sibling, and Prince Michael II. He’s 25, a Norwegian rapper and rumored to be Michael Jackson’s secret son.
Michael reportedly told close friends several years ago that Omer was the result of a one-night stand he had with a Norwegian fan, Pia Bhatti, in 1984.
“He was the King of Pop,” Pia told The Sun after the singer’s death. “But for us he was so much more.”
Her Pakistani husband Riz said, “Make what you like. I don’t want to discuss anything.”
Omer met Michael in 1996 during the HIStory tour, when he impressed the King of Pop with his dance moves. He later spent some time at Neverland, performed with Michael and took his MJ tribute act around the world.
equest is being processed..
Come on?! Is it just me or is anyone else out there sick of hearing about Lady GaGa?!!?! I don’t get her at all. Nope! But to each their own….
My question is?
Is it her voice, her songs, her ‘fashion’ (yuck) or is she so ‘out there’ she takes our minds off reality?
Why do people like her? What is the attraction? Albeit I do believe she writes her own lyrics….I think….. which is at least something to applaud!
Photo via Punkt 6
UPDATE:
The New York Press reports that a New York City-based director was responsible for the now-infamous Sprite ad, and that the spot was produced without Sprite’s permission. The ad is the work of Max Issacson, and was not produced in Germany, according to the NY Press.
The NY Press spoke to John Jones IV, the male model pictured in the video: “The funny thing is, it’s a spec commercial–it’s not even real,” Jones said.Current TV initially reported that the ad had been banned from the air, for pretty obvious reasons.
It combines oral sex and the desire for a refreshing Sprite to create a big finish that has to be seen to be believed. It even beats the climax of this similarly-themed ad.
WATCH:
(UPDATE: Original ad was pulled from YouTube due to a copyright claim but you can view below courtesy of Young Turks)source: Huffington Post
Patrick Swayze has been pictured looking more healthy than he has in months.
The Dirty Dancing star, 56, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer early last year, appeared to have gained a little weight and grown some of his hair back.
He had even added a goatee.
MARSEILLES, France — Madonna has visited some of the eight workers who were injured in an accident in which two more were killed while assembling a music stage for the singer in the French port of Marseilles.
Madonna’s concert that was scheduled Sunday night in Marseilles was canceled after the accident Thursday at the Velodrome stadium. The roof of the stage collapsed while it was being built and crashed down on the workers.
The next stop on her tour is in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday.
source: Huffington Post
Otep Shamaya’s new tour will include a stop at 2009’s WOODSHOCK!
August 14-15, 2009 in Bellefontaine, Ohio! 13 years of peace, love and rock ‘n roll! 2 days of camping and 2 days of music!!
OTEP headlines with (hed) p.e. !
Next on the festival stop will be “Rock the Ink”, a music and tattoo festival with projected attendance of 10,000, which OTEP has been chosen to headline. The festival will be held in Providence, R.I. August 21-23, 2009.
ROCK THE INK:
“The Ultimate Tattoo and Entertainment Festival featuring top tattoo artists, bands & dj’s, celebrities, attractions, contests, and much more”
BUMBERSHOOT:
And the 3rd Festival of the tour is BUMBERSHOOT in SEATTLE at the Seattle Center, Sept 5th-7th. OTEP plays at 8:45 pm Saturday 5th according to Bumbershoot’s schedule.
The Seattle Center, a 74-acre park located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest to find a festival that has it all. Bumbershoot, as the name implies, umbrellas a number of artists from different genres representing the best in music, film, comedy, theater, spoken word, dance, visual, performance and literary arts.
Originally funded by the city of Seattle, the year 1971 marked the beginning of the Bumbershoot tradition, known then as The Seattle Arts Festival. In 1980, One Reel, a local non-profit arts and entertainment production organization was invited to produce the Festival. They began ticketing the event in order to invite world-renowned artists along with the finest the Northwest has to offer, and introduce a variety of new artistic outlets to the program. Today, Bumbershoot is one of the largest music and urban arts festivals in the world.
See all OTEP tour dates: www.myspace.com/otep
Victory Records recording artist OTEP will be hitting the road in support of her upcoming release Smash The Control Machine for what promises to be one of the most sensory invasive tours of 2009.
The tour will hit more than 23 U.S. cities, starting August 2nd at Gator’s in Farmington, NM, and will wrap up September 16th at LA’s Whiskey-A-Go-Go.
The tour will include a stop at 2009’s Rock the Ink, a music and tattoo festival with projected attendance of 10,000, which OTEP has been chosen to headline.
“We are incredibly excited to be able to share all of the new tracks with our fans,” comments Otep. “We just want to get out there and do what we do best: PLAY!”
OTEP has named fellow Victory act DESTROPHY as direct support with Central Illinois metal heads 7 YEAR EXISTENCE rounding out the package. “We want to annihilate the senses at every show,” states OTEP.
This trek marks OTEP’s first stateside appearance in 2009.
The Los Angeles, CA native toured South America in January and has spent the last several months in self-induced “artistic solitary confinement” submersed in creating, writing, recording and perfecting her brand-new album. OTEP, however, was not a silent invalid.
Her core fans were engaged in the process and journey via Twitter tweets, daily Facebook updates and her blog www.imnotamonster.com
Smash The Control Machine will be released August 18th on Victory Records. The artistically cathartic, socially riveting and revolutionary album was produced by Grammy-nominated Ulrich Wild (Pantera, Deftones, Breaking Benjamin).
The vocal style of Otep Shamaya ranges from soothingly and romantically hypnotic to piercingly guttural, to anthem like proclamations that cohesively come together encapsulating her trademark, one of a kind delivery. OTEP engages and enlightens with her lyrics, which are sung and screamed over metallic riffs, hook-laden rhythms and even delicate piano.
Smash The Control Machine is not just another hard rock album, it is an intelligent, mind expanding work of art.
Otep has also made a name for herself outside of music. Singer, activist, actress, writer and artist she has filmed segments for several top-rated TV shows, including HBO’s “DEF POETRY,” Bravo’s “DATE MY EX” and TLC’s hit show “L.A. Ink.” She was a guest speaker at the Democratic National Convention and worked extensively with Voter Registration.
OTEP is one of the most searched celebrities on pop culture sites, such as Theinsider.com and Citizenceleb.com. Shamaya also finds time to be a vocal and committed activist for such causes as Climate Change via Carbon Rally.com, Equal Rights, Victims Rights, Hurricane Relief, the genocides in Darfur, Chad, and Myanmar, PETA, and RAINN. Otep Shamaya also created a social networking site (www.allshapesandsizes.org) to help reinforce new ideas to promote self-esteem and self-confidence.
Photo: Music Fashion Magazine
