Rob Zombie is in the middle of filming his new film, 31, but he already has his eyes set on his next project, something very different and out of the horror genre. (Although some of you may still think it’s a bit horrifying because you have no idea who Groucho Marx is!) According to a report from Pulse of Radio, Rob has acquired the rights to a memoir by Steve Stoliar called Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House. The screenplay will be written by Oren Moverman, director of The Messenger. The book tells the bizarre story of the last years in the life of Groucho Marx, told by a young Marx Brothers fan who spent those years as his personal secretary and archivist. The book details the legendary comedian’s declining years as well as the author’s interactions with Zeppo and Gummo Marx, Mae West, George Burns, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Steve Allen and other entertainment icons.
Zombie admitted to us a while back that it’s been tough for him to break out of the horror genre: “The movies I’ve made up to this point have been pretty dark and pretty much in that world because those are the opportunities that were presented. You know, the people that put up the money for these things know that if I stick to that sort of thing, it’s easily more profitable. So it’s a much bigger challenge to break out of it. The rocker/filmmaker has tried to switch film genres before with a project called Broad Street Bullies. The film, which would chronicle the exploits of the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team during the 1970s, has been unable to find financing or the right actors who can also skate! Man, I used to HATE the Flyers back in the mid 70’s when my beloved Boston Bruins were in their heyday. The front-teeth missing Bobby Clark and company would come to town and try to beat up on my boys, but we usually won each time. Hated them! And their fans! LOL
Zombie, whose work has been solely in the horror genre until now, said, “I have been a huge Groucho Marx fan ever since I was a child and have read countless book on the comic legend . . . I immediately saw this project as Groucho’s Sunset Boulevard and knew I had to bring it to the big screen. It is a sad, funny and very dark tale of a one of Hollywood’s greatest stars’ final years.” Meanwhile, look for Rob and his band to headline Rock Allegiance Oct 10th in Chester, PA (ugh, Flyers country!) among other festivals later this fall.
Courtney Love‘s legal team has issued a cease-and-desist order against theaters showing the docudrama Soaked In Bleach, which alleges that Love’s husband, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, did not commit suicide in April 1994 but was murdered, possibly at the behest of Love herself. According to Deadline, Love’s lawyers wrote, “The Film falsely presents a widely and repeatedly debunked conspiracy theory that accuses Ms. Cobain of orchestrating the death of her husband Kurt Cobain. A false accusation of criminal behavior is defamatory . . . which entitles Ms. Cobain to both actual and presumed damages.” Love and her attorneys have not yet filed an official complaint with a court. Soaked In Blood is based around private investigator Tom Grant, who was hired by Love to find her husband after he left a rehab center on March 30th, 1994. He shot himself six days later, on April 5th.
What Grinds My Gears today: If you enjoyed reading music related articles in Rolling Stone written by then senior music editor David Fricke, you should know the magazine has laid him off from full-time employment after nearly 30 years with the rag. I am so miffed about it. David is a great writer, respected by the industry and the musicians who’ve been his subjects. He’s been in countless documentaries (Sonic Highways being the most recent) and the like. I just can’t believe Jann Wenner and company are doing the unthinkable. Putting a great talent out of work, no insurance. They suck. I will no longer buy their magazine.
Kill It Kid, England’s new sensation, is coming to America in October! Their debut U.S. release, You Owe Nothing, will drop in August. They’re already booked to appear at Louder Than Life and Aftershock festivals in October. Certainly, more to come!
Congrats to another British band, Muse! Their Drones album is number 1 in the U.S., their first Number 1 and they also scored 1 in other parts of the world, including England!
Tomorrow, I will be on the hotLine with Brent Smith of Shinedown. The band starts rehearsals for their new tour with Nothing More that kicks off next month. The new Shinedown single, “Cut The Cord,” drops in about 10 days and it is KILLER! Very excited for the band! The new album, the title of which is being kept under wraps, was produced by Eric Bass, bassist for Shinedown. All I can say is get ready! A new Shinedown is coming!
Also tomorrow, 10 Years hit the hardDriveRadio studios for an acoustic performance. Sadly, we had a technical glitch on their last performance, so the boys decided to come back and do it again! Looking forward! And congrats to singer Jesse Hasek on his recent nuptials!
The first in a series of webisodes featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the debut album from Saint Asonia, the new act featuring ex-Three Days Grace frontman Adam Gontier and Staind guitarist Mike Mushok, is now online. Saint Asonia also includes Dark New Day bassist Corey Lowery and ex-Finger Eleven drummer Rich Beddoe. The band recently released its first single, “Better Place,” and will issue its debut album this summer. (Blabbermouth)
And with Jeremy Spencer‘s recent autobiography, Death Punch’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch’s Metal Mayhem, now out in paperback, we thought we’d resurrect our video interview that was posted last year when the Five Finger Death Punch drummer and songwriter was in the studio to promote. Thanks to Blabbermouth for also sharing it with their readers! Five Finger Death Punch is touring Europe currently. Their new single “Jekyll and Hyde” is out now off their forthcoming 6th studio album appropriately titled, Got You Six. It drops Aug 28th. Check out the video interview here.
Sir Paul McCartney is 73 today!