| Music: Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent doesn't wear loincloths on stage anymore or swing from vines. But that doesn't mean he's not as wild or outspoken as ever. "I did wear a coyote tail in Dublin during a song I devoted to Bono (from U2), who is coming out of my butt as we speak. ... If you're not having fun with Ted Nugent, you have some problems," he said during a phone interview. When you're talking to Uncle Ted, there's no doubt who's in charge. Throughout his career, the Detroit native has been known as a gun-loving, meat-eating, right-wing patriot who roars almost as loud as his guitar. .
30 Seconds to Mars is more than a hobby for actor Leto
When 30 Seconds to Mars debuted in 2002 with its self-titled CD, more than a few people probably thought the band would turn into another Dogstar (fronted by Keanu Reeves), Juliette and the Licks (led by Juliette Lewis) or Bruce Willis and the Accelerators. Those bands featured notable actors, and none of them has established themselves enough musically to be seen as much more than side projects to the acting careers of their most famous members. But with the release of the latest 30 Seconds to Mars CD, "A Beautiful Lie," it's looking like the band will become a legitimate, long-term pursuit for Jared Leto, its frontman. Leto, whose acting credits include parts in such high-profile films as "Panic Room," "Fight Club" and "Alexander," is fully dedicated to the band and his acting career, according to drummer Shannon Leto, his brother and 30 Seconds to Mars bandmate.
Behind the legend
Rock-music fans everywhere should genuflect to Mick Jagger for making the terrible 1985 album She's the Boss, followed by the asinine decision to tour without the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards was infuriated enough by those boneheaded moves to pursue other ventures, most famously his pet project Hail, Hail Rock 'n' Roll, the 1987 film tribute to Chuck Berry's music filmed on the man's 60th birthday. (And while making the movie he also found the band, the X-pensive Winos, that would back him on his own superb solo album, Talk Is Cheap). That great movie - part concert, part documentary - ran in theaters and was briefly released on VHS but has been out of the public eye for years. That's now been corrected with this week's overdue DVD release, which includes the entire movie and 5 1/2 hours of bonus material over four discs that completely changes the character of the film (a cheaper two-DVD version of the movie is coming out, but it's well worth it to spring for the four-disc set).
Dolls' new album marks 20th anniversary
A 20th birthday is a rite of passage. A 20th anniversary, whether it's of a high school graduation or a wedding, marks a significant passage of time. But 20 years together in a rock band is a rare achievement. The Goo Goo Dolls, who perform Saturday with the Counting Crows at the Post-Gazette Pavilion, pass that milepost this year without fanfare or overblown gestures. They mark it, after a short period during which bassist Robbie Takac and singer and guitarist John Rzeznik worked on other projects, with a new album, "Let Love In," and a newfound appreciation for the band. "We looked at each other and said, 'Oh my God, we have great day jobs,'" Takac says. "All this other stuff is great, but there's something about what we do, man, and let's enjoy it. And that was always really hard for us to say.
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