Memories: All Things Must Pass

My first job in Los Angeles was at the famed Tower Records on the Sunset Strip. I met so many celebrities there most notably the late great David Bowie. I also made a few friends along the way, hey Tammy Laub!

Established in 1960, Tower Records was once a retail powerhouse with 200 stores, in 30 countries, on five continents. From humble beginnings in a small-town drugstore, Tower Records eventually became the heart and soul of the music world, and a powerful force in the music industry. In 1999, Tower Records made an astounding $1 billion. In 2006, the company filed for bankruptcy. What went wrong? Everyone thinks they know what killed Tower Records: The Internet. But that's not the story.

Directed by Colin Hanks, and featuring music icons like Dave Grohl, Elton John and Bruce Springsteen, All Things Must Pass is a feature documentary film examining this iconic company's explosive trajectory, tragic demise, and legacy forged by its rebellious founder Russ Solomon. For seven years, Hanks took on the documentary that lamented and celebrated the Sacramento-based record store that grew from his hometown into an American retail powerhouse.

"I remember buying 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was the informative record for me on my musical path, which I bought at Tower Records," he said.

Variety validated the efforts of Hanks saying the film was "soundly constructed, briskly paced and, in the end, affectingly wistful." 

The DVD can be ordered now at the MVD Shop 

Who Will Toss My "Salad Days" ?

Salad Days: A Decade of Punk in Washington, DC (1980-90) coming to DVD on September 18th, streaming now on Vimeo The critically acclaimed documentary chronicling the rise of punk rock in Washington, DC  Check out an exclusive clip at IndieWire and the trailer below It's about punk, a whole decade of it, now you get why I posted this...

Scott Crawford and Jim Saah's Salad Days: A Decade of Punk In Washington, DC (1980-90) has been selling out screenings in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and more. The documentary film that examines the early DIY punk scene in the Nation's Capital. It was a decade when seminal bands like Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Government Issue, Scream, Void, Faith, Rites of Spring, Marginal Man, Fugazi, and others released their own records and booked their own shows-without major record label constraints or mainstream media scrutiny.  Contextually, it was a cultural watershed that predated the alternative music explosion of the 1990s (and the industry's subsequent implosion). Thirty years later, DC's original DIY punk spirit serves as a reminder of the hopefulness of youth, the power of community and the strength of conviction. Director/writer Scott Crawford is a music journalist, musician, and graphic designer. As a teenager in the DC suburbs, he started a fanzine called Metrozine that documented much of what was happening in the DC hardcore punk scene in the 1980s.  "The DC punk music scene that I grew up with in the 1980s has always been a big part of who I am," says Scott. "I interviewed a lot of these bands for the first time over 30 years ago while doing a fanzine. Approaching them all again decades later offered a type of perspective and reflection that I wanted to capture in a film." Crawford was also quoted in both Dance of Days and Banned in DC - the two most definitive books on the early DC punk scene. In 2001, he launched Harp Magazine and served as its Editor-in-Chief for over seven years. Crawford also launched the online music portal Blurt in 2009. Serving as Director of Photography, Saah is a native of Washington, DC who has worked professionally in photography and video for over 25 years. He has shot for a variety of publications and websites ranging from the Washington Post to Rolling Stone. He's also an experienced videographer whose credits range from union organizing films to music documentaries. Recent films he has worked on include movies about the bands Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, and Eddie Vedder. On a side note, OBEY and Shepard Fairey were heavily influenced by the DC hardcore scene. Shepard has used numerous DC hardcore legends such as Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat and Fugazi, Henry Rollins of State of Alert and Black Flag, and Bad Brains in his artwork. When hearing that Crawford and Saah were planning a West Coast release of their film, OBEY wanted to get involved. They created this T-shirt which is on sale now (along with other cool Salad Days merchandise)HERE. Quick Facts: * Salad Days reached its Kickstarter goal in 6 days. * Features never-before-seen photographs and performance footage of dozens of DC punk bands. * Interviews with Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, John Stabb, Thurston Moore, Dave Grohl, and others * Original score by guitarist Michael Hampton (SOA, Faith, Embrace, One Last Wish) DVD Pre-Order:  http://bit.ly/1T3e709 Blu-ray Pre-order:  http://bit.ly/1INahXL  Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1faxxTO

James Durbin's Single "Parachute" Lands Tomorrow!

James Rocks!

James Durbin’s Premiere Single, “Parachute” Available on iTunes Friday, November 22

“Parachute”To Stream Exclusively on RyanSeacrest.com Starting Today

James Also Announces Title for His Sophomore CD Release “CELEBRATE”- due - April 8, 2014

“CELEBRATE” Pre-Order Begins Friday, November 22

James to Attend American Music Awards Red Carpet pre-show Sunday, November 24.

Attention Durbinators! Yes YOU Durbinators, James Durbin's single "Parachute" lands tomorrow on iTunes !

Also it is Now streaming on Ryan Seacrest's site...

You go James!

Need more reason to celebrate? Well the title of his latest CD just happens to be that very word: "Celebrate" - Get to it Durbinators !!

“Parachute,” the first single from James Durbin’s forthcoming Wind-up Records CD release will be available for purchase via iTunes this Friday, November 22 for a  limited time price of .69 cents.  RyanSeacrest.com will stream “Parachute” exclusively for 24 hours beginning today Thursday, November 21.   Listen here:http://bit.ly/17uMUzu

“Parachute” showcases new territory for James leaning more on sing-a-long choruses with crisp pop-rock hooks while still letting his powerful and energetic voice shine.  “Parachute was the 10^th song I wrote for the new album and as soon as we finished in the studio I knew it had to be the first single.  I can’t wait for everyone to hear it” said James. 

A lyric video for “Parachute” is also scheduled to debut in December on James’ VEVO channel on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/DurbinRockVEVO.  “Parachute” will impact Hot AC & Top 40 radio in January 2014. 

James Durbin has also announced that CELEBRATE has been chosen as the official album title for his sophomore CD release, Wind-up Records will release CELEBRATE on April 8, 2014.

In addition, a robust album pre-order campaign for CELEBRATE will begin Friday, November 22, featuring four exclusive offers: 1. Autographed album.  2. Autographed album & exclusive National Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) Charity shirt - $5 from each sale is donated to the TSA http://tsa-usa.org. 3. Autographed album & exclusive “CELEBRATE” bracelet.  4. Autographed album & exclusive hoodie & Limited edition autographed canvas photo print.  All orders will automatically grant fans access to exclusive VIP opportunities with James, and all orders include an instant download of the new single “Parachute.”

James is also confirmed to attend the American Music Awards Red Carpet pre-show this Sunday, November 24, where he will make a special appearance to debut an exclusive video clip featuring “Parachute” and reveal details about his April 8, 2014 CD release in the 5:00 p.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. PST hour.  Fans can log on at Yahoo.com, TheAMAS.com, ABC.com, and Cocacola.com to watch it live. 

“Parachute” is the first new music from James since his last two singles “Love Me Bad” and “Stand Up” were released in 2011.  “Love Me Bad” cracked the Top 30 at Hot AC/Top 40 radio while the anthemic NFL rock single “Stand Up” landed in the Top 20.  “Stand Up” was an official NFL anthem used on jumbotrons nationwide during the NFL’s 2011-12 seasons. Both tracks were featured on his debut release Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster which debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Rock Album chart and #36 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album chart. MOAB has sold over 120,000 copies to date and was named one of Billboard’s Best Rock Albums of 2012.

James, who co-wrote 10 of the albums 11 tracks is busy putting the finishing touches on CELEBRATE with producer Scott Stevens.  In advance of the full CD release on April 8, 2014, James will be making several high profile appearances including the above mentioned American Music Awards Red Carpet pre-show on 11/24.  

He also recently performed alongside Dave Grohl and Ryan Bingham at the “Autism Speaks – Blue Jean Ball” in Los Angeles and co-hosted with Lance Bass on the American Music Awards on Demand webshow.  Click here to watch James’ “AMA’s on Demand” segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInSRmWYqjY 

  

Follow James on - 

Twitter:here: http://twitter.com/durbinrock

Facebook:http://facebook.com/durbinrock

Webiste: http://www.durbinrock.com

James Durbin "Parachute"s Into November

That's right all you Durbinators - James is leaping into this month with a great big "Parachute" and is landing just in time for Thanksgiving!

James Durbin Set to Unleash First New Music in 2 Years on Friday, November 22 With Premiere Single, “Parachute”  From His Forthcoming 2014 Sophomore Release

James to Reveal New Album Details on the American Music Awards Red Carpet pre-show Sunday, November 24.

Sophomore CD Release Confirmed for April 8, 2014

James Durbin  is gearing up for the sophomore release of his April 8, 2014, as-yet untitled Wind-up Records album, and is giving fans a taste of what’s to come as he is set to digitally release  the first single  “Parachute” on Friday, November 22.

“Parachute” will be available for purchase via iTunes on November 22.  A lyric video for “Parachute” is also scheduled to debut in December on James’ VEVO at YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/DurbinRockVEVO. 

James is also confirmed to attend the American Music Awards Red Carpet pre-showwhere he will make a special appearance to debut an exclusive video clip featuring “Parachute” and reveal details about his April 8, 2014 CD release in the 5:00 p.m. EDT/2:00 p.m. PST hour.  Fans can log on at Durbinrock.com,  AMAS.com, ABC.com, Cocacola.com and Yahoo.com to watch it live. 

“Parachute” is the first new music from James since his last two singles  “Love Me Bad” and  “Stand Up” were released in 2011.  “Love Me Bad” cracked the Top 30 at Hot AC/Top 40 radio while the anthemic NFL rock single “Stand Up” landed in the Top 20.  “Stand Up” was an official NFL anthem used on jumbotrons nationwide during the NFL’s 2011-12 seasons. Both tracks were featured on his debut release  Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster  which debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Rock Album chart and #36 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album chart.   MOAB has sold over 120,000 copies to date and was named one of Billboard’s Best Rock Albums of 2012.

James, who co-wrote 10 of the albums 11 tracks is busy putting the finishing touches on the 2014 release with producer Scott Stevens.  In advance of the full CD release on April 8, 2014, James will be making several high profile appearances including  the above mentionedAmerican Music Awards Red Carpet pre-show on 11/24.  He also recently performed alongside Dave Grohl and Ryan Bingham at the “Autism Speaks – Blue Jean Ball” in Los Angeles and co-hosted with Lance Bass on the American Music Awards on Demandwebshow.  Click here to watch James’ “AMA’s on Demand” segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HInSRmWYqjY 

“Parachute” showcases new territory for James leaning more on sing-a-long choruses with crisp pop-rock hooks while still letting his  powerful and energetic voice shine.  “Parachute was the 10^th song I wrote for the new album and as soon as we finished in the studio I knew it had to be the first single.  I can’t wait for everyone to hear it” said James.  “Parachute” will be available on iTunes on November 22, 2013 and will impact Hot AC & Top 40 radio in January  2014. 

.

Full track listing and album title to be announced soon.

Follow James on Twitter and Facebook here

http://twitter.com/durbinrock

,http://facebook.com/durbinrock, 

http://www.durbinrock.com