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. 

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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

Go Daft Punk! "PTX Volume 2" Drops Today!

PTX Go Daft!

Pentatonix new album "PTX Volume 2" drops today and in honor of their latest the gang has let loose with a hot new video for a track on the CD of them doing a medley of Daft Punk songs..!

PTX Go Daft, Yes!

Happy PTX CD release day!

                                                                PTX - Daft Punk Video

Get your PTX on and order their new CD here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ptx-vol.-2/id723084990

The Unstoppable Dolly Parton "A Country Christmas Story"

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton's career has spanned nearly five decades, basically as long as I have been alive, and deservedly so...

Seriously, Dolly is talented, has charisma, is smart as Hell, sweet and not to mention just so damned lovable. Who else could make the most awesome self-deprecating quote of all time:

"It costs a lot of money to look this cheap" - Dolly Parton 

Well I can not begin to list all of the ways Dolly has entertained me and made me smile since birth, but she is here to bring you her special kind of warmth for the Holidays in the Lifetime movie "A Country Christmas Story" the storyline and air dates go like this: 

Grammy Award winner Dolly Parton (Nine to Five, Steel Magnolias), to star along with Megyn Price (Rules of Engagement), Brian McKnight (American Dreams), newcomer Desiree Ross (Crossing the River) in the upcoming Lifetime Original Movie A Country Christmas Story, Saturday, November 9, at 8:00 pm ET/PT. 

A Country Christmas Story follows a young bi-racial Appalachian Mountain girl (Ross) as she defies her mother (Price) and goes against stereotype when she takes up guitar in pursuit of her dream of becoming a country star.  Her journey to the stage at Dollywood and a singing competition hosted by Dolly Parton reunites her itinerant musician father (McKnight) with her family, as well as uncovering the musical legacy of African Americans in the world of country music.  Mary Kay Place (Big Love, Being John Malkovich) will portray her grandmother.

Yep, Dolly is the bomb!

Dolly is a force of nature, keep up with her at: http://www.dollyparton.com/

Joan Jett, Loves More Than Rock-N-Roll...

Joan Jett

That's right, she loves movies too! What did you think I was going to do? Dish on her love life?! Yeah right...

Joan Jett is developing a new romantic comedy called Undateable John. 

The rocker will executive produce the film under her company Blackheart Films, as well as star in a supporting role. 

The dark romantic film will star Jett as a Venice Beach folk singer who befriends a couple during an AA meeting. 

Estella Warren and John Philbin will play the romantic leads, with the cast also including Daryl Hannah, Margaret Cho, Meredith Baxter, Tom Arnold and Shannen Doherty. 

Jett last executive produced The Runaways, the film about her all-female punk band in the late '70s. Kristen Stewart played her in the film, which Jett described as "Surreal".  

The rocker also recently released a new album called Unvarnished. She's revealed that she will never retire from music. 

Check out the trailer for The Runaways below:

                                                              
                                                               "The Runaways"


Rock-N-Roll with Joan at: http://www.joanjett.com/
                                             
      

They're Back! "PTX Volume 2"

Art: Ken Tanabe

That's right the world's favorite acapella group unleashes their second album just in time for the Holidays, Ho, Ho, Ho....indeed!

Pentatonix Announce November 5^th Release For PTX Volume 2

Exclusive iTunes Album Pre-Order Goes Live On October 15^th  With Immediate Download Of Cover Of  The Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Hit “Can’t Hold Us”

YouTube Channel Eclipses 1.6 Million Subscribers

New YouTube Cover of Lorde’s “Royals” Reaches 8 Million Views In Less Than Two Weeks

“Evolution Of Music” Surpasses 20 Million YouTube Views

Vocal sensations Pentatonix have announced plans to release their second album – PTX Volume 2 – November 5^th, exclusively on iTunes.  The iTunes release will include the group’s cover of Swedish House Mafia hits “Save The World” and “Don’t Worry Child” as an album-only bonus track. 

Watch “Save The World / Don’t Worry Child” Here: http://bit.ly/SHMCptx

Additionally, iTunes is hosting a presale for the album (starting October 15^th), with an immediate download of the band’s version of the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis hit “Can’t Hold Us.”  PTX Volume 2 is released by Madison Gate Records. 

Watch “Can’t Hold Us” Here: http://bit.ly/CHPTX

PTX Volume 2 follows the group’s two 2012 Madison Gate Records Releases – PTX Volume 1 and PTXmas – both debuting on Billboard’s Top 200 and selling more than 100,000 albums to date.  The new release will feature 8 brand new tracks, including 3 original songs, 4 covers and a modern twist on the classic “Hit The Road Jack.”

“Pentatonix does it again with PTX Volume 2,” says Madison Gate Records executive Shelly Bunge.   “With a collection of covers and original songs, the album showcases exactly why Pentatonix is the number one a cappella recording artist in the country.  We couldn’t be happier to be part of this project.”

Look, It's Pentatonix!
Photo: Brandon Lyon

Online, Pentatonix’s YouTube channel boasts over 140 million views, buoyed by more than 1.6 Million subscribers, and is one of the Top 100 most subscribed-to music channels. The group also has more than 490,000 Facebook fans and nearly 135,000 Twitter followers.  The band’s latest video release, a cover of Lorde’s #1 hit “Royals,” has garnered more than 8 million views in its first 2 weeks and is the most-viewed YouTube cover of the New Zealand star’s highly-duplicated indie anthem. 

Watch “Royals” Here: http://bit.ly/RoyalsPTX

Additionally, the group’s a cappella opus – “Evolution Of Music” – has now eclipsed 20 million YouTube views, after gathering nearly 5.5 million in its first week. The video spans 1,000 years of music in just 4 minutes, includes some of the most popular songs from the last dozen centuries and has been featured by The Huffington Post, Mashable and the Yahoo! homepage.

Watch “Evolution Of Music” Here: http://bit.ly/EvolutionPTX

Pentatonix have appeared on countless television shows, including the American Music Awards red carpet show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Larry King Now, and have been chosen to appear in an upcoming episode of the new season of “Sesame Street,” which will air on February 7, 2014.

Stuff your stocking with PTX Volume 2 at: http://www.ptxofficial.com/home

Daughter Of Chucky: Fiona Dourif

Fiona Dourif

Hey all of you Chucky Fans no doubt you've heard about the latest and one of the best films in the series "Curse of Chucky".

Of course it is not lost on you guys that the female lead bears the same last name as the voice of "Chucky" Brad Dourif.

Yes, we have the actual "Daughter of Chucky" here for an exclusive Halloween interview - Fiona Dourif!

Fiona actually carries more horror cred than being the female lead in the current "Chucky" movie as well as being his daughter, she has also appeared as "Casey" one of the Witches in Marnie's Coven on "True Blood" and was in Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology based story "The Master".

You are all in for a treat, hit it Fiona....Happy Halloween!

MS: Hi Fiona. Wow! It's four o'clock straight up!

FD: I am punctual! (laughs)

MS: I like that! Your father used to come into a video store I worked in when I first moved to Los Angeles, when I still was a little on the "star struck" side and I used to get so excited that "Chucky" was in the house.

FD: Oh God! How funny!

MS: I'm surprised this entry into the "Chucky" series went straight to video with all of the great reviews it has gotten.

FD: We weren't really sure it was going to take that direction at first.

MS: The word is it's more scary, than funny like the earlier entries.

FD: Yeah, that was the mission a return to horror.

MS: I've seen you in other things you have done, you are really good,  did they decide to cast you as the lead because of the "Chucky Connection"?

FD: You know I have no idea. I can tell you what Don Mancini (the writer/director) told me. I went up for the role of the bitchy sister, then I got a call three days later, saying I wasn't right for it, but Don thought I might be right for the lead, prepare that. I went in and I met Don, and you know, I didn't think it went that well to be honest. Then I got called back and the studio wanted to make sure I was soft and likable enough. My manager had me go back in with big eyelashes and a flower dress - and then I got it, I was really surprised. Don told me later that they had conflicting theories about me being "Chucky's Kid" they thought it might be confusing, but he thought it might be confusing in a surprising way, it's really an open ended question. I don't think the story in the movie says I'm his kid at all.

MS: Are you a horror fan yourself?

FD: Well, I wasn't one forever and when I was cast in this my boyfriend at the time was a horror writer and told me "You need to figure out what you are doing." So, I went back and watched a lot of the old stuff and have become a fan of the genre. A great horror film is the best, most primal stuff you can watch.

MS: The original "Halloween" is the first horror film my Dad took me to and it scared the shit out of me.

FD: Yeah, totally! My feeling is good writing is good writing, Don is a good writer.

Fiona at the Season 4 "True Blood" Premiere

MS: He is. Let's talk about another horror credit you have you played "Casey" a Witch in Marnie's coven on season four of...

FD: From "True Blood", yeah (laughs) that was really fun! Wait, I'm sorry I'm actually at a restaurant with the "Chucky" doll, because I am taking him to a friend's bar for the next couple of days. What happened while I was talking was the waiter just came up and tried to hit "Chucky" in the back. (laughs) It's probably the most expensive thing I own and I'm like "No"!

MS: Jeeze doesn't he know he's not real? (laughs) You were in "The Master" which was controversial as it is based around the beliefs of Scientology.

FD: Paul Thomas Anderson is one of my favorite Directors. I think "Magnolia" is one of the great American Masterpieces. I shot a lot of things most of it got cut out, I ended basically not being in the movie, that happened to so many people that were in that movie. The final cut is pretty much like a skeleton of what the original movie was. It 's OK, I got upset, but I got over it.

MS: What's your take on Scientology?

FD: I am secular, but I have a respect for organized religion. Do whatever you want Scientologists, I don't really think it's a cult, just like I don't think being Mormon is a cult, it's people making beliefs and rituals in their lives. To each his own. I was actually audited by them to prepare for the role, and that was kind of interesting and they never stopped calling me after which was kind of annoying.

MS: Tell everyone, what are you going to be for Halloween?

FD: I still haven't figured it out. God, I don't know yet, maybe I will be a houseplant! (laughs)

Follow Fiona on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/fionadourif

Go beyond "Chucky" on IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1875040/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1

Speaking Of Ghosts, "Drop Dead Diva" Will Be Back For Season 6

"Drop Dead Diva"

That's right Triple D lovers - after being cancelled after season 4 and then resurrected from the dead for season 5 Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" has hit the afterlife jackpot and has been renewed for season 6!

The show for the uninitiated is about: 

"A vapid aspiring model killed in a car crash gets brought back to life as an intelligent, overweight lawyer, hoping to find the meaning of inner beauty"

And stars "Entertain Me" fave Margaret Cho as Teri Lee and Brooke Elliott as the "DDD" herself Jane Bingum.

Margaret Cho & Brooke Elliott

Congrats to the show and the cast - coming back from the dead isn't easy even if you are a ghost - Boo!

The thirteen new episodes will air in 2014.

Raise the dead and keep up with "Drop Dead Diva" at: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/drop-dead-diva