As we reported last month, Mark David Chapman, who is serving 20 years to life for the murder fo John Lennon outside his New York apartment in December of 1980, was up for parole on October 3. But after a 50-minute interview with New York state parole officials, parole was denied. While the board did note that Chapman was an exemplary prisoner, in their one-page determination denying parole they remarked: "Parole is denied. [...] Your most vicious and violent act was apparently fueled by your need to be acknowledged. During your parole hearing, this panel noted your continued interest in maintaining your notoriety. [...] When all factors are reviewed, your discretionary release is determined to be inappropriate. Additionally, this panel strongly believes that your release to parole supervision at this time would deprecate the seriousness of the crime and serve to undermine respect for the law."

The decision by the parole board was also most likely based in part by a letter written by Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. "If he were to be released now, many will feel betrayed. Anger and fear would rise again. It would also give a 'go' signal to the others who would like to follow in the footsteps of [Chapman] to receive world attention. I am afraid it will bring back the nightmare, the chaos and confusion once again. Myself and John's two sons would not feel safe for the rest of our lives."

Chapman, a born-again Christian, has publicly stated that he believes Lennon would have forgiven him for his murder and would have wanted to see him set free. This was Chapman's first parole hearing. He's not eligible for his next hearing for another two years.

Zack de la Rocha Leaves Rage Against the Machine

The biggest news of the month is an official statement by Rage Against the Machine singer Zach de la Rocha announcing that he was leaving the politically and musically incendiary band, citing irreconcilable differences.

"I feel that it is now necessary to leave Rage because our decision-making process has completely failed. It is no longer meeting the aspirations of all four of us collectively as a band, and from my perspective, has undermined our artistic and political ideal. I am extremely proud of our work, both as activists and musicians, as well as indebted and grateful to every person who has expressed solidarity and shared this incredible experience with us."

Rage's nine-year career has been an up and down ride, but even more tumultuous of late since the release of their latest album, The Battle of Los Angeles. Since its release they've fired two managers, postponed and then finally cancelled the Rhyme and Reason tour with the Beastie Boys, and had their bassist, YtimK (Tim Commerford), arrested for disorderly conduct at the MTV Video Awards (whose exhibitionism this writer found to be priceless).

In a statement from the remaining members of Rage (YtimK, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk), they state: "We're proud of our history and what we've accomplished musically and politically over the last nine years. We are committed to continuing with our efforts to effect change in the social and political arena and look forward to creating more ground breaking music for our fans. In other words, we'll keep it loud, keep it funky and most definitely rock on...."

Tom Morello further stated: "The decision-making process has broken down for everyone. I have no hard feelings, and we wish Zack well."

Of late, de la Rocha has reportedly been working on a solo debut with producer and rapper El-Producto of Company Flow (release date unknown); contributed a song, "Mumia 911," to Unbound Project Volume 1, benefiting the defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal; shared vocal duties with KRS-One on "C.I.A. (Criminals in Action)" for Lyricist Lounge Volume One; and also contributed vocals on the new Roni Size and Reprazent album, In the Mode.

Rage's label, Epic, confirmed the planned December 5 release of a covers album by the band, titled Renegades. Initial pressings will include two bonus tracks, "Kick Out the Jams" and "How I Could Just Kill a Man," recorded live at the protests outside the Democratic National Convention in September of this year. Epic is also planning on releasing a record of live material sometime next year.

Popular Noise Foundation Works to Preserve Threatened San Francisco Music Scene

Popular Noise Foundation is a non-profit arts organization based in San Francisco and dedicated to preserving the Bay Area's imperiled music scene. Started by local luminaries, including Noise Pop Festival founder Kevin Arnold, Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and Garageband.com, Scott Kannberg of Pavement and Amazing Grease Records, and Sharky Laguana of Creeper Lagoon, PNF is working to:

• Assist the music community in finding solutions for sustainable rehearsal and performance space

• Provide a face for the local music community and validate its credible place within the cultural establishment

• Award grants to promising music groups or individuals in the community

• Represent local music to the business community and provide avenues for the business community to assist local musicians

• Stage public concerts and events to showcase and benefit the music community, and educate the public

Comments PNF principal Kevin Arnold: "The Bay Area business community and dot-coms in particular have been accused of killing the local arts, but the perceived gap between those communities is not as wide as many think. We're longtime fans and participants in local music and we know that we all have a vested interest in seeing the music scene continue to thrive. We believe that Popular Noise can help individuals and businesses who have benefited from the economic boom contribute back to the music scene they love."

For more information on Popular Noise Foundation and how to donate or volunteer, check out their our website: http://www.popularnoise.org/.

Time Warner/EMI Call Off Merger

Time Warner and EMI announced in early October that they have decided not to consolidate their music groups, but further said that they weren't entirely abandoning merger plans and have agreed to continue discussions. First announced in January, it is believed that Time Warner pushed to nix the deal in order to help gain governmental approval with its America Online merger.

If a merger with EMI were to happen, once again the number of major labels would be dropped by one. Consolidating such Warner Brothers imprints Elektra and Atlantic with EMI's Grand Royal, Capital and Virgin, it would most likely result in hundreds (if not thousands) of layoffs, bands being dropped by the dozen, and the general theory of music and art as being one entity brought closer to the brink of extinction. But on the corporate plus side, such a merger would bring both Led Zeppelin's and the Beach Boys' back-catalog under the same roof. Whoopee!

MP3.com Settles with Publishers

It was announced on October 18 that http://www.mp3.com/ reached a licensing agreement settlement with the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) and its subsidiary, the Harry Fox Agency, for songs used in conjunction with My.MP3.com's service. The proposed three-year plan will pay publishers $30 million in exchange for using over 1 million songs on the My.MP3.com service. The licensing agreement, which still requires court approval and ratification by member publishing companies, calls for MP3.com to pay one-quarter of a cent each time a song is streamed by the service's customer to his or her "locker," and a one-time fee for every track added to that customer's locker.

BMG Drops Suit Against Napster

In other online music trading news, BMG announced on Halloween that it was dropping its copyright infringement case against Napster. Breaking ranks with its "Big 5" rivals, BMG went on to further state that it was forming a strategic alliance with Napster to provide a secure, membership-based service that would pay royalties based on songs downloaded, with both companies already having developed a business model to that end.

Napster is currently awaiting a decision by San Francisco's Ninth U.S. District Court of Appeals on whether or not it can stay online and in operation while a final decision is being made regarding the copyright suit brought against Napster by the recording industry.

Work for Hire Act Repealed

On October 12, the United States Senate approved the Works Made for Hire and Copyright Corrections act, repealing last year's amendment to the 1976 Copyright Act which deemed an artist's recording to be "works for hire," and thus considered the permanent property of the creator's (artist's) employer (record company) and not the creator (pretty fucked up, eh?). Before the amendment, which is expected to be the situation again (although it's still fucked), recordings made in or after 1978 can be reclaimed by an artist after a period of 35 years.

Johnny Cash Misdiagnosed

Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, stated last month that he was misdiagnosed as having Shy-Drager Syndrome and Parkinson's disease, both neurological disorders. Cash, who has been plagued by ill health for several years now and nearly died of pneumonia two years ago, is reported to be in better health, with his doctors ruling out both disorders. "My doctor told me in November that if I'd had it, I'd be dead by now." Earpollution wishes Johnny Cash good health and better physicians.

Garth Brooks Rescues Boys From Fire

On October 20, Cooper brothers Randall and Ryan (aged 10 and 14) were rescued by country singer Garth Brooks as a grass fire threatened their home outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. The brothers, who were home alone at the time, reported that Brooks banged on their door and yelled at them to get in his truck, where Brooks then drove them through the fire's thick smoke to safety. The boys claimed they didn't know it was the country singer until a neighbor later told them--the fire was stopped by firefighters two feet from the house.

While it's quite honorable what Brooks did and we commend him for it, we still hate your music and are equally as glad you're retiring.

Product Placement

Halloween 2000

R.I.P. Up Records' Chris Takino

Up Records' founder Chris Takino passed away October 13 after an extended battle with Leukemia. Takino was a much-loved, well-respected and soft-spoken fixture in the Pacific Northwest music scene, with his label home to the likes of Built to Spill and Modest Mouse. Rest in Peace.

R.I.P. The Rocket

After 21 years Seattle's The Rocket, an undeniable local music icon, stopped publication in mid-October. The abrupt end came amidst a series of troubles that included poor advertising sales and bounced paychecks to staffers. And while its business model was in sore need of an overhaul, and its issues grew increasingly thinner since it first started publishing in 1979--where it began as the music supplement to the defunct Seattle Sun and at its peak had a circulation of 90,000 between Vancouver, B.C. and Portland, OR--over the years it had slowly built itself up as a institution of Pacific Northwest music, featuring covers and interviews with Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains and others both before and after they had achieved widespread acclaim and recognition.

The Rocket provided a common ground for the building and nurturing of Seattle's music community--its classifieds the birthing ground for a number of notable bands, both here and gone. But when publisher Charles Cross sold it to Bay Area Music Media several years ago, the rocket started to decline; partly due to BAM's own dwindling within the market, in part due to poor business strategizing. Says Cross: "This was not about The Rocket not being read or respected or advertised in. It's just been poorly run the last few years and hasn't had hands-on local management."

BAM Media had been trying to sell the beleaguered bi-weekly publication since this past January. Finally, two months ago it was sold to Chicago transplant and Illinois Entertainer owner, David Roberts. Roberts, claiming to have struggled to fight the good fight in the hopes of saving The Rocket, claims to have run up against some "unexpected bills" and simply could no longer afford to publish it. After recent bounced paychecks and the latest issue not arriving from the printer, Rocket staffers sadly (and a bit angrily for a few good reasons) realized that the end had come to a cultural icon.

Earpollution would like to thank The Rocket for all its years of ink and paper, its devotion to helping build and maintain a thriving music community, and we would like to wish the best for those affected by its demise.

As well, we're just curious if you ever found all those years of faithfully kept back issues (a complete [we emphasize complete] collection spanning 1982-1993) one of our writers left on your doorstep one night back in '93? That was our very own Stevie Weatherholt. Hope you enjoyed 'em!

Open Letter to Tom Mehren and Sounds of Seattle

Last week we received the following e-mail from Sounds of Seattle's publisher, Tom Mehren, which incited us enough to write an open letter in response. Included below are both the original e-mail and our response.

-----Original Message-----
From: Mixed Media/Sounds of Seattle [info@mm411.com]
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2000 10:30 PM
To: craig@earpollution.com
Subject: TheRocket: 1979-2000

Dear Sounds of Seattle Readers,

On October 19th Seattle lost one it's longest running music print magazines, and indeed it's largest, TheRocket. The publication was considered by many to be a part of Seattle's musical fabric and one could never deny it had a lot to do with the artist's development of many of Seattle's finest over the years.

So what now?

Running a print magazine is exceptionally costly when one considers the cost involved with staff, printing, distribution and general overhead. Like BAM, TheRocket along with other print mediums have faced the challenge of maintaining steady revenues to stay healthy and it's not an easy task.

Mixed Media believes in the web as the next publishing medium allowing information to reach the public in a simple, ink and paper free format that has the ability to reach not only those here, but others around the world who are interested in the local Northwest music scene. We encourage our current readers and subscribers to let others in the community know about Sounds of Seattle as an alternative publication to what The Rocket always stood for - Northwest Music.

As for the prior staff at TheRocket, we encourage former employees to forward their resumes over to our offices. While we run on a much leaner platform here, the potential for growth at Sounds of Seattle is greater now than ever before and we are quickly researching ways to expand based on the recent events. Please feel free to forward resumes to me at tmehren@soundsofseattle.com.

I'd like to thank our sponsors who have supported us up to now. I welcome former Rocket advertisers to explore our medium as an alternative way to reach Seattle's music community. Sounds of Seattle is, and has been, the largest monthly music publication in the Puget Sound since we began two years ago and we'll continue to hold that position until someone can outdo the numbers. Sounds of Seattle reaches over 15,000 readers a month and the number grows with each issue. As our current sponsors know, it's far less expensive to reach Seattle's target music demo in Sounds of Seattle than it is in print, and the increased multiple impression factor can't be beat. Fore more information on our ad rates please visit http://www.soundsofseattle.com/Ads/adrates.html.

Finally I'd like to invite all members of the music community including former Rocket staffers to our next quarterly industry mixer which will be held at The Redhook Brewery in Fremont on Wednesday November 8th from 6-9 pm. These mixers are a great platform to bring together members of our music community and the networking opportunity can't be beat.

Best Regards To All,
Tom Mehren

Re: The Rocket: 1979-2000

Mr. Mehren,

As an editor, musician and longtime reader of The Rocket, I found your recent eulogy of its passing to be both tacky and misleading--not only to the Pacific Northwest music scene it covered, but to music journalism as a whole.

It was widely known that The Rocket had been in decline for several years with an ever-present spectre of death hanging overhead, but to swoop down like a vulture and feed on its still warm corpse was insulting and goes against the spirit and sense of music community The Rocket helped foster here. And while both you and Sounds of Seattle have only been present in the Seattle area for a short while, using The Rocket's demise to peddle your own magazine and interests lacks the respect The Rocket deserved and was entirely without taste.

As for Sounds of Seattle being "the largest monthly music publication in the Puget Sound," I can readily name a number of local music webzines, my own included, whose monthly readerships far eclipse your 15,000 ("local" meaning based in Seattle but not exclusively focused on the area's music). Given the "target demographic" and intent these numbers came wrapped with, I would be interested in reviewing your session logs to confirm these are indeed unique visitors and not cumulative hits.

Finally, please remove me from your updates list. Your words and intentions go against what I feel should be the nurturing elements of a local (or any) music scene. Exactly opposite of what I try to represent and accomplish as a publication, they embody what I despise most about this profession and many of those who inhabit it.

Craig Young
Editor-in-Chief (or so they keep telling me)
Earpollution