Robert Pollard

HOT
Guided by Rim Shots?

Now we know the real reason Bob Pollard decided to break up his revolutionary Rock ensemble, Guided By Voices. All he ever really wanted to do was ... stand-up? Well, not exactly. Shecky Pollard is indeed releasing a "comedy album," but don't expect skits or airline-peanut-bag jokes. Pollard's drunken wit on the wonderfully titled, Relaxation of the Asshole (the first official post-GBV release for the singer/songwriter), is culled from between-song stage banter recorded during various GBV tours. The limited-edition, vinyl-only album was made available at robertpollard.net, but the site has stopped taking orders due to the immediate heavy interest in the project from fans. With track titles like, "Is There a Grandfather Clause For People Who Need a Cigarette Really Bad?" and "Funk Zeus," we say give this man a network sitcom, pronto. Could it be any worse than Reba?

WARM
R.I.P.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer/singer/songwriter Jim Capaldi, who came to fame with the band Traffic and released several solo albums, died on Jan. 25. Capaldi was inducted into the Rock Hall last year with Traffic, just months before being diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. He was 60 years old.

Prize Fighters

Is the song "Happy Birthday" squashing the future of the definitive documentary about the Civil Rights movement? According to the vigilant copyright-law activists at downhillbattle.org, the fees to use that song (which is sung to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the mini-series) and several others (not to mention film clips and photos) are so exorbitant that the incredible mini-series, Eyes on the Prize, has been in red-tape limbo for the past 10 years. The site's "Eyes on the Screen" campaign is encouraging people to organize renegade screenings in protest on Tuesday. The organization claims that Eyes is too important as a historical document to have unfair copyright regulations bury it. Check the site -- which also championed DJ Dangermouse's notorious, illegal mash-up, The Grey Album -- for info on how to participate.

Small Dick, Big Project

Not long after legendary groupie "Sweet" Connie Hamzy outed Peter Frampton as having a small penis in the most recent issue of Spin comes some good news from the British Rock star/current Cincinnati resident. Reports say Frampton has teamed with Pearl Jam to record a track for the band's upcoming instrumental album. Frampton reportedly met the group when they were in Ohio on the "Vote for Change" tour last year.

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He Audit Know Better

Lesson of the week: If you're going to be a rich Democrat living under a bully Republican regime, pay your taxes! Everclear singer/songwriter Art Alexakis, an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention and outspoken lefty (he was also the keynote speaker at this year's MidPoint Music Festival here in town), has reportedly filed for bankruptcy. The source of his money problems appears to be his tax bill; records show he owes around a combined $3 million in back taxes. No doubt he will be reneging on the title promise of his 1997 hit, "I Will Buy You a New Life."