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8月30日 Crowes Axe Keyboardist, Push Back AlbumThe Black Crowes have parted ways with longtime keyboardist Eddie Hawrysch due to unspecified "personal issues." Hawrysch has been an intergral component of the Crowes' sound for 15 years. He will be replaced on the band's fall tour by Rob Clores, whose prior credits include Jesse Malin and Blues Travelers' John Popper.
In addition, the Crowes have pushed back the planned Aug. 29 release of the double-disc rarities set "The Lost Crowes" to Sept. 26 due to "a recently discovered manufacturing error," according to a spokesperson.
Following a summer outing with Robert Randolph & the Family Band and Drive-By Truckers, the Crowes will return to the road Sept. 7 in Richmond, Va. As previously reported, the group will also perform Oct. 28 at the Vegoose festival in Las Vegas.
Here are the Black Crowes' tour dates:
Sept. 7: Richmond, Va. (Brown's Island) Sept. 8: Reading, Pa. (Sovereign Center) Sept. 9: Charlottesville, Va. (Pavilion) Sept. 10: Raleigh, N.C. (Alltel Pavilion) Sept. 12: Providence, R.I. (Lupo's) Sept. 13: Syracuse, N.Y. (Landmark Theatre) Sept. 17-18: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club) Sept. 20: East Lansing, Mich. (Wharton Center) Sept. 22: Milwaukee (Northern Lights Theatre) Sept. 23: Davenport, Iowa (River Roots Live) Sept. 24: Sioux City, Iowa (Orpheum Theatre) Sept. 26: Fargo, N.D. (Playmaker's) Sept. 27: Kansas City, Mo. (VooDoo Lounge) Sept. 28: Council Bluffs, Iowa (Stir Cove) Oct. 6: Flagstaff, Ariz. (Pine Mountain) Oct. 7: Lake Havasu, Ariz. (RockFest) Oct. 8: Cabazon, Calif. (Key Club Morongo) Oct. 11: Fresno, Calif. (District Fair) Oct. 13: Santa Cruz, Calif. (Civic Auditorium) Oct. 14: Kelseyville, Calif. (Konocti Field Amphitheatre) Oct. 15: Eureka, Calif. (Municipal Auditorium) Oct. 20: Atlanta (Chastain Park) Oct. 23: New Orleans (House of Blues) Oct. 24: Chaenton, La. (Cypress Bayou) Oct. 28: Las Vegas (Sam Boyd Stadium; Vegoose) Oct. 31: Chicago (Riviera Theatre) Nov. 2: Burlington, Vt. (Higher Ground) Nov. 3: Rochester, N.Y. (Main Street Armory) Nov. 4: Worcester, Mass. (Palladium) Nov. 6: Buffalo, N.Y. (Center for the Arts) Nov. 7: Baltimore (Ram's Head Live) Nov. 8: Sayreville, N.J. (Starland Ballroom) Nov. 12: Castaic, Calif. (Love Ride) VMA Party Week Kicks Off With Diddy, Jay, Beyonce, Kanye And, Er, Rod StewartNEW YORK — If Diddy's party on Monday night was any indication of what VMA week holds in store, don't expect to see many stars out walking around during the day. They're going to need plenty of sleep, because the nights are already getting pretty wild.
Diddy hosted the week's first major jump-off, celebrating the launch of superstar stylist June Ambrose's book, "Effortless Style," which comes out on September 26. Ambrose, of course, has helped just about all the big names in hip-hop and R&B get fly. Held at Tenjune (get it?) in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, the party's guest list included hip-hop and R&B's two most famous power couples, two of the genres' greatest producers, and also the rocker who brought sexy back almost 30 years ago. Who's that? Sing along now: "If you want my body and you think I'm sexy ..."
"Rod Stewart is in the house!" called out MC Frank Jugga as his partner in crime, DJ Goldfinger, spun Jay-Z's "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)." "Yes, I said Rod Stewart is in the house!"
Meanwhile, the Jiggaman and Beyoncé sat in the VIP section with Kanye West. Timbaland, dressed to the nines in a flashy suit, came in moments later to join his pals.
Then it was Diddy's turn to take the spotlight. He grabbed the mic and let everyone know that his group Danity Kane will be coming in on the top spot of next week's Billboard albums chart. He also congratulated the crowd on being invited to the party, for which the dress code was "Sexy & Flawless."
"If you were chosen to be here, it means you exude 'Effortless Style,' " he said, adding that although the evening was a celebration of opulence and decadence, no one should take it all too seriously.
Hit the Pre-VMA Parties with Jay-Z, Beyonce, Diddy and more Famous New Yorkers give us their VMA picks The 2006 MTV Video Music Award nominees "Ladies and gentlemen, report to the dance floor," he commanded.
Soon, the floor was packed to grinding-room-only status as Goldfinger threw on Diddy's "Come to Me," which he brought back several times.
"It feels good to be back," Diddy, still holding the mic, said. "I missed you. Just rock now, don't stop now. We Bad Boy baby, you ain't gotta play the wall. You can dance again. Ask a young lady, 'Would you like to dance?' "
As the night progressed, more stars trickled in and the partygoers got more uninhibited. You could see New York Knick Stephon Marbury on the dancefloor, Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri standing on the sidelines and a woman who was so amped to hear Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" that she jumped on top of a table in another VIP section, dancing over a bottle of vodka and carafes of orange juice and cranberry juice. A man in her entourage was unfazed and continued pouring drinks. Just then, another man in her entourage grabbed the lady by the waist and hoisted her up on his shoulder just like pro wrestler Randy "Macho Man" Savage did to Miss Elizabeth when he won his first world championship at Wrestlemania IV.
More hits, more stars. As "Promiscuous" blasted out of the speakers, the hulking Busta Rhymes was seen walking in the crowd wearing a rope chain thicker than Wonder Woman's magic lasso.
During the old-school section of the set, Diddy jumped on the dance floor and got down to Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." Even the usually reserved Timbaland got up and danced with his hands in the air to Guy's "I Like."
Earlier in the night, Jermaine Dupri hosted his own get-together at Show in Times Square. It was a showcase for So So Def singer Johnta Austin, whom you may not know by name, but he's been one of the most prolific R&B songwriters of the past few years. Besides his work on several songs from Mariah Carey's Emancipation of Mimi, he's penned Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You" and Chris Brown's "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)."
With people like Janet Jackson and underground MC Red Cafй looking on, JD introduced his artist who sang several songs from his upcoming LP, Ocean Drive. 6月26日 Hicks Dethrones Shakira On Hot 100As tipped here yesterday (June 22), season five "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks' first single, "Do I Make You Proud," debuts atop the Billboard Hot 100 this week. The silver-topped Alabama crooner moved 190,000 physical singles and another 38,000 digital downloads of the track, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Three of the prior four "Idol" winners have bowed atop the Hot 100 -- Carrie Underwood ("Inside Your Heaven"), Fantasia ("I Believe") and Kelly Clarkson ("A Moment Like This").
"Do I Make You Proud" ends the two-week reign of Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" featuring Wyclef Jean, which falls to No. 2 on both the Hot 100 and Pop 100. The cut still leads the Hot Latin Songs chart for a sixth week and Hot Digital Songs for a third frame.
Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" featuring Timbaland shifts 2-3 on the Hot 100 but is the chart's greatest airplay gainer for a second turn. Yung Joc's "It's Goin' Down" slides 3-4 on the Hot 100 but maintains the pole position on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for a fifth week.
Elsewhere on the Hot 100, Chamillionaire's "Ridin'" featuring Krayzie Bone slips 4-5, Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" rockets 15-6 and Rascal Flatts' cover of Tom Cochrane's "Life Is a Highway" from the "Cars" soundtrack makes a 25-7 leap into the top tier, earning the greatest sales gainer distinction.
Rihanna's "Unfaithful" and Cassie's "Me & U" each move one slot down, descending 7-8 and 8-9, respectively, while Lil Jon's "Snap Yo Fingers" featuring E-40 and Sean Paul of the YoungBloodz falls 9-10 to round out the Hot 100 top tier. Beyonce's "Deja Vu" featuring Jay-Z debuts at No. 44 on the chart, a career best for the Destiny's Child frontwoman as a solo artist. The track is the first single from her upcoming sophomore solo set "B'Day". Also new to the Hot 100 are Chingy's "Pullin' Me Back" featuring Tyrese (No. 86), Cham's "Ghetto Story" (No. 99) and Steve Holy's "Brand New Girlfriend" (No. 100).
Koji Kondo's "Super Mario Brothers Theme" notches a fourth week atop the Hot Ringtones track, while Kenny Chesney's "Summertime" fronts the Hot Country Songs chart for a third week and Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" leads Hot Adult Contemporary for a ninth. Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Dani California" continues to rule both the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock tallies for a 10th and eighth week, respectively. Crystal Method Gives Nike A Run For Its MoneyThe Crystal Method creates fast and furious beats. Live, the electronic duo's rhythmic shifts and mood swings have been known to raise heart rates. TCM masterminds Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland surely did not create their three studio albums and two DJ mixes with the gym in mind. But that has not prevented fitness buffs, or Nike, for that matter, from embracing the duo's tough and sturdy sounds.
The fitness apparel company recently joined forces with Apple Computer to create the iPod nano-compatible Nike Air Zoom Moire running shoe, and Nike tapped TCM to create the first original workout mix for this new initiative. The 45-minute, 10-track mix, "Drive," is the first volume in the Nike+ Original Run series. It will be available June 28 on iTunes' new Nike+ Sport Music section.
Priced at $9.99, the nonstop mix intertwines new, original TCM tracks and new remixes, including the Rogue Element mix of "Bad Ass" and the original dub of "Roadhouse Blues" by the Doors vs. the Crystal Method. A bonus nonmixed version of the entire collection, minus the Doors track, comes with purchase.
Jordan acknowledges that devising a mix for runners offered some challenges. "We weren't quite sure how our breakdowns and builds would play to runners," he says. "But we tested the tracks on a few of our runner friends, and they especially liked those moments."
Additionally, Jordan says he and Kirkland were very conscious of that gray area where "workout music" becomes "too poppy and too cheesy." Kirkland adds, "With runners, there's that grit and determination where they have a goal set and that moment when you need a little extra oomph. People need that burst of energy, that kick-in-the-ass moment that gives them the motivation to keep going."
Like their contemporaries in electronic music (Gorillaz, BT, Paul Oakenfold and others), TCM fully understands the importance of thinking beyond the dancefloor. "We look at our career much differently today than when we put out our first album [1997's 'Vegas']. These days, it's about touring and albums-and TV, films and videogames," Kirkland says. Pausing, he smiles and adds, "But this Nike project is totally off the wall. And in a way, it's setting the bar for our next album." 6月19日 Robert De Niro to produce Missy Elliott filmAnother biopic in the vein of '8 Mile'
Missy Elliott's larger-than-life persona will get that little bit bigger with news of a film based on the rapper/producer's life about to go into production.
With Elliott taking her first staring role, the biopic will be produced by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, through Tribeca Films, and be overseen by Universal Pictures - who are aiming to build on the success of "8 Mile", starring Eminem, and "Get Rich or Die Tryin", starring 50 Cent.
"As a film producer, this is a labor of love for me as Missy's story is an amazing one that will give her fans a side of her life that they have yet to see," Mona Scott, Elliott's manager and the film's co-producer told AllHipHop.com.
"Partnering with Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal (Tribeca Films) gives me an opportunity to make this movie on a scale that will appeal to a broader audience. Their track record of success affords me the leverage at Universal to maintain the creative integrity of Missy's vision for this film.
The multiple Grammy Award winning musician was born in Portsmouth, VA, in 1971, and will bring her story to the big screen for a possible late 2007 release. Michael Jackson ditches charity singleA row erupts over royalties
Michael Jackson has decided against releasing comeback single "What More Can I Give" because of a row over royalty payments.
The long-awaited charity single was originally written to raise funds for families of the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks, but in video evidence prepared for a forthcoming lawsuit, it was revealed that Jackson insists he owns the publishing rights for the song, and has no intention of donating any royalties to charity.
Jackson's message, in a rebuff against allegations made by a former business associate Marc Schaffel, has angered other musicians and executives involved with the track, writes Fox News' reporter Roger Friedman,
"Everyone on the CD is supposed to waive their fees too, including the musicians, performers and engineers," he said. "But rights to the music remain with him, and he would reap the financial rewards."
If the track was to be released, only physical and digital sales would generate revenue for the charity.
The details came to light last week in a videotaped statement, with Shaffel claiming he is owed $800,000 for producing two TV specials in 2003 for Jackson, as well as loans totalling $2.3 million. Jackson has denied the allegations, saying Schaffel has failed to pay money owed for the production of "What More Can I Give", as well as failing to return sculptures and paintings valued at around $250,000. SYTYCD?: Top 10If it weren't for this show, I wouldn't have anything new to watch this summer! Wednesday was the first episode of the competition. Now, there were a lot of things they needed to change from last season, and they did change a lot, just not for the better. This season they're assigned a pair at "random" (heh, yeah right) who they'll dance with all season. Snore. Each week the public votes for their favorite, the bottom three do a solo and then the judges make the final cut. Okay, big problem there. That just makes it even easier for people to call foul on the show. Not to mention, I think the american public really likes to have the final say; it's one of the things that makes AI popular. I really don't see a point in voting now, but then again I hardly did last year. I thought the show was entertaining overall, but thinking back, not many of the performances impressed me. The best was probably the first of the night, where Benji and Donyelle did a raunchy hip hop routine to some booty song (I don't keep up with current music, can ya tell?). I liked them both, and I say this in past tense because the second Benji lifted his shirt in the opening dance sequence I was just plain turned off. Okay, I still do kinda like him (for some strange unexplicable reason). They're an odd pair, but I really think they work together, and have a shot at being here until the end. It didn't surprise me at all that Benji could transition from west coast swing to hip hop, I've done both, the pace and the movements are similar. I'm not sure what he'll do when it comes to lyrical, though. His cousin Heidi is another one of my favorites. She was partnered with Ryan, who annoyed the heck out of me because he was thinking with, uh, not with his brain. In his preperformance video all he could talk about was the unimpressive Natalie, and didn't get very excited when he was paired with the strongest female dancer in the competition. He warmed up to her though, and she sort of carried him through their Vienesse Waltz. Actually, they both did a great job; the boy can make some striking poses, but as the judges mentioned, those feet were all over the place. For some reason I really liked this performance, very ethereal. Reminds me of that gorgeous waltz that Ashlee and Blake McGrath did last season. Contemporary isn't one of my favorite styles, but Jason and Aleksandra impressed me with their performance to Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield. That's about all that I liked. Everything else was just extremely mediocre, even Travis and Martha. Don't get me wrong, they obviously are the couple to beat, and my money is still on Travis to take this whole thing. But that broadway performance was just....weird. Didn't care for the Tyce Diorio's choreagraphy (btw, did anyone else recognize him from Fame or am I just a major reality freak?). And it didn't touch what Melody and Nick did with the same style last season. Wednesday's elimination...okay, let me answer what's on everyone's mind first and foremost...yes, I liked Cat Deely's dress. I saw Victora Beckham (I think it was her?) wearing a peplum with that same "moo" print and hated it. But this was very classy looking, and I thought it totally worked. Okay, on to the important stuff. I was sort of surprised at the eliminations. First off, Ben and Ashley weren't in the bottom three (read: worst couple of the night). Sigh, no big surprise with a show like this, but they really were the worst of the night, and I don't think they'll "bring it" next week either. When it came down to the girls, they chose the right one to be safe. Im not a fan of Allison, but she danced her bootay off in that solo. It was smart of her (and contrived, imo) to mention that it wasn't choreagraphed. I really thought they would keep Erin, I would have kept Erin. To tell the truth I didn't like any of the three on the chopping block, but I don't think Jessica will prove to be versatile. Erin just had a little more flair, but hey, it's no skin off my nose. The guys elimination irked me a tad bit more. Between Stanislav and Ivan, Ivan definitely should've gotten the boot. I was looking forward to seeing more of Stanislav; and it was funny the producers compared him to Artem. Ivan is just gimmicky, kinda childish, and once again I HIGHLY doubt he'll prove to be versatile. So a couple was voted off together, no es bueno. I really wanted to see them shake up the pairs a lil' bit. Maybe next week. 4月30日 The Mercedes-Benz Museum: A Heritage For The FutureStuttgart - April 29, 2006: The inventor of the automobile has also reinvented the motor museum: the New Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart will open its doors on May 19, 2006. Within a construction time of only two and a half years, from September 2003 to April 2006, an architectural highlight has been created which constitutes a remarkable design feature for the Stuttgart region.
It is the only museum in the world able to present the 120-year history of the automotive industry from day one. The display concept is likewise unique: 160 vehicles and more than 1500 other exhibits are presented to visitors on two connected tour routes occupying an area of 16,500 square metres on nine levels.
The Museum’s physical proximity to the main Mercedes-Benz plant in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim creates the link between tradition and the present day: the Museum shows that automotive history has always been forward-looking, based on the continuous innovative strength of the Mercedes-Benz brand. The new Museum not only presents the exciting history of the Mercedes-Benz brand, but also affords a revealing look into the future. This dual function is also reflected in the architecture, which was created in the "UN studio" of the world-famous Dutch architects Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos. The striking modernity of the design appears to have come from the future – and yet preserves the tradition of the brand. The architecture illustrates the genetic make-up of the brand. The interior of the building is modelled on the double-helix structure of the DNA spiral which carries the human genes. This in turn illustrates the original philosophy of the Mercedes-Benz brand, namely the continuous invention of completely new things to maintain personal mobility – from the invention of the automobile to the future-oriented vision of accident–free driving.
Unique museum concept
The display concept created and realized by the consultancy HG Merz is also highly original.
During their (at least) 2-hour tour of the Museum, visitors experience the 120-year history of the automobile as a journey through time. An elevatior takes them to the uppermost level of the Museum, from where two sweeping tour routes spiral down through nine levels to the starting point as a double-helix metaphorically representing the genetic make-up of the brand. Along the first tour route there are seven "Legend Rooms" which relate the story of the brand in chronological order. The second tour route groups the enormous display of vehicles into five separate "Collection Rooms" which present the huge variety of the brand portfolio over time. As a completely new feature, the new Museum also documents the more than 100-year commercial vehicle history of the company. A look at the working day of the engineers
Visitors are able to switch between the two tour routes at any time. Both end at the banked curve - "Silver Arrows – Races and Records" – where the Mercedes legend is experienced at first hand. This display is supplemented with "The Fascination of Technology" exhibition, which provides a look at the day-to-day work of the engineers and affords a glimpse into the future of the automobile.
This detailed picture of the Mercedes-Benz brand consists of more than 1500 exhibits, of which 160 are vehicle exhibits. According to Max-Gerrit von Pein, the Chief Executive of Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH and Director of DaimlerChrysler Heritage, "The Mercedes-Benz Museum is a unique location where the history of the automobile and the aura surrounding the Mercedes-Benz brand from the early days to the present can best be experienced in a completely new and exciting way". Brand history grouped into topics areas and historical eras
The Legend Rooms tell the story of the Mercedes-Benz brand by way of topic areas and historical eras. Accordingly the areas are in chronological order, with the exhibits placed in their historical context.
* Legend 1: Pioneers – The Invention of the Automobile, 1886 to 1900
* Legend 2: Mercedes – The Birth of the Brand, 1900 to 1914 * Legend 3: Times of Change – Diesels and Superchargers, 1914 to 1945 * Legend 4: Post-war Miracle– Form and Diversity, 1945 to 1960 * Legend 5: Visionaries – Safety and the Environment, 1960 to 1982 * Legend 6: Moving the World – Global and Individual, 1982 to the present day * Legend 7: Silver Arrows – Races and Records The Collection Rooms show the enormous variety of Mercedes-Benz vehicles according to topic areas. Here the visitor can view exhibits such as a perfectly normal Mercedes-Benz O 305 regular-service bus, the famous "Millipede" – the LP 333 heavy truck, an LF 3500 fire-fighting vehicle with a turntable ladder or the "Popemobile" used by Pope John Paul II. Vehicles which have a history of their own and in some cases also helped to write history.
* Collection 1: Gallery of Voyagers
* Collection 2: Gallery of Carriers * Collection 3: Gallery of Helpers * Collection 4: Gallery of Celebrities * Collection 5: Gallery of Heroes "The Fascination of Technology," which is freely accessible as a self-contained exhibition, occupies a special position. Exhibits in highly sophisticated contextual surroundings provide a look at the day-to-day work of Mercedes-Benz engineers and developers, and therefore at the future of the automobile. A café, a restaurant and various shops round off the facilities available to visitors. A direct physical link with the showroom in the Mercedes-Benz Center provides a seamless transition of the Mercedes legend from the classic models to the current product range.
Architectural masterpiece
On the basis of a symmetrical, three-leafed ground plan, UN studio developed a building geometry whose interior layout is intentionally reminiscent of the solutions used in roadbuilding: the clover leaf-like architecture of the new building corresponds to the layout of the nearby junction between the B14 and B10 federal highways. More than 110,000 tonnes of concrete were used for the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which covers a ground area of 4800 square metres and reaches a height of 47.5 metres to enclose a space measuring 210,000 cubic metres.
The complex geometrical structures of the Museum could only be realised by using the latest technologies. From the first drafts to completion, the building plan was based on a three-dimensional data model which was updated no less than 50 times during the construction phase and produced a total of 35,000 working plans. Special architectural features include 33-metre wide, unpillared spaces capable of taking the weight of ten trucks and the so-called "twists" – recurved structural elements reminiscent of oversized aircraft propellers which were used for the very first time in this size and shape. 1800 triangular panes of glass – no two of them are identical – were used for the external windows. All the materials, from the aluminium panels of the outer skin and windows to the dark-coloured parquet flooring of the ramps, combine the very highest quality with an unimposing appearance.
The brand experience begins in the underground car park
Visitors are welcomed by an attractive automotive overture before even entering the new Museum. Cleverly illuminated Mercedes-Benz cars from the previous model generation are arranged in the underground car park at the rear of the artificial mound on which the Museum stands. "These 'recent classic cars' on the parking deck are the Museum’s reception committee. They are interspersed between the parked cars of visitors, but highlighted by being parked in a glass showcase", as HG Merz describes the idea. An escalator takes visitors from the underground car park to the lobby area.
In the lobby an open-plan staircase allows even larger groups to muster and prepare for their visit. Passing an information booth in which 16 plasma screens are suspended in a ring, visitors first reach the atrium, where they are treated to the first breathtaking view. Three lifts are available to waft visitors gently up the 42-metre high atrium while they are given a film preview of what awaits them in the Museum. On arriving at the top they are met by a very evocative acoustic signal, namely the whinny of a horse. The visitors have taken a journey back in time, and have arrived in the period before the first cars were invented.
Legend and Collection: the dual layout principle
The seven Legend rooms, which guide visitors through the history of the automobile and its times in chronological order, are linked by an around 80-metre long, smooth ramp. This is designed to be equally convenient for the handicapped, with numerous imperceptible transitions to level sections so that wheelchair users are safely and comfortably conducted through the building.
With the exception of the first and last, which are devoted to the invention of the automobile and motor racing history, all the Legend rooms are laid out on the same principles: along the outside of a curved, clover-leaf wall, the ramp sweeps down to the vehicle display in its historical context. While the visitor is already able to see down to the exhibits, a chronological table on the left wall illustrates events in corporate history in the light of their historical period. This gallery shows the background against which epoch-making innovations in automobile engineering were made.
Each Legend room portrays a particular era by means of a central scene: from the invention of the independent, petrol-driven road vehicle to the origin of the Mercedes brand, and from the development of the supercharger and diesel engine, the gullwing models and semi-forward control trucks of the 1950s, the increasing importance of safety and environmental protection, and the global presence of the brand to the general subject of the racing and record-breaking cars in the last Legend room, where this tour route comes to an end.
Arranged according to type of operation
"In contrast to the chronologically structured Legend rooms, the Collection rooms are arranged according to the type of operation", is how HG Merz describes the function of the second tour. "With their wide range of exhibits they reflect the experience, expertise and perfection contained in the entire range of automotive products."
The generously laid-out Collection rooms have the space to accommodate a large number of exhibits illustrating the entire history of the relevant topic. These topics range from travel by bus, taxi and passenger car to goods transport and distribution, from the "Gallery of Helpers" in firefighting, the emergency services and municipal operations to VIP cars and finally the "Gallery of Heroes" – the countless number of highly effective vehicles which have gone and continue to go about their day-to-day duties almost unnoticed in every country of the world. These include the Unimog and the Mercedes-Benz 240 D, for example.
Discreet floor graphics reminiscent of road markings indicate the topic of each Collection and the direction to be taken through the vehicle layout. In the "Gallery of Travel", for example, the exhibits are positioned along all four arrowed points of a compass. In the "Gallery of Loads", however, they are arranged in parallel as if on a road. The vehicles in the "Gallery of Helpers" are all oriented towards a central area of activity in the centre of the space, while the "Gallery of Names" is presented on high-quality wooden plinths. The "Gallery of Heroes" is made to resemble a road with angled parking bays.
A glass showcase which can be viewed from both sides is located by the ramp leading from the Legend tour to one of the Collection rooms. On the outside this displays model vehicles, and on the inside smaller exhibits such as vehicle components, accessories and advertising gifts. A "micro-cinema" also shows films reflecting the topic of the relevant Collection room.
In addition to the area-specific exhibits, 33 further objects, some of which offer surprising insights, are displayed throughout all the Legend and Collection rooms. "The '33 Extras' are original items. They were once components of a vehicle (a wing or microchip), they may be an item of driver’s equipment (leather clothing or a driving licence), or they may otherwise be associated with the car and its culture (a penalty notice or a caricature of a driver)", says Merz, explaining the concept. They invite contemplation, raise a smile or provide informative details about unknown aspects of automotive history.
Emotional finale at the banked curve
Both the Legend and Collection tours end up at "Races and Records", where a steeply banked curve which takes up practically all the space becomes a vertical, cylindrical wall studded with famous, record-breaking cars. "Races and Records is the emotional finale to a tour of the Museum", says HG Merz.
When entering this area, visitors are able to take a comfortable seat on a grandstand opposite the banked curve, either to savour the impressive overall image for a while or view film extracts from historic motor races shown on six different monitors. The grandstand is connected to a passageway behind the banked curve which opens out into a "racing tunnel" leading to the Legend room devoted to "Races and Records". Original mementos of famous racing drivers, two simulators and a "racing workshop" then offer visitors a further opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of motorsport.
Famous cars fixed to a vertical wall
The banked curve gradually becomes a vertical wall to which famous record-breaking cars are affixed: the selection ranges from the three-axle T 80 and the record-breaking twelve-cylinder W 125 of 1938 to the record-breaking diesel C 111 III of 1978 and the 190 E 2.3-16 of 1983, plus the very recent E 320 CDI, which covered a distance of 100,000 miles at an average speed of 224 km/h in Laredo, Texas in 2005. The two final exhibits show that speed is not everything, however: the so-called "Sparmobil" (= Savermobile) managed to cover a nominal 1028 kilometres on just one litre of diesel fuel, while no conventional fuel at all was required by the solar-powered Solarmobile which won the Tour de Sol run from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva in the mid-1980s.
In the middle of this cylindrical display showing the record-breakers, five platforms resembling the valves of an engine project from the lower level of the transitional structure to present both historic and current research vehicles. These exhibits link the Museum tour with the "Fascinating Technology" display area, which has a length of 80 metres and illustrates the present state of development. From here the visitor is guided through the Passage to the Mercedes-Benz Center Stuttgart, where the current vehicle range can be seen. Asia's HOT Car Market Means Growing Fuel NeedsNEW DELHI, India Apr 29, 2006; Michael Casey reporting for the AP wrote that now is a good time to be selling cars in India. Sachin Kapoor, who sells General Motors cars at T & T Motors in New Delhi, says he can barely keep up with customers taking advantage of cheap bank loans to buy their first car or trade up to a newer model.
"Even middle and lower middle-class families are buying cars," he said. "As the Indian economy continues to grow, the demand for cars will only go up and up."
It's similar in China, where double-digit economic growth has lifted millions out of poverty.
But the skyrocketing number of new vehicles means more air pollution, traffic jams and a big spike in oil consumption. That has authorities searching for cheaper and cleaner alternatives.
Last year China introduced fuel efficiency standards for cars and sport utility vehicles and automobile taxes to promote smaller vehicles.
It also recently declared public transport a national priority and announced that ethanol, a plant-based fuel that is cleaner than gasoline, now represents 20 percent of all fuels sold.
India, which imports most of its oil, is also embracing alternative fuels. Gasoline at filling stations in about half the country must contain 5 percent ethanol, and a big investment is planned in jatropha, an otherwise useless bush that can produce a fuel to mix with diesel.
Public buses, trucks and three-wheelers in New Delhi, Bombay and other metropolises run on natural gas and the government is expanding the requirement to more cities.
New Delhi "looks a lot cleaner now and you can breathe a lot easier now," said M.S. Srinivasan, of India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. "Today, my eyes don't water. We are able to walk along the road comfortably."
Annual vehicle production in India has increased by 20 percent each year since 2000, while China's has grown eight-fold in 10 years to 2.6 million, and it is poised to become the world's largest car producer by 2015, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute, an environmental and economic think tank.
The two countries are building thousands of miles of new roads. India is spending $45 billion to pave 31,000 miles of road by 2012.
"Every family would like to have a car," said Dongquan He, a transportation program officer with the nongovernment group The Energy Foundation in Beijing. But he says more is needed to promote environmentally friendly cars such as gasoline-electric hybrids, which are still too costly for most buyers.
China has introduced them on a small scale. Indian has not.
Toyota Motor Corp. expects to sell 3,000 of its Prius hybrid cars in China this year. General Motors Corp. and its Chinese partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., last year announced plans to make energy-efficient vehicles in China in 2008.
The agreement also calls for expanding their joint hybrid-bus program to a larger fleet to serve Shanghai as well as pursuing hybrid options for cars and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
"As a company with a major stake in China, GM believes that we must focus on the industry of tomorrow," chairman Rick Wagoner said. 4月25日 Neil Young anti-war album: Full release confirmedNeil Young anti-war album: Full release confirmed
The star takes matters into his own hands.
Neil Young's forthcoming anti-war album has been given a possible full release date of between May 5th and 15th, Sound Generator has learnt.
Titled "Living With War", the set is an all-new work which faces down the US-Iraq war and George W. Bush's presidency of the United States.
"I was waiting for someone to come along, some young singer 18 to 22 years old to write these songs and stand up," Young told the LA Times recently. "I waited a long time. Then I decided that maybe the generation that has to do this is still the '60s generation. We're still here."
Running across ten tracks, Young compares the setlist to Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs, with a 'metal folk' sound. The tracklisting is: 'After The Garden', 'Living With War', 'Restless Consumer', 'Shock & Awe', 'Families', 'Flags Of Freedom', 'Let's Impeach The President', 'Looking For A Leader', 'Roger And Out' and 'America The Beautiful'. The album's lyrics are being posted as rolling tickers on Neil Young's official website as a rate of one per day. At present, the full lyrics to five tracks have been posted.
All ten tracks will be available to stream from Young's official website Neilyoung.com from this Friday, April 28, and as a digital download fro May 2nd. Warner Bros. are attempting to make the album, which was written during a two-week burst of creativity, available as soon as it can be manufactured. Mary J. Blige for rare UK concertMary J. Blige for rare UK concert
A single date announced so far.
Mary J. Blige has confirmed plans for a UK stop this summer in London, Sound Generator can report. Taking her new album "The Breakthrough" onto the streets this summer, the 'queen of hip-hop soul' has so far confirmed details of a single live date, at London's Wembley Arena on June 17.
The superstar has also confirmed a headline slot at the Essence Music Festival in Houston, TX, from July 1-3. Nelly settles over assault chargesNelly settles over assault charges Avoiding a court appearance in Connecticut. According to reports, freelance photographer Brian Jones, 39, had accused one of the rapper's security personnel, Brian Jones, of escorting him to the edge of the stage and 'violently hitting him', causing serious injuries, during a concert at the Bridgeport Arena, Connecticut. Livingstone was reportedly cleared to be taking photographs backstage at the time, although the bodyguards allegedly believed he was filming the tape illegally. Livingstone still has lawsuits posted against the city of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport Arena, over the July 12, 2005 concert incident, reports the Associated Press. Eddie Vedder reveals musical 'high'Eddie Vedder reveals musical 'high'
For once, it's not chemical based. Fans making bootleg recordings of concerts by his band Pearl Jam are all right with frontman Eddie Vedder - after he revealed he did the same as a youngster.
The singer, who releases a new album this month with the seminal alt-rockers, has spoken about how he used to bootleg his favourite band's concerts - which became such an influence he cites it as his own form of heroin.
"I listened to them a lot," he says. "Music, for me, was f**king heroin. It was something I needed. "Live shows gave me strength. A day or two after a show, the high would wear off, but listening to the bootlegs with your eyes closed was like getting high again." 3月2日 Beck to support RadioheadBeck will support Radiohead on a number of their forthcoming live dates, he has revealed. It is currently unclear where or when the dates will take place, but news of the shows was confirmed by Beck at the Grammys last month, according to a new Rolling Stone blog. Beck also revealed plans to release a tenth anniversary edition of his acclaimed "Odelay" album, which will feature a previously unreleased version of "Debra", which concluded "Midnite Vultures". He explained: "I'm trying to find the original 'Debra' because it was originally recorded for 'Odelay'." Beck is also apparently working on an album that he began two years ago with acclaimed producer Nigel Godrich, that still remains incomplete and is apparently like the bridge between "Sea Change" and "Guero". Beck commented: "We recorded everything in a week. And ever since we've been working on it a little bit at a time." Blunt tops US singles chartBlunt's debut album Back To Bedlam is also in the US top five British singer-songwriter James Blunt has become the first UK artist to top the US singles chart since 1997. Blunt, who won best British male artist and best pop act at last month's Brit Awards , is number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart with You're Beautiful. He is the first UK artist to reach the position since Sir Elton John with Candle in the Wind/Something in the Way You Look Tonight. Blunt's debut album Back to Bedlam is at number five on the Billboard 200. The US charts are drawn from a combination of record sales and airplay. Sir Elton's re-recording of Candle in the Wind topped the US charts after the death of Princess Diana in August 1997. It spent 14 weeks at number one. For five weeks in July and August last year Blunt, 28, simultaneously topped both the UK singles and album chart with You're Beautiful and Back to Bedlam, before repeating his success across Europe. Blunt's album has gone on to sell more than six million copies worldwide. The ex-Army officer's musical career has not been without its critics. Back to Bedlam last week won worst album at the NME Awards. |
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