Fashion: Coming soon to a DKNY storefront: Pete Wentz designs more ways to look like you can't play music but still want attention

Co-designed and inspired by the bassist and front man of Fall Out Boy, the band Rolling Stone recently dubbed "America's hottest band", Clandestine Industries for DKNY Jeans is a capsule collection that melds sleek rock and roll elements with a touch of romance to create sexy, affordable looks for the juniors customer.

Pete Wentz says, "We have been searching for the perfect brand to do a collection with for awhile. We wanted a brand that was young, cool, and open to trying innovative ideas. DKNY Jeans fit perfectly, no pun intended.  I've been wearing them for a while and to have this opportunity to reach so many people and grow Clandestine Industries is amazing. Plus with their design team we have been able to come up with and implement many ideas that would otherwise be beyond our reach."

"This is a first for us as a brand and a perfect match," says Kevin Monogue, President of DKNY Jeans. "Pete Wentz is absolutely first name in music right now, and he also happens to have an innate designer's eye and a similar aesthetic to DKNY Jeans. We are thrilled to be joining forces with him."

Pete has collaborated with the DKNY Jeans team on all aspects of the line, including graphics on the dresses and tops inspired by his extensive tattoo collection and pixilated images of his famous, beloved bulldog Hemingway on linings and tees. The line is dark and moody, with pops of bright pinks and oranges on linings and underpinnings. Black worn leather jackets and deep dark rinse skinny jeans and minis are the staples, while printed silk dresses, tees and hoodies round out the rebel-inspired collection.  Prices range from $39 to $298.

We at the culture of me can't think of a better reason to announce the birth of the Antichrist, what with the combination of "dark and moody, with pops of bright pinks and oranges on linings and underpinnings".  Sounds like hell to us, that's for sure. 

P.S. Robert Smith called us to let you know, Pete, he regrets the fact that his choices over the last two decades could have (in any way possible) shaped your "look".  And then he shot himself.

Godspeed!

Video: Dropkick Murphys - "State of Massachussetts" (fan made)

The Meanest of Times drops September 18 via Born & Bred Records.

Godspeed!

Video: The Royal We - "All The Rage"

Okay, so if you've noticed, we at the culture of me have a "thing" for indie pop.  Oh, and if it happens to emanate from Scotland, that's like, I don't know, +3 or so on the awesomeness scale.  So, with the recent brou-ha-ha about acts like The Wombats or 1990s or The Twilight Sad or (okay okay, you get it), we'd like to press on and add The Royal We, this troupe of kids who also hail from the "second city of the British Empire" and create similar music to the three groups ever-so-graciously listed above.  Including one-time members of Mogwai and Bricolage, The Royal We craft the kind of pop that bubbles for the masses, yet still has enough bite to satiate the needs of the snobbish elites (read: us!).  Another band that's taken to building buzz on MySpace, these kids have amassed over 80,000 plays on their site.  And even though the culture of me would be very quick to shout them out for an infraction about kooky and useless band member nicknames (seriously, here's the make-up: Skipper G-Nut - vocals, Roxy General Coxy - guitar, vocals. Joanie Come Lately - violin, Tricky Doyelee - guitar, bass, vocals, the Colonel Francis - drums,  Grrrronald  - bass), we've decided not to prejudge.  Sort of.

The single for "All The Rage" is out September 24 on Geographic and The Royal We's self titled debut album is out October 29 in the UK and (we're pretty sure of this, though don't quote) a day later stateside.

Godspeed!

News: Snoop to host MTV Europe Music Awards

NME.com reports:

Snoop Dogg has been announced as the presenter for the forthcoming MTV Europe Music Awards.

The bash is set to take place in Germany's Munich OlympiaHalle venue on November 1.

Foo Fighters and Mika have confirmed that they will perform at the ceremony, although this year's nominations are yet to be announced.

The event was surrounded by controversy last year, after Kanye West, who took home the Best Hip-Hop prize, had said, "If I don't win, the awards show loses credibility."

Let's just hope Snoop doesn't have any warrants pending.  Remember that whole "Murder Was The Case..." drama at the VMA's a decade ago?

Godspeed!

Video: Black Lips destroy the Middle East (for real)

If you haven't had enough of the culture of me [dot] com's obsession with Black Lips, you should stay on this site and watch each and every one of these five videos.  Let the deification of the hot rods from the ATL begin.

Godspeed!

Live: Underworld play Summerstage + new record details

Underworld will launch an extensive world tour this September 2007 with an exclusive New York City date presented by Made Event at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on Friday, September 14th. This long-awaited tour marks their first stretch of U.S. shows since 2003. Live, the pair blend aural and visual elements into an unforgettable experience that more resembles a journey than a concert. "Billowing chords, brooding melodies, thumping beats and vocals that crooned in one song and jabbed in another were all juxtaposed in Underworld's two-and-a-half hour set," said The New York Times.  "Mr. Hyde worked up the fans like a gospel singer."

[Immediately following the Central Park show, The Official Underworld Afterparty will be held at Webster Hall with world-class DJs Danny Tenaglia & Lee Burridge and Border Community's – James Holden & Fairmont Live (Jake Fairley). Underworld plus Afterparty ticket package available for $70 at www.made-event.com. Come experience the new-and-improved Webster Hall and the unveiling of their new main room sound system, designed and engineered by Integral Sound.]

Side One Recordings will release Underworld's fifth studio release Oblivion with Bells on October 16th. This will be the duo's first studio album since 2002's A Hundred Days Off.  True to form, Underworld tread their own path through modern electronic music – nodding to current trends but exhibiting an élan unmistakably their own. On Oblivion with Bells, the Underworld palette is richer than ever: epic techno nestles next to frail acoustics, beatific prose next to sharp, urban observation, amazing sound texturing mix with mobile phone recordings.

(stream)    Underworld - Various tracks [via MySpace]

Godspeed!

Video: El DeBarge may have gotten arrested for domestic violence, but he sure knows how to stare at the camera lens

DeBarge, 46, whose real first name is Eldra, was arrested Sunday in Lancaster, said Deputy Eric Eitner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Details surrounding the arrest weren't released.

The R&B singer was being held without bail because he had two previous warrants for his arrest in narcotics cases, said sheriff's spokesman Deputy Tony Moore.

A representative for DeBarge couldn't immediately be found for comment.

The singer led the family band Debarge in the '80s before going solo. The group was known for hits such as "Who's Holding Donna Now?" and "Rhythm of the Night."

DeBarge was arrested in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1996 and ordered to pay back child support for his daughter. Ten years earlier, the Michigan native pleaded no contest in Grand Rapids to a charge of creating a disturbance after a college student accused him of assaulting her.

Now I'm going to have lines from The Last Dragon in my head for a few days.  And maybe a thought or two about Vanity.  Bruce Leroy.  "Just move-a your feet-za to Daddy Green's Pizza."  Damn!

Godspeed!

Stream Good Bad, Not Evil by The Black Lips

Our favorite band from Atlanta who happen to like drinking their own urine (and there's plenty of bands like this from Atlanta) are streaming their entire new LP, Good Bad, Not Evil, due to be released via VICE on September 11.  We're probably going to buy this one before the new Kanye or 50, so that should say something to you, dear readers.  Check it out, only on their MySpace page.

Godspeed!

Video + mp3: Pigeon John on Dinner With The Band

Eclectic L.A. underground hip hop star (complete with positive messages...get into it!), Pigeon John, dropped by with his band to partake in that humblest of experiences: cooking a road-ready meal and performing some tracks for one of this writer's favorite haunts, Dinner With The Band.  Enjoy ya'll.

(mp3)    Pigeon John - Weight of the World

You can catch a whole lot more of Pigeon John, including the cooking and prepping of steak burgers & frites right here.

Godspeed!

News: Fashion Rocks line-up and presenters announced

The Fashion Rocks(TM) stage will explode with once in a lifetime duets featuring Mary J. Blige and Usher, Fergie and Ludacris and Alicia Keys with Santana.

Presenters include: Jessica Alba, Mischa Barton, Teri Hatcher, LeAnn Rimes, Denis Leary, Sean "Diddy" Combs, 50 Cent, Sean Lennon, Irina Lazareanu, Tyra Banks, Emily Procter, Kimora Lee Simmons, Michael Kors, Francisco Costa, Tommy Hilfiger, and Max Azria.

A portion of the proceeds from this year's FASHION ROCKS(TM) will benefit Keep A Child Alive (KCA).  KCA is the urgent response to the AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa and the developing world. KCA is dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment to children and their families with HIV/AIDS by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS.  KCA gives 100% of your dollar a day commitment to treatment.  For further information go to http://www.keepachildalive.org.

The show, hosted by Entourage star Jeremy Piven, will include performances by Aerosmith, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Chad Kroeger, Fergie, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez, Ludacris, Maroon 5, Mary J. Blige, Martina McBride, Santana and Usher.

The concert returns to the legendary Radio City Music Hall on September 6, 2007 and will air the following night, Friday, September 7, 2007 in a two-hour special on the CBS television network (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Ugh.  Didn't we just write something about Piven?  This guy should NOT be ubiquitous.

Godspeed!