JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE BUYS MYSPACE
Justin Timberlake is bringing MySpace back! It turns out Timberlake was a key player behind the $35 million deal for the original social-networking site—along with Irvine-based targeted-advertising firm Specific Media. According to Specific Media chief executive Tim Vangerhook, the former 'N Sync member will "lead the business strategy" for the pretty-much-obsolete network. The original asking price by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation was $100 million; it was sold for $580 million. In an AdAge interview, Vanderhook said Britney's ex-boyfriend had put his own money into buying MySpace and confirmed the 30-year-old pop star will have an office. This makes us think Starbucks runs to Irvine are in our future . . . just in case. In a statement, Timberlake said, "There's a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff, and just connect. MySpace has the potential to be that place." Specific Media and Timberlake apparently plan to turn MySpace around by making it "the premier digital destination for original shows, video content and music." From a June 30 Heard Mentality blog post.
BUTTHOLE SURFERS' PAUL LEARY: ROME RAMIREZ FAN
Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary produced Sublime's eponymous major-label debut 15 years ago. Last year, he also produced Yours Truly, Sublime With Rome's forthcoming album (out Tuesday). Obviously, that generated comparisons between Rome Ramirez and Bradley Nowell. "Brad just put up with the studio; I think he loved making the music, but I think he just liked to play. He wasn't really into being in the studio and learning studio stuff," Leary said. "Rome is just all over the studio—he soaks up everything like a sponge and is hard to get out of the control room. He's on top of everything. Brad would come in and do what you asked, but he wouldn't be in there looking for things to do, and that's what Rome does."
A lot of the same-old, same-old comparisons have to do with Sublime OG members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh. "They're involved in the songwriting process. It's really more than just someone writing a song. Those guys have a real sound and character to them. That's where Sublime comes in." Ramirez, on the other hand . . . "You gotta keep up with him, or he'll leave you in the dust," Leary says. "The world is not ready for Rome yet.
"I have a feeling [Nowell and Ramirez comparisons] are not going to last very long because Rome is so much his own cat. . . . He's going to make it with or without Sublime. But it's great that he's with Sublime because they're such a great combination." From a June 29 post.
