NOISE

The one fact every rock fan knows about The Yardbirds is that Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page all played guitar in the band. Is it difficult trying to sell the current version of the group with none of those three present?

When the band reformed [in 1992] we knew that was gonna come up, but we've worked very hard to re-establish the band in many areas, and it hasn't come up as much as I thought it might. I thought we would have to sort of explain ourselves, but it hasn't happened, really. As far as the fans are concerned they're so delighted to see the guitar players we work with, and some may even say they prefer the guitar players we work with under the present circumstances.

Did you sense any intimidation on the part of [current guitarist] Ben King when he took over the seat once occupied by Clapton, Beck and Page?

He's done some pretty major work with us, and I've never noticed anything. He's 22, completely new generation, and youth is indestructible. I've worked with some wonderful players, and also some also-rans, but Ben for me has that very special something that I recognized with the big three. Yet again, we seem to have found a star in the making.

Is there a song you still play that feels the most quintessentially Yardbirds?

Probably "Shapes of Things," because it was the first song we got down on record that had balls behind it, all of what we were about, which we were never able to do in the early days. They could never record us very well in England, but "Shapes of Things" was recorded at Chess in Chicago, where they knew about guitars and drum kits. It wasn't a man in white overalls saying, "Don't go into the red."

The former Soundgarden frontman has left behind his most recent bandmates in Audioslave, and is about to release a new solo album. For this latest tour, Cornell promises songs from his entire career. Here are 10 we'd like to hear him play:

1 "Big Dumb Sex" (Soundgarden, Louder Than Love, 1989) This ode to, well, big dumb sex is meant as a joke, but we don't think Axl Rose got that when Guns N' Roses recorded a cover in 1993.

2 "Say Hello 2 Heaven" (Temple of the Dog, Temple of the Dog, 1990) Cornell's tribute to his late friend Andrew Wood (singer of Mother Love Bone) is touching and powerful.

3 "Slaves & Bulldozers" (Soundgarden, Badmotorfinger, 1991) A perfect encapsulation of Soundgarden's sludgy metal sound.

4 "Seasons" (solo, Singles Original Soundtrack, 1992) This early acoustic solo track presages the singer-songwriter approach Cornell would later take on his post-Soundgarden debut.

5 "Fell on Black Days" (Soundgarden, Superunknown, 1994) A giant among equals on Soundgarden's best and most successful album.

6 "Zero Chance" (Soundgarden, Down on the Upside, 1996) A trippy little number from the underrated Soundgarden swan song.

7 "Moonchild" (solo, Euphoria Morning, 1999) Cornell's first solo album is a mixed bag, but this Zeppelin-y tune proves he has the chops to go it alone.

8 "Set It Off" (Audioslave, Audioslave, 2002) Loudly announces the return of the monster supergroup.

9 "Doesn't Remind Me" (Audioslave, Out of Exile, 2005) A catchy, layered tune that proves Audioslave weren't just about in-your-face rock.

10 "Original Fire" (Audioslave, Revelations, 2006) Brings it all home with an homage to the early Seattle scene.

Such is the state of modern hip-hop that Brooklyn-bred Talib Kweli—a thinking man's rapper whose collaborations with Mos Def (himself a gifted emcee) have produced some of the headiest rhymes this side of Public Enemy—has never even snipped platinum sales. Lucky for us, he's resisted selling out to thuggishness (50 Cent) or singing (50 Cent) and stuck to the needed cultural commentary that's become his calling card. As he says on his website: "The vast majority of my subject matter focuses on black self love, black self-esteem, black self worth. That translates into other communities, because if you're a human being ... you've been through some sort of struggle." Preach, brother, preach.

SPOKANE, Washington (AP)—Blues Traveler singer and harmonica player John Popper was arrested after the vehicle he was riding in was clocked going 111 mph, the Washington State Patrol said Wednesday. Popper, 39, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 90 near the Spokane/Lincoln county line.

Inside the black Mercedes SUV, officers found a cache of weapons and a small amount of marijuana, the Patrol said. A police dog searched the vehicle, finding numerous hidden compartments containing four rifles, nine handguns and a switchblade knife. Authorities also found a Taser and night vision goggles. The vehicle was seized.

April 5, 2007

Las Vegas Weekly has uncovered evidence detailing additional items seized from Popper's vehicle. These items include but are not limited to:

One (1) floppy-brimmed, Crocodile Dundee-style hat

One (1) bottle each of Hydroxycut, Meridia and Adipex

One (1) case "The Mountains Win Again" promotional Busch Beer

One (1) box unsold HORDE Festival T-shirts

One (1) 1996 Grammy, Best Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for "Run-Around"

263 harmonicas of varying sizes and styles

Yeah, the world-music version of "Gimme Shelter"—complete with chanting—was a dubious decision; without the song's proper air of barely restrained menace, what's the point? But the African-born singer has a strong, beautiful voice, showcased in the impossibly bouncy "Ae, Ae" and the melancholy title track. Or you can predict your response this way: Guest performers include Joss Stone, Carlos Santana and Josh Groban.