Rock News: Music's high and low notes

CMJ MARATHON HITS NEW YORK

The CMJ Music Marathon holds its 22nd renewal beginning Wednesday and running through Saturday in New York. The CMJ Music Marathon is the largest event of its kind, drawing more than 10,000 attendees from all sectors of the music business. In addition to showcasing thousands of performers in clubs all over the city, CMJ Music Marathon hosts four days of non-stop events, including panels, keynote speeches, film premieres, mentoring sessions, tutorials, demo listening, and an exhibition area.

Last year's event was canceled due to the events of Sept. 11, 2001. "We're so thrilled to be looking ahead to CMJ Music Marathon 2002," said CMJ Chief Executive Officer Robert Haber. "Following the extraordinary events of last year, we are really looking forward to providing a dynamic opportunity for our entire constituency -- radio, retail, musicians and the record community -- to gather together and discuss today's changing music industry realities and ponder the ways and means of positively impacting it."

The conference also includes CMJ FilmFest. In 1994 "Pulp Fiction" was unveiled at CMJ FilmFest, and for the past three years the event has given its signature award for "Best Use of Music in a Film." CMJ FilmFest is the first of its kind to celebrate the collaborative effort between filmmakers, musicians and composers. This event will explore the current relationship between film and music with a slate of distinctive independent features, shorts and documentaries, as well as major studio premieres.

A SCARY KETTLE OF HALLOWEEN FISH

Nonstop theater, a costume competition and multimedia events will bewitch New York's East Village in Theater For the New City's 26th Annual Village Halloween Costume Ball Thursday.

This one-night festival takes over all four of TNC'S theater spaces, plus its lobby and the block of East 10th Street between First and Second avenues. Customarily drawing over 1,400 wildly clad celebrants, the event is a traditional Village favorite for dancing, showing off one's costume and viewing acts from the cutting-edge of cabaret, theater and the downtown music scene. Maskers are encouraged to dress in themes of social and political commentary.

This year's celebrity judges include Councilman Alan J. Gerson, Judith Malina, Hanon Resnikoff, Rome Neal, H.M. Koutoukas, David Willinger, Jack Agueros, Miguel Maldonado, Robert Heide, John Gilman, Joel Kupferman, Tom O'horgan and Maria Irene Fornes.

DEAD KENNEDYS BAN LIFTED

Dead Kennedys, the legendary San Francisco punk rock band, claims an unofficial ban by San Francisco booking agents is no longer in effect. Studio Z, formerly known as the Transmission Theater, has booked Dead Kennedys band members East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and D.H. Peligro together with Brandon Cruz to play the venue Nov. 21 with influential punk rock band Fear.

"In a city that considers itself liberal and free-thinking, there are precious few venues that are willing to book the music of Dead Kennedys in their own hometown," said the band's guitarist, East Bay Ray. "Studio Z is a true punk rock club in every sense of the word. Now when Klaus and I are approached nightly by Bay Area music fans asking about when we going to play, we can tell them, 'Come see us at Studio Z on Nov. 21.'" The band currently is on tour in support of the recently released live disc "Mutiny On the Bay" on Manifesto Records.

NONPOINT AND SUNSET BLACK FOR ERNIE BALL

Florida's Nonpoint and Minneapolis-based Sunset Black have joined forces on the Ernie Ball-sponsored Development Tour. Nonpoint released its debut album, "Statement," in 2000 on MCA and has sold in excess of 250,000 units while touring with Linkin Park, Staind, and during last year's Ozzfest. The current tour is in support of the band's newly released "Development" album. Sunset Black recently released its debut effort "Common Ground" through the Bieler Bros. imprint label for MCA. The album was produced by Nonpoint guitarist Andy Goldman. Goldman and bassist KB both endorse Ernie Ball music equipment. Ernie Ball will be coordinating a guitar giveaway promotion during the tour. In each major market, Goldman will give away one of his own Ernie Ball Music Man Axis or Axis Super Sport guitars.

GILMOUR CONCERT AIRS

VH1 Classic will premiere "David Gilmour in Concert" on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This two-hour concert was filmed live at his Meltdown Festival concert at London's Royal Festival Hall in June 2001 and includes guest appearances from Rick Wright, Robert Wyatt and Sir Bob Geldof. Throughout the two-hour presentation, VH1 Classic also will air portions of an exclusive one-on-one interview the network conducted with Gilmour. VH1 Classic will feature Pink Floyd music videos in a "Headline Act" block to follow the concert. The entire show will repeat Nov. 9 at 9 p.m. and again during the week of Dec. 23. The concert features Gilmour, his semi-acoustic band, and a gospel choir led by Sam Brown. The set ranges from Pink Floyd classics such as "Wish You Were Here," "Comfortably Numb" and "High Hopes," to Syd Barrett's "Terrapin" and "Dominoes," as well as a performance of "Je Crois Entendre Encore" from Bizet's opera "The Pearl Fishers." Gilmour also includes a new song, "Smile."