Nikki Sixx

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Vedder recently took a not-so-subtle jab at Tommy Lee’s flying drum theatrics during a recent show with the Earthlings

UPDATE (2/8)Pearl Jam and Mötley Crüe’s extremely 1991 feud got a little bit more ridiculous as video of Eddie Vedder taking a not-so-subtle jab at Tommy Lee’s drum theatrics at a recent show began to circulate online. The comments came during Vedder’s solo show with his backing band the Earthlings in New Jersey this past Sunday, Feb. 7, a couple days after Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx called Pearl Jam “one of the most boring bands in history” (this was after Vedder dissed the hair metal giants in a New York Times interview). While on stage, Vedder introduced a solo from Earthlings/Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith by quipping to the audience, “That drum kit, that silver, beautiful machine that he is the engine of, does not need to elevate or rotate to do its job — let me just point that out!” 

In their heyday, Mötley Crüe’s stadium shows were packed with all sorts of theatrics and pyrotechnics, though arguably none were more famous and outrageous than Lee’s flying, rotating drum kit. 

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Nikki Sixx has fired back at Pearl Jam after Eddie Vedder called Mötley Crüe “vacuous” and said he “despised” the band during a recent interview.

Vedder kicked off the increasingly rare ‘grunge vs. hair metal’ war of words when, speaking to the New York Times recently, he compared the Seattle scene to the his tenure loading gear at a San Diego venue during the peak of glam metal.

“I’d end up being at shows that I wouldn’t have chosen to go to — bands that monopolized late-’80s MTV. The metal bands that — I’m trying to be nice — I despised. ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ and Mötley Crüe: Fuck you. I hated it. I hated how it made the fellas look. I hated how it made the women look. It felt so vacuous.”

Vedder also credited Guns N’ Roses with bringing “some teeth” to the pre-grunge rock era, made a subtle swipe at actress Heather Locklear (Crüe drummer Tommy Lee’s ex-wife) and quipped that “the only person who wore a bustier in the ’90s that I could appreciate was Perry Farrell.”

The Pearl Jam singer’s disses finally reached Nikki Sixx Friday, with the Mötley Crüe bassist tweeting in response, “Made me laugh today reading how much the singer in Pearl Jam hated @MotleyCrue. Now considering that they’re one of the most boring bands in history it’s kind of a compliment isn’t it?”

Kid Harpoon has been named Abbey Road Studios’ first-ever Producer in Residence, with the Grammy winner tasked with both guiding the legendary studio’s vision as well as mentoring future musical talent.

According to the studio, Kid Harpoon “will have complete access to Abbey Road as his creative playground and studio home in the UK, as well as its collection of vintage gear, microphones and instruments” and “will also consult on the studios’ music tech and innovation work.”

“I’m beyond excited to become Producer in Residence at Abbey Road,” Kid Harpoon said in a statement. “In this position, I’m hoping to use my experience to help guide some of the incredible up-and-coming talent we have in the UK while they navigate their way through what can be a difficult industry. Mark and the team have a real desire to give back and develop new talent, which is something I’m really passionate about. To be able to contribute to the Abbey Road legacy in any way is an honor, and I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

The British-born Thomas “Kid Harpoon” Hull has won Grammys for both Record of the Year (for Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers”) and Album of the Year (for Harry Styles’ Harry’s House) in recent years. His production and songwriting work also includes Shawn Mendes’ Wonder, Maggie Rogers’ Surrender, as well as songs by Florence + the Machine, Lizzo, King Princess, Noah Cyrus, and Jessie Ware. Most recently, Kid Harpoon produced David Byrne’s new album Who Is the Sky?

In addition to shaping Abbey Road’s sound, Kid Harpoon will also take part in the nearly century-old studio’s free education programs aimed at nurturing the next generation of artists and producers via panels and workshops.

“[Kid Harpoon] brings a spirit of collaboration and innovation that perfectly aligns with our vision. With his creative lead, we’re excited to deepen our artistic community and continue placing creativity at the heart of our home,” Abbey Road’s managing director Sally Davies added in a statement.

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