5-26-01: Ben has announced he will be touring this summer to promote his new record, set for a September 11th, 2001 release date. The tour will begin in July and will feature Millard Powers on bass & Anthony Johnson on drums. Ben is also currently looking for a guitarist/keyboardist as well. Read all about it in a recent RollingStone.com interview Ben did. He also spoke out on topics such as collaborations on the new album and the demise of Ben Folds Five.
I've begun uploading the 7/99 Darren Jessee solo show at my new page, Air Can Hurt You, Too. (under the "Sound" section) Go check it out!
5-19-01: From The Clubhouse:
"Hello... I see some information on the new Ben Folds record is finally getting out there. I was lucky enough to dig up some dirt so I thought I would go ahead and pass it on. Remember, this is far from a press release or official info, but I know people are dying to hear what's up.
So Ben is indeed releasing his new solo album on July 24th. The disc is ROCK through and through, so let's finally put all the 'Fear of Pop II' rumors to rest. I heard one song so far, and it sounds hardly like Ben Folds Five, but there is no mistaking that it is indeed BEN. If you have heard any of his old demos, you know what Ben is capable of on his own--and this record is the logical continuation. He had the time and money to make an album on his own terms, and backed with another decade of songwriting and life experience can we expect anything less than a masterpiece? From what I have heard, it is just that...the Folds we know and love, with no holding back (Yes, there is GUITAR!!) It's not the follow up to BFF's self-titled, but fans of that album (or any BFF for that matter) are going to be VERY happy with what they hear.
Word is the official title will be Rockin' The Suburbs. Seriously! I know Ben has talked about recording a lot of songs for this album, but the final is probably going to be about 12 songs. And finally, we get to hear Carrying Cathy! As far as I know, this is very close to the final track listing:
Rockin' The Suburbs
Fired
Carrying Cathy
Anne Waits
Still Fighting
The Ascent Of Stan
Losing Lisa
Zak and Sara
Not The Same
Luckiest
Fred Jones II
Gone
That's all for now...mark your calendars for July 24th!"
Ben Folds will be playing the V2001 Festival in England on August 17 & 18 in Chelmsford and Staffordshire, England.
The new television channel, Trio, will be replaying the episode of Sessions at West 54th with Ben Folds Five a few times this month. The episode also features Beck. For specific show times, check here.
4-13-01: Other than the band breaking up in November, there's very little news. Ben Folds is planning on a June release date for his as yet titled debut solo album. The songs are supposedly much more in the style of Ben Folds Five rather than Fear of Pop. There is at least one Folds/Jessee collaboration to look forward to. A website has also been created, benfolds.com.
Darren Jessee is reportedly still looking for a record company to distribute his own solo effort. He's been spotted playing small clubs in NYC with a new backing band, featuring bass, drums, and himself on acoustic guitar. A note on his whereabouts was also posted at the official site:
"Darren Jessee has been working as an emcee at underground burlesque shows while wearing a self-adhesive moustache and calling himself the sheriff. He's also entered several amateur flyweight boxing matches only to have been beaten severely. Is currently working on a screenplay about the music industry called 'Breaking Wind.'"