Dr. Toon: Toon Headlines, April 2008
April 1, 2008
SUPERGROUP FORMED IN L.A. LOS ANGELES (AP) No fan of rock music can forget those heralded occasions when famous musicians split off from their original bands and combined into what the music industry called "supergroups." From Blind Faith to Asia, these short-lived but powerful lineups sold millions of recordings and boasted an equal number of fans. Now cartoondom has its first supergroup, and it's like nothing you've ever heard before.
"It was time to come out of retirement and give it another shot," said Archie Andrews, lead guitarist of newly formed band Maya Flash. Andrews' carrot-hued locks may be a tad gray around the temples, but his enthusiasm for music has never waned. "It got started when I got a call from Jabbers (drummer Jabberjaw, formerly of The Neptunes). He told me he saw Josie at a downtown party and they began bullshitting about the Pussycats and the old days. Next thing I know the three of us are doing a little jam down at the Knitting Factory. Tell ya, they loved it. So happens that Jem was out there that night, so what the hell, we let her come up for a number. We did a Jill Sobule cover and couldn't believe how good it sounded, right off. Jabbers told her, ‘You're in!'"
By G. Tarr Heerow
"It was Josie's idea to check up on Coil Man. Damn, the guy didn't even have an agent anymore, hadn't had one since that royalties lawsuit against Boomerang. He can still bang the bass, still sings a little, but at first he wasn't too cool with the idea. Josie, though, she's got a way with those old H-B guys. What surprised me was when we put it out we were looking for a rhythm guy and Toki (Wartooth) shows up. I thought Dethklok was pretty tight, but Toki said he had it up to here with Skwisgaar. When he asked to join us, we were floored. In a good way."
It only took a few rehearsals before the sextet knew they had something special. Sony executives thought so too, signing the band to a contract before any songs had been written. Up next is a 34-city tour, three music videos from their first CD Pixel Hell, and a guest spot on Saturday Night Live in August. Can Maya Flash live up to the hype, or is the band just another media event? Andrews smiled and shook his head. "All I can say is that we're pretty damn good. We'll let the audience decide."
Maya Flash will open their tour at the Roxy Theater on May 27.
ANIMAL REMAINS IDENTIFIED: DOO FAMILY GRIEVES NEW ORLEANS (AP) The cartoon world is in mourning today as the remains found near an allegedly haunted fishing trawler were positively identified as Saturday morning star Scrappy Doo. DNA tests done at Tulane University labs confirmed the findings on Saturday afternoon and they were announced at a somber press conference at 3:00 pm EST Tuesday. The late Great Dane puppy was last seen running into a boat hatch used to unload fish, just above the trawler's waterline. He was heard to cry out "Puppy Power!" shortly before a pair of glowing skeletal hands grasped Scrappy and pulled him out of sight.
Rescue was attempted by his closest friends, Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, and Norville "Shaggy" Rogers of "Mystery, Inc." However, as they neared the trawler, the quartet was observed by harbor patrol authorities to stop for unknown reasons. "Jinkies," said Dinkley when interviewed by local reporters, "I mean, isn't it dangerous to just jump on to haunted ships? Besides, I wouldn't want to snag my knee socks." Fred Jones agreed. "Ummm… there was nothing we could have done anyway. Besides, The Mystery Machine was due for an oil change." Rogers had no comment except to tell reporters, "I smelled fish sticks across the street. I was hungry!" Blake, who quietly filed her nails nearby, was silent, giving only a smile to the media.
By Viv. E. Section
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