Odds & Ends: Corey Smith, Jay-Z, Gary Glitter and Sum 41

Corey Smith’s Chuck Norris Moment

Everyone has heard about the line in Van Halen’s famed 1980s concert rider that called for a bowl of M&Ms to be placed in the band’s dressing room with all the brown candies removed. The band placed the requirement near the end of their list of tech specs. The idea was that if the candy was correctly placed in their dressing room when they arrived, then the promoter must have read all of the band’s technical requirements.

A somewhat off-the-wall requirement included in Corey Smith’s hospitality rider isn’t about the singer/songwriter’s technical requirements. Instead, his prerequisite that each show include “One (1) sharply dressed, able-bodied Sherpa or Chuck Norris” is more about humor than available power or how much weight the stage can support.

Gosh, it seems like it was only last week when Jay-Z was celebrating the $10 million relaunch of his 40/40 Manhattan nightclub.

Inspectors reportedly found a slew of health violations, including raw chicken wings and shrimp stored in a refrigerator in which the temperature was only 61 degrees instead of the required 41, according to the New York Post.

Other violations allegedly included an employee mixing salsa with his bare hands and cooked food left to cool on a counter instead of stored in a 140 degree environment.

The club’s many violations could result in a “C” grade for the establishment. It takes at least 28 violations for an establishment to win a C, and 40/40 was written up for 69 health problems, according to the Post.

The club’s press rep told the newspaper that despite the health code violations, there was “no interruption in service or sales.”

Glitter Not On Twitter

Remember last week when someone claiming to be disgraced glam rocker / pedophile Gary Glitter began sending tweets in which he claimed he was about to undertake a comeback tour?

Turns out the “OfficialGlitter” Twitter account was a “social experiment” as well as a “wake-up call” warning parents about the dangers their children might face while Web surfing. Or so says an anonymous person claiming to have established the bogus Twitter account.

On Saturday the anonymous poster revealed all.

“This is NOT Gary Glitter,” the faux Glitter tweeted. “It was a social experiment to highlight Internet Safety & Public Morality.”

The tweeter, which some media outlets have identified as “Ben,” expanded on his “social experiment” with a post on Tumblr, calling it an “eye-opening experience,” according to London’s Mirror newspaper.

“Apart from the thousands of negative and abusive comments I got whilst impersonating Glitter, it amazed me and deeply disturbed me to see a shocking amount of positive encouraging and supportive comments that people were giving to a convicted child rapist.”

Sum 41 Drops Off Kerrang! Tour

Lots of things can sideline a band’s tour. In Sum 41’s case, a back injury suffered by frontman Deryck Whibley has forced the band to exit the upcoming Kerrang! Tour, scheduled to begin in Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 5.

From Sum41.com:

“I feel really terrible about letting down the fans,” Whibley said. “I injured my back and the doctors are saying that I could be in a wheelchair. So, as much as I wanted to be able to do it, I’ve got to look at reality, and for the first time I’ve got to listen to somebody else and not just myself. We’re all really upset about this; we’ve had such a great relationship with our U.K. fans. We were really looking forward to this tour.”

But Sum 41’s loss is The Blackout’s gain. Kerrang! issued an announcement saying the Welsh post-hardcore band would fill the spot formerly occupied by the Canadian rockers.