New American Shame may not be worth two poops in this town, but apparently, they're big in Japan. At least that's what they're telling everyone. Recently, one shameless New American Shame member was getting all Cliff Poncier (Matt Dillon's character in Singles) on a member of Alien Crime Syndicate, bragging about news crews and screaming Japanese fans all clamoring to get a piece of the NAS rock action. (The Japanese apparently don't give a rat's ass about originality.) Unbelievably, following his boast fest, the braggart accused Alien Crime Syndicate of acting too big for their rock star britches, claiming that, you know, people are talking, and well, he's just trying to save the band from embarrassment down the road. He hurts because he loves, right? Oh my fucking God.

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More wacko news: Famed British music rag Melody Maker has named Kurt Cobain the #1 Hellraiser in Rock History. The late Nirvana singer edged out such well- known partiers as Shaun Ryder from Happy Mondays and Black Grape, Keith Moon, and Keith Richards, for crying out loud. The widow Cobain came in at #8 in the list of 20, right above Marilyn Manson and Jimmy Page, respectively.

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Here's some South by Southwest news you might not have read anywhere else. It seems that for a certain Seattle band -- who recently played the Crocodile before heading out on the road -- even Texas isn't far enough away from home to keep the irate ladies from roughing them up. Witnesses say a member of the hard-rocking band took the stage for their showcase sporting very conspicuous facial abrasions, (bright crimson nail scratches, to be exact), given to him by a scorned woman who flew all the way out to Austin to kick his allegedly doggin' ass. Now that takes determination, folks, because not only is it extremely difficult to get a flight to Austin at late notice during SXSW without paying an arm and a leg (last time I tried, the cheapest fare I could get was $2,000), but the band's showcase was one of the hottest tickets of the festival, and getting in without heavy credentials would have been nearly impossible. Hell hath no fury, as they say. Bravo!, I say.

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You'll have to wait a few weeks to see the fashionable boys in the Vogue play live if you don't catch them opening for those magpies Peter Parker at I-Spy on April 6 -- they'll head into the studio on April 8 for 10 days to record their debut, As Brass and Satin. They'll next poke their heads out for a show on Thursday, April 20 at the Paradox, and then play two shows with the Need on Friday, May 5 at Sit & Spin.

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Too bad the cameras pulled in for such tight shots of the hopefuls during the Academy Awards broadcast, otherwise we might have gotten a glimpse of dapper Ken Stringfellow. The Posies frontman accompanied Best Supporting Actress nominee Toni Collette, who gave the singer less than 24 hours notice that his booty was on duty. And speaking of the Oscars: Can we all agree once and for all that Angelina Jolie and her ever-present bro are doing it? Criminy! Pamela and Tommy Lee never showed so much public affection.

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This week marks the publication of Rock Confidential, a collection of quotes and anecdotes that have slipped from the mouths of rock stars. Compiled by Coral Amende, here are some choice pearls from former Seattle residents: "I didn't start up a band because I couldn't get laid. I started a band because I wasn't getting laid enough. So I decided to launch a proactive assault. 'Note to self: Start band.'" -- Greg Dulli. "We sound like the Bay City Rollers after an assault by Black Sabbath. And we vomit onstage better than anyone!" -- Kurt Cobain.