SONIC YOUTH - THURSTON DEFENDS PITT'S MUSIC PROJECT

SONIC YOUTH rocker THURSTON MOORE has defended actor MICHAEL PITT's ambition to become a music star - insisting it's not a vanity project. Pitt played a character based on KURT COBAIN in the 2005 movie LAST DAYS and recorded the film's soundtrack. Now he is set to release an album with his band PAGODA - and has signed to Moore's Ecstatic Peach label. Recalling the first time he heard Pitt sing, Moore says, "All I had lying around the apartment was a crummy electric guitar and after some hesitation Michael took it and began to belt out a solo rendition of LESSON LEARNED, the first track of the Pagoda CD. I was taken aback. It was at that moment that I said, 'Dude, let's do a record.' "Pagoda is not a part-time job for Pitt. He is not an actor out on vacation here. He is an artist with living expression as his goal and music is where he thrives. And Pagoda as a live band kicks much a*s." Other film stars who have tried their hand at a rock music career include RUSSELL CROW, JULIETTE LEWIS, JARED LETO and KEANU REEVES.