Waky Music News
Madonna is promising a visual and audible feast for her fans taking in her halftime show at this Sunday's Super Bowl. Ahead of the big game, the 53-year-old pop music icon spoke to reporters about her upcoming performance at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Even though she has performed before millions of fans over her three-decades as a performer, Madonna says she's still feeling some anxiety about performing before a Super Bowl audience. The singer wouldn't reveal much about her set list except to say she would be singing three songs from her vintage catalog and a new song she not-so-subtly hinted might just be her latest single, "Give Me All Your Luvin'," which will be released through iTunes on Friday. Madonna says she's dedicating her halftime performance to her father, crediting him for her hard work ethic. She also says out of all the things she's ever done, this will probably be the one thing her dad will be most excited about.
The New England Patriots will square off against the New York Giants on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kelly Clarkson has been tapped to sing the National Anthem. Madonna says she's pulling for the Giants.
Steven Tyler is giving a vote of confidence to Madonna regarding this weekend's Super Bowl. The Aerosmith frontman tells "Access Hollywood" he's sure the pop icon will be more than prepared for her halftime show performance, because "she's smart." He adds that he has a lot of respect and admiration for Madonna, because she "really gets the big picture." Super Bowl 46 will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, and air on NBC on Sunday.
Tyler can understand what Madonna is currently going through, since Aerosmith has also performed at a Super Bowl halftime show. The band was featured in at the big game back in 2001, taking part in an MTV-produced all-star spectacle that also featured 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, and Nelly.
Mötley Crüe and Elton John are among the rockers featured in Super Bowl ads this weekend, while music from The Animals and The Chordettes will also be featured in spots. The 90-second Kia Optima commercial featuring Mötley Crüe is up for viewing on YouTube. In the ad, which also features The Chordettes' 1954 hit "Mr. Sandman," a man dreams of speeding on a NASCAR track as Mötley Crüe cheers him on and performs "Kickstart My Heart." And drummer Tommy Lee is visibly surprised when the man leaves his own fantasy to enter his wife's dream and whisk her away from the handsome prince.
Elton John is in a Pepsi ad, playing the part of a critical king who passes down harsh judgements and refuses to give the soft drink to those who don't entertain him. He's eventually won over by a performance from "The X-Factor" winner Melanie Amaro. The Animals' classic "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" provides the soundtrack to a 30-second H&M ad promoting David Beckham Bodywear, which is also posted on YouTube. The spot features the soccer star in various poses, showing off his tattoos and his form-fitting underwear. The commercials will run during Super Bowl 46, airing live on NBC this Sunday.
All four Beatles will soon have their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Paul McCartney, the last of the Fab Four to be honored on the Walk, will be added next week with star number the two-thousand-460. It will be place in front of the Capitol Records Building on North Vine Street, adjacent to those of fellow Beatles John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The unveiling ceremony set for a significant date -- February 9th -- which will be the 48th anniversary of The Beatles' first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The event, which is open to the public, will begin at 2:00 p.m. local time.
America is also getting a star on the Walk of Fame next week. Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell will be on hand for the unveiling ceremony in their honor on Monday at 11:30 a.m. local time. John Stamos and Billy Bob Thornton are scheduled to speak at the event, which is also open to the public. America's star will be placed in front of The Musicians Institute on Hollywood Boulevard.
Add Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to the growing list of artists set to perform at this month's Grammy Awards. "The Boss" and his company join previously announced performers Adele, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj, among others in the lineup. Bruce and the Band just announced plans to release their new album "Wrecking Ball" on March 6th with plans to tour. It will mark their first outing since the death of saxophonist Clarence Clemons last June. "We Take Care Of Our Own," the first single from "Wrecking Ball," was released last month.
The list of Grammy performers also include Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Glen Campbell, Coldplay, Rihanna, Bruno Mars and Blake Shelton. The Grammys will be broadcast on CBS on February 12th.
Jon Bon Jovi will be featured in the premiere of the revived CBS series "Person to Person." The show gives viewers a look into the private lives of celebrities and other public figures. The New Jersey rocker opens up his riverfront home to CBS' Lara Logan and Charlie Rose. He shows off some of his most valued possessions, and explains why they mean so much to him. The episode will also feature George Clooney, who also lets "Person to Person" into his home in Los Angeles, and billionaire Warren Buffett, who takes viewers into his private office in Omaha, Nebraska. The debut of the new "Person to Person" will air on CBS Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
It's been more than 50 years since "Person to Person" has been on the air. The series was originally on CBS from 1953 until 1961. During its initial eight-year run the show featured such guests as Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, and Harpo Marx, as well as author John Steinbeck, Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline, and Fidel Castro.
Steven Tyler is involved in this weekend's pregame festivities surrounding Super Bowl 46. The Aerosmith frontman and current "American Idol" judge will join former "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood for a special edition of the CMT series "Crossroads." The series pairs country singers with artists from different genres to perform each other's music and see where their interests and influences intersect. "CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam" will air live on CMT Saturday night at 11:00 p.m. Eastern.
Lionel Richie will be involved on the new season of NBC's "The Voice," which is making its return this weekend. The R&B star will join singer-songwriter Jewel in serving as an advisor to coach Christina Aguilera as she mentors her team. Season two of the singing competition will begin with a special broadcast Sunday night following the Super Bowl. The show will then air at it's regular time, Monday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, starting next week.
The late Don Cornelius is receiving a TV tribute. This weekend's "Bounce TV Remembers Don Cornelius" salute will include seven-hours of "Soul Train." The marathon will span the '70s through the '90s, starting with the first syndicated episode from 1971, which featured Gladys Knight. Other episodes will include Al Green from 1972, The Commodores from 1977, and Kool and the Gang from 1983. Episodes showcasing Janet Jackson and En Vogue will also air, along with the last "Soul Train" featuring Cornelius as the host. TLC's Chilli will host "Bounce TV Remembers Don Cornelius," which will air Saturday night starting at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Cornelius was found at his home in Sherman Oaks, California Wednesday. The famed record and TV producer apparently took his own life. He was 75.
Gladys Knight is among those remembering the late "Soul Train" legend Don Cornelius. She tells CNN Cornelius' influence on pop culture goes far beyond his weekly television show. Knight recalls the last time she saw Cornelius, saying although he was "pretty sick," his spirit was still strong. In 2009, Cornelius stated in divorce papers that he was suffering from "significant health issues." Sources tell TMZ.com that Cornelius had suffered a stroke in recent years and had brain surgery. Legendary producer Quincy Jones also reacted to Cornelius' passing in a statement saying he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of his "friend, colleague and business partner." Jones called Cornelius "a visionary pioneer and a giant in our business," adding, "Before MTV there was 'Soul Train.' That will be the great legacy of Don Cornelius."
Stevie Wonder says he's "shocked" and "brokenhearted" over the sudden death of "Soul Train" icon Don Cornelius. The music great tells CNN Cornelius' passing is a great loss for many. Wonder first played his hit song "Superstition" on "Soul Train" in the 1970s. He recalls performing another tune during his visit on the show, one that he called "Soul Train With Don Cornelius." Cornelius died Wednesday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities are ruling his death a suicide. Cornelius' final years were marked with legal issues and some controversy. He was arrested for domestic violence in late 2008 and sentenced to three years probation in 2009 after pleading no contest to spousal battery. That same year, Cornelius stated in divorce papers that he was suffering from "significant health issues." Funeral arrangements are pending. Don Cornelius was 75.
Kenny Gamble says he's proud of his contribution to "Soul Train." He and Leon Huff wrote "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)," which was the "Soul Train" theme. The famed songwriter and producer tells Billboard.com it took some effort to get Don Cornelius to agree to having a theme song on his show. Gamble adds that it took a while for him and Huff to come up with the song, which made selling Don on the theme idea even harder. Kenny says even after Cornelius OKed the theme, he still refused to let them use the words "Soul Train" in the title.
Gamble and Huff recorded the track with MFSB and the Three Degrees. In addition to being the "Soul Train" theme, "TSOP" was released as a single which topped the charts. Kenny remembers that following the success of the song Cornelius admitted he was wrong to bar them from incorporating the "Soul Train" name in the song's title. He says every time they met up, Don would always tell him that it was the "dumbest move" he ever made.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are headed to the Apollo Theater. The group will make their performance debut at the famed Harlem venue in a special concert event celebrating the 10th anniversary of satellite radio. SiriusXM is behind the show, which is set for March 9th. The concert will be carried live on the Sirius XM E Street Radio channel. Springsteen and the E Street Band will take the stage at the Apollo just a few days after their new album, "Wrecking Ball," arrives in stores. The album, featuring the single "We Take Care Of Our Own," will be released on March 6th. The show is separate from the band's upcoming tour. The Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2012 U.S. tour will begin in Atlanta on March 18th.
An extensive and diverse lineup is on board for Paul McCartney's upcoming MusiCares salute. Neil Young and Crazy Horse will make their first public appearance in seven years at the event, while James Taylor, Duane Eddy, Tony Bennett, and Sergio Mendes are also set to participate. Other performers include Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, and Alison Krauss and Union Station. Coldplay, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and the cast of the Cirque du Soleil show "Love" will also contribute to the ceremony, while McCartney himself is expected to perform as well. British actor-comedian Eddie Izzard will serve as host. The 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will take place in Los Angeles on February 10th -- two days before the 54th annual Grammy Awards.
The annual concert and dinner honors artists for their career achievements as well as their humanitarian efforts. The event also raises money for MusiCares, a Recording Academy charity that helps musicians in need.
Lisa Marie Presley says the new exhibit at Graceland sparks a lot of emotions in her. "Elvis...Through His Daughter's Eyes" features memorabilia that depicts the music icon as a dad. Displays include a recreation of Lisa Marie's nursery. She tells "USA Today" she "gasped" when she saw it, and admits she was "going between laughter and wanting to break down in tears." Other items that are very personal to her are a golf cart key, which she says was "the key to my freedom, and to my showing off;" and a wallet photo of Elvis hugging her that she hadn't seen prior to putting together the exhibit. Lisa Marie admits she'd like to keep it at her own home but adds that she'd most likely lose it, so she thinks it's "best if it stays in Graceland." "Elvis...Through His Daughter's Eyes" officially opened on Wednesday. The exhibit will be up at the Memphis mansion for two years.
Ringo Starr is one of the many musicians who owe their careers to the late Buddy Holly. On TBS' "Conan" last night, the former Beatle said the pioneering artist was one of several stars who introduced him to a new style of music. Ringo is currently promoting his new album, "Ringo 2012." The album includes a cover of Holly's "Think It Over." Today marks the 53rd anniversary of Holly's final concert, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa. Soon afterwards, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, 1959, Holly was killed in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper." The first great rock and roll tragedy has been dubbed "The Day The Music Died."
Ringo Starr says his British accent has become watered down since he now spends so much time in America. But he tells CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" he sounds unmistakably Liverpudlian after spending even just a short time in his hometown of Liverpool, England. Ringo also performed two songs on the show, "Wings" from his new album "Ringo 2012" and the vintage Beatles track "I Wanna Be Your Man." The former Beatle is currently promoting his latest release, which arrived in stores this week. Ringo will be a guest on TBS' "Conan" tonight.
A few details are coming out about Paul McCartney's upcoming performance at the Grammy Awards. The show's executive producer Ken Ehrlich tells Billboard.biz that Paul will sing his new song, "My Valentine" during the ceremony. Ehrlich calls the track "exquisite," adding that the listener can "hear 'Yesterday' in it vocally." Given the tone of the song, which comes from the pre-rock era, Ehrlich says he intends to shoot the performance with a single camera. He explains that he wants to capture McCartney "from a perspective that harkens back to a classic look, when there were only three networks and when color TV was new." Ehrlich says he's decided to go this route because "it fits the song" and he believes it "adds impact to the song." He also admits that it gives him "a chance to do something" he "can't do with Nicki Minaj."
"My Valentine" is from McCartney's upcoming CD, "Kisses on the Bottom," which will be in stores on February 7th. The former Beatle is a nominee at the event with his album "Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)," which is a contender for Best Historical Album. The 54th annual Grammy Awards will be presented at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and air on CBS on February 12th.
Barry Manilow isn't quite ready to return to the stage. The singer is postponing concerts scheduled in Chicago this weekend because he needs more time to recover from recent hip surgery. He says in a post on his fan club website that he and his team are "greatly disappointed and feel terrible" that they are "disappointing so many others," because they've "all worked very hard on creating the new show." Barry adds that he's also "spent hours with physical therapists to get back in shape," but his hips "just aren't ready yet, and these hips don't lie." Manilow underwent a procedure in December to repair ripped abductor muscles and the bursas in both hips. At that time he anticipated being back on his feet in six weeks, and thought he'd be ready to resume performing by late January.
Manilow was originally expected to launch his 2012 tour with a three-night stand in Chicago on February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Those dates have been rescheduled for July 12th, 13th, and 14th. Barry is now slated to begin his road work with a four-concert run at New York's Radio City Music Hall on February 10th, 11th, 12th, and 14th.
On James Taylor's last tour he was the guest, not the performer. "The Berkshire Eagle" says the singer-songwriter took part in a satellite chat Sunday 1/29/12 with astronaut Dan Burbank, who's currently aboard the International Space Station. During their meeting Burbank gave Taylor a tour of the ISS and shared some about his life orbiting roughly 200 miles above the Earth. Taylor called the facility's research studio "unbelievable," and was in awe when he saw the Earth appear in the corner of the video screen. The two also discussed music. Burbank has been learning guitar through Taylor's virtual lessons on his website. James was curious about how Dan held the guitar in space, saying, "I rely on gravity myself." Dan showed him the special Velcro strap he uses to keep the instrument from drifting away. The two also played a duet of Taylor's "Secret O' Life," which Burbank said was one of his favorite songs.
Taylor's personal assistant Ellyn Kusmin arranged the satellite chat through NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston after receiving an e-mail from Burbank, explaining that he simply sent in a request to meet the singer-songwriter. She says Taylor receives roughly a thousand e-mails a month, and she tries to read and respond to as many as possible. Ellyn admits that at first she thought Dan's e-mail was a hoax, and now she's "very glad" she acted on it.
Neil Young is not a fan of digital audio. At the D: Drive Into Media conference the veteran rocker said people might think digital audio sounds good, but the format is actually "degrading our music, not improving it." But he's not blaming the technology. He explained that the way it's being used "isn't doing justice to the art," because it only captures about "five-percent of the data present in the original recording." Neil said the digital age has provided a lot of convenience at the expense of quality, which shouldn't be the case. He added that he's striving to change things, and speculates that "some rich guy" will eventually come along with new hardware that does the trick.
Young said Steve Jobs had been working on such a project. He called the late computer genius "a pioneer of digital music" who left a "tremendous" legacy. But he added that even Jobs, when he was at home, "listened to vinyl." However, Young believes that had Jobs "lived long enough, he would have done what I'm trying to do."
Steven Tyler is taking up residence in Hawaii. "The Wall Street Journal" says the Aerosmith frontman and "American Idol" judge recently bought a house on Maui. The three-thousand-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home sits on a quarter-acre of land in a nature preserve near Wailea. The house is a five-sided structure that features several decks with ocean views. Inside the home boasts an aquarium that reaches from the floor to the ceiling. The place also comes with a saltwater pool. The home was listed for six-point-five-million, but Tyler didn't pay that much for it. The rocker got the house for four-point-eight-million. Steven bought the house from a vineyard owner in Napa Valley, California, who said he was selling the property because he wasn't using it all that much.
Last month Tyler spent the Christmas holiday in Maui, which is where he reportedly proposed to his fiancée Erin Brady. However, it's not clear whether they stayed at this particular house while they were in Hawaii.
Peter Frampton is launching the 2012 edition of the "Frampton Comes Alive! 35 Tour" with a show in York, Pennsylvania Wednesday night. The road trip is a continuation of his 35th anniversary celebration for his massive 1976 album "Frampton Comes Alive." Peter's three-hour concerts include performances of "Frampton Comes Alive" in its entirety along with other material from his lengthy career. The trek's 33 dates include a stop at The Marin Center in San Rafael, California -- the only venue where Peter recorded portions of "Frampton Comes Alive" back in the 1970s that still remains.
For this tour Frampton plans to play the same guitar he used on "Frampton Comes Alive." The 1954 Gibson Les Paul had been missing for more than 30 years. It was thought to have burned up in a fiery plane crash in Venezuela back in 1980, but was recently discovered in Curacao. Frampton was reunited with the instrument in Nashville in December. Last month, while discussing the guitar's return, Peter said it needed some repairs but he expected to be able to take it with him on this trek.
Peter Frampton Tour Dates
February 3 - Lynn, Massachusetts, at The Lynn Memorial Auditorium
February 4 - Worcester, Massachusetts, at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
February 7 - Portland, Maine, at the State Theatre
February 8 - Morristown, New Jersey, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center
February 10 - Albany, New York, at the Palace Theater
February 11 - Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, at the Tower Theatre
February 14 - New Bedford, Massachusetts, at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
February 16 - Westbury, New York, at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury
February 18 - New York, New York, at the Beacon Theatre
February 19 - Washington, DC, at the Warner Theatre
February 21 - Newark, Ohio, at the Midland Theater
February 22 - Akron, Ohio, at the Akron Civic Theatre
February 24 - Windsor, Ontario, Canada, at the Caesars Windsor-The Colosseum
February 25 - Chicago, Illinois, at the Chicago Theatre
February 27 - Springfield, Missouri, at the Gillioz Theater
February 29 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Pabst Theater
March 1 - Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Old National Centre, Murat Theatre
March 7 - Mesa, Arizona, at the Mesa Arts Center-Ikeda Theater
March 9 - Temecula, California, at the Pechanga Resort and Casino
March 10 - Indio, California, at the Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino
March 12 - Bakersfield, California, at the Fox Theatre
March 14 - Long Beach, California, at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre
March 16 - Reno, Nevada, at the Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
March 17 - San Rafael, California, at The Marin Center
March 19 - Medford, Oregon, at the Craterain-Ginger Rogers Theater
March 20 - Redding, California, at the Cascade Theatre
March 23 -Tacoma, Washington, at the Pantages Theater
March 24 - Walla Walla, Washington, at the Cordiner Hall
March 27 - Denver, Colorado, at the Paramount Theatre
March 28 - Deadwood, South Dakota, at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel & Casino
March 30 - St Louis, Missouri, at the Peabody Opera House
March 31 - Omaha, Nebraska, at the Orpheum Theater
The Yardbirds are back to the U.S. for a short series of shows. The Yardbirds include original drummer Jim McCarty along with guitarist Ben King, bassist David Smale, and singer Andy Mitchell. While founding guitarist Chris Dreja is also still in the band, a recent illness is forcing him him to skip this tour. Vanilla Fudge, featuring original members Carmine Appice, Vince Martell, and Mark Stein along with singer-bassist Pete Bremy, will also perform on most dates.
The Yardbirds-Vanilla Fudge Tour Dates
February 3 - New York, New York, at Irving Plaza
February 4 - Glenside, Pennsylvania, at the Keswick Theatre
February 6 - Alexandria, Virginia, at The Birchmere - The Yardbirds only
February 8 - Tarrytown, New York, at the Tarrytown Music Hall
February 9 - New Brunswick, New Jersey, at the State Theatre
William Shatner is making his show accessible to more fans. Pollstar.com says the noted actor's one-man production, "Shatner's World: We Just Live In It," will leave New York following its three-week run on Broadway on a month-long tour. A post on his website describes the show as "a voyage through Shatner's life and career, from Shakespearean stage actor to internationally known icon and raconteur." His legacy also includes a few albums, including 1968's "The Transformed Man," 2004's "Has Been," and last year's "Seeking Major Tom." Shatner has 15 dates scheduled throughout March and April, with stops set in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Cleveland, and other cities. He'll launch the trek in Los Angeles on March 10th, and wrap it up in Detroit on April 19th.
Shatner says he's "looking forward to taking this show in the road and playing for audiences across the country," adding that it's taken him "80 years to get this show right!" He'll be performing in Dallas on March 22nd -- his 81st birthday. Shatner's run at Broadway's Music Box Theater begins on February 14th.
William Shatner's "Shatner's World: We Just Live In It" Tour Dates
February 14-21 - New York, New York, at the Music Box Theater
February 23-27 - New York, New York, at the Music Box Theater
March 1-4 - New York, New York, at the Music Box Theater
March 10 - Los Angeles, California, at the Pantages Theater
March 11 - San Francisco, California, at the Orpheum Theater
March 13 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Merriam Theater
March 15 - Minneapolis, Minnesota, at The Orpheum Theater
March 16 - Chicago, Illinois, at the Auditorium Theater
March 18 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Riverside Theater
March 20 - Denver, Colorado, at the Temple Hoyne Buell Theater
March 22 - Dallas, Texas, at the Majestic Theater
March 23 - Houston, Texas, at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
April 12 - St. Louis, Missouri, at the Peabody Opera House
April 13 - Cincinnati, Ohio, at Procter & Gamble Hall
April 14 - Cleveland, Ohio, at the State Theater
April 15 - Columbus, Ohio, at Palace Theater
April 17 - Charlotte, North Carolina, at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center
April 19 - Detroit, Michigan, at the Detroit Opera House
Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan wants Newt Gingrich to stop using the band's 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger" in his campaign. "The Chicago Sun-Times" says the rocker has filed a lawsuit against the Republican presidential hopeful for playing the song at campaign appearances and other political events. Sullivan, who co-wrote the song with former Survivor frontman Jim Peterik, claims Gingrich's unauthorized use of the track dates back to 2009. He filed his suit through his publishing company, Rude Music Inc., in a federal court in Chicago court on Monday.
Al Green might be making a guest appearance on an upcoming episode of "American Idol" to take part in a special performance. "Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe recently sent a tweet to President Obama inviting him to come on the show this season to sing "Let's Stay Together" with Green. Lythgoe said he loved Obama's brief rendition of the classic song during his speech at the Apollo Theater earlier this month. So far, the White House hasn't sent an RSVP.
The video of the president singing the first line of the R&B hit quickly went viral, and inspired the Obama campaign to offer the brief performance as a ringtone. The moment also brought renewed interest in the original version of the song. Downloads of Green's "Let's Stay Together" were up by nearly 500-percent in the days immediately following the Obama event.
Ringo's new album is in stores. The lead-off single from "Ringo 2012" is the track "Wings," and the former Beatle is challenging fans in a website clip to create the video for the song. Details on submitting a "Wings" video are available at www.RingoStarr.com. "Wings" is one of nine tracks on "Ringo 2012," and one of two remakes from earlier in his career. The original version of the song appears on the 1977 album "Ringo The 4th." Another familiar tune for longtime fans is "Step Lightly," which is from the 1973 album "Ringo." The new disc also features a Buddy Holly cover and Ringo's rendition of the folk classic "Rock Island Line." "Ringo 2012" is available on CD and vinyl as well as digitally.
Ringo is making a couple of TV appearances this week in support of the album. He'll be a guest on tonight's edition of CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson." On Wednesday Ringo will visit TBS' "Conan." In a separate website video Ringo adds that once his promotional efforts for the album are behind him he'll start planning another All Starr Band tour. Details on the trek are expected soon.
Journey guitarist Neal Schon's relationship with former "Real Housewives" star Michaele Salahi is providing the storyline for the band's next video. TMZ.com says the band recently shot the clip for the song "Resonate," which Neal and Michaele reportedly call their "love story." A source says Schon come up with the idea of turning the spotlight on him and his girlfriend in the video, which his bandmates are said to have embraced. "Resonate" is from Journey's 2011 album, "Eclipse." Given the video's romantic theme, Journey plans to unveil the clip on Valentine's Day.
Former Supertramp frontman Roger Hodgson is planning to hit the road this year. The rocker will kick off his Breakfast In America Tour with a two-night stand in Temecula, California on February 24th and 25th. He has a total of ten shows scheduled so far, including another two-night stand in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 3rd and 4th. More dates are expected to be added to the trek. At the shows Hodgson will give audiences his renditions of Supertramp classics including "Give A Little Bit," "The Logical Song," and "Take the Long Way Home." Roger says he still loves singing these songs, and admits they're still very special to him. He explains that his songs "come from a very personal place" and reflect his beliefs, dreams, and philosophy of life.
Roger Hodgson's Breakfast In America Tour Dates
February 24 & 25 - Temecula, California, Pechanga Resort Casino
February 26 - Chandler, Arizona, at Wild Horse Pass Casino
February 28 - Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the Hard Rock Casino - The Joint
March 2 - Hinckley, Minnesota, at the Grand Casino Hinckley
March 3 & 4 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Potawatomi Casino/Northern Lights Theater
March 7 - Hollywood, Florida, at the Hard Rock Live
March 8 - Fort Pierce, Florida, at the Sunrise Theatre
August 17 - Lincoln, Rhode Island, at the Twin River Casino Event Center
A Rolling Stones museum in northern Germany is drawing complaints over the men's room facilities. "The Los Angeles Times" says women are upset about the urinals, which are based on the Stones' famous lips and tongue logo modeled after frontman Mick Jagger's mouth. However, the tongue is missing from these structures, which is the problem one woman says she has with the urinals. Roda Armbruster tells Hamburg's NDR network that she'd be OK with them if the tongue were included, but without it the receptacles simply look like a woman's open mouth -- not Jagger's -- which she finds demeaning.
One local official says roughly a dozen women have complained about the urinals, but Rolling Stones Fan Museum founder Ulrich Schroeder doesn't plan to make any changes to the bathroom. He calls the urinals "art" that don't represent a man's or a woman's mouth, and adds that they're "staying."
Aretha Franklin and Leonard Cohen have new albums in stores. The hits compilation "Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998" includes a number of collaborations, such as her hit with the Eurythimcs, "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves," her cover of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" featuring Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, and duets with Elton John and Whitney Houston. The previously unreleased mix of "Ever Changing Times," Franklin's duet with Michael McDonald, is also on the album.
Cohen's "Old Ideas" is the legendary singer-songwriter's first collection of new studio material in eight years, following 2004's "Dear Heather." On the album Cohen addresses topics that have been themes throughout his career, such as love, faith, betrayal, and redemption. He tells "The New York Times" his subject matter surrounds "old unresolved ideas, old moral questions" that "have been rattling around in the mind of the culture for a long time." Cohen's return to the studio follows his 2009-2010 world tour. Cohen is also planning to tour in support of "Old Ideas."
Roberta Flack is seeing interest in her version of "We Can Work It Out." The track is from her upcoming cover album "Let It Be Roberta: Robert Flack Sings The Beatles." The single is now in the top 20 on the Smooth AC chart, while it was the number one most added song on the Mainstream AC chart and the second-most added among Urban AC stations. "Let It Be Roberta" is Flack's first album in nearly a decade, following her 2003 effort, "Holiday." The new disc includes Roberta's rendition of 12 Beatles songs. Other tracks include "Hey Jude, "Come Together," "Here, There, And Everywhere," and "In My Life." "Let It Be Roberta" is due in stores on February 7th. Roberta is also planning to tour behind the project.
Fans who want to continue showing their "love, loyalty and support" can send messages to Presley through the fan club. Ryan says in the website post that she "will be happy to forward any cards to Reg." The Troggs formed in 1964 and were most prominent in the mid '60s. The band is best known for the hits "Wild Thing," "With a Girl Like You," and "Love Is All Around."
Peter, Paul, and Mary's bassist has died. "The New York Times" says Dick Kniss [[ k-niss]] passed away in Kingston, New York last Wednesday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 74. Kniss played stand-up bass behind Peter, Paul, and Mary for more than 40 years, and many considered him to be the unofficial "fourth" member of the legendary folk trio. He performed with the group from 1964 until their breakup in 1970. Dick returned to the trio with their reunion in 1978, and remained with them until Mary Travers' death in 2009. During that eight-year break period in the 1970s Dick worked with John Denver, and co-wrote Denver's hit "Sunshine On My Shoulders."
Peter Yarrow praises Kniss as an innovative bassist who "didn't think in terms of the pop point of view." He says Dick's unique perspective allowed him to "develop melodic lines to complement our voices" on the bass. Paul Stookey adds that Dick's creativity made studio work difficult for him because he found repeating the same musical passages boring. But he says Kniss shined on stage.
Van Halen's David Lee Roth admits he's not sure if he believes in "second chances," but he appears to be getting one with the band. The singer is officially back in the fold following a 28-year absence, and he agrees that he's very lucky for it. He tells "The Los Angeles Times" that he and his bandmates "love what we do for a living." He adds that they've "managed to stretch our adolescence like a Chiclet to the moon," and "maintained the respectful dignities along the way that got us on that turnpike up in the first place." Roth explains that the group's 40-year history is a rocky one that has a lot to do with the power and temperament of guitarist Eddie Van Halen. But David says these days Eddie is "doing really well." While Eddie has gone through a number of health problems, ranging from substance abuse to cancer, Roth says the guitarist is "lucid, he's sober, he's playing."
Van Halen is prepping for the release of their new album "A Different Kind Of Truth," which will be in stores on February 7th. The disc is the band's first since their 1998 effort, "Van Halen 3," and their first with Roth since the album "1984." Van Halen will support the new project, which features the single "Tattoo," with a tour that starts in Louisville, Kentucky on February 18th.
Dion DiMucci is focused on his most recent work, the album "Tank Full of Blues," but he holds no animosity against his more commercial past. The singer tells Spinner.com it's a "natural thing" for him to "respect all those old tunes" like "Runaround Sue," "The Wanderer," and "Teenager in Love." He says those songs actually mean more and are "even more valuable" to him now. Dion explains that these songs hold memories that he treasures, and says they're "like sharing your childhood." But he adds that he's not interested in living in the past, and he still likes to "grow and explore."
DiMucci says one of his favorite songs on "Tank Full of Blues" is "Ride's Blues (for Robert Johnson)." He explains that it's based on an "imaginary conversation" with the blues legend, adding that he "never bought or even liked the folklore idea" that Johnson "sold his soul to the devil." Dion says that in writing the song he just let himself "get lost in the concept," and he's "very happy" with it. Dion's "Tank Full of Blues" is in stores now.
The Elton John-Leon Russell film "The Union" is set to have its U.S. TV premiere this week. The documentary will have its debut airing on HBO Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Additional showings are scheduled on both HBO and HBO2 throughout the month. Meanwhile, Elton John is slated to appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" this morning.
Tickets go on sale today for Roger Waters' New York City concert. The former Pink Floyd bassist will bring his "The Wall" tour to Yankee Stadium on July 6th. Tickets are available via livenation.com and ticketmaster.com. Rogers just launched the trek over the weekend in Australia.
Mötley Crüe is on board for a special Super Bowl commercial. The band is featured in a star-packed ad for the new Kia Optima Limited, performing their 1989 single "Kickstart My Heart." Bassist Nikki Sixx says the group "had a blast" making the commercial. He also thinks it's a pretty good spot, adding, "A hot model, a fast car, a pro fighter, pyrotechnics and rock 'n' roll...What's not to love?" The spot includes cameos from mixed martial arts legend Chuck Liddell, Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima, and champion bull rider Judd Leffew. The commercial opens with The Chordettes' 1954 hit "Mr. Sandman" as an actual Mr. Sandman sprinkles "Sweet Dreams" dust on a young sleeping couple. But he overdoes it on the man, and sends him into a wild, star-studded fantasy.
The Kia "Drive the Dream" ad will actually premiere before the Super Bowl. The full spot is slated to run in movie theaters across the country on February 2nd. The 60-second TV version will debut on NBC three days later, on Super Bowl Sunday, airing during the fourth quarter of the big game.
Madonna might not be the only star appearing in the Super Bowl halftime show. TheInsider.com says the pop superstar has tapped R&B singer Cee Lo Green to join her for the big event. Cee Lo has reportedly made several trips to New York City over the past two weeks to work with her on the performance. TheInsider says Cee Lo is going to "bring a new sound to some of Madonna's classic hits." Earlier this week Madonna offered a few hints about her set at the upcoming game, saying she would be performing "some oldies but goodies" along with her new single "Give Me All Your Love." Super Bowl 46 will air on NBC live from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 5th.
Cee Lo is perhaps best known for the Gnarls Barkley hit "Crazy" as well as his own alternately titled chart-topper "Forget You." He's also one of the mentors on the reality series "The Voice," which will launch its second season on NBC immediately following the game.
Interest in Etta James' music has surged following her death. Billboard.com says her album sales increased by 378-percent in the week ending on January 22nd, which was just two days after she died. In addition, three of her albums are appearing on the new Billboard 200 chart. "The Best of Etta James - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection" is rising from number 162 to number 46, and giving Etta her highest placement ever on that chart. Her previous best was the album "At Last," which peaked at number 68 in 1961. Sales of the album "At Last" rose by more than 900-percent to put it back on the chart at number 96. In addition, the compilation "Her Best" saw a four-thousand-226-percent increase in sales and makes its chart debut number 59.
Meanwhile, 63-thousand downloads of the song "At Last" were sold, an increase of one-thousand-361-percent over the previous week which puts the track at number 29 on the Digital Songs chart. By comparison, in the single's first chart run "At Last" peaked at number 47 on the Hot 100 in February 1961. A total of 118-thousand Etta James downloads sold last week, an improvement of one-thousand-91-percent. More than half of the song downloads were of "At Last."
The Main Ingredient frontman Cuba Gooding Sr. wouldn't mind breaking into the film industry. But his son, actor Cuba Gooding Jr., tells ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" his dad isn't interested in becoming an actor. The Main Ingredient also features George Staley Sr. and Larry Moore. The band is perhaps best known for the 1972 hit "Everybody Plays the Fool." The group is still active, and is among the acts slated to take part in the 2013 Soul Train Cruise. In addition, Cuba Gooding Sr. is busy these days developing a new entertainment complex in Baja California, Mexico.
The tour is the first for the E Street Band without founding member Clarence Clemons, who died last summer. The group hasn't said how they plan to address his absence. In addition to his musical contributions as a sax player, Clarence was a prominent stage personality at the shows. The E Street Band currently includes singer-guitarists Steve Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, and Patti Scialfa; keyboardist Roy Bittan; bassist Garry Tallent; and drummer Max Weinberg; along with keyboardist Charlie Giordano and singer-guitarist-violinist Soozie Tyrell.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2012 U.S. Tour Dates
March 18 - Atlanta, Georgia, at the Philips Arena - tickets on sale February 4th
March 19 - Greensboro, North Carolina, at the Greensboro Coliseum - tickets on sale February 3rd
March 23 - Tampa, Florida, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum - tickets on sale January 28th
March 26 - Boston, Massachusetts, at the TD Garden - tickets on sale January 28th
March 28 & 29 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Wells Fargo Center - tickets on sale January 28th
April 1 - Washington, DC, at the Verizon Center - tickets on sale January 28th
April 3 & 4 - East Rutherford, New Jersey, at the Izod Center - tickets on sale January 27th
April 6 & 9 - New York, New York, at Madison Square Garden - tickets on sale January 27th
April 12 - Detroit, Michigan, at The Palace of Auburn Hills - tickets on sale January 28th
April 13 - Buffalo, New York, at the First Niagara Center - tickets on sale January 28th
April 16 - Albany, New York, at the Times Union Center - tickets on sale January 28th
April 17 - Cleveland, Ohio, at the Quicken Loans Arena - tickets on sale January 28th
April 24 - San Jose, California, at the HP Pavilion - tickets on sale February 3rd
April 26 - Los Angeles, California, at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena - tickets on sale February 3rd
April 29 - New Orleans, Louisiana, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - tickets on sale now
May 2 - Newark, New Jersey, at the Prudential Center - tickets on sale January 27th
Madonna is finding it exhausting to put together a Super Bowl halftime show. People.com says the pop superstar addressed the upcoming event at Monday's New York premiere of her movie "W.E." She told reporters that she was "really tired" from working so hard on her performance for the big game. She also admitted that taking part in such a major sporting event has her "extremely nervous," but she's also finding it thrilling. Madonna explained that these days her life "seems to be made up of 'I never imagined I'd be here' moments." The singer also gave a few hints about her Super Bowl show, saying her 12-and-a-half-minute set would include "some oldies but goodies" as well as her new single "Give Me All Your Love." The Super Bowl will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 5th -- two days after "W.E." arrives in theaters.
Three weeks after the Super Bowl is the Academy Awards, and "W.E." is among the nominees. The film is in the running for Costume Design, along with "Anonymous," "Jane Eyre," and the event's top contenders "Hugo" and "The Artist." However, while the "W.E." track "Masterpiece" gave Madonna a Golden Globe award earlier this month, it's not in the running for an Oscar. The song was deemed ineligible for consideration due to its placement in the film.
Steven Tyler has ticked off one recently rejected "American Idol" auditioner. Jennifer Diley, who performed during last Sunday's broadcast, claims the Aerosmith frontman told her she would advance to Hollywood but then shot her down. The hopeful caught the attention of viewers -- and supposedly Tyler as well -- by auditioning in a tube top and a pair of short jean shorts. She says the rocker voiced his approval of her outfit before she performed, and even told her that she had "already won the damn thing." Diley also alleges that she was forced by "Idol" producers to pick from a list of "flirty" songs.
While Fox has declined to comment on Diley's song selection, Tyler's manager is standing up for his client. Eric Sherman sarcastically tells TMZ.com that he's "shocked" to hear that Steven would flirt with a "provocatively dressed woman." "American Idol" will return tonight with an all-new episode starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Fox.
Mick Jagger isn't attending in the Great British Tea Party in Switzerland today as originally scheduled. The Rolling Stones frontman left Davos last night after learning that his invitation to the event, which is taking place in conjunction with the World Economic Forum, came with strings attached. He says in a statement that he thought the gala would "be stimulating," because he's "always been interested in economics and world events." But he says he's since discovered that he was actually "being used as a political football" by Prime Minister David Cameron and the UK's Conservative Party, so he's cut his visit short. Jagger adds that the ordeal has led to "a lot of comment" about his political views which he says are "inaccurate."
While Jagger says he thought he'd been invited to the Great British Tea Party simply as "a guest," a senior government official claimed the rocker would be taking a more active role in the event. The unnamed source told the UK's "The Sun" that Mick was on board to help the prime minister "sell Britain to the world." The source added that people in Cameron's office were "tickled pink" over having his support in launching an international investment campaign for the UK.
Lionel Richie may have gotten stuck on a few of his classics. The singer has been working on a duets album with some of country music's biggest stars, including Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, and Shania Twain. He says he was surprised to find out that they knew all his songs. Lionel has been working on "Tuskegee" for more than a year in order to get as many people on the project as he could. The final tally is 13 songs, with a new twist put on them by the country stars who joined him. Lionel says he encouraged the singers to do their own versions of the songs they chose. As much as he praised the folks who contribute to the CD, his duet partners had nothing but admiration for him. Darius Rucker says it was "an absolute honor" to work with Lionel, while Jason Aldean adds that Richie is "probably one of the best singer-songwriters of this generation." "Tuskegee" will be released on March 27th.
Sharon Osbourne and Liv Tyler are both thrilled with the changes taking place in their families. Ozzy Osbourne's wife tells "People" magazine she's very excited about the impending arrival of son Jack's first child, and predicts she'll be "the grandmother from hell." Sharon admits she won't be surprised if she drives Jack and his fiancee Lisa crazy, because she knows she's going to "spoil this baby so bad." However, Osbourne says she hasn't purchased anything for the baby just yet, because she's "very superstitious."
Liv Tyler, meanwhile, says she's all in favor of dad Steven Tyler's upcoming wedding. Over the Christmas holiday the Aerosmith frontman popped the question to Erin Brady, his girlfriend for the past five years. Liv tells "People" she thinks her father's decision to get married is a good one, because Steven and Erin have been a couple for "a long, long time." She adds that she likes Erin "very much." This will be Steven's third trip down the aisle, following two marriages that ended in divorce.
It looks as if the Queen Of Soul will remain the "queen of solo" for the moment. Just weeks after announcing her engagement to longtime friend William "Willie" Wilkerson, Aretha Franklin has called it off. In a statement released Monday, Franklin said she and Wilkerson decided they were "moving a little too fast" toward the altar. She said, "there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly" and that "there will be no wedding at this time." Franklin said they would not comment on the situation any further due to the "very personal and sensitive nature of it." People.com says the statement was signed "Aretha and Will."
Earlier this month, the 69-year-old singer said she and Wilkerson were hoping to tie the knot in June or July, marking what would have been Franklin's third marriage. Aretha also jokingly shot down any possible rumors about her engagement in her announcement, stating, quote, "And no, I'm not pregnant."
Robin Gibb is confirming that he has cancer. The singer addresses his health in a lengthy article he wrote for the UK's "Daily Mail." While he primarily focuses on his orchestral debut, "The Titanic Requiem," he admits that he's been battling colon cancer which has spread to his liver. Gibb says his health problems began nearly two years ago, when he developed an inflamed colon. The Bee Gees legend adds that he's undergone chemotherapy and says his doctor tells him the results of the treatments "have been spectacular." He also admits that while the disease has "taken a toll," he's "never felt seriously ill" and has "mostly felt great."
Gibb also takes time to "dispel" a number of "false claims" that have surfaced in recent months. He says that over the course of his illness he's "never been at death's door." Robin adds that he isn't working with "a team of alternative doctors," but admits that he's "not averse to healthy remedies for any illness," and believes they can "go together with conventional medicine." Gibb says his wife Dwina has been supplementing his care with "health foods" and "herbal teas," but his primary care is coming from a doctor at The London Clinic.
Gibbs' "The Titanic Requiem," which he's written with his son R.J., will be released in March. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will give the debut performance of the project in London on April 10th, which will be the 100th anniversary of the Titanic leaving port in Southampton, England on its ill-fated transatlantic voyage.
Meat Loaf's landmark album "Bat Out Of Hell" turns 35 this year, but don't expect the rocker to do anything special to mark the occasion. Meat tells Billboard.com anniversaries aren't important to him, and he doesn't "pay attention to that stuff." The singer has plenty of other projects to focus on this year, including the upcoming CD "Hell In A Handbasket." The album was released in Australia back in September, and the North American edition will be a little different. He says the disc came about very quickly, explaining that "everything was much more spontaneous, and it was much more off the cuff."
Meat admits the album was "rushed for Australia," and upon review he knew there were some changes he wanted to make. He says he appreciates getting this second chance, pointing out it's something artists "don't usually get to do for an album." Meat Loaf's revised, North American edition of "Hell In A Handbasket" will be in stores on March 13th.
Lionel Richie is calling his "Tuskegee" collaborators "the best bunch of brand-new old friends" he's ever had. TheBoot.com says the singer hosted a preview party for the upcoming album at his home in Beverly Hills last Friday, and shared stories about recording the songs and the country stars featured on each track. He recalled that it was challenging to sing with Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox, because Gary can take his voice to a very high range. Lionel said he was surprised that Kenny Chesney wanted to team up on the ballad "My Love," admitting that he expected Chesney to go for a party tune like "All Night Long." Richie added that his recording session with Shania Twain was special, because she was just starting to return to singing after a throat ailment forced her into a lengthy period of silence.
For "Tuskegee," Richie is revisiting his older material and giving the songs a country spin. He says he told each of his singing partners that his goal with the project was for them to take the songs and make them their own. "Tuskegee" is due in stores in March.
The Doors' Ray Manzarek says the album "L.A. Woman" came about very quickly. The keyboardist tells "Rolling Stone" the band only spent ten days in the studio recording the material, and sessions were highlighted with "a lot of banter, a lot of fun, a lot of beer." He adds that the "playing is furious," and they really worked over the songs on the album. Ray also believes "the fun we were having, the excitement, the energy, translates through the tape," and listeners can "really feel it."
The Doors are celebrating the classic album with three new releases. "L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition" features alternate takes of album cuts, including the hits "Love Her Madly," "Riders on the Storm," and the title track, as well as the recently discovered song "She Smells So Nice." "L.A. Woman: The Workshop Sessions" includes all the tracks from the "40th Anniversary Edition" as a two-disc vinyl set. The DVD "Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman" features new interviews with Manzarek and other surviving band members Robby Krieger, and John Densmore, and others who were involved in making the original 1971 album. All three titles are in stores.
A Bob Dylan tribute, a U2 DVD, and a Dion album are in stores. The human rights group Amnesty International is behind the compilation album "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International." The 75-track, four-disc set includes contributions from 80 artists including Pete Townshend, Jackson Browne, Joan Baez, Bryan Ferry, and Carly Simon. Participants covered songs Dylan either wrote or made his own for the project.
U2's film "From the Sky Down" chronicles the making of the band's pivotal 1991 album "Achtung, Baby." The DVD and Blu-Ray both include three bonus tracks as well as a Q&A session featuring Bono, The Edge and director Davis Guggenheim. Dion's "Tank Full of Blues" is the veteran rocker's first blues collection to feature a significant number of original songs. Tracks include Dion's tribute to "Rolling Stone" magazine, "I Read It (In the Rolling Stone)."
The Doors' Ray Manzarek isn't exactly encouraging people to "just say no" when it comes to drugs. Rollingstone.com says at Friday's 1/20/12 special screening of the band's new DVD "Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman," the keyboardist told the capacity crowd at L.A.'s Egyptian Theater that if they're "interested in knowing what existence is all about," he would "highly recommend LSD." "Mr. Mojo Risin'" is about the making of The Doors' 1971 release "L.A. Woman." The film will be released on DVD Tuesday, along with the "L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition" CD and the two-disc vinyl set "L.A. Woman: The Workshop Sessions."
Speaking directly with "Rolling Stone" at the event Manzarek also said he was "hoping for a reconciliation" with Doors drummer John Densmore. Ray called Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger "great musicians" who "know how to lock into that mystical place, that Zen music place." He added that it was "a shame" that they weren't still performing together. Densmore has been on the outs with Manzarek and Krieger for years over their decision to continue playing The Doors' music with other vocalists filling in for the band's late frontman Jim Morrison.
Steven Tyler is drawing plenty of criticism for his rendition of the national anthem. He sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of the New England Patriots-Baltimore Ravens playoff game Sunday on CBS, giving it a rock 'n' roll flair at the end. While the "Boston Herald" describes the performance as "decent," the paper also assembled a number of tweets that are less complimentary. Comments include "Steven Tyler arrested for murdering the National Anthem," "New England authorities are seeking out Steven Tyler for questioning in relation to a homicide on the National Anthem," and "American Idol announces Steven Tyler is no longer fit to judge others."
Ted Nugent says he's very proud of his Outdoor Channel show "Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild." The rocker says that with the show he and the network are "are making a huge positive impact about the perfection of the hands-on conservation lifestyle of hunting, fishing and trapping to an enormous new demographic." The Nuge adds that "these are the good old days of hunting and the shooting sports in America." "Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild" took two of the fan-voted categories at last week's 12th annual Golden Moose Awards. The show was named Fan Favorite Best Overall, while Ted and his wife Shemane got the nod for Fan Favorite Best Host. "Spirit of the Wild" was also also up for Fan Favorite Best Hunting, which went to "Bone Collector," while Nugent's show lost to "Driven with Pat and Nicole" for Best Big Game, a category not decided by the fans.
The Golden Moose Awards celebrate the Outdoor Channel's programs and personalities. The event took place in Las Vegas Thursday 1/19/12.
Paul McCartney is reportedly planning to hit the road this year. "The Yucatan Times" says Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco has announced via Twitter that the former Beatle will be performing in the Yucatan city of Chichén Itzá -- possibly as soon as March 21st -- as part of a 2012 tour. The governor admits everything is still tentative, explaining that no contracts have been signed and nothing has been formally set in place. If the show does pan out, it will mark Paul's performance debut in the Mexican city.
McCartney hasn't announced any plans to tour this year. He just wrapped up his 2011 "On The Run" trek in late December with a concert in his hometown of Liverpool, England. But the legendary rocker will be in North America next month. He'll be the guest of honor at the Recording Academy's 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year gala. McCartney's also on board to perform at the Grammy Awards on February 12th, just a few days after he releases his new album, "Kisses on the Bottom."
Steven Tyler is set to take part in another football-related performance. He's been tapped to join Carrie Underwood for a special edition of the CMT series "Crossroads." The "American Idol" judge and one-time "Idol" winner will team up for "CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam." The show will air live on CMT from the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fair Grounds in Indianapolis on February 4th, which is the night before Super Bowl 46. The "Crossroads" special marks the second time since he's become an "Idol" judge that Tyler has performed with Underwood. The two also sang together at last year's Academy of Country Music Awards, collaborating on Underwood's "Undo It" and Aerosmith's "Walk This Way."
Bruce Springsteen's "Wrecking Ball" will be in stores in a few months. The Boss unveiled "We Take Care Of Our Own," the first single from his upcoming 17th album on Thursday. The eleven-track album also includes "Land of Hope and Dreams," which has been part of Springsteen's live show for more than a decade. The title track is a song that Springsteen wrote specifically for the demolition of the old Giants Stadium which he debuted during his five-night stand at the venue in 2009. "Wrecking Ball" will be in stores on March 6th. Springsteen and the E Street Band plan to spend much of 2012 on the road in support of the album, and already have spring and summer dates scheduled throughout Europe. The group is also expected to perform across North America, but no dates for this side of the Atlantic have been announced yet.
Paul McCartney says he "might be" taking part in this summer's Olympics. He tells the UK's "The Sun" that he's meeting with officials for the Games on Friday "because there is something they want me to do." The former Beatle adds that he doesn't think he'll have much of a say over his role in the international sporting event, but believes "they'll tend to dictate it rather than me." Rumors began cropping up last summer that the legendary rocker had been tapped to perform at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. In responding to the speculation McCartney has previously said that he'd be open to the idea, but that he hadn't been officially asked. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will take place in London from July 27th through August 12th.
McCartney also says he'd be willing to take part in another high-profile British event this year. He admits he's a "big fan of the Queen," and says he "could easily" agree to participate in the festivities surrounding her Diamond Jubilee -- if he's asked to do so. Sir Paul was a performer at the Queen's Golden Jubilee ten years ago.
Elton John's husband is backing down from his earlier rant against Madonna. In a new Facebook post David Furnish calls the uproar over his Golden Globes post "a tempest in a teapot," and says his comments were "blown way out of proportion." He attributes his outburst to his "passion" for the film "Gnomeo & Juliet," which he co-produced, and his "belief in Elton's song." Furnish took to Facebook following the ceremony and wrote that giving the nod for Best Original Song to Madonna's "Masterpiece" over Elton's "Hello, Hello" "truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit," and he called her acceptance speech "embarrassing in its narcissism." But now Furnish is saying "for the record" that he thinks Madonna is "a great artist." He adds that he and Elton "wish her all the best for next week's premiere of the film 'W.E.'"
Madonna co-wrote and recorded "Masterpiece" for"W.E.," which she also co-wrote and directed. The movie opens in theaters in the U.S. on February 3rd.
R&B great Johnny Otis has died. The "Los Angeles Times" says the influential singer, writer and record producer was 90. Otis wrote and performed the 1958 smash hit, "Willy and the Hand Jive." He is credited with discovering and nurturing a number of R&B stars including Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Little Esther Phillips, Etta James and Hank Ballard. Otis was the son of Greek immigrants and grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood of Berkeley, California. He moved to Los Angeles in his 20s to join a band and quickly became immersed in the vibrant music scene happening on South L.A.'s Central Avenue.
The National Association of Music Merchants' annual show is closed to the public. The event showcases new instruments, equipment, and technology for those in the music industry. The 2012 NAMM Show is at the Anaheim Convention Center, and runs through Sunday.
Roger Waters is filling in one of the blanks for his upcoming North American tour. The former Pink Floyd bassist has announced the venue for his New York concert, with plans to take over Yankee Stadium on July 6th. Tickets go on sale January 30th at livenation.com and ticketmaster.com. However, no location has been set yet for Waters' Boston show on July 1st. Following his tour last year, Waters decided to revamp the staging so he could present "The Wall" in outdoor venues. He chose to adapt the show primarily so he could take "The Wall" to South America, where there are few indoor arenas but plenty of outdoor stadiums to stage concerts.
In addition to South America, Waters' upcoming tour includes stops in Australia and New Zealand. He'll also visit cities in North America that he missed on his 2011 tour. Waters will launch "The Wall" trek in Perth, Australia on January 27th. His first South American date is in Santiago, Chile on March 3rd. Waters' tour will arrive in North America in the spring, starting in Houston on May 1st.
Roger Waters doesn't regret leaving Pink Floyd. But UltimateClassicRock.com says the rocker admitted to Howard Stern that he perhaps shouldn't have reacted so harshly to the band continuing without him. While Waters took legal action following his departure in an effort to keep the remaining band members from performing under the name "Pink Floyd," he now says that might have been an overreaction. He told Stern he didn't think it was wrong of the band to stay together, and believes he was "wrong to think they were wrong."
Waters added that he's glad he had the Pink Floyd experience. He said that "from '68 to 'Dark Side Of The Moon'" they were "a pretty tightly knit group," and believes the group's landmark 1973 album changed things within the band. He explained that "once you've achieved that measure of success, you've really done what it was that you set out to do together," and "from then on it was really about clinging to the trademark in a kind of frightened way, not wanting to lose the umbrella with the words Pink and Floyd together." Waters is now taking Pink Floyd's classic album "The Wall" on the road. He'll launch the North American portion of his 2012 world tour in Houston, Texas on May 1st.
Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi is expressing his gratitude for the huge response he's received following the announcement that he's battling cancer. The guitarist says in a post on his website that he's been "overwhelmed" by all the messages of support from friends, fans, and colleagues. Iommi adds that a cancer diagnosis isn't what he "wanted for Christmas," but now he just wants to address it. He says he "can't wait for the test results to come in and get going with the treatment." Black Sabbath revealed last week that Iommi has lymphoma. He's said to be in the early stages of the disease.
Word of Tony's illness came two months after he joined Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler to announce a Black Sabbath reunion, and plans for a new album and a tour. The group had begun working in a Los Angeles studio when Iommi learned of his condition, and they're now relocating to Britain to accommodate Tony. Iommi adds in his website message that "things are going great in the studio," and it's "really good that the guys are coming over" so they can "continue working on the album." Details on the project, such as a title or release date, haven't been announced.
Van Halen is storming the chart with their new song. Billboard.com says "Tattoo" is this week's "Hot Shot Debut," entering the Rock Songs chart at number 16. According to the Nielsen BDS statistics, in its first week "Tattoo" aired on 78 stations, and reached four-point-six-million listeners. "Tattoo" is the lead-off single from Van Halen's upcoming album, "A Different Kind of Truth." The project marks the group's reunion with original singer David Lee Roth, and is the band's first full album with their founding frontman since their mid-'80s release "1984." "A Different Kind of Truth" is due in stores on February 7th. Van Halen will support the album with a tour, which will begin in Louisville, Kentucky on February 18th.
Steven Tyler says "American Idol" turned out to be "perfect" for him. The Aerosmith frontmant tells TVGuide.com he was at "a really down time" in his career when he got the opportunity to be a judge on the show, and he "jumped into this." He says "Idol" enabled him to "keep busy with something that's really relevant." The rocker adds that being on TV gave him the chance to demonstrate that he "can be personable," and show that he has "a weak, sensitive side." Tyler will be back at the judges table along with Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson evaluating a new slate of hopefuls on "American Idol," which begins on Fox Wednesday night. He'll also shed some light on this year's competition as a guest today on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."
Elton John's husband is standing up for his man with a swipe at Madonna. Following Madonna's Golden Globe win for Best Original Song on Sunday night, David Furnish took to Facebook to share how he really felt about Madonna triumphing over Elton for the award. Furnish wrote, "Madonna winning Best Original Song truly shows how these awards have nothing to do with merit. Her acceptance speech was embarrassing in its narcissism." Furnish also called out Madonna on her recent criticism of Lady Gaga, saying the pop icon's critique of the Gen Y hitmaker, quote, "shows how desperate she really is."
When asked recently about the similarities between Gaga's song "Born This Way" and her own pop classic "Express Yourself," Madonna called the Gaga track "reductive." Madonna won the Golden Globe for her song "Masterpiece" from the movie "W.E.," which she also directed. Elton John's song "Hello, Hello" from "Gnomeo and Juliet" was nominated in the same Globes category.
Madonna says she hopes Elton John doesn't hold a grudge over the Golden Globe Awards. She admitted to the BBC following Sunday's ceremony that Elton is "known to get mad at me," and she hopes they're still on speaking terms now. The pop superstar added that she thinks Elton is "brilliant" and that she adores him. She also expressed her confidence that "he'll win another award," and she doesn't "feel bad" about getting the nod this time around.
Madonna's "Masterpiece," from her film "W.E.," took the prize for Best Original Song at the Golden Globe Awards, which was up against Elton's "Hello Hello," from "Gnomeo & Juliet." Prior to the ceremony Elton had predicted that Madonna wouldn't win the award. He told reporters on the red carpet that Madonna's song had no chance of winning, and used an obscenity to emphasize his point. After Madonna's win Elton's husband David Furnish took to Facebook and criticized Madonna's acceptance speech as well as the event itself.
Mitch Ryder is branching out creatively. The rocker tells Billboard.com that over the past two years he's been working on a musical. But he says his stage production isn't based on his life or work and "has nothing to do in name value with Mitch Ryder." Ryder isn't a fan of that type of show. He says musicals like "Jersey Boys" aren't "theater," and calls them "stupid." However, Ryder is using music as his inspiration. He says he's drawing influence from Beatles songs, and has even given his musical the working title of "Hide Your Love Away." Mitch isn't offering much about the plot, and only says "the topic is love, which is huge." He adds that he's almost finished writing the story and has "about half" of the songs he wants for the show, but still has "a long way to go" before he'll be done.
But Ryder does have a new album on the way. "The Promise" is slated to hit stores next month. The CD is a U.S. version of his European disc, "Detroit Ain't Dead Yet (The Promise)," and marks Ryder's first domestic release in nearly 30 years.
Ronnie Wood is sharing some of his memories of the late Jimi Hendrix. The Rolling Stones guitarist says he and Hendrix were friends in the late '60s, and they even shared a home for a while. He tells Britain's Absolute Radio UK that Hendrix was insecure as a vocalist. Wood says he'd ask Jimi about his shows, and recalls that "he'd go, 'Oh, the guitar was okay, man, but my voice...I really can't sing." Ronnie explains that he tried to be encouraging, and would tell Jimi 'don't worry about it." Ron adds that he'd tell Hendrix his singing was "all part of the side-effect," and he thought his voice went "great" with the way he would "strum and play amazing guitar." Wood says he was also one of the last people to see Hendrix alive, at a party the night before Jimi died. Ron remembers seeing Hendrix leave, and having a difficult time getting his attention to say goodbye because Jimi was so intoxicated.
The people who helped launch MTV are taking a look back at that experience. HollywoodReporter.com says the network's original veejays are collaborating on a new book about the early days of MTV. Nina Blackwood says she, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, and Martha Quinn are looking forward to "sharing our unique perspective of what it was like to be on the forefront of a cultural revolution: the birth of MTV, Music Television." Making note of how programming on the station has evolved over the past three decades, she adds that, "yes, the 'M' really did stand for music at one time!" Atria Books is behind the oral history project. The publisher says the "uncensored" book will cover such topics as the John Mellencamp "Paint the Mutha Pink" contest -- which didn't work out as anticipated, tales from a wild Van Halen party, and "hairstyles gone horribly wrong." No title or release date for the book has been announced yet.
J.J. Jackson was the fifth original MTV veejay along with Blackwood, Goodman, Hunter, and Quinn. He died of a heart attack in March 2004.
The late Gerry Rafferty's fiancée is looking to get a portion of the rocker's riches. The UK's "Daily Mail" says Enzina Fuschini has filed a lawsuit in Britain's High Court looking to be included as one of the rocker's heirs. In his will, which the singer made out more than a year before he met Fuschini, Rafferty left his entire estate to his daughter Martha Rafferty and his granddaughter Celia Rafferty. He and Enzina became engaged in December 2009 -- 13 months before Gerry died -- but he never changed his will. Fuschini says that at the time of his death, she and Gerry had been living together, and she tried to help him as he battled alcoholism. Rafferty died last January following years of declining health related to alcohol abuse. He was 63.
A UK law allows for a "reasonable financial provision" to be given to people who were being supported by someone who dies. Rafferty's estate is said to be worth more than one-point-eight-million-dollars. In addition, Rafferty still earns more than 122-thousand-dollars every year in royalties for his 1978 hit "Baker Street."
The man who gave us "St. Elmo's Fire" is explaining why he reworked his 1985 hit to honor Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. Singer John Parr says the idea for the remake originated with ESPN. He tells Denver's KDVR-TV that he had been writing music for the network when Tebow signed his deal with the Broncos, and ESPN execs asked him to perform the original song on the air and just change the chorus. Parr says afterwards he started to pay attention to the football player. He admits that he found Tim inspiring, and thought he "deserves better than this." John calls Tim a "maverick," adding that he appreciates Tebow's passion. He explains that in today's society so many people have "lost faith in whatever," and he thinks it's "nice when somebody believes in something" whether it's religion or another person or something else, and "they go out and it sustains them to do something." Parr calls Tebow "a great role model" for people who want to live life on their own terms.
John says he's written another song specifically for Tim called "Just A Man." He explains that he originally penned "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" for wheelchair-bound athlete Rick Hansen, which they used to raise money for spinal research. Parr says that he'd like to launch another charity campaign with Tebow with his new song.
Al Green is among those set to perform at a fundraising concert for President Obama's re-election campaign in New York City this week. Dubbed "The Concert For Obama," the event will take place at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater on Thursday and is expected to include an appearance from the Commander-in-Chief himself. India.Arie is also on the list of performers for the concert event, along with Tony Award-winning lyricist and composer Lin Manuel-Miranda of the production "In the Heights." Tickets range in price from 100-dollars to five-thousand-dollars. The "Concert For Obama" is being organized by the Obama Victory Fund 2012 fundraising committee.
Cyndi Lauper says she doesn't have anything to do with the new political ad featuring her hit "True Colors." According to Spin.com, the singer explained last week via Twitter that she learned in a phone call that her song was being used in a commercial bashing Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Lauper admits that she's not a Romney supporter, but says she never gave the people who made the spot permission to use the song. She adds that if she were asked she wouldn't have allowed it, because she doesn't want the track "to be used in that way." But Lauper says the people behind the ad still "should have asked" before using it. She adds that she believes "Mr. Romney can discredit himself without the use of my work."
Over the years numerous rockers have had songs incorporated in political ads and played at campaign rallies without their OK. Some stars, including Jackson Browne and former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, have successfully filed lawsuits against politicians over the unauthorized use of their music.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's new album has decidedly political overtones to it. An unnamed insider describes the upcoming project as "very rock 'n' roll," and tells "The Hollywood Reporter" the rocker "gets into economic justice quite a bit." The source points out that Bruce isn't "just setting headlines to music," but that he wrote and recorded most of the material well before the launch of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The insider adds that Springsteen "feels it's the angriest album he's ever made." Musically, the project is said to be more experimental in nature. The source says the material includes "unexpected textures -- loops, electronic percussion," and that it draws from "an amazing sweep of influences and rhythms, from hip-hop to Irish folk rhythms."
No title or release date has been offered for the upcoming disc as yet. The album will be the follow up to Springsteen's 2009 effort "Working on a Dream."
Dr. John has a new album on the way. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer teamed up with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach on "Locked Down," which is said to be much different from John's other recent work. Auerbach had wanted to work with John for a while, and Dan actually sought John out back in 2010 and told him of his interest. John then checked Dan out by getting his kids' opinions on The Black Keys before agreeing to take part in last year's Bonnaroo Jam, which Auerbach put together. The concert experience led to the studio collaboration. Auerbach served as producer and also assembled the backing band for the disc, and John says it was "way cool" to work with Dan on the project. They worked on the album throughout the fall. Dr. John's "Locked Down," the follow up to his 2010 release "Tribal," is due in stores on April 3rd.
Ace Frehley and Marky Ramone are showing their support for the horror films. The ex-Kiss guitarist and former Ramones drummer are among the stars slated to appear at this spring's Mad Monster Party, an upcoming convention celebrating the frightening movie genre. "Blade Runner" star Rutger Hauer and Brad Dourif, the voice of Chucky in the "Child's Play" franchise, are on board for the event, along with actors Bill Moseley, Dee Wallace, P.J. Soles, Chris Sarandon, and many other stars. The convention will include panel discussions and film screenings as well as a variety of other activities including a "Miss Horrorlina Bikini Pageant;" a "Crypt Critters" exhibit of snakes, spiders, and other creepy crawlies; a display of vehicles used in horror films; and more. The Mad Monster Party is set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina from March 23rd through the 25th.
Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Johnny van Zant says that when he was just starting his career his late brother Ronnie, Skynyrd's original singer, gave him a much-needed attitude adjustment toward performing. He tells VH1ClassicRockNights.com that Ronnie once got him a gig performing at a skateboard park, which he didn't appreciate at the time. But Johnny says that when he complained about the venue, and that he was only going to make 50-dollars, Ronnie "was like, 'Look, let me tell you something, you go and you play anywhere you can for the experience. It doesn't matter how much you're making. Right now you need the experience and that's what counts.'" Johnny calls it "the best advice" he ever received from Ronnie.
Elton John has another chance to win an award for his Lady Gaga collaboration. "Hello Hello," which he wrote and recorded with the pop superstar for the animated film "Gnomeo & Juliet," is in the running for a Golden Globe. The track is one of the five contenders for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. Elton is facing Madonna's "Masterpiece," from her own film, "W.E." and Mary J. Blige's "The Living Proof" from the movie "The Help," as well as Chris Cornell's "The Keeper" from "Machine Gun Preacher" and Sinead O'Connor's "Lay Your Head Down" from the film "Albert Nobbs." The black-and-white silent movie "The Artist" leads the list of hopefuls heading into the Hollywood Foreign Press event with six nominations. The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards will take place in Beverly Hills, California, and air on NBC Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Elton was also in the running for a Critics' Choice Movie Award with "Hello Hello," but missed out on the prize. That event took place last night, with the award for Best Song going to "Life's a Happy Song" from the movie "The Muppets."
Bob Dylan is giving back to Martin Scorsese. The legendary singer took the stage at VH1's Critics' Choice Movie Awards to perform "Blind Willie McTell" as part of a tribute to the famed director. The late George Harrison's widow, Olivia Harrison, was also on hand for the salute honoring Scorsese as the Critics' Choice special Music+Film Award recipient. In addition to being recognized for his use of music in movies and his many rock films, Scorsese also got the nod for Best Documentary Feature for most recent music movie, "George Harrison: Living the Material World."
Stevie Wonder will be getting a concert salute this weekend as one of this year's BET Honors recipients. The event pays tribute to individuals for their extraordinary contributions to African-American culture. The R&B legend is being recognized for his lengthy, successful, and influential music career. Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle are among those on board to perform at the ceremony. They're part of a performance lineup that also includes Cicely Tyson and Common, while Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, and Willow Smith are also slated to appear. Actress Gabrielle Union will be on hand to host the show. Other honorees include Mariah Carey, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Spike Lee, as well as the Tuskegee Airmen and coach Beverly Kearney.
The fifth annual BET Honors will take place at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC on Saturday, and debut on BET on February 13th. Money raised through the gala will go to Metro TeenAIDS, an organization that supports young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Paul McCartney wants to show off his hometown. The former Beatle says he's considering launching a sightseeing business in Liverpool, England. While there are companies in Liverpool that offer Beatles tours, making stops at various landmarks associated with the band, McCartney reportedly wants to show people Liverpool from his perspective. The rocker tells the UK's "Daily Star" he has his own "magical mystery tours of the city" that follow his own "special route," and he believes "other people would love it too." McCartney adds that it would be a way he could "give something back to the locals."
McCartney will soon give fans some new music. His next album, "Kisses On The Bottom," is due in stores February 7th.
Yes bassist Chris Squire is preparing for a busy year. He tells Billboard.com he's looking to launch Squackett -- his collaborative project with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett. The rocker says they're ready to release their debut album, which he believes "is going to surprise a few people." Chris explains that their voices "blend really, really well," so "there's quite a bit of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young-type harmony stuff on the Squackett album" along with "some pretty heavy-duty bass and guitar playing." He adds that he and Hackett are hoping to support the release with a tour this fall -- after he has completed his touring commitments with Yes. The band has four shows coming up in Australia and New Zealand in April, and Squire says Yes is also making plans for a summer North American tour.
Squire adds that he's hoping Yes will soon be returning to the studio. He says he'd like to record another album with the "Fly From Here" lineup, which includes guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and singer Benoit David with producer Trevor Horn.
Lionel Richie found a few lost friends when he recorded his duets album, "Tuskegee," in Nashville. The singer says recording his hits with country artists like Little Big Town, Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean while in Nashville, was one of the most surreal experiences he's ever had. He says it's amazing to him to find that these singers knew all the words to his songs. A few of them even told him they used to sing his tunes when they were playing bars early in their careers. The disc pairs Lionel with his friend Kenny Rogers as well as others including Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney. Lionel will release "Tuskegee" in March.
Tony Bennett says he's able to really enjoy his latest wave of success with his "Duets 2" album, in part because he's been down this road before. The legendary singer tells "Rolling Stone" he's "been through the mill so much" that he "can take it," that he knows "just what's going to happen" and can see "what's bad about it and what's good about it." Tony admits he didn't handle success so well the first time around. He says Pearl Bailey gave him his big break, and he can still remember her words of wisdom. He recalls that "she said, 'Now, son, everything's going to be good for you, but look out for the helium in the brain.'"
Bennett says "looking back at that many years later, she was so clear," but he still got "lost" in the fame, which made him "spin out." But he says it "feels wonderful" now, adding that it's "an amazing experience to understand who you are and have something go number one on Billboard" and be an international hit record.
Bennett earned the first chart-topping album of his lengthy career and became the oldest artist alive to top the Billboard 200 chart when "Duets 2" debuted at number one back in September. The album also peaked in the top ten in in ten other countries, including the UK, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Poland, and Croatia. "Duets 2" reached the top 20 on the charts in seven more countries.
Tickets go on sale Saturday for Van Halen's upcoming tour. The group will launch the trek in Louisville, Kentucky on February 18th. The trek is in support of the band's upcoming album, "A Different Kind of Truth," and marks Van Halen's reunion with original frontman David Lee Roth. The album will be in stores on February 7th. Van Halen unveiled the lead-off single from the project, "Tattoo," earlier this week.
Eddie Van Halen's in a giving mood. While preparing to deliver new music and live shows to fans, the Van Halen rocker just donated 75 electric guitars from his personal collection to a number of schools in Los Angeles. Van Halen teamed up with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation to distribute the guitars to schools lacking instruments for their music programs. The guitarist says it's the least he could do in these economically-challenged times, recalling how music kept him off the streets and out of trouble as a youngster. He said in a statement, "If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that's a wonderful thing." Eddie adds, "Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation."
Eddie and his bandmates just released their first new song with Van Halen's original frontman David Lee Roth in 16 years. The track is called "Tattoo" and is the first single from the band's upcoming album "A Different Kind of Truth," due out February 7th. Van Halen will kick off a 40-city plus tour just a few weeks after the new album is released. The tour is set to begin February 18th in Louisville, Kentucky.
Rod Stewart will soon have a new title -- sheriff -- but it's only temporary. Forbes.com says the rocker was among those in attendance at the Palm Beach Policemen's Ball, a South Florida fundraiser for the local police. At the event the rocker was one of three winning bidders to become "sheriff for one day," paying 18-thousand-dollars for the opportunity. During his day as sheriff Rod will check out the county jail, meet with crime scene investigators and the local SWAT team, and take a ride in the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office's helicopter. He'll also have lunch with Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. No date has been given for Stewart's day as sheriff. The Palm Beach Policemen's Ball took place at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach Saturday 1/7/12.
Aretha Franklin will be getting some r-e-s-p-e-c-t at this year's Essence Music Festival. The theme for the upcoming event is "The Power of Our Voice," and organizers plan to pay tribute to the Queen of Soul by presenting her with "The Power Award." Aretha will also perform at the event, marking her third time to participate in the annual festival since its launch 18 years ago. In addition to Aretha, Stephanie Mills, Charlie Wilson, and The Stylistics are also on board for the three-day event. Attendees will also have the chance to hear sets from Mary J. Blige, Fantasia, Keyshia Cole, Dru Hill, and many others. The Essence Music Festival will take place in New Orleans from July 6th through the 8th. The festival's full lineup and other information is available online at www.EssenceMusicFestival.com.
Former Kiss drummer Peter Criss and Terry Bozzio, who's drummed with Frank Zappa and Missing Persons, are set to be honored. The rockers will receive Drum Legend inductions at this weekend's Guitar Center Drum-Off. The induction recognizes drummers who have made significant contributions to drumming and have served as influences to future generations of drummers. Previous inductees include the late Led Zeppelin's John Bonham, Sly and the Family Stone's Greg Errico, and Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain.
John Fogerty says fans will likely find his theme for the new Fox series "The Finder" rather familiar. He tells Billboard.com it "sounds very much" like him, and features his "swampy sort of sound." The rocker also admits he thinks it's "cool" that his signature style is now part of the TV landscape, and he's glad it's providing something different from "the usual sort of spacey, techno stuff you always hear."
Glen Campbell's 2008 album, "Meet Glen Campbell," is being been expanded with exclusive bonus tracks for a special CD and digital edition. Due out on February 7th, the album will now include three performances from an AOL concert, including "Wichita Lineman," "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "All I Want is You," plus remixes of "Gentle on My Mind" and "Galveston." The original album features musical contributions by Campbell's contemporaries, as well as younger rock and alt-country artists who joined him in the studio. Cheap Trick's Robin Zander, Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and Jason Faulkner from Jellyfish, and Chris Chaney from Jane's Addiction were among those who contributed to the album. Campbell's sons and daughters, who regularly perform with their father, recorded backing vocals for the tracks, were also on the CD.
Listing of Tracks on "Meet Glen Campbell"
1. Sing
2. Walls
3. Angel Dream
4. Times Like These
5. These Days
6. Sadly Beautiful
7. All I Want Is You
8. Jesus
9. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
10. Grow Old With Me
Exclusive Bonus Tracks
11. Gentle On My Mind (2008 Remix)
12. Galveston (2008 Remix)
13. Wichita Lineman (AOL Sessions, 2008)
14. Rhinestone Cowboy (AOL Sessions, 2008)
15. All I Want Is You (AOL Sessions, 2008)
Van Halen's marking its relaunch with David Lee Roth with a "Tattoo." It's the name of the band's highly-anticipated new single that also includes a 40-city tour with Van Halen's original frontman. "Tattoo" will be included on Van Halen's upcoming album "A Different Kind of Truth." It's their first full collection of studio material since 1998's "Van Halen 3" and first with Roth since the album "1984." The video for "Tattoo" was also unveiled Tuesday 1/10/12. The black-and-white clip features a dancing "Diamond Dave," Van Halen brothers and founders Eddie and Alex on guitar and drums, and Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass.
Van Halen's "A Different Kind Of Truth" will arrive in stores on February 7th. The tour is set to kick off a few weeks later in Louisville, Kentucky on February 18th. Tickets go on sale beginning January 14th.
Here is a list of dates for Van Halen's tour:
February
18th - Louisville, KY
20th - Auburn Hills, MI
22nd - Indianapolis, IN
24th - Chicago, IL
28th - New York, NY
March
1st - New York, NY
3rd - Uncasville, CT
5th - Philadelphia, PA
9th - Buffalo, NY
11th - Boston, MA
15th - Montreal, QC
17th - Toronto, ON
21st - Ottawa, ON
24th - Atlantic City, NJ
28th - Washington, DC
April
1st - Rosemont, IL
10th - Sunrise, FL
12th - Tampa, FL
14rh - Orlando, FL
16th - Jacksonville, FL
19th - Atlanta, GA
21st - Greensboro, NC
25th - Charlotte, NC
27th - Nashville, TN
May
1st - Tulsa, OK
5th - Tacoma, WA
7th - Vancouver, BC
9th - Calgary, AB
11th - Edmonton, AB
17th - Winnipeg, MB
19th - St. Paul, MN
22nd - Kansas City, MO
24th - Denver, CO
27th - Las Vegas, NV
June
1st - Los Angeles, CA
3rd - Oakland, CA
5th - San Jose, CA
12th - Anaheim, CA
14th - San Diego, CA
16th - Phoenix, AZ
20th - Dallas, TX
22nd - San Antonio, TX
24th - Houston, TX
26th - New Orleans, LA
Lionel Richie is getting a salute from the country music community. The R&B star is set to be honored by the Academy of Country Music with an all-star tribute concert. "Lionel Richie and Friends - A Lifetime of Hits" will be taped in Las Vegas in April, and air on CBS later in the spring. Lionel is readying the release of his duets album, "Tuskegee," which features many of today's country stars. Among those participating in the project are his longtime friend Kenny Rogers along with Jason Aldean, and Kenny Chesney. Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride Rascal Flatts, and The Band Perry also contribute to the project. Many of these artists will join Lionel for the ACM TV special.
Ticket sales from "Lionel Richie and Friends - A Lifetime of Hits" will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, an Academy charity that works to improve lives through music. For ticket details and other information on the event visit www.ACMcountry.com.
Daryl Hall and John Oates have been known collectively as "Hall & Oates" for decades, but that wasn't their plan. John says he and Daryl are very close, both personally and musically, but they aren't one entity. He tells "Esquire" magazine that their relationship "goes way beyond friendship," that they've spent their "whole adult life together" and "shared every experience." But they never called themselves "Hall & Oates." The singer points out that every album includes each of their full names -- Daryl Hall and John Oates -- but "people never note that." John explains that their partnership wasn't ever much of a collaboration but more of a support system of "you play your song and I'll back you up, and I'll play my song and you back me up." Oates adds that "the idea of 'Hall and Oates,' this two-headed monster, this thing, is not anything we've ever wanted or liked."
Al Green, Bruce Springsteen, and the Doobie Brothers are just a few of the artists earning induction into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. The Hall recognizes stars who have had at least two top ten hits in a 30-year span since 1950. The Pointer Sisters, Tony Orlando and Dawn, Harry Belafonte, and Duane Eddy are some of the other stars receiving the fan-voted honor this time around. The Hit Parade Hall's Class of 2011 also boasts The Osmonds with Donny and Marie, Percy Faith, The Crewcuts, Dolly Parton, and Ferrante and Teicher. The newcomers are joining a roster that already includes The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and many others. Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Paul Revere and the Raiders, ABBA, and Willie Nelson are just some of the 2010 inductees.
The Hit Parade Hall of Fame will announce the nominees for the Class of 2012 next month. More information on the induction process and a list of all the Hit Parade Hall of Famers are available online at HitParadeHallOfFame.com.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band as well as their fans are marking a bittersweet anniversary. Today would have been Clarence Clemons' 70th birthday. The "Big Man" died last June, six days after suffering a stroke at his home in Florida. Clarence was born in Norfolk, Virginia on January 11th, 1942. As a kid he was a talented athlete and musician, and attended college on music and football scholarships. A car accident ended any dreams he might have had of playing in the NFL, and sent his career in a musical direction. The sax man had already been a working musician for more than a decade when he met Springsteen in 1971. But within a year of that meeting their long musical partnership was born. Bruce tapped Clarence to play on his debut album, "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." and join him on a tour in support of the disc, which marked the start of the E Street Band. For the next 39 years, Clarence remained a prominent, popular, and loyal member of the group.
Clemons' passing isn't bringing an end to the band. Bruce and the E Streeters will hit the road later this year. Guitarist Nils Lofgren recently discussed the trek with Billboard.com, and admitted he didn't have "a clue" as to how they'll handle their shows without their longtime sax player. But he said he was confident Springsteen will "do something special and classy as he's always done." Nils added that it will be "a real rough thing" and "more than strange" to be on stage without Clarence. Bruce and the band will launch a 31-date European tour in Seville, Spain on May 13th. The group is also expected to go on a North American tour this year, but those dates haven't been announced yet.
Anthrax, Cinderella, Deep Purple, and Uriah Heep are all getting the "Icon" treatment. The bands are among the latest in Universal Music Enterprises' album series. The discs showcase prominent artists with compilations including their biggest hits along with their best known and most loved songs. The Anthrax set features such favorites as "Antisocial," "Indians," and "Bring The Noise," their hit collaboration with Public Enemy. Cinderella's "Icon" track listing boasts the hits "Shelter Me" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)." The Deep Purple collection includes live versions of "Smoke On The Water," "Hush," and "Woman From Tokyo." The songs "Easy Livin'," "The Wizard," and "Stealin'" are some of the tracks on Uriah Heep's set. The Anthrax, Cinderella, Deep Purple, and Uriah Heep "Icon" albums are in stores now.
News of Tony Iommi's cancer diagnosis is sending shockwaves throughout the rock community. A statement released by Black Sabbath says the veteran guitarist is in the early stages of lymphoma and that he's currently working with his doctors to establish "the best treatment plan." Black Sabbath says the "Iron Man" of Rock & Roll "remains upbeat and determined to make a full and successful recovery." The group also asks fans to send "postive vibes" to the guitarist.
The news comes on the heels of Black Sabbath's reunion announcement last November. The reunion is supposed to include the group's original lineup of Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler. The group is reportedly working on a new album with producer Rick Rubin and making plans to launch a world tour in the summer. There's no word yet on if Iommi's cancer diagnosis will affect Sabbath's reunion plans.
Kiss frontman Paul Stanley says he didn't need much in the way of repairs when he underwent a throat procedure last fall. The singer tells ABC's "Nightline" he learned from his doctor that his vocal cords were in pretty good shape, especially given the decades he's spent singing with the band. But Stanley admits that following the operation, his voice "sounds way, way, way, way better." He attributes his strong voice to having healthy habits, and says the "whole cartoon lifestyle that some people think is key to being a rock star is your demise" as a vocalist. Paul explains that in order to preserve their vocal cords singers need to change their ways thinking, and should "treat your voice like an instrument." He says musicians "take pretty good care of our guitars our violins and our pianos but we kind of take our voice for granted."
Stanley is currently working on a new album with Kiss. No release date has been set for "Monster," but the disc is expected to hit stores this year. Kiss is also planning to tour in support of the album.
Elton John is taking another step in the fight against AIDS. The singer is penning "Love is the Cure: Ending the Global AIDS Epidemic," a look at the past 30 years from an autobiographical perspective. In the book Elton reflects on his life in the AIDS era and share the pain he's felt at seeing a number of friends, including Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and Ryan White, die of the disease. Elton also addresses his commitment toward bringing an end to the illness and the suffering it brings. In announcing the project the rocker says the AIDS battle is much more than just conquering a deadly virus. He explains it's a disease that "must be cured not by a miraculous vaccine, but by changing hearts and minds, and through a collective effort to break down social barriers and to build bridges of compassion."
"Love is the Cure" will be available in July in print form and as an audiobook ready by John. Proceeds from book sales will go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Mitch Ryder says he's going through an incredibly prolific period in his life. Billboard.com says the veteran rocker is promoting a number of new projects including an album and his autobiography. His CD "The Promise" is the U.S. edition of his European CD "Detroit Ain't Dead Yet (The Promise)." The disc marks Ryder's first domestic release in nearly 30 years, following 1983's "Never Kick a Sleeping Dog." Mitch says he believes the disc "turned out really, really well." He explains that in addition to some great R&B songs, the album -- like all his studio projects -- includes one or two songs that will puzzle listeners, which he says is what "makes it interesting." "The Promise" will be available on February 13th.
Fans can also get the CD as a free download with his book, "Devils & Blue Dresses: My Wild Ride as a Rock and Roll Legend." Ryder says his autobiography, which arrived last month, is a "brutally honest" look at his life. He explains that he simply "wanted it to be truthful," but admits that "attorneys and editors" made "a lot of deletions" to his original text. Giving a thumbnail description of the book, Ryder says it's the story of a messed up person leading a "totally repulsive" life who's eventually "able to redeem himself." Mitch wrote "Devils & Blue Dresses" entirely on his own, and really enjoyed the process. He says it's left him now wanting to write a novel.
Paul McCartney is confirming the rumors that his next album will be called "Kisses on the Bottom." The former Beatle's choice for the title has prompted some jeers -- and inspired an NME.com list of "The 50 Worst Album Titles In History." But a post on McCartney's website says the title reflects Paul's sense of humor, and explains that the phrase is actually from the lyrics of the song's opening cut, the 1935 Fats Waller hit "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter." The 14-track CD also features such classics as "Bye Bye Blackbird," "The Inch Worm," and "It's Only A Paper Moon," along with the new original tracks "Only Our Hearts" and "My Valentine." With the album Paul is paying tribute to the songs and performers that influenced him as a child. The full track listing as well as the cover artwork are posted on McCartney's website.
"Kisses on the Bottom" will arrive in stores on February 7th. A deluxe edition of the disc will include two extra cuts along with longer liner notes and an exclusive concert DVD which will be available from PaulMcCartney.com on February 14th.
Aretha Franklin says you're never too old to get married. The 69-year-old Queen of Soul explains in a recent interview with CNN that she needs someone to take care of her, and her new fiancé Willie Wilkerson will fill that role nicely.
Franklin jokes that she takes "fabulous care" of herself, but says it doesn't hurt to have someone there to remind her of "certain things." The iconic singer announced her engagement to Wilkerson -- who she makes clear is not her boyfriend, but her man -- earlier this month. The couple hasn't set a specific date for the wedding, but Aretha says they hope to tie the knot in Miami this summer. This will be Franklin's third marriage.
The Yardbirds are coming back to the U.S. for a short series of shows in February. The band has seven concerts scheduled throughout four states in early February. Original drummer Jim McCarty will take the stage with bandmates guitarist Ben King, bassist David Smale, and singer Andy Mitchell. While founding guitarist Chris Dreja is also still a Yardbird, he won't be on the tour. He was recently ill, and needs more time to recover. Chris says he regrets that he'll have to sit out this trek. But he adds that The Yardbirds will be making a longer North American run later this year, and he looks forward to performing for the fans at that time. The Yardbirds will share the bill for most of the upcoming shows with Vanilla Fudge. The tour is set to begin in Buffalo, New York, on February 2nd.
The Yardbirds-Vanilla Fudge Tour Dates
February 1 - Buffalo, New York, at The Tralf
February 2 - Nichols, New York, at the Tioga Downs Racetrack - The Yardbirds only
February 3 - New York, New York, at Irving Plaza
February 4 - Glenside, Pennsylvania, at the Keswick Theatre
February 6 - Alexandria, Virginia, at The Birchmere - The Yardbirds only
February 8 - Tarrytown, New York, at the Tarrytown Music Hall
February 9 - New Brunswick, New Jersey, at the State Theatre
ZZ Top is making their way back to a hometown event. The Texas trio is among the stars taking part in this year's Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The band will perform on March 8th, at the midpoint of the 20-day event. ZZ Top is one of the few rock acts in a country-heavy RodeoHouston lineup. Alabama is slated to play the opening night concert and Alan Jackson is on board as the closer. Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, and Brad Paisley are some of the other country stars on board. The event will also feature performances from Kid Rock, Enrique Iglesias, Train, and others. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo shows will take place at Reliant Stadium from February 28th through March 18th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday. This year marks ZZ Top's fifth RodeoHouston appearance since the group made their debut at the event in 2002.
Van Halen's new single arrives today. "Tattoo" is the first release from the band's upcoming album, "A Different Kind Of Truth." The project is Van Halen's first full collection of new studio material since 1998's "Van Halen 3," and their first with frontman David Lee Roth since the album "1984." The video to "Tattoo" will also be unveiled today. "A Different Kind Of Truth" will hit stores on February 7th. Van Halen is also touring in support of the new album. The trek will begin in Louisville, Kentucky on February 18th.
Paul Stanley will be featured on tonight's edition of "Nightline." The Kiss frontman recently spoke with the ABC News program about the vocal cord surgery he underwent in late October. Paul had the procedure done in advance of what's expected to be a busy year for Kiss. The group is planning to release the new album, "Monster," their follow up to 2009's "Sonic Boom." Over the weekend Stanley told KissOnline.com that the group "officially completed work" on the project Friday 1/6/12, and they'll start mixing the disc. He describes the album as "powerful, heavy, melodic, and epic," and says those who've heard tracks from the disc have been "completely blown away." A release date for "Monster" hasn't been announced yet. Kiss is also expected to launch an extensive tour this year in support of the album.
The new Doors song is marking its official premiere. "She Smells So Nice," from the upcoming release "L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition," is on The Doors' Facebook page. In addition to the recently discovered track, the anniversary set features previously unreleased alternate takes of several songs from the original "L.A. Woman" album. The Doors' "L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition" will be in stores on January 24th, along with two related releases. The two-disc vinyl set "L.A. Woman: The Workshop Sessions" includes all the previously unreleased tracks from the "40th Anniversary Edition." The DVD "Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman" features new interviews with surviving band members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore as well as others who were involved in the making of the original 1971 album.
"Mr. Mojo Risin'" will get a special theatrical screening in advance of its release. The movie will be shown at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California on January 20th. Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman, who signed The Doors to the label, and famed L.A. radio personality Jim Ladd will be on hand for the presentation. They'll also participate in a Q&A session following the film.
A new movie about Jerry Garcia is in the works. Deadline.com says the film will be based on the three-hour discussion documentary filmmaker Malcolm Leo shot with the late Grateful Dead frontman back in 1987. The interview highlights will be mixed with other documentary footage of the band as well as previously unreleased performance clips and home movies. It will also include footage from the San Francisco Giants' Jerry Garcia Day event last summer, which included Jerry's daughter Annabelle Garcia tossing out the first pitch. Manager John Hartmann, who has represented the Eagles; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; America; Poco, and others, is serving as the film's co-producer. Leo's other credits include documentaries on Elvis Presley; the Beach Boys; and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Leo and Hartmann are hoping to have the Garcia documentary ready for release this spring.
With his engagement now confirmed, Steven Tyler isn't give any specifics on a wedding date. He just tells TMZ.com his ceremony with new fiancee Erin Brady is coming up "soon enough." When it was suggested that the Aerosmith frontman join his future in-laws in a game of Monopoly as a way of bonding with them, he said, "We're gonna invent our own board -- are you kidding? The Tyler board." Rumors that Tyler and Brady were getting ready to tie the knot surfaced after Erin was seen in Hawaii over Christmas weekend wearing a large ring. It took a couple of weeks for Steven to confirm that the rumors of his engagement were true. Steven and Erin have been together for five years. This will be Tyler's third marriage.
Lionel Richie is adding his talents to NBC's "The Voice." The R&B star has signed on as one of the show's advisors, and will join singer-songwriter Jewel in assisting the hopefuls Christina Aguilera chooses for her team. Each of the four coaches will work with two advisors for the reality series' second season. Coach Adam Levine will get help from Alanis Morissette and Robin Thicke, Cee Lo Green can tap Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Ne-Yo for assistance, and Blake Shelton will receive mentoring support from Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson. NBC will launch the new season of "The Voice" with a special premiere episode airing on February 5th immediately after the Super Bowl. It will then air at it's regular time, Monday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, starting February 6th.
Rick Springfield is once again turning his attention to acting. TVGuide.com says the singer and former "General Hospital" star is set to make an appearance on an upcoming episode of TV Land's "Hot In Cleveland." Rick is slated to portray himself in the episode, in which he attempts to lead a less hectic life by settling in Cleveland and telling his neighbors he's just a guy named Tom. He starts to date Jane Leeves' character, Joy, and eventually confides in her who he really is. Joy is thrilled to learn she's dating Rick Springfield, until she discovers some of his more peculiar habits. No air date for Springfield's "Hot In Cleveland" episode has been announced yet, but it's expected to air sometime in the summer.
Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston has died. A post on Weston's official website says he was found dead at his home in London on January 3rd after police forced their way into his flat. Friends became concerned when they did not hear from Weston for a few days and alerted authorities. The cause of death, according to the website, has been attributed to a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Weston was reportedly found in his bed with the TV on. He was 64 years old.
Weston joined Fleetwood Mac in 1972 and played on the band's albums "Penguin" and "Mystery to Me." According to several online biographies, Weston was kicked out of the group in 1974 following revelations of his affair with Mick Fleetwood's wife, Jenny Boyd. He would go on to release several solo albums and perform with other musicians.
A rep for the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards says the rocker is "doing very well" as he recovers from laser eye surgery. The 68-year-old guitarist had been having trouble with his vision, and had the procedure done to help him see better. This year the Stones will mark their 50th anniversary. While rumors of a tour have been circulating for months, nothing official regarding the band's plans to celebrate the milestone have been announced yet.
Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth is sharing a few details on the group's upcoming album and tour. In a YouTube video posted on the Van Halen News Desk website the singer has a change of heart when asked about the CD's name, and divulges the title as he signs autographs for a group of fans.
Roth also gave up two dates for Van Halen's upcoming tour, saying the group would be performing at New York's Madison Square Garden on February 28th and March 1st. Van Halen was expected to deliver the itinerary for their highly-anticipated tour on Tuesday, but at that time only revealed that the trek would begin in Louisville, Kentucky "next month." Dates for the first leg of the trek are expected to be announced by the time tickets go on sale next Tuesday. Van Halen's album "A Different Kind Of Truth" is due in stores on February 7th.
Another Pink Floyd reunion could be in the works. The UK's "Daily Express" says the band's name is cropping up in conjunction with the upcoming Summer Olympics in London. Organizers are reportedly looking to get surviving members of the group to reunite for the Games' Closing Ceremony. An insider says the event meets band members' stated requirements for a reunion, explaining that it's "long been made clear it would take something very special to get Pink Floyd back together again and it doesn't get any bigger than the Olympics." The source believes Pink Floyd would be appropriate for the event, because the group has been "a major part" of British culture over the past 40 years. The insider adds that Olympic officials are hoping "everything can be confirmed in the coming weeks."
Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright last performed together at the Live 8 charity event in 2005. Waters and Mason have expressed a willingness to perform together again as Pink Floyd, but Gilmour has been reluctant to agree to a reunion. Wright passed away in 2008.
A number of other British stars, including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Paul McCartney, have been mentioned as possible performers for the Olympics' Opening and Closing ceremonies. The Stones, Zeppelin, and The Who have all denied rumors that they would be involved, but McCartney has said he's "up for" the event.
Steven Tyler says there are "a couple of massive talents" among the new slate of "American Idol" hopefuls. The Aerosmith frontman tells "TV Guide" the upcoming season includes a contestant who's reminiscent of Casey Abrams, who finished in sixth place last year but was almost voted out much earlier. He made such a strong impression on the judges that they used their only "save" to keep him in the competition. And viewers might see a slight change in Tyler this time around. The rocker admits that last season it "wasn't so easy to listen to some 16-year-old sing a song that was just awful," but after the performance he'd find himself uncharacteristically "at a loss for words." Steven says he believes it would have "been better TV" if he'd have been more critical and said what he thought.
Tyler will be back at the "American Idol" judges table along with Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson when the hit reality show begins its eleventh season later this month. "Idol" returns to Fox on January 18th, airing at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Elton John is slated to perform a special show in Mexico in February. Billboard.biz is reporting that the "Rocket Man" will take the stage with his band for a "concert for peace." Organizers say the event is designed to help foster peace and unity throughout the country as people face challenging times. Some websites promoting the event are also suggesting concertgoers wear white to the show. Elton's performance is scheduled for the Estadio Omnilife in Guadalajara on February 24th. While the stadium can hold just under 50-thousand people only 30-thousand tickets are expected to be sold, ranging in price from 36-to-240-dollars.
Elton is spending this weekend in Hawaii. He and his band will play shows in Honolulu Friday and Saturday night.
Stevie Nicks has lost her mother. A statement issued Thursday confirms that Barbara Nicks, who had been battling pneumonia, passed away at her home in the Phoenix-area community of Paradise Valley, Arizona on December 28th. She was 84. Stevie, her brother Christopher, and other family members were at Mrs. Nicks' side when she died. The Fleetwood Mac frontwoman credits her success to her mother. She says her mom "supported me and all of my dreams" and "was the one that made it all possible." The Nicks family isn't planning to have a funeral for Barbara, but plans to host a memorial later. They're also asking anyone wanting to send flowers to instead give that money to the Salvation Army's Red Kettle, which has established a fund in Barbara's memory. More information is available at www.onlineredkettle.org/BarbaraNicks.
Stevie lost her father several years ago. Jess Nicks died of heart failure in 2005 at the age of 80.
It appears the Beatles' 1969 classic "Abbey Road" is still a bestseller. According to Nielson SoundScan, the album is the top-selling vinyl record for a third consecutive year. Fans picked up 41-thousand copies of the album's wax version in 2011, which is an increase from 2009 and 2010. In fact, vinyl sales in general have increased over the past few years, although they still only made up a little less than four-percent of total music sales in 2011. As for the rest of last year's vinyl top ten, the Fleet Foxes' "Helplessness Blues" finished second, followed by Bon Iver's Grammy-nominated self-titled effort. Mumford & Son's "Sigh No More" came in fourth while Radiohead's "The King of Limbs" rounds out the top five.
Top 10 Vinyl Albums Of 2011:
1. The Beatles, "Abbey Road" (41-thousand copies)
2. Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues" (29-thousand-700 copies)
3. Bon Iver, "Bon Iver" (27-thousand-200 copies)
4. Mumford & Sons, "Sigh No More" (26-thousand-800 copies)
5. Radiohead, "The King of Limbs" (20-thousand-800 copies)
6. Adele, "21" (16-thousand-500 copies)
7. Bon Iver, "For Emma, Forever Ago" (16-thousand-200 copies)
8. Wilco, "The Whole Love" (14-thousand-900 copies)
9. The Black Keys, "Brothers" (14-thousand-200 copies)
10. The Black Keys, "El Camino" (13-thousand-800 copies)
Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart are collaborating again, this time on a musical. Ringo tells "Mojo" magazine the two have created "a complete thing -- characters, story, a lot of songs." The former Beatle says they wrote it with the intention of seeing it staged on Broadway, but he admits "it will more likely end up a movie." Ringo refuses to divulge any details on the plot, aside from saying it's not autobiographical but is "about other people." Starr says the musical grew out of the work they did together for his upcoming album, "Ringo 2012," which will be in stores on January 31st. The two rockers first teamed up a few years ago on Ringo's 2008 album "Liverpool 8." They also co-wrote some of the tracks for Starr's 2010 release, "Y Not."
Don't hold your breath waiting for a Creedence Clearwater Revival reunion. Founding members Stu Cook and Doug Clifford say they aren't at all interested in working with John Fogerty ever again. Last summer Fogerty said his anger had subsided, and he expressed an openness to the possibility of reteaming with Stu and Doug. But John's words aren't sitting well with the two of them. In an interview with "Uncut" magazine, Clifford says a CCR reunion "might have been a nice idea 20 years ago, but it's too late." Cook admits he's skeptical of Fogerty's recent change of heart, stating "leopards don't change their spots." The bassist adds that he believes John's comments were "just an image-polishing exercise," because his "phone certainly hasn't rung."
Creedence Clearwater Revival went through an acrimonious breakup in the early '70s, and there was plenty of bad blood between Fogerty and his ex-bandmates for years. John even sued Stu and Doug in 1977 for touring as "Creedence Clearwater Revisited." But last summer Fogerty told "The Calgary Herald" that while he'd previously say "absolutely not" when asked about a reunion, he'd noticed that "there isn't the bombast" in his voice like there was before when he'd deny or refuse to get back together with the band. He added that the idea of a reunion "doesn't really kick up a big firestorm of emotion" in him anymore, and "if someone started talking," he'd "sit still long enough to listen."
Peter Frampton once again has his 1954 Gibson Les Paul. The rocker lost the guitar in a fiery plane crash in Venezuela back in 1980, and thought the instrument was gone for good. He tells "The New York Times" that "for 30 years, it didn't exist -- it went up in a puff of smoke." Frampton had been playing that Les Paul for the previous ten years, since his days in Humble Pie, and used it on his concert album "Frampton Comes Alive." Peter had added customized pickups to the guitar, which made it uniquely identifiable as his. That customization is what made Curacao guitar restorer Donald Valentina think the guitar was Frampton's when a local resident brought it to him for repairs. Valentina spent two years trying to persuade the owner to sell the instrument and when the owner finally agreed, Valentina didn't have the money. He was able to convince a tourist board official to use public funds to purchase the guitar, and last month the official took the Gibson to Nashville to give it back to Peter.
Frampton says when he picked up the guitar he could tell instantly that it was his old Les Paul. He admits it was an emotional reunion, explaining that all throughout the '70s it was the only guitar he played, and it was "part of me." Frampton adds that the guitar is still in pretty good shape, and just needs some minor repairs. But he says he won't do any restoration to the body, which has scratches and burn marks on it, because he wants the instrument "to have its battle scars." Frampton is hoping he'll be able to take the Les Paul with him on his upcoming tour, which begins in York, Pennsylvania on February 1st.
Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle are among those set to participate in the upcoming BET Honors ceremony. They're part of a performance lineup that also includes Cicely Tyson and Common, while Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, and Willow Smith are also slated to appear. Stevie Wonder is among the honorees at this year's event, which pays tribute to individuals for their extraordinary contributions to African-American culture. The Motown legend is being recognized for his lengthy, successful, and influential career as a musician. Other honorees include Mariah Carey, Dr. Maya Angelou, and Spike Lee, as well as the Tuskegee Airmen and coach Beverly Kearney. Actress Gabrielle Union will host the ceremony.
The fifth annual BET Honors will take place at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC on January 14th, and have its debut on BET on February 13th. Money raised through the gala will go to Metro TeenAIDS, an organization that supports young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Journey will be featured in an upcoming edition of the CMT series "Crossroads." That's according to frontman Arnel Pineda. The singer tells the Philippines' ABS-CBN morning show "Kris TV" his band will be teaming up with country trio Rascal Flatts in Nashville next month. He adds that after the late February taping Journey will return to the road. Arnel says the band will be launching a South American tour with Foreigner, Styx, Loverboy, and Heart in March. However, no details on the trek have surfaced. The only date posted on Journey's website is an appearance at the Cheyenne, Wyoming Frontier Days in July.
CMT hasn't announced plans for a Journey-Rascal Flatts edition of the series. For "Crossroads," CMT pairs country stars with artists of other genres to perform each other's songs and discuss their influences, and see where their musical roads cross.
New music could be on the way from Steve Perry. The former Journey frontman tells Billboard.com he's "written a whole bunch of ideas and directions, all over the map, in the last two, three years." He adds that he's almost done building a studio in his Southern California home, and once it's ready he intends "at some point" to "start trying to track these things and see where they go." But Steve isn't giving himself any deadlines with the project. He explains that deadlines spark pressure, which makes him "worry about it sucking," and he doesn't want to put himself through that. Perry says instead he's just letting himself "sketch and write" and develop the project at his own pace.
It's been more than a decade since the singer has released any new music. Perry's last album containing fresh material was the 1998 collection "Greatest Hits + Five Unreleased," which features several tracks from the planned and scrapped solo album "Against the Wall."
Another installment of the Elvis Presley "Legacy Edition" series is now in stores. The two-disc package "Elvis Country: Legacy Edition" arrived on Tuesday and focuses on the singer's country connections. Songs on the first disc, "Elvis Country," originally released in 1971, include "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water." The second CD, "Love Letters From Elvis," includes the songs "Love Letters," "Only Believe" and "The Sound of Your Cry." Both CDs include three bonus tracks.
Only five months separated the releases of "Elvis Country" and "Love Letters From Elvis" in 1971. Elvis' original three recording sessions were done in RCA's Studio B in Nashville during June and September of 1970.
There is word of a launch city for Van Halen's highly-anticipated tour, but still no start date or signs of a full itinerary. According to the VanHalenNewsDesk, the group's anniversary tour with original frontman David Lee Roth will kick off in February in Louisville, Kentucky. As for the full list of tour dates, the website says the first leg of shows "should be revealed soon," adding in parentheses - "anytime between now and when the tickets go on sale January 10th." That's the date Van Halen is also promising to release a brand new song titled "Tattoo."
Van Zandt's previous acting credits include the role of Silvio Dante on the HBO series "The Sopranos." "Lilyhammer" reflects an expansion for Netflix, and is the first original series to be offered through the video service.
The Elton John-Leon Russell film "The Union" is up for an award. The project is among the nominees for the upcoming Producers Guild Awards, earning a nod in the documentary category. Producers Michelle Panek and Cameron Crowe, who also directed the film, are in the running for the prize. "The Union" shares its title with Elton John and Leon Russell's 2010 collaborative album, and chronicles the rockers as they worked with producer T. Bone Burnett on the disc. "The Union" is facing four other films for the honor, including "Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest," "Bill Cunningham New York," "Project Nim," and "Senna." The Producers Guild Awards will be presented in a ceremony in Los Angeles on January 21st.
The John Mellencamp documentary "It's About You" is opening in New York and Los Angeles this week. A write-up on IFCCenter.com says the movie gives viewers "a rare and intimate look" at the rocker, and shows "an emotional side" of Mellencamp that has "never before seen by the public." It follows John as he toured in 2009 and hit the studio to work on his 2010 effort, "No Better Than This." Mellencamp recorded the album at a variety of American landmarks, including Memphis' famed Sun Studios and the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Georgia, as well as a hotel room where blues legend Robert Johnson wrote songs.
"It's About You" had its premiere last year at the South By Southwest festival. The film is launching its run at the IFC Center in New York City on Wednesday, and will open at the Music Hall in L.A. on Friday. Both engagements end January 16th.
Paul McCartney is getting more recognition for everything he's done in the past year. The former Beatle has earned the title of 2011 Artist of the Year in UltimateClassicRock.com's "2011 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards." Paul juggled a lot of projects last year. In addition to reissuing the albums "McCartney" and "McCartney 2" and hitting the road on his "On The Run" tour, he also produced a new documentary in conjunction with the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, and he teamed up with the New York City Ballet to write his first-ever dance score.
Other winners include Slash, whose CD "Made in Stoke 24/7/11" has been named the Best Live Album; and Ozzy Osbourne, whose "Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of a Madman 30th Anniversary" takes the prize fore Best Box Set. Tour of the Year honors go to Guns N' Roses, who this fall went on their first North American trek in five years. AC/DC is a three-time honoree. The band's DVD "Let There Be Rock" was voted Best Reissue or Archival Release, "Live at River Plate" takes the title of DVD of the Year, and "Shoot to Thrill" for the video game "Call of Duty" is getting the nod for Best Commercial. "Chickenfoot captures two categories -- Album of the Year with "3" and Song of the Year with "Big Foot." Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx's "This is Gonna Hurt" has been voted Book of the Year.
Robert Lee Dickey -- half of the duo James & Bobby Purify -- has died. Florida's "Tallahassee Democrat" says the singer passed away on December 29th, but offers no details on his death. Robert was 72. The Tallahassee native started off performing in local clubs, and came to fame after teaming up with his cousin, James Purify. The duo was most prominent in the mid-'60s, scoring their biggest hit, "I'm Your Puppet," in 1966. The song was a top ten hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. James & Bobby Purify logged other top 40 hit the following year with "Shake a Tail Feather" and "Let Love Come Between Us."
Robert Dickey left the duo in 1971 and was replaced by Ben Moore, who became the new "Bobby." Dickey left the music business in the '70s and resettled in his hometown. He signed on with the Tallahassee Police Department and also became a deacon in his church. Dickey also continued to perform, singing with a local gospel choir.
Steven Tyler is helping Oprah Winfrey in the ratings war. The Aerosmith frontman was featured as the talk show legend launched her new series, "Oprah's Next Chapter," which debuted on New Year's Day. The episode brought in the highest ratings for an OWN Sunday premiere since the network first launched in January of last year. According to TheWrap.com, one-point-one-million viewers tuned in to see Oprah's interview with Tyler. For the show the rocker welcomed Oprah to his New Hampshire home and shared details about his life, including his addiction battles, his past relationship issues, and his life as a judge on "American Idol." Only the 2011 premiere of "Season 25: Oprah Behind The Scenes" has done better, drawing one-point-two-million viewers in its first outing.
The Queen of Soul has found a king to share her castle. Aretha Franklin is engaged. A rep for the singer says Franklin will wed longtime friend Willie Wilkerson in the summer. They're planning to exchange vows in a beachfront ceremony in Miami before heading aboard a yacht for a private celebration. Aretha says she and Willie are hoping to tie the knot in June or July. In her announcement the 69-year-old soul legend also professes, quote, "And no, I'm not pregnant." This will be the third marriage for Franklin.
Aretha has been staying busy over the past year after a health scare forced her to cancel a number of concert dates in late 2010 and early 2011. The singer has bounced back since then. Franklin performed on tour over the summer and has made a number of TV appearances.
Steven Tyler is confirming the rumors about his engagement. Reports surfaced last week that the veteran rocker was ready to settle down for a third time after Tyler's girlfriend of five years, Erin Brady, was spotted wearing a ring in Maui over the Christmas holiday. Now, TMZ.com says the Aerosmith frontman is 'fessing up to popping the question. A rep for the rocker says it is indeed true. Tyler appeared on the first episode of Oprah Winfrey's new OWN talk show "Oprah's Next Chapter" on Sunday night. In the interview, taped before news of his engagement surfaced, Tyler said he could remain faithful to Brady, despite his past reputation. Tyler told Oprah, "There was some behavior I am ashamed of and I shouldn't have done. I don't want to hurt anybody again. For all the divorces I've had I've hurt those girls deeply."
Tyler is gearing up to return to the small screen in a few weeks. He'll occupy a seat on the judges' panel next to Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson on the new season of "American Idol." The eleventh season of the hit reality singing competition kicks off January 18th on Fox.
Elton John is sharing his thoughts on casting his upcoming biopic. The rocker recently told the "Los Angeles Times" Justin Timberlake would be his first choice to play him in the planned film "Rocketman." Elton says Justin was "superb" the last time he took on the role, portraying Elton in the 2001 music video for "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore." As for the film, Elton says it's going to be a "surreal" look at his life rather than a factual biography. He compares it to the movie "Moulin Rouge," and says he'll soon be making an announcement about the project's director. The script has already been taken care of by "Billy Elliot" writer Lee Hall.
Dion and the Belmonts have lost their tenor vocalist. "The New York Daily News" says Fred Milano died on Sunday 1/1/12at the age of 72, just three weeks after learning he had lung cancer. Fred was one of the original Belmonts, along with Carlo Mastrangelo and Angelo D'Aleo, who provided the vocal support to lead singer Dion DiMucci. The group was prominent in the late 1950s, with such hits as "A Teenager In Love" and "Where Or When." Dion and the Belmonts came together in 1957 as a street-corner vocal quartet in New York City. After a successful three-year run, Dion left the group to launch a solo career.
While the Belmonts continued without their frontman, their success began to wane. However, the group made an impact on the future of rock and roll. Numerous artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, and Lou Reed, cite Dion and the Belmonts as an influence.
Natalie Cole and Aretha Franklin are among the stars featured in the upcoming PBS special "Tony Bennett: Duets 2." The "Great Performances" episode chronicles the making of Bennett's most recent collaborations album. Bennett teamed up personally with each of his guests to record each track in the same room at the same time as his guests. In addition to the performances, the show includes the artists commenting on the sessions. The late Amy Winehouse is among those featured on the show. Her last recording was the song "Body and Soul" with Bennett. Aretha joins Tony to sing "How Do You Keep the Music Playing," while Natalie and Tony contribute "Watch What Happens." Other participants include Willie Nelson, Lady Gaga, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, and Queen Latifah. The "Great Performances" episode "Tony Bennett: Duets 2" will debut on PBS on January 27th.
John Lennon fans have been vocal in expressing their displeasure with Cee Lo Green for changing the lyrics to "Imagine" for his performance on NBC's New Year's Eve broadcast from Times Square. The singer is catching flak for singing the lyrics, "nothing to kill or die for/and all religion's true" instead of Lennon's original lyrics, "nothing to kill or die for/and no religion too." Lennon was known to be critical of organized religion during his lifetime. Fans were quick to point out that fact during a number of Twitter exchanges with Cee Lo over his "re-imagined" lyrics for "Imagine." The singer, best known for his profane musical diss, renamed "Forget You" for radio, later tweeted that he meant no disrespect by changing the song's lyrics. Cee-Lo says, "I was trying to say a world where u could believe what u wanted that's all."
The Allman Brothers Band's Butch Trucks says 2012 is "shaping up to be a great year." The group has announced dates for their annual residency at New York's Beacon Theater. The slate of ten shows is scheduled in two-night sets, starting on March 9th and 10th. They band will follow with performances on March 13th and 14th; March 16th and 17th; and March 20th and 21st before wrapping up the run on March 24th and 25th. More dates could be added to the engagement. Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday. The Allmans have been playing an extended string of dates at the Beacon in March for more than two decades. They began the annual tradition in 1989, and have only missed one year -- 2008 -- because frontman Gregg Allman was still recovering from treatments for Hepatitis C.
This year, The Allman Brothers Band is celebrating the 40th anniversary of their landmark album, "Eat A Peach." To honor their 1972 live disc they've dubbed 2012 "The Year of the Peach." In addition, the group's Beacon Theater shows are just one event on the horizon. The Allmans are set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of next month's Grammy Awards. The group will also host their annual Wanee Festival in Live Oak, Florida on April 19th through the 21st. Other acts for the three-day event haven't been announced as yet.
Paul McCartney says he and his band actually play every note of every show they perform. The rock legend tells the UK's "Express" the "concert experience" is "at the heart of what music is about." He explains that fans go to shows to be "in the room" with the performer and to hear "the real thing." McCartney adds that mistakes are part of that experience, and he considers them proof that the show really is live. Paul says he's heard stories from members of his crew about other bands they've worked with that use prerecorded material. But the former Beatle notes that's not how he runs his shows, and he's "glad" that when his concerts are over he and his bandmates "take a bow and there is nobody hidden under the stage." McCartney just wrapped up a world tour last month in his hometown of Liverpool, England. He also has a new album on the way. The CD -- a covers project showcasing some of his earliest musical influences -- is expected in February.
Authorities have made an arrest in connection with the rash of arson fires set over the weekend in the Los Angeles area, including one that damaged a former home of the late Doors frontman Jim Morrison. L.A. Fire Department officials say a man is in custody as authorities continue their investigation. The arson spree began on Friday, resulting in a total of 53 fires. Among the homes that burned was one on Rothdell Trail in Laurel Canyon, where Morrison once lived with his girlfriend Pamela Courson. Morrison reportedly wrote much of the material for the albums "Waiting For The Sun" and "The Soft Parade" at the residence. In addition, the song "Love Street" is said to have been inspired by the people he saw on Rothdell Trail as he looked out from the home's balcony. "The Los Angeles Times" has reported that the blaze at the Morrison home started on that balcony when flames spread from two nearby cars that had been intentionally torched.
A "fifth Beatle" is celebrating a birthday. Sir George Martin, the group's primary producer, is 86 today. The formally trained musician had been a record producer for more than a decade when he first met The Beatles, but he didn't have much experience in the pop world. His area of expertise was in classical music, and he'd also had success producing comedy and novelty records. And his comedic sensibilities played a role in landing The Beatles a recording contract. When Martin decided to give the then-unknown band a chance it wasn't for their music, but because he appreciated their sense of humor. They began their partnership in 1962. Over the course of the next eight years Martin helped the group maximize the studio to realize their musical vision, and incorporate orchestral aspects into their pop and rock songs. The Beatles, meanwhile, opened Martin up to another musical style, and his success with The Beatles made him an in-demand producer and arranger.
Martin also worked with other artists throughout the '60s, and his career continued after The Beatles' breakup. In addition to Beatles' albums his extensive list of credits also includes recordings by America, Cheap Trick, Celine Dion, and Elton John, as well as the "James Bond" themes "Goldfinger" and "Live and Let Die." Over the years Martin has also been a keeper of The Beatles' archives. He was a driving force behind the "The Beatles Anthology" series in the mid 1990s. More recently, with his son Giles, Martin developed the soundtrack to the Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil show "Love," which opened in Las Vegas in 2006.
Authorities are still looking for the person responsible for a series of fires that have damaged a number of homes in the the Los Angeles area, including one once owned by The Doors late frontman Jim Morrison. "The Los Angeles Times" says more than three-dozen fires have been set throughout the L.A. area since Friday. The Morrison home was among the first to have burned. Like many of these fires, this blaze started when two cars parked by the house were torched, and the flames spread to the home's balcony. Several other rooms were also damaged. Officials are hoping a 60-thousand-dollar reward will inspire residents to pass along information that will help put an end to the fire spree with the arsonist being arrested and convicted for the crime.
Etta James is showing signs of improvement. The hospitalized star's agent, Lupe DeLeon, says legendary R&B singer's blood pressure has stabilized and she is breathing on her own again. She'd been hooked up to a respirator for the past week in a hospital in Riverside, California. The 73-year-old entertainer is battling a number of medical conditions, including cancer, dementia, a kidney deficiency. James is best known for such 1960's classics as "At Last," "Tell Mama" and "Losers Weepers." Etta is said to be terminally ill. As her health deteriorated her adult sons and her longtime husband had been at odds over control of her medical care and her one-million-dollar estate. They recently resolved those issues through the courts. In announcing his decisions the judge also said it was evident their issues stemmed from love, not greed, and that they all truly cared about Etta.
Roger Waters says he was driven to develop an outdoor version of his "The Wall" show out of a desire to bring the tour to South America. The former Pink Floyd frontman explains that "they don't play basketball or ice hockey down there, and consequentially they don't have arenas," and as a result his only options were to perform in a club or a soccer stadium. However, he says he found his arena version of the show "is not inclusive enough" for the outdoor stadium, so he's had to make adjustments. Waters will launch his South American "The Wall" tour in Santiago, Chile on March 2nd. He'll kick off his 2012 road trip in Perth, Australia on January 27th.
Waters adds that he's "really excited" about his upcoming tour, which also includes another run through North America. He says he's glad he's getting to stage "The Wall" in cities he didn't visit last year, and adds that his U.S. audiences in 2011 "were so amazing." Waters will bring "The Wall" back to this country in the spring, starting with a performance in Houston, Texas on May 1st.
Glen Campbell is finding a fan in country star David Nail. The singer admits in a Walmart Soundcheck Risers video that he's drawn inspiration from Campbell's career -- especially when it comes to defining his sound as "country" or "pop." David explains that Campbell is "a guy who had number one pop records, and a lot of those pop records were number one country records. And no one complained about it. No one gave him any static about it." Nail is currently promoting his sophomore album, "The Sound of a Million Dreams," which hit stores in November. Campbell is in the process of wrapping up his lengthy career. The legendary performer, who announced last year that he's battling Alzheimer's disease, released his final album, "Ghost on the Canvas," and launched "The Goodbye Tour" in late August.
More details about are ready to talk. A post on the venue's website says Van Halen has been rehearsing at the theater for the past two months. The message also includes statements from Roxy staffers who share what it's been like having the band rehearse and shoot their new video at the theater.
Van Halen announced in a vague video that the group would be going on tour next year, with original frontman David Lee Roth at the helm. But while band members aren't saying much about their upcoming tour, folks at The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles
Steven Tyler may be holding his tongue when it comes to his reported engagement to girlfriend Erin Brady, but his jeweler seems to have plenty to say. A spokesperson for Loree Rodkin, who has provided the Aerosmith frontman's bling for many years, tells "People" magazine the ring Tyler offered Brady when he popped the question is "one of a kind." The rep explains that Steven's busy schedule kept him preoccupied, so Rodkin picked a few stones, built settings and sent the singer pictures of his options on his phone. Tyler ultimately went with a five-carat, brilliant-cut diamond, which sits on a micro pave diamond and platinum band.
Tyler and Brady began dating back in 2006, and news of their pending nuptials broke over the Christmas weekend when she was seen wearing the ring. The couple hasn't offered any comment, but TMZ.com reports that Tyler's family isn't very pleased with his new fiancée. This will be Steven's third marriage. Tyler recently opened up about his life -- including his behavior in his previous marriages -- to Oprah Winfrey. He told the talk show legend that he had regrets over things he'd done, because he knows he hurt his exes "deeply."
News of Tyler and Brady's pending wedding surfaced earlier this week when Erin was photographed sporting diamond engagement ring. The couple has been dating since 2006 and spent the Christmas holiday in Maui, although it's unclear if that's where Tyler actually popped the question.
Paul Simon's "So Beautiful Or So What" is landing on another year-end best-of list. The singer-songwriter's most recent CD is included in "USA Today" critic Edna Gundersen's rundown of the top five albums of 2011, behind Adele's "21" and The Black Keys' "El Camino." Florence and the Machine's "Ceremonials" ranks fourth, followed by Fleet Foxes "Helplessness Blues." Glen Campbell's "Ghost on the Canvas" and Emmylou Harris' "Hard Bargain" are featured on other critics' lists. Critic Elysa Gardener gives Harris' CD the number two spot behind Karrin Allyson's "Round Midnight." Campbell's career-capping project has fourth place on critic Brian Mansfield's list. His number one album of the year is Adele's "21."
Simon's "So Beautiful Or So What" was previously featured in "Rolling Stone's" list of the year's top releases. The CD, which hit stores in April, captured the number three spot on the magazine's "50 Best Albums of 2011," following Adele's "21" and Jay-Z and Kanye West's CD "Watch The Throne."
The realization that Neil Diamond's hit "Sweet Caroline" was inspired by a childhood photograph of Caroline Kennedy hasn't seemed to turn people off to the song. Only 17-percent of the respondents in a TMZ.com poll say knowing the song's origins "ruined it" for them, while 83-percent say "Who cares?" In addition, 73-percent still consider the song "classic," even with the "touching me, touching you" line. By comparison, just 27-percent think the song is "creepy." Diamond was among this year's Kennedy Center Honors recipients. Caroline Kennedy was among those included in Tuesday's CBS highlights special from the event. Diamond first acknowledged that he'd written "Sweet Caroline" for Caroline Kennedy back in 2007.
Woody Guthrie is finally getting recognition from his home state of Oklahoma. "The New York Times" says efforts are under way to develop a home for the legendary folk singer's archives in Tulsa, which will include an exhibit hall and study center. The George Kaiser Family Foundation is behind the project. The foundation recently purchased the extensive collection from Guthrie's daughter Nora for three-million-dollars. The archives include numerous notebooks and diaries and nearly 600 pieces of artwork as well as scrapbooks; never published essays, novels, and short stories; at least three-thousand sets of song lyrics; and other pieces of memorabilia. While the collection isn't expected to arrive at its new home until sometime in 2013, the foundation will host a kickoff event on March 10th featuring Woody's son Arlo Guthrie and other performers.
The gala will also serve as a centennial celebration for Woody, who was born roughly 65 miles outside Tulsa, in Okemah, Oklahoma, on July 14th, 1912. He died on October 3rd, 1967, at the age of 55, of complications from Huntington's disease. Some Oklahomans had been reluctant to embrace the influential and prolific singer-songwriter as their own due to his political views and affiliations with communist groups in the U.S. Nora says she's glad Oklahoma is finally ready to recognize her father. She explains that the state was "like his mother," and "now he's back in his mother's arms."
Peter Frampton is the latest star to take legal action against a record company over payments for digital sales. Nashville's "Tennessean" says the classic rocker filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group Friday 12/23/11. He's seeking 500-thousand-dollars in unpaid royalties along with additional damages. Peter is working with Nashville-based attorney Richard Busch, who tells the paper the issues "go beyond simply breach of contract." The lawyer is also representing the sister of The Knack's late drummer Bruce Gary and producers for rapper Eminem in a similar cases. He says his clients "allege the wrongdoing here is a part of deliberate effort to deprive the parties of their royalties." The artists say they should receive their licensing fee -- 50-percent -- on downloads since there is no physical packaging and other expenses that justify the labels taking 80-to-90-percent of the revenue from album sales.
According to Frampton's suit, once Universal learned that Peter was taking legal action, the rocker received a check from the label for 212-thousand-dollars, which his complaint says is "hundreds of thousands of dollars" less than he's due. The lawsuit further alleges that Universal sent the money "with the hope that Frampton would be deceived into cashing the check and thereby potentially relieving UMG Recordings from further liability."
Neil Diamond might have a better understanding of how his music has touched others. He's among this year's Kennedy Center Honors recipients. On CBS' "Kennedy Center Honors" special Tuesday 12/27/11. Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles took part in the tribute to Neil, performing "Hello Again."
The salute to Diamond also featured remarks from actor John Lithgow along with Lionel Richie performing "I Am, I Said," Raphael Saadiq singing "Cherry Cherry," and Smokey Robinson leading a group of Boston Red Sox fans in "Sweet Caroline." More stars were on hand to pay tribute to the other 2011 Kennedy Center Honors recipients. James Taylor took the stage in honor of cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Robert De Niro, Bill Cosby, Stephen Colbert, and Sarah Jessica Parker are just some of the other participants in the all-star event, which also recognized Meryl Streep, Sonny Rollins, and Barbara Cook. The Kennedy Center Honors gala took place in Washington, DC.
KISS fans will be able to putt balls into Gene Simmons' mouth in just a few months. VegasInc.com says KISS by Monster Mini Golf is slated to open at the Shoppes at Harmon Square in Las Vegas on March 15th. Each of the 18 holes of the new, KISS-themed miniature golf course are adorned with images of band members -- including a giant Gene Simmons head -- and other KISS props. The facility will also feature a live DJ who'll provide KISS music, trivia, and contests. But visitors will be able to do much more than just play a round of mini-golf. Guests will be able to play games in the video arcade, browse through a host of band merchandise at the KISS gift shop, dine at the "Rock 'n' Roll All Nite" Cafe, or get married at the "Hotter Than Hell" Wedding Chapel.
KISS by Monster Mini Golf was originally expected to open before the end of this year, and then in January, but construction problems reportedly caused delays. However, the new opening date has significance to the band. The KISS album "Destroyer" was released on March 15th, 1976.
Van Halen intends to go on tour next year. But the group is being very vague about their plans. The band's website has a two-minute video posted of performance footage accompanying portions of the studio versions of "Jump" and "Panama" and a drum solo. The phrases "Van Halen On Tour 2012" and "First Tickets On Sale January 10" scroll across the bottom of the screen. No other details have been revealed. The tour will feature Van Halen with founding frontman David Lee Roth.
Word of the upcoming road trip as well as a new album have been circulating for months. According to the Van Halen News Desk website, the footage in the tour announcement video was recently shot at The Roxy in West Hollywood for a clip to a new Van Halen song. VHND.com also has a graphic posted that includes Van Halen's "VH" logo along with "2.7.12," and says this image could mean the album or its lead-off single will be released on February 7th. A new Van Halen album would be the group's first full collection of fresh studio material since 1998's "Van Halen 3," which featured singer Gary Cherone. It would be Van Halen's first complete disc with Roth since the album "1984."
Neil Diamond says being a Kennedy Center Honoree was "a big thrill." The veteran performer tells Billboard.com it was the first time he'd been a prominent figure at an event and didn't feel like he had to work. He explains that at the ceremony "you just go there and people congratulate you and cheer you and say nice things about you and give you a medal, and you meet the president." Neil adds that he brought several family members to the event, and it was "a memorable moment for everyone."
Diamond joins Meryl Streep, Sonny Rollins, Yo-Yo Ma, and Barbara Cook as the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors recipients. They were recognized earlier this month with a two-day event in Washington, DC, which culminated with an all-star concert salute. Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson are among those who took part in the tribute to Diamond. Highlights from the gala will air in a special broadcast on CBS tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Alice Cooper is looking back on what he calls "a big year." The veteran shock rocker tells "The Cherokee Tribune" 2011 was full of events. In addition to releasing his album "Welcome 2 My Nightmare" and going on an extensive tour, he also spent time shooting scenes with Johnny Depp for the movie "Dark Shadows" and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Alice says the Rock Hall induction was definitely a highlight. Cooper calls it "one of those things that you never quite realize." He admits that he thought it was "going to happen eventually," but says it was "really cool" to win induction the first time The Alice Cooper Band was nominated. Alice adds that following such a "full year," he's now "ready for six months off."
Terminally-ill rhythm-and-blues singer Etta James is in the intensive care unit in a Riverside, California hospital. James' manager Lupe DeLeon says the legendary 73 year-old entertainer is hooked up to a respirator and is getting round-the-clock care. About a week ago, James' personal physician told a Riverside probate court judge the Los Angeles native was losing her battle against leukemia. James has also been diagnosed with dementia and a kidney deficiency. Her one-million-dollar estate has been the object of a legal tug-of-war. James is best known for 1960s classics such as "At Last" and "Tell Mama."
Robin Gibb is sharing some of his latest work through his website. As part of his holiday message, the singer has posted the song "Christmas Day." The track, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and vocalist Isabelle Suckling, is from the upcoming orchestral project "The Titanic Requiem."
Gibb explains that the song, which he composed with his son, R.J. Gibb, is written from the perspective of a young girl in a lifeboat whose father is killed when the Titanic sinks. Robin and RJ are crafting "The Titanic Requiem" in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the ocean liner tragedy, which is coming up in April.
In his message Robin also share his hopes that his fans are having a good holiday season, and that "2012 will be a great year for everyone." While the singer doesn't directly address his recent medical drama, he adds that he'd "like to thank the tens of thousands of people who have wished me well."
Former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans says that while he was only in the band for two years -- from 1975 to 1977 -- he's still identified with the group. He explains that it's one reason why he decided to write "Dirty Deeds - My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC." Mark tells Gibson.com that over the years people have asked him what it was like to be in the band, and he calls "Dirty Deeds" his way to "repay the fans" for all their support. Evans says he started considering putting his life story in print back in 2007, after "some things" happened "family-wise" that made it "obvious" the time was right for him to write a memoir. Evans adds that he's glad he took the opportunity to "set the record straight." He admits his former AC/DC bandmates are "so secretive," which has led to "a lot of inaccuracies" about the band cropping up in various books. Evans' "Dirty Deeds" is in stores now.
Photographer Mick Rock says David Bowie is "in his Howard Hughes period" right now. He tells Spinner.com that he doesn't begrudge Bowie his privacy, saying the singer has "earned a break," but admits that as a result they're not presently in touch with one another. Rock adds that he'd "love to work with him again." Back in the '70s Rock was Bowie's official photographer, and they've maintained a relationship over the decades. Rock says they "did a great session in 2002." He's currently promoting "Rocked: A Photo Exhibition by Mick Rock." In addition to pictures of Bowie, the exhibit also features shots of such stars as Ozzy Osbourne, Queen, Mick Jagger, U2's Bono, Madonna, Blondie's Deborah Harry, and others. "Rocked" will be up for viewing at the W Downtown hotel in New York through Thursday.
The Troggs frontman Reg Presley is out of the hospital, and getting out of the business. A post on the band's website says the 70-year-old singer "is now at home," and he appreciates all the cards, messages, and support he has received from the fans while he's been ill. But the post adds that Reg "has made a firm decision, due to his health, to finally retire after 40 odd years of performing and entertaining audiences all over the world." The British rocker was hospitalized earlier this month following a suspected stroke. Presley hadn't been feeling well for two weeks before his medical crisis, but during that time he still performed two shows with The Troggs in Germany. However, once he returned home his condition became worse, landing him in the hospital. This wasn't the first health scare for Presley, whose real name is Reg Ball. A year ago he suffered a major stroke.
The Troggs formed in 1964 and were most prominent in the mid '60s. The band is best known for the hits "Wild Thing," "With a Girl Like You," and "Love Is All Around." The website post doesn't say what the group plans to do now that their longtime frontman is bringing his career to an end.
The sister of The Knack's late drummer Bruce Gary believes Capitol Records owes her more money in royalties. TMZ.com says Felice Catena, who is Gary's heir, has filed a lawsuit against the label over money generated by digital sales. She claims the company hasn't been paying her the proper rate, and is due a significant amount in back royalties. At issue is the percentage that the performer should receive for downloads. In her complaint Catena says she should be getting the licensing fee of 50-percent of the net proceeds generated from digital sales, not the 12-to-18-percent artists earn for other music sales. TMZ says Felice has precedent on her side, citing a similar lawsuit rapper Eminem filed against his label -- and won -- back in 2007.
Gary died in of cancer in August 2006, at the age of 54. He was a founding member of The Knack, and played on such hits as "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't."
The Allman Brothers Band, Diana Ross, and Glen Campbell are getting recognition for their lengthy and influential careers. They're slated to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards at the upcoming Grammy Awards ceremony. Other honorees includes the late Gil Scott-Heron and the Stax Records horn section, the Memphis Horns, as well as country legend George Jones and Brazilian star Antonio Carlos Jobim. The special Grammy winners will be formally recognized at an invitation-only event on February 11th. They'll also be acknowledged at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be presented in a ceremony in Los Angeles on February 12th, airing on CBS at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow says these honorees "offer a variety of brilliance, contributions and lasting impressions on our culture," and that it's "an honor to recognize such a diverse group of individuals whose talents and achievements have had an indelible impact on our industry."
Steven Tyler says it's possible to be a rock star and maintain a monogamous relationship. In an "Entertainment Tonight" preview of Tyler's appearance on Oprah Winfrey's new series, "Oprah's Next Chapter," the Aerosmith frontman admits that he could have been faithful to his previous partners, and he regrets that he wasn't. He explains that in "all the divorces" he's experienced he "hurt those girls deeply." Steven also confesses that "there was some behavior" that he's "ashamed of" and "shouldn't have done." For the show, Tyler welcomed Oprah to his New Hampshire home and shared details about his life, including his addiction battles and his "next chapter" as a judge on "American Idol." He's featured on the special two-hour launch of "Oprah's Next Chapter," which will air on OWN on January 1st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Vintage David Bowie TV footage has been discovered in Britain. It's from an episode of "The Top of The Pops" dating back to January 1973. The BBC has a portion of the four-minute clip on its website, showing Bowie and his band, The Spiders From Mars, giving an extended performance of "The Jean Genie." Cameraman John Henshall had the footage all these years, and didn't know he had the only copy in existence. Back in the '70s the BBC typically erased shows after they aired to reuse the videotape for another program.
"Top Of The Pops 2" executive producer Mark Cooper says it's great to have the Bowie footage. He calls the performance "electric" and "the kind of piece of archive that not only brings back how brilliant 'Top Of The Pops' could be, but also how a piece of archive can speak to us down the years." The Bowie clip was featured in the "Top of the Pops Christmas Special," which aired on BBC Two Wednesday night.
Elton John could earn yet another nomination for "Hello Hello." His collaboration with Lady Gaga for the movie "Gnomeo & Juliet" is on the shortlist of possible nominees for Best Original Song at next year's Academy Awards. Elton could also receive a nomination for "Love Builds a Garden," another song from "Gnomeo." Elvis Costello, Melissa Manchester, and Sergio Mendes are also potential contenders. Costello could get the nod with "Sparkling Day" from "One Day," Manchester is on the shortlist with "Rainbird" from "Dirty Girl," and Mendes is under consideration for "Real in Rio" from "Rio." Other potential hopefuls include Jordin Sparks' "The World I Knew" from "African Cats" and Brad Paisley and Robbie Williams' "Collision of Worlds" from "Cars 2." Oscar nominees will be announced on January 24th, while the Academy Awards will be presented in a ceremony in Los Angeles on February 26th.
Elton has already earned two other nominations for "Hello Hello." The track is among the contenders for the upcoming Golden Globe Awards as well as the Critics' Choice Awards. Both of those events take place in January.
Etta James' family has come to an agreement regarding her care. Riverside, California's "Press-Enterprise" says the singer's sons and their stepfather, Artis Mills, settled their differences over Etta's finances and medical treatment in court on Monday 12/19/11. Sons Donto and Sametto agreed to allow Etta's live-in doctor to continue to care for their mother until they can find a medical facility that will be suitable for Etta. They've also compromised on the amount of money Mills will be able to use to pay for Etta's health care and other expenses. Mills, who has been married to Etta for more than 40 years, has also agreed to provide his stepsons with complete accounting information on their mother's catalog.
While presiding over the matter, the judge told both Mills and Etta's sons that it was evident their issues stemmed from love, not greed, and that they all truly cared about her. He said that "on both sides of the table, there's a strong desire that Ms. James' final days...be as comfortable as possible." Last week James' doctors revealed that the singer was terminally ill, and suffering with chronic leukemia, a kidney condition, and dementia. Etta is perhaps best known for the 1960 classic, "At Last."
Former Village People frontman Victor Willis is getting support in his efforts to regain control of some of the group's biggest hits. HollywoodReporter.com says the Songwriters Guild of America has received permission to file documents that could help Willis. Willis is trying to retrieve the copyrights to "Y.M.C.A." and other Village People songs from the publishers under the U.S. Copyright Act, which allows songwriters to reclaim the rights to their material after 35 years. The Songwriters Guild of America wants to submit documents arguing that publishers shouldn't be allowed to block an artist's legitimate termination claims with "protracted litigation and legal gamesmanship."
The defendants in Willis' case have opposed the judge's decision. But the judge believes the SGA's input could be helpful because Willis' case is one of the first relating to the termination of copyright grants.
Kenny Loggins says he's seen financial highs and lows over the course of his career. The singer tells Bankrate.com he's "not as wealthy as people think," but he's doing OK. Kenny describes his current monetary situation as "probably in the middle...or upper middle." He explains that he's made "a couple of bad investments" and gone through some "rough divorces" which didn't help his bank account. But Loggins can still remember the days when he was just starting his career, making 100-dollars a week as a songwriter. He says he supplemented his income by collecting pop bottles, and ate a lot of refried beans and tortillas.
Kenny admits he made some extravagant purchases once he became successful, but he's "a lot more frugal now." He explains that he has to be more careful with his money these days because he's not set for retirement yet, and has two teenage kids he'll be putting through college.
Roger Waters admits he hasn't been all that happy with President Obama. The former Pink Floyd frontman tells Rollingstone.com he's "very, very disappointed" with the way Obama has handled foreign affairs, saying it "goes against everything" he believes. However, Waters still thinks Obama is the best person for the job -- given the options. He says he believes Obama is much better than "the candidates on the other side," and that he can't find "any value" in any of the Republican hopefuls. Waters adds that he thinks it would be "such a heinous disaster for this country" if the Republicans retake the White House. But the rocker says he's also hoping that if Obama gets a second term that he'll "do something and stop trying to pander to everybody." Waters explains that he feels "this idea of ruling by consensus and keeping Republicans happy was an enormous mistake."
Waters will be in the U.S. throughout much of next year's campaign. He's bringing his "The Wall" tour back to North America in the spring and summer. He'll kick off the trek in Houston on May 1st.
Former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans is opening up about himself and his past in the new book "Dirty Deeds - My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC." He tells Gibson.com that in the book he's giving "the whole story" of his life, including the "great things" and the "real nightmares." Evans was part of AC/DC from 1975 to 1977, during the band's rise to international stardom, and he admits "a lot of amazing things" occurred at that time. He adds that throughout his life "interesting things have happened" to him, starting with his "unconventional childhood." Mark says he's glad he wrote "Dirty Deeds," and believes it's "a good thing to go back and recount what happened." He also admits that writing the book was "a really cathartic thing to do." Evans' "Dirty Deeds - My Life Inside/Outside of AC/DC" is in stores now.
Paul McCartney is planning to put a new album in stores early next year. For his latest studio effort the former Beatle is looking back at the music that influenced him as a kid. He describes his still untitled project as "the songs which inspired the songs." McCartney says he's been considering recording an album like this for the past two decades, because he's felt these singers, songwriters, and songs deserved to be recognized. He explains that he's always thought performers like Fred Astaire and songwriters such as Harold Arlen and Cole Porter "were very cool," and their songs "were magical." He adds that as he developed his own songwriting skills he gained a greater appreciation for their work.
But Paul says this isn't a typical collection of pop standards. He admits it was "important" to him to "keep away from the more obvious song choices," and he's hoping his album will come as a "pleasant surprise" to listeners. McCartney's upcoming album is slated to arrive on February 7th.
Aretha Franklin has a new hits compilation on the way. "Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998" boasts a number of collaborations, such as "Freeway of Love" featuring the late Clarence Clemons; the Aretha Franklin-Eurythimcs anthem "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves," and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" that Aretha recorded with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. Other highlights include duets with Elton John and Whitney Houston as well as a previously unreleased mix of "Ever Changing Times," Franklin's duet with Michael McDonald. The chart-topping Aretha Franklin-George Michael title track, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" is also part of the 16-track set.
"Knew You Were Waiting" is being released in honor on the legendary Queen of Soul's upcoming 70th birthday, and is timed to coincide with the start of Black History Month. The album is in stores now.
Track Listing For "Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998"
1. "United Together
2. "Love All The Hurt Away," featuring George Benson
3. "Jump To It
4. "Get It Right
5. "Freeway Of Love," featuring Clarence Clemons
6. "Who's Zoomin' Who"
7. "Sisters Are Doin' It For Themselves," featuring the Eurythmics
8. "Another Night"
9. "Jumpin' Jack Flash," featuring the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood
10. "Jimmy Lee"
11. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," featuring George Michael
12. "Through The Storm," featuring Elton John
13. "It Isn't, It Wasn't, It Ain't Never Gonna Be," featuring Whitney Houston
14. "Ever Changing Times," featuring Michael McDonald
15. "Willing To Forgive"
16. "A Rose Is Still A Rose"
The Troggs frontman Reg Presley is in the hospital. His wife, Brenda Ball, tells the UK's "Mirror" that doctors believe the singer has suffered a stroke. She says he also has pneumonia and a buildup of fluid around his heart, which is being drained to help him breathe easier. Brenda admits that Reg is "not very well," and she has "no idea" how long he'll remain hospitalized. Presley began feeling ill earlier this month, just before The Troggs' were to perform in Germany on December 2nd and 3rd. Brenda says he made the trip anyway because "he was contracted to do it." She explains that once he returned home he "got steadily worse," and then seemed to suddenly "hit a brick wall." Presley was admitted to Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, England Wednesday night 12/14/11.
This isn't the first health scare for the 70-year-old rocker, whose real name is Reg Ball. A year ago Presley suffered a major stroke.
Tom Petty is using social media to share his dislike of social media. Billboard.com says that in a Twitter chat Thursday 12/15/11 the rocker admitted he was finding the process "very frustrating," because there wasn't "enough space to answer" more complex questions. He also called social media "the end of the world," and expressed his distaste for how it has people "thinking their every breath is important." However, Tom added that he would become more active on Twitter.
Petty also addressed his work in the chat. He said it was "too soon to know details" on his next studio effort, but felt he had "another great album" in him. The singer indicated there was a "good chance" that an expanded version of his 1994 solo effort, "Wildflowers," would be coming out, and that he'd "absolutely" issue some of his albums on Blu-ray because "it's the future." He also said he was "definitely" going to do more with his other band, Mudcrutch, and that his SiriusXM show would continue.
The rare Beatles amplifier isn't heading to the auction block after all. "The San Diego Reader" says Bonhams has pulled the Vox UL730 amp from the sale. The amp is believed to have once belonged to the late George Harrison, who apparently used it while recording the albums "Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." A Bonhams rep tells the "Reader" the amp was taken out of the auction at the request of the seller, who has had a change of heart and now wants to keep it. The amp was expected to go for as much as 110-thousand dollars. It was slated to be sold as part of Bonhams' Entertainment Memorabilia auction, taking place in London today.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are unveiling their tour plans for next year. The band has announced a series of 22 dates throughout the spring and early summer, starting in Broomfield, Colorado on April 19th. The nine U.S. appearances include the group's debut at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, where they'll be the headliner on April 28th. The band's stop in St. John's, Newfoundland on June 3rd also marks their performance debut in the Canadian province. On this tour Petty and the Heartbreakers will also play their first-ever show in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but that date hasn't been announced yet. The group will then head overseas, and launch their first European tour in 20 years with a show in Dublin, Ireland on June 7th. They'll also make their UK festival debut with a headlining set at Isle of Wight on June 22nd.
Fans wanting to learn more about what's ahead for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers can hear from the bandmembers themselves this afternoon. The group will host an hour-long online chat at Twitter@TomPetty, starting at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Details on how to participate are posted at www.TomPetty.com.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tour Dates
April 19 - Broomfield, Colorado, at the 1st Bank Center
April 21 - Little Rock, Arkansas, at the Verizon Arena
April 24 - Albuquerque, New Mexico, at Tingley Coliseum
April 26 - Wichita, Kansas, at the INTRUST Bank Arena
April 28 - New Orleans, Louisiana, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
April 29 - Alpharetta, Georgia, at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park
May 1 - Estero, Florida, at the Germain Arena
May 3 - Orlando, Florida, at the Amway Center
May 5 - Austin, Texas, at the Frank Irwin Center
June 3 - St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, at the Mile One Centre
June 7 - Dublin, Ireland, at the 02 Arena
June 8 - Cork, Ireland, at The Marquee
June 10 - Hamburg, Germany, at the 02 World
June 12 - Horsens, Denmark, at the Open Air
June 14 - Stockholm, Sweden, at The Globe
June 15 - Oslo, Norway, at the Norwegian Wood Festival
June 22 - Newport, England, at the Isle of Wight Festival
June 24 - Zurich, Switzerland, at the Hallenstadion
June 25 - Cologne, Germany, at the Lanxess Arena
June 27 - Paris, France, at the Grand Rex
June 29 - Lucca, Italy, at the Piazza Napoleone
June 30 - Mannheim, SAP Arena
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and The Eagles are among the headliners slated for next year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Petty and his band have been tapped for the event's first weekend, along with Al Green, Dr. John, The Dixie Cups, and Susan Cowsill. Cowsill will take the stage for a salute to the late Box Tops frontman Alex Chilton. The Dixie Cups will join Jean Knight and others for a tribute to the "Creole Beethoven," Wardell Quezergue. Wardell produced Knight's biggest hit, "Mr. Big Stuff," and also worked with a number of other stars including Paul Simon, The Temptations, Dr. John, and The Spinners.
The Eagles lead the list of performers for the second weekend, which will also feature Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, the Levon Helm Band with special guest Mavis Staples, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. Aaron Neville is expected to perform twice. In addition to playing a solo set, he'll take the stage with the Neville Brothers. Additional stars are expected to be added to the Jazz Fest lineup. The 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is set for the New Orleans Fair Grounds. The two-weekend event will take place April 27th through the 29th, and May 3rd through the 6th. Additional information, including a complete list of performers, is available at www.nojazzfest.com.
Gene Simmons can go back online now that FBI Special Agents have arrested a Connecticut man charged with waging a denial of service attack against GeneSimmons.com. Kevin Poe used the screen name spydr101 and is said to be part of the "Anonymous" hacking group. During a five-day period in October 2010, Poe and others linked to the group allegedly conducted a distributed denial of service attack against Simmons' computer systems, sending tens of thousands of electronic requests designed to overload the computer server and render the website useless. The feds claim he used a favorite tool of the group, a Low Orbit Ion Cannon, which is a computer program that sends extremely large numbers of "packets" or requests over a network in an attempt to overwhelm a target computer. If convicted on all counts, Poe could get 15-years in federal prison.
Billy Joel isn't looking to rush into another marriage. The subject came up with TV's "Extra," which caught up with him at the unveiling of his portrait at the Steinway Piano company's Steinway Hall. Joel's wearing a Members Only jacket in his portrait, and mentioned his new girlfriend, 29-year-old Alexis Roderick, probably wouldn't have approved of that wardrobe choice. He recalled that he was going to wear the jacket while out with her recently, and she was vocal in her objections. Joel, meanwhile, was vocal in his reluctance to formalize his new relationship. When asked if a wedding was on the horizon, Billy chose to change the subject, saying, "we're not going there!"
Joel is three times divorced. His first marriage, to his business manager in the 1970s, lasted nine years. The rocker and model Christie Brinkley were also married for nine years after tying the knot in 1985. Joel and TV food critic Katie Lee ended their five-year marriage in 2009.
Scorsese's "George Harrison: Living in the Material World," which debuted on TV on HBO back on October, is one of six contenders in the Best Documentary Feature category. The other nominees include "Buck," "Cave of Forgotten Dreams," "Page One: Inside the New York Times," "Project Nim," and "Undefeated." Scorsese's "Hugo" is one of the top nominees heading into the event, along with the black-and-white silent film "The Artist." The Broadcast Film Critics Association's 17th annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards honor the best in cinematic achievement. The event will be presented in a ceremony airing on VH1 on January 12th.
Dion is paying tribute to "Rolling Stone" in a new song. The publication has an exclusive preview of the track "I Read It (In the Rolling Stone)" on its website. Dion says he's honoring the iconic rock magazine "for its commitment to good writing about good music -- for a good long time." He explains that some people "are still readers in this world," and they're "grateful for good material." The singer adds that "this is how a songwriter says thanks." "I Read It (In the Rolling Stone)" will be on Dion's next album, "Tank Full of Blues," which is slated for release on January 24th.
Neil Diamond says he really likes his new greatest hits set. He tells Billboard.com that over the years the songs on "The Very Best Of Neil Diamond" have "been through so many permutations," so it's nice to have all the originals "in one place" and "just sit back and enjoy them." The singer-songwriter says hearing the material again is "like revisiting old friends." Diamond adds that "The Very Best Of" is "a nice little package" for fans who "want to get back to the real heart" of what he's done musically. The 22-track set features such hits as "Sweet Caroline," "I Am...I Said," "Forever in Blue Jeans," and "Hello Again," along with newly remastered mono versions of several songs including "Cherry Cherry," "I'm A Believer," and "Solitary Man." "The Very Best Of Neil Diamond" is in stores now.
Joe Walsh is paying tribute to some of country music's biggest stars. The rocker took part in CMT's 2011 Artists of the Year event, and joined honoree Brad Paisley in a performance of his latest single, "Camouflage." Lionel Richie was also on hand for the gala. He served as a presenter, and gave the award to Jason Aldean. Other honorees included Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, and Lady Antebellum. The recipients were determined through a variety of factors, including music and concert ticket sales, radio airplay, and Internet searches.
Tom Jones will be prominent on British TV next year. The UK's "The Sun" says the singer has agreed to take a role on an upcoming made-for-TV movie for Sky TV. An unnamed source said to be close to the project calls it "exciting" to have Tom on board, because the pop star "doesn't really do acting." However, Jones' character won't be much of a stretch. The insider says Tom will play the part of a man who's "the subject of attention from hordes of women but his heart is not in the sleeping around game." In addition to the TV movie, Jones has also signed on to be a judge on the UK version of "The Voice." He'll be one of the coaches, along with will.i.am, The Script's Danny O'Donoghue, and British singer Jessie J. "The Voice" will air in the UK on BBC1 next year.
Barry Manilow will be spending the holidays recovering from surgery. The singer says in a post on his website that he needs to have "another operation on my poor messed up hips." He explains that he's not having a hip replacement, but that he's "ripped the abductor muscles on both hips" and "messed up" his bursas. He adds that he'll be completely off his feet for three weeks, and will need a total of six weeks recovery time. Manilow checked himself into the hospital Monday morning to undergo the procedure. He plans to return to the stage soon. He's scheduled to resume performing with a three-night stand at the Chicago Theater in Chicago on February 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
Manilow just wrapped up a seven-year, one-thousand-show engagement in Las Vegas, which included a five-year run at the Las Vegas Hilton and two years at The Paris. Barry says he had a great time performing the shows. He says the crowds "were always enthusiastic" and he "can't remember one bad night at either venue."
Billy Joel is living up to the "Piano Man" name in a new way. Newsday.com says the singer-songwriter has been inducted into Steinway Hall. His portrait was unveiled at an event at the piano company's Manhattan showroom on Monday. Billy says he's proud to receive such recognition, because Steinway makes pianos "the old-fashioned way. They're not mass-produced. They're hand-crafted." He adds that "a great Steinway" is "a phenomenal piano," explaining that he appreciates the "quirkiness in individually produced pianos." Joel adds that the honor has greater significance to him because Steinways are made in New York City.
Joel is the first non-classical musician to be added to the Hall, and is only the second living inductee. Other portraits in the Steinway Hall gallery include Franz Liszt, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Arthur Rubinstein, and Vladimir Horowitz.
Lionel Richie continues to maintain a presence in the country music community. But the singer says it's only natural, given his family connections to Music City. Richie has been promoting his upcoming country duets album, "Tuskegee," which will be released in March. Lionel is among the stars taking part in the CMT Artists of the Year event, honoring the top country stars of 2011. Richie presents an award to Jason Aldean, who is one of the contributors to "Tuskegee." CMT Artists of the Year debuts on CMT Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Stevie Wonder is one of the recipients of the upcoming BET Honors. The event pays tribute to individuals for their extraordinary contributions to African-American culture. The R&B legend is being recognized for his lengthy, successful, and influential career as a musician. Other honorees include Mariah Carey, who's receiving the Entertainer award; Dr. Maya Angelou; who's being acknowledged with the Literary Arts award; and Spike Lee, who's getting the Media award. In addition, the Tuskegee Airmen are being recognized with the Service award, and coach Beverly Kearney is earning the Education award.
Actress Gabrielle Union has been tapped to host the ceremony, while additional participants will be announced in the coming weeks. The fifth annual BET Honors will take place at the Warner Theater in Washington, DC on January 14th. An air date for the event hasn't been announced yet.
The inside of the home where Michael Jackson spent his last days has been recreated for a free exhibition now open at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. Julien's Auctions Executive Director Martin Nolan says Jackson fans can see items from the house, big and small, before they're auctioned off this week. Some of the items were shown during the Conrad Murray trial. Nolan says the bed where Jackson died is not being auctioned off per the family's request.
The new Marvelettes set is in stores. "Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums, Vol. 2" includes the '60s girl group's last four albums along with many other gems. The four-disc set boasts the band's 1967 self-titled effort also known as the "Pink Album," 1968's "Sophisticated Soul," 1969's "In Full Bloom," and 1970's "The Return of the Marvelettes." These albums feature the top ten singles "The Hunter Gets Captured By the Game," "When You're Young and in Love," and "My Baby Must Be a Magician," as well as the hits "Here I Am Baby" and "That's How Heartaches Are Made." A number of rarities, including B-sides, singles that were never included on albums, and tracks only released on other compilation sets, are also part of the 108-song set. In addition, a "Lost & Found" disc gives fans 24 previously unreleased Marvelettes songs.
Ringo Starr is hoping communities will start taking a stronger stance against gun violence. The UK's Press Association says the former Beatle spoke Thursday 12/8/11 at the unveiling of a "knotted gun" statue he designed for the Non Violence Foundation. He said he believes criminals who are caught with guns -- whether the weapon is used or not -- should receive "a higher sentence than what they get now." He admitted he "can't stand up and dictate to the world it's over; no more guns," but can only try to make people realize "there's another side to the story which is peace and love."
The event took place at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London on the 31st anniversary of John Lennon's death. Ringo recalled that day back in 1980, saying he learned about the shooting in a phone call from his stepkids. He said he traveled to New York to be there for John's widow, Yoko Ono, and their son Sean, but only stayed a couple hours because it was "so crazy."
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are showing their respects for a blues legend. Guitarist Hubert Sumlin, who worked with Howlin' Wolf, passed away. His partner, Toni Ann, reportedly says in an online statement that the Rolling Stone frontmen "have insisted on picking up the full expenses for Hubert's funeral." Sumlin died of heart failure on Sunday 12/4/11. Throughout the Stones' history, band members have cited Chicago blues artists as an inspiration. Jagger and Richards have posted statements on the band's Facebook page in tribute to Sumlin. Mick calls him "an incisive yet delicate blues player" who "had a really distinctive and original tone and was a wonderful foil for Howlin' Wolf's growling vocal style." Keith says Sumlin was "an uncle and a teacher" to him, that he was "warm, humorous and always encouraging," and "a gentleman of the first order."
BJ Thomas will be lending his talents to an upcoming college football game. The "El Paso Times" reports that the veteran singer has been tapped to provide the halftime entertainment for the Sun Bowl. The event, featuring the Utah Utes facing off against Georgia Tech, will take place at El Paso's Sun Bowl Stadium on December 31st. CBS will carry the game starting at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.
But the "Times" notes the choice of Thomas for the game has also sparked a bit of a stir. Some fans say they're glad Thomas, who's perhaps best known for the hit "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," will be performing. But others say they've never heard of him. Thomas was most prominent in the 1960s and '70s. His other hits include "Hooked on a Feeling" and "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song."
Rod Stewart says he's "over the moon, as one should be" about his second Rock Hall induction. He's part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Class of 2012 as a member of The Faces, and the induction ceremony could easily result in a Faces reunion -- at least for the night. The singer tells Rollingstone.com he intends to be there, because an earthquake kept him from attending the event when he was inducted as a solo artist back in 1994. He adds that he'll "definitely make myself available" to perform with his former bandmates.
Keyboardist Ian McLagan is also looking forward to the event -- and "finally" getting the chance to perform with Stewart again. In recent years he's made several attempts to get the original Faces back together. Mac says he considers it "a big deal" to be inducted into the Rock Hall, and he's "knocked out" that The Faces and The Small Faces are receiving such an honor. But he admits there's one aspect to the honor that irritates him. He says he's disappointed that The Small Faces and The Faces are being "lumped together," because they were two "very different" bands.
Donovan is calling his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "a singular honor." He tells Rollingstone.com that being part of the Class of 2012 is "even more special" because he has connections with some of his fellow inductees. He refers to the guys in The Faces "old chums," and says he's previously worked with members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N' Roses. The singer adds that a "very touching part of this" is being recognized with the late Laura Nyro, whom he's long admired.
It looks like not everyone is in Madonna's corner now that she's been officially booked to perform at the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show. Iconic KISS rocker Gene Simmons tells TMZ.com he thinks the show would be better off with what he calls a "real band." He goes on to refer to the Material Girl as one of those "karaoke singers" who get on stage and "sing with tapes." But Simmons clarifies that it's the tapes he hates -- not Madonna, who he calls "terrific." Madge is on board to perform February 5th at Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis. She's also reportedly working on what will be her 12th studio album in New York City.
Paul Simon is getting new praise for his latest album. The singer-songwriter is on "Rolling Stone's" two year-end lists. His CD "So Beautiful or So What" has the number three spot on the list of 2011's best albums, and the track "Rewrite" ranks fifth among the year's best singles. British singer Adele tops both lists. Her hugely successful sophomore effort, "21," leads the albums list while her hit "Rolling In The Deep" ranks first among the singles. Jay-Z and Kanye West's CD "Watch The Throne" also places ahead of Simon, at number two. Fleet Foxes "Helplessness Blues" and Radiohead's "The King of Limbs" round out the year's top five albums. Other singles making the cut include Jay-Z and Kanye West's "N***** In Paris," Britney Spears' "'Til The World Ends," and Foo Fighters' "These Days." "Rolling Stone's" year-end review issue will arrive on newsstands Friday.
Simon's "So Beautiful or So What" was released in stores in April The critically acclaimed album was Paul's first collection of new studio material in five years, following his 2006 release "Surprise."
The late Clarence Clemons is adding to this year's holiday soundtrack. Two recently discovered songs from the legendary E Street Band sax player have been released as the EP "There's Still Christmas." Clarence takes the lead vocal on the title track, and lets his sax do the singing for his rendition of "The Christmas Song." An extended version of "The Christmas Song" is also on the disc. Producers Dennis Bourke and Jim Nuzzo recorded the material with Clarence back in 1981, and can still remember the session. They say Clarence "poured himself into the project, wearing Santa gear and capturing the essence of the season."
Bourke and Nuzzo call the disc Clemons' "parting Christmas gift to us all," and they urge fans to "open up your hearts and listen to the Big Man say Merry Christmas to the world." Clemons' "There's Still Christmas" is available through online music retailers as well as at bigmanchristmassong.com and www.backstreets.com.
Neil Diamond is working on his next album. The veteran singer-songwriter describes the material he's penned as "very, very basic," telling Billboard.com there are "no bells and whistles. It's very straightforward." He adds that there "won't be any equivocation at all" with these songs, and listeners will "be able to take them to their hearts immediately -- or reject them, immediately." Neil says he already has six or seven songs he really likes, but it'll be a while before he directs his full attention to the project. He explains that he won't "jump into these songs in earnest" and go into "a writing mode and a recording mode" until he wraps up his 2012 tour next September.
Diamond is touring next year in support of his new hits collection, "The Very Best of Neil Diamond," which arrived in stores this week. He'll launch the trek with a two-night stand in Honolulu on February 16th and 18th.
Singer-songwriter Dobie Gray has died. The 71-year-old was born in Texas and after a long career in California, settled down in the hills of middle Tennessee. He first hit the charts with "The In Crowd, a song written by his brother Gene. His biggest hit was in 1973 with the song "Drift Away," which was covered by Rod Stewart, Ray Charles, Ringo Starr, Roy Orbison and Uncle Kracker. Gray recorded three albums in Nashville with MCA Records. Gray owned the Quadrafonic Studios on 18th Avenue in Nashville.
The widow of late music legend Roy Orbison has died. A family rep says Barbara Orbison died Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 60. She had been battling cancer. Barbara's death came, ironically, on the 23rd anniversary of Roy's death. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer behind hits such as "Oh, Pretty Woman," "Only The Lonely" and "Crying," died of a heart attack in 1988 at the age of 52. The German-born Barbara also managed Roy's career. The couple married in 1969 and remained together until his death. Barbara is expected to be buried next to Roy in Los Angeles.
Queen's Roger Taylor says the band might return to the road, with Adam Lambert as the frontman. The drummer tells Billboard.com the group is discussing the possibilities with the former "American Idol" star, and adds that it "could be very exciting." Roger praises Adam, saying he's "grown into a really great performer" and has "an astonishing voice with a range that's great." Queen shared the stage with Lambert last month at the Europe Music Awards, and Taylor admits he and guitarist Brian May "would like to work with him again." But he cautions fans that it's not a done deal, and "there's nothing signed just yet."
This isn't the first time Lambert and Queen have reportedly considered teaming up. Adam first sang with the band on the 2009 "American Idol" finale, in which Lambert took second place to winner Kris Allen. Their dynamic performance instantly led to speculation that Lambert would be joining Queen. At the time May denied the rumors, but told "Rolling Stone" that he and Taylor were impressed with Adam's talent and would like to have "a meaningful conversation with him at some point."
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be making a career first. The band is slated to headline Britain's famed Isle of Wight Festival next year, which Billboard.com says will mark the group's UK festival debut. It will also be Petty and company's first major UK performance since the early '90s. Isle of Wright Festival promoter John Giddings is pleased to have Petty and the Heartbreakers on board for the event. He says on the festival's website that he's "sure it will be worth the wait -- they are one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time." Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will cap off the entertainment for the first night of the festival, which is set for June 22nd through the 24th.
Browne's appearance at Freedom Plaza came just a few days after he stopped by the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City. He entertained demonstrators in Lower Manhattan's Zucotti Park last Thursday 12/1/11, performing a short acoustic set with the group Dawes.
Kiss rocker Gene Simmons says Madonna better start warming up her voice if she wants to impress him with her halftime performance at next year's Super Bowl. Gene told HLN's "The Joy Behar Show" on Monday night 12/5/11 that he has no time for musicians who simply dance on stage to a background track. Gene and his wife Shannon Tweed also discussed their highly publicized relationship. Gene explained that he finally decided to marry Shannon because he didn't want to lose her, adding that it was simply time for him to grow up. Gene went on to provide a little relationship advice for the audience, encouraging all the men to eventually get married and telling the women not to marry the men until they're older and established.
The couple also weighed in on politics. Shannon says she knew Herman Cain would drop out of the race to be the Republican presidential nominee as soon as all the sexual allegations surrounding his past became public. Gene didn't claim to be quite as prophetic, and added that he doesn't care what a politician does in the bedroom. He also said he originally thought Texas Governor Rick Perry would be a good candidate until he got a chance to really hear him talk.
Gregg Allman is raising awareness about Hepatitis C. It's a subject that hits close to home for the Allman Brothers rocker who is currently living with the virus. Allman is hoping to help others battling the infection with his participation in a campaign called TUNE In to HEP C. He says the education the campaign provides online is a critical step toward saving lives. Because the symptoms of Hepatitis C are not always instantly recognizable, Allman says he lived for decades without knowing the infection was slowly destroying his liver. Allman says he first noticed things were a little off when he began feeling tired all the time, a dramatic change of pace for a rock star used to staying up late for multiple nights at a time. The 63-year-old singer-songwriter believes he contracted Hep C through his extensive tattooing and that the condition was exacerbated by his heavy drinking. Last year, Allman underwent a liver transplant to replace his failing organ. He says the results have been a success and he manages to maintain his health with the help of medication. For more information about Hepatitis C and the TUNE In to HEP C campaign, log on to www.tuneintohepc.com.
Kennedy Center Honoree Neil Diamond says it's a thrill to receive such formal recognition for his work. He took part in the annual ceremony over the weekend, saying Sunday 12/4/11 via Twitter that he "just met the President of the United States and I'm elated to receive the Kennedy Center Honor. I love my job!" The two-day event included a reception at the White House on Saturday and an all-star concert gala on Sunday. "The Washington Post" says Lionel Richie, Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles, and Raphael Saadiq were featured in the Diamond salute, which ended with Smokey Robinson leading a sing-along to "Sweet Caroline." The performance also featured a hundred Boston Red Sox fans -- who have made the song a team anthem -- and Caroline Kennedy -- who inspired the 1969 hit.
Numerous other stars, including James Taylor, Robert De Niro, Bill Cosby, Stephen Colbert, and Elmo, also took part in the event. Diamond joined Meryl Streep, Sonny Rollins, Yo-Yo Ma, and Barbara Cook as the 2011 Kennedy Center Honorees. CBS will present highlights from Sunday's gala in a special airing on December 27th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
The Little River Band's holiday album is among several new releases in stores. The Australian group's "A Little River Band Christmas" features 13 seasonal tracks, including "We Three Kings," "Do They Know It's Christmas," "My Grownup Christmas List," and "Silent Night." Meanwhile, Nils Lofgren is offering up "Old School," his first disc of original material in five years. The E Street Band guitarist's project features guest appearances from several stars, including Paul Rodgers, Sam Moore, and former Foreigner singer Lou Gramm. Elvis Costello is putting a pricey new box set in stores. "Return of the Spectacular Spinning Songbook," which costs more than 200-dollars, contains a CD, DVD and vinyl EP all recorded during a two-night stand earlier this year in Los Angeles. However, each disc is expected to be released separately -- and at a cheaper price -- after the first of the year.
Michael McDonald has a few projects in the works. The singer-songwriter tells Billboard.com he has recorded "a very eclectic collection of songs" with guitarist Robben Ford, and another set of material with his son, Dylan. He says his work with Ford began "impulsively," and he's not sure if the tracks are "cohesive enough in a conceptual sense to make an album." McDonald also admits he's "kind of confused" about how to handle the material, and might just release the songs individually. Michael says he and his son have been recording a lot of cover tunes, including Bob Marley, the Beach Boys, and Stealer's Wheel songs, as well as a few originals he and Dylan have penned. McDonald anticipates finishing his album with Dylan by the end of the year. He adds that he plans to release the work he's done with both Dylan and Ford online.
President Obama says the music world almost didn't have Neil Diamond. At his Kennedy Center Honors address, Obama drew laughter as he explained that the famed singer-songwriter originally had different career plans. Diamond is one of this year's Kennedy Center Honors recipients, along with Meryl Streep, jazz performer Sonny Rollins, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and Broadway star Barbara Cook. The Honorees were recognized over the weekend of 12/2/11 with a two-day event in Washington. In addition to an address from the president, the celebrated artists attended a special White House reception on Saturday. They were also the guests of honor at an all-star concert saluting their work on Sunday. CBS will present highlights from Sunday's gala in a special airing on December 27th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Lionel Richie was recognized by Harvard University. The "Harvard Gazette" says the legendary performer received the 2011 Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award at an event in Cambridge, Massachusetts Monday night 12/5/11. Lionel has been tapped for the honor for his efforts to support others, both as an individual and through his music. Richie's work in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and his fundraising with the song "We Are The World" are among Richie's efforts that have drawn the attention of Harvard.
The Harvard Foundation is behind the award. Foundation Director S. Allen Counter says Richie "is one of our nation's most creative musical artists, who has inspired many through his artistic and philanthropic endeavors." He adds that the award's namesake would be "proud" that Richie was chosen for "this singular honor," and the foundation is "honored" that the singer will be their special guest on the Harvard campus.
Jerry Butler is being recognized for his dedication to his hometown. NWITimes.com reports the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who was inducted as a member of The Impressions, was honored with a special resolution from the Cook County Board of Commissioners. Butler was officially acknowledged for his 25 years of service, but one commissioner also called the singer "the coolest member of the County Board." In further tribute to Butler's legendary pipes, he was asked to sing at the celebration while another commissioner wanted him to read the resolution into the record. Jerry declined on both accounts. He said he refused to sing because he wasn't going to give the commissioners "a free show." He added that he wouldn't give the official reading of the resolution because it "would be like reading my obituary." But Butler added that he considered his work with the commission "a great thrill," and getting the resolution in his honor came as a surprise.
The resolution, which was passed Thursday 12/1/11 and was also a birthday present of sorts for Butler. Jerry will turn 72 this Thursday.
Nick Lowe says he believes songwriting is a "dying craft." He tells Spin.com he doesn't think the artform will still be around 20 or 30 years from now. He calls songwriting "like a country craft," and predicts that people won't "have any use for it in a few years time." Nick says it's something he's taking in stride. He explains that he's "not whining about it" but it's "just sort of the way it goes," adding that it's "here" and then "the human race is sort of done with it." Lowe attributes the situation to technology. He says that people can now make the sounds they like on their own at home, and the do-it-yourself form of music will eventually make formal songwriting -- like what he does -- obsolete.
John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is leading the way among holiday songs. The 1971 peace-themed Christmas track is topping the new Rollingstone.com poll, which asked readers to weigh in on "The Best Christmas Songs of All Time." A lesser-known song from The Pogues, "Fairytale Of New York," has the number two spot. "Rolling Stone" acknowledges the punk band's 1987 song is much better known in the UK and Ireland than in the U.S., and encourages Americans to "give it a spin." Queen's "Thank God It's Christmas" follows at number three, while Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" rounds out the top five.
Lennon isn't the only former Beatle to make the top ten. Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is landing at number nine on the list. Others making the cut include the 1977 David Bowie-Bing Crosby collaboration, "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy," Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas," and The Kinks' "Father Christmas."
Rollingstone.com's Readers' Poll: The Best Christmas Songs of All Time
1. John Lennon, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
2. The Pogues, "Fairytale Of New York"
3. Queen, "Thank God It's Christmas"
4. Mariah Carey, "All I Want For Christmas Is You"
5. Bruce Springsteen, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
6. David Bowie and Bing Crosby, "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy"
7. Elvis Presley, "Blue Christmas"
8. The Kinks, "Father Christmas"
9. Paul McCartney, "Wonderful Christmastime'"
10. Run-DMC, "Christmas In Hollis"
Jackson Browne played a brief but passionate acoustic set in New York's Zucotti Park on Thursday 12/1/11, as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Backed by the young folk-rock band Dawes, Browne debuted a new song during the set. He has not yet decided on a title for it, but tells RollingStone.com he's leaning toward something like "Which Side Are You On?" as a possible song title. Browne has a long history of writing songs about sociopolitical issues. He will appear on an upcoming album inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement along with David Crosby, Graham Nash, Third Eye Blind, Lloyd Cole and other artists.
Bruce Springsteen will be the keynote speaker at next year's South by Southwest Music and Media Conference. In a statement, festival organizers said Springsteen's appearance at the festival will help foster South by Southwest's goals of connection and communication in the music community pointing to the "truly fervent celebrations" of Springsteen's live shows. Next year's South by Southwest is scheduled to kick off March 15th at the Austin Convention Center. Springsteen and The E Street Band will hit the road in 2012 to support their next studio album. The European tour kicks off May 13th in Spain but no U.S. dates have been announced thus far.
Doors fans should mark January 24th down on their calendars. On that date, the band's album "L.A. Woman" will be reissued courtesy of Rhino Records in honor of its 40th anniversary. "L.A. Woman" was the last album The Doors made before singer Jim Morrison's untimely death and included the title track, "Riders on the Storm" and "WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)." The Rhino reissue is a double-disc affair that includes not only the original album but a series of alternate takes on well-known songs and a never-before-heard tune called "She Smells So Nice." On the same day that the "L.A. Woman" reissue arrives, a new Doors DVD about the album will be released as well. "Mr. Mojo Risin: The Story of L.A. Woman" documents the making of the disc through new interviews with surviving band members Ray Manzarek, John Densmore and Robby Krieger, former Doors manager Bill Siddons and recording engineer Bruce Botnick.
Bob Seger says he almost didn't release his new anthology, "Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets." The two-CD, 26-song collection, which came out November 21st, includes not only that song but also classics like "Night Moves," "Turn the Page," "Shakedown," "Mainstreet" and "We've Got Tonight." But Seger tells Spinner.com he was hesitant about releasing a new hits package when Capitol Records first approached him about it. He says he didn't want to do it at first because he was "all fired up" about his new new record, but says he felt like they should have something for Christmas and that "this was the thing that made the most sense." Seger, who is in the midst of a tour, hopes to have the new CD - his first since 2006's "Face the Promise" - in stores next year. He says, "I'll finish the record next year [but] I don't know if there will be several more. I'm going to be 70 in three and a half years, so it might be time to go away fairly soon."
A Swedish woman who has long claimed to be Elvis Presley's real daughter, is suing the late singer's estate for more than 130 million dollars in damages. According to "The Hollywood Reporter," Lisa Johansen has been claiming for years that she - and not Lisa Marie Presley - is "The King's" true daughter. Now she is suing his estate for defamation and infliction of emotional distress. Back in 1998, Johansen published a memoir called "I, Lisa Marie: The True Story of Elvis Presley's Real Daughter." Since that time, she has been involved in multiple lawsuits with the Presley estate as well as the publisher of that book.
The Moody Blues have announced a six-week series of U.S. tour dates for next spring. The tour will kick off on March 11th in Hollywood, Florida and conclude on April 21st in Niagara Falls, New York. Next year will be a big year for the Moodys as it marks 45 years since they released their landmark album "Days of Future Passed," which spawned the hits "Nights in White Satin" and "Tuesday Afternoon."
Here is the band's full itinerary:
03/11/12--Hollywood, FL, Seminole Hard Rock Live
03/12/12--Fort Myers, FL, Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
03/13/12--Clearwater, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
03/14/12--Melbourne, FL, King Center For Performing Arts
03/17/12--Saint Augustine, FL, St. Augustine Amphitheatre
03/18/12--North Charleston, SC, North Charleston Perf. Arts Center
03/19/12--Knoxville, TN, Tennessee Theatre
03/21/12--Nashville, TN, Ryman Auditorium
03/23/12--Tunica, MS, Horseshoe Casino
03/24/12--Atlanta, GA, Fox Theatre
03/25/12--Durham, NC, Durham Performing Arts Center
03/26/12--Charlotte, NC, Blumenthal Performing Arts
03/28/12--Greenville, SC, Peace Center Concert Hall
03/30/12--Cherokee, NC, Harrah's Cherokee Casino
03/31/12--Salem, VA, Salem Civic Center
04/01/12--Charleston, WV, Clay Center For The Arts & Sciences
04/02/12--Pittsburgh, PA, Benedum Center
04/03/12--Washington, DC, DAR Constitution Hall
04/05/12--Schenectady, NY, The Main Stage At Proctors
04/06/12--Worcester, MA, The Hanover Theatre For The Performing Arts
04/07/12--Easton, PA, State Theatre Center For The Arts
04/10/12--Morristown, NJ, Mayo Performing Arts Center
04/13/12--Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena
04/14/12--Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre At Westbury
04/15/12--Westbury, NY, NYCB Theatre At Westbury
04/16/12--Englewood, NJ, Bergen Performing Arts Ctr.
04/17/12--Verona, NY, Turning Stone Resort & Casino
04/19/12--Providence, RI, Providence Perf. Arts Ctr.
04/20/12--Wallingford, CT, Toyota Presents The Oakdale Theatre
04/21/12--Niagara Falls, NY, Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel
Styx has teamed up with New York-based jewelry designer Diana Warner to create a new custom collection. The "Diana Warner for Styx" collection features handmade jewelry created in Warner's Manhattan studio. For starters, she is rolling out eight necklaces made of pewter and rose gold, gunmetal and antique silver. Guitar pick earrings will soon be available with more items slated to arrive in 2012. Jeanne Shaw, who worked with Warner on the jewelry line and is the wife of Styx frontman Tommy Shaw, says, "We're thrilled to be able to offer something very special to Styx fans that's worlds different from anything we've done before."
For more information, go to the official Styx website [www.styxworld.com] or to www.dianawarnerstudio.com.
Earth, Wind & Fire will release a new anthology called "Now, Then & Forever" on January 31st. This single-disc, career-spanning compilation is unique in that the songs were chosen by some of the band's famous friends, including Lenny Kravitz and David Foster. In addition to old material, "Now, Then & Forever" will feature a brand new song called "Guiding Lights." Earth, Wind & Fire received the prestigious Legend Award at the recent 2011 Soul Train Awards.
Roberta Flack is still on track to release her first studio album in nearly a decade. It's a covers album featuring the music of the Beatles. Scheduled to be released in early February, "Let It Be: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles" finds the renowned singer tackling a dozen songs by the Fab Four. These include the title track, "Yesterday," "Come Together" and the first single, a cover of "We Can Work it Out." Flack says, "My passion for this project comes from the magical genius of the greatest songwriters of all time." She adds, "I am honored to be a part of the fabulous legacy of the Beatles."
Flack is best known for hits such as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and her duets with Donny Hathaway and Peabo Bryson.
Michael Jackson's camp says a four-year jail sentence for Conrad Murray is just what the doctor ordered. A rep for the singer's estate tells TMZ.com that the judge's sentence for the man held responsible for Jackson's death was "appropriate and called for." The statement called Dr. Murray's conduct in treating Michael Jackson "egregious" when coupled with what the statement described as Murray's "outrageous lies in trying to cover up his wrongdoing" in Jackson's death. The rep adds, "Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived and he will be missed by millions."
In sentencing Murray to a four-year maximum, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor said Murray's actions were a disgrace to the medical profession, and that he engaged in a "cycle of horrible medicine." Murray admitted to supplying Jackson with the powerful anesthetic propofol as a sleep aid while the singer prepared for a series of comeback concerts in 2009. He denied doing anything wrong in treating the singer and tried to blame Jackson for his own death.
A to-do list scribbled on a piece of paper by John Lennon is set to go on the auction block today. Despite being a rock star, the late Beatle's list of chores is remarkably ordinary. It includes things like letting the HBO guy in and filling the car up with gas. The list is expected to sell for somewhere between three and five thousand dollars - small change, considering that Lennon's decaying tooth recently fetched more than 30-grand at auction. To access the auction, go to www.gottahaverockandroll.com.
An amplifier used in the recordings of two classic Beatles' albums will go on the auction block next month. Late Beatles legend George Harrison used the Vox UL730 amp during recording sessions for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Revolver." The amp is expected to fetch anywhere between 80 and 110-thousand dollars as part of an entertainment sale held by Bonhams of London. Bonhams says very few amps used by The Beatles have come to auction and the fact that this one was used on two significant albums makes it even more "rare and exciting." The auction takes place on December 15th.
Ace Frehley has scrapped his three upcoming tour dates in the UK due to a fractured left wrist. A post on the former KISS guitarist's official website reveals that he suffered a fall at home on Sunday. He has been instructed by doctors not to play guitar or use his wrist at all for at least ten days but has apologized to his fans overseas and has vowed to make up the dates. Frehley seems to be taking this season literally, as this is the second fall he's had in just over a month. On October 26th, he tumbled from the stage during a guitar solo at a venue in New York City.
Nils Lofgren's fans know that when he's not playing guitar with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, he has a respectable solo career in his own right. Lofgren is gearing up to release "Old School," his first disc of original material in five years, on December 6th. The album contains a dozen songs including the title track, "60 is the New 18," "Let Her Get Away" and "Miss You Ray," a tribute to Ray Charles. Lofgren is joined on "Old School" by Paul Rodgers, Sam Moore and former Foreigner singer Lou Gramm.
Donny Osmond is currently mulling over his next solo album, and he has an interesting producer in mind for the project: rocker Todd Rundgren. Osmond tells Billboard, "We've met several times and he was serious about it. We started looking for songs and the whole bit and it was just, 'I'll call you back because I gotta do this'? [But] maybe Rundgren is the right guy." Rundgren has worked with a lot of hard rock acts over the years - but it's worth noting that he produced the 1980 album "Wasp" by another former teen idol, Shaun Cassidy.
In the meantime, Osmond and sister Marie are keeping busy with their Las Vegas residency and upcoming holiday shows in Chicago and Detroit.
David Bowie's management is denying that he has given permission to the producers of "Heroes: The Musical" to use his songs. UK newspaper The Guardian had previously reported that Bowie had given the producers the green light to use his music and characters from it in their show, which is slated to run in London. But, according to published reports, the singer's representatives have issued a statement saying, "There are no negotiations pending for a long-running musical featuring the music of Mr. Bowie."
"Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International," will be released on January 24th. The four-CD set, featuring 75 songs, will also be released digitally on the same day. It finds a diverse list of musicians performing new or previously unreleased songs by Dylan to honor the human rights organization's 50th anniversary. Some of these musicians include Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Mark Knopfler, Lenny Kravitz, Lucinda Williams, Sting, Patti Smith, Pete Townshend and 92-year-old Pete Seeger, who turns in a version of "Forever Young."
The sale of "Chimes of Freedom" is part of Amnesty International's campaign to fight for free speech not only for musicians but also for human rights defender and Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who was imprisoned in 2009 for criticizing China's political system.
This month will see the release of a four-CD set featuring the music of the Marvelettes. Universal Music's "Forever More: The Complete Motown Albums, Vol. 2" is the companion piece to Volume 1, which arrived in 2009. Due out on December 13th, Volume 2 includes the girl group's final four albums: "The Marvelettes," "Sophisticated Soul," "In Full Bloom" and "Return of The Marvelettes." In addition, the package features many B-sides and rarities that fans can look forward to.
Frankie Valli's estranged wife is wanting a larger divorce settlement. According to TMZ.com, Randy Valli is currently receiving five-thousand-dollars a month in spousal support along with 25-thousand-dollars in royalties from the musical "Jersey Boys." She's also getting just over 800-dollars a month of the singer's social security payments to help support their teenage children. However TMZ is citing legal documents Randy has filed that state the former Four Seasons frontman earns more than half-a-million-dollars each month. She wants a judge to order Frankie to pay her attorney fees relating to the divorce. Randy is Valli's third wife. The couple were married in 1984, and have three children together. They began divorce proceedings in 2004.
Cher is learning that it's not a good idea to diss rap diva Nicki Minaj on Twitter. Trouble began for the music icon when one of her fans recently asked her if she had heard an alleged diss by Nicki in her song "Did It On 'Em." Cher responded to the question by stating that she'd seen lots of artists come and go, adding that it was "no biggie." Cher's response didn't sit well with Nicki's friend and associate Scaff Beezy, who was not so kind in pointing out to Cher that Nicki's line in the song was just a metaphor. Cher quickly apologized, admitting that she hadn't actually heard the track and had just gotten defensive. She then went on to delete her tweets. Nicki eventually chimed in, tweeting at Cher "#stopit5."
Doors fans are getting a preview of the upcoming "L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition." Rollingstone.com has posted a clip of the previously unreleased track "She Smells So Nice." The revamped "L.A. Woman" also boasts a number of alternate takes of album cuts, including the hits "Love Her Madly," "Riders on the Storm," and the title track. The Doors' "L.A. Woman 40th Anniversary Edition" will be in stores on January 24th, along with two related releases. "L.A. Woman: The Workshop Sessions" includes all the tracks from the "40th Anniversary Edition" as a two-disc vinyl set, while the DVD "Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman" features new interviews with surviving band members Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore and others who were involved in the making of the original 1971 album.
Timothy B. Schmit is heading out on his own. The Eagles singer-bassist is launching a series of dates in support of his solo album, "Expando," but his sets will also feature material spanning his career, including songs from the Eagles and his days with Poco.
Nils Lofgren admits he doesn't have "a clue" about how Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are going to tour without Clarence Clemons. The guitarist tells Billboard.com he's confident Springsteen will "do something special and classy as he's always done," but adds that's "a real rough thing." He says it will be "more than strange" to be on stage without the band's longtime sax player, who died earlier this year after suffering a stroke. Nils recalls that it was "rough enough" performing after keyboard player Danny Federici's death three years ago. He says during those shows he was "standing on stage looking at a video of Danny's whole life as a musician, and it was very, very emotional." Lofgren believes their first tour without Clarence will be just as heart-wrenching.
But Nils adds that he's glad the band will be active next year. He says that for him it "means the challenge of putting the E Street Band back together for another go-round," which he considers "a beautiful thing" and a "wonderful musical challenge and journey." So far only four UK shows have been announced for next summer. A post on BruceSpringsteen.net says details on U.S. dates will be "coming up shortly."
Among the greatest rock 'n' roll guitarists, legendary musician Jimi Hendrix is ranked the best in history. Hendrix wins the honor courtesy of "Rolling Stone" magazine in a list compiled by a panel of music experts and top guitar players. Others in the top ten are Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend. Grammy-winning guitarist Tom Morello tells the magazine, quote, "Jimi Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be: He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage."
Bob Seger says he considers it "very flattering" that his material is standing the test of time. The singer explains that when he started honing his skills back in the early '60s he was expected to play the "classics" -- songs like "My Funny Valentine" and "Stardust" -- and now "Against The Wind" is among the "classics." Bob says he started to realize that his music "was having an impact" when he noticed that his songs were still staples on the radio, decades after they were first released. He adds that he still enjoys the material too, and after all these years hasn't grown tired of performing them in concert. Seger says the songs remain important to him because he can "still connect with those original emotions" he felt when he wrote them.
Lionel Richie says "Tuskegee" wasn't originally going to be a CD of collaborations. He says his intentions were simply to record a country album, but his plans changed once he started working on the disc.
For "Tuskegee," Lionel is revisiting his music catalog, and reworking the material as country duets. The project features such country stars as Rascal Flatts, Shania Twain, Willie Nelson, and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles. "Tuskegee" is expected to arrive in stores in March.
Steven Tyler is opening up to Oprah Winfrey. The Aerosmith frontman is the first subject of the talk show legend's new series, "Oprah's Next Chapter." Winfrey says that for the series she's "moving around the country and the world talking to people I'm really interested in getting to know," and in the process "having more fun than ever." Tyler welcomes Oprah to his New Hampshire home for the series premiere and shares details about his life, including his addiction battles and his "next chapter" as a judge on "American Idol." He's featured on the special two-hour series launch, which will air on OWN on January 1st at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Elton John has received a unique honor in Singapore. He's had an orchid named for him. The orchid previously known as Doritaenopsis [[ doh-ry-ten-OP-sis ]] is now officially being called Doritaenopsis Sir Elton John. Elton took part in a renaming ceremony on Sunday 11/20/11 which capped off the 20th World Orchid Show. As organizers took down the former identifying plaque, the rocker posted the new one. Elton says he considers it "a great honor," in part because he's "an avid lover of gardens." The performer adds that he's had a lupin and a rose named for him, but this is the first time he's been recognized with an orchid. He's now planning to ship one of the plants to England to add the Sir Elton John Orchid to the garden of his UK home.
Jimi Jamison is back with Survivor. The singer has rejoined guitarist Frankie Sullivan, keyboardist-guitarist Walter Tolentino, bassist Billy Ozzello, and drummer Marc Droubay after having been away for the past five years. Jimi admits he's happy that he's rejoined the group, saying it "feels great to be back with Frankie and the band, singing the songs that the fans love." Sullivan adds that the feelings are mutual, and he's "excited to have Jimi back up front" and "giving the fans what they want." Survivor is planning to have a big presence next year. While no specifics have been announced, the band intends to release new studio material and launch a world tour in 2012.
Ace Frehley says he hasn't heard anything from his ex-bandmates about his memoir, "No Regrets." The former Kiss guitarist tells "The Boston Globe" that not long ago he gave part of his book to Gene Simmons, but neither he nor Paul Stanley or Peter Criss have said anything to him about the project. Ace adds that the public's perception of his stormy relationship with Simmons isn't really accurate. He says most people see it as a "love-hate" thing, but in reality it's "mostly love." Frehley shares his belief that Simmons' expressed animosity just reflected the difficulties Gene had accepting Ace's 1982 departure from the group. Frehley adds that he's sure Simmons "will always have a soft spot in his heart" for him. "No Regrets" is in stores now.
Material from Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, and Tina Turner are entering the Grammy Hall of Fame. Springsteen's 1984 album, "Born in the U.S.A." and the Stones' 1972 set "Exile on Main Street" are among the 25 recordings earning recognition from The Recording Academy, along with Tina Turner's biggest hit, "What's Love Got To Do With It." Other albums earning the distinction include Paul Simon's "Graceland;" Santana's 1969 self-titled effort; and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young's "Deja Vu;" while such singles as Gloria Gaynor's anthem "I Will Survive" and Freddy Fender's crossover hit "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" are being honored as well.
A wide range of material is making cut. Comedy, gospel, country, and rap recordings are joining the collection along with blues, Latin, spoken word, folk, and Broadway show recordings. The oldest inductees are Leroy Carr's "How Long, How Long Blues" and Furry Lewis' "Kassie Jones," which date back to 1928, while Simon's 1986 album is the most recent. Eligible recordings must be at least 25 years old and be considered, quote, "of lasting qualitative or historical significance." With the 25 new entries the GRAMMY Hall of Fame has grown to 906 titles.
Robin Gibb is reportedly battling liver cancer. The UK's "Telegraph" quotes an unidentified source said to be a friend of the singer, who says Robin "is not good and there is a lot of concern for him." The friend admits there's "frustration because Robin has always looked after himself" and "doesn't drink, eats well and exercises daily." But the source describes Robin as "a strong character" and "a fighter," adding that Gibb "will never give up and his loving family will make sure he has everything he needs." Robin's mom and brother Barry have reportedly traveled to Britain to be by Robin's side. In addition, Gibb's wife Dwina Murphy Gibb, who's a druid priestess, is said to be exploring alternative treatments for her husband's condition.
Gibb was reportedly rushed to the hospital last week but wasn't admitted. Concerns about Robin's health began surfacing last month after he was hospitalized for tests and treatment for an inflamed colon. Since that time Gibb has made a number of appearances, looking gaunt and frail as he promoted his remake of the Bee Gees' classic "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" for the British Legion charity effort.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are going on tour in 2012. Springsteen has posted a message on his website confirming the tour will happen and that the European dates will run from the middle of May until the end of July. U.S. and World Tour dates have yet to be announced. The 62-year old Springsteen has not toured since his Working on a Dream Tour ended in November 2009. The E Street Band band lost one of their beloved members in June of this year when saxophonist Clarence Clemons died.
Timothy B. Schmit and Kenny Loggins are some of the stars contributing to a new album honoring Paul McCartney's late first wife. "Let Us In Nashville - A Tribute To Linda McCartney," is in stores. It primarily features country stars remaking Beatles songs as well as songs from Wings and Paul McCartney's solo catalog. For the project Schmit teams up with former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber on a remake of the song "Every Night." Loggins performs "Junk" as a member of the Blue Sky Riders. The set also boasts Steel Magnolia, Phil Vassar, and SHeDAISY, as well as Jeff Daniels, Ricky Skaggs, Chuck Wicks, and others.
Organizers for the set say McCartney gave his "whole-hearted blessing" to the project. "Let Us In Nashville" is raising money for the Women and Cancer Fund, which was created in Linda McCartney's memory. Linda died of breast cancer in 1998.
A member of music's Pointer Sisters is facing drug charges in Los Angeles. TMZ.com says Bonnie Pointer was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance. She was booked and released after posting ten-thousand-dollars bail four hours after her arrest. The 61-year-old singer is a founding member of the Pointer Sisters known for hits in the 1970s and 1980s that included "Jump," "Neutron Dance," and "Slow Hand."
Joe Walsh says he'd like to ride with the James Gang once again. He tells "Rolling Stone" it's something that has been on his mind since the group's previous reunion back in 2006. Walsh explains that five years ago he, Jimmy Fox, and Dale Peters got back together just to see if they "still had it," adding that they "pretty much did." He admits that since that time he's been wanting to work with them again, but he's "just been so darn busy with the Eagles." However, Joe says the Eagles are making plans for the latter half of 2012, which leaves the first six months of the year open for him to do other things, and in that time he'd like to record as well as tour with the James Gang.
While nothing official is set regarding another James Gang reunion, Walsh says he also has a solo album ready for release. He explains that he just finished he project, and he's hoping it will hit stores in February or March.
New releases are available from the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson. The concert film "The Rolling Stones: Some Girls Live From Texas" was shot during the group's 1978 "Some Girls" tour. The set features the Stones rolling through such classics as "Honky Tonk Women," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Tumbling Dice," as well as the then-new songs "Beast of Burden" and "Miss You." The DVD also includes a new 20-minute interview with frontman Mick Jagger discussing the show.
Meanwhile, the soundtrack to Cirque du Soleil's "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" is also in stores. The album includes updated versions of Jackson's hits, mashups, and never-before-heard outtakes, as well as an alternate version of the Jackson 5's "ABC" and Michael's "They Don't Really Care About Us."
The Eagles are reportedly making some big plans for next year. Joe Walsh tells "Rolling Stone" that the group intends to mark their 40th anniversary with a special tour. He says they're putting together "something new" for the trek, because "everybody's seen our show." Joe explains that they've been going over the band's archives, and plan to incorporate old concert footage, interview clips, and other material into the visuals. He adds that the set lists will "revisit some old songs and some new stuff." Walsh says the Eagles are looking to be on their anniversary tour for four-to-five-months in the latter half of next year.
But Joe's announcement runs contrary to recent statements from Eagles singer-bassist Timothy B. Schmit. He has said that next year would likely be "very slow" for the group, and that the Eagles had nothing major brewing for 2012. The Eagles will be spending time together this weekend. The band is performing in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Chicago is planning to help their fans get into the holiday spirit while promoting their new album. The group will play a special concert next month that will be shown in theaters across the country. At "Chicago Presents an Evening of Holiday Music and Greatest Hits," the band will perform such fan favorites as "Just You 'n' Me," "Feeling Stronger Every Day" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," and also treat audiences to selections from their new album, "O Christmas Three." The set is Chicago's third holiday CD, and 33rd studio effort overall. For the project the band "Chicagoized" a number of well-known songs of the season, including "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," "O Christmas Tree," and "I'll Be Home For Christmas."
Chicago's "O Christmas Three" is in stores now.
Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, and Jerry Lee Lewis are some of the stars getting a salute with the new Chris Iassk album. The singer tells "The Kansas City Star" that "Beyond the Sun" is a reflection of his admiration for Sun Records founder Sam Phillips. He explains that he grew up listening to all the stars on the famed Memphis label, and Phillips is "one of the reasons" he launched a music career. But Isaak says he was inspired to make the album after seeing an article about Phillips, in which Phillips said he listened to Chris and "really liked" his music. Isaak admits it "brought a tear to my eye" to read those words, calling it "about as good as it gets." Chris made his tribute disc authentic, recording the material at Sun Studio. He recalls that initially he wasn't going to go to the trouble of working at Sun, but after trying out the studio he knew it was where he had to make the album.
Isaak is currently on tour supporting "Behind the Sun." He'll be performing in Kansas City, Missouri Friday night. Chris has shows set for Salina, Kansas and Loveland, Colorado over the weekend.
Paul McCartney's 50-year-old handwriting is fetching big bucks at auction. A letter written by the Beatles legend inviting an unnamed drummer to audition for the band has been sold for 55-thousand-dollars at Christie's in London. Dated August 12, 1960, the letter was found folded up in a book that was bought at a car boot sale in Liverpool, England. Christie's auctioneers say the letter was one of the earliest examples of the band's reference to themselves as the Beatles. Shortly after the letter was written the newly formed band traveled to Germany to play a series of gigs with drummer Pete Best who was replaced by Ringo Starr two years later.
The biggest grab at the rock and pop memorabilia auction was a handwritten sign that read "BED PEACE." The sign, used during one of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 1969 "bed-ins" for peace, reportedly sold for more than 153-thousand-dollars.
Gene Simmons says Axl Rose would have likely benefited from "a good beating." He tells the UK's Music-News.com that Guns N' Roses "could have been the biggest band in the world," and blames the singer for the group's less prominent stature today. While he admits that the substance abuse issues among the other bandmembers also played a role, Simmons believes that "ultimately it falls on Axl's shoulders." The Kiss bassist adds that if someone had given Rose "a good beating" it might have changed GNR's fate. He explains that when children continually misbehave "there's someone there to give you a what for," however, adults don't have anybody to "set you straight." Simmons implies that Rose probably would have well served in having someone around to keep him in line.
David Crosby says he isn't surprised New York City officials has police raid Zuccotti Park and force the long running Occupy Wall Street demonstration to disperse. The singer tells "Rolling Stone" there "wasn't any way they were not going to throw those people out of the park." He says he believes the movement is "way more of a threat than they realize." David calls the takeover of the lower Manhattan park "just a spark," and it's "only the beginning." Crosby is one of many artists who have actively supported Occupy Wall Street. Earlier this month he made an appearance at the park with Graham Nash. In addition to attracting more media attention and speaking out in favor of the demonstration's cause, the duo played a five-song acoustic set for the protesters.
Protesters were cleared from Zuccotti Park in a police raid early Tuesday morning so the park could be cleaned, and at least 200 people were arrested in the process. A judge ruled Tuesday afternoon that the demonstrators could return to the park, but said they could not bring any camping equipment or other gear to turn the area back into an encampment, and they must leave the park each night at 10:00 p.m.
Funk legend Sly Stone is reportedly pleading no contest to cocaine charges in a deal that will keep him out of jail. TMZ.com says the Sly and the Family Stone frontman will serve 90 days of in-patient rehab, as part of the plea deal, and may have his case dismissed altogether if he completes his rehab program on time. Sly has reportedly already completed 30 days of rehab and his lawyers tell TMZ they are "very pleased" with the outcome of the case. The 68-year-old singer was arrested in Los Angeles back in April for alleged possession of freebase cocaine. It was reported in September that Sly was homeless and living out of a van. He later said the reports were exaggerated and that his modest living conditions were by his own choosing.
It appears Michael Jackson's death bed won't be going to auction after all. TMZ says executors for the singer's estate have pulled the bed on which Jackson died from a Julien's Auctions sale scheduled for next month. The auction house recently announced its plans to sell off hundreds of items from the Holmby Hills mansion where Jackson was living at the time of his death on June 25, 2009. Other items from the Los Angeles-area home, including fine art pieces, antiques, rugs, desks and other furnishings, are still expected to go up for auction on December 17th.
Carole King admits she'd always been reluctant to record a collection of seasonal music. She tells AARP.org that "so many other people do Christmas albums," and she didn't think she "had anything new to contribute" to the field. King's new disc, "A Holiday Carole," features a number of classic Christmas songs such as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Do You Hear What I Hear." But the album isn't all about Christmas. The set also includes "Chanukah Prayer," which Carole sings with her daughter and grandson in Hebrew. The Jewish singer-songwriter says that track gives the album "particular meaning" to her. She explains that her goal with the song is to "acknowledge that many faiths are valuable," and also to honor her own heritage.
Carole says she learned "Chaunkah Prayer" from her parents, and didn't change the traditional arrangement when she taught it to the other members of her family. King's "A Holiday Carole" is in stores now.
Van Halen has a new record deal. Rollingstone.com says the group has signed on with Interscope Records, which will reportedly support the band not only with recording and marketing but also with touring and merchandising. A new album from Van Halen would mark the first full set of fresh material from the band in more than a decade. The last new studio release from the group was 1998's "Van Halen 3," which was their only album with singer Gary Cherone. An upcoming project would also be the first complete set to feature frontman David Lee Roth since the album "1984."
James Taylor is delving into the world of acting. The singer-songwriter has signed on to perform with the Berkshire Theatre Group in their upcoming production of "A Christmas Carol." Taylor will be making his theatrical stage debut with the show. He's taking on the role of Bob Cratchit, and director Eric Hill says he's confident James will "bring his inherent charm and gentleness to bear in his portrayal." He adds that it's "a thrill" to direct Taylor in his theatrical debut. There are also some familiar faces in the cast for Taylor. His wife Kim is also on board, along with their ten-year-old twin sons Rufus and Henry. Taylor and his family are set for the eleven-performance run of "A Christmas Carol," which will be staged at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts from December 17th through the 30th.
The Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit is cautioning fans that the group might not be all that active next year. He tells VH1's "Classic Rock Nights" they have "things in the works," but he expects 2012 to be a "very slow year for the Eagles." The singer-bassist says it's possible that band members will put some time into a documentary about the group, and adds that there's "talk about a musical." Schmit admits he doesn't have any details about the proposed Broadway show, explaining that he's "not involved in the actual production or even conceptualizing," but has been included in talks about it. He says the show will use Eagles songs to tell the story, but beyond that he doesn't have any details to share.
Black Sabbath officially unveiled their plans to get back together with a media event at the Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles Friday 11/11/11. The time and location for the announcement honored the 41st anniversary of Black Sabbath's L.A. concert debut, which took place at the club on November 11th, 1970. Details on Black Sabbath's upcoming album and tour haven't been revealed yet. They've only said they'll be working with producer Rick Rubin on the album, and the group will launch a world tour next summer with an appearance at England's Download Festival in June.
Ron Wood reportedly has a new girlfriend. The UK's "Daily Mail" says the Rolling Stones guitarist appeared at The Gallery in London for his new art exhibit, "Faces, Time And Places," with Nicola Sargent. The presence of the 25-year-old blonde on the 64-year-old rocker's arm comes just weeks after he announced that he was "taking a sabbatical" from his previous girlfriend. A source says Nicola says "she can't believe how her life has changed" since meeting Wood, adding that while Nicola "really enjoys Ronnie's company" she "wants to keep things under wraps." Wood's son Jesse was on hand to support his dad for the gallery showing. At the event Ron also got to meet his son's girlfriend, who's five years older than Ronnie's date.
Cheap Trick is hoping to get into the restaurant business. Band manager Dave Frey says the group is looking to become one of the tenants in a new entertainment district being developed along Chicago's South Michigan Avenue. He says band members want to open Cheap Trick Chicago -- a restaurant that would feature a radio station, a concert area, and an instrument museum. Frey admits the proposed entertainment eatery is still in its tentative stage, but says the band will share more information about Cheap Trick Chicago once they've secured financing for the project.
Frey adds that the band is attracted to the area in part for its history. Back in the 1950s and '60s this stretch of South Michigan Avenue was prominent in the record industry, and was the home to Chess, Brunswick and Vee-Jay Records. Blues, R&B, and rock legends including Muddy Waters, Aretha Franklin, and the Rolling Stones all worked at the facilities.
U2 is still enjoying the spoils of their record-breaking 360 Degrees Tour. The group's trek was the big winner at this year's 8th annual Billboard Touring Awards, picking up honors for Top Tour and Top Draw. The Irish rockers were also up for the Top Boxscore award, but that ultimately went to the UK pop band Take That for their series of shows at London's Wembley Stadium this summer. Bon Jovi is among the winners as well. The New Jersey band got the nod from their public, taking the Eventful Fans' Choice Award. Journey was also celebrated with the Legend of Live honor in recognition of the group's 38-year touring career. The 8th annual Billboard Touring Awards were presented in a ceremony in New York on Thursday night 11/10/11. The event capped off this year's Billboard Touring Conference.
But Ron Wood wants the Stones to hit the stage next year in honor of their milestone anniversary. He says he hopes the group "can perform live," adding that it'd be "great to see if that old spark is there." Jagger and Richards formed the Rolling Stones with the late Brian Jones and bassist Dick Taylor in April 1962. The group made their concert debut under the name "The Rollin' Stones" on July 12th of that year. In addition to the four founding members, the band also featured keyboardist Ian Stewart and drummer Tony Champman.
The furnishings and artwork that surrounded the late King of Pop on his death bed are going on the auction block. Julien's Auctions has announced plans to auction off hundreds of items from 100 North Carolwood Drive. That's the address of the rented Los Angeles-area mansion where Michael Jackson took his last breath. The bed that cradled the pop superstar upon his death is reportedly among the items that will be up for bids as well as a number of fine art items, antique furniture, armoires, desks, nightstands, rugs and other furnishings. Juliens will hold a free exhibition of "100 North Carolwood Drive" from December 13th to December 17th in Beverly Hills. The items will go up for auction at Julien's on the last day of the exhibit from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Pacific Time.
Peter Gabriel believes cell phones will help bring peace and stability to the world. On CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman" Wednesday night he said technology is linking people who are taking a stand, and giving those who oppose brutality and oppression more strength. The former Genesis frontman has been a longtime supporter and activist for human rights. He explained that he drew the attention of groups like Amnesty International decades ago through his 1980 single "Biko." Gabriel said that through the organization he's met a number of people who have been brutalized and tortured by their governments, and being told he could be useful to the cause made it "hard to walk away from." The rocker is currently promoting his recently-released album, "New Blood." For the project Gabriel has rerecorded songs from his solo catalog with an orchestra. He also performed "Red Rain" on the show, accompanied by a 46-piece group.
Pete Townshend says he still wants to take "Quadrophenia" on the road. The Who guitarist tells "Classic Rock" magazine he's "been ready to tour this since we did it last year at the Royal Albert Hall," and he's just "waiting for word" from Roger Daltrey. Pete explains that the singer "has been developing his own new band, and it's proving to be a real epiphany for him." The rocker adds that he's "patient," and says once Daltrey is "fed up being the boss he can come and work with tricky old me again in the old school band."
Townshend has also been working on deluxe reissue of "Quadrophenia." He says he's "really enjoyed doing the liner notes and restoring and mixing the demos." Pete adds that the "serious" Who fan will want to pick up the heavy-vinyl release, which will be available next year.
Gregg Allman is paying homage to his home state. The Southern rocker made a surprise appearance at the CMA Awards. Allman was a special guest performer, joining the Atlanta-based Zac Brown Band in a rendition of "Georgia On My Mind." Kenny Loggins and Lionel Richie also performed at the country music event. Loggins helped open the ceremony. He collaborated on his 1984 hit "Footloose" with Blake Shelton, who covered the song for the recently-released remake of the film. Richie was on hand in conjunction with his upcoming country duets album, "Tuskegee." He shared the stage with Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, and Rascal Flatts. His three-song set included the hits "Deep River Woman," "Stuck On You" and "Dancing on the Ceiling." Richie's "Tuskegee" is expected in stores in March. The 45th annual CMA Awards were presented in a ceremony at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
In addition to honoring the best in country music today, the 45th annual CMA Awards also paid tribute to a music legend. The ceremony included a salute to country-pop crossover star Glen Campbell, featuring Vince Gill, Keith Urban, and Brad Paisley. Glen was on hand for the performance. During ABC's broadcast he was seen in the audience singing along as Paisley played Glen's 1969 chart-topping hit "Galveston." Gill opened the tribute with a rendition of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," and Urban sang "Wichita Lineman." Following the performance, Vince, Keith, and Brad invited Campbell to join them, and he received a standing ovation as he took the stage. The 45th annual CMA Awards were presented in a ceremony at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
David Crosby and Graham Nash are the latest stars to show their support for the Occupy Wall Street movement. Nash tells "Rolling Stone" that the protest is evidence people are "waking up," which he says is "what we do as musicians." He explains that as a performer it's his job to "wake people up," and adds that he thinks it's important for people to be aware. Nash says he doesn't want to "talk to sheep," but "wants people that are alive and thinking and trying to do something positively to change their situation." Crosby is a little more direct in adding his assessment of the demonstration, saying "everybody is realizing that they're getting screwed." Crosby and Nash visited the crowd at lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park Tuesday afternoon 11/8/11. The duo played a five-song acoustic set that included their classic hits "Long Time Gone" and "Teach Your Children."
Steve Winwood and Jeff Beck are among those who were recognized at the "Classic Rock Roll of Honour" ceremony 11/9/11. Winwood was the inaugural recipient of the Maestro Award, a prize established in conjunction with the British Musicians' Union. Winwood says he's proud to be the first performer to earn the award, and proud to be part of the MU. He explains that while "the industry may change, it's good to know that there is a constant throughout, supporting musicians and musicians rights." Beck was this year's Living Legend honoree.
Linda Ronstadt and Jose Feliciano were honored as Spanish language performers. They're among the stars awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Latin Recording Academy. Ronstadt has had success in many genres of music, including rock, pop, jazz, and country as well as Latin music. She has released three Spanish albums, which all reached the top 20 on the Billboard Latin Albums chart. Her first Spanish CD, 1987's "Canciones de Mi Padre," has been certified double Platinum for sales in the U.S. topping the two-million mark, and it's the best-selling non-English album ever in the U.S.
Feliciano has racked up seven Grammy and Latin Grammy awards over the course of his lengthy and successful career. The Puerto Rican-born performer has nearly 70-albums to his credit, of which more than 45 have been certified gold or platinum. In his 50-year career, Jose has also served as a pioneer for Latin artists with his mainstream crossover success, starting with his 1968 hit cover of The Doors' classic "Light My Fire." The title track to his 1970 holiday album, "Feliz Navidad," has become a staple of the Christmas season.
Journey's Neal Schon says a band truly is more than the sum of its parts, but admits those parts are interchangeable. He tells Billboard.com one key to Journey's longevity despite personnel changes has a lot to do with their attitude. The guitarist calls it "mind over matter." He explains that "you could sit there and go, 'This guy is irreplaceable, let's just break up and move on,' but in reality "anybody is replaceable." Schon says he's someone who refuses to "go backward" or "sit in neutral," but wants to "always go forward" with everything he does in life. The rocker adds that regardless of what happens it's important to "pick up the pieces," not just "sit there and sulk in a situation."
Journey's most recent personnel change came a few years ago, with singer Arnel Pineda replacing Steve Augeri. While Schon says Augeri "did a great job" for the group, he's extremely happy with Pineda. He calls Arnel "the greatest guy" with "insane" talent. Journey is being honored with the Legend of Live Award at Thursday's Billboard Touring Awards. The annual event is part of the Billboard Touring Conference, which is taking place in New York today and tomorrow.
Michael Jackson's family says justice has been served. Family members were quick to react to the guilty verdict handed down to the singer's doctor, Conrad Murray, on Monday 11/7/11, quietly echoing the jubilation expressed by scores of Michael's fans who gathered outside of the Los Angeles courthouse where the verdict was announced. Jackson's sister LaToya said "victory was served" because Michael's spirit was in the courtroom with them. A judge remanded Dr. Murray into custody without bail after the jury returned the verdict. Murray could face up to four years in prison when he is sentenced on November 29th. Due to the nature of Murray's felony conviction for involuntary manslaughter, the Los Angeles District Attorney says the cardiologist automatically loses his medical license.
Jurors reached the verdict after about nine hours of deliberations. Murray was accused of giving the singer a lethal drug dose of the drug propofol to help the singer sleep in 2009. His defense team argued that Michael self-injected the drug while the doctor was out of the room. Jackson was in the midst of rehearsals for a series of comeback concerts at the time of his death on June 25th, 2009. He was 50 years old.
Roger Daltrey says he appreciates the support Robert Plant has given him and Pete Townshend in their efforts in the fight against cancer. The Who has hosted numerous fundraisers for the UK's Teenage Cancer Trust, and Daltrey tells "Rolling Stone" the former Led Zeppelin frontman has lent his talents to their cause "for years." He says it "means a lot" to have Plant on board with them, both for his own contributions as well as for his ability to influence others. Daltrey explains that Plant is "a very well-respected guy," and he hopes "there will be some fan out there who's in another band, who will say, 'Robert Plant's doing this? We will do it.'"
A molar member of The Beatles is now a Canadian dentist's prized auction win. The BBC says Michael Zuk paid more than 31-thousand-dollars for the badly decayed tooth that was once a member of the late John Lennon's bite set. The tooth was given up for auction by the children of the singer's housekeeper, Dot Jarlett. Lennon reportedly gave the tooth to Jarlett after a visit to the dentist in the late 1960s, suggesting she pass it on to her daughter as a souvenir. Omega Auctions conducted the sale in Stockport, England.
Zuk, who has written a book on celebrity teeth, said once he heard the Lennon tooth was up for auction, he had to have it. He tells the BBC he plans to keep the tooth on display at his practice and take it on tour to other practices and dental schools. Zuk says, "some people will think it's gross, others will be fascinated by it."
Queen is among the many stars who took part in the MTV Europe Music Awards. The group received the Global Icon honor at Sunday's 11/6/11 event, which took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In accepting the award, Queen guitarist Brian May called it "wonderful" to be there "40 years later," noting his band was "there at the birth of MTV." He also praised the ceremony's host city. He said it was great to see the violence that once plagued the area is over, and Belfast "is finally showing its beauty and setting an example to the world by finding, out of grief and tragedy, the beginnings of truth and peace." Queen was also remembered with the ceremony's finale, which featured a medley of "The Show Must Go On" and "We Will Rock You."
While Queen took an award, nominees Ozzy Osbourne and the Red Hot Chili Peppers weren't quite as lucky. Ozzy was in the running for Best World Stage, but the award went to 30 Seconds To Mars. Meanwhile the Chili Peppers were up for Best Live and Best Rock honors. However, Katy Perry captured Best Live while Linkin Park took the Best Rock prize. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were still on hand to perform at the event. Lady Gaga was the night's big winner, taking four awards.
Grammy organizers are dropping some not-so-subtle hints about the identity of the "truly iconic group" that's set to make a "special live announcement" during this month's televised Grammy nominations special. The clues point to Van Halen who recently completed a new studio album with original lead singer David Lee Roth -- their first with Roth in 27 years. After making mention of a special appearance by the unnamed band in a press release Thursday, the official Grammys Twitter account posted a message that read: "Who do u predict the reuniting band will be @ #GRAMMYnoms? Does this hint make u wanna 'Jump' & 'Dance the Night Away'?" "Jump" and "Dance The Night Away" are the titles of two of Van Halen's well-known hits.
The original Grammy announcement said the "truly iconic group" would be making an announcement on the Grammy nominations special regarding their historic band reunion at next year's Grammy Awards. Hosted by LL Cool J, the "Grammy Nominations Concert Live!" special will air on CBS on November 30th at 10:00 pm Eastern.
Legendary singer Andy Williams has announced his battle with cancer, but reps for the 83-year-old performer are denying reports he'll be undergoing chemotherapy treatments at a facility in Houston. The marketing director for Williams' Moon River Theater in Branson, Missouri tells the "Branson Tri-Lakes News" that Andy doesn't know where he'll receive his care. Williams went public with his condition Saturday night, telling the audience at his Christmas show in Branson that he's battling bladder cancer. Andy added that he's confident he'll beat the disease.
He has dates scheduled for next September and October to celebrate his 75th anniversary in show business, and he vowed to play those shows at the Moon River Theater as planned. However, a post on the venue's website cautions fans that Andy might not appear at his annual Christmas show with the Lennon Sisters this fall "due to health reasons."
In addition to the Four Tops, Rountree had also performed with a number of other stars. The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bill Withers, and Frankie Valli are just some of the artists who also benefited from Tree's talents.
Billboard.com is giving fans an inside look at the music industry. It’s a new, weekly web series called "TMI: The Music Insider." The 30-minute show will be hosted by former MTV VJ Downtown Julie Brown and feature interviews, headlines, and a countdown of the ten hottest songs on the Hot 100 chart. "TMI" will air every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Fans can tune in by visiting Billboard.com or Ustream.tv/Billboard.
Roger Waters is making good on his promise to bring "The Wall" back to the U.S. The former Pink Floyd bassist has announced plans to launch a 36-date North American tour next spring. This time around Rogers will stage his show in some outdoor venues, including AT&T Park in San Francisco, Wrigley Field in Chicago, and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The concerts include performances of Pink Floyd's iconic 1979 album "The Wall" in its entirety, visually enhanced with extravagant, state-of-the-art theatrical production elements. Waters' 2012 "The Wall" North American tour is scheduled to begin in Houston on May 1st, and come to a close in Philadelphia on July 14th. Tickets for select shows go on sale November 7th. Additional details are available at Roger-Waters.com.
Roger Waters' 2012 "The Wall" Tour Dates
May 1 - Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center
May 3 - Austin, Texas, at the Frank Erwin Center
May 5 - Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the BOK Center
May 7 - Denver, Colorado, at the Pepsi Center
May 11 - San Francisco, California, at AT&T Park
May 13 - San Diego, California, at the Valley View Casino Center
May 15 - Phoenix, Arizona, at the US Airways Center
May 19 - Los Angeles, California, venue TBD
May 22 - Portland, Oregon, at the Rose Garden
May 24 - Seattle, Washington, at Key Arena
May 26 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at the BC Place
May 28 - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, at the Rexall Place
May 31 - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, at the MTS Centre
June 3 - St Paul, Minnesota, at the Xcel Energy Center
June 5 - Detroit, Michigan, at Joe Louis Arena
June 6 - Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Van Andel Arena
June 8 - Chicago, Illinois, at Wrigley Field
June 10 - Louisville, Kentucky, at the KFC Yum! Center
June 11 - Indianapolis, Indiana, at the Conseco Fieldhouse
June 13 - Atlanta, Georgia, at the Philips Arena
June 15 - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the BankAtlantic Center
June 16 - Orlando, Florida, at the Amway Center
June 19 - Nashville, Tennessee, at the Bridgestone Arena
June 21 - Buffalo, New York, at the First Niagara Center
June 23 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the Rogers Centre
June 25 - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at Scotiabank Place
June 26 - Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at the Bell Centre
June 28 - Albany, New York, at the Times Union Center
June 29 - Hartford, Connecticut, at the XL Center
July 1 - Boston, Massachusetts, venue TBD
July 3 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the Consol Energy Center
July 6 - New York, New York, venue TBD
July 9 - Raleigh, North Carolina, at the RBC Center
July 10 - Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Time Warner Cable Arena
July 12 - Washington, DC, at the Verizon Center
July 14 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at Citizens Bank Park
Bob Seger is back on the road. At the start of this year Seger wasn't planning to be on the road in the fall. But he changed his mind after his tour back in the spring, which left his fans clamoring for more shows.
Bob Seger Tour Dates
December 13 - Des Moines, Iowa, at the Wells Fargo Arena
December 15 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the Chesapeake EnergyArena
December 17 - Dallas, Texas, at the American Airlines Center
December 21 - Oakland, California, at the Oracle Arena
December 23 - Phoenix, Arizona, at the US Airways Center
December 28 - Los Angeles, California, at the Staples Center
December 30 - Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
Concerns over Robin Gibb's health are cropping up again after the singer cancelled another appearance. The UK's "Daily Mail" says Bee Gees singer missed the Poppy Appeal launch at which he was scheduled to appear in London Thursday 10/27/11. Robin recently re-recorded the Bee Gees' classic "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" for the British Legion charity effort. Gibb isn't directly denying that his health was to blame, but says he's feeling "absolutely great" and that he has been busy with another project. The frail-looking singer also admits he's eager to learn how his "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" remake fares on the chart, explaining that if the single tops the chart it would give him number one hits spanning six decades. He adds that if his new "Message" hits number one it would be one of the "proudest achievements" of his career.
Ongoing questions about Gibb's health re-surfaced again a few weeks ago after he was hospitalized for treatment for an inflamed colon. Robin's twin brother Maurice died in 2003 after suffering complications from a twisted intestine.
Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley is opening up with the release of his new book "No Regrets: A Rock N' Roll Memoir." In his autobiography Ace reveals details from his days with KISS, including the band's formation and rise to fame, the friction within the group, and his departure from the band, as well as his life as a solo artist. The book is described as Frehley's side of the story, told with "no-holds-barred honesty," "no apologies" and "no regrets." The rocker penned "No Regrets" with "New York Times" journalist Joe Layden, who previously teamed up with Dave Mustaine for his book, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir," and writer John Ostrosky.
Bruce Springsteen's archives are in their new home. Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey is now officially the permanent location for an extensive collection of rock memorabilia relating to Springsteen and the E Street Band. The archives include close to 15-thousand documents from 44 countries spanning Springsteen's 40-plus-year career. The material had been housed at the Asbury Park Public Library. Moving the Springsteen memorabilia to Monmouth gives the collection room for expansion, and the university plans to add recordings, film, and other material to the archives. The public is also expected to have easier access to the collection now that it's at Monmouth University.
Paul Simon is revisiting "Graceland." Billboard.com says a box set commemorating the 25th anniversary of the singer-songwriter's landmark project is in the works. The upcoming release will include a film featuring a new performance. Simon traveled back to South Africa over the summer to play a show with Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the movie. Paul admits that shooting the documentary brought back a lot of memories. He says the project took him back to "the artistic aspects and the political aspects of making 'Graceland,'" including "the controversy that surrounded it and how it was resolved, plus what remains of it and what we learn from it."
The "Graceland" box set is expected to arrive in stores in late spring. In conjunction with the release, Simon says he'll be going on a "Graceland" reunion tour. He explains that they're in "the very early stages" of creating the trek, which he anticipates will also begin next spring.
KISS frontman Paul Stanley is on the mend following vocal cord surgery. The rocker's publicist says Stanley had the operation on Tuesday 10/25/11, and doctors expect him to make a full and fast recovery. Stanley explains that he went under the knife because he holds himself "to a higher standard," and wanted to "remedy a few minor issues that come with forty years of preaching rock 'n' roll." KISS is planning to be very active next year. The group will be releasing the new album, "Monster," their follow up to 2009's "Sonic Boom." KISS is also expected to embark on an extensive tour in support of the album, which a post on PaulStanley.com says will be the group's "biggest and most ambitious worldwide tour ever." Neither a release date for "Monster" or tour details have been announced yet. It looks like Steven Tyler got his two front teeth a few months before Christmas this year. TMZ.com reports the Aerosmith frontman recently stopped by a dentist in Paraguay to get implants to replace the two teeth he lost after falling in a hotel shower Tuesday 10/25/11. Tyler is blaming dehydration from food poisoning for his fall. The dentist told a Paraguyan radio station that her famous patient is "doing splendidly."
Glen Campbell might be battling Alzheimer's Disease, but he still remembers the friendship he had with one member of the British Royal Family. He tells the UK's "Daily Mirror" that he used to stop in London every time he traveled to Europe to visit The Queen Mother, whom he describes as "just awesome" and "funny." He recalls that he once asked the royal if she would ever "get bored with all the receptions she had to sit through," and that she used a four-letter word in telling him that if she had "a couple of gins" she didn't care anymore. Glen says he's not sure if anyone else "was in earshot or not," but he "laughed when she said that, and so did she."
Regarding his own health, Campbell says he feels "wonderful" and is "still sharper than a tack!" While the effects of Alzheimer's are reportedly evident, Glen is remaining active. He's currently in the UK on his "Goodbye Tour," and he's also supporting his final CD, "Ghost on the Canvas." Campbell is performing in Nottingham, England Thursday night.
Steven Tyler is out of the hospital after reportedly falling in his hotel bathroom in Paraguay Tuesday. The South American newspaper "ABC" initially said the Aerosmith frontman was taken to the emergency room with cuts on his face and missing teeth, but the singer's manager tells TMZ.com the injuries are "minor." Sources close to Tyler explain that he was suffering from food poisoning and dehydration, which led to the fall. Steven and the rest of Aerosmith were in Paraguay as part of their South American tour, but were forced to move Tuesday's show to Wednesday. Reps for Tyler say he would like to "sincerely apologize" for any inconvenience the rescheduling may have caused.
Sly Stone is reportedly in rehab. RadarOnline.com says the Sly and the Family Stone leader has checked himself into a treatment facility in Malibu to address his addiction to crack cocaine. The website quotes an unnamed source said to be close to the rocker, who says Sly "wants to get clean, and stay sober." The source adds that Sly will remain in the rehab center "for at least the next 90 days," and that he's "committed to getting sober."
Stories about Stone being broke and homeless surfaced last month. Sly denied that he was having such troubles, saying he was living in a camper by choice, and that his money was tied up in a lawsuit he filed against his former manager. At that time Stone also admitted to having a substance abuse problem, and said he was planning to enter rehab to address his drug addiction.
The King of Pop remains the king of top deceased earners on the celebrity front. According to a new list compiled by Forbes.com, Michael Jackson earned an estimated 170-million-dollars over the past year to keep the title "Top-Earning Dead Celebrity" for a second year in a row. Much of Jackson's postmortem earnings are attributed to an increase in the sales of his albums, tribute shows and associated memorabilia since his sudden death two years ago. The latest earnings figure is down significantly from the 275-million Jackson earned during the first year after his death. But, dead or alive, "Forbes" says the late pop star is still the second-highest earning pop act over the past year after rockers U2.
Trailing the King of Pop on the "Top-Earning Dead Celebrity" list is the King of Rock 'n Roll, Elvis Presley, in a distant second place. "Forbes" says Elvis rang up 55-million-dollars in after-death earnings between October 2010 and October 2011. John Lennon is also in the top five. With a posthumous income of 12-million-dollars, the late Beatle is tied for fifth place with Elizabeth Taylor. They follow Marilyn Monroe and "Peanuts" creator Charles Schultz. Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison are also on the list.
"Forbes" 15 Top Earning Dead Celebrities:
1. Musician Michael Jackson - 170-million-dollars
2. Musician Elvis Presley - 55-million-dollars
3. Actress Marilyn Monroe - 27-million-dollars
4. Cartoonist Charles Schulz - 25-million-dollars
5. Musician John Lennon - 12-million-dollars
5. Actress Elizabeth Taylor - 12-million dollars
7. Albert Einstein - ten-million-dollars
8. "Dr. Seuss" author Theodor Geisel - nine-million-dollars
9. Musician Jimi Hendrix - seven-million-dollars
9. Author Stieg Larsson - seven-million-dollars
9. Actor Steve McQueen - seven-million-dollars
9. Songwriter Richard Rodgers (Rodgers & Hammerstein) - seven-million-dollars
13. Musician George Harrison - six-million-dollars
13. Actress Bettie Page - six-million-dollars
13. Artist Andy Warhol - six-million-dollars
Queen is now in the Q Hall of Fame. The band was inducted during the annual Q Awards ceremony, which took place in London on Monday. Backstage at the event, Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor admitted they never thought back in the 1970s that their music would stand the test of time like it has. May called it "amazing." He explained that when he and his bandmates were kids they couldn't identify with the music their parents liked, and he finds it "wonderful" that Queen's material "does cross the generational gap." U2 was also recognized at the ceremony. The band got the nod for Greatest Act Of The Last 25 Years. In addition, Siouxsie and the Banshees' frontwoman Siouxsie Sioux captured the Q Outstanding Contribution To Music honor. The British music magazine "Q" is behind the event.
Springsteen's set included such favorites as "Born To Run," "Glory Days," "Rosalita," "Thunder Road," and "10th Avenue Freeze-Out." He also peppered the show with stories. Springsteen has a personal reason for supporting the school. His son Evan is a student at Boston College.
Journey's Neal Schon is apparently spending a lot of money on his current girlfriend. TMZ.com says the guitarist just bought a new Bentley convertible for Michaele Salahi [[Mi-kayl Sah-la-hee]], to the tune of 350-thousand-dollars. The rocker is said to have had the vehicle delivered to an address in San Francisco, which isn't far from where he makes his home in San Rafael, California. The car purchase is Schon's second expensive gift to Salahi this month. A couple weeks ago Neal and Michaele went shopping in Beverly Hills. They made a stop at the Rodeo Drive boutique La Perla, where Schon reportedly spent close to ten-thousand-500-dollars on lingerie for his lady.
Schon and Salahi have been a couple for less than two months. Word surfaced of their relationship in mid September, after Michaele's estranged husband, Tareq Salahi [[Ta-rek Sa-lah-hee]], claimed his wife had been kidnapped. But Michaele hadn't been abducted. She met up with the rocker at Journey's concert in Nashville on September 13th, and has been with Neal since then.
Fans are getting the chance to preview Neil Young's latest DVD release on the big screen. The three-DVD set "The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition" is in stores. A two-CD version of the project is also available. David Bowie and Bob Dylan are among the artists featured on the DVD, while the 25-track CD set boasts material from Metallica and Brian Wilson. Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, and The Who are some of the stars featured on both releases.
Brian Wilson's Disney covers album is in stores. "In The Key of Disney" features the rock legend's spin on songs from animated films, including classics such as "The Jungle Book," "Snow White," and "Pinocchio," and modern favorites like "The Lion King" and "Toy Story 3." Wilson recently told Rollingstone.com he was thrilled to take on the project. He said his goal was to "put the Beach Boys style" to the songs, and make it a "combination of Beach Boys and Disney." "In the Key of Disney" is one of two projects coming this fall from Wilson. Following the covers collection, "The SMiLE Sessions" will arrive in stores soon.
A number of stars have been named as possible performers for the upcoming international sporting event. However, The Rolling Stones and The Who have denied that they would be involved in the special show, while Paul McCartney has said he'd be agreeable to participating. No acts have been confirmed as yet for the ceremony.
Thirty-four years into their existence, the B-52s have released their first official live album. The group, known for its unique sound and style, recorded "With the Wild Crowd!" in their home base of Athens, Georgia earlier this year to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the band's first live show on Valentine's Day, 1977. Lead singer Fred Schneider says the energy between the band and the crowd during the concert was electric, as it usually is with B-52s live shows.
Schneider says after 34 years of performing, he still gets nervous before every show, and his nerves increased for this concert knowing it was going to be made into a CD and DVD. He says the band and the audience were in top form, and says jokingly "Is it the best CD ever? Yes." Schneider says all of the band's hits are featured on the CD, from "Rock Lobster" and "Planet Claire," to "Love Shack" and "Roam." He says there are currently no solid plans for the band to hit the recording studio for another album of new material. The B-52s continue to tour around the world, however, and Schneider invites everyone to "join the party."
"With The Wild Crowd!" is in stores now. The show was also taped in high definition, and will be released on DVD and Blu-ray next year.
Jon Bon Jovi is taking a different approach to feeding the hungry. The Bon Jovi frontman is behind the new restaurant Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, New Jersey. And anyone can afford to eat at this place. There are no prices on the menu, only a statement at the bottom that reads "Cash only donation or Volunteer." This means patrons are expected to pay what they can or help out -- either in the restaurant itself or with another charitable organization. Soul Kitchen's meals aren't what one might expect at a bread line for the homeless and hungry. The rocker tells NYMag.com's "Grub Street New York" blog the restaurant serves "organic, healthy, good-for-you food."
Bon Jovi adds that the atmosphere is akin to "the coolest brasserie in your hometown, and calls Soul Kitchen "the hottest-looking restaurant" in Red Bank. He says he wanted the place to have some elegance, explaining that he's trying to "get rid of a few stigmas attached to the word volunteering and making a difference." Bon Jovi opened Soul Kitchen on Wednesday through his charity, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
Pete Townshend, Steve Miller, and Gordon Lightfoot could be on their way to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The classic rockers are some of the nominees for the Hall's Class of 2012. They're in the running in the Performer/Songwriter category, along with a number of other stars. Lou Reed, Bob Seger, and Elvis Costello are also in the running, along with Dion and the Belmonts' Dion DiMucci, Blondie's Deborah Harry and Chris Stein, and Tom Waits. In addition, George Michael and the Eurythmics' Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart are up for the honor for a second consecutive year. Other hopefuls include 10cc's Graham Gouldman, who before his days in the band penned many hits for a variety of artists such as The Hollies, The Yardbirds, and Herman's Hermits. Tony Hatch, who wrote and produced for Petula Clark; and Meat Loaf's longtime collaborator Jim Steinman are among those being considered in the Non-Performing Songwriters category.
Voting members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame select the new inductees. Their ballots are due December 12th, and the Class of 2012 will be announced early next year. The honorees will be officially welcomed during the annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards Gala next spring.
Paul McCartney's ex-wife is getting sued. Hollywood hairdresser David Paul is accusing Heather Mills of using his services for three years without paying him. He filed his lawsuit in a Los Angeles court this week, claiming he served as Mills' hair stylist from 2005 until 2008 while she pursued a career in Hollywood. David Paul says during that time Mills told him she didn't have any money, but promised to pay him once her divorce from the former Beatle was finalized. McCartney and Mills' divorce became official in March of 2008, with Heather receiving a settlement totalling 48-million-dollars. But David Paul says he still hasn't seen any compensation for his work, and says Mills never responded to his 80-thousand-dollar invoice.
Paul receives as much as five-thousand-dollars for a haircut. In addition to the money he says he is owed he's asking the judge to award him punitive damages and to order Mills cover his lawyer's expenses and court fees.
McCartney, meanwhile, has moved on with his personal life since his split from Mills. The rock legend tied the knot with the new Mrs. McCartney, Nancy Shevell, in a ceremony in London earlier this month.
Robin Gibb is back home after spending four days in a British hospital. A post on the Bee Gees singer's website says he was released from John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on Monday 10/17/11, and "plans to slowly resume work over the next couple of days." Gibb was admitted to the medical facility with abdominal pain. He underwent a series of tests and also received treatment for an inflamed colon. Gibb's twin brother Maurice died in 2003 after suffering complications from a twisted intestine. Robin underwent emergency abdominal surgery last year to remove part of his intestine after suffering pain at a concert in Belgium. He also cancelled a planned tour of the U.S. and Brazil earlier this year for similar reasons.
As part of the Bee Gees with late twin Maurice and older brother Barry, Gibb is one third of the most successful pop acts of all time. The Bee Gees reached the height of their popularity in the 1970s with their chart-topping contributions to the soundtrack for the 1977 John Travolta film "Saturday Night Fever."
The men who wrote The Carpenters' hit "Top of the World" and Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" are now in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. At Sunday's 10/16/11 induction ceremony John Bettis, who penned The Carpenters classic as well as the Pointer Sisters' "Slow Hand" and other hits, called the recognition "the greatest honor" he's ever received." Allen Shamblin, who was behind Raitt's ballad, said the induction meant more to him than he could "ever say," and attributed his success to "the people around me." Thom Schuyler, whose credits include Kenny Rogers' "Love Will Turn You Around" and Michael Martin Murphey's "A Long Line Of Love," was inducted as well. He expressed his thanks to the Nashville music community for "receiving so many poets from around the world and making them feel at home."
Country superstars Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson round out the Class of 2011. The honorees received their formal welcome at The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony, which took place in Nashville.
Robert Plant is among the winners following the 2011 Americana Music Association Honors And Awards. The former Led Zeppelin frontman took one of the three categories in which he was nominated, earning the Album of the Year title for his CD "Band of Joy." Nashville's "Tennessean" says that in accepting his award with his group Band of Joy, Plant recalled being a 12-year-old in Britain and "dreaming about American music and coming over here." He added that he felt "very fortunate the last few years to be welcomed by some spectacular people, especially in this town." Other winners included Buddy Miller, who captured two awards including Artist of the Year, Mumford And Sons, Justin Townes Earle, and The Avett Brothers.
Gregg Allman was also recognized at the event. He was one of four Lifetime Achievement honorees. He received the Performer award for his lengthy and successful concert career which, as both a solo artist and as a member of the Allman Brothers Band, spans more than 40 years. He also demonstrated his talents, performing at the event. Plant and Band of