Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on November 7th, 2016

Bruce Springsteen is scheduled to perform at a final evening rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at Independence Mall in Philadelphia on Nov. 7. Springsteen will appear along with fellow New Jerseyan and Clinton supporter Jon Bon Jovi as well as Pres. Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton, and the Clintons' daughter, Chelsea. Springsteen has previously performed at presidential rallies for Pres. Obama in 2008 and 2012, and Sen. John Kerry in 2004. Springsteen has also been a frequent critic of Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, stating "he will not win" at a recent question and answer session promoting his new book, Born to Run, at New York City's Town Hall. - Billboard, 11/6/16...... Meanwhile, Ted Nugent campaigned on behalf of Donald Trump in his home state of Michigan, at Sterling Heights' Freedom Hill Amphitheater, on Nov. 6. "I've got your blue state right here. Black and blue," the veteran rocker and advocate for conservative causes said as he grabbed his crotch. "Each and every one of you have only 24 hours to convince the numb nuts that you know, that you can't vote for criminals, you can't vote for liars, you can't vote for scam artists," he added. Nugent, 67, also dropped an array of profanities as he warmed up the crowd in the traditionally Democratic state of Michigan. Nugent then performed "Fred Bear" and "Never Stop Believing for the crowd, shortly before Donald Trump took the stage and said "Unbelievable what's going on" to his supporters. Nugent has supported Trump since the New York businessman and celebrity first announced his campaign in 2015, telling a radio host "I'm a big fan of Donald Trump because I believe in bold, aggressive, unapologetic truth -- period" in August 2015. - Billboard, 11/7/16...... Former Creedence Clearwater Revival principal John Fogerty has been announced as the keynote speaker at the 13th annual Billboard Touring Conference, which takes place Nov. 9-10 at the SLS Beverly Hills Hotel. "John Fogerty is one of the most important popular music artists to emerge in the last 50 years, writing and performing songs that are interwoven into the very fabric of popular culture," said Ray Waddell of Billboard, who will be conducting a Q&A with Fogerty. "For many of us, Mr. Fogerty's voice and guitar provide a truly transformative American experience. I am thrilled to welcome him to the Billboard Touring Conference and fully expect to be entertained, surprised, and inspired in a compelling session," he added. The Billboard Touring Conference & Awards is taking place in L.A. for the first time after 12 years in New York. - Billboard, 11/7/16...... Director Jim Jarmusch describes his new Iggy Pop and the Stooges documentary Gimme Danger as a "love letter" to the 69-year-old Pop and his band. "I call it an essay, a love letter. I call it a blatant celebration of The Stooges," Jarmusch says. " I love all Stooges songs. [1970's] Fun House as an entire record is probably the greatest rock'n'roll record ever made. The lyrics to 'Gimme Danger', the song, are incredibly beautiful, dark and fantastic." Gimme Danger, an Amazon Studios/Magnolia Pictures production, is currently screening in select theaters, and can be pre-ordered for streaming at Amazon.com. - Billboard, 11/4/16...... Rush will be honored with Canada's Allan Slaight Humanitarian Spirit Award during the 2017 Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards in Toronto on Apr. 20, 2017. Rush, comprised of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart, issued a statement saying they were "so incredibly honored" for the decoration, which recognizes outstanding Canadian artists who've contributed to social activism and supported humanitarian causes. "The depth of Allan and Gary Slaight's generosity, consideration and benevolence has no measure," the statement said. "We will strive to carry forward their spirit of charity and goodwill." Gary Slaight of Slaight Communications noted the band's tireless campaigning for people in need. "In recent years, the group has raised money for food banks, Casey House, the Kidney Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, AIDS research; the list goes on," he said. On Nov. 3, a new documentary of Rush's R40 Tour, Time Stand Still, premiered at selected cinemas in Canada and the US. The film will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on Nov. 18. Rush is also preparing to reissue their classic 1976 album 2112 as a special 40th anniversary edition this Christmas. 2112 - 40th will include rare live and previously unreleased material as well as covers from Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, Alice in Chains, and others. A 2 CD/DVD edition will feature a newly remastered version of the album with the second disc featuring live outtakes, and the DVD will feature Rush's 1976 performance at the Capitol Theatre and a Q&A with Alex Lifeson. A 3 LP/2 CD/DVD "Super Deluxe" edition will also be available, with the first 1,000 preorders also featuring a limited edition 7-inch pressing of the album's first single, "The Twilight Zone." - Billboard/New Musical Express, 11/3/16...... Neil Young has previewed a new song called "Peace Trail" from his upcoming album of the same name. Originally set for a Dec. 2 release, Peace Trail has been pushed back for a Dec. 9 release. Meanwhile, Young has made his entire back catalogue available on the major streaming services again after removing them in the summer of 2015 because he was dissatisfied with the tracks' sound quality. "It's not because of the money, although my share (like all the other artists) was dramatically reduced by bad deals made without my consent" Young posted on Facebook at the time. "It's about sound quality. I don't need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution. I don't feel right allowing this to be sold to my fans. It's bad for my music." Young's albums were again made available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music on Nov. 4. - Billboard, 11/4/16...... Universal Music Publishing announced on Nov. 2 that it had acquired exclusive worldwide publishing rights for Prince's entire song catalog -- released and unreleased. "UMPG will work closely with the artist's estate to develop new creative outlets for his music," the statement said. Before his death, Prince and his staff managed his publishing catalog, with Peermusic handling back-office administration, after an earlier UMPG contract ended in 2013. Negotiations for the licensing rights to much of the prolific Prince's overall catalog, as well as to four decades' worth of unreleased material, are ongoing, according to longtime Prince associate L. Londell McMillan. Earlier in 2016 Prince's longtime label Warner Bros. announced that it had secured the rights to the first posthumous releases since the artist's death on Apr. 21, which include a deluxe edition of Purple Rain containing a full album of unreleased material, out early in 2017. - Billboard, 11/2/16...... Former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters has joined a growing network of UK artists, musicians, film makers, and others who are calling on Israel to withdraw their occupation of the West Bank. Waters has signed a petition requesting that the electronic duo Chemical Brothers cancel their upcoming performance in Tel Aviv on Nov. 12. More than 7,000 signatures were collected in petition against the performance, and so far the Chemical Brothers have made no plans to cancel. - Billboard, 11/2/16...... A new sign of giant red letters that proclaim "Long Live Rock" has just been unveiled in the plaza of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Oh. The sign will be formally dedicated on Nov. 10 as officials share details of a multimillion-dollar redesign expected to include the Hall of Fame and main exhibit spaces. Todd Mesek of the RRHOF says the sign adds another "iconic element" to the attraction, and visitors already have been spotted snapping photos with it. - AP, 11/5/16...... A David Bowie orchestral tribute that took place at the U.K.'s Glastonbury Festival earlier in 2016 has announced it will now embark on a short tour of the UK. The orchestra, conducted by Charles Hazlewood, performed composer Philip Glass' 1996 classical work "Heroes Symphony," based on Bowie's 1977 album "Heroes." The three performances will take place in Bristol (12/10), Nottingham (12/12) and Bexhill (12/14). Bowie was a fan of Philip Glass, citing him as an influence on his music. Meanwhile, the BBC recently announced a series of upcoming Bowie specials to mark the one year anniversary of his death, and a new "best of" compilation, Bowie Legacy, is due on Nov. 11. - New Musical Express, 11/3/16...... Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has hinted that Black Sabbath could be releasing new music after they wrap their "The End" farewell tour in early 2017. "As I said, I'll be doing some writing," Iommi told Ultimate Classic Rock magazine. "Maybe I'll be doing something with the guys, maybe in the studio, but no touring." Iommi added that he "loves the playing" but he "just can't travel anymore." Black Sabbath's final six gigs will take place in the UK in the winter of 2017, with the final two shows in their native Birmingham on Feb. 2 and 4. - NME, 11/4/16...... The alt rock band Foo Fighters, currently on hiatus, has announced it will reunite in 2017 to particpate in the ceremony honoring Tom Petty as MusiCares Person of the Year on Feb. 10, 2017. It will mark Foo Fighters' first performance since announcing their hiatus in Nov. 2015. The Foo Fighters will be joining previously announced artists Stevie Nicks, Don Henley, Jeff Lynne and Randy Newman at the Petty tribute. - Billboard, 11/4/16...... Appearing at the Q magazine awards in London on Nov. 2 to receive an honor, Meat Loaf revealed to the UK Press Association that he had emergency back surgery in October and was still "in pain" following the operation. "I'm just ready to sit down because four weeks ago I had spinal fusion," said Meat Loaf, whose real name is Marvin Lee Aday. "There was a cyst which was pinching nerves so I had emergency back surgery." Meat Loaf previously revealed that he was on a new diet and fitness regime following his collapse while performing at a concert in Edmonton, Alberta on June 16. The Bat Out of Hell singer previously collapsed on stage at a gig in London in 2003 and at a show in Pittsburgh during 2011.- NME, 11/3/16...... Bob Cranshaw, a veteran jazz bassist known for his hundreds of sessions with everyone from Tony Bennett to Oscar Peterson died on Nov. 2 after a battle with stage 4 cancer. He was 83. Born in Evanston, Ill., on Dec. 10, 1932, Mr. Cranshaw began his career back in the 1950s and his signature light touch on the upright and electric bass could be heard on a galaxy of recordings from some of the jazz and pop world's most popular artists, including George Benson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Judy Collins and Buddy Rich. He also served as the session bassist for the iconic PBS children's programs Sesame Street and The Electric Company and played bass in the Saturday Night Live house band from 1975-80. According to the Jazz Foundation, Mr. Cranshaw played on a total of 3,000 recordings and also served as the musical director for The Dick Cavett Show, The Merv Griffin Show and The David Frost Show. - Billboard, 11/3/16.

At the 10th Annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit at Madison Square Garden's The Theater on Nov. 1, Bruce Springsteen performed four acoustic numbers and held an auction to help raise money for veterans. After an acoustic version of "Working on the Highway" from Born in the USA, Springsteen told his first of four dirty jokes of the night -- about an elderly couple making love in an alley up against a fence that's "now electrified." After two songs from his 2007 LP Magic, "I'll Work for Your Love" and "Long Walk Home," he wrapped with his 1984 smash "Dancing in the Dark." The Boss also auctioned off a ride to a Freehold, N.J. drive-in in his 1967 Cadillac, a signed guitar, and "his mother's famed lasanga," all for $280,000. A separate auction of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle ridden by Springsteen fetched $150,000. Presented by the Bob Woodruff Foundation and The New York Comedy Festival, the event raised an estimated $1,400,000 for veterans and also featured comic performances by Jon Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Louis C.K. and Jim Gaffigan. - Billboard, 11/1/16...... Apple Computer's new iPhone update for their iOS 10.2 comes with brand new emojis of David Bowie's iconic Aladdin Sane makeup, complete with lightning bolt, flamboyant hair and even a very "Ziggy Stardust"-esque jump suit. Acting as a template for various emotions, users will be able to make the Bowie emoji shrug his shoulders, cross his fingers and even face palm. In fitting Bowie androgynous style, the emoji comes in both male and female form. Users can get the latest iPhone update at www.apple.com. Meanwhile, a new Bowie "best of" compilation, Bowie Legacy, hits stores on Nov. 11. - New Musical Express, 11/2/16...... Gregg Allman announced on Nov. 2 that he's ready to mount a full winter 2017 tour after recovering from "serious health issues," which he later revealed as a case of pneumonia, and forced him to cancel several concerts earlier in 2016. Kicking off with two nights in Savannah, Ga., to celebrate New Year's Eve on Dec. 30 and 31, the blues-rock legend will tour throughout January before wrapping with a four-night stand at the Grand Opera House in his hometown of Macon, Ga. Before that trek begins, Allman will omplete a 10-night residency at City Winery in New York, starting on Nov. 6. On the last weekend of October, Allman and his band tuned-up for the upcoming tour with a slot at the Laid Back Festival in Atlanta and an acoustic set at Red Rocks in Colorado. - Billboard, 11/2/16...... James Taylor performed his classic "Carolina on My Mind," among other songs, at a campaign event for Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton on Nov. 2 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on the Michael Hooker Fields. Taylor, who grew up in Chapel Hill, N.C., campaigned with Pres. Barack Obama at the "Gt Out the Early Vote" public event to encourage North Carolina voters to vote early at "one-stop" early voting locations. - Billboard, 11/1/16...... Appearing on comedian Marc Maron's podcast "WTF with Marc Maron on Oct. 31, former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters described the rise of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as "like Hitler's." "It was insidious in Germany in the '30s when National Socialism came, Waters said. "And National Trumpism feels a bit less insidious, but it's just as dangerous." Waters added the conditions of post-World War I Germany and the United States now are not so dissimilar. "You have to have a population that feels defeated, like the Germans did after the Treaty of Versailles," he said. "So what you have in the States now is everybody's standard of living is falling, like a freefall, and also where the freedoms that are enshrined in your Constitution and in the Bill of Rights are being slowly eroded and taken away from you." At a concert in Mexico City in September, Waters called Trump an offensive name in Spanish, and at the Desert Trip festival in October, he called Trump "arrogant, lying, racist, sexist." - Billboard, 11/1/16...... Bob Dylan has finally formally accepted his recent award of the 2016 Nobel Prize for literature. The Swedish Academy's permanent secretary, Sara Danius, said that Dylan himself contacted them and said "of course" he would accept the prize. Danius told Sweden's TT news agency that Dylan called her on Oct. 25 and they spoke for about 15 minutes. "The news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless," Dylan reportedly told Danius, who posted news of the conversation on Oct. 28 on the academy's website. "I appreciate the honor so much," Dylan added. In an interview with the UK paper The Telegraph posted on Oct. 28, Dylan was quoted as saying he "absolutely" wants to attend the Dec. 10 prize ceremony, "if it's at all possible." Dylan, 75, was awarded the prize on Oct. 13 "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," and at first was silent after the announcement, prompting one member of the Swedish Academy to describe his silence as "impolite and arrogant." In 2000, Dylan collected the Polar Music Prize from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, also in Stockholm, and in 2012, he accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Washington, D.C., from Pres. Barack Obama. - AP, 10/29/16...... A man who bought a 45 rpm single of John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band's single "Cold Turkey" for $10 as part of a sale of used items found in an attic has made quite a discovery -- a draft of a letter Lennon wrote to Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 protesting the UK's involvement in foreign wars. In the letter, Lennon states that he is returning his honorary MBE (Member of the British Empire) medal that all the Beatles received in 1965 "in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turkey slipping down the charts." "Cold Turkey," released in December 1969, peaked at No. 14 on the U.K. charts, and No. 30 on the U.S. charts. Lennon signed the note, "John Lennon of Bag," playing on the term "bagism" he and Ono coined during their late-'60s peace campaign as a way to satirize prejudice and stereotyping. The letter is not, however, the actual letter that Lennon sent to the Queen. A memorabilia expert says the draft was never sent probably due to smudged ink. The buyer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has yet to announce if he plans to sell the letter, which has an estimated value of £60,000 ($72,000). - Billboard/CNN, 10/28/16...... In other Beatles-related news, a new Lego toy set based on the Fab Four's iconic Yellow Submarine movie went on sale on Nov. 1. In October, Lego fans and Beatles fans alike were sent into a frenzy when the new 550-piece Lego pack, which comes complete with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, along with the submarine itself and a miniature of Jeremy Hillary Boob from the animated 1968 movie, was announced. "The creation of the Yellow Submarine model was really my way of showing my affection for The Beatles, as well as trying to pay a small tribute to The Beatles phenomenon," said its sponsor, singer-songwriter Kevin Szeto. - New Musical Express, 11/1/16...... Iggy Pop has revealed to Entertainment Weekly magazine that he's returned to the recording studio for the first time since he released his latest LP, Post Pop Depression, in March. "I've made five recordings since then," Pop says, apparently implying that all the tracks are collaborations with other artists. "But they were all recordings not where I'm about, 'Hey, I've got something to say!' No, it was just, people called me up and said, 'Do you want to do a vocal with me, about this, under this circumstance?' More like guesting." Pop, 69, hinted in June that he may never make another proper solo album. "Another album would be a big undertaking from an old git like me!," he told a UK talk show host. Pop is currently making the rounds promoting Gimme Danger, a documentary about his band the Stooges directed by Jim Jarmusch. - NME, 10/31/16...... A new Rolling Stones exhibit entitled "MICK, KEITH, CHARLIE & RONNIE: ART + OBJECTS" opened on Nov. 3 at HG Contemporary Gallery in New York City. Featuring rare memorabilia and art created by or inspired by the band the 200-piece collection, amassed by a private collector and longtime friend of the iconic band, offers an intimate glimpse into the Stones' creative process and lifestyle. "The Stones aren't just musicians. They're immortal. They are the definition of rock 'n' roll... I love how (this exhibit) ties in visual art, musical art and fashion art all in one space," says Contemporary Gallery founder and director Philippe Hoerle-Guggenheim. Highlights include Mick Jagger's hand-written lyrics, a drawing co-created by Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, and an original hand-painted "Bigger Bang" tongue guitar by Ronnie Wood -- the band's most accomplished visual artist. - Billboard, 10/28/16...... Journey keyboardist-guitarist Jonathan Cain says if the band should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 after being nominated in October, he hopes the band's current vocalist, Arnel Pineda will be able to go in with them. "That's wrong, y'know?," Cain said about Pineda not being included on the list of Journey members getting a nod (original Journey drummer Aynsley Dunbar, who played on Journey's first four albums, was also not nominated). "There is no Journey without Arnel right now," Cain continued. "He certainly has learned his stripes. He's been with us longer than any lead singer has consecutively stayed in the band. He's given us 10 years straight, not running off or doing this, doing that, just being The Guy. So that's worth something." Controveries over past and present members of other bands, including Kiss, Deep Purple and Chicago, not being inducted have also plagued the RRHOF in recent years. Cain says that should Journey be inducted, he and his bandmates will lobby for Pineda to also be inducted, be he isn't sure how effective it can be. "We have no control of it; It's just the politics of it all," Cain notes. "What are you gonna do? You're just gonna accept what's given you in this situation. But I think it's a significant oversight, for sure, and maybe they'll reconsider when they think about it." As for former frontman Steve Perry, who was nominated but has been mum about reuniting with the band for a possible induction, Cain says he'd be welcome. "I can't really speak for him in that regard, but certainly the door's always been open for him to join us any time he wants," Cain says. - Billboard, 10/28/16...... In a new interview to mark Halloween, Ozzy Osbourne revealed he thinks Black Sabbath' eponymous 1970 track is "the scariest song ever written." "When we started gigging way back when, as soon as we started playing this song's opening chords, young girls in the audience would fucking freak out," Osbourne told New Musical Express. "They thought we were Satan's f---ing friends or something." Osbourne added that "that's when the whole Prince of Darkness shit started... When people get excited about Halloween coming around each year, all I think is 'well, we used to have Halloween every f---ing night." Ozzy added that while Black Sabbath is retiring after a final gig in February 2017, he has no plans to retire personally. "I'll be continuing my own musical thing. My wife is good at telling me partial information, but I know I'm not hanging my boots up for a while," he said. - NME, 10/29/16...... In an interview with the London Times, the Who's Roger Daltrey says he thinks that rock is "dead" and that "rappers are the only people saying things that matter." "Most pop is meaningless and forgettable" the 72-year-old singer said of the current musical climate. "You watch these [new pop stars] and you can't remember a bloody thing," he added. - NME, 10/28/16...... Former Deep Purple singer Glenn Hughes announced on Nov. 1 that he's been forced to cancel his UK and European tour after co-headliner Living Colour booked a conflicting support slot on Alter Bridge's European tour. Hughes was planning on touring Europe in support of his upcoming solo album, Resonate. When word got to promoters that Living Colour were no longer planning to perform on the co-headline dates, they were forced to refund all tickets. "I am saddened and disappointed that I will not be able to perform for my UK and European fans as I had originally intended," Hughes says. "Unfortunately, an undermining manager got involved and in turn ruined what would have been an amazing tour. I can't wait to get back to the UK and Europe to bring the new songs of Resonate to my fans overseas," he added. All ticket holders of Hughes' UK and European tour will be offered refunds at the point of purchase and can call the venues for more information. - Noble PR, 11/1/16...... Queen will release On Air: The Complete BBC Sessions, a compilation of the band's six performances on BBC radio recorded between 1973 and 1977, on Nov. 4 in the UK and Nov. 11 in the US. The set includes the song "My Fairy King," which Queen first played on a 1973 John Peel live session for the BBC. "This was the first time we'd really seen Freddie [Mercury] working at his full capacity," Queen guitarist Brian May says. "He's virtually a self-taught pianist, and he was making vast strides at the time, although we didn't have a piano on stage at that point because it would have been impossible to fix up." Queen On Air is available as a 2-CD set and a 3-LP vinyl edition, plus a Deluxe 6-disc edition featuring a CD of live concert broadcasts and 3 CDs of radio interviews. - New Musical Express, 11/1/16...... John "Buck" Ormsby, the singer of the classic 1961 garage band hit "Louie Louie" by The Fabulous Wailers, died in Mexico on Oct. 29 following a fall while on a trip there. He was 75. "He was just getting ready to come home," said his longtime partner Pamela Ruznic from the couple's hometown of Tacoma, Wash. The Wailers had several members before bassist Ormsby arrived. But he, Robin Roberts and Kent Morrill formed the group that would in 1961 release their biggest hit, "Louie Louie," and become one of the premier American garage bands of the 1960s, appearing one time on American Bandstand. "Louie Louie" was originally recorded by R&B singer Richard Berry. Roberts came across the song while working in a Tacoma record shop in the late 1950s, and his band The Wailers gave it the distinctive arrangement it has had since, though a version by The Kingsmen is the most well-known. - 10/31/16...... Claude "Curly" Putnam, a prolific country music songwriter who penned some of the biggest songs in that genre's history, died at the age of 85 on Oct. 30 just outside Nashville, Tenn. Born on Nov. 20, 1930 in Princeton, Ala., Mr. Putnam scored his first major hit in 1965 with "Green, Green Grass of Home." Though originally a hit for Porter Wagoner, the song proved to be one of Mr. Putman's most lucrative copyrights, with recordings by Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, and Kenny Rogers. Mr. Putnam's other hits include "My Elusive Dreams" and the Tammy Wynette classic "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," which he co-wrote with Bobby Braddock. In 1980 Mr. Putnam's and Braddock's "He Stopped Loving Her Today" became a No. 1 country hit for George Jones, and is now regarded as the greatest country song in history. In addition to his talents as a tunesmith, Mr. Putman hit the country Top 30 in 1960 with "The Prison Song" and charted a pair of albums and singles for ABC in the 1960s. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1976. - Billboard, 10/30/16.