Washington state congressman Rep. Adam Smith has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to name a post office in the state after Jimi Hendrix. Bill H.R. 6628 aimes to designate the post office in Renton, Wash. "The James Marshall Jimi Hendrix Post Office Building." Located at 4301 Northeast 4th Street, the post office is on the same street where Jimi grew up, and close to the Greenwood Memorial Park where Hendrix is also buried. So far, the bill has won unanimous backing from the Washington representatives in Congress. - New Musical Express, 11/28/18...... Elton John was forced to cancel a Nov. 27 concert at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., due to an ear infeciton. The Amway Center posted the bad news its Twitter account but encouraged concertgoers to "hold onto your tickets," as the show will soon be rescheduled. The show was part of John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" three-year tour, which kicked off Sept. 8 in Allentown, Penn. Elton's Nov. 28 show in Tampa, Fla. at Amalie Arena has also been postponed. - Billboard, 11/27/18...... 
Foreigner has announced a new stage production based on its songs will have its world premiere in Toronto at The Ed Mirvish Theatre for a limited run of shows from Feb. 20 to 24. "Jukebox Hero, The Musical" is produced by Annerin Productions, a division of the Canadian-based Jeff Parry Promotions, who also has produced musicals around such acts as Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, The Band and the Beatles. Named after their 1981 hit about a boy who couldn't get into a sold-out rock concert, "Jukebox Hero, The Musical" will feature 16 songs, including "Cold As Ice," "Hot Blooded", "Waiting For A Girl Like You," "Dirty White Boy" and No. 1 global smash "I Want To Know What Love Is." The storyline follows "the closing of rust-belt town of Blaydon, Pennsylvania's biggest factory," according to a press release. "Confronted with a deluge of unemployment and instability, the community calls on Ryan, a local boy turned rock 'n' roll superstar, for help. Yet Ryan never left his roots on good terms, so must confront the ghosts of his past as well as a home he no longer recognises." The idea for a musical based on Foreigner's songs dates back to the 1980s, when founder, co-writer lead guitarist Mick Jones bumped into Diana Ross in an airport lounge, according to the release. Foreigner, whose original singer was Lou Gramm, has continued to tour with a revolving door of players; Kelly Hanson is the current lead singer. Earlier in November, all of the surviving original members joined the current line-up at Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles to kick of four "Double Vision: Then and Now" shows. The latest lineup will continue touring in 2019. - Billboard, 11/28/18...... After recently announcing a new North American Rolling Stones tour for next year that's set to get underway in Miami on Apr. 20, Mick Jagger told the AP in a Nov. 27 interview that fans can expect "a good night out for all." "We did a kind of similar tour in Europe this summer, so it's got a lot of fun... It's pretty high energy and it's a good a show, I think. I'm into it," Jagger said. Jagger added that the new music he's writing is "going good." "I enjoy the writing process a lot. I mean, you always think the last thing you wrote is really wonderful and sometimes they're really not (laughs). But it's really fun doing it and it's really enjoyable doing new things," he said. Asked about his TV and documentary producing, the 75-year-old singer volunteered that he "just actually finished doing a cameo part in a movie which is kind of a twisted thriller, which is called The Burnt Orange Heresy." "I just finished doing that in Italy. I did a couple weeks on that, so it'll be out next year. It was only a small part, but fun to do," he said.
Meanwhile, Jagger's bandmate and songwriting partner Keith Richard said in a new interview with Rolling Stone that he and Jagger are in the "early stages" of working on songs. "Mick and I got together for a few days a month or so ago in the studio, just playing around," Richard said. Richard added that he hasn't thought about a farewell tour yet: "It's what I do, man," he said on playing. "Give me 50,000 people and I feel right at home. The whole band does. As Ronnie [Wood] and I often say before we go on, 'Let's get onstage and get some peace and quiet.'" - AP/Rolling Stone, 11/27/18...... Stevie Wonder announced on Nov. 27 that he plans on helping victims, firefighters and first responders impacted by the recent catastrophic wildfires in California. Wonder is asking concertgoers who attend his annual House Full of Toys Benefit Concert on Dec. 9 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to bring an unwrapped toy or other gift. "We have to do our best to raise money for those that have been so less fortunate, for those that have lost dreams, lost their homes," Wonder said. "I am very happy to do this again this year but very, very, very excited to do something to help those in a bigger sense the less fortunate." Wonder said his foundation House Full of Hope along with the Entertainment Industry Foundation will also help raise money for those affected by the wildfire. Nearly 90 people were killed in the massive wildfires as thousands have been displaced from their homes. The lineup for this year's charity benefit has not been announced. Last year's performers included Tony Bennett, Pharrell Williams and Andra Day. - AP, 11/28/18...... 
Bruce Springsteen is the subject of a cover story in the December 2018 issue of Esquire magazine, and the singer says that "I do feel that people feel under siege, and sometimes for reasons that I don't agree with and that are unfortunate. Like I say, whether it's the changing face of the nation or... I think those people legitimately feel under siege. Their way of life is somehow threatened... that's always been a part of the American story. It continues to be a part of it today." Springsteen invited the magazine backstage for the interview at The Walter Kerr Theater in New York, where he's in the midst of his "Springsteen on Broadway" run. Springsteen also spoke about Pres. Donald Trump, specifically, the rise of the alt-right and those "invested in denying the idea of a united America and an America for all." "[He] has no interest in uniting the country, really, and actually has an interest in doing the opposite and dividing us, which he does on an almost daily basis." he said. "So that's simply a crime against humanity, as far as I'm concerned. It's an awful, awful message to send out into the world if you're in that job and in that position. It's just an ugly, awful message." Still, the Boss says that he's hopeful "we'll survive Trump." "Let people view themselves as Americans first, that the basic founding principles of the country could be adhered to, whether it's equality or social justice. Let people give each other a chance," he said. "Springsteen on Broadway" is set to close its run on Dec. 15, and will hit Netflix in the form of a special for the streaming network on Dec. 16. - Esquire, 11/27/18...... Class of 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees Def Leppard have released a new compilation, The Story So Far -- The Best of Def Leppard, featuring three fresh tracks. One of those is an official recording of the band's fan-favorite cover of Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus (Rock On Remix)." Def Leppard recently wrapped the North American leg of their co-headlining tour with Class of 2017 RRHOF inductees Journey, which played to 1 million fans. - Billboard, 11/27/18...... ABBA launched an official Twitter account on Nov. 28, ahead of their recent announcement to release new music in 2019. Earlier in 2018, ABBA revealed that they would be unveiling two new tracks, marking their first release in 35 years. "I Still Have Faith In You" and another new song will be revealed on a BBC TV special in December, ahead of a "virtual" ABBA hologram tour in 2019. "We have Arrived to Twitter," their first post reads, playing on the title of their hit fourth 1977 album, Arrival. In October, ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus hinted that the band"s recent recording sessions could lead to "a new album, possibly." "Or four songs or something like that -- that"s possible," he continued, before repeating his insistence the band would not tour. "But for us to perform on stage that"s just not going to happen. That"s a definite." - NME, 11/28/18...... In a new interview from his home in Los Angeles, Birmingham, UK native Ozzy Osbourne revealed that he no longer follows British politics and doesn't really understand what the word "Brexit" means. "People keep going on at me about that -- is it a big deal over there? What will happen with it? Are people voting in or out, what's going on?," Ozzy said. "I don't read the newspapers and I don't really talk politics because I don't really know. I don't really understand Brexit," he added. The Black Sabbath singer also weighed in about the Kardashian klan. "I said to (wife) Sharon (Osbourne) the other day, 'What the f**k is the deal with these Kardashians? They don't sing, they don't act, they don't do anything,'" he said. "She told me, 'The trend now is that people want to be celebrities and make money for doing f**king nothing.'" Ozzy and his family were stars of their own reality series, The Osbournes, from 2002 until 2005, and the rocker was quick to compare the two shows. "When we did The Osbournes it was totally raw, there was no script," he said. "We just did what we did and had the camera rolling. Have a camera crew in your house for three years and you go a bit crazy!" - New Musical Express, 11/26/18...... 
Bob Dylan and Neil Young are set to co-headline next summer's British Summer Time music festival at Hyde Park in London on July 12. The iconic pair first shared a stage in 1976 at a farewell show for Dylan's backing band and have consistently supported each other's musical talents since. Dylan last toured the U.K. over the summer, while Young was part of the O2 fest in London in June 2016. The rest of this year's line up is yet to be announced. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Nov. 30. Meanwhile in other Bob Dylan news, the musician made an appearance on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show on Nov. 24, however he never said a word. Instead, Dylan -- who rarely appears on chat shows -- joined Fallon for a pre-recorded clip that saw the pair enjoying some of the Dylan's new line of whiskey together while watching a private circus performance from the "Big Apple Circus." Dylan is promoting his new brand of whiskey, called Heaven's Door. The star filed a trademark for the term "bootleg whiskey" back in 2015, which caught the eye of liquor entrepreneur Marc Bushala and led to the new line being created. "Dylan has these qualities that actually work well for a whiskey," Bushala told The New York Times. "He has great authenticity. He is a quintessential American. He does things the way he wants to do them. I think these are good attributes for a super-premium whiskey as well." The label for the drink is silhouettes of wagon wheels and crows, and it retails at $50-$80 a bottle. - Billboard/New Musical Express, 11/27/18...... KISS has just added 25 new dates to its "End of the Road" farewell world tour, which are set to begin on Aug. 6, 2019 in Sunrise, Fla., and wrap on Sept. 16 in Oakland, Calif. Currently, KISS' "End of the Road" trek is scheduled to wrap in Australia on Nov. 26, 2019, but that could easily change, according to the rockers. Tickets for the second leg of the "End of the Road" farewell tour go on sale on Dec. 3. - Billboard, 11/26/18...... David Bowie's son Duncan Jones has shared a Twitter tribute to director Nicolas Roeg, who passed away on Nov. 24 at the age of 90 and directed Duncan's dad in his first major onscreen performance, 1976's The Man Who Fell to Earth. "Just heard another great storyteller, the inimitable Nicolas Roeg left us today," Duncan tweeted. "What an incredible body of work he's left us with! All my love to his family. Thank you for making so many brave choices, & giving this strange little lad in pajamas an ongoing love of filmmaking." Jones accompanied the post with a photo of him as a lad with his father and Roeg on set, along with his heartfelt message. - Billboard, 11/24/18...... Aretha Franklin's historic mansion in Detroit has sold for $300,000 at auction. The 5,600-square-foot brick home adjacent to the Detroit Golf Club was built in 1927. Franklin bought the home in 1993, but nearly lost it in 2008 due to unpaid property taxes. Meanwhile, Franklin's 4,148-square-foot Colonial-style house in suburban Detroit's Bloomfield Township still is listed for $800,000. Franklin died of pancreatic cancer in August in her Detroit riverfront apartment. She was 76. - AP, 11/24/18...... 
In a new interview with the UK's The Daily Mail paper, Barbra Streisand revealed that she had a secret rough relationship with her mother Diana, who died in 2002. Streisand, 76, said that after her father Emanuel died of an accidental morphine overdose when she was only 15 months old, Diana had to care for her alone. "I think there are parents who don't really like themselves. They don't like their offspring either. My mother meant well. She loved me as best she could. She had dreams of her own and she wanted to be a singer. She was jealous, and that was staggering for me to learn," Barbra remarked. Streisand, known for her diva ways, added in the emotional interview about Diana, "She never praised me to my face but I have a feeling she praised me to other people. And she never hugged me or said, 'I love you.'" The Funny Girl star, who is married to James Brolin, added, "I'm more of a toucher than my mother. Now I'm older I can do it, but for a long time touching felt alien. I always felt, 'Why are you hugging me, what is this about?' I didn't understand it and it felt uncomfortable. But I owe her my career. It was painful on the way up. I was always trying to prove to her that I was worthy of being somebody. She'd say, 'Your voice needs strengthening. Put an egg in milk and whip it up.'" - Canoe.com/American Media Inc., 11/24/18...... Ricky Jay, a famous magician and actor who appeared in such films as the '70s-themed film Boogie Nights, died on Nov. 24 in Los Angeles. He was 72. In a 1993 profile of Jay in The New Yorker, fellow magician and actor Steve Martin said of Jay, "I sort of think of Ricky as the intellectual lite of magicians. I've had experience with magicians my whole life. He's expertly able to perform and yet he knows the theory, history, literature of the field. Ricky's a master of his craft. You know how there are those teachers of creative writing who can't necessarily write but can teach? Well, Ricky can actually do everything." In addition to his long career as a magician, Jay also appeared in such movies as Magnolia (1999) as the narrator, Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) as a cyber terrorist and Boogie Nights (1997), among others, and several times appeared in David Mamet's films, including House of Games; Homicide, Things Change, The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main and Heist. He also had various roles on television series, including The X-Files and Deadwood. In addition to acting, Jay wrote and hosted his own television specials for the likes of CBS, HBO and the BBC, and he also served as host and narrator of the first documentary miniseries on conjuring, The Story of Magic, for the A&E network. - The Hollywood Reporter, 11/25/18.
Aretha Franklin was honored during a Thanksgiving parade in her hometown of Detroit on Nov. 22. Members of the late Queen of Soul's family traveled in Ford Mustangs on a three-mile route along Woodward Ave. as thousands of spectators turned out in sub-freezing temperatures. A high school marching band also performed Franklin's signature tunes during the parade. Franklin's son, Eddie Franklin, and niece, Sabrina Owens, were among the family members traveling in Mustangs. "We were honored to be invited to be a part of a Detroit tradition," Owens told reporters. "Aretha loved the holiday season, so it was great for the family to be able to represent her." Meanwhile, Franklin has appeared on Billboard's Adult Contemporary radio airplay chart for the first time in 24 years as her new version of "Silent Night" debuted at No. 28 on the survey dated Nov. 24. The song, fully titled "Silent Night (Solo Piano Version)," was originally released on the late icon's 2008 album This Christmas, which arrived on vinyl for the first time on Nov. 16. Franklin died on Aug. 16 at 76. - AP/Billboard, 11/23/18...... 
An official David Bowie app based on the "David Bowie Is" exhibition is set to launch in January 2019, it has been confirmed. The exhibition -- which explored "the broad range of the late artist's collaborations with artists and designers in the fields of fashion, sound, graphics, theatre, art, and film" -- closed down for good in July 2018 ,five years after it debuted at the V&A in London and became the institution's most-visited touring exhibition. The Augmented Reality (AR) app, first announced in the summer, has now been green-lit for a launch on Jan. 8, 2019, to mark what would've been the legend's 72nd birthday. It will be available in iOS and Android, and will grant fans access to the show's hundreds of costumes, videos, handwritten lyrics, original works of art and much more. Dozens of items not featured in the original exhibition will also be included, including some entirely new and exclusive to the AR version of the app. - New Musical Express, 11/20/18...... Diana Ross was among the many stars highlighting the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan on Nov. 22. Ross chose Paul McCartney's holidy tune "A Wonderful Christmas Time" as her yuletide tribute, and members of her family were also present on her float. With temps as low as 19 degrees, the parade was the coldest Macy's Thanksgiving parade on record. - Billboard, 11/22/18...... German electronic rock pioneers Kraftwerk have been announced as the first headliners of the UK's 2019 Bluedot Festival, set for July 18-21 in the ground's of Cheshire's Jodrell Bank Observatory. Kraftwerk will provide a special 3-D live performance for the show, which will mark their first-ever UK headline festival appearance and will see the group bring their 'Gesamtkunstwerk' (translated as "a total work of art") style of live performance to the festival. More acts for Bluedot 2019 will be announced in January. - New Musical Express, 11/21/18...... Cher took to Twitter on Nov. 20 to tease that she may be planning a follow-up to her successful ABBA-based album Dancing Queen. Cher posted "If I was going to do [ABBA] 2," then listed a number of ABBA songs, including such well-known hits as "Take a Chance on Me," "Money Money Money" and "Does Your Mother Know." Dancing Queen was Cher's critically-acclaimed 26th album recorded by the diva after she appeared in the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! film as Ruby Sheridan, mother of Donna (played by Meryl Streep) and grandmother of Sophie (played by Amanda Seyfried). Meanwhile, Cher discussed her life, loves and unexpected success of the new Cher-based Broadway musical "The Cher Show" in a new interview with Elle magazine published on Nov. 19. When asked about how following her instincts has always led her to huge career-defining moments, she replied: "It doesn't always -- look, I've had huge failures in my life. Huge dips and 'Oh, you're over. You're over.' This one guy once said, 'You're over' every year for I don't know how many years. And I just said to him, 'You know what? I will be here when you're not doing what you do anymore.' I had no idea if I was right or wrong. I was just tired of hearing him say it." - Billboard, 11/21/18...... Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has officially canceled his string of headlining tour dates on the heels of his recent hospitalization after collapsing backstage after a cameo appearance at a Billy Joel concert at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11. He was treated by medics before taken to the hospital and released soon after. Perry now says he will be taking the rest of 2018 off. - Billboard, 11/20/18...... 
Yoko Ono said in a recent interview promoting her 14th album Warzone that she decided to use a crow, elephant and wolf on several tracks on the album because those animals aren't typical pets. "These animals are very strong," Yoko says. "I noticed that many people get animals they can pet and I wanted to show that many animals are very independent of us." The album also features a stripped-back version of John Lennon's "Imagine," and when asked why she interpreted the song in such a minimalist fashion, Yoko said: "I think that people are too concerned about isms, because again what happened to the song was something that came to my mind without even knowing it." Ono also commented on the new John Lennon stamp which has recently been issued by the US Postal Service: "I always wanted to do it! And finally it's a reality. John would have been very pleased." - Billboard, 11/20/18...... In related news, a new live John Lennon tribute album featuring performances by Willie Nelson, Brandon Flowers, Steven Tyler, Sheryl Crow, Aloe Blacc and more has been given a January 2019 release date. Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert will showcase the 2015 concert that took place at New York City's The Theater at Madison Square Garden to celebrate Lennon's iconic career. "It's beautiful to see so many wonderful and talented musicians come together for this special show to celebrate John's birthday," Yoko Ono said in a statement. "John's art continues to give hope, light and happiness to generations of people everywhere. His belief that each of us can change the world continues to inspire the human race to believe in themselves, and his influence is everlasting in everyone's hearts as we all share in the possibilities and power of music." The concert will also be released as a vinyl LP featuring artists including Kris Kristofferson, Peter Frampton, Juanes, Tom Morello, Chris Stapleton, Kevin Bacon, Eric Church and Pat Monahan of Train. - Billboard, 11/20/18...... In other Beatles-related news, a deluxe 50th anniversary reissue of the Fab Four's 1968 album The Beatles (aka "The White Album") has re-entered the Billboard Hot 200 album chart at No. 6 following its release on Nov. 9. The set climbed back onto the tally with 63,000 units earned (up 1,499%) in the week ending Nov. 15, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 52,000 were in traditional album sales (up 5,596%). "The White Album," first released in 1968, was remastered and reissued in a variety of formats, including some with a bevy of bonus tracks. The set spent nine nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 between Dec. 28, 1968 and March 1, 1969, and is one of the band's 19 No. 1 albums on the survey. - Billboard, 11/18/18...... Queen has topped the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the week ending Nov. 24 for the second straight week following the Nov. 2 premiere of the new Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The Artist 100, which launched in July 2014, measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay, streaming and social media fan interaction to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity. Queen is the first duo or group to spend consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Artist 100 since Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in Oct. 2017, following Petty's death. - Billboard, 11/20/18...... In an exclusive interview with iHeartMedia on Nov. 19, the Rolling Stones confirmed they will be heading back to the U.S. for a North American leg of their "No Filter Tour" that will kick off on Apr. 20 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Stones will also be visiting 12 other cities during the jaunt, including Jacksonville, Fla. (4/24), Houston (4/28), Glendale, Az. (5/7), Pasadena, Calif. (5/11), Santa Clara, Calif. (5/18), Seattle (5/22), Denver (5/26), Washington, D.C. (5/31), Philadephia (6/4), Foxborough, Mass. (6/8) and East Rutherford, N.J. (6/13) before wrapping in Chicago on June 21. "We finished off a few months ago in Europe and it just felt so good that when they said do you want to do the States? Yeah, because I didn t want to get off, I mean I thought we were just getting going," Stones guitarist Keith Richards told iHeartMedia. Frontman Mick Jagger added: "You want to pick towns that you haven t been for a while. Last time, we toured a lot of the UK and a lot of those towns we haven t been to in a very, very long time. - Billboard, 11/19/18...... 
Folk/rock icon Arlo Guthrie says his Nov. 24 edition of his annual Thanksgiving concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall will probably be the penultimate one. "I don't know if we'll continue it beyond next year," Guthrie says. "Next year we'll do the actual 50th anniversary show at Carnegie, and I think I'll probably call it quits after that. It's been a long tradition, but the older I get the harder it is to do. I'd rather quit while we're ahead and it's still a good show." Guthrie is in the midst of his "Alice's Restaurant -- Back By Popular Demand Tour," which he started this fall and plans to carry into 2020, celebrating the 50th anniversary of his epic 1967 story song and the 1969 movie it helped inspire. "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" -- which chronicles a citation for littering in 1965 and the U.S. Army's refusal to draft him because of that conviction -- came out during October of 1967 and became an instant Thanksgiving tradition for fans and radio stations around the country. Guthrie himself gave it a long lay-off before returning to performing it during 2015 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the event that inspired that song, complete with a multi-media presentation on stage. Guthrie says plans are being formulated for 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Alice's Restaurant film, in which he starred -- although he was "never a big fan of the movie" -- and for which director Arthur Penn received an Academy Award nomination. Firm plans have yet to be announced, but the 2019 Carnegie Hall show will be a focal point. In the meantime Guthrie says he'll keep the "Massacree" alive in concert -- as well as the spirit of counter-culture protest it evokes and which is still a big part of Guthrie's own repertoire. - Billboard, 11/19/18...... The Criterion Collection will reissue former Talking Heads frontman's David Byrne's zany 1986 directorial debut, True Stories, on Nov. 27. Byrne, who doesn't usually enjoy looking backwards, says he's borderline excited about revisiting the movie. "You know [those features are] what you're going to get in one of [Criterion's] packages, and Criterion doesn't let you down," Byrne said in a phone interview. "And with the mastering of the film it's like, 'This is the version that we hope people see.'" The package includes a reworked soundtrack, an hour-long making-of retrospective, a series of essays about the film, and a remastered cut. Meanwhile, Byrne and his band continue to tour behind Byrne's latest solo effort, American Utopia. - Billboard, 11/19/18...... A memorial service for late country music star Roy Clark was held at Rhema Bible Church in Broken Arrow, Okla., on Nov. 21. Family and friends including Vince Gill and Ricky Scaggs gathered to remember the singer, who died on Nov. 15 due to complications from pneumonia. Clark's family asked that contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in lieu of flowers. Clark headlined a golf tournament for St. Jude's for many years, where a floor was named in his honor. - Billboard, 11/19/18...... British blues rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Laurence Jones will be special guest on the second UK tour of former Deep Purple frontman Glenn Hughes' "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live" tour in May 2019. The eight date UK 2019 tour will be a two-hour live extravaganza homage to Hughes' tenure in the "MK 3" and "MK 4" incarnations of Deep Purple. Laurence Jones has previously supported the likes of Status Quo, Gary Clark Jr, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Van Morrison, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Joe Bonamassa and Eric Burdon. "I'm excited to be touring the "Classic Deep Purple Live" in the UK in May 2019 with Laurence again," Hughes says. "I first toured Classic Deep Purple Live in Australia and New Zealand last year and it went down like a storm. We are looking forward for a second round in 2019," he added. The tour gets underway May 14 in Holmfirth, also visiting seven additional cities. - Noble PR, 11/19/18...... Legendary The Price Is Right game show host Bob Barker was rushed to the hospital over a medical emergency on Nov. 17. According to reports, the 94-year-old Barker was picked up from his Hollywood Hills home by an ambulance this and taken to Cedars-Sinai hospital. At the time, he said he was experiencing severe back pain related to his 2017 fall. Barker is reportedly doing much better at home after his health scare. - Canoe.com, 11/19/18...... 
A police department in Washington state has opened an investigation into the death of "American Top 40" host Casey Kasem more than four years after the radio icon's death. "We received information from the family that alleges the death to be wrongful and we are conducting an administrative review of that information. The case is being titled Death Investigation," Gig Harbor Police Chief Kelly Busey told NBC News. He said the review was opened on Oct. 29. Kasem died in June 2014 in Washington state, where his wife, Jean Kasem, took him after removing him from a medical facility in Southern California where he was receiving around-the-clock care. Kasem had a form of dementia and severe bedsores when he died. Jean Kasem and Kasem's three adult children from a previous marriage have been in a drawn-out and sometimes bizarre battle since his death. Kerri, Julie, and Michael Kasem filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Jean Kasem in 2015 after prosecutors declined to charge her with elder abuse. Jean has denied the claims. Both sides have accused the other of being motivated by greed over Casey Kasems estimated $80 million fortune. - NBC News, 11/20/18...... British songwriter and producer Scott English, who worked on some of the most iconic tunes in pop music history, died on Nov. 20 at age 81. Mr. English is best known for penning "Brandy" (not to be confused with the 1972 Looking Glass hit), which later became known as Barry Manilow's 1974 hit "Mandy." He also co-wrote a plethora of other smashes, including "Hi Ho Silver Lining" and "Bend Me Shape Me," and has songs on albums by the likes of Thin Lizzy, Bobby Darin, Black Lace, Slade, Donny Osmond, Dionne Warwick, Lynsey De Paul, Jeff Beck, Carole King, Amen Corner, Alan Parsons and Mama Cass. "Scott English was a gifted songwriter and an incredibly warm person who everyone loved working with," said Mike Smith, managing director of Warner/Chappell Music UK. "Even when he was ill in hospital, he was still working on new lyrics. 'Brandy', which went on to be popularised as 'Mandy', is a timeless pop classic, while his prodigious output included songs for artists ranging from Dionne Warwick to Thin Lizzy. He'll be truly missed and our thoughts are with his family." - Billboard, 11/20/18.
In other Beatles-related news, fans can now get your photo taken with a brand new statue of the Fab Four in Liverpool. The quartet has been immortalised again in a new statue situated on Mathew Street just inside the entrance of the Rubber Soul complex, where the Cavern Club and the Liverpool Wall Of Fame are located nearby, as well as statues of John Lennon and Cilla Black. The new statue joins numerous others of the group that are dotted around their hometown, including life-size figures at Pier Head and those on top of the Hard Day's Night Hotel. The new statue sees the band positioned around a bench with space for fans to sit and have their photo taken next to them. Meanwhile, a new book by former Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield about his time with the Beatles, 
The Rolling Stones posted a New York-centric teaser video to Twitter on Nov. 15 that has some fans speculating that the rock & roll legends may be planning a Madison Square Garden residency or perhaps a U.S. tour in 2019, though nothing has been confirmed. The band shared a video of New York City's iconic Statue of Liberty, proceeded by a rising sun plastered with their red tongue and lips logo. After 12 seconds, the video ends abruptly. - Billboard, 11/15/18...... Elton John looks back at his venerable career in pop music in a new Christmas ad for the London-based department store chain John Lewis & Partners. The annually-anticipated commercial in the U.K. starts with John sitting at a piano in his home, tinkling a few keys before launching into the opening strains of "Your Song." It then travels backwards through the icon's career, from his insanely energetic and wildly-costumed stadium shows to his origins as a guy playing at a piano in a pub. As the commercial continues back through his childhood. In a statement, Sir Elton thanked John Lewis for asking him to be a part of their now-famous Christmas ad campaign. "It's been a lovely opportunity for me to reflect on my life in music and the incredible journey I have been on, and how first playing my Grandmother's piano marks the moment when music came into my life," he said. "The ad is absolutely fantastic and I've truly loved every minute of being a part of it." Meanwhile, Elton has given a shout out to a man who shares the same name with the John Lewis department store. John Lewis, a U.S. computer science teacher whose Twitter handle is @johnlewis, is flooded with messages each time the store's Christmas advert is released. "The only thing I contributed to this ad was to buy every Elton John album throughout my life," Lewis tweeted about the store, which goes by the less obvious handle of @jlandpartners. Sir Elton's team messaged him back, writing: "Thanks for being a fan, John. We love your work too! - Team EJ." - Billboard/New Musical Express, 11/15/18...... As Cher prepares to hit the road for her "Here We Go Again" tour in 2019, the diva has released a new teaser trailer for the show which she promises is "going to be a little different" this time. "I'm adding new songs to it and trying some new things and new technology," she said of the set. "Someone said 'Do you have a five year plan for your career?' I don't have a five minute plan for my career," she kidded. Cher kicks off the tour on Jan. 17 in Fort Myers, Fla. - Billboard, 11/14/18...... 
The unreleased Aretha Franklin gospel-oriented film Amazing Grace has premiered at the DOC NYC festival, three months after the legendary "Queen of Soul" died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Although the Sydney Pollack-directed documentary is somewhat shapeless as a movie and gives little sense of emotional insight into the performer, it does contain moments of bliss as the singer's 1972 best-selling album is turned into a multi-sensory, soulful experience. Franklin chose a small, run-down venue in Los Angeles called the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church to record the album over two nights, and a slightly nervous-looking Franklin is introduced by gospel star Reverend James Cleveland. Franklin's first number is Marvin Gaye's "Wholy Holy," and she remains intently focused as the concert progresses, saying nothing to the eager crowd in between songs. Although efforts to release a finished film of the sessions over the years were blocked by Franklin, few fans will complain about the apparent disrespect of her wishes and will enjoy having the chance to see the gospel/soul icon in her prime, singing material that was clearly very meaningful to her. The audience at DOC NYC gave a euphoric reception to the movie at the premiere, and Civil Rights activist and spiritual leader Al Sharpton gave the invocation before the screening by leading the room in a brief prayer: "You gave us a queen, and that queen never forgot it was you who gave her that crown." - The Hollywood Reporter/Billboard, 11/13/18...... A teaser trailer for the upcoming animated film Toy Story 4 dropped on Nov. 12, and features Toy Story characters including Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and Hamm dancing around in a joyous circle to the strains of the Judy Collins cover of Joni Mitchell's iconic 1969 hit "Both Sides Now." The movie and its killer soundtrack will hit U.S. theaters on June 21, 2019. The trailer comes a few days after Mitchell was given a 75th birthday party at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles on Nov. 7. The Canadian singer/songwriter was honored by such fellow famous musicians as Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Graham Nash, Charles Valentino, Chaka Khan, Kris Kristofferson and Rufus Wainwright. - Billboard, 11/12/18...... Queen's classic '70s song "Bohemian Rhapsody" has re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 dated Nov. 17 at No. 33. It's the third visit for "Bohemian Rhapsody" to the Hot 100 and its first since 1992, when it returned amid the success of another film, Wayne's World, and peaked at No. 2. The song originally reached No. 9 in 1976. Queen, on the strength of the new Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, has also hit No. 1 on the Billboard Artist 100 chart for the first time. The Artist 100, which launched in July 2014, measures artist activity across key metrics of music consumption, blending album and track sales, radio airplay, streaming and social media fan interaction to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ranking of artist popularity. Queen's 
The city of Birmingham, UK, is planning to honour its famous sons Black Sabbath by constructing a handmade, stainless steel binch in the city's Jewellery Quarter. The bench will reportedly feature images of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward with the words "Geezer. Ozzy. Tony. Bill. Made in Birmingham 1968." etched on it. The pioneering heavy metal band formed in the Aston area of the city in 1968, and initially broke up in 2006 before reforming in 2011. The bench will sit on the newly-named "Black Sabbath Bridge," which runs over the New Main Line canal and is situated next to the ICC and Symphony Hall. The Birmingham City Council will have the final say on if the plans will go ahead, however. - NME, 11/14/18...... Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry tweeted to fans on Nov. 13 that he's "doing well" after a medical emergency after a special appearance at a Billy Joel concert in New York City on Nov. 10. "Doing well, thanks for all the love and support!," tweeted Perry, who also took the time to praise iconic comic book writer Stan Lee, who passed away on Nov. 12 at age 95. "With Stan Lee, at The Hollywood Bowl in 2012. Rest In Peace Stan!," Perry wrote underneath a pic of the two together. Perry's rep says the musician is expected to return to the road later in November. - Billboard, 11/13/18...... A host of classic albums by the likes of David Bowie (The Next Day), Jimi Hendrix (Axis: Bold As Love), King Crimson (In the Court of the Crimson King), Ozzy Osbourne (Diary of a Madman) and Bob Marley and the Wailers (Catch a Fire) are getting a super-limited reissue on blue vinyl to benefit Unicef. Only 50 copies of each record will be available. One of them is available to bid on in an auction, as will a huge set of every record. The remaining 48 copies will be available in a prize draw. "We are so proud and excited to release this incredibly special collection of albums for Unicef's Blue Vinyl, collaborating with some of the world's best music talent to support children around the world," said Unicef UK CEO Mike Penrose. - NME, 11/13/18...... Fleetwood Mac has announced they'll perform a second show at London's Wembley Stadium as part of their summer 2019 European tour dates -- as well as revealing that they'll be supported by the Pretenders. After a number of U.S. performances next spring, the band will travel to Europe for dates in Berlin (6/19), Dublin (6/13) and London (6/16). Due to phenomenal demand, a second London show has been announced at Wembley Stadium for June 18. They'll be joined at all European headline shows by special guests the Pretenders. - NME, 11/13/18...... 
Legendary country music legend and 
Neil Young posted on his Neil Young Archives on Nov. 11 that the wildfires currently raging in northern and southern California have claimed his home in Malibu. "We are vulnerable because of climate change; the extreme weather events and our extended drought is part of it," Young wrote, adding that local residents "are up against something bigger than we have ever seen... It's too big for some to see at all. Firefighters have never seen anything like this in their lives. I have heard that said countless times in the past two days, and I have lost my home before to a California fire, now another." Young, who bought his Malibu house in 2016 from his then girlfriend Daryl Hannah (the pair have since married), also blasted Pres. Donald Trump for his reluctance to act on climate change and for the president's steadfast denial of scientific evidence. "Imagine a leader who defies science, saying these solutions shouldn't be part of his decision-making on our behalf. Imagine a leader who cares more for his own, convenient option than he does for the people he leads. Imagine an unfit leader. Now imagine a fit one," he added. Although Young is a Canadian citizen who is unable to vote in U.S. elections, he remains a tireless campaigner on environmental issues, also recently taking aim at agrochemical giant Monsanto in his 2015 album The Monsanto Years. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee also recently slammed Pres. Trump for using his song "Rockin' in the Free World" during Trump campaign events. "DT does not have my permission to use the song 'Rockin' in the Free World' at his appearances," Young wrote on US Election Day (Nov. 6) on his Neil Young Archives website. "Legally, he has the right to, however, it goes against my wishes," he added. A recent New York Times story broke down the complicated licensing and copyright law tangle that, in the past, has given political campaigns wide berth to play any song they choose at rallies. - Billboard, 11/11/18...... Cher was also among the many celebrities sharing their concern over the devastating California wildfires on Twitter. "Poor Malibu my beloved home," wrote Cher in a tweet on Nov. 9. "I'm worried about my house but my heart is broken for people who have lost everything," she added. Meanwhile, Rod Stewart also had a few words of criticism for Pres. Trump's remarks. "California needs words of support & encouragement, not threats or finger pointing & accusations. Where is Winston Churchill when you need him?," Sir Rod posted on Nov. 10. - Billboard, 11/9/18...... 
Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is reportedly "alert and responsive" and in stable condition after collapsing backstage after a guest appearance at a Billy Joel concert in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 10. Perry and Joel jammed to Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" during the show, after which Perry, according to TMZ.com, "collapsed in his dressing room immediately after the gig, and looked terrible." Paramedics reportedly treated Perry on the scene, placing a tracheal tube down his throat to clear the air path, before transporting him to hospital. Representatives for Perry have now confirmed that he's in a stable condition after receiving hospital treatment, and that the Aerosmith guitarist "will be unable to appear today at Rock And Roll Fantasy Camp in Florida and apologizes to those attending... [he] is expected to return to the road later this month." In 2016, Perry abruptly staggered offstage during a performance with the Alice Cooper-led supergroup the Hollywood Vampires, where he also promptly received emergency medical attention. - New Musical Express, 11/12/18...... Appearing and performing on the daytime talk show CBS This Morning on Nov. 11, Elvis Costello shared an update on his recent cancer scare of a "small but very aggressive cancerous malignancy" that recently forced him to cancel a number of concerts. "I'm great! I was extremely lucky to have this little thing found," Costello said of the surgery he underwent, before taking aim at how the extent of his illness was blown out of proportion. "I was receiving letters for three weeks. No, I am not dying! It's not to make a joke of it, because you don't have to walk very far to find somebody you love who's genuinely having a fight [with cancer]," he said. Costello, who recently released a new album with his backing band the Imposters titled Look Now, also commented on his desire to keep pushing his sound into new territory. "Sometimes it horrifies people when it's very far from what they see as 'home' or your strong point," the New Wave icon said, "but what about the people that embrace different things?" - New Musical Express, 11/11/18...... Joan Jett and Steve Winwood were among the headliners at a Parkinson's charity gala held at the Hilton New York on Nov. 10 that benefitted actor Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease foundation. Jett and Fox jammed on electric guitar behind Winwood's performance at the event, which was also attended by Jim Gaffigan, Willie Geist, Katie Couric and Fox's Back to the Future co-star Christopher Lloyd. Fox himself was diagnosed with the chronic illness in the early '90s. - Billboard, 11/12/18...... Over 30 items worn by the late Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin went on the auction block over the second weekend in November at a charity auction conducted by Julien's. Franklin's pink silk two-piece Bill Blass-designed gown worn by Franklin at the Duets concert AIDS benefit in 1993 fetched $10,000, while a strapless white silk evening gown and a satin coat worn by the singer at the 1998 Grammy's pre-party sold for $8,750. The exhibition featured more than 800 items from music heavyweights by the likes of Prince, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Madonna. Proceeds went to the Prince's Trust, which benefits disadvantaged young people in the U.K. - Billboard, 11/12/18...... 
Elvis Presley is among the notable Americans selected as this year's recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House announced on Nov. 10. "Elvis Presley defined American culture to billions of adoring fans around the world," a statement from the White House read. "Elvis fused gospel, country and rhythm and blues to create a sound all his own, selling more than a billion records. Elvis also served nearly two years in the United States Army, humbly accepting the call to serve despite his fame. He later starred in 31 films, drew record-breaking audiences to his shows, sent television ratings soaring and earned 14 Grammy Award nominations. He ultimately won three Grammy Awards for his gospel music. Elvis Presley remains an enduring American icon four decades after his death." The Presidential Medal of Freedom is recognized as the nation's highest civilian honor, awarded to those whom the President believes made a "meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." Pres. Donald Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a formal ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 16. It will mark his first time bestowing the honor as acting president. - The Hollywood Reporter, 11/10/18...... On Nov. 12 ZZ Top announced dates for its 2019 tour of the UK and Europe that will see the legendary trio play the Prague Rocks fest in the Czech Republic on June 19, the Barcelona Rocks Festival on July 5, and London's Wembley Arena on July 12. "It's been 50 years, and I think we're starting to get pretty good!," frontman Billy Gibbons says. "We're just as excited to play Barcelona this summer as we were to play Beaumont, Texas, back in 1969. The beards are, perhaps, a bit longer, but nothing much else has changed and we hope to keep it that way." ZZ Top is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, and more European dates are expected to be announced soon. - NME, 11/12/18...... Fleetwood Mac was forced to cancel its Nov. 10 show at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, just a few hours before the gig was to begin after singer Stevie Nicks fell ill. "So sorry we couldn't play for you tonight Edmonton but we had to protect that wondrous force of nature that is Stevie's voice. We'll be back in April better than ever," new Fleetwood Mac member Neil Finn posted on Twitter. The band also canceled a concert at the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, that was scheduled for Nov. 12. The shows were rescheduled for Apr. 13 and Apr. 15, respectively. - Billboard, 11/12/18...... Blues/rock/soul guitarist and singer/songwriter Ben Poole will kick off his November/December 2018 UK Tour at the Brighton Latest Music Bar on Nov. 21. The tour follows the release of Poole's new studio album Anytime You Need Me, released on Sept. 14 via Manhaton Records. Poole's 14-city tour will also see him visiting venues in such cities as Barnsley (11/23), Glasgow (11/29), London (12/12) and Leicester (12/13) before wrapping in Winchester on Dec. 15. - Noble PR, 11/8/18...... Hugh McDowell, a former cellist for Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard, has died at age 65 following a battle with cancer. McDowell joined ELO in 1972 when he was only 19 years old. One year later, he made his recording debut on the group's sophomore album, ELO 2. He left the band to join Roy Wood in Wizzard, but returned to ELO until 1980. He is credited on their albums Eldorado, Face the Music, A New World Record and 1977's double-LP, Out of the Blue. Until his death McDowell played with various groups and classical music ensembles, and was featured as a guest on recordings by Mel Gale, Asia and Geoff Downes, among others. McDowell also did film and theatre arrangements for various artists and worked with computer programming. He created the music composition program, Fractal Music Composer, in 1992. - Billboard, 11/9/18...... 
French composer Francis Lai, best known for his Oscar-winning theme for the 1970s smash movie 
In related news, Joe Walsh will hold his second annual VetsAid Benefit Concert at the Tacoma Dome in Washington state on Nov. 11. The event, which Walsh launched in 2017 in Fairfax, Va. and has raised more than $400,000 for non-profit organizations working with veterans, will also feature Walsh's Eagles bandmate Don Henley, James Taylor and country star Chris Stapleton. For the finale, Ringo Starr, Walsh's brother-in-law, will make a special appearance for a rendition of the Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends." Walsh -- whose father died in service during 1949 in Japan, when Walsh was two years old -- has designated nearly 20 veterans' non-profits to receive funds from the concert. Meanwhile, Walsh described his second Eagles tour with new members Vince Gill and Deacon Frey "a really good tour." A 2019 Eagles tour will include visits to Australia during the spring and Europe in the summer, Walsh says "we might go in the studio and try and write [new music] and see how that goes." "If we record it won't be with an agenda, like putting out a new album... But we'll be doing that for us, not with a plan for anything definite," he says. - Billboard, 11/7/18...... A new video for the Beatles' 1968 track "Back In the U.S.S.R." has been unveiled to mark the upcoming 50th anniversary of The Beatles ("The White Album") from which it was taken, as well as promote a new 
Elton John paid homage to one of his musical heroes, Aretha Franklin, during his 17th annual "An Enduring Vision Benefit" to fight HIV/AIDS at Cipriani 42nd Street on Nov. 5 in New York City. "We witnessed the final performance of the Queen of Soul," John said. "You don't see greatness like that often." The Rocket Man told the audience that he wept during Franklin's soul-stirring performance last year at St. John the Divine, during which she delivered a powerful rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." "It was clear she was unwell," John recalled, "But she smiled her sweet smile and said, 'I didn't want to let you down. I was supposed to play the year before, and I didn't want to let you down.'" Sheryl Crow was the featured musical performer for the night's event, which raised an estimated $3.9 million to fight HIV/AIDS. Elton's enthusiastically received "Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour" is currently in progress, and the superstar has just announced that the final UK dates for the tour will take place in 2020. John's 13 UK gigs will take place in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Leeds in November and December of 2020. - Billboard/NME, 11/6/18...... Speaking of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul's 1972 concert film Amazing Grace will finally be released in November, ending one of the most tortured and long-running sagas in documentary film. Franklin's estate announced on Nov. 5 that Amazing Grace will premiere Nov. 12 at the DOC NYC film festival, more than 46 years after it was shot. The film, largely shot by Oscar-winning director Sydney Pollack, captures Franklin's performance at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood in January 1972. The music from the two performances was released as a landmark double live album in 1972, but Pollack s footage proved virtually impossible to edit because the filmmaker failed to sync the sound. After acquiring the film's rights from Pollack in 2007, producer Alan Elliott brought in a team to construct the film, which Elliott calls "a labor of love." "Aretha's fans will be enthralled by every moment of the film as her genius, her devotion to God and her spirit are present in every frame," Elliot said in a statement. An Oscar-qualifying theatrical release of Amazing Grace is planned for this fall, with a larger rollout in theaters likely coming in 2019. The film doesn't yet have distribution. - AP, 11/5/18...... Michael Jackson's horror pop classic "Thriller" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart for the week ending Nov. 1, thanks to its annual Halloween gains. "Thriller" returns with 15,000 downloads sold, surging by 189% from the prior week, and 15.2 million U.S. streams, up 198%, in the week ending Nov. 1, according to Nielsen Music. The gains also helped the song re-enter both the Digital Song Sales and Streaming Songs charts at Nos. 11 and 30, respectively. Jackson's iconic 1982 Thriller LP also vaulted from No. 102 to No. 42 (up 83%) on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart. - Billboard, 11/6/18...... In other Michael Jackson news, items belonging to the late King of Pop along with Prince, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Aretha Franklin will be auctioned live and online by Julien's auctions during the NYC Rock Exhibition at the Hard Rock Cafe Times Square Nov. 9-10. Items include Prince's white Collings 290 guitar, magnetic tape recordings from Jimi Hendrix, Woodstock memorabilia, Bob Dylan's black motorcycle jacket, Madonna's stage costumes and much more. Registration is required to bid and it can be done either online or in person. - Billboard, 11/6/18...... Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced their final shows in the United Kingdom as they complete their worldwide farewell tour in 2019. Skynyrd will head to Europe in June for a final set of gigs there, with the tour including four live dates in the UK including Glasgow (6/26), Manchester (6/27), London (6/29) and Birmingham (6/30). British rockers Status Quo will be opening for the band on all dates. - New Musical Express, 11/6/18...... 
The new Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody has officially claimed the second biggest box office opening of all-time for a music biopic. Bohemian Rhapsody opened in cinemas in the U.K. in October and followed in the US on Nov. 2. On its opening weekend in North America, it took $50 million (£38.3 million), while its international figures totalled $72 million (£55.2 million). That means only the N.W.A. movie Straight Outta Compton has had a stronger start than Bohemian Rhapsody, even taking inflation into account. Straight Outta Compton took $60.2 million (£46.2 million) on its opening weekend in the US. The strong box office of the film was in spite of its lukewarm reception by critics, with it currently possessing a score of only 59% on review aggregator site RottenTomatoes.com. Meanwhile, the cast of Bohemian Rhapsody has revealed that they filmed a full run-through of Queen's Live Aid performance -- and it could be released as a standalone feature. The movie is bookended by Queen's famous performance at the July 13, 1985 benefit concert, which took place at the old Wembley Stadium in London. Rami Malek and co-stars Gwylim Lee, Ben Hardy, and Joseph Mazzello revealed that there's a full-length version of the full performance in the works. It could be released as a bonus feature for the movie's home video release. "We did the entire concert together," Malek said in an interview with Collider.com. "That's when we felt at our best. You need to go from one song to the next to have that same adrenaline rush that they had. We had an audience of Queen fans out there recreating that iconic concert and it's an adrenaline rush like you could never imagine." Revealing that the full concert has "just been cut," Malek added: "We're going to get to see it soon and then you will too."- New Musical Express, 11/5/18...... Bassist Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club fame is among three women being inducted into the class of 2018 Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame. Weymouth, who lives in Fairfield, will be honored during a ceremony on Nov. 5 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The CWHOF was established in 1993 to honor women who have made a significant contribution to fields including the arts, athletics, business, government, philanthropy, humanities, science and education. - AP, 11/4/18...... Ozzy Osbourne has just added a new summer leg to his farewell 2019 North American "No More Tours 2" tour, it was announced on Nov. 5. The two-month summer leg of the tour will kick off May 29 in Atlanta, Ga., and will wrap on July 29 in Los Angeles. Osbourne will be supported by metal band Megadeth. Osbourne's final tour will begin on Dec. 31, as he headlines Ozzfest New Year's Eve at The Forum in Los Angeles. The Prince of Darkness will then head to Europe to begin the early 2019 leg of No More Tours 2. Four of Osbourne's new tour dates are makeup performances after he had to cancel his previous North American leg due to a staph infection. - Billboard, 11/5/18...... 
Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley has shot down a long-standing rumor that Eddie Van Halen once considered leaving Van Halen to join Kiss, which Kiss bassist Gene Simmons fueled when he claimed he once had to talk Eddie out of leaving his band. When asked about the rumor, Simmons told Guitar World: "That is true. And he was very serious. He was so unhappy about how he and [David Lee] Roth were -- or weren't -- getting along. He couldn't stand him. And drugs were rampant." But in a new interview with Blabbermouth.com, Stanley said: "Eddie Van Halen did not almost join Kiss. Eddie [came down to] the studio. I think there was some strife within the band [Van Halen] at that point, for him, and Eddie came down just to see what was going on.... But Eddie was never going to join Kiss and was never almost in Kiss." - NME, 11/4/18...... The estate of Prince and Sony Music announed on Nov. 5 that they will be released rare videos from Prince's 1995-2010 era. The first batch, in what is promised to be a weekly effort, dropped on Nov. 2 and included clips from 1995's The Gold Experience and 1996's Chaos and Disorder, including the rocking performance visual for "Endorphinmachine," which was first seen on the 1994 CD-ROM video game Interactive, where it was well-hidden within the adventure. The video finds Prince, wearing a giant flower-bedecked top hat, performing the track with his band in a room covered with silver foil. The other videos released in the initial batch include the more widely available visuals for "Gold," "Eye Hate U," "Dinner with Delores," and "The Same December." - Billboard, 11/5/18...... Guitarist Glenn Schwartz, a former member of the James Gang and Pacific Gas & Electric, died on Nov. 2 of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 77. Schwartz, a native of Cleveland, Oh., had a musical career that spanned more than 50 years, starting with the Cleveland-based group the James Gang in 1966. Schwartz was later replaced by Joe Walsh, and then joined Pacific Gas & Electric, whose 1970 song "Are You Ready" became a top-15 hit. Schwartz "passed away peacefully" according to his Facebook fan page. - 11/3/18...... Actor Ken Swofford, best known for his roles in such TV series as Fame, Ellery Queen and Murder, She Wrote, died on Nov. 1 in Pacific Grove, Calif. He was 85. Mr. Swofford played the stubborn vice principal Quentin Morloch for three seasons on the TV adaptation of the musical "Fame," and also appeared in such series as The Odd Couple, Petrocelli, Switch, Police Story, The Rockford Files, The A-Team, Knots Landing, Dynasty and Dallas. On the big screen, he appeared in films directed by Robert Wise, Stanley Kramer, John Huston, Blake Edwards and Ridley Scott, including The Andromeda Strain, The Domino Killings, S.O.B, Annie and Thelma & Louise. - The Hollywood Reporter, 11/3/18.
Just call him "Reverend Tyler": Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler revealed to celebrity gossip site TMZ.com on Nov. 1 that he recently became an ordained minister in order to wed his son "to a beautiful girl." Tyler flashed his all-new officiator's card to a TMZ photog during a recent trip to LAX, telling him that he was now an ordained minister. "I just married my son to a beautiful girl," Tyler said. "I went online, paid 80 bucks and I became a father. God knows I've been a mother for so long." Tyler then added that he'd like to officiate over the upcoming marriage of teen pop idol Justin Bieber and his fianceé, Hailey Baldwin. "Justin you need to get married and I'm the man to do it," he said. - NME, 11/2/18...... Michael Jackson has once again topped the annual Forbes list of highest earning dead celebrities for the sixth year in a row. The late King of Pop's estate reportedly raked in $313 million in 2017, largely due to the sale of his lucrative stake in EMI Music Publishing. Jackson's other profitable projects include a new record deal with Sony and Michael Jackson's Halloween, an animated TV special that first aired in 2017. Forbes reports that Jackson's estate has now earned a staggering $1.8 billion since his passing in 2009. Elvis Presley came in second on the list with earnings of $31 million, largely from record sales and the development of a new entertainment complex called "Elvis Presley's Memphis" which is located at his Graceland home. - New Musical Express, 11/1/18...... A deluxe box set of Bob Dylan's 1975 album Blood on the Tracks hit stores on Nov. 2 featuring every take of the songs on the record, many of which were recorded in New York the previous year but then re-recorded in Minnesota for the final release of the album. Many of his fans, particularly those who heard illicit outtakes of what he recorded in New York, have long debated whether that was a mistake, saying the New York recordings have a greater intimacy than the Minnesota versions. 
In related news, in a note urging midterm voting on his archives on Oct. 31, Neil Young confirmed that he and actress Daryl Hannah did indeed get married in August 2017. Though the two dated for four years before reportedly getting married in a small, private ceremony in California, neither had made it official until now. Young posted the revelation alongside a live version of the classic CSNY protest song "Ohio." "OHIO was written back in 1970 after seeing the cover of a magazine with a young girl kneeling beside her fallen friend," Young wrote about his visceral reaction to the shocking Kent State shooting. "When the National Guard murdered four students at OHIO's Kent State University for protesting the Vietnam War, it was a pivotal moment in our history. It was a pivotal moment for me. Today we see what we have become. With no real laws protecting us from guns, and with politicians supporting the NRA because the NRA supports them, we are not well represented. Today's students are brave, demanding change in violent times." Young continued: "We stand with them. They are us. We are them. This has been going on for far too long. My wife Daryl and I put this video together for you to reflect on. Support the students. Support our children. They want protection. Not more guns." The note ends with a simple message: "VOTE." - Billboard, 10/31/18...... Motown legend Diana Ross will be among the many stars participating in the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City on Nov. 22. Ross will perform a song from her new Christmas album, and will be joined on her float by her some of her family members, including Tracee Ellis Ross and Evan Ross. Also in the lineup will be the cast and Muppets of "Sesame Street," Barenaked Ladies and Leona Lewis. - AP, 11/1/18...... The suburban Detroit home of Aretha Franklin in Bloomfield Township has been listed for sale, with an asking price of $800,000. The 4,148-square-foot (385-sq.-meter) brick Colonial-style house offers five bedrooms, seven bathrooms and access to the gated community's pool and tennis courts. Franklin was living in a riverfront apartment in downtown Detroit when she died in Aug. 2017 at age 76 from advanced pancreatic cancer. The "Queen of Soul" died without a will, and her tangible assets include several pieces of property in the Detroit area that according to tax assessors' estimates are worth at least $2 million. - AP, 11/1/18...... Netflix is planning a multiple-part documentary on the life of late rock/funk icon Prince. Helmed by Ava DuVernay, who directed the Oscar-nominated films Selma and 13th, the project has reportedly already been in the planning stages for several months and will cover Prince's entire life. It has also been authorized by Prince's estate, who will give DuVerney exclusive access to the late "Purple Rain" singers extensive archive of videos, images and interviews. - New Musical Express, 10/30/18...... 
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason announced on Oct. 31 that he'll embark on a North American tour in 2019 that will showcase material from deep in the Floyd archives and not heard in America for a long time. Mason says his "Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets" tuour will be jamming to pre-Dark Side of the Moon material, before the band rose to international fame. "I really wanted to find something different and a bit quirky," Mason says. "I think, for me, what's most interesting is to revisit the thinking behind some of these pieces." Mason's band includes Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp, longtime Pink Floyd touring bassist Guy Pratt, guitarist Lee Harris and keyboardist Dom Beken -- formed this year in the United Kingdom after bandmates nudged Mason to make music again. The name of Mason's new Saucerful of Secrets band and tour comes from Pink Floyd's A Saucerful of Secrets LP, released in June 1968. Some of the songs Mason says they intend to play live include "See Emily Play," "Arnold Layne," "The Nile Song," "Bike," "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" and "Obscured by Clouds." Mason's 25-date tour will kick off March 12, 2019, in Vancouver, and mark his first performances in North America since Pink Floyd played Giants Stadium in New Jersey in 1994 as part of the "Division Bell Tour." Mason, 74, says he's having more fun behind the drum kit that he initially expected after returning to live performing. "I had no idea how much I was going to enjoy it," he says. "This is not a grand scheme that I created. This is me being nudged into it by the rest of the band. That's my entire career -- not leading so much as being gently prodded." - AP, 10/31/18...... Paul McCartney announced on Nov. 1 he is teaming up with the charity site Omaze.com to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with a fan. Through Nov. 25, fans can visit www.omaze.com/paul to donate to "Paul, Mary and Stella's non-profit Meat Free Monday," which raises awareness of the negative environmental impact of eating meat, and encourages people to have at least one meat free day each week. The lucky donater will win flights, hotel stay and two VIP tickets to McCartney's sold-out concert at Echo Arena in Liverpool, as well as the chance to join the former Beatle on stage during the show to sing a duet. Meanwhile, Sir Paul took to the social media sites Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on Oct. 30 to share his opinion on gun control in the U.S. Macca posted a photo of himself and his wife Nancy Shevell on the sites sporting "We can end gun violence" shirts under their jackets" which came from the "March for Our Lives" rally in New York on Mar. 24. "In the light of the recent tragic shootings in the USA I hope the American people will vote to elect politicians who advocate sensible gun control laws," the 76-year-old singer wrote. - Billboard, 11/1/18...... In other Beatles-related news, a cheeky new music video for the band's 1968 song "Glass Onion" premiered on Oct. 30 ahead of the band's 
Speaking of 50th anniversaries, Wayne Kramer of the MC5 kicked out the jams once again -- albeit with a different group of players -- on the exact 50th anniversary of the recording of the Detroit-based group's seminal 1968 debut album Kick Out the Jams. On his home turf of Detroit -- at Jack White's Third Man Records store in the city's Cass Corridor -- Kramer led his all-star MC50 through a two-hour show that was recorded direct to acetate on the same self-proclaimed "Zenta New Year" that the MC5 recorded Kick Out the Jams at the legendary, and long-closed, Grande Ballroom in 1968. With proceeds going to the guitarist's non-profit Jail Guitar Doors prison music initiative, a crowd of 250, including retired baseball star Kirk Gibson, packed the room, creating a sense of "small-venue" occasion that helped fuel the group's high-octane performance. The concert was the final show of the MC5's 2018 North America tour, and a new Kick Out the Jams LP of the Oct. 30 performance is slated for February to coincide with the original album's 50th anniversary. After a short break MC50 returns to the road on Nov. 9 in Bristol, U.K., 19-date European tour. The MC5, meanwhile, is on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot for a fourth time, with voting currently under way. - Billboard, 10/31/18...... Bette Midler hosted her legendary annual "Hulaween" bash on Oct. 29 in New York City's cavernous Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Now in its 22nd year, the event is designed to raise money for the New York Restoration Project, a Big Apple nonprofit whose goal is to provide public spaces ranging from gardens to parks for every New Yorker. Midler delivered a parody of "Dream a Little Dream Of Me" reworked as "Give A Little Cash to Me." The singer attended with her daughter, the actress Sophie Von Haselberg, with the two wearing matching jewel-encrusted blouses. Also in attendance was Blondie's Debbie Harry, actress Jane Krakowski and designer Marc Jacobs. - Billboard, 10/30/18...... On Oct. 29 Kiss announced North American dates for its 2019 "End of the Road" tour. Kiss will launch the tour on Jan. 31 in Vancouver, B.C., at Rogers Arena and play an additional 43 dates throughout North America for their farewell trek. "This time out is far beyond what we have done before, not just because of technology," says Kiss guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley. "It is because the meaning of this tour is so, so great because we have been an indelible part of people's lives, but guess what -- people have been an indelible part of our lives. A thank you is in order, but also one last time to live up to what everybody says we have been and what we are," he added. The farewell tour will include Stanley, Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer for the multi-year run that promises dates until at least 2020. Kiss's current North American dates will hit major markets including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit, Montreal, Boston, New York and Miami. The final North American date is scheduled for Apr.13 in Birmingham, Ala. Kiss appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Oct. 30 to promote the upcoming tour, performing a head-banging rendition of its 1977 single "Love Gun." Meanwhile, Kiss recently reunited with their original lead guitarist Ace Frehley for the first time in 17 years for an acoustic set on the annual "Kiss Kruise." Frehley joined the group to perform four songs, including their hits "New York Groove," "Nothing to Lose" and "Rock and Roll All Nite," as well as a cover of the Rolling Stones' "2000 Man." Former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick also joined in on the set, as both artists were performing as solo acts on the cruise. Frehley split from Kiss twice (1982, 2001) and has only performed with Gene Simmons for a few smaller performances. - Billboard, 10/31/18...... 
In a new interview with the Associated Press, Jimmy Page says a 50th anniversary edition of his beloved 1959 Fender Telecaster "dragon" guitar will be unveiled in January. Nicknamed "the excalibur" by Page, the guitar was a gift to him from Jeff Beck for Page recommending him to replace Page in The Yardbirds. Page recently had his original guitar, which he played on every track of Led Zepp's 1968 debut album, restored, and Fender will release four different versions of the guitar in 2019. - AP, 10/30/18...... Willie Nelson will be honored during the annual Grammy Week celebration on Feb. 6, 2019, the Recording Academy announced on Oct. 30. The event, which takes place at The Village Studios in West Los Angeles, will celebrate the career achievements and creative excellence of the 85-year-old eight-time Grammy-winning icon. "Willie Nelson has inspired generations of musicians and fans, and continues to set precedents of excellence within the music community," Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. The 61st Annual Grammy Awards will air live on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. EST/PST on CBS. - Billboard, 10/30/18...... Don McLean and his new girlfriend Paris Dylan recently took to social media to share photos of their recent trip to Paris, France. "A dream with my love," Dylan wrote alongside a photo of herself and the 73-year-old "American Pie" singer standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. "Love of my life," Dylan wrote on another photo of McLean. The pair started dating in March after they were spotted in the U.K. together during his spring tour. - Billboard, 10/29/18...... Soul singer Candi Staton revealed on Oct. 29 that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. "I've been diagnosed with breast cancer," the 78-year-old Staton says in an emailed statement. "After all I've gone through in my life -- the domestic abuse, the bad relationships, alcoholism, fighting with record labels for royalties and all of that stuff -- it's the last thing I ever expected to go through, but I'm going through it and I plan to beat it." Staton also encouraged women of all ages to get tested as early as possible. "Cancer can happen to anyone. I found a lump through self-check, so I really encourage women -- including elderly women -- to get a regular mammogram," she says. "Don't let the fact that you are young or that you've lived a certain length of time without getting it fool you in to thinking you're immune to it. Have yourself checked because it can happen at any age." Staton says she will begin her 12-week chemotherapy treatment in early November and plans to continue working on her music. - Billboard, 10/29/18...... Billy Joel will be among the presenters at the 2018 Long Island Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 8. Other presenters will include Chuck D, Columbia Records VP Ron Alexenburg and SiriusSM programmer Lou Simon. Proceeds from the 2018 induction ceremony and red carpet fundraising gala will support a variety of Long Island-centric music education initiatives designed and administered by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. - Billboard, 10/29/18...... Authorities in Los Angeles have thrown out a rape case against Rocky and Rambo star Sylvester Stallone. An unnamed woman filed a police report against Stallone in December, claiming he had raped her in 1987 and again in 1990. Stallone denied the claims and accused the woman of filing a false police report. On Oct. 30, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office dismissed the case, citing insufficient evidence, according to TMZ.com. Reports suggest none of the witnesses corroborated the woman's allegations, and two of them contradicted her story. The statute of limitations had also expired. Stallone also vehemently denied claims in another case that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl in a Las Vegas hotel room in 1986. The alleged victim did not press charges, and police officials told TMZ they would not be going forward with the case. - WENN/Canoe.com, 10/31/18...... 
Carole King released "One," her first song in seven years, on Oct. 29, along with an equally powerful video. King filmed the clip in the studio formerly known as A&M Studios, where she recorded her critically acclaimed second album, Tapestry, in 1971. Initially written in 1977 for her album Simpler Things, "One" received a modern update after King rewrote the lyrics to the song. The video shows King singing and characteristically playing the piano as she delivers an empowering message full of passion about the current state of American politics and society. "As I watch the leader of our country dividing us with rhetoric that elicits fear and hatred and emboldens some of his supporters to commit acts of violence, I believe that most of us across party lines have the capacity for compassion," says King. "I believe that most of us care about our neighbors, and that most of us want Love to win. I see 'One' as an antidote to fear, hatred, and violence. I hope the song will empower everyone who hears it to know that he or she can make a difference." - Billboard, 10/29/18...... Hardy Fox, one of the co-founders of the long-running experimental art rock band The Residents, has died at 73. In 1969, Fox helped found the San Francisco group best known for keeping their identities a secret thanks to creative costumes, including their iconic eyeball heads. According to Hardy's site, the Texas-bred musician retired from his role as primary composer for The Residents in 2015, but continued to create music for the the group through this year. As one of the musical drivers of The Residents, Fox is credited with helping to shape their unique musical aesthetic, which drew on the avant jazz sounds of Sun Ra and Harry Partch, as well as elements of choral and classical music, rock, electronic and a Frank Zappa-esque kitchen sink approach to blurring genre boundaries while playing with challenging arrangements. - Billboard, 10/31/18...... Country singer/songwriter Freddie Hart, who rose to national stardom on the heels of the classic country tune "Easy Loving," passed away Saturday morning (Oct. 27) in Burbank, Calif. He was 91. Born Frederick Segrest on Dec. 21, 1926 in Loachapoka, Ala., Mr. Hart's initial success in the industry came as a tunesmith, crafting songs for Carl Smith ("Loose Talk"), Patsy Cline ("Lovin' In Vain") and Porter Wagoner ("Skid Row Joe"). Mr. Hart hit the top of the Billboard Country Songs chart in 1969 with "Easy Loving," and No. 17 on the Pop Hot 100. The tune won Song of the Year from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, as well as a Grammy Award. Other hits followed, "My Hang-Up Is You," "Trip To Heaven" and 'Bless Your Heart" among his other chart-toppers. He remained a radio presence into the 1980s, with 1981's "You Were There" being his final Top-40 hit, registering a No. 38 peak. Mr. Hart had just finished a new gospel record, God Bless You, which will be released soon on Nashville America Records, and was produced by David Frizzell. - Billboard, 10/28/18...... Dave Rowland of country group Dave & Sugar has passed away after suffering a stroke. He was 74 years old. Dave & Sugar charted 16 tracks on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart between 1975 and 1981, including three No. 1s: "The Door Is Always Open," "Tear Time" and "Golden Years." The group was known for its pop-styled blend of male and female voices, and was sometimes referred to as "country's ABBA." Rowland later kicked off his solo career in 1982. - Billboard, 11/2/18...... Actress Jane Actman, who played Barbara on The Paul Lynde Show, has passed away at the age of 69. Born on Apr. 6, 1949 in New York City, Actman also appeared in such series as The Partridge Family, Room 222, Wonder Woman and Mannix. - alt.obituaries, 10/30/18.