Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on May 7th, 2018

Aerosmith headlined Day 6 of the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the city's Fair Grounds Race Course on May 5 with a hit-packed set that kicked off with "Same Old Song and Dance," "Love In an Elevator" and "Cryin'." "I love this daytime s---!" singer Steven Tyler mused to the crowd watching the show during a light rain. "You can see me scratch my ass. I'm no better than you." The hits kept coming with "Livin On the Edge," "Rag Doll" and "Janie's Got A Gun," and a power-ballad break for "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," the band's only Billboard No. 1 so far, gave the crowd a chance to sing along. After "Dream On," the band took an encore break and returned with the crowd-pleaser "Walk This Way." During the two-hour set, guitarist Joe Perry provided a bluesy, calming partner to the 70-year-old Tyler's manic energy, proving the band is still a force to be reckoned with live. - Billboard, 5/6/18...... Meanwhile another 70-year-old rocker, Alice Cooper, told New York's Q103 radio station on May 4 that he'll only consider retiring "If we do a tour and nobody shows up, then I'm retired... That's never happened." Cooper continued: "In fact, we're doing better business now than we've ever done. More people are coming to the show now, and I've never felt better, so I don't see any reason to retire at all. I know a lot of guys are quitting, but a lot of guys still smoke and drink. They're probably tired. I'm not tired. People always say, 'Well, you could just play golf every day,' and I say, 'I play golf every day anyway!'" Cooper is currently involved in a range of projects, including the "supergroup" Hollywood Vampires, and there are rumours he may also open for KISS on their 2019 tour. He released his most recent album, Paranormal, in July 2017. - New Musical Express, 5/5/18...... AC/DC's classic 1980 album Back in Black has re-entered the Billboard Hot 200 album chart at No. 152, thanks in part to sales generated from a limited-edition cassette reissue of the album for Record Store Day. Its cassette has been out of print since 2006. Of the album's 6,000 units, 3,000 were in traditional album sales, with cassettes accounting for 45% of the set's total sales for the week ending May 5. Meanwhile, Sting has added another No. 1 to his impressive array of genre chart leaders as his new collaboration with reggae superstar Shaggy, 44-876, has yielded the first No. 1 for the former Police frontman on the Reggae Albums Chart. In addition to the pop chart, Sting has previously topped such lists as the Traditional Classical Albums, Classical Crossover Albums and Holiday Albums Charts. - Billboard, 5/4/18...... NBC announced on May 4 that an ambitious, star-studded two-hour special dedicated to Sweden's ABBA, Thank You for the Music, An All-Star Tribute, will air in December. The network says the special will be broadcast around the world, with the BBC handling international distribution, and feature a variety of "specially invited artists" performing ABBA hits like "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "The Winner Takes It All" and "Take a Chance On Me." It will also feature band members Agnetha Faltskog, Bjrn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad performing their brand-new song "I Still Have Faith In You" with a twist. It will be "sung" by a virtual ABBA: digital representation of the band in 1979 but voiced and recorded by the band members today. Meanwhile, in a new interview with the UK's Daily Star paper, Andersson and Ulvaeus said that the band have actually been on a break until recently, after spending time apart to focus on other projects. "We never made the decision to say, 'We'll never do it again'," said Andersson. "Bjrn and I wanted to write 'Chess' together with Tim Rice. We said to ourselves and to the girls: 'We'll probably need two years, so let's take a break'. During this time they both made solo albums. But we needed four years for 'Chess'. Then we were like: 'It was four years, why should we get together again?'" Asked about the sound of their new material, Andersson replied: "One of the songs is like we would've written it [for] today. The other, we could've written in 1972." - Billboard/Deadline.com/NME, 5/4/18...... The Charlie Daniels Band will co-headline an upcoming tornado relief concert for the Jacksonville, Fla., area with country icons Alabama, Jamey Johnson and Riley Green at Jacksonville State University on Sept. 26, 2018. An EF-3 level tornado tore through Jacksonville and the JSU campus in March, and Alabama's Randy Owen says the storm did a "tremendous amount of damage" to his alma mater and the band wants to do its part to help. - AP, 5/2/18...... Paul McCartney was made a Companion of Honor by the Royal Family on May 4 during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. King George V founded the Order of the Companions Honour in 1917, which is given as a reward for outstanding achievements to citizens of the Commonwealth realms. Sir Paul receives the honor 20 years after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. "Congratulations Sir @PaulMcCartney who has been made a #CompanionofHonour at Buckingham Palace today for his lasting contribution to music in the UK and Worldwide," read the caption of the Royal Family's official Twitter account. McCartney was accompanied by his wife, Nancy Shevell, during the ceremony. - Billboard, 5/4/18...... In other Beatles-related news, Julien's Auctions announced on May 3 that Geroge Harrison's first first electric guitar will be auctioned at New York's Hard Rock Cafe on May 19. Harrison played the Hoffner Club 40 electric model when the Beatles played around Liverpool, England, as The Quarrymen. He traded his acoustic guitar for the electric model with Ray Ennis, who was a member of The Swinging Blue Jeans. Julien's estimates the guitar will sell for between $200,000 and $300,000. A 1965 Fender Telecaster owned by The Band's Robbie Robertson played by Harrison, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan is also on the block and estimated to sell between $400,000 and $600,000. - AP, 5/3/18...... Neil Young and Crazy Horse reunited for a concert at Fresno, California's Warnors Theatre on May 1, their first show since 2014. Their completely unrehearsed gig was the first of a three-night stint that Young said "will be the beginning of another beautiful chapter" in the band's nearly 50-year history. The 15-song setlist included covers of such Young solo material as "Winterlong," "World on a String," "Too Far Gone," "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," "Walk On," "Like a Hurricane" and the encore, "Roll Another Number (For the Road)." When recently asked about the future of Crazy Horse, Young said: "Well, we have an incredible album that's in the can that's a recent album. Alchemy. Then we have a 2001 album, Toast. We have a 1969/70 album, early days, which is a lot of stuff nobody's heard." - New Musical Express, 5/2/18............

The Cars singer/guitarist/songwriter Ric Ocasek and his model/actress wife Paulina Porizkova have decided to separate after 28 years of marriage, Porizkova announced on her Instagram page on May 2. "Our family always has been -- and still is -- a well-built car" the 53-year-old Porizkova wrote. "When the four of us are together, we can go wherever the road takes us. But as a bicycle, my husband and I no longer pedal in unison. So, we're ditching the bicycle," she added. Ocasek and Porizkova first met while filming the music video for the Cars song "Drive" in 1984 and were together last month when 74-year-old Ocasek was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The couple has two sons. - AP, 5/3/18...... Drummer Jabo Starks, whose steady groove became the backbone for many of James Brown's classic hits, died on May 1 at his home in Mobile, Ala., after a battle with leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. He was 79. Mr. Starks, whose first name was John and whose nickname was sometimes spelled "Jab'o," was one of two drummers closely identified with Brown during his heyday in the 1960s and '70s. The other was Clyde Stubblefield, who died in 2017 and is remembered for his indelible drum solo on Brown's "Funky Drummer," perhaps the most sampled drumbeat of all time. Mr. Starks, who acquired his nickname as a baby, was born in Jackson, Ala., on Oct. 26, 1938, and grew up listening to gospel and blues. He became enamored with drums while watching a marching band in a Mardi Gras parade in Alabama. After graduation from high school, the self-taught drummer started playing with blues artists like John Lee Hooker, Smiley Lewis, Howlin' Wolf and Big Mama Thornton at the Harlem Duke Social Club in Prichard, Ala., a famous venue on the so-called chitlin' circuit. He joined Brown's band in 1965 and stayed with him until the mid-1970s, when he began touring and recording with B. B. King. He drummed on such Brown singles as "Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine," "Super Bad" and "The Payback," and all those songs, like most of Brown's work, have had long afterlives. They have been sampled in songs by hip-hop artists like L. L. Cool J, Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, the Black Eyed Peas and Kool Moe Dee. Mr. Starks and Clyde Stubblefield played together again years after they parted ways with Brown. They formed a duo called Funkmasters, which released music and recorded instructional videos, and also worked together on the soundtrack for the 2007 movie comedy Superbad. His manager said that Mr. Starks last performed in March, at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Fla., where he had played since the mid-1990s. - Billboard, 5/2/18.

Appearing on CBS' The Talk program on Apr. 27, Barry Manilow revealed that he will be returning to the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for 20 dates beginning in late May. "Manilow Las Vegas: The Hits Come Home" will be presented eight years after the Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award winner performed his residency at Westgate's International Theater from 2005 to 2010. The show opens for previews May 24-26, with grand opening weekend falling from June 14-16 just before Manilow's 75th birthday on June 17. Other show dates are June 21-23, July 19-21, July 26-28, Sept. 27-29, Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13. - Billboard, 4/27/18...... Brian Wilson announced on Twitter on May 1 that he has been forced to cancel his May Pet Sounds performances due to a back problem requiring a medical procedure. Wilson, who underwent back surgery at least once before in 2012, said his condition "runs in the family... [brother] Carl had back problems as well," and apologized to his fans. The nine dates affected include shows in Washington, D.C., Nashville, Tenn., Richmond, Va., Augusta, Ga., Clearwater, Fla., Viera, Fla. and Pampano Beach, Fla. The canceled shows are expected to be rescheduled. Meanwhile, Wilson's former Beach Boys bandmate Mike Love posted a photo of the two performing together on his Facebook page, and wished Brian well: "I hope one day we'll be able to do this again," he said, adding that he was "looking forward to perhaps one day throwing some hoops." - Billboard, 5/1/18...... Paul McCartney and Metallica will be among the headliners at the 2018 Austin City Music Festival, set for the city's Zilker Park over the weekends of Oct. 5-7 and Oct. 12-14. The event will serve as McCartney and Metallica's sole North American festival dates for 2018, and other headlining acts include David Byrne, Shawn Mendes, Childish Gambino, Arctic Monkeys and Travis Scott. - Billboard, 5/1/18...... Speaking of David Byrne, the former Talking Heads frontman made his first appearance ever at the 2018 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Apr. 29. Actor and part-time New Orleanian John Goodman cheered Byrne on from side stage during his minimalist set, with no amplifier or monitor visible. Goodman's an old pal of Byrne's going back to the 1986 cult favorite True Stories, starring Goodman, which Byrne directed, co-wrote and narrated. Byrne's setlist was largely focused on his new American Utopia LP, however he also performed crowd-pleasing Heads classics including "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)," "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down the House." - Billboard, 4/30/18...... The committee responsible for the Tony Awards announced on May 1 that Bruce Springsteen will receive a special award for his blockbuster solo show "Springsteen on Broadway," which has become the top-grossing new production of the 2017-18 season. The honor, which had been widely anticipated in the theater community, was announced along with nominations in the competitive categories of the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. "Springsteen on Broadway" opened officially on Oct. 12 to rave reviews from both theater and music press, and was initially was scheduled to run through Nov. 26, but has been extended multiple times. The show, with average ticket prices around $500 (higher than "Hamilton"), is now scheduled to run through Dec. 15, 2018. The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are scheduled for June 10, and Springsteen will likely perform live on the CBS telecast before receiving his honor. - Billboard, 5/1/18...... In other Springsteen-related news, a red vinyl edition of the Boss' Greatest Hits LP helped the 11th annual Record Store Day on Apr. 21 become the biggest one yet. 580,000 vinyl albums were sold at independent retailers -- the single largest week for the format at the retail sector in Nielsen Music history. Holding the No. 2 position was David Bowie's live set Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78), followed by Neil Young's Tonight's the Night Live at the Roxy. Bob Dylan & The Grateful Dead's Dylan & The Dead came in at No. 5, followed by a mono version of Pink Floyd's The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Total album sales were up by 23 percent at independent record stores, as compared to Record Store Day week last year (799,000 vs. 649,000). - Billboard, 4/30/18...... The Who's Roger Daltrey was honored at the We Are Family Foundation gala at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom during a nostalgia-filled concert that also featured Chic's Nile Rodgers and LL Cool J. Named after Sister Sledge's 1979 classic "We Are Family" -- which was written and produced by Rodgers -- the non-profit We Are Family Foundation was launched following the 9/11 tragedy that struck New York in 2001 and creates programs for youth that encourages cultural diversity. Daltrey was awarded the Mattie J.T Stepanek Peacemaker Award for his organization, Teen Cancer America, and other charitable efforts. - Billboard, 4/28/18...... Bob Dylan has announced that he's starting his own whiskey company, dubbed "Heaven's Door" after his famous 1973 track. Including a straight rye, a Tennessee bourbon, and a double barrel whiskey, the collection represents a partnership with Marc Bushala -- co-founder of Angel's Envy bourbon. "I've been traveling for decades and I've been able to try some of the best spirits that the world of whiskey has to offer. This is great whiskey," Dylan said in an interview with the New York Times. - Spin.com, 4/28/18...... On Apr. 30 a spokesman for ABBA squashed rumours that the quartet could headline the 2019 Glastonbury Festival in the UK, and also dismissed chances of a renunion tour. "No, - definitely not. We should remember them how they were in the 1970s, and listen to how they sing today," ABBA spokeswoman and manager Gorel Hanser told the UK paper The Mirror. In late April, ABBA announced that they'd be releasing their first new material in 35 years, having recorded two new songs together. The band is currently plotting a "virtual" tour for 2019 using hologram technology, and UK bookies began offering 33/1 odds that the pop icons could headline Glasto in 2019. - New Musical Express, 4/30/18...... Alternative rock faves Foo Fighters were joined by Grease star John Travolta on stage for a cover of the 1978 movie's tune "You're The One That I Want" during a show in Jacksonville, Fla., on Apr. 29. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl cryptically teased that "it gets better" during the start of the performance , before the Hollywood icon made his appearance on stage. It's believed that Travolta was in the area while he continues to film Moose, a new thriller directed by Limp Bizkit's Fred Furst. Another highlight of the show was Billy Idol joining the band for a cover of John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth." - NME, 4/30/18...... A spokesman for Bonnie Raitt announced on Raitt's Facebook page on Apr. 30 that the singer/guitarist will miss the first leg of her upcoming coheadlining tour with James Taylor due to an unspecified health issue. "Following her annual physical, it was determined she needs to schedule some surgery soon. The prognosis is good and a full recovery is expected," read the statement. Raitt included a personal statement to fans, writing, "I'm deeply sorry to have to disappoint my fans, James and colleagues with these cancellations... I fully expect to return for the second leg of the US tour in June followed by our European tour in July." Raitt, 68, also asked for her fans to respect "my wish for privacy and giving me space to heal," promising to see them on the road again soon. - Billboard, 4/30/18...... On Apr. 30 a California court denied parole for former Derek and the Dominos drummer Jim Gordon, who is serving a life sentence for killing his mother in 1983. The California Board of Parole determined that the 72-year-old Gordon could be a risk of violence if released from the California Medical Facility in Vacaville, where Gordon is jailed. Gordon, who played on such iconic 1960's and 1970's tracks as Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'," Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" and, most famously, "Layla," as a member of Eric Clapton's band Derek and the Dominos, was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the height of his career. Beginning in 1978, he sought medical treatment at least 15 times, court records show, but he could not escape his mother's voice, which he claimed had tormented him for years. To confront the voices, Gordon drove to his mother's house, where he struck her head with a hammer and also stabbed her. In 1984 he was sentenced to 16 years to life, and "remains an unreasonable risk of threat to public safety," according to the parole board's decision. Today he reportedly refuses contact with lawyers and declines to attend parole hearings. He is said to rarely leave his cell, and often resists medication. A 2005 document shows he was collecting $4,000 a month in royalties at that time, and was disciplined for giving some of that money to fellow inmates. Gordon has served 34 years of his life term, has been denied parole 10 times now and will next be eligible for parole in 2021. - Billboard, 4/30/18...... A Massachusetts church building that was immortalized in Arlo Guthrie's classic 1967 track "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" is reopening after some recently completed upgrades. The building in Great Barrington, which was known as the Old Trinity Church and dates to 1829, is home of the nonprofit Guthrie Center and has been closed for about two months during the work. Upgrades include the restoration of the circular stained-glass window at the front entrance, a new ceiling in the great room and insulation. The building will with a memorial for a local journalist who recently died. Its regular schedule of community lunches, musical events and non-denominational services will start in early May. Guthrie's rambling 18-minute song about the 1960s counterculture appeared on his 1967 debut album and inspired a 1969 film of the same name. - AP, 4/30/18...... Funk icon George Clinton has announced he will retire from touring in May 2019. "This has been coming a long time," Clinton says in a statement announcing his retirement. "Anyone who has been to the shows over the past couple of years has noticed that I've been out front less and less." The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Parliament/Funkadelic frontman/producer, who turns 77 in July, recently underwent pacemaker surgery, but says that the procedure wasn't a factor in his decision. "Truth be told, it's never really been about me," Clinton says. "It's always been about the music and the band. That's the real P-Funk legacy. They'll still be funkin' long after I stop." Clinton and P-Funk have 50 dates scheduled through the end of 2018, including performances in Europe and Japan. He released a new single, "I'm Gon Make You Sick O'Me," in January featuring Scarface. - Billboard, 4/27/18...... Actress and painter Kris Nelson, the ex-wife of Ricky Nelson and mother of actress Tracy Nelson, musicians Matthew and Gunnar Nelson ,and Sam Nelson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Apr. 26. She was 72. She was the daughter of football star Tom Harmon and the sister of actor Mark Harmon and actress-model Kelly Harmon. Kris had a recurring role on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1963-66) and Adam-12 (1975), and with Ricky headlined the film Love and Kisses (1965). "My mother, Kristin Harmon Nelson, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last night," Tracy Nelson posted on her Facebook page on Apr. 27. "Love and light are welcome." - 4/28/18.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on February 27th, 2014

Pop crooner Engelbert Humperdinck has announced he'll release Engelbert Calling, a 2-disc, 23 track duets album featuring such artists as Elton John, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Willie Nelson, Kiss' Gene Simmons and Wynonna Judd, among others, on March 17 in the U.K. and later this spring in the U.S. "I figured this'll be my 80th album, and I've never done a duets album, so it was kind of a change for me," Humperdinck says. "It was a big change and a great honor to work with all these legendary people. All of (the songs) are pretty personal; I wouldn't have chosen them if I didn't particularly like them. They all have a certain significance attached to them that relates to my life and to (the other singers)," adds Humperdinck. Among Humperdinck's seven Top 40 hits of the 1960s was the No. 4 "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)," and in 1976 he had another Top 10 hit with "After the Lovin'." He also starred in his own musical variety TV series in 1970. - Billboard

Unreleased studio mixes of Led Zeppelin's 1975 classic Physical Graffiti will be among a treasure trove of classic rock artifacts is up for auction in March at the Marvels of Modern Music auction. The demo reels feature early versions of tracks like "Kashmir," "Custard Pie," and "In the Light." In some of the demos, the drums are the only instrument in the mix to make it to the final product, as guitars and vocals were redone later, with additional orchestration added. In other words, these are quite different from the recordings Led Zeppelin fans have become familiar with. Other items also on the block from producer Ron Nevinson's collection are Elvis Presley's sequined "American Eagle" cape from his 1973 Aloha from Hawaii performance, demos from Bad Company's self-titled 1974 debut, a 1973 Eric Clapton demo reel and John Lennon's 1965 Rolls Royce registration and famous wire-rim glasses. - Billboard

On Feb. 25, what would have been his 71st birthday, George Harrison was honored by friend and fellow musician Mike Love of the Beach Boys on the previously unreleased track "Pisces Brothers." Written in 2004, but released not released until now, "Pisces Brothers" was inspired by a trip Love and the Beatles took to India in 1968 to learn from the spiritual teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Donovan and Mia Farrow also accompanied the group. "This being the 50th anniversary of the Beatles coming to America, I wanted to commemorate this incredibly significant trip we all took together to India, at the Maharishi's invitation," Love said in a statement. "It was enormously influential on all of us, most especially George. The song is really sentimental for me, and meant to honor George Harrison's remarkable contribution to music. And how, in this one moment in time, we got together, as the song says, not [for] fortune or for fame, but for enlightenment." The title refers to the astrological sign the pair share, with Love continuing to practice the Transcendental Meditation techniques learned in India to this day. - Rolling Stone

Dave Davies of the Kinks returns to London to perform his first UK concert for 13 years at the Barbican Hall on Apr. 11. The concert will see him celebrating the 50th anniversary of the revolutionary guitar sound he created, which launched the Kinks to international stardom. In other Kinks-related news, Natalie Hynde, the daughter of former Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, has been found guilty of "besetting," or causing difficulty to, a test-drilling site in Balcombe, England. The 32-year-old, along with 55-year-old Simon Medhurst, had superglued themselves together around the drill site's gate on July 31st to create a "striking and symbolic" media image, according to The BBC, to raise awareness about fracking (a technique to fracture shale rock and retrieve natural gasses within). Hynde and Medhurst both denied wrongdoing. - Noble PR/Rolling Stone

Jim Lange, the first host of the popular game show The Dating Game, died at his home in Mill Valley, Calif., on Feb. 25 after suffering a heart attack. He was 81. Though Lange had a successful career in radio, he is best known for his television role on ABC's The Dating Game, which debuted in 1965 and on which he appeared for more than a decade, charming audiences with his mellifluous voice and wide, easygoing grin. He also played host to many celebrity guests, including Michael Jackson, Steve Martin and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others. Even a pre-Charlie's Angels Farrah Fawcett appeared on the program, introduced as "an accomplished artist and sculptress" with a dream to open her own gallery. - AP

Kiss announced on Feb. 23 that the band won't be performing at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in April because disputes over the lineup stirred up ill will among the band's members. "This is understandably an emotional situation where there is no way to please everyone," Kiss on the band's website. "To bring this to a quick end, we have decided not to play in any line-up and we will focus our attention on celebrating our induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame." Original member Ace Frehley revealed to a New York radio station on Feb. 21 that the original lineup would not be performing at the ceremony, and said that he was not willing to perform alongside the newer members. Also, Peter Criss said that he and Frehley "have been denied a performance with Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] for our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction," and called the situation "disgraceful." According to the band's statement, however, there was no plan to exclude Frehley and Criss from the performance. "It is over 13 years since the original lineup has played together in make-up and we believe the memory of those times would not be enhanced. Contrary to claims made through the media we have never refused to play with Ace and Peter," the statement said. - Billboard

The U.S. Postal Service will unravel several lines of celebrity-adorned stamps over the next two years, including numerous music-related stamps such as Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix in 2014 and a James Brown stamp next year. 2015 will also see a re-release of Elvis Presley's 29-cent tribute from 1993 -- the Postal Service's best-selling stamp ever. A stamp for John Lennon has been planned for an as-yet-unannounced date. Because some of these proposed stamps betray previous stamp guidelines (such as the subject being American, in the case of John Lennon), this new direction has become controversial among older philatelists. - Billboard

Bruce Springsteen will release four unreleased songs on a 12" vinyl EP entitled American Beauty for Record Store Day on April 19. Three of the tracks -- "American Beauty," "Mary Mary" and "Hey Blue Eyes" -- were recorded during the High Hopes sessions with producer Ron Aniello, but ultimately discarded. The origin of the other song, "Hurry Up Sundown," is unknown. It's unclear if the material on American Beauty will ultimately be offered to fans in any non-vinyl format. Springsteen and his E Street Band wrapped a tour of Australia on Feb. 26. They opened their tour-closing show in Brisbane with a cover of native Aussies the Bee Gee' classic "Stayin' Alive," and The Boss encored with a solo rendition of "Thunder Road," right before giving a nod to Aussies AC/DC with "Highway to Hell," accompanied by Eddie Vedder. - Rolling Stone

Veteran TV journalist Garrick Utley has died of cancer at 74, NBC said on Feb. 21. Mr. Utley began at NBC News in 1963, and for three decades handled a wide variety of assignments. Early on, he reported from Vietnam on the escalating conflict. In later years, he moderated Meet the Press. In between, Mr. Utley anchored Weekend Today and the Sunday Nightly News, as well as two different newsmagazines in two different decades with four different titles. - AP

Neil Young has announced plans for a pair of solo acoustic concerts at Los Angeles' Dolby Theater on March 29 and 30. While Young is notoriously unpredictable, it's likely that these shows will be similar in format to his recent Carnegie Hall stand, which focused heavily on his 1960s and 1970s catalog. Big hits like "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold" were mixed in with deeper cuts like "A Man Needs a Maid" and "Flying on the Ground Is Wrong." This summer, Young will tour Europe with Crazy Horse in early July for a month-long run of concerts. Meanwhile, Young's next album will be released on the Third Man Records label owned by Jack White. Young has said that the record will be released in March and described it as "An unheard collection of rediscovered songs from the past recorded on ancient electro mechanical technology captures and unleashes the essence of something that could have been gone forever." This fall, Young will release a new memoir that will interweave stories about the musicians's love of cars with recollections from his life, according to Blue Rider publishers. It will be the follow-up to his 2012 memoir, Waging Heavy Peace. - Rollling Stone

Elton John and former Commodores member Lionel Ritchie will be among the headliners at this summer's Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn. Also topping the bill at Bonnaroo, which is set for June 12-15, will be Jack White, Kayne West, Phoenix, Arctic Monkeys, Frank Ocean, The Flaming Lips and Vampire Weekend. - Billboard

Speaking of modern groups, alternative rock outfit The Nearly Deads have announced dates for "The Survival Tour," running March 8 - 21. Kicking off in Milwaukee, with a co-headlining slot at the inaugural LIAN Riot Music Series, the band then synchs up with Providence, RI rockers It Lives, It Breathes, from March 9 - 21, as they storm Chicago, Allentown, Baltimore, Springfield, Harrisonburg and other cities along the East coast. Crowned victors in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and a Converse Battle of the Bands competition, The Nearly Deads has received significant airplay on MTVu, FUSE, BlankTV, Vevo and YouTube. More info can be found on their Facebook page. - 1888 Media

Jeff Beck says he plans to wrap the recording of his first studio LP since 2010 by the time he kicks off his next tour April 7 in Tokyo. Beck, 69, says the new LP is "a very important album for me" and that "it's not Western style." Beck spent last fall on the road with Brian Wilson, where he added a new dimension to Beach Boys classics like "Surf's Up" and "Our Prayer." - Rolling Stone

David Bowie urged Scotland to "stay with us" and vote against independence in the country's upcoming referendum in his acceptance speech at this year's Brit Awards on Feb. 19. The ceremony took place at London's O2 Arena earlier this evening, with Bowie winning Best International Male. However, the reclusive rocker was not at the venue to pick up his award, and instead sent supermodel Kate Moss, who read out his acceptance speech, to pick up the prize on his behalf. Meanwhile, a major new exhibition of music memorabilia, featuring Bowie's ripped Ziggy Stardust shirt, will take place in honour of the historic British music venue Aylesbury Friars from March 1. Featuring rare memorabilia relating to Bowie, Lou Reed, Genesis, The Ramones, Talking Heads, The Clash, Roxy Music and Queen, "The Evolution of Friars" music exhibition includes concert posters, original photographs, paraphernalia from Friars' archives, and musical instruments and equipment used by some of the most prestigious names to pass through Friars' doors. The exhibition will be housed at the Buckinghamshire County Museum. - New Musical Express/Noble PR

Leon Russell will release Life Journey, a covers album featuring material by such acts as Billy Joel, Robert Johnson, Duke Ellington and Hoagy Carmichael, on Apr. 1, the day before his 72nd birthday. "This is a record of my musical journey through this life," Russell writes in the liner notes. "It reflects pieces of things that I have done and things I never did." Russell adds he is excited to take the LP on the road, which he might play with a full string section live. "The charts are not written for a call band in Cleveland -- they're difficult," Russell says. "It can't be rehearsed the day of the show." Russell has had several health scares in recent years and writes, "I'm [nearing] the final exit of my journey," in the liner notes, but he insists he's feeling good nowadays. "I'm 71 and I can still walk. I've got bad foot problems, so I try not to walk more than 50 feet because its very painful for me to stand up and walk. But it beats the alternative, I guess." - Rolling Stone

A strain of acne causing bacteria has been named after Frank Zappa. Scientists at at Italy's Centre for Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources have named the Propionibacterium acnes "type P. Zappae" after the experimental rock musician, who passed away in 1993. Researchers found a form of the bacteria in grapevines and elected to call it Zappae in tribute to the star, according to USA Today. Their report states that it came about from the unique transfer of human bacteria onto a plant. Zappa's widow Gail Zappa responded to the honor by saying, "For me this is just an extension of Frank's means of gluing things together, making sense of the universe. It's strictly conceptual continuity." P. Zappae is not the first time that Zappa has inspired the name of a new discover. The musician has provided inspiration for a mollusk, a new type of fish plus jellyfish and spiders in the past 40 years. There is also an asteroid named 3834 Zappafrank after the rock legend. - New Musical Express

A new book has revealed that tax breaks were the reason behind Abba's flamboyant stagewear in their 1970s heyday. Abba: The Official Photo Book, which hits stores on March 10, explains that the legendary pop band wore outrageous outfits because tax deductions for performance clothes were only allowed if the items were "in no way suitable for everyday wear." Last year Agnetha Faltskog hinted that Abba could reform in 2014. In recent years she had been seen as the main barrier to the Swedish quartet reforming, but told German newspaper Welt Am Sonntag that she, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson were considering doing something special in 2014 to mark the 40th anniversary of first hit "Waterloo." "Of course it's something we're thinking about," she said. "There seem to be plans to do something to mark this anniversary in some way. I can't say at this point what will come of them." - NME

Legendary rock bands Chicago and REO Speedwagon will be co-headlining a tour this summer that will take the bands through major metropolitan areas across the United States, including New York City, Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Detroit and more with even more dates to be announced soon. - Entertainment Weekly

Rock legend David Crosby underwent heart surgery during the second week of February after his doctor discovered a blocked artery and performed a cardiac catheterization procedure. The Crosby, Stills & Nash star is expected to make a full recovery, but he has been forced to postpone a string of upcoming California shows to concentrate on his health. "I am very glad that I listened to my doctors and my family. It seems I am once again a very lucky man. I'm sorry to have to move the dates, but I promise the music will be good when we do play them," said Crosby, 72. An upcoming CSN tour is scheduled to begin in early March and is expected to continue as planned. - WENN.com

Paul McCartney will attend the NME Awards to collect a special, one-off prize: Songwriter's Songwriter. Nominated by fellow artists, the special award marks McCartney's outstanding contribution to pop music, celebrating his unparalleled career and lasting impact on the music world. McCartney will accept his award in person at the O2 Academy Brixton on Feb. 26. - New Musical Express

Legendary English rock band Deep Purple is set to make its Israeli acting debut in an upcoming local TV series. The new scripted series, Atlantica, revolves around an aspiring underdog rock band from Jerusalem, managed by a high-school history teacher played by popular Israeli comedian and rock enthusiast Tal Friedman. In the series' final episode, Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover will have speaking parts as the aspiring Jerusalem rockers locate their idols and beg to join them on stage. - Billboard

Performing in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb. 15, Bruce Springsteen was joined onstage by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam for a cover of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell." Vedder also performed "Darkness On The Edge of Town," the second song of the set, with Springsteen and his E Street Band. - NME

Speaking of AC/DC, the band has revealed plans to enter the studio later this year in order to record their first new album since 2008's Black Ice. AC/DC will also be heading out on a 40th anniversary tour, says frontman Brian Johnson. Johnson adds the band would be heading to a Vancouver studio in May to record their 16th studio album. - NME

Bob Casale, one of the founding members of Devo, has died at the age of 61. Casale passed away on Feb. 17 from health complications which led to heart failure, according to TMZ.com. Since Casale died without a will or insurance, the band has established a fund on the crowdfunding site GoFundMe.com with the goal of raising $100,000 for Casale's family. Formed in Ohio in 1972, Devo released their debut album, Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! in 1978 and are best known for their 1980 single "Whip It." - Billboard

Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) has announced he'll publish a new autobiography in October. Written by Lydon along with music journalist Andrew Perry, the book is "basically about the life of a serious risk-taker" according to Lydon. The as-yet untitled autobiography will follow Lydon's 1994 book Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs, which was co-authored with Kent and Keith Zimmerman. - NME

British '70s vocalists Tom Jones and Cliff Richard will be opening for '90s UK singer Morrisey when he plays stateside this summer. Morrisey will be performing at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on May 10 and Brooklyn's Barclays Center on June 21 - New Musical Express

The jackets worn by the Beatles in their 1965 film Help! are expected to fetch up to $115,000 when they are put up for auction in March. The iconic items of clothing will go under the hammer at Omega Auctions in March. Taken from director Richard Lester's private collection, staff at the auction house have estimated that they will attract offers of between $82,000 and $115,000 when the bidding opens. - New Musical Express

John Henson, the son of the late The Muppets creator Jim Henson, died on Feb. 14 of a heart attack at age 48, representatives for the Jim Henson Company said on Feb. 15. Henson, a shareholder and board member of the Jim Henson Company died at home, where he was with one of his daughters, the company said in a statement. He lived in Saugerties, New York, said company spokeswoman Nicole Goldman in an email. John Henson worked as a puppeteer for the Muppets, often playing the role of Sweetums. Jim Henson died in 1990 at age 53, and his wife Jane Henson, who helped create the Muppets, died in 2013. - Reuters

Posting on his official website on Feb. 12, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi says the band is "too busy" to record a new album. "[There was] plenty of interest in the [13] album still and endless questions about what we're doing next. Well, it's shows in the US, Canada and Europe, so far too busy with that to be thinking about more recording," Iommi wrote. - NME

Veteran character actor Ralph Waite -- who many knew best from his time as the family patriarch on The Waltons, though he also had regular roles in more recent series like Bones and NCIS -- died on Feb. 13 at his Palm Desert, California, home, according to Steve Gordon, his family accountant. He was 85. Mr. Waite was already a Hollywood veteran with parts in movies like Cool Hand Luke and Five Easy Pieces, plus TV series such as Bonanza when he landed the role of John Walton Sr. The Waltons struck a chord with many viewers during its run from 1972 to 1981, with Mr. Waite being a constant on that show as well as in several TV movies to follow. Mr. Waite was twice nominated for an Emmy, first in 1977 for supporting actor in a comedy or drama series for Roots and the next year as lead actor in a drama for his Waltons' role. Mr. Waite also tried his hand at politics, running unsuccessfully as a Democrat for a U.S. representative seat that includes Palm Springs -- narrowly losing in 1990 and again in 1998 to Mary Bono, the widow of former congressman and Sonny and Cher star Sonny Bono. - CNN

The Beatles TV special The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute, which aired on CBS on Feb. 9 exactly 50 years after the Fab Four's historic Ed Sullivan Show appearance, delivered an impressive 13.95 million viewers for the network. The special, which featured interviews and performances with surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with tributes from such artists as John Legend, Alecia Keyes and Maroon 5, came in second place to NBC's coverage of the XXII Olympics games, which garnered 29.06 million viewers. - AP

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have announced they will follow-up their tour of South Africa and Australasia with a fresh batch of American dates this spring. Kicking off April 8 in Cincinnati, Springsteen will hit markets in Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida, among others, before wrapping with a pair of shows at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Conn. Springsteen is on the road in support of his latest album High Hopes. - Billboard

The Kinks' Ray Davies and folk singer Donovan are both set to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They will be joined by songwriters Graham Gouldman, who wrote for the Yardbirds, Mark James, who wrote "Suspicious Minds" and "Always on My Mind" for Elvis Presley, and Jim Weatherly, who wrote a number of hits for Gladys Knight and the Pips. The induction ceremony will take place at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on June 12. - Rolling Stone

Blondie has revealed that they rejected an offer to perform at the Sochi Olympics because of Russia's violations against human rights, including the country's recent anti-gay laws. On her Twitter account, Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry published a scan of the printed offer to perform at the Red Rocks festival in Sochi during the Olympics on Feb. 13, on which she wrote: "Pass. Human Rights." The offer was to perform a 45-minute set for a 25,000-people crowd at one of the Olympics' main venue, Sochi Medals Plaza. The Russian media reported that Blondie's slot is to be taken by the Latvian band Brainstorm and Russian singer Diana Arbenina. - Billboard

The Doors' Robby Krieger has been working on getting a bunch of musicians together to memorialize fellow band member, Ray Manzarek, who died in 2013. "We want to bring together those who Ray either idolized or guys who idolized Ray, maybe at the Greek or The Hollywood Bowl for a big concert this summer," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "We've teamed up with Live Nation and they are helping us get it all together. We just want it to be the best it can be." Krieger has sent out letters to many musicians to check their availability to participate. "That's the hard part, coordinating everyone's schedules," he said. "To get everyone together on one day, in the summertime, when they are not on tour for a big venue, that's the challenge." - Billboard

Rock veteran Keith Richards has become a grandfather again for the fifth time. Richards' daughter Angela and her partner Graham Whitney welcomed their second child, Otto, earlier this week. The couple already has a two-year-old daughter, called Ava Melody. The Rolling Stones star, 70, now has five grandchildren -- his son Marlon has three kids. Meanwhile, Stones frontman Mick Jagger is set to become a grandfather and a great-grandfather in the same year after it emerged his daughter Jade is pregnant at the same time as her 21-year-old, Assisi. Jade shocked her fans on Feb. 11 by announcing she is six months pregnant, just five months after daughter Assisi confirmed her own baby news. It means Mick Jagger is likely to welcome a fifth grandchild in May months after becoming a great-grandfather for the first time. - WENN.com

Queen's Greatest Hits has become the first album to sell six million copies in the UK. The record breaking album was first released over 30 years ago, in 1981, and now the UK's Official Charts Company has confirmed that the album has broken the six million sales mark. Of the albums total sales, 124,000 copies were downloaded digitally with the rest coming through physical sales. Chart Company data estimates that the album can now be found in one of four British households. - NME

The Jacksons are readying their first album since 1989, according to Jackie Jackson. "It sounds like Jacksons music, with today's sounds," Jackie explains. "People still want to hear that Jackson 5 harmony; we can't get away from where we came from. That's what they want to hear. But there's a lot of new flavors we can combine that with. Something like Bruno Mars' 'Treasure,' that's like on old Jacksons song. When I first heard that song I said, 'That could have been on one of ours!' The Jacksons are working with a number of contemporary artists and producers, though none are being identified yet. The set will be the first new Jacksons release since 1989's 2300 Jackson Street. - Billboard

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on August 8th, 2025

Brian Wilson's daughter Carnie Wilson has paid tribute to her dad after he was laid to rest in a family ceremony on Aug. 7, almost two months after the Beach Boys co-founder's passing on June 11 at age 82. "Today we laid my Daddy to rest. It was incredibly difficult to see that happen, but at the same time it gave more closure and more of a feeling of restful peace," Carnie wrote in her lengthy post. "The last eight weeks have been extremely challenging and like nothing I've ever experienced. I love and miss him so much and I wish he could come back. There's so many signs that he gives me every day and I know that he's around he can hear me and he can see me. He makes that apparent. I'm so grateful for this," she added. Brian's eldest daughter, Carnie performed in the 1990s pop trio Wilson Phillips with her sister Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips -- daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas. The full tribute can be viewed on Instagram. - Billboard, 8/8/25...... Major League Baseball's New York Mets have announced they'll celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' landmark performance at Shea Stadium in 1965 with a "Beatles Night" at their current Citi Field home on Aug. 15. The old Shea Stadium -- which opened a year before in 1964 -- was home to the Mets and the New York Jets before being torn down in 2009 to make way for Citi Field. The landmark show by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr -- with the screams of 55,000 fans more prevelant than the band's music -- was chronicled in the 50-minute documentary The Beatles at Shea Stadium. During the Aug. 15 game against the Seattle Mariners, the team will honor the historic event, which at the time was the first rock show at a major U.S. stadium. The celebration will kick off with a performance by the band 1964 the Tribute in front of the Shea Bridge at 6:15 p.m. ET, with the first 15,000 fans entering Citi Field getting an exclusive mini Shea Stadium replica. In addition, there will be a fireworks display cued to the Beatles' music after the game and the first pitch will be thrown out by members of the gameday staff who worked the Aug. 15, 1965 concert. A promo for the event has been posted on X/Twitter. - Billboard, 8/8/25...... After playing three sold-out nights on Aug. 1-3 at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to mark the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary, the band's drummer Mickey Hart has shared a poignant reflection with fans. "I saw 60,000 people sparking light, in love, entrained big time and coming our way," Hart posted on Instagram. "Different than applause after a song, it sounded more like an ahhhhhh. All the peace and love in proximity generated a collective energy that was shared by all. Very rare stuff indeed," he added. Hart then gave a nod to the GD's late members, including Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh and their longtime roadie Laurence Shurtliff, aka Ramrod. "I saw Jerry and Phil and Pigpen hovering over the crowd smiling like Cheshire cats," he said. "I saw Hunter and Ramrod through the beauty of the fog and lights." Each night featured unique setlists and saw a rotating cast of special guests -- including Grahame Lesh, Billy Strings, Sturgill Simpson (as Johnny Blue Skies) and Anastasio -- join surviving members of the psychedelic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band. - New Musical Express, 8/7/25...... Roger Daltrey has shared that he is "nervous" about making it to the end of The Who's farewell tour, as he has "the potential to get really ill." Speaking to London's The Times, he shared how "gruelling" the live shows can be, and said that he hopes no voice issues arise, nor that struggles from a previous battle with meningitis will get in the way of him completing the gigs. "It's gruelling. In the days when I was singing Who songs for three hours a night, six nights a week, I was working harder than most footballers," he shared. "I'm going to be 82 next year. Fortunately, my voice is still as good as ever. I'm still singing in the same keys, and it's still bloody loud, but I can't tell you if it will still be there in October. There's a big part of me that's going: I just hope I make it through." Daltrey added that his battle with meningitis nine years ago left him with long-term effects, which still make it difficult for him to regulate his body temperature and perform in warmer conditions. Dubbed "The Song Is Over North America Farewell Tour," The Who's 16 tour dates are set to kick off in Florida on Aug. 16, and include follow-up shows in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Los Angeles, Illinois, Washington, Nevada and more across September. - NME, 8/4/25...... The cause of death of Ozzy Osbourne have been revealed in a death certificate filed in London on Aug. 5. According to The New York Times, a death certificate filed at a registry in London submitted by Osbourne's daughter, Aime Osbourne, cites cardiac arrest and coronary artery disease among the causes of a heart attack that felled the 76-year-old music legend. The death certificate also noted that Osbourne had Parkinson's disease. Specifically, the certificate, which listed Osbourne's occupation as "songwriter, performer and rock legend," noted that Osbourne died of "(a) Out of hospital cardiac arrest (b) Acute myocardial infarction (c) Coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (Joint Causes)." Osbourne died on July 22, with the certificate revealing that an air ambulance flew to his home near the village of Chalfont St. Giles in Buckinghamshire, England that day to provide "advanced critical care." According to the Times, after stopping near Osbourne's home, the ambulance flew approximately eight miles to Harefield Hospital in the London suburb of Uxbridge, where it spent "about an hour" at the hospital with its engines running. Ozzy's family did not reveal his cause of death when they announced his passing, though the star had been open in the years before about treatment for Parkinson's and spinal damage -- and subsequent surgeries -- he'd undergone on his spine and neck. Unable to stand or walk, he performed what as billed as his, and his former band Black Sabbath's, final show on July 5 in their hometown of Birmingham, England. The all-star "Back to the Beginning" concert, which reportedly raised more than $190 million for charities, included the metal icon playing five songs from his solo career and four more with his original Sabbath bandmates while seated on a black throne. Fans flocked to the streets of Birmingham on July 30 for a funeral procession for Osbourne, who was later laid to rest in a private family ceremony in the city. Meanwhile, it has been announced that the final chapter of Ozzy's life will be shown in an intimate documentary, just weeks after his death. The new BBC documentary Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home features footage from the final three years of his life, up to and including his farewell concert. First announced in 2022 as a three-part series, it became a one-hour special as Osbourne's health deteriorated over the years. The film will be broadcast on BBC One at 9 p.m. BST on Aug. 18, and will also be available on the iPlayer service. An international broadcast has not yet been confirmed, nor has a trailer been shared. A biopic based on Osbourne and his relationship with his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne is also in the works. According to Variety, Polygram Entertainment has confirmed that the legendary rock couple's film, first announced in 2021, is still being worked on at Sony Pictures. The film was first announced in 2021, though with no director or cast attached. According to the Polygram, they're "currently in negotiations with a director, which could be confirmed very soon." The rep has also seemingly confirmed that screenwriter Lee Hall (Rocketman, Billy Elliott) is slated to pen the film's script. While a cast has yet to be announced for the biopic, Ozzy said in 2022 that he would like to see an "unknown" actor in the role: "I don't want to have anyone like Johnny Depp act as me. I rather have someone who is relatively unknown." Lastly in Ozzy news, Rod Stewart is under fire for a strange "Forever Young" Ozzy tribute using AI. What was clearly intended as a loving tribute to Stewart's fellow English music legend turned sour when his homage to Osbourne drew rebuke from some commenters. As seen in fan video of the moment, during Stewart's show in Charlotte, N.C. on July 29, the 80-year-old singer posted a bizarre AI-generated video on Instagram of Osbourne mugging for selfies in heaven with a variety of fellow deceased pop, rock and hip-hop stars including: Prince, Tina Turner, Bob Marley, Kurt Cobain, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury and George Michael, among others. Comments ranged from "We are truly in the end times," to "I've seen some s-tty AI visuals in concerts but this is a new low" and "This is bizarre for many reasons, not the least of which being the fact that Rod Stewart has performed with Ozzy Osbourne. Instead of blasting AI images of Ozzy in heaven, they could show this real & quite lovely picture of Rod Stewart with his arm around the actual Ozzy Osbourne." - Billboard/NME, 8/5/25...... Joan Baez, Graham Nash and Sean Ono Lennon are among dozens of notables from the worlds of film, television, music and related industries who have signed an open letter warning about the rising nuclear threat. Under the headline "No More Hiroshimas, No More Nagasakis: Cultural Leaders for a Future Without Nuclear Weapons," the letter published in The New York Times and Variety on Aug. 6 begins: "Eighty years ago, atomic bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killed hundreds of thousands of people, and changed the course of history. Today, experts believe the risk that a nuclear weapon will be used again -- by accident or on purpose -- is as high as it has ever been. Conflicts are raging in regions with nuclear weapons -- even over nuclear weapons. The only remaining treaty limiting the number of nuclear weapons in the world expires in six months. Emerging technologies and AI pose new unknown risks to already complex systems. We're sliding into a costly and dangerous new arms race under the absurd premise that threatening annihilation keeps us safe. But the ending isn't written yet, and the creative community has a leading role to play in pulling us back from the nuclear brink." Many of the signees -- also including Michael Douglas, James Cameron, Rosanna Arquette, Martin Sheen, George Takei, Julianne Moore and Lily Tomlin -- have been anti-nuclear activists for decades. Nash performed at and helped organize No Nukes: The MUSE Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future at Madison Square Garden in 1979. Douglas produced and starred in The China Syndrome, a nuclear-themed thriller that was released that same year. - Billboard, 8/6/25...... And now for something completely different: Britain's Royal Mail has issued stamps celebrating the absurdist comedy of Monty Python. Announced on Aug. 7, the 10-stamp series celebrates some of the troupe's most iconic characters and catchphrases, from "Nudge, nudge" to "The Lumberjack Song." Six stamps depict scenes from the sketch-comedy TV series Monty Python's Flying Circus, including "The Spanish Inquisition," "The Ministry of Silly Walks," "Dead Parrot" and "The Nude Organist." Another four mark the 50th anniversary of the cult classic 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, including one showing the limb-losing Black Knight insisting, "'Tis but a scratch." The stamps can be pre-ordered now and go on sale Aug. 14. - AP, 8/7/25...... Col Joye, an Australian rock & roll pioneer renowned for his bringing rock and roll to the top of the local Aussie charts for the first time, has passed away at the age of 89. Born in Sydney in 1936 as Colin Jacobsen, Mr. Joye first began his journey into the world of music in 1957, performing as part of his brother Kevin Jacobsen's group, the KJ Quintet. After being invited to perform at the Jazzorama in the Sydney suburb of Manly, the group's plans to change the name to Col Jay and the Playboys were swiftly nixed in favor of the soon-to-be-famous moniker of Col Joye and the Joy Boys. Though later regretting this name change, the group forged on, and in 1959 Joye and his bandmates hit No. 1 on the Sydney charts with "Bye Bye Baby." That same year, they became the first Australian artist to hit No. 1 on the national charts with "Oh Yeah Uh Huh," which enjoyed four weeks at the top down under. Further top ten hits followed, with the group becoming staples of television program Bandstand throughout the '60s, ahead of Joye's final chart-topper, 1973's "Heaven Is My Woman's Love." Alongside his work on the performance side, Joye and brother Kevin were noted entrepreneurs, setting up their Joye Enterprises and Joye Music companies, alongside their label and talent agency ATA. One of the biggest successes in this field came by way of their signing of The Bee Gees, who came to their attention following a 1961 performance in Queensland. The Bee Gees would later become the first Australian act to have a song hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the release of "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" in 1971. The group would repeat that feat a further eight times over the following decade, while the members' younger brother Andy Gibb (himself an ATA signee) would hit number one three times on his own. In 1988, Joye was one of the inaugural inductees into the ARIA Hall of Fame. - Billboard, 8/6/25...... Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter brought out '70s funk and soul legends Earth, Wind and Fire during her show-stopping set at the Lollapalooza Chicago fest on Aug. 3. The rising singer was joined mid-set by EW&F at Grant Park to perform two of their most beloved tracks: the Grammy-nominated "Let's Groove" and timeless anthem "September." The collaboration marked a cross-generational fusion of pop and soul, with Carpenter trading vocals and dancing alongside the group's founding members. Fans lit up social media within seconds of the surprise appearance, praising the chemistry between the acts and calling the performance "electric," "unexpected," and "pure joy." Footage of the Carpenter/EW&F jam has been shared on Instagram. - Music-News.com, 8/4/25...... British singer-songwriter musician Terry Reid, who was once eyed by Led Zeppelin as their lead singer, died on Aug. 5 of as yet undisclosed causes. He was 75. Considered a "musician's musician," Reid's soulful voice earned him the nickname "Superlungs," as well as offers to front Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, but he declined both offers to pursue a solo career. Reid performed from his early teens, first joining local Cambridgeshire group the Redbeats, and then Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers. By the time he was 16, he was supporting the Rolling Stones on tour along with Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds, and caught the attention of their guitarist Jimmy Page. Page asked Reid if he'd be willing to join a new band he was putting together, but Reid ultimately turned him down -- instead recommending Band of Joy singer Robert Plant, as well as that band's drummer, John Bonham. Reflecting on turning down Led Zep, Reid said he was intent on doing his own thing, telling The Guardian in 2024: "I contributed half the band -- that's enough on my part!" Plant was among those paying tribute, taking to his official Instagram page to write: "He was all of everything such charisma. His voice, his range. His songs, capturing that carefree era... He catapulted me into an intense new world he chose to decline. I listen now to his album The River and shed a tear for my brother in arms." Reid's debut album featured a song he wrote at age 14,"Without Expression," which went on to be covered by the likes of John Mellencamp, REO Speedwagon, The Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. His immersion in the burgeoning psychedelic rock scene saw more support slots come in later years, and in 1969, he joined Fleetwood Mac and Cream on tour and became a close friend of Jimi . By 1973, he was signed by Atlantic boss Ahmet Ertegun and released cult critical success The River, but eventually left for ABC Records to record follow-up Seed of Memory (1976), after which he did session work with Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley and Jackson Browne. In the early '90s, he released the Trevor Horn-produced comeback record The Drive, and released his final album The Other Side of the River in 2016. A recent GoFundMe page set up to help with the medical costs of Reid, who had been battling various health issues as well as cancer, said he had been "in and out of the hospital, enduring rounds of treatment and uncertainty," which subsequently forced him to cancel a six-week tour set for the autumn. An update later shared on the page said that on Aug. 4, Reid "transitioned peacefully surrounded by those who meant the most to him, his loving wife Annette and his adoring daughters Kelly and Holly." - NME, 8/6/25...... Astronaut Jim Lovell, the commander of the Apollo 8 and Apollo 13 missions, passed away Aug. 7, in Lake Forest, Ill. He was 97 years old. "NASA sends its condolences to the family of Capt. Jim Lovell, whose life and work inspired millions of people across the decades," acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy posted on nasa.gov on Aug. 8. "Jim's character and steadfast courage helped our nation reach the Moon and turned a potential tragedy into a success from which we learned an enormous amount. We mourn his passing even as we celebrate his achievements. From a pair of pioneering Gemini missions to the successes of Apollo, Jim helped our nation forge a historic path in space that carries us forward to upcoming Artemis missions to the Moon and beyond. As the Command Module Pilot for Apollo 8, Jim and his crewmates became the first to lift off on a Saturn V rocket and orbit the Moon, proving that the lunar landing was within our reach. As commander of the Apollo 13 mission, his calm strength under pressure helped return the crew safely to Earth and demonstrated the quick thinking and innovation that informed future NASA missions. Known for his wit, this unforgettable astronaut was nicknamed Smilin' Jim by his fellow astronauts because he was quick with a grin when he had a particularly funny comeback. Jim also served our country in the military, and the Navy has lost a proud academy graduate and test pilot. Jim Lovell embodied the bold resolve and optimism of both past and future explorers, and we will remember him always." Mr. Lovell was portrayed by Tom Hanks in Apollo 13, the Ron Howard-directed feature about the nearly disastrous mission. He was also a veteran of the earlier Gemini VII and Gemini XII missions. - nasa.gov, 8/8/25.

Dave Edmunds, veteran British solo rocker as well as a former member of the New Wave band Rockpile, is in hospital after reportedly suffering a "major cardiac arrest." Edmunds' wife, Cici, shared the news in a Facebook post on July 29, saying he had briefly "died in my arms," before medics managed to revive him with "heavy CPR." He remains in critical condition in hospital, with Cici adding that he "very clearly has brain damage and severe memory loss" and that the risk of "another major cardiac arrest is high." She added that she believes she has "PTSD from the horrific experience" and asked for fans to send their "prayers and good wishes, and concluded her post by saying: "Dave will have a very long journey ahead of him if he survives. We both have. But knowing that there are kind-hearted people such as you all. Makes this tremendously difficult journey a little easier. Bless you all." - NME, 8/2/25...... A few hundred people gathered at 710 Ashbury St. in San Francisco on Aug. 1 to name the tiny street after legendary Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia on what would have been his 83rd birthday, and as part of a citywide celebration to mark the band's 60th anniversary. Fans in rainbow tie-dye and Grateful Dead T-shirts whooped and cheered as the sign was unveiled, later posing for photos in front of Garcia's childhood home. Harrington Street, which is one block long, will also be called "Jerry Garcia Street." Garcia spent part of his childhood in a modest home in the city's diverse Excelsior neighborhood, living with his grandparents after the death of his father, Jose Ramon "Joe" Garcia. "I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy the music, dance, hug, smile," said daughter Trixie Garcia, growing emotional during her brief remarks. "Cherish what's valuable, what's significant in life." Although Garcia died in 1995, the band's popularity has only grown as younger generations discover the GD's improvisational music, which blended rock, blues, folk and other styles. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of fans are Frisco to commemorate the GD's 60th anniversary with concerts and other activities throughout the city. The latest iteration of the band, Dead & Company, with original GD members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, play Golden Gate Park's Polo Field for three days beginning on Aug. 1, with an estimated 60,000 attendees expected each day. - Billboard, 8/2/25...... Ozzy Osbourne was laid to rest on July 31 at the grounds of his mansion in Buckinghamshire, UK, with approximately 110 close family and friends in attendance at the 250-acre estate. Joining his family were his Black Sabbath bandmates, and other musicians including Elton John, Marilyn Manson, Corey Taylor, Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde and members of Metallica. Both Wylde and Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo had formerly performed with the heavy metal legend as part of his solo career. A huge floral arrangement was made in the grounds, situated near a lake and spelling out "Ozzy F---ing Osbourne." Yungblud reportedly gave a reading at the funeral. He and Ozzy had remained close since Ozzy and his wife Sharon appeared in the music video for his 2022 song "The Funeral," and a touching moment between them at the final live show recently went viral. After the funeral, Marilyn Manson took to X/Twitter and shared: "Today we laid to rest a beloved friend. I am eternally grateful that you let me into your life, Ozzy. Your inspiration and love will always be with me. "Thank you, Sharon and family for a reverent, beautiful ceremony. Your legacy lives on." The burial took place after thousands of Ozzy fans lined the streets of Birmingham, UK for a funeral procession earlier that day, also leaving flowers and written emotional tributes. Osbourne, 76, died on July 22, just weeks after playing his final live show in his hometown, and raising "a ton" of money for charity along the way. On Aug. 1, Ozzy's 40-year-old TV personality daughter Kelly Osbourne shared a "Not Safe For Work" photo on her Instagram Story in memory of her dad. The outdoor image featured a beautiful display of purple flowers arranged to spell out "Ozzy F---ing Osbourne," set beside a serene pond surrounded by a rolling hill and trees. Also King Charles' Army Band has paid tribute to Ozzy during a Changing of the Guards ceremony outside of Buckingham Palace. With a conductor keeping time, the brass and woodwind instrumentalists play the melody of "Paranoid" over the sound of brash snare drums. Footage of the event has been shared on TikTok. - NME, 8/1/25...... Stevie Nicks announced on Instagram and her other social media on Aug. 1 that her next two months of shows will be postponed as she heals from a recent shoulder injury. "Due to a recent injury resulting in a fractured shoulder that will require recovery time, Stevie Nicks' scheduled concerts in August and September will be rescheduled," the announcement from her team read. Noting that the star will proceed with her shows in October as scheduled, the message concludes, "Stevie looks forward to seeing everyone soon and apologizes to the fans for this inconvenience." The former Fleetwood Mac frontwoman had been slated to perform in a handful of cities across the US and Canada across August and September, including Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Cincinnati and Brooklyn, N.Y. All of the postponed shows have already been rescheduled to new dates in late October, November and the first couple of weeks in December, as listed in the singer's post and on her website. The news of Nicks' injury comes more than three months after she first announced her solo tour in April, writing at the time that she couldn't "wait to share these nights with you." Stevie had also been supposed to tour with Billy Joel in 2025, but the Piano Man similarly had to cancel all of his 2025 and 2026 performances as he battles a condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. - Billboard, 8/1/25...... Elton John has made an hilarious pop-in for an updated version of Spinal Tap's iconic tribute to Stonehenge, the place where demons dwell, banshees wail and children dance to the pipes of pan in a just-released video for the Spinal Tap song of the same name. "Stonehenge" appears on the new soundtrack album, The End Continues, a companion to the upcoming sequel to the 1984 mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. The 13-track LP, due out alongside the film, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, on Sept. 12, features a return to some of the farcical band's most beloved tracks with help from John ("Flower People"), Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood ("Big Bottom") and Sir Paul McCartney ("Cups and Cakes"). Elton totally got into the spirit of the "Stonehenge" bit on Instagram, writing, "This was a blast, rocking out with @spinaltap for their new movie, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and re-recording their epic 'Stonehenge' - this one is best played at volume 11!" The "Stonehenge" clip can be viewed on YouTube. Meanwhile, John has taken to Instagram to commemorate his 35 years of sobriety with a heartfelt message to fans and family. On July 29, he commemorated the anniversary with a photo of handmade cards from his sons, Elijah and Zachary, alongside a bouquet of flowers. "Grateful for all the love on my sobriety birthday," he captioned the post, which drew thousands of comments from fans and friends. John, 78, has long been open about his past struggles with addiction and the transformative power of recovery. His battle with alcohol, marijuana and what he once called his "worst best friend" -- cocaine -- was dramatized in the 2019 biopic Rocketman. In interviews, he has spoken candidly about the extremes of his life during the height of his fame. "It nearly destroyed my soul," he told CBS News in Oct. 2019 of his addiction. "My soul was black, like a charred piece of steak, until I said, 'I need help.' And suddenly, a little pilot light in my soul came along going, 'Yes, I'm still here. I'm still here. I'm still here. I can still be rescued.'" - Billboard, 7/31/25...... On July 31 Brian Eno announced on his Instagram and other social media that he'll play a one-off show at London's Wembley on Sept. 17, which will see artists come "together for Palestine." Titled "Together For Palestine," the event will see Eno, Khaled Ziada, Khalid Abdalla and Tracey Seaward work as executive producers and enlist performances from "artists, musicians and people for whom silence feels impossible." Explaining why he is organising the event, Eno said: "I've had the good fortune to work with some of the world's most remarkable artists for over 50 years. But one of my biggest regrets is that during that time so many of us have remained silent about Palestine. "Often that silence has come from fear, real fear -- that speaking out could provoke a backlash, close doors or end a career. But that's now changing -- partly because some artists and activists have lit the path, but mostly because the truth of what's going on has become impossible to ignore." Earlier in 2025, Eno urged Microsoft Corp. to cut ties with Israel in an open letter, and shared that he would be donating his fee from the Windows 95 chime (which he composed for them) to aid Palestine. - NME, 7/31/25...... David Gilmour has announced a new concert film that will showcase his "Live At Circus Maximus, Rome" shows. The forthcoming film follows on from the Pink Floyd legend heading out on his "The Luck And Strange" tour dates in 2024. Those shows came in celebration of his fifth solo album of the same title, which topped the charts in the UK, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal and Austria, and made the Top 10 in the US. Gilmour kicked off the tour dates with two warm-up shows at the Brighton Centre, before heading over to the historic Circus Maximus in Rome for six sold-out nights. He followed this up with shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, LA's Hollywood Bowl, and New York's Madison Square Garden. Set alongside the backdrop of the ancient ruins of Rome, the footage of the shows was captured by long-time Gilmour collaborator Gavin Elder. Live At The Circus Maximus will be released on Blu-ray and DVD via Sony Music Vision and Trafalgar Releasing, and shown in cinemas & IMAX worldwide for a limited time beginning Sept. 17. - NME, 7/30/25...... If there was ever any doubt that Zak Starkey's tenure as The Who's drummer was over, Who frontman Roger Daltrey has confirmed it in a new interview. Starkey's time with The Who came to an end in May after a confusing period of contradictory reports, with Pete Townshend finally confirming that "the time has come for a change." Starkey -- who is the son of Ringo Starr -- had been the The Who's drummer since 1996, but after a series of four shows at the Royal Albert Hall for the Teenage Cancer Trust in March, frictions between him and the rest of the band appeared to emerge as Daltrey and Townshend informed Starkey that they wanted him to "tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line-up," which he said at the time the drummer had "readily agreed" to do. After he was let go, however, Starkey disputed Daltrey's assertion that he had not been fired but had instead been "retired" as "total bollox." Now, in an interview with London's The Times, Daltrey has addressed the situation. "It was kind of a character assassination and it was incredibly upsetting," he said. Explaining what happened at the Royal Albert Hall, he added: "It is controlled by a guy on the side, and we had so much sub-bass on the sound of the drums that I couldn't pitch. I was pointing to the bass drum and screaming at [Starkey] because it was like flying a plane without seeing the horizon. So when Zak thought I was having a go at him, I wasn't. That's all that happened. Pete and I retain the right to be The Who. Everyone else is a session player." The Who's farewell tour, now with Scott Devours sitting in behind the kit, is set to begin in Florida on Aug.16, and other shows across the month include stops in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. - New Musical Express, 8/2/25...... Country music trailblazer and Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely died on Aug. 1 at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tenn., due to complications from an intestinal infection. She was 85. Ms. Seely had been battling health issues since last fall and underwent multiple back surgeries this spring, as well as two emergency abdominal surgeries. Ms. Seely was known as a pioneering country music artist, with songs such as "Can I Sleep in Your Arms" and the Grammy-winning "Don't Touch Me," and was also known as a fierce advocate for women artists and performers. Born in Titusville, Penn., on July 6, 1940, Ms. Seely was singing on a Saturday morning radio show on WMGW by age 11, and by 16 she was performing on TV station WICU in Erie, Penn. At 21, she moved California and eventually landed a job at Liberty and Imperial Records in Hollywood. She began writing songs for Four Star Music and was a regular alongside Glen Campbell on the TV series Hollywood Jamboree. She also earned a recording deal with Challenge Records. In 1964, Ms. Seely earned the most promising female artist honor from the Country and Western Academy (now the Academy of Country Music). She then moved to Nashville and inked a deal with Monument Records, which released her signature song, "Don't Touch Me," in 1966. Inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Sept. 16, 1967, Ms. Seely soon became the first woman to regularly host Opry segments. She was also a trailblazer when it came to the image of women country entertainers, as she was the first to wear a miniskirt onstage at the Opry. She played her most recent Grand Ole Opry show on Feb. 22 and made more Grand Ole Opry appearances than any other artist in the show's 100-year history, with 5,397 appearances. In 2022, she was honored when she reached her 5,000th Opry appearance milestone. Ms. Seely also recorded several hit duets with Jack Greene, including "Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You," which reached No. 2 on the country singles chart in 1970. "Jeannie Seely was one-of-a-kind across the board: as an entertainer, friend, and human being," said Dan Rogers, Sr., an exec with the Grand Ole Opry and one of Ms. Seely's longtime friends in a statement. "She gave it her all with every single Opry performance. All 5,397 of them. She is loved so much and will never be forgotten." - Billboard, 8/1/25...... Loni Anderson, who played the savvy, high-heeled receptionist Jennifer Marlowe on the late '70s/early '80s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, died on Aug. 3. She was 79. Anderson died at a hospital in Los Angeles after a battle with a "prolonged illness," according to her publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother," Anderson's family told the Associated Press in a statement. Airing on CBS for four seasons from 1978 to 1982, WKRP in Cincinnati followed a has-been Ohio radio station attempting a desperate image change by swapping their typical fare of low-impact jams to chart-topping rock and roll. Anderson starred as Jennifer Marlowe, WKRP's empowered, quick-witted receptionist. Known for using her womanly charms to dismiss her boss, Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump), she often served as a reliable anchor for the station, getting things done despite her incompetent co-workers. She earned two Emmy nods and three Golden Globe nominations for the role. Other cast members included Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Richard Sanders, Frank Bonner, Tim Reid and Jan Smithers. The series made Anderson a household name, although she struggled to escape her typecast as the buxom blonde. She went on to star in the 1983 film Stroker Ace with Burt Reynolds, whom she famously married in 1988. The pair were together until 1994, when their messy divorce became the subject of tabloid fixation. She then went on to appear in dozens of TV movies, including Country Gold, The Lonely Guy A Letter to Three Wives, Stranded, Blondie & Dagwood and Blown Away. She is survived by her husband of 17 years, Bob Flick, as well as her daughter Deidra, son-in-law Charlie Hoffan and son Quinton Anderson Reynolds. - Variety, 8/3/25.

Favorite Seventies Artists In The News

Posted by Administrator on March 2nd, 2017

Cher has added 18 summer and fall dates to her "Classic Cher" show at the Park Theater at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Cher says she decided to extend the show after the tremendous success of its first dates, and the newly announced performances will run from Aug. 2 through Aug. 19 and Nov. 8 through Nov. 25 at the Park Theater's 5,200-seat, re-imagined Monte Carlo venue. Cher performs many of her 34 Billboard charting hits in her "Classic Cher" show, which also has a previously announced run from May 3 through May 20. - Billboard, 2/28/17...... Jethro Tull principal Ian Anderson has announced he'll release Jethro Tull -- The String Quartets, a 12-song set of revamped versions of Tull classics including "Locomotive Breath," "Bungle in the Jungle" and "Aqualung," on Mar. 24. "I wanted to do these classic rock songs but in an authentic way," Anderson says. "Not the band with a string quartet but focusing on the string quartet with judicious ornament additions from myself to remind people, I suppose, of the originals and give it a bit more of an identifying feature... it was a challenge." Anderson says he selected the Anglo-Irish group Carducci Quartet to perform the arrangements constructed by Tull keyboardist John O'Hara. "Their energy, their precision -- they were really very impressive," Anderson notes. "So I was able to find a little hole in our mutual diaries when we could get together for four days to nail the album, which we did during the latter part of last year." Anderson, who provides flute and vocals to some of the songs on Jethro Tull -- The String Quartets, will kick off a Jethro Tull By Ian Anderson tour on May 26 with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, followed by dates in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Europe and South America. He's also finishing up a lyrics book, which will be illustrated with photographs from his personal collection, and says he's planning an album of new material which he'll begin working on in March. - Billboard, 3/1/17...... The Temptations have been named the top all-time artist in a new Billboard ranking of the R&B/Hip-Hop genre, the first time the publication has compiled extensive all-time chart recaps of R&B/hip-hop music. Billboard reports The Temptations have tallied a record 16 No. 1s on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart (which began in 1965) and 14 leaders on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (which dates to 1958), including its longest-leading hit single, the eight-week No. 1 "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" in 1966. The Tempts also scored 43 top 10s, including in each decade from the '60s through the '90s. Next on the list is Aretha Franklin (also the top female artist), followed by Stevie Wonder (top male) at No. 3, with both sharing the record for most No. 1 records on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. James Brown (No. 4) and Michael Jackson (No. 5) round out the artist list's top five. Jackson also leads the list's all-time album recap, with Thriller, which spent a record 37 weeks at No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 1983-84. - Billboard, 3/1/17...... Speaking of Michael Jackson, the late singer's Neverland Ranch, which is now known as Sycamore Valley Ranch and owned Colony Capital, is back on the market with an asking price of $67 million. The price for the 2,700-acre property near Santa Barbara, Calif., is a significant cut from the $100 million it was on the market for in 2016. Jackson sold the ranch, which features a 12,000 square foot main residence and a 3,700 square foot pool house to Colony Capital prior to his 2009 death for $22.5 million. Colony Capital is headed by Thomas Barrack, a confidant and fundraiser for Pres. Donald Trump. - AP, 3/2/17...... In an interview with Classic Rock magazine, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer says he "never cared" for the Rolling Stones -- "especially in the drumming department" -- and he thinks his band are better live performers than Mick Jagger and co. "First of all, as far as Aerosmith goes, there is no band that has been around for almost 50 years that still has the original five guys in the band," Kramer said. "Everybody is always raving about the Stones, saying the Stones this and the Stones that. I've never cared for the Stones. They never had anything to offer me musically, especially in the drumming department." Kramer continued: "The Stones is not the original band and I do not care for them. I think if you came to see an Aerosmith concert, people would realise that we play so much better than them that it's silly because they're not so good live.... I don't think there's a band out there today that does what we do." Aerosmith announced in 2016 that their 2017 "Aerovederci" UK and European tour, which will include a huge headline performance at Download Festival, would be their last. - New Musical Express, 2/28/17...... Woody Woodmansey, the drummer who worked on David Bowie's 1972 masterpiece The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, says in a new interview that Bowie's label RCA Records initially rejected the album because they felt it lacked a lead single. Woodmansey, a member of Bowie's Spiders from Mars group, says Bowie then wrote the song "Starman" within a month. "It was an obvious single! I think Mick (Ronson) and I went out in the car after David played it for us the first time, and we were already singing it, having only heard it only once." On Feb. 23, Bowie won the top prize at the BRIT Awards, with his son Duncan Jones accepting the Best British Album award on his behalf. - New Musical Express, 2/24/17...... In other Bowie news, lawyers for the late rock icon have asked any secret heirs who might lay claim to his US $100 million fortune to come forward. Anyone who believes they have the right to inherit a portion of his estate, including any secret love children, will have two months to present their claims, after a notice was placed in British newspaper The Times on Feb. 25. Bowie, who passed away aged 69 in January 2016 after a battle with cancer, has two acknowledged children, film director Duncan Jones, 45, by his first wife Angie, and a daughter Lexi Jones, 16, by his second wife Iman. The notice requires claimants to present details of their relationship to him to lawyers at London legal firm Simkins LLP by 4 May. Bowie lived a typical rock and roll lifestyle during the peak of his career in the 1970s and has admitted his promiscuity in interviews. - WENN.com, 2/27/17...... Sting performed an emotional rendition of his Oscar-nominated song "The Empty Chair" at the 89th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 26 in Hollywood, Calif. "The Empty Chair "was featured on the soundtrack of Jim: The James Foley Story, a documentary which chronicles the story of American journalist James Foley who was captured in Syria and became the first American citizen to be killed by ISIS when he was beheaded in 2014. "The Empty Chair"'s lyrics recount the absence from a deceased loved one from a family gathering, performance ended with a photo of Foley and the aptly-timed quote, "If I don't have the moral courage to challenge authority... we don't have journalism." Sting previously performed "The Empty Chair" at Sundance 2016's ASCAP Music Café with James Foley's family in attendance. "I curated the song from what [Jim's] family and friends said about him. It's their song," Sting has said. - Billboard, 2/26/17...... Jazz pianist Horace Parlan, a stalwart of the hard-bop jazz movement of the 1950s and 1960s and a notable collaborator with such stars as Charles Mingus and Dexter Gordon, died Feb. 23 at a nursing home in Naestved, Denmark. He was 86. Mr. Parlan overcame limited use of his right hand to develop a distinctive punchy style. In 1977, he made a well-received recording of spirituals with saxophonist Archie Shepp, "Goin' Home," and the two made several appearances over the next few years at jazz clubs and colleges in the United States. The duo later recorded two more albums. - AP, 3/1/17...... U.K. designer Alan Aldridge, who contributed to and compiled the classic Beatles-themed book The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics, has died at age 73. Aldridge is possibly best known for the picture book The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper Feast (1973), a series of illustrations of anthropomorphic insects and other creatures, which he created in collaboration with William Plomer, who wrote the accompanying verses. Aldridge's other works include The Penguin Book of Comics (1967), Bernie Taupin: The One Who Writes the Words for Elton John (1976), and The Adventures and Brave Deeds of the Ship's Cat on the Spanish Maine (1977), and The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes: The Art of Alan Aldridge (2009). - Goodreads.com, 2/24/17.

Veteran rock guitarist/producer Rick Derringer pleaded guilty on Feb. 24 to carrying a Kel-Tec pistol on an airplane and in a secure area of Atlanta's airport on Jan. 9. Derringer, a former member of the Edgar Winter Group who sang the classic 1965 pop hit "Hang on Sloopy" and later recorded "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" as a solo artist, told a federal air marshal he kept his gun with him on commercial airline flights 30 to 50 times a year, and never before had a problem carrying it through airport checkpoints. However a spokesman for the TSA said there's no way to substantiate claims dating back years. "It was just a mistake, a simple human mistake," said Kenn Moutenot, his manager and the drummer in Derringer's Rick Derringer Band. Nothing like it will happen again, "not even a water pistol." According to TSA guidelines, air passengers are allowed to bring guns as checked baggage only, and the unloaded firearms must be in locked, hard-sided containers that are declared to the airline when checked. Ammunition also is prohibited in carry-on bags. Derringer will begin a U.S. tour in March, and is now working on a remake of his 1980s song "Real American," which has been used as theme music by pro wrestler Hulk Hogan, and at campaign events for former president Barck Obama and Pres. Donald Trump. Derringer has said he hopes the new version and its music video will transcend politics and bring the nation together. - AP, 2/24/17...... Rock guitar god Eddie Van Halen announced on Feb. 23 that he's donating 75 guitars to low-income students through the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. The organization provides nearly 1,800 instruments annually to schools without music programs, aiding about 10,000 students annually. "My whole life has been music. I could not imagine anything else," Van Halen told CNN. "It's a must. It has to be taught." He added that it "was very difficult at first to find a charity that [takes guitars]... They all just wanted money." The foundation takes its name from the 1995 movie Mr. Holland's Opus, starring Richard Dreyfuss as a music teacher who mentors young students. - Billboard, 2/23/17...... In related news, Bruce Springsteen continued his habit of encouraging young musicians by inviting an 11-year-old fan who had never played drums in her life onstage to jam with his E Street Band during a show in Christchurch, New Zealand on Feb. 21. Hayley Dockrill, who attended the show with her family, held a sign that caught The Boss's eye -- "I can resist Trump, but I can't resist Max" -- and before she knew it was drumming alongside E Street drummer Max Weinberg on the iconic 1984 track "Dancing in the Dark." Hayley's father, Chris, said it was a surreal moment for his daughter, who not only played in front of 30,000 people, but walked off with a present: a signed drum stick. On Feb. 15 in Brisbane, Australia, Springsteen invited a teenage fan onstage to perform "Growin' Up" with him. - Billboard, 2/22/17...... Michael Jackson's mother Katherine Jackson is asking the court to let her intervene in a lawsuit against the executors of Michael's estate that centers on The Michael Jackson Company. Katherine claims she owns 10% of the company, which was formed in 2006. The legal fight began in 2013 after another TMJC shareholder, Quadree El-Amin, requested to inspect the company's financial records. As part of Jackson's ongoing probate proceedings, attorneys for the estate asked the court for an order determining that Jackson himself was the sole member and owner of TMJC. El-Amin then sued estate executors John Branca and John McClain, claiming they were making deals on behalf of TMJC without approval of its shareholders. Broderick Morris, Adean King and Raymone Bain also contend they are part owners of TMJC and are plaintiffs in the suit. Katherine Jackson says she was kept in the dark about El-Amin's inquiry and the resulting litigation. A hearing is currently set for Apr. 19. - The Hollywood Reporter, 2/24/17...... Such rock legends as Keith Richards, David Byrne, Pete Townshend and Michael Stipe are fighting depositions and submitted documents that presumably go into detail about the financial arrangements they have with publishers in a lawsuit started in 2015 by the National Music Publishers Association against the Wolfgang's Vault website, which sells rock memorabilia and recordings by those and many other music artists. Since the lawsuit was filed, attorneys for Wofgang's Vault owner William Sagan have attempted various tactics to battle claims Wolfgang's Vault lacks the requisite licenses to stream an estimated two billion recorded concert performances. Sagan's attorneys are now prying into old agreements in the music business and demanding depositions with the overall goal of poking holes in the claim Wolfgang's lacks copyright authority. One of the main theories that Sagan's side is pursuing is that if musicians retained copyright to their works at the time of performance, and then agreed to a recording of their concerts, the musicians made an implied license for later use of the recordings. Sagan is also exploring issues ranging from possibly faulty copyright registrations to a lack of protest among the artists over the years to support affirmative defenses as well as limit damages in a case potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars. At a hearing on Feb. 16, U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Pitman ruled that Keith Richards and David Byrne wouldn't be required to appear for a deposition, but that they would have to answer 25 written questions. Stipe's own motion to quash a subpoena is still pending. On Feb. 22, the music publishers asked the judge's permission to add new allegations to their lawsuit over a new website, Wolfgangs.com, launched in November 2016 that is also streaming audio recordings and video footage. - The Hollywood Reporter, 2/23/17...... A vintage Ferrari belonging to Eric Clapton may set a new record when it is auctioned in early March. Gooding & Company auction house founder David Gooding says the 1968 Dino 206 GT Ferrari could exceed the highest price paid for a Dino, which was $770,000 in 2016. The estimate on Clapton's Dino is $750,000 - $900,000, and if bidding gets fierce and competitive, it could be the first Dino to crest the $1,000,000 mark. Clapton has long had a continuing love affair with Ferraris, having owned at least a dozen exclusive cars from the Italian brand over the past forty years. The 1968 Dino is one of the first Ferraris he purchased, having been indoctrinated into the brand's charms by George Harrison. In his 2007 autobiography, Clapton recalled the time Harrison arrived at his house in a dark blue Ferrari 365 GTC. I'd never seen one in the flesh before, and my heart melted," he recalled. Clapton didn't have a license at the time and couldn't drive a manual transmission, but he vowed to learn "on Harrison's car" with the eventual goal of acquiring a Ferrari. - Billboard, 2/21/17...... Lionel Richie has been forced to postpone a coheadlining tour with Mariah Carey as he recovers from a knee procedure. The former Commodores member, 67, issued a statement saying "unfortunately my recovery from a knee procedure will not have me 100 percent ready to start the tour." He said he doesn't want to disappoint his fans and he's looking "forward to being back onstage so we can all be 'Dancing on the Ceiling' together again." The 35-date tour was supposed to launch Mar. 15 and wrap on May 27. Purchased tickets will be honored at the new dates, to be announced soon. - AP, 2/24/17...... A Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled on Feb. 22 that Elvis Presley's daughter Lisa Marie Presley will not have to pay spousal support to her estranged husband Michael Lockwood while they fight over her assets. Judge Patrick Cathcart ordered Presley to pay $50,000 to the lawyer representing Lockwood. The ruling comes days after Presley filed court documents stating she is deeply in debt and their 8-year-old twin daughters are subject to a child welfare case. The order does not affect the couple's children, who are in the care of Presley's mother, Priscilla Presley A trial in children's court is scheduled for March. Michael Lockwood is challenging the validity of an agreement he signed after marrying Presley in 2006 that would govern how much he is entitled to in a divorce. He had been seeking $40,000 a month in spousal support, but Judge Cathcart said the unemployed musician would have to wait until after a trial on the agreement. Lockwood said he gave up his career and worked for Presley before their breakup, according to court documents. Presley's lawyer contended that Lockwood hasn't been looking for work and should apply to be a music teacher or work at Guitar Center. Lisa Marie contends the children's court proceeding was initiated after she discovered photos and "disturbing" video on her husband's computer, allegations Lockwood's attorney contends are "highly sensational" and inaccurate." Priscilla Presley tried to allay fans' concerns about the legal issues and well-being of the twins in a Facebook post on Feb. 19. "There is lots of confusion, commotion and concern from all the talk circulating," she wrote. "Let me put this to rest ... the girls have not been in foster care and never will be. The girls have been with me and will be until all this is sorted out." - AP, 2/22/17...... Nearly 14 months after his shocking death in Jan. 2016, David Bowie took top honors at the 2017 Brit Awards at London's O2 arena on Feb. 22. Bowie was posthumously awarded two of the biggest prizes -- best British album for Blackstar and British male performer -- during the 37th annual award show. I lost my dad last year, but I also became a dad and I was spending a lot of time trying to work out what would I want my son to know about his granddad," Bowie's son Duncan Jones said as he collected the best British album award on behalf of his late dad. "I think it would be the same thing that most of my dad's fans have taken over the last 50 years. He's always been there supporting people who think they're a little bit weird or a bit strange. A bit different. He's always been there for them. So this award is for all the kooks and all the people who make the kooks," Jones added. Actor Michael C. Hall, the lead actor in the Bowie-devised musical "Lazarus," collected the award for British male performer, and said "If David Bowie could be here tonight, he probably wouldn't be here tonight. But since he can't be here tonight, I'm here on his behalf and on behalf of his family to accept this testament to a man beholden to nothing but his own boundless imagination and daring. [A man] whose ever-expanding artistic vitality simultaneously soothes us and astonishes us. Maybe he is here tonight? I don't know." - Billboard, 2/22/17...... In other Bowie-related news, fans of the Thin White Duke are raising money for a memorial statue marking the late music icon's London birthplace. Plans call for the statue to be shaped in the fashion of the iconic lightning bolt from his Aladdin Sane album cover and would be situated in Brixton, south London -- just streets away from Bowie's Stansfield Road birthplace. Organizers say they have consulted Bowie's teams in New York and London in regards to planning the statue, and hope to pay for the project by crowdfunding online and estimate the costs to be north of $1.23 million. So far, 165 people have raised more than $28,330 for the red-and-blue-sprayed stainless steel monument. - NME/Billboard, 2/21/17...... Blondie announced on Feb. 20 that they will play a huge London Roundhouse show on May 3. Blondie will release it's latest studio LP, Pollinator, two days later and have recently posted the second single from the album, "My Monster" which is a collaboration with Johnny Marr, online. While in the U.K., Blondie will also play the British Summer Time festival. - NME, 2/20/17...... In an interview with People magazine on Feb. 20, David Cassidy revealed that he's suffering from dementia, the same disease from which his mother and grandfather suffered. "I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming," the 66-year-old former The Partridge Family star said. Cassidy's revelation comes after a disastrous performance at The Canyon Club in Agoura, Calif., on Feb. 18 when he slurred his words throughout the show and even fell off the stage at one point. Cassidy also reportedly told audiences the following night at the Santa Barbara Performing Arts Center that that concert would be his last show, however a Mar. 4 show at BB King's Blues Club has yet to be cancelled. "I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how Ive been without any distractions," Cassidy told People. "I want to love. I want to enjoy life." Cassidy has struggled with alcoholism in the past, including a rehab stint in 2014 after his third arrest for driving under the influence. Cassidy also recently divorced his wife of 23 years, Sue Shifrin-Cassidy, after she filed for divorce. The split was finalized in 2016. - NY Daily News, 2/20/17...... A star-studded memorial for late The Brady Bunch matriarch Florence Henderson was held at the Music Box Theatre in New York City on Feb. 21. Stars including Alan Cumming, Michael Feinstein, Judy Gold, Whoopi Goldberg and Chita Rivera shared their fondest memories of the veteran actress, who died of a heart attack at age 82 on Nov. 24. Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady in the series, honored his TV mother by singing The Brady Bunch theme song with Gold and other stars. - NY Daily News, 2/22/17.