Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show on Mar. 30, former The Commodores member and '80s solo superstar Lionel Richie confirmed the long-running story that he wrote the second verse of Kenny Rogers' No. 1 1980 song "Lady" in the men's room. In 2014, Rogers (who died in 2020) told the Today Show that when the two stars were in the studio working on the song he asked where the lyrics for the second verse were and someone said, "Lionel's in the toilet writing them right now." And now, Richie has confirmed the story. He explained that after Rogers asked him to write a song for him he began work on a "Lady" as well as a second track called "Goin' Back to Alabama" (which later appeared on Rogers' 1981 Share Your Love album). Halfway through the sessions for "Alabama," Richie told host Drew Barrymore that Rogers changed his mind and said, "'I don't want to sing that song. I think I want to do 'Lady' first.'" What Rogers didn't know, though, was that Richie had only gotten the first verse of "Lady" written at that point. So Richie asked to be excused, went to the bathroom and said "I'm sitting in the stall writing the second verse to 'Lady.'" Barrymore was shocked that Lionel could so quickly produce such a massive hit under such pressure and Richie said you'd be surprised when, and where, inspiration can strike. "You will do some amazing things when you're scared to death," he said. "The idea of telling Mr. Rogers that I don't have the second verse was not going to happen in my lifetime." - Billboard, 3/31/23...... 
In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning scheduled to air on Apr. 2, Neil Diamond said he was in denial for the first year after his Parkinson's Disease diagnosis in 2018. "I'm still doing it. And I don't like it," the 82-year-old singer said about his initial refusal to accept that he has the incurable, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and physical movement. "But... this is me; this is what I have to accept. And I'm willing to do it. And, okay, so this is the hand that God's given me, and I have to make the best of it, and so I am. I am." Diamond said it is literally just in the "last few weeks" that he's finally come to terms with his diagnosis, which has brought some tranquility. "Somehow, a calm has moved [into] the hurricane of my life, and things have gotten very quiet, as quiet as this recording studio," he told interviewer Anthony Mason. "And I like it. I find that I like myself better. I'm easier on people. I'm easier on myself. And the beat goes on, and it will go on long after I'm gone." Diamond -- who retired from touring after his diagnosis -- also discusses what it feels like to watch his life's story play out on Broadway in the "A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical." He told Mason that it was, "all pretty hard. I was a little embarrassed. I was flattered, and I was scared... Being found out is the scariest thing you can hope, because we all have a faade. And the truth be known to all of 'em. I'm not some big star. I'm just me." Though he has mostly stayed out of the public eye since the diagnosis, Diamond made a rare appearance on Dec. 4 when he surprised the audience on opening night of the musical when he popped up unexpectedly in the balcony of New York's Broadhurst Theater during curtain call to help lead the crowd in a singalong of his beloved 1969 hit "Sweet Caroline." His Sunday Morning interview will air on Apr.2) at 9 a.m. ET/8 central on CBS and then stream on Paramount+. - Billboard, 3/31/23...... The Rolling Stones' famed "tongue and lips" logo is at the center of a new federal lawsuit filed on Mar. 29 by small clothing chain Simply Southern that claimed it had received a cease-and-desist letter from Bravado, a unit of UMG that sells licensed merchandise for the Stones and dozens of other major artists. The letter allegedly took aim at T-shirts that featured a "disembodied mouth," claiming they were confusingly similar to the iconic logo. Lawyers for Simply Southern say its apparel designs were "clearly and demonstrably different," and they want a federal judge to rule that the company has not infringed Bravado's asserted intellectual property rights. A representative for Bravado declined to comment, and the Rolling Stones themselves are not named in the lawsuit and are not accused of any wrongdoing. Described as "the most famous logo in rock 'n roll" by the New York Times, the "tongue and lips" image was created in 1970 by John Pasche, a London art student who had been commissioned by the band to create a poster for its upcoming European tour. The design was then tweaked slightly by designer Craig Braun before it appeared in its final version on the back cover of the band's 1971 album Sticky Fingers. Since then, the logo has appeared countless times on music releases, T-shirts, stickers, posters and even as the stage for the band's halftime performance during Super Bowl XL. Meanwhile, legal and music experts are saying another lawsuit filed against the legendary rock band in February claiming they'd illegally borrowed key parts of a song written by Sergio Garcia Fernandez, who performs under the name Angelslang, is unlikely to succeed. "Living in a Ghost Town," a blues-rock tune with some reggae vibes released by the Stones in 2020, does sound similar to Angelsang's "So Sorry" and "Seed of God." Fernandez claims that's because the new song borrowed key features from his songs, including the "vocal melodies, the chord progressions, the drum beat patterns, the harmonica parts [and] the electric bass line parts." But according to Joe Bennett, a forensic musicologist and a professor at Berklee College of Music, "Ghost Town" flatly does not include those elements from Fernandez's songs. "It simply doesn't," Bennett says. "These elements are not the same when compared all the notes and chords are very obviously different. It's significant that the complaint doesn t contain any music notation, because a simple side by side transcription would demonstrate the dissimilarity." Such lawsuits, while plentiful, often face long odds. In just the past month, similar song-theft cases against Donald Glover (over his Childish Gambino chart-topper "This Is America") and Nickelback (over the band s 2005 hit "Rock Star") have both been dismissed at the earliest stage of litigation. In Glover's case, a federal judge ruled in late March that the lyrics of the two songs were "entirely different." In Nickelback's dispute, another federal judge ruled the week prior that the case at times "borders on the absurd." - Billboard, 3/31/23...... Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden and Tool will be the headliners at a new California music festival called Power Trip. Across three days at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. -- the venue for Coachella -- the six metal heavyweights will come together for a massive show on Oct. 6, 7 and 8. The first day of Power Trip (Oct. 6) will be headlined by Guns N' Roses and Iron Maiden, with AC/DC and Osbourne headlining the second night. Things then wrap up on Oct. 8 with sets from Metallica and Tool. Full details can be found on the Power Trip Instagram page. Osbourne's participation in Power Trip comes after he recently said he would resume live dates again just weeks after announcing his retirement from being on the road and cancelling all upcoming European and UK show dates. Ozzy previously said that the news of his retirement was "probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to share with my loyal fans." He added: "My singing voice is fine. However, after three operations, stem cell treatments, endless physical therapy sessions, and most recently groundbreaking Cybernics (HAL) Treatment, my body is still physically weak." - New Musical Express, 3/30/23...... 
A tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd by the likes of Guns N' Roses lead guitarist Slash, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Wynonna Judd, Chuck Leavell, Cody Johnson, Paul Rodgers, Warren Haynes and LeAnn Rimes will be presented during the CMT Music Awards on the evening of Apr. 2. The tribute comes half a century after the 1973 launch of Skynyrd's self-titled debut album, and almost one month after the death of the band's final original founding member, guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away on Mar. 5 at age 71. Johnson and Rodgers will lead vocals with Gibbons, with Slash and Haynes on electric guitar for a one-time-only performance of a pair of timeless Skynyrd hits. Rimes and Judd will fill the role of The Honkettes, the band's backing singers. Rossington's wife and band member Dale Krantz Rossington is set to attend the event, along with fellow Skynyrd members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlock. The 2023 CMT Awards will take place at the Moody Center in Austin, Tex. on Apr. 2. - Billboard, 3/30/23...... In other Lynyrd Skynyrd news, music publishing and talent management company Primary Wave has acquired drummer former Skynyrd drummer Bob Burns' stake in the Southern rock band's first two albums. While exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, the company said it was a multi-million deal. Burns died in a car accident on Apr. 3, 2015 in Cartersville, Ga. at the age of 64. In the last six months, Primary Wave has acquired entirely or an interest in the publishing and/or recording artist royalty income streams in the catalogs of The Doors members Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, Joey Ramone, Stevie Van Zandt and Huey Lewis and The News. - Billboard, 3/28/23...... Longtime Donald Trump foils Bette Midler and actor/director Rob Reiner of All in the Family fame are among the entertainment figures reacting to the historic indictment of the former president by a Manhattan grand jury on Mar. 30 on charges stemming from 2016 payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters. "INDICTED!" Bette Midler simply tweeted on Mar. 30, while Reiner tweeted "Trump Indicted! First Among Many!" Also reacting to news of the indictment were Jason Isbell, Questlove, George Takei and Garbage. The former president is also facing investigations into his alleged involvement in 2020 election interference made by his supporters, the attack on the US Capitol in Jan. 2021 and his handling of classified documents following his time in office. - Billboard, 3/30/23...... New photos of The Beatles by Paul McCartney taken at the height of Beatlemania in 1963 and 1964 have been unveiled at London's National Portrait Gallery. From June 28-Oct. 1 of 2023, the reopening of the gallery will see 250 photographs taken by the musical legend of his bandmates and surroundings on tour from 1963-64. In conjuction with the exhibit, a photobook titled Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes Of The Storm will be released on June 13 via Penguin Press. Speaking in the book's foreword, McCartney said of the period: "It felt like millions of eyes were suddenly upon us, creating a picture I will never forget for the rest of my life." Of his love of photography, Macca added: "The truth is that I've always been interested in photography, from the time I was very young, when our family owned a little box camera in the 1950s. I used to love the whole process of loading a roll of Kodak film into our Brownie camera." In February, a new documentary about Paul's life was announced by filmmaker Morgan Neville and will draw on "unprecedented access to a never-before-seen archive of Paul and [former wife] Linda's home videos and photos, as well as new interviews," to chronicle the time between The Beatles' breakup and the rise of Wings in the '70s. - NME, 3/30/23...... Meanwhile, Sir Paul has joked he was "surprised" that crooner Michael Bublé didn't kick him out of the studio when he gave him some notes on their collaboration. Bublé's new album, Higher, features three original songs and a bunch of cover tracks, including a reworking of McCartney's 2012 ballad "My Valentine," which the former Beatle agreed to produce. McCartney jokingly shared in an interview with Variety that he was surprised Bublé didn't boot him out of the studio when he suggested tweaks to his vocals. "Michael invited me along to the session in New York suggesting I could help with producing it," he recalled. "So I went along and basically watched him work with a large orchestra and do the vocals. I was able to help him in small ways, suggesting that he sing certain phrases in certain ways, and to my surprise he didn't boot me off the session!" However, the Canadian crooner never contemplated doing such a thing, as he found their collaboration to be "magic." "He is who you wish he would be," Bublé says. "He saunters into the studio alone. No group. No security. And he looked like he came in on a skateboard because he kind of floats when he walks. He wanted to be just a humble servant to the music," he added. - Music-News.com, 3/31/23...... During a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, acclaimed actress Juliette Lewis regaled the host with a story about the time she met Bob Dylan. "I'm in New York City, I'm working," Lewis said. "I walk into an elevator that's the size of a shoebox, only three people can fit in there. And I look up: It's Bob Dylan. And your heart goes [makes exploding noise], and all these things happen," the Yellowjackets star continued. "And then he says, 'You know Bob, huh?' Bob De Niro. 'You were in that movie,' he says to me," referencing Lewis' teenage role alongside Robert De Niro in the 1991 Martin Scorsese thriller Cape Fear. "And I'm like, 'And you're Bob Dylan.' And then my little brain was like, 'Say hi, how are you?' 'cause I was gonna faint." Lewis then revealed she kept one of Dylan's songs, 1965's "She Belongs to Me," on repeat "for months on end" during a particularly challenging time in her life and characterized the icon's lyrics as "biblical." Lewis' heartwarming story about meeting Dylan can be viewed on YouTube. - Billboard, 3/29/23...... Elton John has paid tribute to Paul O'Grady after news of his death was announced on Mar. 29. O'Grady, the British TV presenter, actor and comedian known for his scouse drag queen persona Lily Savage and hosting shows including Blankety Blank, died on Mar. 28 at the age of 67. John is among a host of celebrities who has remembered the star. In particular, Elton praised O'Grady for his support of LGBTQ+ rights and his AIDS and HIV activism. "Saddening news to hear of Paul O'Grady's passing this morning," John began his message on Instagram alongside a photo of the pair. "A brilliant entertainer, wit, and supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and the fight against AIDS and HIV who I was fortunate enough to spend time with including when he hosted @davidfurnish's and my Stag Party before our Civil Partnership in 2005. Thank you for all the joy you brought into the world, Paul. You went places nobody had gone before and we will miss you very much." In other Elton news, the Radio Academy annuonced on Mar. 31 that John will be among the nominees that will be recognised at the 2023 ARIAS at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in the heart of London's West End on May 2. Elton will be up for a Best Specialist Music Show award for his Rocket Hour with Elton John Apple Music Radio podcast. In late March, John kicked off the final leg of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, which has been plagued by severe delays since it began in 2018. The current U.K. and Europe leg was postponed from 2021 to 2023 so Elton could undergo surgery on his hip. - NME/Music-News.com, 3/29/23...... 
Iconic English pop/rockers The Hollies have announced a huge UK fall tour that's set to launch at Blackburn's King George's Hall on Sept. 16. The Hollies -- who celebrated their 60th anniversary with a live run in 2022 -- are entering their seventh decade as a band, and they're marking the occasion with a 26-show run that will culminate on Nov. 9 at the London Palladium. The tour will feature original members, drummer Bobby Elliott and lead guitarist Tony Hicks, joined by lead singer Peter Howarth, bass player Ray Stiles, keyboardist Ian Parker and rhythm guitarist Steve Lauri. Performing continuously since being formed in 1962, The Hollies have spent a total of 263 weeks in the top 40 in the UK, and were awarded an Ivor Novello for their outstanding contribution to British music in 1995. More info can be found on TheHolliesOfficial.com. - Music-News.com, 3/27/23...... Spinning Gold, a new film that explores the fantastical tale of Neil Bogart, the freewheeling, charismatic entrepreneur who brought '70s records from KISS, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, the Isley Brothers, the Village People and Parliament to the world, through Buddah and then Casablanca Records, opened theatrically on Mar. 31. Though he ultimately created one of the most successful independent labels ever, Casablanca's future seemed perilous at every turn -- as Bogart borrowed money from mobsters to keep the wins coming, became a drug and gambling addict and basically made one bad business decision after another. But his reliable musical instincts in spotting talent and persistence led to a glorious run of hits before he sold the label to Polygram in 1980. The movie's story is told by Bogart, who died in 1982 at age 39, and is played in the movie by Tony-nominated actor Jeremy Jordan, as he looks back on his professional and personal life with the losses as highlighted as the wins as he seemingly rises from the ashes again and again. Written and directed by Bogart's oldest son, Timothy Scott Bogart, Spinning Gold has been a two-decades labor of love with many fits and starts, but now that it is here, Bogart says he hopes it gives fans of the music a chance to get to know the person behind the hits. "I've always believed that my father has been lost to music history. When we think of the greatest showmen, we think of Jimmy Iovine, Clive Davis -- but my dad was absolutely as significant and transformative," Bogart says. "To finally get the film to be seen -- for me, as a storyteller who has fought so hard for so long -- is remarkably rewarding." - Billboard, 3/29/23...... Peter Gabriel added further dates to his upcoming "i/o" tour of North America behind his upcoming album of the same name. Gabriel previously announced that he would be heading to Europe and the UK in spring this year in support of his 10th studio album. His ninth and most recent studio album, New Blood, came out in 2011. Gabriel has extended his planned dates in North America, to include shows in Washington, D.C., Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Saint Paul, Palm Springs, Denver, Austin, Dallas, and Houston. The European leg is set to kick off in Krakow, Poland on May 18 ahead of further dates in Verona, Milan, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Amsterdam and other cities throughout that month and into June. The former Genesis singer will then touch down in the UK where he'll take to the stage at Birmingham's Utilita Arena (June 17), The O2 in London (June 19), the OVO Hydro in Glasgow (June 22), the AO Arena in Manchester (June 23) and the 3Arena in Dublin (June 25). Announcing the tour at the time, Gabriel said: "It's been a while and I am now surrounded by a whole lot of new songs and am excited to be taking them out on the road for a spin. Look forward to seeing you out there." In January, he shared his first single in seven years, "Panopticom," teaming up with Brian Eno, bassist Tony Levin, drummer Manu Katch, and guitarist David Rhodes for the track. - NME, 3/25/23...... 
Former Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth has described frontman David Byrne as "insecure" in a series of essays in the London Sunday Times. Alongside drummer and husband Chris Frantz, who released a memoir titled Remain In Love: Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Tina in 2020, she opened up about their complicated relationship with Byrne. "I recently described David Byrne as Trumpian, which didn't go down well with everybody," Weymouth wrote. "What I meant was that, from my experience, everything with David is transactional -- he will use you until he has no more use for you." She continued: "He always seemed very insecure about himself and would often try to blame other people if things went wrong. Chris and I loved him dearly and we did our best to overlook these disastrous character flaws, but it seemed obvious that Talking Heads wasn't going to last. In interviews David always says he's happy and I'd like to believe that. But if he's happy, why does he refuse to refer to Chris and I or Jerry by name? He calls us 'people he used to play with.' Isn't that odd? I've been around the block a few times and I've realized that people act like animals. Some are doves: beautiful and peaceful, like Chris. Unfortunately some are sly foxes." Talking Heads last reunited at the ceremony of their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2002. - NME, 3/25/23...... Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason says he's heard his former bandmate Roger Waters' re-recording of the band's iconic 1973 LP The Dark Side of the Moon and, "annoyingly, it's absolutely brilliant!" Earlier in 2023, Waters revealed that he was creating his own new version of Dark Side to mark its 50th anniversary in March. Speaking at a playback of the original The Dark Side of the Moon in Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio at the Odeon Luxe in London, Mason said: "I heard the rumour that Roger was working on his own version of it. There was this suggestion that this was going to be a spoiler and Roger was going to go head-to-head with the original version and so on. He actually sent me a copy of what he was working on and I write to him and said, 'Annoyingly, it's absolutely brilliant!' It was and is. It's not anything that would be a spoiler for the original at all, it's an interesting add-on to the thing.... I just like this idea of developing music rather than trying to retain it exactly as it was." - Music-News.com, 3/27/23...... Roger Daltrey headlined the final night of the Teenage Cancer Trust benefit at the Royal Albert Hall on Mar. 26. Daltrey, an Honorary Patron of TCT, performed with his 8-piece solo band, playing classics and celebrating some of his favourite songs from both his work with The Who and his solo career. They opened on a Pete Townshend solo track, "Let My Love Open the Door." Then "Squeeze Box" took on a cajun flavour, while solo hits "After The Fire" and "Giving It All Away" found Daltrey in fine voice, while Kelly Jones joined him for a brilliant "Substitute." "Baba O'Riley" rounded off a fantastic night with virtuoso violin recreating the famous Who track with tremendous style. Since 2000, over £32 million has been raised by Teenage Cancer Trust concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, and that money has helped fund specialist nurses, hospital units and support services right across the UK that help get young people through some unimaginably hard times. "In this, our 21st year, after two years of artists having no shows at all, at a time where the only certain paydays are from live performances, artists are willing to give up their earnings from a London show," Daltrey said after the show. "It shows us that miracles are everywhere, but if you cough or sneeze you'd miss them!" The Who will kick off a 10-date European tour in Hull on July 6. - Music-News.com, 3/27/23...... Songwriter Keith Reid -- the lyricist for Procol Harum who co-wrote the band's highest-charting hit, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" -- has died at age 76, his family and the band announced on Mar. 29. He was 76. "We are sad to hear of the death of Keith Reid," a statement on Procol Harum's Facebook page read. "An unparalleled lyricist Keith wrote the words to virtually all Procol Harum songs, as well as co-writing the John Farnham hit 'You're the Voice.' His lyrics were one of a kind and helped to shape the music created by the band. His imaginative, surreal and multi-layered words were a joy to Procol fans and their complexity by design was a powerful addition [to] the Procol Harum catalogue. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends." Reid co-founded Procol Harum with his friend Gary Booker, Procol Harum's lead singer, pianist and composer who died in 2022, also at age 76. Procol Harum is likely best known for their 1967 debut single "A Whiter Shade of Pale," which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Singles category in 2018. The track sold 10 million copies worldwide, spent six weeks atop the U.K. singles chart, and reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band had two other top 40 Hot 100 hits, both co-written by Reid: "Homburg" (No. 34 in 1967) and "Conquistador" (No. 16 in 1972). - Billboard, 3/29/23...... 
Guitarist Tom Leadon, co-founder of Tom Petty's early band Mudcrutch and the brother of former Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon, died on Mar. 22 at age 70. "It is with great sadness, but profound love and gratitude for his life, that the family of Tom Leadon (Thomas Joseph Leadon) of Nashville, Tenn., and Gainesville, Fla., announce his passing on March 22, 2023 peacefully of natural causes. He was 70," a statement by Petty's official fan club read. Mike Campbell, former Mudcrutch and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers member, also shared his thoughts regarding Leadon s loss. "Tom Leadon was my deepest guitar soul brother, we spent countless hours playing acoustic guitars and teaching each other things," he wrote. "A kinder soul never walked the earth. I will always miss his spirit and generosity. Sleep peacefully my old friend." Leadon's music career dates back to high school, during which he was a member of The Epics and met Petty (who played bass in the group, while Leadon was on lead guitar). The duo then formed Mudcrutch, which Campbell joined to play guitar, and members Randall Marsh and Jim Lenahan joined for drums and vocals, respectively. Leadon would ultimately leave the band in 1972 following a fight with Petty, but later played bass in Linda Rondstadt's band, and in 1976 joined Silver, which earned a Top 20 hit with its track "Wham-Bam." Tom Leadon also co-wrote the Eagles' "Hollywood Waltz" in 1975; the band released it on its One of These Nights LP. Leadon is credited on the song alongside his brother Bernie, Glenn Frey and Don Henley. "He was a dear friend of Tom and the fellas in the band and our entire family. He was part of the brotherhood," Petty's daughter, Adria, also shared in a statement on the late rocker s official Instagram account. "He was an excellent and accomplished musician and was the reason Tom reformed Mudcrutch, so that the band could enjoy more time and more music together. Tom loved him deeply." - Billboard, 3/28/23.
Neil Young has joined the battle of such artists as alternative rocker Robert Smith of The Cure against concert ticket distributor Ticketmaster for what both men say are its exorbitant added fees. "It's over. The old days are gone," Young posted on his Neil Young Archives site below an all-caps opening line that claimed that TM fees are "at 30%." Young says that he's gotten letters from fans blaming him for $3,000 tickets for a benefit he's doing. "That money does not go to me or the benefit. Artists have to worry about ripped off fans blaming them for Ticketmaster add-ons and scalpers.... Concert tours are no longer fun," he said. Young, who save for a few benefit appearances has mostly stayed off the road since before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, also recapped the public battle Robert Smith has been waging over the past few weeks surrounding his outrage over the additional fees tacked onto the price of tickets for his band's upcoming North American tour, which, in some cases, exceeded the face value of the ticket. Young also linked to news reports about Smith's battle with TM, which came after the company's disastrous roll-out of tickets for the 2023 Taylor Swift tour when TM's servers were overwhelmed by demand (and an army of bots). The Justice Department has also held hearings looking into TM and sister company Live Nation Entertainment as part of an antitrust investigation. - Billboard, 3/24/23...... 
For Joni Mitchell, one of the greatest singer-songwriters of her generation, winning the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song earlier in March was a brilliant homecoming. "So many people that I care about are here tonight," she said during a star-studded gala held in her honor in Washington, D.C. on Mar. 1. Many of her fellow music icons came to perform, feting the 79-year-old whose voice once danced among five octaves. Several songs were plucked from 1971's renowned Blue LP: Graham Nash covered "A Case of You," and James Taylor punctuated "California" by calling Joni "a national treasure." The event was taped, and PBS will premiere the hour-long Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song special on Mar. 31 at 9:00 p.m/8 central (check local listings at pbs.org). Meanwhile, Academy Award-winning director Cameron Crowe is reportedly developing a movie about Mitchell, with the cooperation of the singer-songwriter. Crowe has had a longstanding relationship with Mitchell, and sources close to him claim the film will not be a standard biopic or a documentary, but instead be more akin to an autobiography. The Mitchell project -- which has yet to receive a title, release date or cast -- will be Crowe's first project since the 2016 comedy series Roadies. Mitchell, 79, has made few public appearances or performances since suffering a brain aneurysm rupture in Mar. 2015, but she's set to return to the stage later this summer, playing her first headline show in 23 years. She has also announced plans to release her comeback Newport Folk Festival performance in 2022 as a live album. - TV Guide/New Musical Express, 3/27/23...... In other documentary news, a full-length feature about New Wave icons Devo has been announced. Titled Devo, it will be helmed by director Chris Smith (American Movie (1999) and Fyre (2019), and be the first fully-authorized film about the group. It will chart the Ohio-based band's career, from their formation in the aftermath of the 1970 Kent State massacre to their breakout with "Whip It." "Devo was a huge influence on me," Smith said in a statement. "Their approach to music, film, video, and art was something I had never seen before and was one of the truly formative artistic influences that showed me there were entirely new ways to look at things." Devo will feature a mixture of interviews and never-before-seen archival footage. The movie is currently in production, but no release date has been announced. Meanwhile, a new biopic chronicling the early years of KISS is coming to Netflix in 2024, it was revealed on Mar. 23 by the band's longtime manager Doc McGhee McGhee discussed the project recently on The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn show. "It's a biopic about the first four years of KISS," McGhee says. "We're just starting it now. We've already sold it, it's already done, we have a director, McG. That's moving along and that'll come in '24." It appeared that McGhee was referring to Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle director and veteran music video helmer McG, who most recently worked with Jennifer Garner on the Netflix comedy Family Leave. McGhee's interview with Brunn has been shared on YouTube. - NME/Billboard, 3/23/23...... Dolly Parton announced on Mar. 22 she's releasing a new book on Oct. 17 titled Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, an in-depth look at the country icon's lifelong passion for style. Parton says she collaborated on the book with author/journalist Holly George-Warren, with curation by Rebecca Seaver, Parton's director of archive services. George-Warren has authored more than a dozen books, including the Janis Joplin biography, Janis: Her Life and Music. "I am happy, proud and excited to present my book Behind the Seams to the public," Dolly said in a statement. "It is my hope that you will enjoy a look at my life in costume and hair and get to know some of the great people who have helped shape my life and my look." The book offers a look at the Country music legend's private costume archive, with photographs highlighting many of her most iconic looks, beginning with the 1960s (Parton released her debut album, Hello, I'm Dolly, in 1967) and chronicling her style through present-day. The book spotlights her famous wigs, towering heels and sparkly stage clothes -- including the bunny suit she wore on the cover of Playboy, attire worn at the storied Studio 54, and costumes from many of her film and television roles. In 2022, Parton teamed with best-selling author James Patterson on the fiction book Run Rose Run. - Billboard, 3/22/23...... 
In related news, '70s funk rock legend Sly Stone will release a new memoir also on Oct. 17. Titled after one of his band Sly & The Family Stone's biggest hits, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin): A Memoir will dive into a firsthand account of the San Francisco-based musician's personal life, and share anecdotes from his 50-year-long tenure in the music industry. "For as long as I can remember folks have been asking me to tell my story, I wasn't ready," Sly said in a press release. "I had to be in a new frame of mind to become Sylvester Stewart again to tell the true story of Sly Stone. It's been a wild ride and hopefully, my fans enjoy it too." The memoir, published by White Rabbit Books, was co-written with the help of rock journalist Ben Greenman -- who has written memoirs with the likes of Parliament-Funkadelic's George Clinton, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and more. As well as sharing the narrative behind some of his most famous tracks, Thank You will also shine a spotlight on the reasons why the musician dropped out of the public eye. These include his gradual reliance on hard drugs, and his struggle to re-establish himself in the 1980s. Thank You's foreward was written by legendary American musician, Questlove. - NME, 3/22/23...... The Who guitarist/vocalist Pete Townshend has released "Can't Outrun the Truth," his first solo single in nearly 30 years, to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. Townshend, who co-founded the organization with his Who bandmate Roger Daltrey, says he wanted to help after the Covid-19 Lockdown saw many charities struggle. "The pandemic years were terrible for charities; the Teenage Cancer Trust was created in order to take the money from a series of concerts at the Albert Hall every year and various other things and that had all dropped out," the 77-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said. "So, the idea of doing this, which is something that has sprung out of Lockdown about mental illness, but also for this particular charity. If you've got a scenario in which somebody in your family or a teenager has got cancer, they're being treated, Lockdown hits, and you're not allowed to go and visit them. There's a poignancy to the whole thing about the song." Money raised from the vinyl sales of the single and a portion of the digital downloads will go to the TCT. Townshend's last new singles were in 2015 when he shared "Guantanamo" and "How Can I Help You" on the compilation Truancy: The Very Best Of Pete Townshend. His last solo LP was 1993's rock opera concept Psychoderelict. - Music-News.com, 3/25/23...... Eddie Van Halen's son Wolfgang Van Halen has slammed some detractors on Twitter who accused him of "taking advantage" of his name. Wolfgang has faced criticism for using the Van Halen name, and supposedly failing to honor his late father by not playing VH songs live. "If a person wants to make a name for themselves they wouldn't take advantage of their famous father's last name & band name," one of Wolfie's critics posted on Mar. 21. "His father & uncle didn't have that. Everyone in the band didn't have that. Matter of fact, majority of current & former bands & singers didn't have that." Wolfgang responded with his own Twitter post, saying "Van Halen is literally my f---ing name you grape," later posting, "You guys understand Van Halen is literally a name. Like way before it was a band. Right? That good ol' American rock and roll you love so much was written by a Dutch immigrant named Edward Lodewik Van Halen, not some dude changing his name to sound cool and 'rock n roll' and shit?" Wolfgang then decided to make light of the situation by sharing a poll to Twitter asking his followers to help him choose a new name -- either "Wolfgang Led Zeppelin," "Wolfgang AC/DC," "Wolfgang The Who" or "Wolfgang Paul McCartney." "I really wanted to write 'Wolfgang Paul McCartney & Wings' but there was a character limit," he added. On Mar. 22, Wolfgang announced a second album under his Mammoth WVH moniker, Mammoth II, will drop on Aug. 4. He also shared its lead single, "Another Celebration At The End Of The World." - NME, 3/22/23...... 
Singer-songwriter John Sebastian's songwriter interest in the '60s pop band The Lovin' Spoonful he once led has been acquired by AMR Songs, a music asset investment firm and music company that's been quietly scooping up rights since 2021. AMR also purchased all rights from Sebastian's solo catalog, which includes such hits as "Welcome Back," as well as the master recording catalog of reggae band SOJA, among other investments. "AMR's involvement in my catalog... will ensure that my songs will keep singing for a good long time," Sebastian said in a statement. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. - Billboard, 3/22/23...... A petition that aims to reverse the recent decision by authorities in Frankfurt, Germany to ban a planned concert there by former Pink Floyd member Roger Waters has been launched on Change.org, with some famous signees that include Eric Clapton and Waters' former bandmate, drummer Nick Mason. Waters had been set to perform in Frankfurt on May 28 as part of his "This Is Not A Drill" tour -- however the show was pulled by the officials at Frankfurt City Council following accusations of anti-Semitism. Also showing their solidarity with Waters by signing the petition, which has at least 10,000 signatures, are Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Soft Machine founder Robert Wyatt and actresses Susan Sarandon and Julie Christie. "Waters' criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians is part of his long-term advocacy on behalf of human rights across the globe," reads the description alongside the petition. "The officials vilifying Waters are engaging in a dangerous campaign that purposely conflates criticism of Israel's illegal and unjust policies with antisemitism." A second petition has also been launched on Change.org, opposing the first. Currently, the decision to cancel Waters' Frankfurt show remains in place. All other dates as part of the "This Is Not A Drill tour" are scheduled to continue. - NME, 3/21/23...... After former president Donald Trump claimed that he would be arrested on Mar. 21 on charges related to an investigation into a $130,000 (£106,000) payment to porn star Stormy Daniel with whom he allegedly had an affair, avid Trump supporter and conservative musician Ted Nugent urged Trump supporters to remain peaceful" if the former president is arrested. Speaking during the recent edition of his news commentary series The Nightly Nuge, the controversial American rocker told his viewers to "stand strong" and "remain peaceful" no matter the outcome. "Put on your truck light. Put on your porch light. Carry a lantern. We need to stand strong," Nugent said. "And if they wanna arrest President Trump, we need to not protest; we need to not put on rallies... because Antifa, Black Lives Matter and these imported Chinese nationals and Somali nationals who are coming across our open border, as orchestrated by Biden Satan gang, they are ready to do battle." Nugent went on to tell Trump's supporters to instead participate in non-violent forms of protest. "Do not go into battle -- yet," he continued, adding that people should "remain peaceful and shine a positive, loving, patriotic light on the darkness." On Mar. 18, Trump -- who is running for president in 2024 -- took to his Truth Social platform to tell his followers to "protest" and "take our nation back" should he be arrested. He used similar language when he called on his supporters to take part in a "big protest" in Washington D.C. in the wake of Biden's 2021 election victory. Trump was later impeached for the second time in his presidency for inciting the US Capitol riot, in which five people died. Nugent, however, reiterated that protest should be "peaceful" this time. "Remain strong. Remain spiritual," he said. "Pray like you've never prayed before, and in a loving, supportive, civil manner, convince anybody in your life." In Dec. 2022, Nugent was the recipient of a "Great American Defender Of Freedom Award" from Trump at the American Freedom Tour's Winter Gala at Mar-A-Lago in Florida.- NME, 3/21/23...... 
In other Pink Floyd-related news, the 50th anniversary of the legendary prog-rock band's seminal album The Dark Side of The Moon is currently being celebrated across the globe. A remastered deluxe box set of the 1973 record was released on Mar. 23, plus fans can get their hands on the CD and first-ever vinyl issue of The Dark Side Of The Moon - Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974, and the book Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon: 50th Anniversary. To further mark the occasion, New York City's iconic Empire State Building was illuminated with the band's 50th Anniversary prism on Mar. 24, and could seen throughout the city or viewed live from the Empire State Building Live Cam. Meanwhile, in Italy, a light show at Milan's Duomo square on Mar. 23 saw the prism cover 500 square meters, plus the rainbow ray of lights and the white beam. Fans are also able to have an immersive experience listening to The Dark Side Of The Moon that promises to "take you way beyond the realms of 2D experience" at planetariums across the globe. Dates and ticket information can be found at pinkfloyd.com. - Music-News.com, 3/25/23...... Iconic TV, movie and stage actor Dick Van Dyke was injured in a single-car collision near his Malibu, Calif. home on Mar. 22. Authorities said Van Dyke, now 97, was driving in a severe downpour and collided with a gate. Police cleared him of driving under the influence but submitted paperwork requiring him retake his driving test. - TMZ.com, 3/22/23...... Nicholas Lloyd Webber, the Grammy-nominated composer, record producer and eldest son of Andrew Lloyd Webber, died on Mar. 25 in England after a protracted battle with gastric cancer and pneumonia. He was 43. "His whole family is gathered together and we are all totally bereft," the 75-year-old Webber said in a statement emailed by a representative. "Thank you for all your thoughts during this difficult time." Andrew Lloyd Webber, the famed composer of such blockbuster musicals such as "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Cats," "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Evita," missed the Mar. 23 Broadway opening of his latest musical "Bad Cinderella" to be at his son's side with other loved ones. Nicholas Webber is best known for his work on the BBC One's Love, Lies and Records, which was based on the book The Little Prince. He also worked on his father's 2021 "Cinderella," earning a Grammy nod for best musical theater album. Nicholas is Andrew Lloyd's son with his first wife, Sarah Hugill, also the mother of his older sister, Imogen. The senior Webber has four other children. - Billboard, 3/25/23.
Earth, Wind & Fire, currently touring the US, will play shows right up to its Bonnaroo Music Festival appearance on June 12 in Manchester, Tenn., then starts another summer run with Chicago on July 15 in Concord, Calif. EWF bassist and co-founder Verdine White says his group is no stranger to playing large-scale festivals where it might stick out a bit from the rest of the bands. "It kind of goes back to our roots," White recently told Billboard about his upcoming Bonnaroo date. "(1974's) California Jam, you know, things like that we did way back in the day before any of these young people were born. We were playing a lot of those kind of festivals back in the early '70s and things like that. It's a cool festival to be part of, and we're really happy about that. It's kind of going to remind us of back in the day." White says the band's Bonnaroo setlist may involve the triple-platinum LP 
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell has revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that Petty wants to make another Mudcrutch album, named after Petty's pre-fame band and who finally released a debut album in 2008. Campbell, who also started in Mudcrutch but transitioned to the Heartbreakers with Petty, added that "It probably won't take very long. It's a labor of love, really." Campbell says the album would have gotten underway in January, but medical issues with Mudcrutch guitarist Tom Leadon held up the process. Leadon was one of two of Mudcrutch's five members, along with drummer Randall Marsh, who did not go on to form Petty's backing band. "I hope we do some gigs again this time," Campbell said when asked of a potential Mudcrutch tour. "If we have the time and the guys are all up for it, then I'd love to go out and play. But we'll start with the record and see what comes up." Meanwhile, a previously unreleased Tom Petty song will be featured in the long-awaited big screen adaptation of the hit HBO series Entourage. The lovely, contemplative rock track "Somewhere Under Heaven," a previously unreleased gem from Petty's 1994 classic solo LP Wildflowers, is also currently streaming on Spotify, and will be available on the upcoming release Wildflowers: All the Rest, a collection rounding up the material that didn't make Petty's second solo album. - Billboard, 6/2/15...... The Rolling Stones have released an alternate version of "Brown Sugar" featuring Eric Clapton on slide guitar that will be included on the band's upcoming 
Although two factions of the late Robin Williams's family have settled their differences over dividing the actor's personal effects, they remain at odds over how much cash Williams's widow Susan should receive over her lifetime. A hearing has been scheduled for early June in San Francisco Superior Court to determine how much money she should receive from her late husband, who hanged himself in August in the Tiburon home they shared. The Mork & Mindy star left most of his estate to his three children, including the proceeds from the sale of a Napa County home and property. But Williams did leave the Tiburon home to Susan with instructions that she receive enough money to maintain it through her lifetime. - AP, 6/1/15...... Academy Award-winning costume designer Julie Harris, who outfitted such '60s icons as The Beatles and Sean Connery as James Bond, died on May 30 at a London hospital after suffering from a chest infection. She was 94. Ms. Harris played a major role in capturing the look of 1960s "Swinging London" on film, and dressed the Beatles for both A Hard Day's Night and Help! "I must be one of the few people who can claim they have seen John, Paul, George and Ringo naked," she later said. She won an Oscar for the 1965 film Darling, and a British film award, the BAFTA, for the 1966 Michael Caine comedy The Wrong Box. - AP, 6/1/15...... Betsy Palmer, the veteran character actress known for appearing as a regular panelist on the CBS game show I've Got a Secret for a decade starting in 1958, died on May 29 of natural causes at a hospice care center in Connecticut. She was 88. Ms. Palmer also achieved lasting, though not necessarily sought-after, fame as the murderous camp cook in the cheesy 1980 horror film Friday the 13th. Ms. Palmer had appeared in films, on Broadway and in TV shows for years before she took the role of Mrs. Voorhees in Friday the 13th in which young camp counselors suddenly begin meeting their bloody ends. The wholesome Indiana native also starred in numerous TV shows from the early 1950s, among them Kraft Theatre, Playhouse 90 and Studio One. Her film credits included three movies released in 1955 -- Mister Roberts with Henry Fonda (as nurse Lt. Ann Girard, she was one of the few women in the cast), The Long Gray Line with Tyrone Power and Queen Bee with Joan Crawford. Other credits include The Tin Star (1957), The True Story of Lynn Stuart and The Last Angry Man (1959). Other TV credits included Knot's Landing (as the aunt of Joan Van Ark), The Love Boat, Newhart, Just Shoot Me!, T.J. Hooker and Murder, She Wrote. - The Hollywood Reporter, 6/1/15.
Reports are circulating that a brain aneurysm was the reason for Joni Mitchell's recent admission to a hospital, where she has remained for nearly two months. Sources close to Mitchell have reported that she remains in "very serious" condition, and is expected to be moved to a rehab facility in the near future. Mitchell, 71, was hospitalised in Los Angeles on Mar. 31, after being found unconscious at her home. Representatives for the singer recently denied reports that she is in a coma and unresponsive. A statement on her official website, and approved by Leslie Morris, read: "Contrary to rumors circulating on the Internet today, Joni is not in a coma. Joni is still in the hospital -- but she comprehends, she's alert, and she has her full senses. A full recovery is expected." On May 4, Mitchell's lawyer Alan Watenmaker told a court that she could be released from hospital shortly during a court hearing concerning a request for conservatorship from her longtime friend Leslie Morris. Another report by Showbiz 411 claims "speech is difficult" for the Canadian singer/songwriter icon, "but she's communicating." - Billboard/NME, 5/29/15...... Playing the Liverpool Echo Arena on May 28, Paul McCartney encouraged a nervous fan to go ahead and propose to his girlfriend before the audience. McCartney invited the young couple, named Fabrice Gueho and Diane McEvoy, on to the stage mid-set, where Gueho asked McEvoy to marry him. In response to Gueho's initial nerves, McCartney attempted to spur the man on. "Come on, get serious, do it, we're all watching," he said, somewhat abruptly. Gueho proceeded to get down on one knee to propose, with McEvoy saying "yes" to a loud cheer from the crowd. The future bride, McEvoy, also has a Beatles connection -- she is employed at the city's Beatles Story Museum. McCartney's Liverpool gig came after recent concerts in London and Birmingham. Meanwhile, Sir Paul revealed to London's Daily Mirror on May 29 that, as a grandfather, he's given up marijuana after many years of indulgence and now prefers wine or "a nice margarita." Paul, 72, said that he doesn't want to set a bad example for his children and grandchildren by smoking pot, and that his decision is "a parent thing" and that "the last time I smoked was a long time ago." In other Macca-related news, the casting director of the hit '90s NBC sitcom Friends said in a recent interview with HuffingtonPost.com that she once tried to get the famous former Beatle to appear on the long-running show, to play Ross Geller's father-in-law when he married Emily Waltham during the two-part season four finale back in 1998. "I went through his manager and gave him all the details," Litt recalled. "One day, someone in the office brought me a faxed letter written to me by Paul himself!" "He thanked me for my interest and said how flattered he was, but it was a very busy time for him," she added. - NME/AP/Billboard, 5/29/15...... In other Beatles-related news, Ringo Starr told the UK's Uncut magazine that working with John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band was one of the "best experiences" of his career. "It was incredible," Starr said of the 1970 
Michael Jackson's former Neverland Ranch estate in Santa Ynez, Calif., has been put on the market, with an asking price of $100 million. The estate now features over 20 structures including the main house, guest houses, 50-seat movie theatre and a station that served as a stop-off point for Jackson's miniature railway. Jackson bought the 2,700-acre property in 1987 for $19.5 million and staged his marriage ceremony to Lisa Marie Presley there in 1995. He refused to return there after a 2004 police raid and investigation into child molestation charges against him. The estate's agent, Sotheby's Interternational Realtors, say the current owners, Colony Capital, are keen to keep fans away from the property and hope to sell the ranch quickly by planning an "extensive prequalification" of all potential buyers before showing the property. "We're not going to be giving tours," SIR's Suzanne Perkins said. - WENN.com, 5/29/15...... In other Michael Jackson news, on May 26 Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff dismissed a choreographer's claim that the King of Pop once molested him as a child. The judge said that Wade Robson, who had previously denied that Jackson had molested him and even testified in Jackson's defense in a criminal trial in 2005, had waited too long to file the case in court. Robson, who is also a former dancer with Britney Spears, then sued Jackson's estate in May 2013 and sought to file a late claim against the singer's estate. Jackson's estate has denied Robson's allegations of abuse, and Robson's attorney has yet to respond to the judge's decision. - AP, 5/27/15...... Organizers of the upcoming Grateful Dead "Fare Thee Well" concerts have announced they will release over 300 tickets to the shows on eBay with proceeds going to benefit a number of charities. Bidding for these tickets will reportedly begin at face value. From there, net proceeds from the sales will be split between the charities chosen by the Grateful Dead, which include The Rainforest Action Network, NORML, SEVA, Conscious Alliance, and the Rex Foundation. At the shows, the charities will have a presence in an area billed as "Participation Row." The Dead's Fare Thee Well shows will mark the band's 50th anniversary. The band will play Santa Clara, Calif., on June 27 and 28 and then head to Chicago July 3-5. - Billboard, 5/28/15...... 
As Fleetwood Mac kicked off a UK reunion tour at London's O2 Arena on May 27, singer Stevie Nicks told the UK's Mojo magazine that "every band should have a girl in it." "I think every band should have a girl in it, because it's always going to make for more cooler stuff going on than if it's just a bunch of guys," Nicks said. "It's ultimately more romantic, no matter what. Even if nobody is getting together, it still casts a romantic spell." Fleetwood Mac will kick off their European tour with a series of UK and Ireland dates, playing 6 concerts at London's O2, three dates in Birmingham, two dates in Manchester, three dates in Glagow, a date in Dublin, and two dates in Leeds including the closer on July 5. - NME, 5/27/15...... Influential '70s disco producer/composer Giorgio Moroder is premiering a megamix video featuring a group of dancers bringing the tracks of his upcoming album, 
Founding Pink Floyd members Roger Waters and Nick Mason unveiled a plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the group's formation at London's University Of Westminister on May 28. The iconic prog-rock band was formed at the university (formerly known as Regent Street Polytechnic) in 1965, and initially going by the name Sigma 6, with keyboardist Richard Wright joining the group soon after. Wright died in 2008. David Gilmour did not attend the event because he didn't join the band until 1967. "Put it like this: if we'd gone up for Britain's Got Talent, I don't think we would have made it past the audition stage," Mason told the BBC. "We weren't terribly good," he added, to which Waters replied: "We were effing awful." While Waters was eager to participate in the 50th anniversary ceremony, he has insisted he'll never rejoin the band and recently told fans hoping for him to rejoin to "get a grip" via Facebook. - New Musical Express, 5/29/15...... Neil Young announced the tracklisting for his forthcoming concept album 
Todd Rundgren's latest effort, 
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has revealed details of his first ever solo album, a country-infuenced LP titled 
Queen guitarist Brian May posted a note on his personal website on June 8 blasting US Republican presidential hopeful Donald J. Trump's use of Queen's triumphant classic song "We Are the Champions" as Trump walked onstage after he swept the final Republican primaries the evening before. "I've had an avalanche of complaints - some of which you can see in our 'LETTERS' page - about Donald Trump using our 'We Are The Champions' track as his 'theme' song on USA TV," May wrote. "This is not an official Queen statement, but I can confirm that permission to use the track was neither sought nor given. We are taking advice on what steps we can take to ensure this use does not continue. Regardless of our views on Mr Trump's platform, it has always been against our policy to allow Queen music to be used as a political campaigning tool. Our music embodies our own dreams and beliefs, but it is for all who care to listen and enjoy." - Billboard, 6/9/16...... In other presidential campaign news, Barbra Streisand has weighed in on Hillary Clinton's historic achievement of becoming the first woman in history to become the presumptive nominee of a major American political party. "I feel a tremendous rush of pride because this is a woman who is more than qualified to be president," Streisand said in a statement. "Isn't it interesting how a barrier seems insurmountable -- until it comes down? I hope girls across the country are thinking, 'That could be me.' And like I said after the first woman got a best director Academy Award, it's about time!" - Billboard, 6/8/16...... Meanwhile, former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne has expressed his general disgust with the state of the 2016 US presidential race, saying he's "saddened by the low level to which US politics has sunk." "We're better than this," writes Byrne, without ever naming any current or former candidates. "We are a country that, to the surprise of many, elected a black president In fact, folks turned out in droves to vote for (Barack) Obama. Citizens in many areas -- especially places with young, low-income, and minority populations -- got out to the polls and made themselves heard. We need to do this again." Byrne added that citizens can become involved by supporting organizations such as the Community Voters Project, whose staffers hit the pavement to register voters one-by-one, and Project Vote, a legal group that provides "advocacy, litigation, research, and technical assistance to promote voter registration laws." - Billboard, 6/6/2016...... 
The four original members of ABBA -- Agnetha Faltskog, Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstand and Bjorn Ulvaeus -- reunited on June 5 for a brief 50th anniversary performance a private party in a Stockholm hotel. According to Swedish newspaper Expressen, the party featured a performance from Faltskog and Lyngstad, who sang the ABBA song "The Way Old Friends Do." Ulvaeus and Andersson joined them on stage towards the end of the song, completing a brief reunion performance from the group. Afterward, Lyngstad was quoted as saying the reunion was "absolutely amazing" and "very nostalgic," while Andersson called it a "great night." The night marked 50 years to the day since the group's principal songwriters, Ulvaeus and Andersson, first met. In 2015, Ulvaeus said that ABBA will never reform. "We took a break in '82, and it was meant to be a break," he said. "It's still a break and will remain so. You'll never see us onstage again. We don't need the money, for one thing. Usually the reason bands have reunions is that one of them is destitute and the others want to help. Fortunately that has not happened to us." - New Musical Express, 6/6/16...... In a new video interview to promote his forthcoming compilation Pure McCartney, Paul McCartney discusses how he was in Bob Dylan's hotel room in the 1960s when he began having "a mystical experience." "I could feel myself climbing a spiral walkway as I was talking to Dylan. I felt like I was figuring it all out, the meaning of life." McCartney goes on to say that he then ordered Beatles roadie Mal Evans to write down the key to it all on a piece of paper. "Mal gave me the piece of paper the next day, and on it was written 'There are seven levels.' Well, there you go, the meaning of life|" 
Paul Simon is on track to score his highest charting album in 29 years with his new studio effort 
Yusuf Islam, the singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, has released a video for a new song he has written called "He Was Alone," which was inspired by child refugees. Islam appears in the video for the spare, emotional ballad playing the haunting electric organ accompaniment amid scenes of a child fending for himself after leaving his family behind. "He was alone, when he was 12 / Only his thoughts, which he kept to himself / He didn't have a place to play / A friend to call, or a word to say," Islam sings in the track that mixes the fear and desperation of child refugees with hopeful dreams of rainbows, white horses and a return home. The song is the first new music from Islam since his 2014 album Tell 'Em I'm Gone. Islam will perform at a concert at the Westminster Central Hall on June 14 in honor of the #YouAreNot Alone charity. - Billboard, 6/7/16...... Bruce Springsteen, who just wrapped his five-show swing through England and Ireland, has announced he will release live albums of every one of his recent European tour stops. One show a week will be available starting June 15, with each also receiving a broadcast on the Boss' SiriusXM E Street Radio channel. Fans can pre-order any of the shows as MP3s, lossless FLAC or ALAC, high-resolution 24 bit FLAC-HD or ALAC-HD and collectible three-CD sets. His "River Tour: Europe 2016" kicked off with a May 14 show in Barcelona and included stops in Lisbon, Madrid, Dublin and London. It will continue through a July 31 date in Zurich. - Billboard, 6/7/16...... Making his first public appearance since the death of his late wife Rose Woodward, Tom Jones broke down in tears during an intervew at the Hay Festival on June 5 as he recalled his love for his late wife. "I realized that she's always been very important to me, throughout my life, but I now realize she might have been the most important thing in my life - and she still is," he said, as tears came to his eyes. Jones, 75, was interviewed by CQ editor Dylan Jones about his six-decade career in the music industry at the thirty-year-old annual gathering of artists, writers and thinkers. - Billboard, 6/7/16.... Late Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious is at the center of a copyright suit against contemporary artist Richard Prince. Prince is being accused by photographer Dennis Morris of "causing significant advertising injury" to him over several photos Morris took of Sid Vicious that Prince incorporated and/or appropriated into two of his works. The case will center around the nebulous legal principle of "fair use," which allows for the use of copyrighted works under certain conditions. Fair use requires that a piece refer back to the original piece but furthers it artistically, or "adds value." Morris' suit was filed in California on June 9 and seeks damages and any profits that came from the use and sale of Prince's work. - Billboard, 6/9/16.
In an interview with London's The Evening Standard paper, David Bowie's producer Tony Visconti revealed that "great" unreleased Bowie music is likely to be released in the near future. "I think it's logical that, over the next few years, you're going to hear a lot of stuff that you haven't heard before. I'm in talks with his management and his label - there's going to be some great Bowie stuff coming out," Visconti said. But the producer added that he couldn't confirm the whereabouts of five additional songs he produced during the sessions of Bowie's final album 
Ringo Starr kicked off a 19-date U.S. tour with his All-Starr Band on June 3 in Syracuse, N.Y., and the legendary drummer says he's working on 8 songs as his home studio in Los Angeles for a new album release, the followup to 2015's Postcards From Paradise, hopefully in early 2017. Ringo says two were co-written with Toto and All-Starr Band guitarist Steve Lukather and will be finished during the upcoming tour. "We've got the tracks down; now we have to write the words," Starr says. "We know where it's going. We've got the idea. We've got the first verse of one of them. The second will be a ballad. We're gonna finish them while we're on the road." Another track, meanwhile, is a collaboration with Dave Stewart originally intended for a country album the two were hoping to finish in June before the All-Starr tour was scheduled. "We'll do the country album another time now. There's lots you can do," Ringo says. Meanwhile, Starr is gearing up for his 75th birthday celebration on July 7 -- with details to be announced -- as well as the 10th anniversary of the Cirque du Soleil LOVE show in Las Vegas and the fall 2016 premiere of Ron Howard's documentary about the Beatles' touring years in America. - Billboard, 6/2/16...... The Grateful Dead spinoff band Dead & Co. announced on June 2 that they will still perform their June 10 show in Charlotte, N.C., despite speaking out against that state's controversial anti-LGBT law. Instead of canceling the concert, Dead & Co. say they plan on donating $100,000 to the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina. They will also host organizations fighting discrimination so concertgoers can learn more about the law and its impact. The band added that it will "assemble a 'Participation Row' social action area at the show, where we'll host local organizations fighting discrimination and national organizations dedicated to voter registration and protecting the planet." - Billboard, 6/2/16...... The death of Prince in his Minnesota home on the morning of Apr. 21 has been attributed to an opioid overdose, according to tests results seen by law enforcement officials. Since his death, it was widely reported that the 57-year-old musicians had been abusing painkillers, and that he had been scheduled to meet with an addiction specialist doctor on Apr. 22. The Carver County, Minn. Sheriff's Office opened a criminal investigation shortly after the singer's death. A search warrant was issued, but the documents were sealed, so details are unclear. - The Hollywood Reporter, 6/2/16...... 
In a new interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Roger Daltrey slammed the practice of Internet streaming, saying "musicians are getting robbed every day." "You get paid for streaming, my ass," Daltrey said. "Musicians are getting robbed every day. And now it's creeping into film and television, everything now. You notice, the Internet is a slowly but surely destructive thing in all ways." The Who singer added that he's unconvinced that the Internet has improved people's lives: "Look up for a while. Live in the real world." Daltrey added that he's working on a solo record, but has no idea if he'd ever release it. As for a new the Who album, Daltrey said "We've talked about it, but it's not going to be easy... Why would I make a record? I would have to pay to make a record. There's no royalties so I can't see that ever happening. There's no record business. How do you get the money to make the records? I don't know. I'm certainly not going to pay money to give my music away free. I can't afford to do that. I've got other things I could waste the money on." The musician also noted that his battle with viral meningitis in 2015 "took quite a heavy toll on me physically... My legs aren't good. My feet aren't good. But I think being able to manage it with the adrenaline of the show, that's all the matters. It's two hours of losing myself and forgetting about my feet." - Rolling Stone, 6/2/16...... Tom Petty's side project Mudcrutch has released its sophomore effort, 
On June 3, Billy Joel dedicated his 1974 song 
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali, the three-time heavyweight champion of the world and known as the most recognizable person on the planet, died on June 3 at a Phoenix, Ariz., hospital. He was 74. Born Cassius Clay in Louisville, Ky., on Jan. 17, 1942, Ali first entered the world spotlight when he captured a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. At age 22 in Feb. 1964, he surprised the surly 7-to-1 favorite Sonny Liston in Miami to take the heavyweight title for the first time. "I shook up the world! I shook up the world," he shouted in the ring. Ali beat Liston again 15 months later in Lewiston, Maine. In April 1967, he was arrested in Houston after he refused induction into the U.S. Armed Forces. The New York State Athletic Commission quickly suspended his boxing license and stripped him of his title, and other state commissions followed suit. On June 28, 1971, the Supreme Court overturned Ali's conviction, and in his third fight since returning from suspension, he lost to Joe Frazier in a 15-round unanimous decision in March 1971 in New York's Madison Square Garden in "The Fight of the Century." After avenging that defeat in a non-title bout back at the Garden in January 1974, Ali fought "The Rumble in the Jungle" in Kinshasa, Zaire, with heavyweight champ George Foreman on Oct. 30, 1974, then met his old rival Frazier again in October 1975 in the Philippines for "The Thrilla in Manilla," with Ali prevailing when Frazier could not come off his stool for the 14th round. Both fighters were exhausted and struggling to survive. In September 1976, Ali beat Ken Norton in Yankee Stadium in New York in their third meeting, and seven months after a shocking loss to Leon Spinks, he avenged that defeat in New Orleans in September 1978 to become heavyweight champ for an unprecedented third time. Ali played himself in The Greatest, a 1977 Columbia film adapted from his autobiography, and in the late 1970s, he even voiced his own Saturday morning cartoon, I Am the Greatest!: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali, which saw his character jetting around the world fighting evil. Ali, named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated in 1999, was married four times, the last to the former Lonnie Williams, who survives him, as does his nine children: Maryum, Rasheda, Jamillah, Hana, Laila (a former boxer herself and reality TV star), Khaliah, Miya, Muhammad and Asaad. In his autobiography, Ali reflected on his legacy and how he would be judged. "When I'm gone, they'll just have to look at the records and look at my actions. Then it is up to the people to rank me where they want," he wrote. - Variety, 6/4/16.