A Reunion and a Rebuttal, and a Possible breakup

A Reunion

The Police kicked off their reunion tour on May 28th at General Motors Place in Vancouver British Columbia before a sold out crowd of 20,000 people. This in response to a band that hasn't publicly played together in over twenty years. The show was opened by Fiction Plane a group led by Sting's son Joe Sumner.
The Police opened their show with "Message in a bottle" many fans in the audience stood up and sang along while some were feeling the nostalgia of the moment others weren't even born when the song was released.
Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland followed up with a six minute rendition of "Synchronicity" a track from their 1982 album by the same name.
The Police have scheduled a tour of 21 gigs in the US that include stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas,Seattle, New Orleans, and New York. Their stops in Canada include Montreal, Edmonton, and Toronto. They will also perform in South America, Europe, and finish up in Australia in early 2008. The Police are hoping to rival the Rolling Stones and U2 tours of late and join other bands that have had reunion tours such as The Eagles, Genesis, and the yet to reform Van Halen.

A Rebuttal

An unexpected critic of the show offered up his opinion of the first show. It was Stewart Copeland The Police's drummer said "the concert was unbelievably lame and the singer jumps like a petulant pansy" and the drummer is making "complete hash, and who knows what the guitarist is doing" said Copeland . The show started off rough for Copeland who tripped while walking on stage unintentionally striking a gong on his drum set. He didn't hear Sumners opening riff to "Message in a Bottle" and Sting didn't hear Copeland's drum intro. "We are half a bar out of sync with each other and Andy is in Idaho" said the drummer. They quickly recovered even though Sting got his footwork wrong as he leapt into the air to signal the end a shamble of the song "Synchronicity II." After the concert no fists flew backstage the three members of the band fell into each others arms laughing hysterically a different result from their heyday when fists flew.
Should the Police stay together for the tour they are scheduled to play and record a performance for MTV's "Unplugged" series. The series debuted in 1989 four years after the break up of the Police and Sting recorded a session as a solo artist in 1991. They will perform acoustically on July 13th at a yet to be named Miami Florida venue.

Music Notes

Prince will perform at the Macy's department store in Minneapolis on July 7th to celebrate the day his new fragrance 3121 debuts. The performance is expected to draw 1,400 fans and includes a ticket to a private show on the eighth floor of the building and one ticket to his performance that evening at the Target Center.
The cost of the package is $250 plus service fees and went on sale on Friday at Macy's in Minneapolis. Further details are posted on the purple one's website.

Johnny Borrell the front man of the english band Razorlight has recorded a solar powered song for the charity Friends of Earth. The track "Funeral Blues" that features the lead singer and a violinist highlights the solutions for climate change. The song was recorded at the Premises in Hoxton, London which is powered by 18 solar panels. The track is available on Britain's Radio 1 station and will be available for free download over the next two weeks.

The new disc by the White Stripes has been leaked by a Chicago radio station DJ Electra at Q101 and Jack White is really angry about it. The station played the disc in its entirety and was obviously instantly bootlegged placed on internet file sharing sites. Jack White called the radio station from Spain and scolded the dj and asked if she was sorry for what she had done. She wrote on her blog that someone had given a copy of the entire disc and they were excited about playing it. The whole experience was an hour long love fest for the White Stripes, and that Jack shouldn't be angry because it is believed to be a terrific disc.


Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to work with Eminem on a possible future collaboration. The composer admits that he doesn't know the rapper too well. But he has often spoken about his appreciation of the rap superstar and has even met with him, he says that Eminem is "very intelligent." Webber has written such hits as Cats, Phantom of the Opera, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.


There had been speculation that Gerard Way lead singer of My Chemical Romance had married because a ring appeared on his left hand recently. He said it was only a friendship ring but announced his engagement on June 1 during an interview on MTV 2.

George Michael has donated the piano that John Lennon used to compose "Imagine" to Virginia Tech University. A spokesman for Michael said that "Georges's deepest wish is to imagine a world with peace and without violence." Virginia Tech University is where a gunman killed 33 students in April. In other related George Michael news the singer cancelled a concert in Prague because of an accident involving two of the trucks that carried special sections of the stage. A large part of the stage podium remained trapped under a truck and it wasn't possible to replace it. No further details of the accident were given and it isn't known when the concert will be rescheduled.

Further Rehab

Bo Diddley was released from Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska he returned to his Gainesville, Fl home by private jet. He was transported to Shands Rehab Hospital to begin further speech and occupational therapy. He will spend two weeks at the facility and will continue his therapy as an outpatient. Get well wishes from fans around the world poured in as well as messages from Chuck Berry, Elvis Costello and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

Brittney Spears has posted an open letter on her website to her fans detailing her descent into madness back in February. She said that she had " truly hit rock bottom," and that she wasn't suffering from depression or alcohol but she was running around like a bad kid with ADD. She also stated that she "had a manager from a long time ago come in and try to direct me and my life after I got my divorce," referring to her on-off again manager Larry Rudolph. She went on to further state that she was overwhelmed and in shock from the divorce and admits that she was just "lost." She said that her life is both "crazy and surreal" and she is "truly blessed " thanks to her children and finished the letter saying " I just hope this letter made some of you think a little bit more of me and where I'm coming from."
At one time she was a somewhat bankable pop sta. However, her novelty quickly wore off and her music never really changed with the scene. Her first marriage of 55 hours to Jason A. Alexander and her second marriage to Kevin Federline a backup dancer who she had two children with. Then her descent into alcohol and late night parties and subsequent rehab proved that she is a former pop star looking for attention.

Legal Blotter

Five weeks into the Phil Spector trial the jury continues to hear the physical evidence of the night that Lana Clarkson died. The coroner Dr. Louis Pena testified that the barrel of the gun may have been forced into Lana Clarkson's mouth bruising her tongue before she was fatally shot. He stated that the bruise was "very unique and is consistent with blunt-force trauma." He also testified that there are bruises on Clarkson's right arm and wrist.
Clarkson had been experiencing chronic headaches had been prescribed two drugs that are generally taken for depression. He called her death a homicide and described her as a hopeful person with no history of depression or suicide attempts according to his research. Pena cited evidence that she hadn't been putting her affairs in order as some people do before a suicide. "She died with a purse on her shoulder in a strangers home, which isn't typical of someone taking their own life." Jurors were then shown graphic photos of the crime scene and the damage done to Clarkson's face, and inside of her mouth. One juror looked away and Clarkson's mother and sister were obviously not present for this part of the prosecution. The defense maintains that on Feb 3, 2003 Clarkson took her own life and Spector had nothing to do with it.


Rapper Young Jeezy( Jay Jenkins) was arrested at an Atlanta Ga strip club on Thursday. Jeezy was there with his sister and her friends when an altercation occurred around 3 am. Off duty police officers working security at the club called for backup from the county police and they responded. The officers reported that there wasn't any physical confrontation it was all verbal and confrontational because some of the group didn't want to leave. Jeezy was later booked on a disorderly conduct charge at the DeKalb county jail and released.

A possible breakup?

According to Liv Tyler her father Steven Tyler lead singer of the band Aerosmith is considering leaving. His reason is that the other members don't seem to appreciate him. However, it hasn't been confirmed that Tyler is actually leaving the band. He recently recovered from throat surgery to correct a popped blood vessel. He and his wife clothing designer Teresa Tyler of 18 years divorced in January of 2006 citing personal problems as the reason for the divorce.

My Corner

I'd like to end this entry on a happy and somewhat nostalgic tone. The Beatles album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" came out exactly forty years ago on June 1, 1967 Although, I wasn't alive when the original came out it has always been a favorite of mine. The record confused alot of people because of its psychedelic content and was considered high technology because it was stereophonic. It set a pattern for bands of the future to emulate and learn from and influenced not only pop music but all forms. If you have the opportunity I strongly advise you to listen to the original record from the beginning to the end and imagine what it must have sounded like for the first time in 1967.

Until next week

GETOUTOFMYHEAD!

YOU TUBE AWARDS

You Tube video awards

The You Tube video awards were handed out Monday by the video sharing site. This was the first awards given by the online site. The nominees of the best videos were listed in ten categories. Viewers had all week to vote for their favorite and in the music category the band Ok Go and Terra Naomi won a music awards . Ok Go won an award for the video to their song " Here It Goes Again.'"

The video is of the band using three sets of treadmills to make it look as if they are dancing to the song and is funny and clever. This is probably the most use a treadmill will receive by the members of the band. Terra Naomi won for her song " Say It's Possible" the video is of her with an acoustic guitar singing. She has used her appearance to get a deal with Island Records and will release her debut album in the summer.


Elton turns the big 60 !

Elton John celebrated his sixtieth birthday with his sixtieth concert at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 25. Elton sang thirty three of his hits in a three hour set and was joined by the Brooklyn Boys Choir. An audience of celebrities watched and Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams briefly joined him onstage. Williams said the John wore a tuxedo that made "Liberace look amish," other celebrities in the audience were Michael Caine, Rosie O'Donnnell, k.d. Lang, and Sharon Osborne.
Former president Bill Clinton also paid tribute to John's work in raising awareness and helping people with the AIDS virus. Bernie Taupin a longtime lyricist led the audience in singing happy birthday to John. John said " without Bernie none of us would be here tonight because the words have always come first."

In other Elton news the church leaders of the island country of Tobago have demanded that Elton John not play a concert scheduled to play the Plymouth Jazz Festival on April 29 th because he is gay and "have a negative social impact on the people " and " some may not be sure of their sexuality."
The political leaders of the country dismiss this idea and back John's performance at the festival. One of the organizers of the event insisted that " His band has performed in every country in the world. He is not coming here to preach about what lifestyle people should have."


Musical Notes


U2 guitarist The Edge donated his 1975 Les Gibson guitar that he has been using for ages to be auctioned off for Music Rising a program to replace musical instruments lost in New Orleans during hurricane Katrina and the flood that followed. Edge said " I wanted to give something really significant and that would really mean alot for me to give."

Lead singer of KISS Gene Simmons has made it clear that he isn't interested in a reunion of the original band lineup. He is quoted as saying "I personally don't want to, I love Ace and Peter, always have ,and because of my tough love I've never been shy about saying that they have always been drug addicts and alcoholics and they've destroyed themselves." At least you can say that he is honest.


Damon Albarn former lead singer of the band Blur/ Gorillaz has written an opera that will premiere at the Manchester International Festival. The opera is said to be based on the Chinese tale of the monkey and will be a "circus opera" which tells of the monkey's journey to the west and will feature a 45 piece troupe from China, Shaolin Monks, and martial arts experts. The show will include music composed by Albarn and visual concepts designed by Jamie Hewlett.
The festival will run from June 28-July 15 in Manchester and feature performances by Lou Reed, Smokey Robinson, PJ Harvey, Kanye West, and Happy Mondays at various venues around the city.

The White Stripes have released the track listing for their new album "Icky Thump" which will debut sometime in June. There are reports that parts of it will have a "hot tango rhythm" and bagpipes evoking a scottish them. I am not certain if these reports are rumors or truth but the White Stripes have always had some interesting songs. Here is a list of the tracks on "Icky Thump."
1. "Icky Thump”
2. “You Don’t Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You’re Told)”
3. “300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues”
4. “Conquest”
5. “Bone Broke”
6. “Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn”
7. “St. Andrew (This Battle Is in the Air)”
8. “Little Cream Soda”
9. “Rag and Bone”
10. “I’m Slowly Turning Into You”
11. “A Martyr For My Love For You”
12. “Catch Hell Blues”
13. “Effect and Cause

Jack White of the White Stripes will play Elvis in an upcoming movie called 'Walk Hard' a parody of the Johnny Cash biopic
'Walk the Line.' The feature is to focus on a fictional rockabilly musician similar to Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash played by John C. Reily. White will appear as Elvis who encounters the musician in the film.

The Beastie Boys are going to be busy this summer they are planning on releasing a new album, performing summer shows and some instrumental gigs. The instrumental performance will take place at The Sasquatch Festival on May 26th in George, Washington. They will perform at 18 european festivals from June 10th to September 9th the first will be at the Alive Festival in Lisbon, Portugal and wrap up the tour at U.K.'s Bestival.

David Bowie has been selected as curator for the H& M High Line Festival. It will begin at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on May 9th. The festival will continue at various venues around New York and Bowie is quoted as saying ' I thought it a very cool deal to be asked to curate the High Line Festival. The request for me to choose the artists and acts that I myself would go out of the way too see. Although, this will be the inaugural year will be modest in scale we've been pretty lucky in that many whom I asked have accepted." The current lineup for the festival is as follows.

May 2007
09 Arcade Fire - Radio City Music Hall
10 Air - Theatre at Madison Square Garden
11 The Polyphonic Spree - Hammerstein Ballroom
15 Deerhoof - Irving Plaza
16 Daniel Johnston - High Line Ballroom
16 17 Ken Nordine - The Kitchen
17 18 Laurie Anderson - High Line Ballroom
18 Secret Machines - High Line Ballroom
19 Ricky Gervais - Theatre at Madison Square Garden




The O.C. and Gray's Anatomy have influenced musical tastes by what they play during the episodes will have a label called Chop Shop Records with Warner Brothers . The label will be managed by Alexandra Patsavas the music supervisor responsible for the music on these shows.

The group Nickelback's album "All the Right Reasons" has remained on the charts for 18 months and the band continues to sell out their concerts while other bands struggle to have even some of the same success? Music critics and those who appreciate quality music loathe this band and are puzzled as to why they are so successful. Chad Kroeger the bands lead singer has said that the bands music is all over the map and appeals to a large audience and he doesn't listen to what the critics think. His song-writing technique is also very detailed, "He'll write a lyric or chorus and go back and say this chorus or that word isn't right and he can spend weeks writing the perfect song and melodies," said Kara DioGuardi who recently worked with him on another project.
Nickelback's influence has also reached beyond their hits. A charitable campaign for "If Everyone Cared" has raised over $200,000 according to Kroeger, " We wanted to inspire the people who saw the video and show that you don't need a team of personnel, you don't need alot of money to make a change in the world."


Another band that enjoyed popularity during the early to mid nineties and to the chagrin of critics are The Black Crowes. They are said to be in the studio and working with producer Paul Stacey in New York and Los Angeles. The album will be their first in six years

The band Tapes and Tapes have been working on their second album and will record it this summer. The next disc is to be different from their first one. Lead singer Josh Grier said " It's pretty much the same group of guys" but I'm sure there's going to be at least for us a song-writing growth."


Marilyn Manson musician, author, and one who strives to tick off the religious right is now showing his other artistic side. His watercolor artworks that he has painted over the years are to be displayed in Ft. Myers, Florida. Manson will be touring with the metal band Slayer. They will play 25 cities across the U.S. between July and September. Manson's album "Eat Me, Drink Me" will debut in June.

Amy Winehouse a british soul singer who's breakthrough album Back To Black has seen some chart success in the U.S. cancelled two shows in the U.S. and two more in the U.K. which were to be held at Shepards Bush Empire in London last week Apparently, the star who is known for her debauchery onstage and off fell during a drunken episode and smashed out her front teeth which required dental surgery. The canceled Empire shows will be made up on May 28th and 29th. It isn't known if there are any make up dates for the U.S. shows.


The Happy Mondays will release their first album in 15 years and are set to make their first full comeback since 1992's disc 'Yes Please'. Shaun Ryder the lead singer of the band says that they are working with Howie B and Sonny Levine to produce the album. He says that their sound is fresher than their first album ' Pills, Thrills, and Bellyaches,' "I'm no the world's greatest salesman, me I'm not a salesman at all (but) I think it's a really great album" said Ryder.





Legal Dept.

Celebrities were busy in court this week the first Velvet Revolver's lead singer Scott Weiland's wife and an alleged altercation at a Burbank Hotel and the destruction of clothing taking place outside their home. The couple have been married seven years and Scott went into rehab three years ago and has been sober since.
Mary Weiland released a statement to the supposed altercation with her husband and vandalism of two hotel rooms at the Graceila Hotel in Burbank, California. Late she set some of his clothes on fire outside their home and police responded to a call that a woman was burning something in a trash can, she was booked for investigation of felony arson and vandalism. Scott Weiland told police that $10,000 of his wardrobe went up in smoke.
She says the incidents were brought on by a "reaction to an imbalance in medication she takes to treat a bipolar disorder." "Reports that we were fighting outside the hotel are not true," Scott was merely trying to help me calm down , I want to make it very clear that he didn't hurt me in any way, I am grateful to my have a loving husband who is able to take care of me during this challenging time." The couple have apologized and paid for the damage to hotel as for the vandalism, arson charges against her the district attorney's office hasn't file them against her.

Wynonna Judd has filed for divorce from her estranged husband Dan R. Roach after his arrest last week on a charges of sex involving a minor. Roach was arrested in Abeline and charged with three counts of sexual battery against a child under the age of thirteen then extradited to Nashville where the charges originated. The Nashville police department had been investigating him for sex crimes and has been since February. Roach had been receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction at a clinic in Buffalo Gap, Texas. Wynonna cited irreconcilable differences as a reason for the divorce and they had been separated since Feb 18 of this year. They were married in November of 2003 and have no children together.



Britney Spears fresh from rehab finalized the divorce with Kevin Federline this week. According, to their lawyers they have reached a " global divorce agreement regarding the issues of their marriage," which includes the custody of their two children.
Britney had dental surgery earlier this week and after her visit to the dentist she met with her ex husband's lawyers for five hours. They both signed the agreement but the terms and the settlement weren't disclosed. It is rumored that Federline will walk away with $ 1 million and joint physical custody of the children however that wasn't confirmed.


Eminem and his ex wife Kim Mathers agreed in court to stop criticizing each other in public for the sake of their daughter have apparently decided not to honor that agreement other than inside the courtroom. On tuesday Kim was being interviewed on New York's Hot 97 and spoke about their relationship. She spoke of his recent legal action to stop her and said " how many songs does he have about me?" she has been the subject of his songs " Cleaning out my closet," and " Mockingbird." She went on to say that he does interviews about the freedom of speech and that she has only done a couple about their relationship. Eminem cries like a "little girl." Kim accused him of being disconnected from reality and revealed that she really has no contact with him despite living a mile away from him.


Former lead singer Anthony Lovato of the band MEST was arrested last Sunday for suspicion of stabbing and killing a 25 year old man during an argument in an apartment building parking lot in Los Angeles.
Police arrived at the scene and found a man lying on the ground with knife wounds he later died at the hospital. A lieutenant with the department said that Lovato called 911 and remained at the scene to surrender himself to the police. They had been called on Saturday evening to the same apartment complex where the two men were fighting at a woman's apartment that they both had been previously dating but no one was arrested.
Lovato has avoided a murder charge because LA County District Attorney won't file charges against him because "there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was not a justifiable use of reasonable force in self defense." Lovato has maintained that he stabbed the man in self defense, this along with his cooperation with police helped his case. MEST formed in Blue Island, IL in 1995 and had a hit in 1998 with the single ' Mo Money, Mo 40 oz' and went on to release four albums on the Maverick label which is owned by Madonna the band broke up in January 2006.

Busta Rhymes (b. Trevor Smith) is set to face misdemeanor assault charges in two separate incidents. He is accused of kicking and punching a former employee during an argument outside his office in Manhattan the day after Christmas, and he 's also accused of assaulting a fan who allegedly spit on his car after a performance at the Amsterjam Music Festival .
Manhattan Criminal Court judge Tanya Kennedy retracted a plea deal that was made earlier this year and set a court date for May 8th. Busta Rhymes who recently refused a deal that would have allowed him to plead guilty but enroll in anger management class and do community service in order to avoid jail time. If he is convicted he could be sentenced to more that a year in jail and fined $500.


WTF Dept.
( I am not making this up)
Michael Jackson is to have a 50 foot robotic replica of himself that will shoot laser beams from the eyes and is to roam the desert near Las Vegas Nv. It is to be the centerpiece of an elaborate show in the city which he is rumored to be currently residing in. If built the robot would be visible from the incoming airplanes coming into the gambling capitol of the world. Luckmann Van Pier has drawn up blueprints for the robot and according to Andre Van Pier Michael has seen them and likes them alot. It doesn't surprise this author is surprised that he likes them because his ego is at least twice the same size of the robot here is a perfect example of someone who has either too much money or not enough sense.
In 1995 Jackson had a giant statue of himself that was towed down the Thames river in London to commemorate his HIStory album release.

Well with all that being said I am going to list the upcoming birthdays for April 1-April, 9 2007

April 1
Ronald Lane (1946 - 1997)
English singer, songwriter and bass player (nicknamed "Plonk") best known for his membership in two prominent English rock bands, Small Faces (1965-69) and Faces (1970-75).

Jimmy Cliff(1948)
Jamaican reggae musician


Jesse Tobias (1972)
Guitarist who gained notoriety during a brief tenure
with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1993 and
was replaced by Dave Navarro within the year.


April 2

Serge Gainsbourg ( 1928 – 1991)
French poet, singer-songwriter,
actor and director.

Marvin Gaye (1939 – 1984)
American soul and R&B singer-songwriter,
instrumentalist, record producer and performer
who gained international fame as an artist on the Motown label in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dr. Demento (1941)
born Barret Eugene Hansen
a radio disc jockey specializing in
novelty songs and pop music parodies.

Emmylou Harris (1947)
country music singer-songwriter
and musician.

Leon Russell Wilkeson (1952 - 2001)
bass guitarist of Southern rock band
Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001.

Greg Camp (1967)
Guitarist and lead songwriter
for the band Smash Mouth.


April 3
Wayne Newton (1942)
Singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He performed over 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas.

Billy Joe Royal (1942)
American country music singer.

Tony Orlando (1944)
b. Michael Anthony Orlando Cassavitis
American singer best known for his time
with the group Dawn in the early 1970s.


Richard John Thompson (1949)
British musician, best known for
his guitar playing and songwriting.

Sebastian Bach (1968)
b. Sebastian Philip Bierk
Canadian heavy metal singer
best known as ex-frontman of Skid Row.

Drew) Shirley ( 1976)
Guitarist and the newest member
of the rock band Switchfoot.

April 4

Muddy Waters (1913 – 1983)
American blues musician
and is generally considered "the father of Chicago blues".

Dave Hill (1946)
Lead guitarist and backing vocalist
in the English glam rock group, Slade

Gary Moore (1952)
Guitarist played with Thin Lizzy,

Johnny Borrell (1980)
Guitarist, and songwriter of
English band Razorlight.


April 5

Stan Ridgway (1954)
Original lead singer for the band
Wall of Voodoo.


Mike McCready (1966)
Founding member of
Pearl Jam

Paula Cole (1968)
Singer/Songwriter
known for her singles
"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone" and "I Don't Want to Wait"

Pharrell L. Williams (1973)
Producer, singer, rapper, and songwriter.

April 6
Merle Haggard, (1937)
American country music
singer, guitarist and songwriter.

Zamfir (1941)
Virtuoso of the pan flute.

Frank Black (1965)
Singer, songwriter and guitarist
of the band The Pixies.

April 7
Ravi Shankar ( 1920)
Indian composer best known
for his virtuosity on the sitar and
played with the Beatles on several
of their later albums.


Bobby Bare (b1935
American country
music singer and songwriter.

John Oates (1948)
Musician and producer
known as half of successful duo Hall & Oates


April 8

Steve Howe (1947)
Guitarist best known for his work
with the rock group YES.

Izzy Stradlin(1962)
Former guitarist
with the band
Guns & Roses.


Julian Lennon, (1963)
English singer, songwriter, musician,
and first son of Beatle John Lennon.

Biz Markie ( 1964)
born Marcel Hall
East Coast hip hop rapper and DJ, best known
for humorous singles such as "Just a Friend".

Paul Grey( 1972)
Bassist for the nu metal band Slipknot.

Until next week GETOUTOFMYHEAD !

Van Halen, R.E.M. Patti Smith, Oh My....

Rock N Roll Hall of Fame inductions held

This week started off with induction ceremonies for the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. New members Van Halen, R.E.M., Patti Smith, The Ronnettes and rap's first artist Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Van Halen were the first to be inducted although, no current members of the band were on hand for the ceremony. Former members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony accepted the invitation. Van Halen had planned to use the ceremony to kick of their reunion tour. However, lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen entered rehab last week and the tour has been put on hiatus. The band Velvet Revolver were the "house band" for the ceremony and had planned to perform the hit "Jump" and "Panama" with Van Halen's former lead singer David Lee Roth. Roth didn't appear because he objected to using Velvet Revolver to perform Van Halen''s songs. The disparity between Van Halen and Roth doesn't promise a happy reunion tour if a tour at all this summer.

R.E.M. were the second group to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry the bands former drummer joined them for the induction. Berry suffered an an aneurysm on stage in 1995 and nearly died. After nearly 17 years in the band he left in 1997 to take it easy and become a farmer. R.E.M. formed in Athens, Ga in the early 80's and are the innovators of the indie rock scene and had a hit in 1985 with "Radio Free Europe" they hit the mainstream later with "Losing my Religion" on the album' Out of Time ' in 1991 and continued to have hits throughout the 90's and into the 2000's.

Patti Smith a solo artist was inducted into the Hall of Fame. She is famous for her 1978 album "Horses" which linked the hippie and the punk rock sound of the day. Her album was an influence sighted by Michael Stipe as the reason why he wanted to become a singer and rock star. Smith didn't attend the ceremony instead she publicly panned it in a New York Times article saying that after having talked to the regular people around her Greenwich neighborhood it made the induction less important too her.

The Ronnettes were also inducted into the hall. They are famous for the song 'Be my Baby" which showcased the "wall of sound" pioneered by Phil Spector who was married to the lead singer Ronnie Spector. Keith Richards hosted the induction and Ronnie was there to accept the invitation

Hip hop and rap's first group was inducted into the Hall of Fame Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Their hit in the early 80's "The Message" was a chronicle of the urban life during the Reagan era. The induction ceremony was lead by rapper/ producer Jay-Z and leader Mellie Mel was on hand to accept the invitation. The rappers of today Jay-Z, Eminem,and Tupac will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 25 years.



Music Notes

Nine Inch Nails will release a new c.d. titled Year Zero on April 17 their first since 2005's With Teeth. Trent Reznor the bands lead singer and songwriter said that it was written while they were on tour for With Teeth . " I sometimes have trouble writing new material, while on tour but this was written in tour buses, backstage, and during breaks in the tour," said Reznor. The new material tells the story of an Orwellian picture of the USA in the year 2022 . A trailer for the album and the first single is called Survivalism are currently available on the NIN website.


The Flaming Lips are working on a Broadway version of their 2002 c.d. Yoshimi battles the Pink Robots. They are hoping to work with Des McAnuff who brought The Who's Tommy to the Broadway Stage. Wayne Coyne said "As much as I love the intense experience of being at a rock show, this could be great!"

A Guns N Roses fan site was shut down not by the band but by the fan who runs it. The GNRonline web-master is unhappy about the continued delay of the current lineups c.d. 'Chinese Democracy 'which is close to ten years in the making. The most recent release of the c.d. was to be March 6 when that didn't happen the web master stated

"The never-ending saga of 'Chinese Democracy', the lack of respect, clearness and mutual loyalty are just some of the reasons that has brought us down to this painful conclusion. Until now our detractors have always accused us of being 'Axl fanatics' (and to a certain degree, it is probably true) but today we aren't able to sustain Axl's project anymore, neither financially nor economically. We just can't afford to waste our heads on a project that has never even taken us into consideration. We still want to believe in Axl Rose and his record and we greatly wish that 'Chinese Democracy' would see the light of day before February 2008. If that will be the case we will make our best effort to re-open the site otherwise our domains will be lost and that will be the end of it."

A member of Coldplay is going to be a guest star on the new Swizz Beatz album titled 'One Man Band'. The album is written and produced by the rapper and it isn't known which member appears on the appear on a track titled "Part of the Plan." Chris Martin the lead singer of Coldplay appeared on "Beach Chair" from Jay-Z's 2006 comeback album 'Kingdom Come'. Martin has also recorded a song entitled 'Homecoming' which will be the first single from a new Kanye West album.

Debbie Harry has picked Kirsten Dunst to play her in an upcoming movie about her and the band Blondie. Alot of people aren't too happy about Harry picking Dunst for the role. Some feel that Dunst won't portray Harry acurately. Some of the other names tossed around were Scarlett Johannson or Gina Gershon.

Brittney Spears has fallen for a rock musician who she is in rehab with. She has started dating Jason Filyaw who is a 33 yr. old musician and is the lead singer for the band RIva. The couple met while attending an AA meeting and plan to move in together once they finish rehab.

The late John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" has become Colorado's official second state song along with the lesser known state song "Where the Columbines Grow." State senator Bob Hagedom pushed for the adoption of the song and said that it had been the unofficial song for many years. It has also introduced many people around the world to Colorado said Hagedom.
State senator Dave Schultheis said that he doesn't think the state should have two songs. "If the legislature didn't like Where the Columbines Grow, they should remove it and replace it." He admitted that he didn't know the words to the current state song. John Denver's brother Ron Deutschendorf said that John would have been honored to have his song designated as a state song. John Denver died in a plane crash near Monterey Ca, ten years ago.

The Who cancelled a concert in Tampa Fl, moments into the first song. Apparently, lead singer Roger Daltrey was ailing and having vocal problems. The concert started at 8:40 p.m. and they started to play their hit "I Can't Explain" but Daltrey exited without even singing a lyric. Lead guitarist Pete Townsend and the rest of the band left the stage, he returned later to apologize to the 9,000 fans attending the concert.
Telling them that Roger was barely able to speak and he is really sick and unable to go on. A make up date of Mar. 25 has been set and refunds for the tickets can be obtained at the place of purchase. The Who are in the middle of their first reunion tour in 20 years and their first since John Entwhistle the band's bassist died in 2002.

Saturday the 21st annual Soul Train Music Awards were held in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena Ca. Jamie Foxx, Mary J Blige. Gnarls Barkley and others were presented awards.
Jamie Foxx won best male for his album "Unpredictable" and Blige won for best female album for "The Breakthrough", Gnarls Barkley for best single from a group with "Crazy." John Legend won best male singer for "Save Room" and Beyonce won best female single for her song "Irreplaceable." Jay-Z won the Michael Jackson award for best soul or rap video for "Show me what you got" Jennifer Hudson won the Sammy Davis Jr. award for her performance in the movie "Dreamgirls" and Baby Face was presented the Stevie Wonder award for Outstanding achievement in song writing. The show was hosted by La Toya Jackson and Omarion the awards were voted on by radio station professionals, talent managers, and performers.

It was also learned this week that Brad Delp the lead singer of Boston who was found dead in his home last Friday committed suicide
A note attached to the stairs below the bathroom stated " I take complete and sole responsibility for my present situation. I have lost my desire to live," he wrote. The note also included instructions on how to contact his fiancee: "Unfortunately she is totally unaware of what I have done.". He committed suicide by placing two charcoal grills in the bathroom of his home and sealing off the door. Later police found four sealed letters in his office addressed to his fiance and his children, their mother.
Pamela Sullivan stated that he had been depressed for sometime and feeling bad about himself. Brad Delp and Sullivan were to be married this summer during a break from the bands tour.





Rock N Roll legal briefs


Paul McCartney and Heather Mills have come to an agreement in their bitter divorce battle. The couple were married in 2002 and have a child Beatrice together. It was reported that Mills was seeking $6.6 million a year or $20.000 a day but Mills dropped those demands and will received $48 million in cash and a Georgian Mansion worth $8 million.
No prenuptial agreement was signed before the two married and Mills could have walked away with a quarter of McCartney's $1.6 billion fortune. The British press have labeled Mills as a "gold digger" and to this she has replied " I fell in love unconditionally and if I was a gold digger then I'd have alot of money in my bank account and be worth millions."

An irish judge wants Eminem to appear in court following the cancellation of a 2005 performance at Slane Castle. The rapper is the subject of a $3 million compensation lawsuit filed by promoters MCD and are seeking to recoup funds from three insurance companies .
They claim they haven't been refunded their money after 80,000 tickets were voided by the cancellation of the concert by Eminem who cited "exhaustion" for the cancellation during his Anger Management Tour. Eminem has requested that he present his appeal in private but justice Peter Kelly has refused insisting the rappers contribution to the trial is "possibly crucial."


Levon Helm the former drummer of The Band is suing a Manhattan advertising firm for their use of the song "The Weight" in a television commercial.
The commercial was produced by Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBDO) and featured in a Cingular advertisement. The lawsuit was filed in New York State's supreme court in December and Helm asks for the information on how much the commercial made and for compensation. His attorney states that law prohibits a company from using a celebrity's voice or likeness without written permission.
According to a royalty statement from EMI records who own Capitol records BBDO paid for the rights to use the song and Helm took one-fifth of the licensing fee that was paid BDO had no comment on the suit.
Helm was quoted as saying" It was just a complete sellout of The Band—its reputation, its music, just as much disrespect as you could pour on Richard and Rick's tombstones," said Helms. Richard Manual piano player for The Band died in 1986 and bass player Rick Danko died in 1999. The Band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Busta Rhymes wasn't present for the filming of the movie Order of the Redemption a crime thriller starring Tom Berenger and Rhymes . It wasn't his choice not too be present. The New York Police Department barred the rapper from the production citing "safety concerns" there are rumors that Rhymes was barred from the set because of his continued failure to cooperate with the NYPD in a murder probe of his bodyguard Israel Ramirez . He was killed by an unknown assailant in February of 2006 while Rhymes was filming a music video in Brooklyn. This incident along with recent ones involving Rhymes where he allegedly assaulted a fan for spitting on his SUV and a former driver says he was roughed up over money owed to Rhymes. Busta Rhymes has entered a plea of not guilty in both cases and his next court date is March 26. If convicted on the first count he will be charged with a misdemeanor and 30 days in jail, the second count will possibly net a fine.
The movie's producer Rob Capelli in an interview with The New York Daily News said that the decision to bar Rhymes from the set was financial because having the star on the set would require additional police detail. The movie director Jeff Celentano stated that they had permits to shoot the production in Manhattan for 14 days in early April. He also said that barring him from the set was unfair to Rhymes and that he had been nothing but professional during the project.

Courtney Love is being sued by The Beau Monde Center a southern california rehab center that treats drug and alcohol addiction. The center claims she paid $10,000 up front but hasn't paid the remaining $180,000 for the treatment she received in 2005.
The center offers massages, gourmet food and whale watching for its wealthy celebrity clientele. Love spent four months in the center and was ordered too by a Los Angeles judge because she spent months in and out of courts on drug charges and one charge of assaulting a female who is a friend of Love's ex-boyfriend.
Love's lawyer stated that there is a difference between the them over how much money is actually owed and the matter is in the process of being resolved.

That is all of the music news for the week here are the birthdays for the week of March 19-25 2007. Until next week
GET OUT OF MY HEAD !

Mar 19

Ornette Coleman (1930)
American saxophonist and composer.
He was one of the major innovators of the free jazz movement of the 1960s.

Clarence "Frogman" Henry (1937)
Blues artist

Ricky Helton Wilson ( 1953 – 1985)
the original guitarist in the rock band The B-52's,
which he helped to form in 1976. One of the
first musicians to die of HIV.

James "Big Jim" Wright ( 1966)
record producer, musician, and songwriter, producer.
Worked with Mariah Carey on her 2005 album,
The Emancipation of Mimi.

Mar 20
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE ( 1917)
British singer whose career flourished during World War II
nicknamed "The Forces' Sweetheart" and is best known for
the popular songs "We'll Meet Again"

Jerry Reed (1937)
American country music singer, country guitarist, songwriter, and actor.

Marcia Ball (1949)
American blues singer and pianist

Carl Palmer (1950)
English drummer and percussionist.
Palmer is a veteran of a number of British bands, including
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Atomic Rooster, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Asia.

Jimmie Vaughan (1951)
American blues guitarist and singe and
is the older brother of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Slim Jim Phantom (1960)
rock drummer, best-known for his
work with the band, The Stray Cats

Chester Charles Bennington (1976)
American musician,
front man lead vocalist in the
band Linkin Park.

Nickolas Don Wheeler (1982) i
lead guitarist, sings back-up vocals, keyboardist, programmer
for The All-American Rejects

Mar 21

Eddie James House, Jr. (1902 –1988)
better known as Son House
an influential blues singer and guitarist


Roger Hodgson (1950)
British vocalist and musician
one of the founding members of
the progressive rock group Supertramp.

Jonas Berggren aka Joker (1967)
born Jonas Petter Breggren
one of the members of the
swedish group Ace of Base.

Keith "Keeti" Palmer (1967)
Member of the english band
The Prodigy.

Deryck Jayson Whibley ( 1980)
a.k.a Bizzy D
musician and producer
known for his work as the lead
vocalist and songwriter of Canadian pop
punk band Sum 41

Mar 22
Keith Relf (1943 -1976)
Lead singer and harmonica
player of The Yardbirds.

Mar 23

Ric Ocasek (1949)
former vocalist and frontman for
The Cars and a producer for several other
groups including Weezer, Bad Brains, and Suicide.

Chaka Khan (1953)
R&B singer popular during
the 70's


Damon Albarn, (1968 )
English singer-songwriter and
the lead singer of rock band Blur

Mar 24

Nena (1960)
A German singer who became famous
with the song "99 Luftballons" ("99 Red Balloons")

Dougie Thomson (1951)
Member of the band
Supertramp.


Sharon Helga Corr, MBE ( 1970)
Member of the irish rock band
The Corrs.


Mar 25

Hoyt Axton (1938 –1999)
American country music singer-songwriter,
film and television actor.

Aretha Louise Franklin (1942)
American soul, R&B, and gospel singer, songwriter

Nick Lowe (1949)
singer-songwriter
bass guitarist and producer

Sir Elton John, CBE (1947)
a multiple Grammy- and Academy Award-winning
English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist

Jeff Healey (1966)
Canadian blues-rock guitarist.

Cathy Dennis ( 1969)
dance-oriented pop singer-songwriter,
record producer and actress.

The last week in February.

Wow
can it be the last week in February seems that it was just New Years Day. The year is quickly passing us by. In the music world this week Brittney Spears not only shaved her head and the salon owner sold her hair online for "charity" but she went into rehab then left and eventually went back again. The odd thing is her ex K-Fed said that he thought she should have gone awhile ago and he 's going to take care for the two kids they have??? I cannot see how K-Fed is going to take care of two kids when he has a couple more of them by a different woman who he doesn't even acknowledge. To quote a line from a John Lennon tune " Strange days indeed, most peculiar momma."

In regards to the former Beatles record label and Apple Corp and Apple Inc reached an agreement this past week. Seems that in 1991 the two parties agreed that Apple Inc wouldn't use the "Apple" logo and trademark. Apple Corp was unhappy about Apple Inc. using the logo on the iTunes site and prevented them from allowing Beatles songs to be downloaded.
Under the new agreement Apple Inc. will license certain trademarks and their continued use back to Apple Corp. in return they will allow Beatles songs to be downloaded on iTunes. The two companies will have to bear their own legal costs and the terms of the agreement weren't made public. So, it won't be long until we can download our favorite Beatles songs from iTunes or iWIndows.

Kurt Cobain's 40 th birthday would have been this week he was born on Feb 20,1967 in Aberdeen Washington USA
he killed himself on April 5, 1994. In the 14 yrs since his death a Forbes Oct 2006 article listed him as the top-dollar dead celebrity earning an estimated $50 million dollars passing Elvis who was the top-dollar dead earning celebrity and only earned $42 million in 2006.
Another musician Tupac Shakur was killed in 1996 and continues to release new music he grossed 25 million in 2006, Rick James who died in 2004 will have a new single out this year. Seems like dying is a boom to a musicians bottom line.

In happier news the band Modest Mouse (the song "Float On" 2004) will be coming out with a new CD titled
"We were dead before the ship sank" on March 20 and guitarist Johnny Marr will be joining them. He was in The Smiths during the 80's with Morrisey then he played with THE THE and eventually formed the band Electronic with Bernard Sumner (New Order) . Electronic called it quits and New Order reformed so he's been playing with various artist such as Oasis, Beck, Beth Orton, and his own group Johnny Marr and the Healers., I believe that this will make Modest Mouse sound even better than before.
Here are a list of birthdays in music for the week of Feb 19-25, 2007


Robert "Bilbo' Walker(1937)
guitarist for the band Stillwater

Lou Christie(1943)
American songwriter for
for the Chess Label

Paul Dean (1946)
Lead guitarist for
the band Loverboy

Tony Iommi (1948)
guitarist for
Black Sabbath

Andy Powell(1950)
Founding member of
Wishbone Ash

Johann Hans Holzel (1957- 1998)
better known as FALCO

Seal Samuel (1963)
known as just
"Seal"
Married to model Hedi Klumm



Feb 20
Ibrahim Ferrer (1927-2005)
Afro Cuban musician
with Ry Cooder

Nancy Wilson(1937)
Jazz singer

Buffy Sainte-Marie(1941)
Canadian singer

Sandy Duncan (1946)

Jerome Geils (1948)
lead guitarist for
the J. Geils Band

Walter Becker (1950)
guitarist for Steely Dan

Randy California (1951-1997)
guitarist for the band
Spirit

John Brant (1954)
former bass player
for Cheap Trick 81-87

Ian Brown (1963)
lead singer for
The Stone Roses

Kurt Cobain (1967-1994)
Nirvana lead singer/guitarist
would have turned 40
this year

K-OS (1972)
Canadian Rapper

Ed Graham(1976)
drummer for the
band "The Darkness"

Feb 21

Eunice K. Waymon (1933-2003)
better known as
Nina Simone

Jake Burns (1958)
Lead singer
for the band
Stiff Little Fingers

James Dean Bradfield (1969)
lead singer/guitarist
for the Manic Street Preachers


Eric Wilson(1969)
member of the band
Sublime

Charlotte Church (1986)

Feb 22
Oliver(1945-2000)
American pop singer
in the 60's

Ernie K- Doe(1936-2001)
had the hit "Mother in Law" (1961)

Feb 23
Brad Whitford (1952)
guitarist for
Aerosmith

Howard Jones (1955)
English singer/songwriter
from the 80's


Brad Nowell (1968-1996)
Lead singer of
Sublime
died from heroin


Feb 24

George Harrison MBE (1943-2001)
the "quiet" one from the
Beatles

Nicky Hopkins(1944-1994)
British piano/organ player
session musician during the
60's & 70's played for
countless artists.

Doug Yule(1947)
musician/ singer
with Velvet Underground
1968-1973

Michelle Shocked (1962)
( born Karen Michelle Johnston)
American singer

Mitch Hedberg (1968-2005)
Stand up comedian
died from that damn
heroin.

Chad Hugo(1974)
drummer from the
band
Slipknot

Feb 25

John Doe (1954)
born John Duchac
founder of the
L.A. punk band "X"

The Oscars are tonight and I will have a run down of any music that will be featured in the movies until next week
GET OUT OF MY HEAD !