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Noteworthy Now Archives for 2016-09

Airbnb giving away a night in Abbey Road Studios

Airbnb has arranged for Abbey Roads Studio to be converted into an overnight accommodations site for just one night and is giving away the opportunity to be the guest of honor in one of the most hallowed sites in musical history.  On October 15th Studio 3 will be transformed into a bedroom the lucky winner and their guest will spend the evening in following champagne and dinner.  They will sleep surrounded by instruments that figured in some of the studio's most monumental recordings, which include the 1969 Beatles release that shares its name and Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.  The winner and guest will be flown to London and will also receive complimentary nights at a nearby Airbnb for the evenings before and/or following their night in the studio.
All that's asked as an entry is a little information about yourself and which song recorded in the studio you would most have wanted to be there to witness the recording of.  The deadline for entering is 11:59 BST on October 6th. Do it at

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/night-at/abbey-road

BusinessInsider.com

 

   Photo: Airbnb
 

Petty selescted for 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year

Tom Petty has been announced by the Recording Academy as the 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year.  The recognition will be made official at a ceremony honoring Petty before the Grammy Awards. Neal Portnow, CEO of the foundation and the Recording Academy said, 'Tom burst into our musical consciousness and never let go.  He brand of Rock and Roll benefits fro a celebratory rebelliousness, infectious rhythms, and unforgettable lyrics that are incised in our imaginations.  His artistic talents coupled with his quiet philanthropy make him a great MusiCares Person of the Year honoree'.
Petty joins Rockers David Crosby (1991), Bonnie Raitt (1992), Phil Collins (1997), Elton John (2000), Billy Joel (2002), Bono (2003), Sting (2004), Don Henley (2007), Neil Young (2010), Paul McCartney (2012), Bruce Springsteen (2013), and Bob Dylan (2015) in receiving the recognition. 

Noise11.com

 

MORE TOM PETTY INSIGHTS

Experience Hendrix 2017 lineup firms

 

The 2017 Experience Hendrix tour has landed another good lineup of six string

master musicians.  Buddy Guy, Zakk Wylde, Dweezil Zappa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Johnson and Jonny Lang will be featured, along with a rhythm section anchored by Hendrix Band Of Gypsys bass player Billy Cox.  The trek will pack 27 concerts into a window that opens on Febraary 17 in Portland, Oregon and runs through a March 26th close in Prior Lake, Minnesota.
ExperienceHendrixTour.com

Jimmy Page in row over neighbor musician's renovations plans

Musicians aren't always the best of neighbors - even with each other.  Former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has been at odds with singer Robbie Williams about renovations to the home he bought next door to Page's historic home in Kensington.  Williams contends he got approval for renovations to the home he paid close to $20 million for last summer, but that Page's objections over damage the construction's vibrations could cause to his home have made it impossible to get the project finished.  That's left the four member Williams family unable to move in to the home.  Williams wants to downplay the feud with Page and considers it unfortunate that the issue will probably mean that the two won't become friends as well as neighbors.  Speaking with The Sun, Williams said, 'I don't know Jimmy Page. We met briefly a couple of times but it was years ago, in passing, and I was in reverence of the great Jimmy Page.

New-Magazine.co.uk

 

MORE JIMMY PAGE INSIGHTS

Fleetwood Mac 7 songs into new album

Recruiting Christine McVie back into its ranks has revived Fleetwood Mac's interest in making new music together.  She tells Rolling Stone that the group already has seven songs done and could resume studio work as soon as October to work on more for a new album. There appears to be no shortage of material.  McVie says she and Lindsey Buckingham have collaborated on writing a number of songs and adds that there are 'tons' of other tunes in contention for consideration, too.  The least involved member seems to be Stevie Nicks, who McVie says hasn't had much of any involvement to this point.  Nicks, who is out on tour currently, has apparently been non-commital toward the album and a future Fleetwood Mac tour.  McVie says there is a possibility FM would do a smaller venue tour without her as a 4 piece band.

UnCut.co.uk

 

MORE FLEETWOOD MAC INSIGHTS

Jason Bohnam joins Gov't Mule on father's birthday (watch)

The son of Led Zeppelin's drummer filled that role on his late father's birthday during Gov't Mule's concert Sunday (9/25).  Mule drummer Matt Abts made way for Jason Bonham to take over for the opening of his band's second set at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater.

 

 

 

Joe Perry describes solo album as 'funky'

Aerosmith's lead singer went country with his 2015 solo album.  One of the group's guitarists is finishing up work on an album he describes as 'funky'. Speaking with musiciansear.com, Joe Perry said, 'When I'm writing songs, it always starts with some variation of R&B and funk, whether it's been from that first Aerosmith stuff yill what we're going to work on this afternoon.'  The yet to be titled release is just about wrapped up, but won't get released until 2017.

RTTNews.com

 

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

Eagles may reform with Frey's son

If Glenn Frey's son is willing to take his father's place in the band, the Eagles could reunite.  That's according to Don Henley.  Addressing the question of whether the group would consider reuniting the drummer/vocalist said during an interview with the Montreal Gazette, 'At some point in the future we might work our way around to that.' He later added, '...one of the only things that would make sense to me is if it were his son' taking the place left empty when Glenn Frey died.  Frey has three sons. The one Henley is referencing is 22 year-old Deacon, who has performed on occasion with the Eagles.

List.co.uk

MORE EAGLES INSIGHTS

Jon Anderson optimistic about Yes and Rock Hall

Yes fans have railed against the failure of the Rock Hall Of Fame to give Prog Rock due consideration generally, and it's failure to induct Yes, in particular. The group has been eligible for two decades and has made it onto the ballot twice, but failed to secure an induction slot both times.  Despite that, and aside form the fact the band also replaced him with a sound-alike vocalist, Jon Anderson remains optimistic that Yes entering the Hall is almot inevitible and he seems to be confident that he'll be sharing the honor with his former band mates when it happens.  Speaking with Prog Magazine, Anderson said of himself and previously departed members of the various incarnations of Yes all being included, 'There could be 20 of us. It'll be fun. There won't be much room, but it will be fun.'  
Induction to the Hall was anything but fun for past members of Deep Purple that got left out when that band got it's long overdue induction last year (story), and won't be for Randy Meisner, Don Felder and Bernie Leadon when the Kennedy Center honors te Eagles in December without them (story), but it is hard to imagine that Anderson would get left on the sidelines of a Yes indusction. 

 

MORE YES INSIGHTS

Skynyrd guitarist releasing side project

Gary Rossington, the sole remaining original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, will release Take It on Faith, an album the guitarist recorded with his wife and Skynyrd backing voaclist Dale this fall.  Gary says doing the album was largely due to the number of fans he'd meet after shows that asked whether he would some day record or tour apart from Skynyrd, something he did decades ago as a member of Rossinggtom Collins.  He also says other current members of Lynyrd Skynyrd have been supportive and encourged the idea.  The project has been in the works for some time, and includes the late Little Feat drummer Richie Hayward. The 12 track album drops November 4.

UltimateClassicRock.com

 

MORE GARY ROSINGTON INSIGHTS

Bass player makes good on plan to quit AC/DC

A couple of months back (story), Cliff Williams said he would probably retire at the end of AC/DC's Rock Or Bust tour.  That decision is one the group's bass player is sticking with.  Williams took the stage for the last time with AC/DC in Philadelphia Tuesday (9/20), saying afterwards, 'It's time for me to step out, an that's all'.  Williams became the AC/DC bass player in 1977 and made his record debut with the group on the followin year's Powerage album.  His departure leaves Angus Young as the only long-term member of the band.

 

Ex Eagles won't get Kennedy Center recognition

The Eagles opted to delay their Kennedy Center honor last year in hopes that Glenn Frey's health would improve. Sadly, Frey did not pull through the medical complications he was facing.  Remaining members of the current lineup will receive the recognition themselves and on his behalf on December 4th, but former members Don Felder, Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon are not going to get recognition.  Brandon Butler initiated a petition to get the honor extended to the others, but the more than 10,000 signitures he managed to collect did not sway the currrent band members or the Kennedy Center officials opinion on who deserves the honor.  Accordingly, just Don Henley, Timothy B Schmit, Joe Walsh and the late Glenn Frey will be honored that night.
Classic Rock Magazine

 

MORE EAGLES INSIGHTS

 

Toronto park honors 2/3 of Rush

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson have a park named in their honor in Toronto.  Lee Lifeson Art Park was officially unveiled in the neighborhood the Rush lead singer and guitarist grew up in on Saturday (9/17) and all three members of the group were awarded a key to the city by Toronto mayor John Tory.  Lee and Lifeson and Rush fans fans attending the opening ceremony heard an unplugged rendition of Subdivisions performed by Jacob Moon. Lee said 'We're obviously thrilled and amazed that someone would want to do something like this and put our names on it, and we're really happy for the community that there's some investment in arts and leisure for this neighborhood. Art is the thing that elevates you out of whatever situation you're in.'
HenneMusic.com

 

​MORE RUSH INSIGHTS

 

 

STP may have new front man (watch)

Reports are emerging that a singer from the Philippines is expected to be named the new singer for Stone Temple Pilots.  John Borja has told Radio Republic that he thinks he is the leading contender for the role originally belonging to Scott Weiland and, later, Chester Bennington.  Borja, who considers Weiland 'irreplaceable', says he has no intention of attempting to duplicate the style of Bennington but adds that he is confident he will manage to do justice to Weiland's legacy.  Borja's STP medley audition is below.

Classic Rock Magazine

 

 

Ramones will be in Rock Hall spotlight

Seminal Punk Rockers The Ramones are featured in a special exhibit at the Rock Hall of Fame that opens Friday (9/16) and runs through the 28th of February. The showcase marks the 40th anniversary of the band's 1976 self-titled debut album and brings together memorabilia related to the band from group member's personal collections, the band's first manager and close to 50 other collectors.  Hey Hey, Let's Go: Ramones And The Birth Of Punk is an expansion of a show honoring the band that was on display at the Queens Museum in New York.

HenneMusic.com

Even The Boss gets the blues

The October issue of Vanity Fair includes an in-depth interview with Bruce Springsteen in which The Boss and his wife talk candidly about periods of depression he has experienced.  He sought help from a psychiatrist in the early 80's, around the time he wrote some pretty dark songs for his River double album.  Bruce, who has included stories between songs during concerts about his difficult relationship with his father, said during the interview that he began to wonder whether he could '...get sick enough to where I become a lot more like my father than I thought I might?'  Patti Scialfa gets credit from her husband for recognizing when it seemed like he was confronting '...a freight train bearing down, loaded with nitroglycerin and running quickly out of track.' She confesses to being a bit uncomfortable when she first found out that Bruce was including the account of his depression in his forthcoming autobiography, but realized it was important for him to include it, adding, 'A lot of his work comes from him trying to overcome that part of him.'

APlus.com

 

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

Dave Grohl's mom writes book about raising Rockers

From The Cradle to Stage: Stories from the Mothers Who Rocked and Raised Rock Stars will debut in the spring of 2017. The book, penned by the mom of Nirvana/Foo Fighters veteran Dave Grhol, covers her triumphs, trial and tribulations raising her drummer/front man and also includes annecdotes from the mothers of Michael Stipe of REM, Amy Winehouse, Beastie Boys Mike D and others.  She may have had a hard time getting Dave to behave at times, but she has managed to get him to write the book's forward.  The book will be published by Seal Press on April 25, 2017.

Billboard.com

Freddie Mercury honored with asteroid on birthday


His last name is also a planet, now Queen's late lead vocalist has an asteroid named in his honor.  Guitarist Brian May, who is also a highly regarded astro-scientist, announced on Mercury's birthday (9/5) that his former band mate had been given the honor by the International Astonomical Union's Minor Planet Centre.  Freddie's asteroid is closest to Jupiter and measures about 2 miles across.
Classic Rock magazine

 

MORE FREDDIE MERCURY INSIGHTS

 

Get a glimpse of it after Brian's announcement

 

Maiden voyage for latest band branded beer

Iron Maiden has added to the band's brands of limited edition beers. Joining 666 and Trooper is Trooper Red 'N' Black beer.  The 6.8% ABV Porter being produced by Robinsons Brewery made its debut Monday (9/5) in the UK and will be available through select international retailers.  Bruce Dickinson of the band was instrumental in developing the recipe with brew master Martyn Weeks of Robinsons.

 

 

Abbey Road studio console being sold

Being just one of only three ever produced makes the REDD.37 recording studio console one of the rarer pieces of recording equipment you could have, but it's where it comes from that makes it an extraordinary collectible.  It's the one named for the EMI Recording Engineering Development team that they put in the Abbey Road studios in January, 1964.  It became central to the recording of early Beatles albums and singles, was in-play for overdubs done throughout their recording years and was also in-use by the band when tracks for Let It Be, their final recording, were laid down.  The equipment is said to be in good working order thanks to the good care it has been given by Lenny Kravitz.  There is no set price put on the console, but interested fans and collectors can find out more at the Vintage King Audio website.
UltimateClassicRock.com

 

 

 

MORE BEATILES INSIGHTS

Early Pink Floyd video emerges (watch)

Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Richard Wright doing a 1969 BBC session version of Grantchester Meadows, a song from Pink Floyd's Ummagumma album, has been released as a preview to The Early Years 1965-1972, a 130 track compilation featuring more than 7 hours of previously unreleased live audio plus 5 hours of concert footage being released November 11.

 

 

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