Gary Tallent has spent the better part of five decades in a band that worked its way up from playing small clubs to enormous arenas and stadiums. After Bruce Springsteen wraps up the River tour, his E Street Band member plans to hit the road with his own group to play clubs and theaters in the US and Europe. Tallent calls the prospect of going out on a solo tour a challenge for someone who has a long established 'comfort zone' as a member of one of the world's most respected bands. Speaking with Rolling Stone he said, 'I never really thought of myself as a singer or a frontman. I don't exactly have a great voice, but I love to sing.'
Tallent's 14 date tour opens in Edwardsville, IL on April 21. All of the dates and more about his tour and album can be found at GaryTallent.com.
Pete Townshend has composed some new songs that could get featured in a revival production of the Who's Rock Opera Tommy. Motivation for writing the new material came when the Who guitarist found out the organizers of the production are making a concerted effort to develop and cast roles for actors with disabilities. Townshend applauded the move in a media release that read in part, "when I heard they planned to do a production featuring actors with disabilities of various kinds, I became very excited. This is a totally new adventure, and really does refer back to my original story in which a young man, disabled by extreme trauma, finds his way to some kind of spiritual place because he can FEEL music. I can't wait to see it."
One of the pioneers of Rock made his exit Saturday 
The Royal Mail is so much cooler than the US Postal Service. Not only has it released several series of stamps celebrating some of England's Rock legends, it has gone above and beyond in promoting them ,literally in the case of the recently released (
In typical Ray Davies style, the glib leader of the Kinks received one of his country's highest honors Thursday 
Stevie Nicks attributes her reluctance to work on a new Fleetwooc Mac album to the apathy of fans when it comes to buying albums. Talking with Rolling Stone, Nicks said, 'I don't think there's any reason to spend a year and an amazing amount of money on a record that, even if it has great things, isn't going to sell'. She also said she far prefers spending time on tour to recording an album, the process of which she says 'isn't all that much fun.' Other FM members went into the studio hoping she would join them in working on a new band album. When it became evident she wouldn't, the Fleetwood Mac recording sessions morphed into a Christine McVie, Lindsay Buckingham duets project with backing from other band members.
Sammy Hagar isn't counting on reuniting with Van Halen,but he has laid out some conditions for the others in the group to consider if they want him back. Topping the list is that an invitation to be extended to Michael Anthony, the former VH bass player the Red Rocker remains tight with musically and as a friend. Less predictable is Hagar's insistence that original and recently once again vocalist David Lee Roth continue singing with the group. Sammy even told Billboard that he'd be willing to play for free with that lineup.
With the Rock Hall of Fame induction just weeks away, one detail emerged that would have made the April 8 event at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn more special for Yes and Rush fans - a reunion of Yes with original lead singer Jon Anderson with Geddy Lee of Rush filling in for the late Chris Squire on bass. Music industry magazine Billboard reported it would happen, but the Rock Hall and Rush management are denying it. Agreeing to make a point of honoring Squire during the ceremony got Rick Wakeman to change his mind and agree to participate. Squire was the Yes member that felt most fervently that his band deserved to be in the Rock Hall. He passed away before the band finally got the nomination that would lead to their overdue induction.
Steve Howe will rejoin Asia for a 4 concert series in tribute to the late John Wetton this fall. The tribute culminates at Royal Albert Hall for a night honoring Wetton with Asia members joining Foreigner for a set. That night's lineup will include Howe, Geoff Downs, Billy Sherwood and John Parr. Dylan Howe will play drums in place of Carl Palmer, who was originally requested but has another commitment he needs to keep.
To Paul Rose, the guitar solo The Edge throws down on the U2 song The Fly sounds illegaly similar to one he recorded in 1989. The British songwriter/guitarist is taking his case to court. Ironically, the U2 song is one in which Bono sings, "Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief."
The multiple year relationship John Mellencamp had with actress Meg Ryan hit the wall a couple of years back. Speaking with Howard Stern, said an attempt to get back together did not go well and that the two haven't had contact since. Mellencamp seems willing to accept a good deal of the blame. During hhis visit with Stern and Robin Quivers on their SiriusXM show, John said, 'She just doesn't want anything to do with me, and I don't blame her.' Despite that, the Indiana Rocker sent a signal he might want to try again. Calling Ryan 'an angel sent to me at the right time', Mellencamp added, 'We tried to have a relationship for three years - long distance. We'll see what happens.' If anything does, it won't be in New York City of LA. John says 'I'm not leaving Indiana. I'm going to die here.'
John Fogerty, who will be in residence for concerts at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas for stretches in March and May, has been named Grand Marshall for NASCAR's Monster Energy Kobalt at Las Vegas Speedway March 27. The former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man says, 'Rock and Roll and fast cars ... ain't nothin' better.' He'll get a good look at the machines in the 267 lap race when he gives drivers the 'start your engines' command.
The Abbey Road recording studio console used in recording Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon goes up for bids March 27 in New York when Bonhams at the TCM Presents Rock and Roll Through the Lens. The TG12345 MK IV resided in Abbey Road's studio 2 from 1971 - 1983 and was used in recording sessions for Paul McCartney and George Harrison, as well. The console, described by one of the studio's former engineers as 'the greatest console ever created', is expected to fetch a six figure top bid. We think it could make it into the 7 figure category. David Gilmour may have had a role in EMI adding the custom console to the studio. His band had recorded Meddle at George Martin's Air Studios, which had a 16 track board. It impressed him enough that he suggested that Abbey Road the jump from 4 to 16 tracks instead of just making the move from 4 to 8..jpg)
Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles are said to be headlining two day festivals being staged in National League ballparks on both coasts. Dubbed the Classic East and Classic West fest, the Citi Field and Dodger Stadium shows appear to be modeled on the Desert Trips concerts held near Indio, Claifornia last year. Representatives of both bands declined to respond to requests for details, according to Rolling Stone. Don Henley had declared his band disbanded following the death of Glenn Frey. He later seemed to be open to the possibility of playing again if one of Frey's sons would fill his 
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster decided to beat the nororiously bad London traffic on Monday
Former fellow Blizzard of Ozz and Quiet Riot Rudy Sarzo will participate in a pair of concerts honoring Randy Rhodes. The initial date will take place in Agoura Hills, California on March 19, the 35th anniversary of the day Rhodes was killed when the airplane he was in clipped an Ozzy Osbourne tour bus. The second is slated for March 24 in Las Vegas. Other musicians taking part include Whitesnake and Foreigner veteran Brian Tichy, Machine Head's Phil Demmel and Skid Row's Scotti Hill.
