Sympathy For The Devil, the 1968 Jean-Luc Goddard film documenting the writing and recording of the Rolling Stones classic on Beggar's Banquet that chronicled the political and social upheaval of the mid to late 1960s, is being re-released.  The 4k restored film will get a few showcase screenings in late September before dropping on Blu-ray and DVD on October 5th.

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Two weeks after the original Woodstock festival, some of the same bands performed at the Texas International Pop Festival  near the newly opened Texas Motor Speedway outside of Dallas.  Around 100,000 turned out in the Texas heat August 30 & 31 for a lineup that included Led Zeppelin, Santana, Janis Joplin, Canned Heat, Johnny Winter, Sly and the Family Stone, Chicago Transit Authority, Grand Funk Railroad, Ten Years After, BB King, Freddie King, Delaney & Bonnie and Spirit.

Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin features 400 pages of material documenting the band's history compiled by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. The Big book comes for a list price close to $70, but can be pre-ordered for less with a bit of looking.

Neil Young and actress Daryl Hannah evidently tied the knot on a yacht near the San Juan Islands off the California coast over the weekend. People Magazine has reported there may also have been a small wedding ceremony on board Neil's own boat last month in Washington state. 
According to the magazine, the gathering after the on-water ceremony off the California coast reportedly included around 100 guests, Stephen Stills and Joni Mitchell among them. Young hasn't officially confirmed the marriage, but the couple has been tight since Neil separated from his wife of 36 years in 2014.

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Whether or not the Kinks reunion  and/or Ray and Dave Davies ever record together remain uncertain.  The brothers confirmed plane to reunite in June, but previous attempts to stay on the same page about reforming a ban. But Ray did recently release another solo album. And Dave has one due on October 12.  Dave Davies Decade mines material he wrote in the 1970's.  Here's a preview.

Allman Brothers veteran guitarist Dickey Betts has suffered what's being described as a "mild stroke".  A post on his web site relays assurances by doctors that he should make a full recovery in three to five weeks, but Betts and his solo band will have to cancel dates remaining on the current leg of his tour.  The shows knocked off are at the New York State Fair in Syracuse on Tuesday (8/28), the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut 8/31, and the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.  We join in wishing rapid recovery wishes to Dickey.

RIP early Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King who passed away in Nashville wEDNESDAY (8/22).  King, who got a co-writing credit on Sweet Home Alabama, left the band in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines, but rejoined the legendary group in 1987 and stuck with the it almost a decade until health issues forced him to retire.  King was 68.

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Holiday shopping for a friend that loves Eric Clapton just got easier.  Slowhand will release a Christmas album on October 12.  Happy XMas includes 14 songs of the season, including a new original titled For Love on Christmas Day.  Eric also did the cover drawing.

MORE ERIC CALPTON INSIGHTS

Eddie Vedder played a guitar Tom Petty gave him on Saturday night at Wrigley Field as a sea of cell phones were held up by Pearl Jam Fans while he did I Won't Back Down in tribute to Tom.

He also did a cover of David Bowie's Rebel Rebel with gthe whole band.
 

RIP the Queen Of Soul. One of the great voices of our lifetimes fell silent today. Aretha Franklin has died at 76.  The duaghter of a minister, Aretha was born ao March 25th of 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee.  The family moved briefly to Buffalo when she was just four, before relocating in Detroit, where her father took the pulpit at the New Bethel Baptist Church. Her parents separated when Aretha was just 7 and her mother died before she turned 10.  Her father's booming voice and inspirational sermons drew musicians and other celebrities to his services, where they heard his daughter belt out hymns with a voice that was startlingly strong for so young a child.  Before long, Sam Cooke and Berry Gordy were trying to convince her father to have Aretha record for a label.  At 18 she was under contract with Columbia Records, releasing R&B, Pop and Easy Listening singles and albums.  Her leap to international acclaim came with her move to Atlantic at the end of 1966.  Early the following year, Franklin went to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and started recording the Rockin' Soul and R&B songs that rocketed her to the top of the charts.

Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Allen Collins we're together in bands a decade before the release of Pronounced "leh-nerd skinerd", the album that introduced them to the world on August 13th in 1973. Only Rossington remains, and Lynyrd Skynyrd will be no more after this tour ends. But the band that sold 30 million albums, and who knows how many Bic Lighters that fans held aloft during performances of the closing track on this album, became legendary.

Happy birthday to one of the most distinctive guitarists in Rock. The former Dire Straits co-founding brother was  born on this day in 1949 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Some tasty guitar from EC on the new song Everything You Need from Doyle Bramhall II.

Today is the anniversary of Freddie Mercury's last concert fronting Queen.  It took place in 1986 in front of 120,000 at Knebworth. His last show ever would be on April 14, 1988 at an AIDS awareness and fund raising concert with Cliff Richard.  By then, the ravages of the disease were quite evident, but Mercury rose to the occasion and did what he did to deserve recognition as one of the most compelling lead vocalists in history.

August 8th is always a lively day for a live look at the Abbey Road crosswalk in London. Today is the anniversary of the day in 1969 the album cover photo was taken.

Given the daily close calls with cars and trucks fans retracing the steps the Beatles took on this day in 49 years ago, it's amazing none have been mowed down. Get a live look here.

A recently made video for a song from Pink Floyd's Meddle album has surfaced.

Pat Benatar's second studio album dropped on this day in 1980. Crimes Of Passion went on to be her best selling album thanks to Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Treat Me Right, Hell Is For Children and her cover of the Rascal's You Better Run.  The album also landed Pat a Grammy for Best Female Rock Performance in 1981.

Bob Weir embarking on a trio tour doing Grateful Dead songs.  Bob Weir and Wolf Bros includes Bob's long-time Ratdog drummer and original Primus member Jay Lane and producer/bass player Don Was, who has produced albums for the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt and many others.

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Bob Weir & Wolf Bros Tour Dates

10/16 - Reno - Grand SIerra Theatre

10/18 - Los Angeles - Theatre at Ace Hotel
10/20 - Santa Barbara - Arlington Theatre

10/22 - Portland, OR - Keller Auditorium

10/23 - Seattle - Moore Theatre

10/24 - Missoula - Wilma Theatre

10/26 - Salt Lake City - Eccles Theater

10/27 - Albuquerque - Kiva Auditorium

10/29 - Denver - Paramount Theatre

10/31 - Chicago - Chicago Theatre

11/05 - Nashville - Ryman Auditorium

11/06 - Louisville - Palace Theater

11/08 - Syracuse - Landmark Theatre

11/09 - Portchester - Capitol Theatre

11/10 - Portchester - Capitol Theatre

11/12 - Washington - Warner Theatre

11/13 - Philadelphia - The Fillmore

11/16 - Boston - Wang Theatre

11/18 - New York - Beacon Theatre

Immortal, Ann Wilson's tribute album of songs from recently departed musicians she admired, gets released September 14. On it the Heart veteran covers songs from Tom Petty (Luna), The Eagles in honor of Glenn Frey (Life In The Fast Lane), Cream in honor of Jack Bruce (Politician), Gerry Rafferty (Baker Street) Chris Cornell (I Am The Highway), David Bowie (I'm Afraid of Americans), Amy WInehouse (Back to Black), Leonard Cohen (A Thousand Kisses Deep) and Lesley Gore (You Don't Own Me). Here is her take on Gore's song featuring Warren Haynes on guitar.