Things have been decidedly hellish for Heaven & Hell in recent weeks.  The band was hours from launching a European tour when Ronnie James Dio was hospitalized for what turned out to be early onset stomach cancer (story).  The singer is undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic.  Earlier, Tommy Iommi revealed that he had turned to stem cell treatments to address a hand injury that was bothering the guitarist. Monday (11/30) drummer Vinnie Appice will have shoulder surgery to repair damage he did to it during the band's last tour.  He has been told to expect five months of recovery and physical therapy before cutting loose behind the kit again.
Braveworlds.com

The long campaign to convert the house members of the Allman Brothers Band called home in the early 70's into a museum bears fruit in the Peach Tree State when The Big House opens on Vineville Avenue in Macon, Georgia this weekend.  The house, which ABB road manager Kirk West lived in as recently as 2003, underwent five years of restoration and renovations funded by $2.5 million in donations from fans throughout the country.  The price tag for the undertaking would have been much higher had more than half of the needed materials and labor not been donated.  The museum opens Saturday (12/5).  It will be open weekends only until its Grand Opening, which is expected to take place in February.
Macon.com

MORE ALLMAN BROTHERS INSIGHTS

The home of the Kentucky Derby will host a three day music festival in July, 2010.  Churchill Downs Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of the historic thoroughbred race course in Lexington, KY, announced plans Monday (11/30) for the first HullabaLOU Music Festival July 23-25.  The event will pull together a wide open field of artists, presenting Rock, Country, Bluegrass and Pop acts on five stages within the track grounds.  Headline acts for the festival are Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band and Country star Kenny Chesney.  Among the Rockers booked are the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers, the Black Crowes, Gov't Mule, Kansas, .38 Special and Steppenwolf.
Thoroughbredtimes.com   Hullabaloufest.com

Hope for the Holidays - Rockin' Christmas for a Cure is the title of a new collection of Christmas tunes put together to raise money in the fight against juvenile diabetes.  The collection includes CCR veterans Doug Clifford and Stu Cook doing Run Run Rudolph, Jon Anderson of Yes on O Holy Night, a version of Blue Christmas by Collective Soul, and David Coverdale doing 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.  The fact the collection is marketed as including 27 tracks is a bit Grinch like - 4 are actually public service announcements by artists on behalf of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, the organization partial proceeds from the sale of the album go to.
Hipchristmas.com
 

GQ Magazine and Toshiba have combined forces to create custom laptop computers with graphics and features reflecting the personalities of four celebrities, each of which will be auctioned on eBay to raise money for a charity designated by each celebrity.  Joe Perry of Aerosmith is the Rocker among them.  The Qosimo X505 model bearing custom Joe Perry graphics and sporting Harman/Kardon speakers and a 18.4" HD display will raise money for Project AWARE, an organization dedicated to protecting aquatic environments that the Aerosmith guitarist has had a long association with.
laptops.toshiba.com/gq

MORE JOE PERRY INSIGHTS

Dream, the newest addition to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, features 15 dining spots, 20 bars, a 425 seat comedy club and a water park to keep its 3,645 passengers entertained.  The most unique feature the Dream offers is not on board but above the massive ship, a laser light show beamed into the night sky that is synchronized to a soundtrack of music from Pink Floyd, Rush, Styx and Van Halen.  A 70,000 watt sound system is used to deliver the audio to all hands on deck.
TheStar.com

Davidbowie.com has countered a report by a UK tabloid web site claiming that Bowie was considering accepting an offer to appear at the 2010 Glastonbury Festival by calling the story 'lies and stories they made up...Part 386' and saying there is 'absolutely no substance' to the story the site posted Thursday (11/27).  Festival organizers recently confirmed U2 will do its only 2010 British Isles show on a Glastonbury stage (story), and speculation has ramped up that the Rolling Stones will include a Glastonbury appearance if a 2010 tour comes together (story).
Davidbowie.com

MORE DAVID BOWIE INSIGHTS   MORE U2 INSIGHTS   MORE ROLLING STONES INSIGHTS

Several weeks ago the Steve Miller Band and the Doobie Brothers announced a January tribute concert to honor   the late harmonica great Norton Buffalo, who played on multiple releases for both artists and toured with Miller for more than two decades.  100% of the proceeds from the show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA January 23 will go to the family of Buffalo, who died in early November of cancer.  That show has sold out, prompting the addition of a second concert the prior night. Miller, the Doobies, Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood, Elvin Bishop, Huey Lewis and blues great Charlie Musselwhite are slated to appear at both shows.
SFGate.com   Doobiebrothers.net

MORE STEVE MILLER INSIGHTS    MORE DOOBIE BROTHERS INSIGHTS

As reported several weeks ago by Rock Insights, the Who will headline halftime at the Super Bowl in Miami on Feb 7.  The official confirmation came in an announcement made by the NFL during the Raiders - Cowboys game Thanksgiving Day (11/26) on CBS.  Telecast of last year's spectacle featuring Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band was carried in more than 230 countries and territories and watched by an estimated 150 million people in the US alone.

Thewho.com

MORE WHO INSIGHTS

Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Heaven & Hell veteran Ronnie James Dio was hospitalized and the DIO European tour canceled just before its scheduled open in Sheffield, England Sunday (11/22).  His wife has now revealed that Dio has been diagnosed with early stage stomach cancer. Wendy Dio vows after 'After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best'.  Dio is undergoing treatment at the Mayo Clinic.
Ronniejamesdio.com

Prospects for a 2010 Rolling Stones tour are strong - at least if Ron Wood's 20 year-old love interest is to be believed, according to Contactmusic.com.  The site cites The Sun, a London tabloid, as reporting that Ekaterina Ivanova defied instructions not to discuss the emerging plan by 'telling a few friends'.  Persistent rumors in recent weeks have put the Stones in the 2010 Glastonbury lineup - something neither the band or the organizers of the festival have commented on.  U2 is the only confirmed act at this point (story).
Contactmusic.com

MORE ROLLING STONE INSIGHTS

Holly Mason's father is an avid racing enthusiast and an accomplished driver.  In a case of like father, like son-in-law, the Pink Floyd drummer's daughter will marry a man who makes a living at the wheel of ultra high performance cars Saturday (11/28), when American Le Mans Series driver Mariano Franchitti walks the wedding aisle with her in London.  Mariano's brother, Indycar champion and Indy 500 winner Dario, is married to Ashley Judd.
Goldcoast..com.au
 
MORE NICK MASON INSIGHTS

Mark Beaman loves vintage wine and Classic Rock, so the Californian eventually got around to combining his passions by starting Wines That Rock, varietals and blends created and bottled with bands and their fans in mind.  Current offerings include Rolling Stones Forty Licks Merlot, Making Woodstock Chardonnay and Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Carbernet.  The Medocino vineyard also does everything possible to keep its production of reds and whites as green as possible, using solar and wind power, eco-friendly packaging and engaging in sustainable farming.  The former Peace Corps member says music is integral to every phase of his award winning operation.
Wines-that-rock.com

The number of titles in the Grammy Hall of Fame grew to 851 with the announcement Monday (11/24) of this year's 25 titles selected from all categories of music. Titles making the list include The Doors for Riders On The Storm, the Beach Boys for California Girls, Bob Marley & The Wailers for the Catch A Fire album, Bo Diddley for Checker, and Janis Joplin for the Pearl album, Muddy Waters for I Feel Like Going Home and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for Mr. Bojangles. Titles must be at least 25 years old to be considered for the honor, which was established in 1973.
Grammy.com

The Use It Or Lose It Tour became the Use It And Lose It Tour for Roger Daltrey, who struggled with voice trouble for a couple of nights before deciding to cancel a Baltimore show (story).  A statement on the Who web site advises fans holding tickets for that show to get refunds because Daltrey does not have time in his schedule to do a Baltimore make-up show before the tour ends and there will not be time between the final date (11/30 Clearwater, FL) and when the singer is due back in the UK. With 3 off nights between a New York Show and a Charleston, SC show, Baltimore right between the two and the date open at the venue, it will look to a lot of fans like it could have been worked in.
Who.com
 
 MORE ROGER DALTREY INSIGHTS

Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen hit it off so well when the two got together to talk and play tunes for the show Elvis hosts on Sundance that the channel will air it across two episodes.  The January 20 and 27 sessions were taped in September, so they are not likely to answer recent questions about the future of the E Street Band.  Bruce put some at ease at the close of his amazing tour ending show in Buffalo Sunday (11/22) by saying the band was '...going to say goodbye for a very little while' (story).  Costello hosts Bono and The Edge from U2 on the Dec. 9 season premier of the show (10P Eastern).
Examiner.com     Sundancechannel.com

A foundation called Children's Action in Switzerland raised a bundle of cash Monday night (11/23) thanks, in part, to Eric Clapton, who was on hand to lend a hand by doing a short acoustic set and to autograph a Martin Guitar that was later sold for $150,000 during the auction portion of the event.  EC, recently recovered from a gall stone procedure that forced him to withdraw from a planned appearance at one of the Rock Hall Of Fame anniversary concerts in Madison Square Garden, included a version of Nobody knows You When You're Down & Out in the brief set he did in Geneva.
Whereseric.com

MORE ERIC CLAPTON INSIGHTS

Advance sale tickets for the 2010 edition of the Glastonbury Festival sold out in just a few hours several weeks ago despite the fact not a single act had been confirmed (story). Now, a very big one has been inked. U2 will do it's only British Isles appearance opening night of the festival - June 25.  The announcement is the realization of a years long quest for Glastonbury organizer Michael Evans, who triumphantly announced the commitment as a big step in helping him fulfill his promise of a killer lineup for next summer's event.  It will mark the first major festival appearance by the Irish Rockers in more than 20 years.  The 2009 event was a great success, thanks in part to rare festival appearances by Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young.
U2.com

MORE U2 INSIGHTS

An epic performance for an audience fearful it might be the last time one of the legendary live bands of all time took the stage together ended a two year tour Sunday night (11/22) in Buffalo. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band delivered a riveting and exhilarating 3 ½ hour show at HSBC Arena, including what Bruce said would be the only performance ever of Greetings From Asbury Park NJ, his 1973 debut album.  Near midnight on an incredible night of memorable moments, Bruce waded through the crowd chanting ‘We don’t want to go home yet’ before charging back to the stage to challenge his band and the audience to keep the night going. Exhausted but eager, both the crowd and band responded until the last notes of John Fogerty’s Rocking All Over The World brought the magical night, a tour and, perhaps, a glorious chapter in rock history to an end.
MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

The 21st edition of the annual charity concert organized by Allman Brothers Band & Gov't Mule guitarist Warren Haynes will rock the Asheville, NC Civic Center December 12.  In addition to the Mule, Christmas Jam 2009 will include appearances by Brad Whitford of Aerosmith, Ed Rowland from Collective Soul, the Counting Crows, and Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic, who has also played with Grateful Dead veteran Phil Lesh & Friends, and jam band fan favorite moe. Proceeds from the annual event help support the Asheville area Habitat for Humanity effort.
Xmasjam.com

MORE WARREN HAYNES INSIGHTS

An unspecified ailment has landed Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Heaven & Hell veteran Ronnie James Dio in a hospital and caused the DIO European tour to be canceled.  The tour was to open in Sheffield, England Sunday (11/22) and visit six countries during a 22 date run, ending in Germany on Dec. 22.  Wendy Dio, wife of the Rocker, posted a note about the cancellation on the Dio web site, expressing her appreciation to fans for their understanding and good wishes.
Ronniejamesdio.com

Amid concerns raised by band members about the sobriety of Steven Tyler, there is one report the group is already moving forward with plans to replace the vocalist, at least on an interim basis.  Boston.com, a usually reliable source of info about the band, says a South American singer may already be scheduled to wing his way to Beantown for an audition.  The vocalist the other members in Aerosmith are supposedly interested in hearing is Paul Gillman, a Rocker from Venezuela that has done lead vocals with the band Arkangel, a big draw in the southern hemisphere.  The site also reports that Joe Perry has rejected the rumor as 'rubbish'.
Boston.com

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

Fans attending the Jackson Browne concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida came with the hope of hearing any number of songs, but Free Bird was only on the mind of the one fan who shouted the title of the Lynyrd Skynyrd anthem in jest after Browne invited requests.  To his and everyone else's surprise, Browne went right into it, his guitar tech joining him on slide. He also worked in a version of Lawyers, Guns & Money by his late friend Warren Zevon, whose debut album Browne produced.  Browne took a pass on a joker's call from the crowd of around 2,200 for Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers.
Tampatrib.com    TBO.com

MORE JACKSON BROWNE INSIGHTS

A Canadian couple's first anniversary celebration went south when the pickup truck they were in slid into a ditch off an icy road near Jasper, British Columbia.  Things on the desolate road went from real bad to very cool when one of the only vehicles they were likely to see for a long time turned out to be a ZZ Top tour bus.  The bus, bound for a Double Down Live tour date in Prince George, pulled over and attempted to pull the truck out, but conditions were so slick the bus could not do the job.  Not to worry, the couple was invited on board the bus, which headed to the nearest place they could get some food & coffee and arrange to have a tow truck dispatched.
ZZTop.com

MORE ZZ TOP INSIGHTS

Chickenfoot, the band Van Halen alums Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony formed with guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has been tearing things up live in support of their debut album.  The band will amp things up by appearing in at least 32 states on December 1.  That's the day select theaters across the country will screen Chickenfoot Live.  The HD concert film will be presented in 5.1 surround sound.  Check the list of screening locations here.
Sonyclubdates.com

MORE CHICKENFOOT INSIGHTS
 

The presence of Steve Morse guarantees every Deep Purple concert will feature great guitar work.  Fans at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam Tuesday night (11/17) got the bonus of hearing Morse joined on stage by Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule.  The two got into some incidiary exchanges during a 10 minute version of Black Night. Haynes, who is in Europe touring with the Mule, had worked a little bit of Smoke On The Water into his own band's set in Madrid, Spain a few nights earlier.  Roger Glover of Deep Purple has played on two Gov't Mule albums.
Highwaystar.com   Jambands.com

MORE DEEP PURPLE INSIGHTS     MORE WARREN HAYNES INSIGHTS

Ringo Starr heads into the new year with an old friend in tow.  Paul McCartney joins his former  Beatles band mate on two tracks on the drummer's new album that is due out in January. Paul does vocals with Ringo on the song Walk With Me from the album Y Not, the first self-produced album Starr has taken on.  Also appearing on it are Joe Walsh, Joss Stone, Van Dyke Parks and Ben Harper.  Ringo is also slated to score a star of his own on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.
Ringostarr.com     Rollingstone.com

MORE RINGO STARR INSIGHTS

In what looks like a real estate version of the Cash for Clunkers program, a Canadian company has bought the Pontiac Silverdome for just $583,000.  The 80,000 seat former home of the Detroit Lions cost nearly $56 million to build in the mid 70's. New owners had been sought since the NFL franchise moved into Ford Field seven years ago.  In addition to Super Bowls (2), a NCAA Basketball Final Four and an NBA All Star Game, the venue hosted a number of noteworthy concerts. The Who (1975) and Led Zeppelin (1977) established new indoor attendance records there.  Pink Floyd, the Grateful Dead and the Rolling Stones also did shows there.
freep.com  Detroit Free Press

An April UK tour was announced Tuesday (11/17) by Bad Company.  The big news is that Paul Rodgers, who spent the last couple of years working with Queen, will be back in front of a lineup  with original Bad Co members Mick Ralphs and Simon Kirke.  The trio got together for a one night only show in August, 2008 at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida for a 17 song set that was released as a CD and DVD (BluRay).  Earlier this month, Rodgers joined a group of UK musicians at Abbey Road Studios to record a version of Paul McCartney's Mull of Kintyre and a song titled We Will Remember Them to benefit the Royal British Legion, a group that provides support to heroic individuals that suffer injuries. Look in on  the session here.
Badcompany.com

MORE BAD COMPANY INSIGHTS

U2 will reportedly pump between $2 and $3 million into a facility in Montreal so it can host the band's 360 tour on July 16.  The band will apparently underwrite the cost of building a temporary stadium big enough to hold 60,000 - 80,000 on the grounds of the Montreal Hippodrome.  Making the story even more remarkable, both the temporary facility and the Hippodrome itself are scheduled to be demolished right after the event so the site can be prepared for a real estate development.  Olympic Stadium, largely unused since the Expos abandoned it to move to Washington, DC, was apparently rejected because the band wants to play open air concerts.  It will be the first show by U2 in Montreal since 2005
Montrealgazette.com

MORE U2 INSIGHTS

The modest home on a small street in Long Branch, New Jersey that Bruce Springsteen lived in while writing songs for Born To Run has been sold to three fans, one of whom plans to take up residence in the house at 7 1/2 West End Court.  The house drew a lot of interest after going on the market in September after it was confirmed to be the place Bruce was renting at the time he wrote several of the songs on his 1975 breakout release.  The 928 square foot home had been listed at $299k.  Real Estate agent Susan McLaughlin declined to identify the buyers, other than to say there were locals, and 'They came. They loved it. They bought it.'  She said they were 'some of the nicest people I have ever met".
Acc.com

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

The Miami Dolphins may not be able to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East, but they lead the league by a large margin when it comes to NFL fans that love Rock, thanks to owner Stephen Ross.  Before the season opened Ross hooked up with Jimmy Buffett in a deal that turned Dolphin Stadium into Land Shark Stadium, converted the Buffett song Fins into Phins - and got Jimmy to play at the home opener.  He has also arranged for other Rockers to entertain fans during regular season games.  The Joe Perry Project (Dec. 6) and Cheap Trick (Dec. 27) will get fans jacked up in pre game sets - and the Who are rumored to be suiting up as the half time headliner for the Super Bowl in February (story).

Don Henley says a Western US summer tour is a possibility for the Eagles in 2010. In a wide ranging interview with Dan Brown of lfpress.com the Eagles drummer and vocalist weighed in on the longevity of the band, railed against the media and defended the decision to make the most recent Eagles collection a WalMart exclusive.  Henley blasted media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who he said has 'single-handedly lowered journalistic standards across the board', talk show host Glenn Beck, who he called a blockhead, and says he's given up on everything on television except the Weather Channel, saying media bias has made the country so '...chronically uninformed and bitterly divided' that he's not sure anyone can lead it anymore.
lfpress.com

MORE EAGLES INSIGHTS
 

Keyboard player Ian McLagan has been the most outspoken member of the Faces when it comes to voicing frustration over mixed signals the group says it has gotten from Rod Stewart about a reunion.  On, then off tour plans finally came down to just a few reunion dates in and around London while Stewart was in the US promoting his new album.  Those went well enough that the band is leaning toward touring without Stewart, who recently claimed to still be open to a reunion - if only a one-off (story).  The band used Paul Carrack, Andy Fairweather Low and Mick Hucknall from Simply Red for the UK dates. One or more of them could be used in extended play mode - or they could tap another to fill for Stewart.  Come to think of it, Steven Tyler could be available.
Billboard.com

MORE FACES INSIGHTS    MORE ROD STEWART INSIGHTS

The LA law firm of Glaser, Weil, Fink, Jacobs & Shapiro (yes, the Shapiro in the OJ Simpson case) has had a lot of high profile clients, one of them Rod Stewart.  The firm represented Stewart in a case related to a claim against him a promoter filed after Stewart canceled a  Las Vegas concert on short notice nearly a decade ago.  That long legal battle and another involving a trademark infringement suit brough by another promoter reportedly left Stewart on the hook for millions in legal fees to the firm, which is now said to have started legal action against its former client for failing to pay up.
Eonline.com

MORE ROD STEWART INSIGHTS

The US Library of Congress will announce Monday (11/16) that Paul McCartney is the 2010 recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.  McCartney becomes the first foreign songwriter to pick up the prize named in honor of George & Ira Gershwin. Paul Simon received the honor in 2007, and it was awarded to Stevie Wonder in 2009.  The 2010 ceremony is expected to take place in Washington, the city the Beatles did their first US concert in two days after appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show in February of 1964.  Plans for the 2010 include a tribute concert featuring plenty of star power.
Washingtonpost.com

MORE PAUL McCARTNEY INSIGHTS

Fact and fiction are tough to sort out when it comes to legendary blues musicians. When it comes to Robert Johnson the task goes from difficult to impossible, so it's no big surprise that a recent announcement that the house officials believe was born in will be made into a museum has met with at least one claim that it's not the right house.  Right house or not, it is good to know Mississippi will commemorate the blues great with more than the historical marker near his resting place.  The Hazlehurst home officials believe to be the birthplace of the influential musician and prolific writer is slated to be opened as a museum once the estimated $250k needed to get it done is raised.
Clarionledger.com   Nmisscommentor.com
 

Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter worked poker playing references into a lotta songs. Even though we don't recall a Grateful Dead tune that mentions a board game, betting against there being one would be as dumb as taking the seat with a mirror behind it at a poker game.  So would betting against DeadOpoly, the new Grateful Dead themed board game, being a hit with Deadheads.   The virtual touring experience involves earning Grateful Deeds that can set you up in luxury or cheap hotel, earn you VIP passes or land you in the parking lot (both are cool at a Dead concert).  Of course, the high roller gets to go first. Get Truckin' and get the game here.
Gratefuldeadopoly.com
 
MORE GRATEFUL DEAD INSIGHTS

The Big House, the Macon, Georgia house Allman Brothers Band members called home during the group's rise to national prominence in the early 70's, has been undergoing a restoration and conversion over the last several months that will turn it into a museum.  That large scale project is in the home stretch now.  Volunteers were on the site in recent days doing landscaping.  The Southern Rock landmark will house a collection of various artifacts from the band.  An opening date is yet to be announced, but a Grand Opening is reportedly being planned for February.
13wmaz.com

MORE ALLMAN BROTHERS INSIGHTS

Bruce Springsteen will end his Working On A Dream tour with the first ever full performance of the album that started it all, Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.  The concert Sunday (11/22) in Buffalo will be the final concert before the band takes a long break, one that Steven Van Zandt suggested might even be permanent (story).  Hard core fans that hoped Bruce would add the 1973 classic to the other full albums he has done on this tour now have to hope his decision to do it was not arrived at because he expects this to be the band's last concert together.  Either way, it guarantees a number of rare songs including The Angel, which has only been done in concert once, will get played least once more by the E Street Band.
NJ.com
 
MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

Jackson Browne summed up life on tour well in The Load Out when he sang, 'We've got to drive all night and do a show in Chicago... or Detroit, I don't know, we do so many shows in a row...' Bruce Springsteen was in that state Friday night (11/13) when he came on stage at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan and greeted the crowd by bellowing 'Hello Ohio!'.  The Buckeye state would get few more references before Little Steven pulled Bruce aside for a quick geography update, after which The Boss had Van Zant hit him over the head with the sponge Bruce uses to cool down during sets.  Fans more than forgave Springsteen for his earlier slips when he and the E Street Band ripped into Bob Seger's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man later in the set.
Detroit Free Press   Freep.com
 
MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEEN INSIGHTS

The 1968 Gibson SG has been a nearly constant companion of Angus Young since the AC/DC guitarist picked it up in 1970.  The Custom Shop of Gibson Guitars set out to duplicate every detail of the axe that has powered virtually every great AC/DC track since 1973 when it built 250 replicas of the fabled guitar.  Any deviations from the original were made at the specific request of Young, who wanted an ebony fingerboard with lighning bolt inlays in addition to the individual bolts that adorn the unusually slender neck of the instrument.  Hand finishing was done to build authentic looking aging into the finish of every guitar, each of which comes with a leather bound certificate of authenticity.
Gibson.com

MORE AC/DC INSIGHTS

Alex Lifeson has a role in an upcoming Canadian television series being produced by a team that previously cast the Rush guitar player in another sitcom.  Lifeson made an appearance in one episode of Trailer Park Boys, a show revolving around the bizarre characters living in an RV park in Nova Scotia. Now, according to Jam! Showbiz, Lifeson will appear in a new series with the working title of The Drunk and on Drugs Happy Funtime Hour.  This show is based on a group of actors in a children's TV show that innocently eat what turn out to be hallucinogenic berries, causing each to believe they are the actual character they play in the children's show.
Jam.canoe.ca

MORE RUSH INSIGHTS

The surprise appearance Steven Tyler made with the Joe Perry Project in New York City the other night (story) even surprised Perry, according to Rolling Stone.  The magazine's web site says the Aerosmith guitarist only learned Tyler was at the Fillmore and wanted to do a song with his band moments before taking the stage for Walk This Way.  According to the magazine, the gesture by Tyler may not be enough to save his role in the band - one he apparently does not want to lose despite having signed a separate management contract and confirming solo plans.
Perry repeated his earlier position that the band will consider finding another vocalist in a Twitter post that is certain to produce a lot of applicants.
Rollingstone.com

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

Reports the Who will headline the halftime show at the Super Bowl in Miami Feb. 7 (story) were yet to be confirmed by the NFL Friday (11/13), but fans up for a concert & pigskin combo at Landshark Stadium sooner than next year can catch Cheap Trick doing a live set before the Dolphins and Texans tangle on Dec. 27.  The noon performance on the TailGate Stage in the stadium's Grand Plaza is free to game ticket holders.
Cheaptrick.com

MORE CHEAP TRICK INSIGHTS

Decked out in a blue and gold gown, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour was rewarded for his 'outstanding contribution to music as a writer, performer and innovator' by his alma mater Wednesday (11/11) with a doctor of arts degree.  Angila Ruskin University (Cambridge College of Arts and Technology when Gilmour and band mate Syd Barrett attended), honored Gilmour despite his scathing attack on British education in the song Another Brick In The Wall - something easy to disregard when it involves a graduate with the resources to be a very generous alumni donor.
Cambridge-news.co.uk
 
MORE DAVID GILMOUR INSIGHTS

Controversy over how loud U2 was when the band played its home town in July was not limited to the decibel levels of the band itself.  Dublin residents were so riled up over the noise generated while crews spent days before and after the show building and striking the massive stage that some blocked trucks transporting the stage to its next show in protest.  The Dublin City Council has now hit the promoter with a nearly $60,000 fine for allowing the band to exceed noise limits.  The ruling identifies 12 violations over the course of the 3 Croke Park concerts, each carrying a fine.
Herald.ie

MORE U2 INSIGHTS

Paul McCartney took New York by storm during the summer, doing two sold out shows at Citi Field and an appearance on David Letterman's show that included a brief set from atop the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater.  Highlights from Sir Paul's engagements at the new home of the New York Mets will air on ABC television on Thanksgiving night at 10pm Eastern.  The concerts, which produced the CD & DVD Good Evening New York City (11/17), featured McCartney and his band covering material from all phases of the former Beatle's storied career.
ABCnews.go.com

MORE PAUL McCARTNEY INSIGHTS

The Spots Illustrated web site is claiming that the Who will be the headline band at the Super Bowl in Miami in February.  If Townshend, Daltrey & company are a lock for the showcase it contradicts earlier indications from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross that Jimmy Buffett could get the gig.  Buffett and Ross are said to be close, and the Dolphins struck a business deal that awarded stadium naming rights to Landshark, the beer brand of the singer's Margaritaville enterprises.  The ultimate decision on who performs at halftime is up to the NFL, which has declined to comment on the report.  The game is scheduled for Feb. 7.
Washingtonpost.com  SI.com  Billboard.com

MORE WHO INSIGHTS     MORE JIMMY BUFFETT INSIGHTS

One of the more durable marriages in Rock came to an official end Wednesday (11/11) when Jo Wood was granted a divorce from her Rolling Stones husband of 24 years.  The Family Division of London's High Court granted the decree in a brief session.  Documents released after the hearing confirm that it was filed on the basis of adultrey, but did not specifically mention Ekaterina Ivanova, the young Russian waitress 62 year old Ron Wood took up with last year. Turmoil in the new couple's relationship caused some speculation the Stones guitarist could seek a reconciliation with his wife.  If he did, he got no satisfaction.
Headinglytoday.co.uk

MORE RON WOOD INSIGHTS

Steven Tyler says that as far as he is concerned he is still a member of Aerosmith.  Appearing at the Glamour Women of the Year awards Tuesday night (11/10) decked out in typical Tyler fashion, the vocalist quipped "Does it look like I'm leaving Aerosmith?".  He later joined the Joe Perry Project on stage at the Fillmore at Irving Plaza to do Walk This Way.  It was the first positive development since contradictory claims about the lead singer's status with the band started flying between Tyler and other group members several weeks ago.  Just days ago reports emerged that the group is considering recruiting a new lead singer.
OKmagazine.com   Rollingstone.com

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

Canadian native Neil Young will join the ranks of MusiCares Person Of The Year honorees during a Jan. 29 event at the Convention Center in LA in his honor.  The award is given annually to a figure in the music industry for their support of good causes as well as in recognition of the recipient's artistic excellence. The evening to honor Young, who ironically has never  been awarded a Grammy of his own, will include performances from his CSN&Y band mates David Crosby, Steve Stills and Graham Nash, along with James Taylor, Sheryl Crowe, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and others.  Given his reluctance to show up at awards events, organizers would do well to have a body double available to fill Young's seat.
CTV.ca

MORE NEIL YOUNG INSIGHTS

In another half-step toward making the Beatle catalogue available via download, all of the recently remastered albums will be packaged on an Apple shaped USB drive that will be on sale before Christmas.  The Dec. 7 (UK) and 8 (US) release can be ordered in advance through the Beatles online store.  The release will be limited to 30,000 of the devices, each containing all of the album artwork, 13 mini-documentaries about the albums and more comprehensive liner notes than the CD releases for each include.  Songs will be encoded at 320 kbps, so the quality will be good - and should be, with a price tag of $279.
Thebeatles.com

MORE BEATLES INSIGHTS

The University of California, Santa Cruz has posted a job opening for an archivist to take over managing the university's Grateful Dead collection.  The archive, thought to be the most comprehensive collection of the Bay Area band's Long, Strange Trip, includes virtually every form of memorabelia, much of it provided by band insiders. The New York Historical Society hosts an exhibit that draws from the UCSC collection starting in March (story). Applicants must have a masters in archives management and "expert knowledge in the history of and scholarship of contemporary popular music, or American vernacular culture, perferably the history and influence of the Grateful Dead", man.
NYTimes.com

MORE GRATEFUL DEAD INSIGHTS

Roger Daltrey has been forced to cancel his Tuesday (11/10) concert in Baltimore due to a sore throat.  The Who vocalist's solo tour had been going well until he ran into voice problems during his stop in Cleveland (story).  The US trek, ironically called the Use It Or Lose It Tour, has 11 more dates before its scheduled conclusion in Clearwater, Florida on the last day of November.  With very few off days in the schedule, it has been very demanding on the Daltrey pipes.
Thewho.com

MORE ROGER DALTREY INSIGHTS

With the E Street Band planning to do The River in its entirety for the first time ever, fans arrived at Madison Square Garden Sunday night (11/8) expecting a long and extraordinary night. With 20 songs to cover in The River alone, Bruce got to it right after opening with Wrecking Ball, saying "We're going to try this just one time because it's too long to do it again" before ripping into Ties That Bind. The album feature included 3 tour premiers (Crush On You, Stolen Car and Wreck On The Highway) and had Bruce crowd surfing on Hungry Heart and slow dancing with Patti during I Wanna Marry You.  Eleven songs followed The River, including covers of Sweet Soul Music, Can't Help Falling In Love, and Higher & Higher, which ended the 32 song, 3 hour set.
NJ.com

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

The Hard Rock and Yoko Ono have announced a global campaign to help WHY (World Hunger Year), a non profit organization fighting hunger and poverty around the world, raise funds for its programs. 100% of the proceeds raised from the sale of an album titled SERVE4 being sold at Hard Rock locations throughout the world will go to WHY.  The album, which opens with the John Lennon song Gimme Some Truth, includes contributions from Elvis Costello, Chicago and 13 other artists.  In addition to the disc, bracelets and pins to support the campaign will also be sold at Hard Rock locations. WHY helps fund organizations fighting hunger in Kenya, Thailand, India, Haiti, Uganda, China, Nicaragua and numerous other countries.
PRNewswire

The buzz over the debut album by the band that combines John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin with Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame and Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age has been huge.  Them Crooked Vultures amped it up with live performances that have absolutely killed.  The debut album is not due for release Nov. 17, but the band has made it available to preview in advance.  Check it out here.
Themcrookedvultures.com

MORE THEM CROOKED VULTURES INSIGHTS

Guitarist Phil Collen lends a different kind of artistry to a limited edition series of guitars being produced by Jackson Guitars in celebrtion of the company's 30th anniversary.  Thirty custom painted and signed versions of the PC1 model the company manufactures for the Def Leppard guitarist are being produced for release next year.  Collen is making each unique with Jackson Pollock style paintings on the bodies, which also bear his name in Japanese characters.  No price or release date has been announced yet for the collector series instruments.
Defleppard.com
 
MORE DEF LEPPARD INSIGHTS

Cheap Trick was in Cleveland Saturday night (11/8) for an Evening With Scott Hamilton & Friends, an all-star eveing of music and skating to raise money for the Scott Hamilton CARES initiative, a program that supports the efforts of a Cleveland Clinic cancer institute.  The sold-out evening featured dozens of world class figure skaters doing routines to the music of Cheap Trick and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.  Hamilton, who has been friends with the band for nearly 30 years, was joined on the ice by Kristi Yamaguchi, Todd Eldredge, Steven Cousins, Melissa Gregory and a number of other Olympians.
Cheaptrick.com

MORE CHEAP TRICK INSIGHTS

Don't expect this latest development to last because nearly every twist in the soap opera Aerosmith has become in recent months has been followed by a turn in another direction, but Joe Perry told the Las Vegas Sun "Steven quit as far as I can tell" following the band's recent appearance in Abu Dhabi.  Perry told the paper that aside from their time on stage during two shows in Hawaii and at the Grand Prix performance in Abu Dhabi, Tyler has had 'no contact' with other band members, and has failed to return his phone calls.  Perry admits his belief about Tyler's intentions is based on reports the lead singer plans to go solo (story) rather than anything he has told the band.
Lasvegassun.com

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

The short set U2 did Thursday (11/5) near the site where the Berlin Wall once stood was done within a walled-off area, an irony that was not at all amusing to fans without tickets hoping to be able to see the show.  Reaction ranged from disappointment to outrage over the band's decision to perform a free concert behind a wall.  The six song set, which was beamed from Brandenburg Gate to the MTV Awards event in London, included another betrayal in the opinion of a lot of fans - a rap version of Sunday, Bloody Sunday, with Jay Z joining the band on stage.  And Bono wonders why No Line On The Horizon has not sold better.
Irishcentral.com
 
MORE U2 INSIGHTS

One of the most powerful voices in Rock was reduced to a rasp by the time Roger Daltrey closed out his appearance at the House Of Blues in Cleveland Tuesday (11/3).  The Who lead vocalist had to make an early exit soon after apologizing to the full house, saying, "I sound terrible".  He made it through 16 songs, a couple of them shortened versions of Who classics, before running into real trouble during a Johnny Cash medley.  His attempt at Blue, Red & Grey was also cut short, and Daltrey gave up after Born On The Bayou.
Cleveland Plain Dealer   Cleveland.com

MORE ROGER DALTREY INSIGHTS

Norton Buffalo was always there for Steve Miller and the Doobie Brothers.  The renowned harmonica player appeared on nearly a dozen Steve Miller albums and even more tours, and played on several Doobie Brothers releases.  Miller, the Doobies and a number of other artists Buffalo enjoyed and recorded with will be at the Fox Theater in Oakland January 23 to honor the harp player, who died recently of cancer (story).  The concert, which will benefit the Buffalo family, will also include Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood, Huey Lewis and blues great Charlie Musselwhite.
SFGate.com

Michael Cohl has assumed the role of Producer for the reportedly over budget and behind schedule Broadway production of Spiderman that features the music of U2.  Cohl is a novice when it comes to producing a major Broadway musical, but has plenty of experience in the music and concert industries, and the kind of connections it will take to line up backers willing to invest in what will be the most expensive play ever staged.  In addition to being tight with Bono, the former Live Nation chairman has decades of close assciations with dozens of other mega stars. Cohl said a direct appeal from Bono and The Edge led him to agree to take over the $50 million production.
NYTimes.com

Touring musicians get used to spending more time on the road than at home.  But being in two bands has made time at home way too scarce for Derek Trucks.  Compounding matters, his wife, musician Susan Tedeschi, logs a lot of road hours herself. The couple gets a break in 2010 when The Allman Brothers and the Derek Trucks Band both scale things back.  The DTB will take the year off, in fact. Fans will get a new live CD to tide them over pulled together from the tour done in support of the 2009 album Already Free.  Trucks and Tedeschi will continue to play - but close to home in a new group the couple is putting together.
Jambands.com

MORE DEREK TRUCKS INSIGHTS

A possible indication that the rift in Aersomith will lead to the band seeking a new lead vocalist emerged in an Classic Rock Magazine interview in which  Steven Tyler revealed that he intends to pursue solo projects.  Signs this could be in the cards emerged earlier this year when the lead singer opted to sign with a different management company than the band.  The illness and injury plagued tour that was derailed when Tyler broke his his shoulder in a fall off a stage in August deepened divisions within the group, prompting the band to call its lead singer out (story). Brad Whitford weighed in on the possibility Tyler will be replaced, saying, "...if somebody was willing to do it and the chemistry was right, why not?"
Bostonherald.com  Classic Rock Magazine

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

Eric Clapton contributes guitar work to the charity single Fly Away, being released in the UK in honor of Jackie Stewart on the race car driver's 70th birthday.  The project, spearheaded by two sons of the Formula One racing legend, will raise money for the Grand Prix Mechanic's Charitable Trust, which the elder Stewart help establish a couple of decades ago to provide assistance to the racing world's equivalent of roadies and their families facing hard times.  Paul Stewart produced the recording.  His younger brother oversaw production of a video for the song.
Whereseric.com

MORE ERIC CLAPTON INSIGHTS

Clarence Clemons recently added his own inside look to the dozens of books about Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band (story).  Speculation that the Boss might take on the challenge of a book himself has the publishing world in a frenzy.  Bruce has been an avid journal keeper throughout his career, so he already has plenty of early drafts to draw from.  Publishing circle insiders project that a book Bruce has a hand in writing could bring a $10 million advance.  Little Brown is said to have awarded Keith Richards a figure close to $8 million for his memoir.  If he wants help with the project, Springsteen could call on Rock writer Dave Marsh, the husband of Springsteen co-manager Barbara Carr.
NYPost.com
 
MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

In a lawsuit pitting brother against brother, Robbie Bachman has filed a claim against Randy Bachman and other current members of the band playing under the Bachaman Turner Overdrive name.  The action seeks payment of damages and a restriction on the use of the full name, BTO or derivative names for any live or recorded performances without the written approval of the plaintiffs, Robbie Bachman and Blair Thorton, another former member.  The pair claim that Randy Bachman and Fred Turner have registered the names Bachman-Turner, BTunited, BTU and Bachman Turner Union in the US and Canada.
Winnipegfreepress.com   Courthousenews.com

Facing slow sales in some markets his current tour had already played in or near, Bruce Springsteen started devoting a portion of each night's marathon set to recreating one of his albums.  Born To Run and Born In The USA were featured a number of nights, while some fans got the hear Darkness On The Edge Of Town.  No album feature is needed to spur New York City sales, but Bruce has decided on two firsts for his close-to-home fans.  Saturday night (11/7) at Madison Square Garden the E Street Band will do The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle.  They will follow that by doing all 20 songs on The River on Sunday (11/8) for the first time ever.
Backstreets.com

MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN INSIGHTS

The building housing the former headquarters and historic studios of Capricorn Records was sold yesterday (11/3) at auction to Atlantic Southern Bank, the note holder for the property.  The long deserted structure on Macon, Georgia's Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was one of the most influential places in American Rock during the years the late Phil Walden and Frank Fenter presided over Capricorn Records, label to the Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band and other cornerstone artists of Southern Rock.  After acquiring the property for a bid of $360k a bank VP said they hope to sell it, leaving the landmark's fate unknown.  There is still a chance the Georgia Trust for historic Preservation will step in with a proposal to save it.
Macon Telegraph   Macon.com

Kozmic Blues: The Life and Music of Janis Joplin got off to an early start at the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland with a concert featuring Big Brother & The Holding Company Oct. 29.  The series of events honoring Janis Joplin will close with a tribute concert Nov. 14 involving an unlikely collection of musicians, including Santana's Gregg Rolie, Ray Benson from Asleep At The Wheel, Guy Clark, Nona Hendryx and Lucinda Williams.  During its run the series will feature seminars, movies, and discussions about her impact on music and culture.  A Nov. 11 session including discussion and performance will the hosted by Jorma Kaukonen of the Jefferson Airplane & Hot Tuna. Joplin was inducted to the Hall in 1995.
Rockhall.com

MORE JANIS JOPLIN INSIGHTS   MORE ROCK HALL OF FAME INSIGHTS

An orchestra backing an artist in the studio or live is nothing new. But Peter Wolf turns things around on Sunday (11/8) in Maine when he stands in with the Portland Symphony.  The blues blasting front man for the J. Geils Band won't be singing though.  He will be the narrator during a Great Stories to Tell performance that also includes the Portland Ballet Company.  Wolf, one of the early DJ's on Boston's legendary WBCN, will be covering for actor Judd Nelson who is sidelined with a leg injury.  The J. Geils Band got back together for a handful of concerts this year and will do a New Year's Eve concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut (story).
Mainetoday.com

MORE PETER WOLF INSIGHTS

A song believed to have been started by George Harrison that was left behind after a Beatles session in Abbey Road Studio has been finished.  A BBC program host arranged to have songwriter Dean Johnson complete the lyrics in a way that reflected both the style and the mindset of Harrison at the time he wrote it.  The biting lyrics in the 10 lines Harrison supplied for the song, titled Silence (Is It's Own Reply), are thought by many to be about his increasingly strained relationship with John Lennon.  The reverse side of the piece of paper, which is on display at the British Library, has directions to the country home of manager Brian Epstein. See the lyrics here.
Telegraph.co.uk

MORE BEATLES INSIGHTS

Several Bob Seger songs that have been out of circulation will be reissued by the Detroit Rocker through his web site on Nov. 30.  The site, which spent months with just a 'new site coming' advisory, finally went live again recently.  Some of the material being re-released gets an update too.  Seger logged some hours earlier this fall at Kid Rock's studio, where he had Jim McCarty recut some guitar work and added horns to some songs. Three previously unreleased songs are included on Early Seger Vol 1, which also features Midnight Rider (Allman Brothers Band), If I Were A Carpenter (Tim Hardin), Get Out Of Denver, UMC, Someday, Long Song Comin' and Days When The Rain Would Come.
Dailytribune.com   Bobseger.com

MORE BOB SEGER INSIGHTS

The abandoned building in Macon, Georgia may not look like much now, but it was once the epicenter of Southern Rock.  The structure at 548 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard housed Capricorn Studios, the site of recording sessions that produced signature albums from the Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wet Willie, Grinderswitch and others.   While the Capricorn headquarters is on a Places In Peril list of structures the Georgia Trust hopes to preserve, that will probably not prevent it from being auctioned Tuesday (11/3).  The current owner estimates that the building, which is valued at $433,000, needs nearly $2 million in repairs.
Macon.com

The Down N' Outz, the side project Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott put together to open the recent Mott The Hoople reunion (story), will hold together long enough for at least one studio album.  Classic Rock Magazine has learned that the group has been in the studio working though material in prepartion for an as yet untitled album.  Some post Mott The Hoople songs by Ian Hunter, Mott and British Lions done by the Down N' Outz at the reunion could be included on the album, which will be released in conjunction with a DVD of footage from the live show.
Defleppard.com

MORE JOE ELLIOTT INSIGHTS

Release of the latest Neil Young archive project, Dreamin' Man, a collection featuring songs on Harvest Moon performed acoustic & solo before that album's release, has been pushed back from Nov. 3 to Dec. 8.  In a year of intensive retrospective releases, Young put out remastered versions of his first four solo albums during the summer, and issued a massive 128 song box set covering his career span from 1963-1972. He continues work on the next big box set.
NeilYoung.com

MORE NEIL YOUNG INSIGHTS

The Classic Rock Awards event at London's Park Lane Hotel Monday (11/2) included honors to Ron Wood for his work with the Faces and Rolling Stones, and Ginger Baker, who was given the Innovator Award for his ground breaking work with Cream. The late John Bonham, was named recipient of the Inspiration Award, which the Led Zeppelin drummer's mother and sister were there to accept.  Other winners included AC/DC for Album Of The Year, (Black Ice), Iron Maiden, named Band Of The Year and Iggy Pop, who received the Living Legend Award. Other Rockers on hand included Pete Townshend, Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Chrissie Hynde, Jeff Beck and Queen guitarist Brian May.
Therockradio.com

We learned a few weeks ago that Norton Buffalo was battling lung cancer.  Friday afternoon (10/30) the harmonica great lost that fight after having gone into a coma the night before. A regular in the studio and on tour with the Steve Miller Band, Buffalo had a resume that included  contributions to nearly a dozen Steve Miller albums, several Doobie Brothers releases and projects by Bonnie Raitt, America, Elvin Bishop, Bob Welch of Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash and dozens of other artists.  Buffalo also put out several albums of his own that showcased his talent as a harp player, along with his chops on organ, percussion and even trombone.
Pressdemocrat.com

Rumors that some of the stars in New York for the Rock Hall Of Fame anniversary concerts would join Pearl Jam during the last concert at the Spectrum in Philadelphia Halloween night proved unfounded, but the fact Springsteen resisted the temptation to do one last song there and news that the Yankees staged a come from behind victory against the Phillys did little to dampen spirits.  The night's only real surprise came from Pearl Jam members themselves - appearing in trademark Devo jumpsuits for a version of Whip It near the middle of the 31/2 hour show.  The arena, which opened in 1967 and has been the scene of hundreds of amazing shows (story), will be torn down to make way for a new hotel complex.
Delawareonline.com

Van Morrison, himself a target of neighbors trying to block his own plans several years ago, has filed an appeal to challenge two of his Dalkey, Ireland neighbors over a new house.  The filing contends the project is out of compliance with several provisions stipulated in the clearance the other couple received when the construction plan was approved.  The original objections brought up by Morrison and his partner, Michelle Rocca, over the new home claimed that the building process would disrupt their ability to enjoy their own property, and that it could result in structural damage to their home.
Herald.ie

MORE VAN MORRISON INSIGHTS