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4/30/08

REPORTED JIMI HENDRIX SEX TAPE TO BE MARKETED

There's reportedly a Jimi Hendrix sex tape about to be released. It features a man who resembles the late singer having sex with two brunettes in a dimly lighted bedroom. According to the New York Times, Vivid Entertainment is releasing the film, dubbed Jimi Hendrix the Sex Tape, online and in stores this week. The 11 minutes of footage, which was obtained from a memorabilia collector, shows the man's full face for just a few seconds, but there's footage of his profile and body.

Some people are doubtful that it's actually the guitar legend. One of Hendrix's ex-girlfriends, Kathy Etchingham, said "He would never have allowed anyone to see that. In private he was very shy and would cover up." Hendrix biography author Charles R. Cross said the person's face and nostrils don't match Hendrix's. He added that Hendrix wore more rings than the person in the video. But Vivid co-chairman Steven Hirsch said, "I believe that we did our due diligence, and as a result of that clearly believe that it's him. If they said that it wasn't him, I would never have put it out."

• Hendrix died of a drug overdose in 1970 at the age of 27.
• Vivid plans to sell the tape for $39.95.
• The 45-minute DVD includes commentary from two women who met Hendrix and say they think the tape is real.

JOHN LENNON'S LYRICS TO 'GIVE PEACE A CHANCE' SET FOR AUCTION

John Lennon's handwritten lyrics to his 1969 peace anthem "Give Peace A Chance" are expected to sell for up to $600,000 at auction in July.

Reuters reported that the manuscript from late May 1969 is being sold by comedy writer Gail Renard, who when she was16 attended Lennon and wife Yoko Ono's second bed-in event held in Montreal's Queen Elizabeth Hotel, when she became friendly with the couple.

Lennon took a liking to Renard, and had the official Beatles magazine Beatles Monthly publish a piece she wrote covering the bed-in. Lennon also gave her several keepsakes, including the lyric sheet to the song, telling her, "One day they will be worth something."

• The lyrics are being sold as part of Christie's Rock and Pop Memorabilia sale on July 10th.

ROBERT PLANT DOING LED ZEPPELIN SONGS ON TOUR WITH ALISON KRAUSS

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss recently wrapped up a few U.S. shows and are headed off to tour Europe in May. They'll return this summer to kick off another U.S. leg and are being joined onstage by producer and musician T-Bone Burnett. He tells us we can expect a variety of songs at the show, including some Led Zeppelin songs: "We're doing 'Black Dog.' I think we're doing some more obscure ones too. We're doing a couple of B-sides. We're doing 'The Battle of Evermore,' which is just mind-blowing. And that's something that Led Zeppelin never did live. So it's a great chance to do it now with Alison singing the Sandy Denny part. And of course she just kills it."

• Plant and Krauss are among the more than 125 artists performing at the seventh annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, scheduled for September 26th, 27th and 28th at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.
• The pair won "Wide Open Country Video of the Year" at the Country Music Television Awards recently for the song "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)."

PAUL McCARTNEY, MICK JAGGER, MADONNA, AND ELTON JOHN MAKE LONDON TIMES RICH LIST

Paul McCartney, Elton John, Mick Jagger and other rock legends placed in the Top 20 of The London Times' Rich List. McCartney was the highest placed rock musician coming in third behind composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and music mogul Clive Calder.

• The 2008 Top 20 Rich List according to The London Times:
  1. Clive Calder - $2.5 billion
  2. Andrew Lloyd Webber - $1.4 billion
  3. Paul McCartney - $984 million
  4. Simon Fuller - $885 million
  4. Cameron Mackintosh - $885 million
  6. Madonna and Guy Ritchie - $590 million
  7. Guy and Julia Hands - 389 million
  8. Elton John - $365 million
  9. Mick Jagger - $350 million
  10. Robert Stigwood - $329 million
  11. Sting - $311 million
  12. Keith Richards - $295 million
  13. Tom Jones - $264 million
  14. Olivia and Dhani Harrison - $249million
  14. Jamie Palumbo - $249 million
  16. Tim Rice - $241 million
  17. Eric Clapton - $217 million
  17. Phil Collins - $217 million
  17. Ringo Starr - $217 million
  20. David and Victoria Beckham - $194 million

MOTLEY CRUE'S NIKKI SIXX SAYS ALL IS GOOD WITH TOMMY LEE AND THE BAND

The tension in Motley Crue seems to have settled down as the band readies a new album. Things started heating up last year after drummer Tommy Lee quit the group because their ex-manager, Carl Stubner, demanded more money to work with him. The band subsequently sued the manager, claiming he tried to "divert revenue" from the group and promote Lee's activities while at the same time mismanaging Lee's own solo career "so as to harm the Motley Crue band and Lee's reputation."

Since then, they put the drama behind them and started work on a new album. Bassist Nikki Sixx tells us what went down with the ex-manager and Lee: "Everything's cool. A guy named Carl Stubner who works for Sanctuary Records did some bad stuff. He was held accountable. He's Tommy's personal manager, and Tommy was hurt about that. But the bottom line is Motley Crue comes first. We're a gang -- not this guy who did bad stuff to Motley Crue. So he was sued. He settled, and I think Tommy woke up and saw the light."

• Motley Crue's new song, called "Saints of Los Angeles," is expected to appear on the band's upcoming ninth studio album, which is tentatively due out in early July. The disc will be the first to feature the original Crue lineup in over a decade.

STEVE WINWOOD RELEASES FIRST NEW ALBUM IN FIVE YEARS

Out now is Steve Winwood's first new album in five years, called Nine Lives.

Winwood credits his band for helping him find a common thread in the music, saying that it's the logical progression from his last album: "The common thread throughout all the songs was that it was actually created by what the band did. That for me is the common thread -- and also the continuation of the sound and the format and the instrumentation of About Time."

Winwood's longtime friend and former Blind Faith bandmate Eric Clapton performs on the album's lead single "Dirty City." Winwood says it was easy getting Clapton into the studio to work on the song: "I kind of finished my album, and I'd been in touch with Eric. We'd been in touch from time to time in discussion about these upcoming shows, and so I said to him 'I've got something that I'd love for you to play on.' He said, 'Love to,' so he came on and did it. That was just before Christmas."

• Steve Winwood will next perform with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on May 30th in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. He'll be opening for the band through the end of August.

GLEN CAMPBELL COVERS U2, FOO FIGHTERS, GREEN DAY ON NEW ALBUM

Country artist Glen Campbell is taking a walk on the wild side this summer and releasing Meeting Glen Campbell, an album of cover tunes by such rock and roll outfits as U2, Foo Fighters and Green Day. The set, due out on August 19th via Capitol, includes such tracks as Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)," U2's "All I Want Is You," Foo Fighters' "Times Like These," the Replacements' "Sadly Beautiful," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Walls," and the Velvet Underground's "Jesus," among others.

Although these are atypical songs for a country singer, the 72-year-old legend manages to put his own stamp on the tracks. He said in a statement, "While I didn't write these songs, this sounds like a Glen Campbell album, which is important."

• Campbell has devoted much of the last decade to performances at his theater in Branson, Missouri, and touring. Meet Glen Campbell is his first Capitol release since 1993's Somebody Like That.

'HIPPIEFEST' CONCERT TOUR SET FOR 21 SUMMER DATES

'Hippiefest' kicks off its third summer tour on July 11th in Phoenix.

The multi-act concert will feature a rotating cast of legends performing at the various dates throughout the tour, including the Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, Jack Bruce, Badfinger featuring Joey Molland, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Janis Ian, Jonathan Edwards, Melanie, and Terry Sylvester of the Hollies.

• 'Hippiefest' summer tour dates (subject to change):
  July 11 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
  July 12 - Woodinville, WA - Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
  July 13 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
  July 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre
  July 17, 18 - San Diego, CA - Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
  July 19 - Indio, CA Fantasy - Springs Resort Casino
  July 20 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Theatre At Grand Prairie
  July 22 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
  July 25 - Toronto, ON - The Molson Amphitheatre
  July 26 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion For The Performing Arts
  July 29 - Philadelphia, PA - Mann Center For Performing Arts
  July 30 - Vienna, VA - Filene Center At Wolf Trap
  July 31 - Westbury, NY - Capital One Bank Theatre At Westbury
  August 1 - Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
  August 2 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
  August 3 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center For The Arts
  August 5 - Englewood, NJ - Bergen Performing Arts Center
  August 8 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
  August 9 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
  August 10 - Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheatre
• The Turtles' Howard Kaylan says that after nearly 50 years in the business, he's happy with the way his life and career has turned out: "It's been a wonderful existence the way we've played the game. You know if you really love the music and you really love the entire concept of rock and roll and being a little slice of Americana, and adding your two cents to the tapestry, there's no better life in the world than the one that was chosen for us."

4/29/08

DEF LEPPARD ENTERS 'THE SPARKLE LOUNGE' TODAY, ON 'DANCING WITH THE STARS' TONIGHT

Def Leppard's new album, called Songs From the Sparkle Lounge, comes out today (Tuesday, April 29th). The 11-track set features the single "Nine Lives" with Tim McGraw.

They were introduced by McGraw's tour manager, Robert Allen, who's the brother of Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen. The song came together after McGraw made a guest appearance at the band's 2006 show at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl. During that same year, Def Leppard started writing and recording songs for the new album.

Singer Joe Elliot told us its title refers to the band's backstage area, which turned into a pseudo-recording studio: "You walk down the corridor, and of all the rooms available, one of them just becomes the Sparkle Lounge. Name one of 81 venues that we did on the 2006 tour -- one of those rooms we had a mini-set-up with it. A kit, a backline and that kind of stuff, which got expanded when the crew started having a little fun with it -- you know, Persian rugs, sparkle lights, candles, incense. It turned into this very atmospheric little workplace."

• Def Leppard will appear on ABC's Dancing With the Stars tonight (Tuesday, April 29th). The band is expected to play "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Nine Lives."
• On April 30th, Def Leppard will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
• The new single is now featured in the latest Guitar Hero video game.
• Def Leppard kicks off a European tour next month.

ROGER WATERS' INFLATABLE PIG FLOATS INTO COACHELLA NIGHT SKY, REWARD OFFERED

During the intermission of Roger Waters' set at the Coachella Festival in Indio, California on Sunday night (April 27th), a giant inflatable pig, his most famous stage prop, broke from its moorings and floated away into the night sky. Festival organizers are now offering a reward, of $10,000 plus four lifetime tickets to the Coachella Festival, for the safe return of the pig.

Waters has let loose many inflatable pigs during his outdoor concerts over the past few years, it should be noted, which has led to some suspicion that the reward is a publicity stunt.

Anyone with a lead on the pig's whereabouts can email lostpig@coachella.com.

• Waters and Pink Floyd first used an inflatable pig for the album cover of the band's 1977 album Animals. And on the day of the photo shoot, the original pig also broke free of its moorings, and floated away over London. (It eventually landed in a field and was recovered.) An inflatable pig was used on the tour for the Animals album, and a pig painted black was used during the legendary Wall shows in 1980 and 1981.
• Waters and Pink Floyd have both used inflatable pigs in live shows since then, and various pigs have floated away or been damaged by audiences over the years.

BOMB SCARE DELAYS BON JOVI CONCERT IN FLORIDA

Bon Jovi was forced to delay Saturday night's (April 26th) concert in Sunrise, Florida by three hours due to a bomb scare. The Miami Herald reports that the audience was asked to leave the venue so bomb-sniffing dogs could search the BankAtlantic Center. The band was scheduled to go on at 7:30, but didn't take the stage until about 10:45. Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd, "I want to thank you for sticking around. It's sad but true but we now have to be aware of our surroundings. When the call came in during sound check, the police chief said it was serious. I want to thank the men and women in the police department.'' An estimated 18,000 fans waited outside for the show to start, many of them playing Bon Jovi music from their cars to kill the time.

• Police said they received several calls about a bomb threat, but nothing suspicious was ever found.
• Bon Jovi's next show is tomorrow (Wednesday, April 30th) in Atlanta. Daughtry is the opening act.
• Bon Jovi plans to release a documentary featuring archival video and footage from the latest tour.

TOM PETTY'S MUDCRUTCH RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM TODAY

Out today (April 29th) is the self-titled debut album from Tom Petty's reunited pre-fame band Mudcrutch.

In addition to Petty on bass, the band includes Heartbreakers' keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell, and Mudcrutch cofounders Randall Marsh on drums and Tom Leadon on guitar. Leadon is the younger brother of former Eagles co-founder Bernie Leadon.

All the members of the band take the lead vocal on at least one song on the new album.

• Mike Campbell explained how the Mudcrutch reunion fell into place 33 years after they split up: "It started from a phone call from Tom Petty, who got the idea of calling the guys up and seeing if we could finish some of the things up that we intended to do back in the day, and we all thought it was great idea so we put it together. And it's just kind of snowballed from there. It was something that I hadn't thought about, but when I thought about it, I thought yeah, that'd be really cool. Let's see if those guys can still play and if we have any chemistry. And it was very intriguing. It's actually turned out better than we could've hoped."
• Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench shed light on how the new music for the project came about: (Mike Campbell) "I think Tom had two or three songs that he'd written with this in mind, so he brought those out and we recorded those. And then he realized that this was really good and so he'd go home overnight and right something else for us to do the next night. And this went on for about 10 days and we had 14 songs." (Benmont Tench) "We cut everything so quickly that we were literally running out of songs at an alarming rate."
• Tonight (April 29th), Mudcrutch wraps up their four-night stand at Los Angeles' Troubadour club.
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers kick off their upcoming tour on May 30th in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. Steve Winwood will be the opening act on the band's tour.

PAUL McCARTNEY PLANNING COFFEE TABLE BOOK TRIBUTE TO LINDA

Paul McCartney is in talks with various publishers about a self-written coffee table book on his late wife Linda, who died 10 years ago this month. Britain's The Mirror reported that the book will feature hundreds of photos taken by Linda over the years.

A source said, "Times have been hard for him recently with the divorce from Heather (Mills). He's delighted he can focus his mind on something else. He sees this as a special tribute to Linda's memory." No release date has been announced.

Last week, McCartney and his and Linda's children attended the private opening of an exhibit of Linda's photos at London's James Hyman Gallery. Also in attendance were Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara Bach, and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison.

• McCartney credits Linda with playing an invaluable role in getting him to continue making music after the Beatles' breakup: "To have lost such a great job -- and it was really the only job I'd ever had, besides being second man on a truck when I was a kid, and a paper round -- it was quite a shock. So that took a little while, but Linda helped me out of that and encouraged me to sort of get back on my feet and said, you know, 'What are you gonna do now?'"

In other McCartney-related news:

Paul McCartney's soon to be estranged wife Heather Mills has reportedly started making demands on the former Beatle regarding his upcoming tour.

According to several sources McCartney has invited Mills to join the tour party so that their four year-old daughter Beatrice will be able to be with both parents during the still-unannounced world tour. Showbizspy.com reported that among Mills' demands are that McCartney provide a private jet for her and Bea, and that his roadies refrain from using profanity around the child. A source said, "The swearing ban is a big ask as roadies are notoriously foul-mouthed."

• Paul McCartney and Heather Mills' divorce will be finalized on May 12th.

ALLMAN BROTHERS ADD SUMMER TOUR DATES

Despite postponing their yearly residency at the Beacon Theater in New York City, the Allman Brothers Band are slowly announcing dates for an upcoming summer tour. The Allman Brothers cancelled their visit to Manhattan so that Gregg Allman could receive treatment for Hepatitis C. The group has promised to return to the Beacon next spring to resume the tradition of playing two weeks worth of shows in the New York.

• Confirmed Allman Brothers Band dates (subject to change):
  August 12 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center For The Arts
  August 13 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
  August 15 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
  August 16 - Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
  August 19 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
  August 20 - Hartford, CT - New England Dodge Music Center
  August 22 - Canandaigua, NY - Constellations Brands - Sands PAC
  August 23 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
  August 30 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

SCOTT WEILAND TO DO EIGHT DAYS IN JAIL

Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland will spend eight days in jail after pleading no contest Monday (April 28th) to misdemeanor driving under the influence, E! Online reports. The charge stems from a November arrest after a minor fender-bender on a Los Angeles freeway. Weiland must serve his time by May 28th but is expect to turn himself much sooner than that, as Stone Temple Pilots is scheduled to kick off a reunion tour May 17th at the Rock on the Range Festival in Columbus, Ohio.

The singer also received four years' probation, was fined $2,000, and was ordered to take part in an 18-month alcohol program. He was potentially looking at a year behind bars for DUI with a prior conviction. At the time of his November arrest, Weiland had just finished a previous three-year-probation for a 2004 DUI arrested. He declined to take a chemical test after the November incident. He was booked and released after posting $40,000 bail, subsequently checking into a rehab facility in February.

• The upcoming Stone Temple Pilot shows will be the band's first since 2002. Weiland has spent the past few years fronting Velvet Revolver, but split from the group earlier this month. The band claimed it dumped him for "his increasingly erratic onstage behavior and personal problems."

For his part, Weiland says that his former bandmates, former Guns N' Roses members bassist Duff McKagan, drummer Matt Sorum, and guitarist Slash, should reunite with Axl Rose and bring back the original Guns N' Roses lineup -- and says a reunion was closer than people knew.

In a new interview with Classic Rock Magazine, Weiland said, "I think they should get Guns N' Roses back together, to tell you the truth. I think that would be the greatest thing that they could do. I think the world would be very happy. If they could stop talking trash about Axl in the press. It almost happened. The pens were ready to sign. With the Greatest Hits, there was a possibility, but there was too much stuff being said. But it was a close call. I would love to see that happen, as a Guns N' Roses fan. I'd pay to see it."

• In the same article however, McKagan denied Weiland's claim that a reunion was just a signature away. McKagan said of Weiland, "He got wind that our manager (had) been talking to Axl about bringing Axl over to what was our management company back then. And Scott freaked out that we were getting GNR back together and we weren't going to make the second (Velvet Revolver) record. I don't know where it came from -- there was no contract on the table or pens ready to sign. Maybe now he's convinced himself that's what happened."
• Velvet Revolver is currently auditioning singers online to take over Weiland's spot in the band.

LIVE EARTH EXPECTED TO MAKE A RETURN THIS FALL

Last year's Live Earth concerts are expected to make a return this fall. According to Ecorazzi.com, multiple concerts are being planned for October 5th at various college campuses. No artists have been announced yet, but Live Earth founder Kevin Wall said he's finalizing plans for several events aimed at raising environmental awareness. Al Gore, who spearheaded last year's shows, is behind the upcoming concerts as well. The organization has decided to get the word out in time for the upcoming presidential election by encouraging people to "rock the green vote." Prior to the event, Live Earth will invite the Democratic and Republican nominees to talk about their plans for climate change, renewable energy and other green issues.

The 2007 shows took place all over the world in July and featured performances by the Police, Fall Out Boy, the Dave Matthews Band, Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson, Genesis, James Blunt, Madonna and others. More than 100 acts played in the single 24-hour period last year.

BOB DYLAN, CHUCK BERRY, IGGY POP, STP, FOO FIGHTERS SET TO HEADLINE VIRGIN MOBILE FEST

Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Stone Temple Pilots, and Foo Fighters are among the acts set to perform at the third annual Virgin Mobile Festival at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course in On August 9th and 10th.

Billboard reported that other main stage acts set to play the festival include Bloc Party, Cat Power, Duffy, Jack Johnson, KT Tunstall, the Offspring, Sharon Jones, Wilco, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Nine Inch Nails, among many others.

• For ticket and schedule information log on to virginmobilefestival.com.

STEVE MILLER RELEASES DELUXE LIVE DVD SET

Out now is the deluxe DVD Steve Miller Band Live From Chicago. The disc was shot at Chicago's Ravinia Theater in High Definition, utilizing over 30 cameras.

Miller says that the DVD, which is his first, accurately represents his live sound, and he credits legendary sound engineer Andy Johns, who worked for years for Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones, for capturing the magic of his live act: "We brought it all to Andy (laughs) and you know had Andy come out and listen to the band. And you know Andy as an engineer is like every guitar player's dream. He has an ability to make drums, bass, and guitars sound so good. And that (DVD) mix -- of course everybody listens to it through something different -- but if you've got it in surround sound on a good system that's what it sounds like to me onstage right at the microphone."

• The tracklist for Steve Miller Band Live From Chicago is:
  "Fly Like An Eagle," "Living In The USA," "True Fine Love," "Abracadabra," "Mercury Blues," "The Stake," "Shu Ba Du Ma Ma Ma Ma," "Serenade," "Boom Papa Boom," "All Your Lovin'," "Crossroads,' "Dance, Dance, Dance," "Wild Mountain Honey," "Winter Time," "Rock 'N Me," "The Joker," "Texas," "Take The Money And Run," 'Tore Down," "Swingtown," "Jungle Love," and "Jet Airliner."
• The set comes with a bonus DVD featuring a behind-the-scenes documentary, a photo gallery, and a radio program featuring Miller. Also featured is a 12-song CD featuring audio highlights from the DVD.
• Andy Johns, who is the younger brother of Who producer Glyn Johns, engineered such classic albums as Blind Faith's self titled debut, Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV, Houses Of The Holy, Physical Graffiti, and Coda; the Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock And Roll and Tattoo You; Free's Highway; and Joni Mitchell's Shadows And Light. Johns went on to produce Van Halen's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, among others.
• The Steve Miller Band and Joe Cocker will kick off a 34-city joint tour on May 24th in West Palm Beach. Cocker will be opening the concerts with Miller closing the show.

JAMES TAYLOR REPORTEDLY RECORDING COVERS ALBUM

James Taylor is reportedly working on an album of cover versions, due out in the fall.

According the usually reliable Taylor fan website james-taylor.com, unconfirmed reports say that Taylor has already recorded versions of Chuck Berry's "Memphis, Tennessee," Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away," Eddie Cochrane's "Summertime Blues," Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour," Jr. Walker & The All Stars' "(I'm A) Roadrunner," Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise," and others.

No release date has been given for the untitled collection, which will be his second for the Hear Music label.

• Taylor is no stranger to recording cover versions, and has scored hits with Carole King's "You've Got A Friend," Marvin Gaye's "How Sweet It Is," Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man," and Buddy Holly's "Everyday."
• James Taylor kicks off his next series of U.S. dates on May 22nd in Virginia Beach, Virginia at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
• Coincidentally, today (April 29th) Taylor's former wife -- and new Hear Music labelmate -- Carly Simon releases her latest album This Kind Of Love. She'll perform a special invitation-only show tonight in New York City at Joe's Pub.

4/28/08

PETE TOWNSHEND BACKS OUT OF WHO SESSIONS AND TOUR

Pete Townshend has pulled out of plans to record with the Who in September and hit the road for a series of shows later this year.

On Saturday (April 26th) Townshend posted on thewho.com a lengthy explanation of his feelings on where he stands on the future of the Who, and admits that he's equally optimistic and confused as to the band's future.

It was recently announced that the Who were set to head into the studio this fall to record an album of R&B covers with producer T-Bone Burnett, who recently produced Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' hit album Raising Sand. The news led to an outcry by some longtime fans questioning the validity of a new Who album not written by Townshend.

Townshend's post reads in part, "I don't want the Who to evaporate before my eyes, but I can't see how to push it forward without some kind of cohesive creative strategy, or great new idea to carry me along. That is how I've always worked in the past. Today is no different for me... I find playing live and touring with the old music very easy, I enjoy it, but it doesn't rock my world. Roger (Daltrey) finds playing live tough, sometimes he has to dig very deep to pull it out, often he seems unhappy or pained while performing, but there is no question -- being on stage in the Who rocks Roger's world. He would prefer to do that than almost anything else under the sun."

He explained that following a meeting last week between Daltrey and the Who's management, a series of fall album sessions and tour plans for late 2008 were given the go-ahead: "On Thursday I had called Rog and told him I wanted to record with the band in September, and do a Pacific tour in the autumn and winter of this year. He was over the moon. He was already worrying about next year, and the year after that, but it was good to make him happy. When I put the phone down I emailed the band, and our main crew with the good news. We would record in September and tour in October to December. Today I changed my mind."

• Townshend explained his reasons for backing out of working with the Who this year, saying, "I must not commit to studio time or show dates, especially not to long tours, without some kind of creative programme. I don't know whether I can write songs for the Who. I don't know if I can come up with some idea, some story, some angle, that will make me feel good about being the writer for the Who. Most important of all I don't know if I write something whether I should try to force the Who to carry it. With (the novella) The Boy Who Heard Music squashed into what became "Wire & Glass" on Endless Wire I was happy with what we did, but sad to lose drive on the bigger story, the bigger idea."
• Townshend ended by saying that he's completely conflicted over his decisions regarding the future of the Who: "This morning I emailed everyone to tell them I've changed my mind. I'm not mad. I'm not selfish. I might be a little weak sometimes, to allow myself to make decisions based on factors that have nothing to do with art, music, ideas, change, life, expression or creativity -- but I do want to honor our old friendships, play the old music together, honor our desire to see you people, and to meet new fans, play new places and so on. That's what tears me apart. But I really do have to be strong enough to admit that today I really do not have a clue what to do next. Something will come. It always does. But that's where I am today. Clueless."
• Townshend says that although the Who's setlists seem to stay static once the band hits the road, he's constantly able to find ways to bring something new out of the music and his performance: "No, I don't get bored with the Who show. But it is like Groundhog Day. We go out and it's like 'how can I make this different, how can I make this special.' And partly that's what I rise to, is trying to do something where I may push myself to higher heights each night and do whatever it is that I'm doing. Whether I can whirl my arm a couple of miles-an-hour faster than the night before, or hopefully play better music."
• Earlier this month, Townshend and Daltrey teamed up for their first-ever performance as an acoustic duo, at London's Royal Albert Hall. The pair performed at the annual benefit for the Teenage Cancer Trust and played a six-song set featuring "Let's See Action," "Behind Blue Eyes," the duo's world premiere of the Who's "2000 Years" from their Endless Wire album, "Mike Post Theme," "Won't Get Fooled Again," and "Tea And Theatre."
• The Who's performance at the 2007 Teenage Cancer Trust benefit is among the many others featured on the new DVD called TCT - The Who And Friends - Live At The Royal Albert Hall. The disc features the full band performing "The Seeker," "Baba O'Riley," and "Tea And Theatre."
• The Who's next appearance will be on July 12th in Los Angeles when the band receives the only award at the 2008 VH1 Rock Honors. The show will be broadcast on VH1 on July 17th.

PHIL COLLINS SAYS HE'S RETIRING FROM TOURING AND RECORDING

Phil Collins said that he's gradually retiring from the music business.

Collins told timesonline.co.uk that last year's reunion tour with Genesis was his last, and that he has no plans to return to the recording studio. He explained that he'll continue to write songs because he "doesn't know how to stop writing."

Collins said that he'll be devoting time to his two young sons and his collection of memorabilia relating to the Battle of the Alamo, which Collins defended by saying, "It's not that unusual for a man of my age who grew up reading Davy Crockett."

• Collins last solo studio album was 2002's Testify. Last year Genesis released a live album, called Live Over Europe 2007.
• Collins says that despite over 25 years of solo success, he feels that there are plenty of things on his solo albums that he would change if he could: "There's loads of things that you would change. You know, you don't listen to them. Sometimes with some albums, you do them, and pretty much soon after you released them, you go out on the road. And straight away, they become different songs. And you sometimes never hear them unless you hear them on the radio when you're in the car. So, there's so many that you would change -- more that you'd change than you wouldn't, in fact."
• On May 20th Collins and Genesis bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks will take part in a satellite Q&A session that will be beamed through to 20 movie theaters in Britain. The band will be discussing their upcoming three-disc DVD set called When In Rome 2007, which was filmed on July 14th in Rome, in front of an estimated 500,000 fans.
• The DVD will feature such Genesis classics as "Mama," "Throwing It All Away," "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight," "Invisible Touch," "I Can't Dance," "The Carpet Crawlers," "Turn It On Again," "Land Of Confusion," "Afterglow," "Home By The Sea," "Follow You, Follow Me," "Firth Of Fifth," "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)," and others.
• When In Rome 2007 comes with a 28-page booklet and features over five hours of content over the two concert discs and a documentary DVD. The package will be released on May 28th.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN POSTS EULOGY TO DANNY FEDERICI ON WEBSITE

Bruce Springsteen has posted the eulogy he read at the April 21st funeral for E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici on his official website, brucespringsteen.net.

Federici died April 17th, following a three-year battle with melanoma.

Springsteen's eulogy lovingly poked fun at Federici's quirks and shortcomings, while paying tribute to him as a lifelong friend and musical peer.

Along with the eulogy, Springsteen has uploaded a tribute video to Federici that has been shown over his song "Blood Brothers" every night on the band's tour since Federici's death.

• Highlights from Springsteen's eulogy to Danny Federici:
  "... There was the time... Danny, in the band rental car, bouncing off several parked cars after a night of entertainment, smashing out the windshield with his head but saved from severe injury by the huge hard cowboy hat he bought in Texas on our last Western swing. Or Danny, leaving a large marijuana plant on the front seat of his car in a tow away zone. The car was promptly towed. He said, 'Bruce, I'm going to go down and report that it was stolen.' I said, 'I'm not sure that's a good idea.' Down he went and straight into the slammer without passing go. Or Danny, the only member of the E Street Band to be physically thrown out of the Stone Pony. Considering all the money we made them, that wasn't easy to do. Or Danny receiving and surviving a 'cautionary assault' from an enraged but restrained 'Big Man' Clarence Clemons while they were living together and Danny finally drove the 'Big Man' over the big top. Or Danny assisting me in removing my foot from his stereo speaker after being the only band member ever to drive me into a violent rage."
• "... And through it all, Danny played his beautiful, soulful B3 organ for me and our love grew. And continued to grow. Life is funny like that. He was my homeboy, and great, and for that you make considerations... And he was much more tolerant of my failures than I was of his."
• "... I watched him fight his cancer without complaint and with great courage and spirit. When I asked him how things looked, he just said, 'what are you going to do? I'm looking forward to tomorrow.' Danny, the sunny side up fatalist. He never gave up right to the end."
• "... A few weeks back we ended up onstage in Indianapolis for what would be the last time. Before we went on I asked him what he wanted to play and he said, 'Sandy.' He wanted to strap on the accordion and revisit the boardwalk of our youth during the summer nights when we'd walk along the boards with all the time in the world... He wanted to play once more the song that is of course about the end of something wonderful and the beginning of something unknown and new."
• "... If we didn't play together, the E Street Band at this point would probably not know one another. We wouldn't be in this room together. But we do -- we do play together. And every night at 8 p.m., we walk out on stage together and that, my friends, is a place where miracles occur -- old and new miracles. And those you are with, in the presence of miracles, you never forget. Life does not separate you. Death does not separate you. Those you are with who create miracles for you, like Danny did for me every night, you are honored to be amongst."
• Springsteen closed his eulogy by saying, "...Of course we all grow up and we know 'it's only rock and roll' -- but it's not. After a lifetime of watching a man perform his miracle for you, night after night, it feels an awful lot like love. So today, making another one of his mysterious exits, we say farewell to Danny, 'Phantom' Dan, Federici. Father, husband, my brother, my friend, my mystery, my thorn, my rose, my keyboard player, my miracle man and lifelong member in good standing of the house rockin', pants droppin', earth shockin', hard rockin', booty shakin', love makin', heart breakin', soul cryin'... and, yes, death defyin' legendary E Street Band."
• To read Springsteen's eulogy in full and watch the Federici video tribute, log on to brucespringsteen.net.
• Federici's family and the E Street Band have requested that fans make donations to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. For more information, go to thedannyfedericimelanomafund.com.
• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform tonight in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Greensboro Coliseum.

TOM PETTY WANTED MUDCRUTCH REUNION TO BE DEMOCRATIC

Tom Petty's recently reformed pre-fame band Mudcrutch releases their self titled debut album tomorrow (April 29th). The album includes material dating back to 1974 as well as newly written music.

In addition to Petty, the band includes Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarist Mike Campbell, and Mudcrutch cofounders Randall Marsh on drums and Tom Leadon on guitar. Leadon is the younger brother of Eagles co-founder Bernie Leadon.

The new 14-song album includes vocals by all the members of the band, and features Petty on bass, which was his original role in the band.

• Mike Campbell was asked why Petty is content in merely being a bandmember in Mudcrutch, rather than assuming leadership duties the way he does in the Heartbreakers: "Tom wanted it that way. He wanted everyone to be involved, and he did not want it to be 'Tom Petty and Mudcrutch.' He was very, very firm about that. He really wanted it to feel like a band and he wanted to share everything with everyone. So that's been kind of fun too -- although he still ends up doing most of it 'cause his stuff is so good."
• Mudcrutch performs tonight and tomorrow (April 28th and 29th) at Los Angeles' Troubadour club.
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers kick off their upcoming tour on May 30th in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena. Steve Winwood will be the opening act on the band's tour.

THE ZOMBIES HITTING THE ROAD FOR SUMMER TOUR

The Zombies featuring original members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent are heading out on a 19-city North American tour beginning on July 3rd in Detroit. Jefferson Starship will be appearing at several stops on the tour.

• The Zombies featuring Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent North American tour dates (subject to change):
• July 3 - Detroit, MI - Downtown Detroit New Center
  July 5 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest at Summerfest Grounds
  July 10 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
  July 11 - New York, NY - Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
  July 12 - Atlantic City, NJ - Trump Marina
  July 13 - Westhampton Beach, NY - Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
  July 15 - Alexandria, VA - Birchmere
  July 17 - Anaheim, CA - Grove Of Anaheim (with Jefferson Starship)
  July 18 - North Las Vegas, NV - Cannery Casino Hotel
  July 19 - Agoura Hills, CA - Canyon Club
  July 20 - San Francisco, CA - Grand Ballroom at Regency Center (with Jefferson Starship)
  July 23 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
  July 24 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
  July 25 - Langley, BC - Gateway Cascades Casino
  July 26 - Calgary, ALB - Deerfoot Inn & Casino
  July 27 - Edmonton, ALB - Century Casino
  July 29 - Saskatoon, SAS - Dakota Dunes Casino
  July 30 - Regina, SAS - Casino Regina Show Lounge
  July 31 - Winnipeg, MAN - Club Regent Casino
• Ron Argent says that he's amazed that the group was able to leave such a rich musical legacy behind, despite only being a working band for a few years: "The thing is that really the Zombies, you know professionally, we were only together for... I mean, we were semi-professionally... we were together for a couple of years, and then from '64 to '67 it was just a three-year period that we were together professionally. And even though 'Time Of The Season'... It was, I guess, 1969 by the time it was a hit in the States, but we were actually only together for those three years."
• The Zombies are best remembered for their classic 1960s hits "She's Not There," "Tell Her No," and "Time Of The Season."
• Blunstone and Argent reunited in 2004 for the Zombies studio album As Far As I Can See...

DUFF MCKAGAN PLAYING ON NEW ALBUM FROM GUNS N' ROSES BANDMATE

Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan has recorded a guest appearance on the next album from his former Guns N' Roses bandmate, guitarist Izzy Stradlin. According to Blabbermouth.net, McKagan wrote in a message online, "I got to play on Izzy's new record (on Tuesday, April 22nd) in Ojai (California). Another stellar outing by that dude, I must say. Always a pleasure hanging with that guy; a true gentleman." There were no further details about the project.

• Stradlin has kept a low profile since leaving Guns N' Roses in 1991, issuing a string of solo records. His last effort, Fire, The Acoustic Album, came out late last year.
• McKagan's own side band, Loaded, is currently working on a new CD and may tour later in 2008.
• McKagan and the rest of Velvet Revolver are reportedly recording demos for their next album while they search for a replacement for singer Scott Weiland.

UNCENSORED NEW SIXX A.M. VIDEO PREMIERED BY 'PLAYBOY'

Sixx A.M.'s new video for the song "Pray For Me" has made its premiere in an uncensored version at Playboy.com, according to a press release. The provocative clip will be seen at the adults-only site through Tuesday (April 29th), while a "clean" version is making its way to the usual video outlets. "Pray For Me" is taken from the debut Sixx A.M. album, a side project of Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx that served as a soundtrack of sorts to his 2007 memoir, The Heroin Diaries.

Sixx told us that he never expected the Sixx A.M. project, which he wrote and recorded with two friends, to take off like it did: "No, we didn't, and it was a soundtrack to a book by three producer-songwriters that somehow became a band, and now we're going on tour as a band and we're writing our next record as a rock band. We're not writing a concept record, we're writing a rock record."

• Sixx A.M. will perform as part of Crue Fest, the festival-style tour that will begin on July 1st in West Palm Beach, Florida and hit more than 40 cities, closing out on August 31st in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• Sixx will do double duty on the tour, also performing with headliners Motley Crue. Other acts on the bill include Buckcherry, Papa Roach and Trapt.
• Motley Crue has also announced a June 17th release date for the band's ninth studio album, Saints of Los Angeles.
• The song "Saints of Los Angeles" is now available for download through iTunes as well as via the Rock Band video game, making Motley Crue the first band to issue a single through the popular game.

NEW DVD FEATURES VINTAGE CLASH PEFORMANCES

Vintage performances from the Clash are the subject of a newly-released DVD called Revolution Rock. According to Billboard.com, the set features various live songs from throughout the band's career, including a version of "Know Your Rights" from the 1983 US Festival in San Bernardino, California. The gig marked guitarist/vocalist Mick Jones' last show with the band. Bonus material includes the Clash performing on Tom Snyder's The Tomorrow Show, along with other interviews and appearances.

• The DVD was directed by Don Letts, who was also behind the group's "London Calling" video and his 1999 Grammy-winning documentary of the band, Westway to the World. Letts believes the Clash were "a perfect blueprint for rock'n'roll. It's a great example for those who really want to know how to do this stuff, and do it on their terms, and leave something that helps to make the world a better place."

4/25/08

THE GRATEFUL DEAD TO DONATE BAND ARCHIVE TO UC SANTA CRUZ

The Grateful Dead announced yesterday (April 24th) that they will donate their archives to the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Band members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart appeared at a press conference in the poster room of San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, and helped detail how the band's five-decade archive will become an interactive learning experience for future generations.

The archive includes the band's business records, correspondence, photographs,
and show files complete with tickets and backstage passes -- as well as promotional items such as flyers, posters, and shirts; press clippings; awards; and fan mail.

Also included will be legendary photos taken of the band both on and off stage, and unreleased videos of interviews and TV appearances. The archive will also exhibit past stage backdrops and stained glass pieces used by the Grateful Dead on stage.

• The band's musical archive, which features thousands of hours worth of live and studio material, will remain the possession of the band.
• According to the university's library website (library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/GD_archive) the Dead archive will take about two years to process, and after that "will be widely and freely accessible to fans and scholars... in a dedicated Grateful Dead room located in UCSC's new and renovated McHenry Library."
• UC Santa Cruz chancellor George Blumenthal said, "The Grateful Dead Archive represents one of the most significant popular cultural collections of the 20th century; UC Santa Cruz is honored to receive this invaluable gift. The Grateful Dead and UC Santa Cruz are both highly innovative institutions -- born the same year (1965) -- that continue to make a major, positive impact on the world."
• Bill Kreutzmann says that the Grateful Dead created their music as a way for people to related to each other on a deeper and more spiritual level: "I want people to really be able to look and be in each other's hearts, and not have this horrible war -- but I don't mean just the war in Iraq, I mean war in our country, people not getting along, you know? And so, that's what I want people to get. I always want people to get happy and be with each other. That was the most fun about Grateful Dead concerts, is that you could really see people relating to each other. They really had heart for each other. It was truly an extended family."
• Phil Lesh and Friends will next perform on May 8th and 9th in Denver, Colorado at the Fillmore Auditorium.
• Bob Weir and Ratdog will kick off their next series of dates on May 31st in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.

BOSTON HEADING BACK ON THE ROAD

Boston will hit the road in June for a 43-city summer tour, marking the band's first shows since the suicide death last year of their lead singer Brad Delp.

Boston still features guitarist and main songwriter Tom Scholz, and veteran members Jeff Neal, Gary Pihl, and Kimberley Dahme, along with former Stryper vocalist Michael Sweet and singer Tommy DeCarlo. DeCarlo was discovered via his myspace.com page, which featured him singing his own renditions of Boston classics.

• Boston North American tour dates (subject to change):
  June 6 - Thunder Bay, Ontario - Marina Park
  June 7 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Center
  June 13 - Hinckley, MN - Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater
  June 14 - Sault Sainte Marie, MI - Kewadin Casino
  June 15 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
  June 19 - Baton Rouge, LA - River Center Arena
  June 20 - Kinder, LA - Grand Casino Coushatta
  June 21 - Selma, TX - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
  June 22 - Woodlands, TX - Woodlands
  June 24 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Theater at Grand Prairie
  June 25 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre
  June 27 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
  June 28 - Las Vegas, NV - Thomas and Mack Center
  June 29 - Tucson, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater
  July 1 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheater
  July 3 - Del Mar, CA - San Diego County Fair/Grandstand
  July 4 - Reno, NV - Peppermill Hotel Casino/Tuscany Ballroom
  July 5 - Kelseyville, CA - Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa
  July 8 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery
  July 10 - Redmond, WA - Marymoor Amphitheatre
  July 11 - Nampa, ID - Idaho Center Amphitheatre
  July 12 - Wendover, NV - Peppermill Casino
  July 13 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheater
  July 17 - Cadott, WI - Rock Fest
  July 18 - Monticello, IA - Great Jones Fair
  July 19 - Kansas City, MO - Ameristar Casino
  July 20 - Bloomington, IL - US Cellular Coliseum
  July 22 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion
  July 23 - Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavilion
  July 25 - St. Charles, MO - The Family Arena
  July 26 - West Bend, WI - Washington County Fair Park
  August 1 - Big Flats, NY - Summer Stage
  August 2 - Gilford, NH - US Cellular Pavilion
  August 3 - Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
  August 4 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest
  August 6 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
  August 9 - Salamanca, NY - Events Center at Seneca Allegany
  August 10 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Center
  August 12 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon Jones Beach
  August 15 - Atlantic City, NJ - Tropicana Casino and Resort
  August 16 - Roanoke Rapids, NC - Carolina Crossroads Amphitheater
  August 17 - Alpharetta, GA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
  August 19 - Greenville, SC - Bi-Lo Center

PAUL McCARTNEY SET FOR FREE BENEFIT SHOW IN THE UKRAINE

Paul McCartney has announced that he will perform a free concert in the Ukraine on June 14th in Kiev's Independence Square, in a show called the Independence Concert.

The show will be broadcast live across the Ukraine and is being jointly produced by Ukrainian tycoon Victor Pinchuk, who is the son-in-law of former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, and who is also the head of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, the largest Ukrainian private philanthropic organization.

McCartney said is a statement, "It's going to be a great evening hopefully for the Ukraine. Pull together, groove, rock 'n' roll -- all together."

• The concert will coincide with the Pinchuk Art Centre in Kiev launching a showing of 40 McCartney paintings, with McCartney appearing to personally launch the show.
• Paul McCartney will perform on June 1st in Liverpool, England at the FC Anfield Stadium. The Liverpool and Kiev shows are so far his only scheduled dates of the year.

In other Beatles-related news:

Yoko Ono and John Lennon's sons Sean and Julian Lennon are suing the producers and distributors of the documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed for using Lennon's 1971 song "Imagine" in the film without approval from the Lennon estate or the song's publisher.

Reuters reported that the Lennon estate and publisher EMI Blackwood Music Inc, have filed suit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan against the film's producers and distributors, Premise Media Corporation, C&S Production LP and Rocky Mountain Pictures, asking that the song to be removed from the film, and seeking unspecified damages.

The documentary stars comedian-actor Ben Stein, the former speechwriter for Richard Nixon, who was also famous for playing a teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and for the game show Win Ben Stein's Money, and looks at "alleged discrimination against scientists and teachers who support so-called intelligent design as an alternative to Darwin's theory of evolution."

• The producers of the film claim that the inclusion of the Lennon peace anthem falls under the fair use doctrine, which allows certain copyrighted material to be used provided it is used for the purpose of commentary and criticism.
• The filmmakers issued a statement, saying, "We are disappointed therefore that Yoko Ono and others have decided to challenge our free speech right to comment on the song 'Imagine' in our documentary film."

            FLASHBACK: PAUL McCARTNEY DISBANDS WINGS

It was announced 27 years ago Sunday (April 27th, 1981), that Paul McCartney's solo band Wings had disbanded.

McCartney and his first wife Linda had formed the group in the summer of 1971 with drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist and Moody Blues co-founder Denny Laine. The McCartneys and Laine remained the nucleus of the band's ever-changing line up throughout their 10-year run.

McCartney first broke the band in by playing small unannounced university gigs throughout Britain in early 1972. Gradually, he began booking the group into theaters and arenas, as the group started racking up Top Ten hits such as "Live And Let Die," "Jet," and "Let 'Em In," along with the Number Ones "My Love," "Band On The Run," "Listen To What The Man Said," and "Silly Love Songs."

Denny Laine says that despite the band's success, being an active member of top act like Wings is hardly as easy as it looks: "Well, there's a lot of pressure on you when you're in a band like Wings -- to come up with the goods, to be continually working. It's not like taking it easy and taking it at your own pace. You know you're out there and you've got to do what the public expects you to."

The Beatles' longtime engineer Geoff Emerick, who went on to work on several Wings projects, including the Band On The Run album, says that above all the members, it was Linda that was really the unsung hero of the group: "Wings was Wings, and Linda was such an integral part of that -- if you took Linda's vocals out of those harmony voices -- it wasn't Wings anymore."

• In September 1975 the group, which had only ever played in Europe, embarked on the Wings Over The World tour, which traveled to Australia and the U.S., where McCartney hadn't played in nearly a decade.
• Although the hits kept coming later on in the decade, including "With A Little Luck," "Goodnight Tonight," and a live version of "Coming Up" from their final tour, the constant personnel changes became a strain on McCartney.
• After his January 1980 marijuana bust in Japan, McCartney cancelled all the group's scheduled dates and released McCartney II, his first solo album in a decade.
• The band recorded sporadically in 1980, putting finishing touches on a still-unreleased album of outtakes titled Cold Cuts, as well as holding two sets of rehearsals in July and October for an album which was to be produced by the Beatles' producer George Martin. To the group's disappointment, when McCartney and Martin began the sessions that fall, McCartney was recording as a solo act.
• McCartney recalled the group's final days in his 2001 video biography Wingspan, saying, "One of the jokes I'd been waiting to use for the minute Wings split was to say 'Wings fold!' But, as it turned out, Wings didn't actually fold, they just sort of dissolved, like sugar in tea."
• The same day the announcement was leaked to the press, McCartney, along with Linda and their four children, joined his bandmates from his other band, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, at Starr's wedding to actress Barbara Bach in London.

FORMER CLASH MEMBER ADDRESSES 'DON'T TASE ME BRO' INCIDENT IN SONG

Former Clash vocalist Mick Jones is working on a second album with Carbon/Silicon, his group with fellow punk veteran and bassist Tony James. According to Reuters, Jones addresses some current events in his new songs, including last year's taser incident involving University of Florida student Andrew Meyee, who was arrested and zapped with a taser at an event featuring Senator John Kerry. He made headlines for telling the police officer, "Don't tase me, bro." That phrase is the title of a song Jones recently wrote about Meyee's arrest. Jones, who called the police's reaction "disgusting," said the song is going to go like, "dun-dun-dun ... Aaaargh!"

• There's no word on when the upcoming Carbon/Silicon album, called Yeah, Whatever.com, will come out. Other tracks will include "The Dirge," "A Fresh Start" and "What's Up, Doc?" They also might