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3/31/08

POISON DRUMMER AWAITS ORDER IN RAPE ARREST

Poison drummer Rikki Rockett is awaiting the next step after being taken into custody last week on a rape warrant. According to E! Online, the 46-year-old drummer, whose real name is Richard Ream, was booked on a felony fugitive sexual assault warrant issued from Neshoba County, Mississippi. He was released the next day and is now waiting for an extradition order from Mississippi prosecutors. The warrant stems from an incident that took place September 23, 2007 at the Silver Star Casino. Rockett is being accused of forcing himself on an unidentified woman in a hotel room. She filed a police report days later. Officials say the warrant was issued after they decided there was probable cause.

• Currently, however, there are no plans to extradite Rockett, who received the warrant at Los Angeles International Airport. He was returning from New Zealand, where Poison performed at the Rock 2 Wellington concert.
• According to TMZ.com, Rockett and his fiancee, singer Melanie Martel, scrapped plans for an intimate show Saturday night (March 29th), which was scheduled at a coffeehouse in Newhall, California. He reportedly decided to cancel the gig "due to what's going on."

IS AC/DC SAYING FAREWELL?

Is AC/DC retiring from the road? That's the rumor, according to VH1 Classic host Eddie Trunk, who said the band will kick off a "farewell" tour later this year behind a new album. Blabbermouth.net reports AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams had said the group would begin recording its first new set in eight years on March 1st. But when it came to touring, he said, "If we go out again or when we go out again, you just never know. We've been around a long time, so we're going to get together and get in the studio and I fully expect we will (tour). I don't mean to be so negative about that."

• AC/DC members are located all over the world. Malcolm and Angus Young split their time between Britain and Australia. Brian Johnson and Cliff Williams live in the U.S., and Phil Rudd resides in New Zealand.
• AC/DC's last set of all-new material, Stiff Upper Lip, arrived in 2000.

GRATEFUL DEAD MEMBERS CONSIDERING MORE SHOWS

Surviving Grateful Dead members may have caught the political bug. They performed at a Barack Obama rally in San Francisco in February, and now guitarist Bob Weir hints that more shows could be in their future. He told Billboard, "I would be surprised if we don't get around to playing again at some point."

He said his real focus right now is his band Ratdog, adding that the rest of the Grateful Dead are also doing their own things. He said, "But we'll get together again. I'm sure of that." Weir said the San Francisco show was the band's "first straight-up political event ever."

• As for Obama, Weir said, "I think it may be the last chance in our lifetimes to get money out of politics, to show special interests the door. It's also a chance to get younger people involved in politics for the first time in many years; once they're involved, I think they'll stay and that's important because it's their future being decided now."
• Weir is also thinking about a new Ratdog album, and said they have a enough songs for it. He added, "The problem is going to the effort and expense of making a record; we occupy a place that's square in the middle of the file-sharing demographic, so as soon as we've sold one record everybody who wants it has it. We're chewing on what to do about that."

NO PLANS FOR LED ZEPPELIN TO RELEASE DOCUMENT OF REUNION

Led Zeppelin has no plans at the moment to release either a CD or DVD of its reunion concert from last December, according to the Mirror.co.uk. Guitarist Jimmy Page said that the show was recorded, but added, "We didn't go in with the express purpose of making a DVD to come out at Christmas, or whatever." Page, however, did not completely rule out a release "at some distant point."

Late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham's son Jason, who was behind the kit for the December 10th performance at London's O2 Arena, told us he'd be eager to own some sort of document of the event: "I know it probably was recorded, I mean there was cameras there and everything, but I'm not too sure of what the process is there. Me personally, I'd love to get a, you know, a version of it that I could -- you know, stay with me forever. It'll be there forever in my mind, but to get a chance to watch it back is sometimes only when you realize what you've done."

• The group's acclaimed set, at a benefit concert in memory of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, led to speculation about a full world tour.

·         Vocalist Robert Plant said last week that the legendary British band could perform together again "for another really, really good reason," although he is reportedly not as interested in a full-blown tour as the other members.

MEAT LOAF DOCUMENTARY OPENS IN SELECT CITIES TODAY

Meat Loaf's first-ever behind the scenes documentary, called In Search Of Paradise, opens in select cities today (March 31st).

The film chronicles his 2007 Canadian tour and the critical uproar following his performance of the Bat Out Of Hell classic "Paradise By The Dashboard Light," which features him duetting on the suggestive song with a petite 25-year-old backing singer. Meat Loaf goes to great lengths to restructure the number in an effort to not seem "creepy" by performing the tune with a woman half his age. The film depicts him going so far as reprising his late '70s look of long hair and a tuxedo in an effort to show that the song is a "fantasy."

The film's director Bruce Klein explained that although it was easy for Meat Loaf to fall back into the character he played during his late '70s heyday, it was even easier for his audience: "We have this desire to freeze icons at a specific time and a specific place. And there's this issue of, you know, 'Can an icon evolve?' And everyone wants to see him frozen in time in 1978 with the greasy hair and yet now it's 30 years on. I think it speaks to how powerful that character he created; that red bandanna and that long hair and the tuxedo -- it's the most unlikely, bizarre character."

• The film features a cameo by Meat Loaf's good friend Dennis Quaid popping by and sitting in with the band during a live performance of the Them classic "Gloria."
• Meat Loaf's In Search Of Paradise will have a limited run before heading to DVD.
• Last year Meat Loaf released his live CD and DVD 3 Bats Live.

GUNS N' ROSES SIGNS WITH NEW MANAGEMENT

Guns N' Roses and frontman Axl Rose have signed with new management, according to a statement posted online by Rose himself. The singer wrote, "I am very pleased to announce that Guns N' Roses and I are now represented by the management team of Irving Azoff and Andy Gould. We are very excited and look forward to working with them and hope our relationship proves beneficial for everyone, especially the fans."

• According to Blabbermouth.net, Azoff, a longtime music business titan, only recently stopped managing Velvet Revolver, the band featuring ex-Guns members Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. Azoff still represents Velvet Revolver vocalist Scott Weiland.
• Gould is best known in the business as Rob Zombie's longtime manager and producer of all three of his feature films.
• Guns N' Roses has been without management since December of 2006, when Rose fired manager Merck Mercuriadis. The hiring of new representation is already leading to speculation that the band's long-delayed Chinese Democracy may finally see the light of day.
• The Dr. Pepper soft drink company announced last week that it will give a free soda to everyone in America if Chinese Democracy surfaces in 2008.

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM PLANNING TO TOUR BEHIND NEW STUDIO SET THIS SUMMER

Lindsey Buckingham is planning a new studio album and tour for this summer.

Last week Buckingham released his concert CD and DVD Live At The Bass Performance Hall which was taped last year in Fort Worth, Texas. Buckingham says that once the new album finds a distributor he and his solo band will start prepping for some live dates: "I've just completed another album, another solo album. I'm a free agent, so we're gonna see where that ends up, and probably that will come out this summer, and we'll hopefully get that group of people together and do some more dates."

• Live At The Bass Performance Hall features such solo favorites as "Trouble," "Go Insane," and "Holiday Road" from National Lampoon's Vacation, as well as Buckingham's Fleetwood Mac classics "Big Love," "Second Hand News," "Tusk," "Never Going Back Again," "I Know I'm Not Wrong," and "Go Your Own Way."
• The DVD features a 45 minute documentary called Not Too Late, which includes behind the scenes footage from the recording of his 2006 album Under The Skin.
• Earlier this month Sheryl Crow told the press that she would be joining Fleetwood Mac on their 2009 tour. Buckingham says that although there are tentative plans for Fleetwood Mac to regroup next year, and that Crow has been considered to perform with the band, he and the rest of Fleetwood Mac were shocked that Crow would make any type of announcement this early.

PAUL McCARTNEY SAID TO BE VACATIONING WITH NANCY SHEVELL

Paul McCartney is vacationing with New York socialite Nancy Shevell on the exclusive Caribbean island of Jumby Bay off Antigua, according to London's The Telegraph.

McCartney and Shevell had been spotted several times last year in East Hampton, New York, where the two move in the same social circle. Last fall, the couple was photographed kissing in McCartney's car.

• McCartney, who earlier this month was ordered to pay estranged wife Heather Mills just under $50 million in a divorce settlement, has been rumored to be linked to several women over the past year, including Shevell, Renee Zellweger, Rosanna Arquette, and singer Lulu.

In other Beatles-related news:

Ron Wood made a surprise appearance at the Fest For Beatles Fans on Friday night (March 28th) in Secaucus, New Jersey. Wood briefly popped in and said hello to longtime friend and star speaker Pattie Boyd.

• Wood and Boyd had a brief affair between the end of her marriage to George Harrison and the start of her relationship with Eric Clapton, and have remained close friends over the years.
• Among the other guest appearing at the Fest were former Wings members Denny Seiwell and Lawrence Juber, Ringo Starr's former fiancee photographer Nancy Andrews, and Starr's former producer Mark Hudson.
• The next Fest For Beatles Fans will take place on June 29th to July 1st at Las Vegas' Mirage Hotel.

PHIL SPECTOR'S ATTORNEYS SAY THEY WON'T BE READY FOR RETRIAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER

Producer Phil Spector appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday (March 28th), along with his attorney who said that Spector's defense team will not be ready until September at the earliest for his retrial for the 2003 murder of Lana Clarkson.

The Associated Press reported that Spector's attorney Doron Weinberg also filed a writ seeking to replace Judge Larry Paul Fidler from presiding over the upcoming retrial, stating that Fidler was biased against Spector and asked for a new neutral judge.

The writ, sent to the California 2nd District Court of Appeal, stated that that California law prohibits a judge from ruling on his or her own disqualification motion.

• Last week Judge Fidler refused to step down as the presiding judge for the retrial, stating that the defense's motion was untimely and that any issues with his actions should have been addressed during Spector's last trial.
• Weinberg has filed a 44-page motion listing examples of how Fidler had not acted impartial during Spector's first trial, which ended in a hung jury. Among the examples Weinberg cited as poof of bias were "the imposition of a gag order limited to Spector's wife and a potential defense witness, as well as his decision to withdraw a jury instruction and craft a new one after jurors first announced they were deadlocked."
• Fidler set a hearing for May 22nd to decide when the new trial could begin.
• Spector remains free on $1 million bail.

STEELY DAN'S WALTER BECKER PREPS NEW SOLO ALBUM

Steely Dan's Walter Becker will release a new solo album, called Circus Money, by early June, according to Reuters. The set, which marks his first album in 14 years, follows 11 Tracks of Whack, released in 1996. There's also talk of an upcoming solo tour. Becker said he "went into a deep research period" after the last Steely Dan tour. He added, "One of the guitar techs is a big Jamaican music fan. And I started to listen to all this stuff that he had -- these really deep, dub cuts from the '70s. I just became totally fascinated with it, so I spent a lot of time listening to that and working on stuff along those lines."

• The new album features contributions from members of the Steely Dan touring band, including keyboardist Ted Baker, guitarist Jon Herington, drummer Keith Carlock, saxophonist Roger Rosenberg and singer Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery. Steely Dan's Donald Fagen doesn't appear on the set.
• As for Steely Dan, they head out on the road this spring and are expected to toss a few surprises into the set list. Becker said, "We're going to reconfigure the show in a way that changes the flow and energy of it considerably, I think," he says. "(We'll) do some songs that we haven't done or haven't been doing recently, and rearrange some of the other ones that are perennial favorites."

3/28/08

ROBERT PLANT SAYS MORE LED ZEPPELIN SHOWS ARE POSSIBLE

Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant said that the legendary British band could perform together again under the right circumstances, according to Gigwise.com. When asked whether the group's first performance in nearly two decades, at a one-off charity event in London last December, had hurt the chances of a tour, Plant remarked, "No, not at all. I really enjoyed it. And hopefully, one day, we could do it again for another really, really good reason."

• The group's acclaimed set at London's O2 Arena on December 10th, at a benefit concert in memory of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun, led to intense speculation that a world tour was inevitable.
• Even bassist John Paul Jones told Uncut magazine that it felt that way to him, explaining, "It felt like the first night of a tour. You think, 'Oh, I could do that a bit better, or change something in that song.' And we didn't get a chance to do any more."
• Jones, guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Jason Bonham have all expressed their willingness to tour, with Plant the lone holdout by all accounts. The singer has live commitments through the summer with Alison Krauss, with whom he collaborated on the recently released Raising Sand.

AXL ROSE COMMENTS ON DR. PEPPER CAMPAIGN

Singer Axl Rose has posted a statement at the official Guns N' Roses web site regarding the announcement earlier this week that the Dr. Pepper soft drink company will give everyone in America a free can of soda if the long-delayed Guns album Chinese Democracy surfaces in 2008. Rose wrote, "We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr. Pepper with our album, Chinese Democracy, as for us this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others, we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of (departed guitarist) Buckethead's performances are on our album, I'll share my Dr. Pepper with him."

• Rose did not give any indication of when the album might arrive.
• Both Buckethead and original Guns guitarist Slash were both excluded from Dr. Pepper's original offer.
• Regarding the campaign, Dr. Pepper director of marketing Jaxie Alt said in a statement, "It took a little patience to perfect Dr. Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love. So we completely understand and empathize with (Guns singer) Axl (Rose)'s quest for perfection -- for something more than the average album."
• Chinese Democracy has reportedly been in the works since 1995, with Rose the only original member still in the band. Although Rose tentatively promised that the record would be out last March, it still remains unreleased.

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND POSTPONE NEW YORK CITY DATES DUE TO GREGG ALLMAN BEING TREATED FOR HEPATITUS C

The Allman Brothers Band has postponed its annual run of shows at New York City's Beacon Theater, and cancelled their appearances at their own Wanee Festival, due to Gregg Allman receiving treatment for Hepatitis C.

A statement from Allman which read: "I'm getting better but I'm still tired. I need to be at 110 percent to do the shows the way we do them. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support and understanding my Brothers and our fans have given me."

There have been no dates set for makeup shows for the 15-night stand at the  Beacon Theater.

• The band will be back on stage on June 14th for their appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.
• After that, the Allman Brothers Band will perform on August 16th in Mansfield, Massachusetts at the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts, and on August 23rd in Camden, New Jersey at Susquehanna Bank Center.

Hepatitis C facts (Source: hepatitis-central.com)

• Hepatitis C is the most prevalent liver disease in the world. A patient living with Hepatitis C can be infected for decades before being discovered, it is often called the "silent" epidemic.
• The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) emerged in the U.S. population beginning in the 1960s, related to blood transfusion and injection drug use. The extent of the problem was only apparent after 1990 when reliable HCV blood tests first became available.
• Studies indicate that over the first 20 years of chronic HCV infection, 20 percent of chronically infected patients will develop cirrhosis, and many of those will progress to liver cancer.

BRITISH CITY OF BLACKPOOL LIFTS 44 YEAR BAN ON THE ROLLING STONES

The British city of Blackpool has lifted its ban on the Rolling Stones performing in the city for the first time since 1964, when they were indefinitely banned following a riot at one of their concerts, according to Britain's The Telegraph.

The legendary show, which took place on July 24th, 1964 at Blackpool's Empress Ballroom, began with the unruly crowd spitting at the band's late guitarist Brian Jones. Keith Richards noticed a man with his hands on the stage inciting others to also spit at the band, which lead Richards to stomp on the man's hands and kick him in the face, which led to the 7,000 strong audience rioting.

Blackpool City Council leader Peter Callow said, "They are icons and I for one would certainly welcome them back. It would certainly give me some satisfaction if they did play here." The Rolling Stones had no comment on being allowed back onstage in Blackpool.

• The soundtrack to the Stones' Martin Scorsese-directed documentary Shine A Light will be released on April 1st, in both single and double disc editions.
• The Stones are set to attend the UK premiere on April 2nd at London's Leicester Square.
• Shine A Light will open in select U.S. theaters on April 4th.

R.E.M. DEBUTS NEW ALBUM IN LONDON

R.E.M. debuted material from its upcoming album, Accelerate, at an intimate show at a London Apple store on Wednesday (March 26th), Billboard.com reports, as part of the iTunes "Live From London" series.

The show kicked off with the song "Bad Day," followed by the rarity "Auctioneer (Another Engine)" from their 1985 album Fables of the Reconstruction. R.E.M. also played its new single, "Supernatural Superserious." About 400 fan club and competition winners were in attendance. At one point, singer Michael Stipe told the crowd, "We're going to do 10 more songs and then we'll all go for a curry somewhere. Not collectively -- although if you're buying I might consider it." iTunes plans to release the entire concert online soon.

• R.E.M. will kick off a North American tour in May.
• The new R.E.M. album is streaming at the iLike.com social networking site, and officially arrives in stores next Tuesday (April 1st).

MORE ACTS JOIN 'GUITAR HERO: AEROSMITH'

The list of acts taking part in the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith game is growing. The Aerosmith game was announced earlier this year, and now according to Gaming Today, other artists' songs will be featured on it, serving as "opening acts." The selections will include the Kinks' "All Day and All Night," Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You," Cheap Trick's "Dream Police" and Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes."

• The band-specific Guitar Hero game will arrive in June.
• Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is currently recovering from knee surgery.

QUICK TAKES

• Paul McCartney has issued a statement on the death of his childhood friend and Beatles' right hand man Neil Aspinall, who died on Sunday (March 23rd) of lung cancer in New York City. Aspinall had worked for the Beatles since 1961 and retired last year as the managing director of their company Apple Corps.
• McCartney's statement reads: "Neil was a great man who I knew even before I met any of the guys in the Beatles. I met him at school when we were both 11 and we remained friends ever since. I was able to say goodbye and thank him for everything he did for us and I send my deepest loving sympathies to his wonderful family. I will miss him but will remember the laughs, there were plenty. Paul."
• Rod Stewart has launched his own clothing line on his official website store (rodstewart.fanfire.com) and other outlets.
• Thewest.com.au reported that among the items that Stewart is marketing are T-shirts and baby bibs featuring Stewart's likeness and song titles, along with the official Rod Stewart Panties, featuring hearts and the phrase "Isn't it romantic?" printed on the front.
• Paul Simon will appear with classical composer Phillip Glass in a lecture at New York's Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) on May 5th.
• The joint discussion is dubbed BAM Talk: Paul Simon And Philip Glass: A Conversation and is open to the public. For ticket information log on to bam.org.
• Prior to the lecture with Glass, Simon will perform at BAM when the venue stages three separate retrospectives, which will run under the banner Love In Hard Times: The Music Of Paul Simon. The shows run from April 1st through April 27th

FLASHBACK: THE BEATLES RECORD 'WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS'

It was 41 years ago tomorrow (March 29th, 1967) that the Beatles recorded "With A Little Help From My Friends."

The song, which was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney specifically for Ringo Starr to sing, was originally called "Bad Finger Boogie" and was one of the standout tracks on their Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

In author Hunter Davies' 1968 The Beatles' Authorized Biography, readers were allowed a sneak peak into how Lennon and McCartney worked, as he chronicled them coming up with lyrics for the song's verses and taking suggestions from anyone who happened to be around -- even rejecting an idea from Lennon's first wife Cynthia.

The song's basic track included McCartney on piano, Lennon on cowbell, George Harrison on lead guitar and producer George Martin on Hammond organ. It took ten takes for the song to be completed, after which Starr recorded his lead vocal. "With A Little Help From My Friends" has gone on to become one of Starr's signature tunes.

• Longtime Ringo Starr producer Mark Hudson says that Starr often spoke of how John Lennon used to help him record his vocals during Beatles recording sessions: "When Ringo used to sing vocals sometimes he says he was really insecure and that John would come out with this energy like 'C'mon Ring!' and his arms were flailing and he would be in his face, to make him hit notes and have energy."
• In his solo concerts with his All Starr Band, "With A Little Help From My Friends" has closed every concert since Starr returned to the road in 1989.

FLASHBACK: THE BEATLES 'SGT. PEPPER' ALBUM COVER SHOOT

It was 41 years ago Sunday (March 30th, 1967) that the Beatles posed for their famous Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. The Beatles, who were sporting psychedelic marching band outfits, had designed the album cover concept with then husband and wife team Peter Blake and Jann Haworth, explaining that they wanted the crowd behind them to include "people they liked."

Blake created the scene of the group being flanked by their audience, using mainly cardboard cut-out photographs of famous people. The final shot, which was photographed by the late Michael Cooper, has gone on to be one of the most revered and imitated album covers in rock history.

Among the famous figures that the group's record company EMI flat out rejected were John Lennon's suggestions of Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi and Adolph Hitler -- although a Hitler cardboard cutout was prepared.

The label made the Beatles write to each of the people appearing on the cover and ask them for permission. Prior to granting approval, Mae West responded by asking, "What would I be doing in a lonely hearts club?" Only Bowery Boy star Leo Gorcey declined, after requesting $400. (He was eventually blacked out by a painted-on palm tree).

Among the many 72 faces featured in the cover are Lenny Bruce, W.C. Fields, Edgar Allan Poe, psychoanalyst Carl Jung, Dion, Fred Astaire, Bob Dylan, Aldous Huxley, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Karl Marx, original Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, Oscar Wilde, Albert Einstein, Marlene Dietrich, and Shirley Temple.

• Also featured on the cover were figures on loan from Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, of former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and the Beatles themselves with their earlier "mop-top" look. A wax figure rumored to be the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson has cropped up on several photos from the session. A doll featured in the corner of the cover wore a sweater declaring "Welcome The Rolling Stones," as a nod to the group's good friends and friendly rivals.
• Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was released on June 1st, 1967.

SNIPPET OF NEW MOTLEY CRUE SONG SURFACES ONLINE

A 30-second snippet of a new Motley Crue song called "Saints of Los Angeles" surfaced online this week, with the clip available at YouTube and other sites. The track will most likely appear on the band's upcoming new album, The Dirt, due out on July 8th. The CD will be the first all-new Crue album since 2000 and the first in more than a decade to feature all four original members. The title of the record is taken from the band's 2002 memoir of the same name. A single is expected to arrive at radio stations sometime within the next few weeks.

• Motley Crue is scheduled to make what's been billed as a "colossal" announcement on April 15th in Los Angeles. Although management has denied reports that the group will be unveiling a festival-type "Cruefest" tour, it did confirm that up to two dozen other acts will be involved.
• Some of the groups potentially participating include Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Drowning Pool, Chevelle, Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd and Crue bassist Nikki Sixx's side project, Sixx A.M.
• A Blu-ray Disc version of Carnival of Sins, a concert document filmed on the Crue's 2004/2005 reunion tour, arrives on April 29th.

NEW YORK AREA 'FEST FOR BEATLES FANS' KICKS OFF TONIGHT

Kicking off tonight (March 28th) is the New York City area Fest For Beatles Fans which will run though Sunday night in Secaucus, New Jersey at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The fan convention, previously known as Beatlefest, will feature special guests such as George Harrison's first wife Pattie Boyd, Wings members Denny Seiwell and Lawrence Juber, Ringo Starr's former producer Mark Hudson, Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield, Starr's ex-girlfriend, photographer Nancy Andrews, photographers Paul Saltzman and Allen Tannenbaum, author Bruce Spizer, along with members from the cast of the movie Across The Universe, among many others.

The Fest, which is the longest running Beatles fan convention, features numerous Q&A sessions with the guests, an extensive flea market selling rare and one-of-a-kind items, non-stop Beatles and solo videos, a battle of the bands, a karaoke Beatles recording studio, and a Beatles museum, as well as a puppet show for kids.

• Pattie Boyd will be discussing her recent memoir Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, And Me at the Fest. In the book she reveals that in the early 1970s Harrison had an affair with Ringo Starr's wife Maureen Starkey. She says that although the affair devastated her and Ringo, she kept up appearances around Maureen after the tryst: "I would be civil to her afterwards, but you know, I can forgive but I won't forget. And so I was civil to her, but she seemed to be really angry with George, I don't know. She was angry with George afterwards, I think she thought that they would stick together. I don't know what her desire was. I didn't know what she was hoping for, really. I didn't know what she hoped to get out of this whole thing, except maybe she hoped that she would be with George, and he didn't want it, otherwise they would have stuck together."
• Wings cofounder Denny Seiwell says that he feels as though he and McCartney still share a deep musical bond. He and McCartney remain close and talk frequently. Seiwell was asked about the chances of him recording with McCartney again after a 35 year hiatus: "I'd do anything to make that happen. I told him anything you want... He's one of the most profound influences in my life that took the most profound effect on my life, both positive and negative. At a moment's notice, I would drop everything (to play with him.) You know I think there's a need for Wings to come back."
• Ringo Starr's one-time fiancee Nancy Andrews has just published her first book of photos, called A Dose Of Rock And Roll, which chronicles her six-year relationship with Starr. Andrews recalled the day that she and Ringo bumped into Paul and Linda McCartney on New York's Fifth Avenue in the spring of 1977, a photo of which appears in the new book: "We were like window shopping and walking through and then we were walking back to the hotel and all of a sudden we hear, 'Hey Ringo!' And (Ringo) said 'Don't turn around, it's probably a fan, don't turn around' -- and I couldn't resist. And I turn around and across the street it's Paul and Linda waving! I said, 'It's Paul!' he said, 'You're kidding.' So we stop and he runs across Fifth Avenue. As silly as those lads are, you know, (they said) 'Let's all join hands!' We almost did the Monkee thing, you know? And we all joined hands and started walking and the photographer was going click, click, click."
• Ken Mansfield, the former US manager of Apple Records, recently published his second book on his time with the Beatles called The White Book. Mansfield says that it was a testament to the Beatles that they ended up with such a loyal staff: "I felt so honored to be invited inside their world and privileged, that a bunch of us had agreed that we would never write about our time with the Beatles. It's not because the Beatles said, 'Lookit, you're gonna be inside, you're gonna see some stuff, you're gonna know some stuff, we wanna be free to do... So you're gonna have to agree not to write or talk about it.' It was just some thing, we felt so privileged, we had so much respect. I have to tell you man, they treated me so good and so kind."
• Photographer Paul Saltzman recalled taking the photos featured in his book The Beatles In India which chronicles the Beatles' time studying under the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh in 1968 : "I asked all of them individually, 'Do you mind if I take the odd picture?' 'Cause they, when they sat around, George had a camera, Ringo had a camera -- they would take snapshots, it was like a family outing in India. And so I said, 'Do you mind if I take the odd picture? and each of them said 'Pfff, go right ahead.' In fact, I could have taken hundreds of pictures, and I just honestly didn't think about it."
• Although none of the Beatles have ever appeared at the Fest, all four members have periodically donated personal memorabilia for the Fest's charity auctions, which have raised over $100,000 over the years.
• In addition to the New Jersey convention, The Fest For Beatle Fans takes also takes place annually in Chicago and Las Vegas.

3/27/08

RICHIE SAMBORA ARRESTED FOR DUI

Richie Sambora was arrested on suspicion of DUI Tuesday (March 25th) night, and if it is proven he was drunk, he could additionally be charged with child endangerment as his 10-year-old daughter Ava and another juvenile were in the car at the time of the incident. Law enforcement sources told TMZ.com that the Bon Jovi guitarist was pulled over in Laguna Beach, California after officers observed him driving erratically. Sambora failed numerous field sobriety tests and opted to take a blood test rather than blow into a breathalyzer.

• Sambora was released around 4 a.m. on Wednesday (March 26th).
• TMZ.com reports there was also an adult woman in the car with him and the two children at the time of the incident.
• Ava's mother is Sambora's ex-wife, actress Heather Locklear.
• Sambora has entered rehab twice in the past year.

FREE SODA FOR EVERYONE IF GUNS N' ROSES ALBUM COMES OUT

According to a press release, the Dr. Pepper soft drink company has promised a free can of its signature soda to "everyone in America" if Guns N' Roses releases its long-delayed new album, Chinese Democracy, in 2008. Dr. Pepper director of marketing Jaxie Alt said in a statement, "It took a little patience to perfect Dr. Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, which our fans have come to know and love. So we completely understand and empathize with (Guns singer) Axl (Rose)'s quest for perfection -- for something more than the average album. We know once it's released, people will refer to it as 'Dr Pepper for the ears' because it will be such a refreshing blend of rich, bold sounds -- an instant classic."

• Dr. Pepper has started a blog in conjunction with its campaign. Neither Guns N' Roses nor the band's label, Interscope Records, had any official comment.
• Rose is not known for having a sense of humor about the protracted wait for the new disc. He reportedly threatened to sue the Offspring a few years ago when they toyed with calling a new album Chinese Democracy: You Snooze, You Lose.
• Chinese Democracy has reportedly been in the works since 1995, with Rose the only original member still in the band. According to a report published two years ago by the New York Times, Rose had allegedly burned through $13 million in the studio by that point.
• Although a revamped Guns lineup toured successfully in 2006 and Rose tentatively promised that the record would be out last March, it never materialized and little has been heard about it since.

PAUL McCARTNEY DIVORCE VIDEO GAME ONLINE

Paul McCartney's divorce has inspired a new online video game. According to NME.com, the game called "Mucca Chucka" invites participants to play the part of McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills. Points are scored by throwing virtual water over depictions of Sir Paul and his lawyer, Fiona Shackleton, in scenes reminiscent of the incident in which Mills threw water over Shackleton in court following Mills being awarded $48 million of McCartney's fortune. Players lose points if the virtual water hits a depiction of the judge by mistake. The more points scored, the more of McCartney's goes to the player. The game can be found at Muccachucka.co.uk.

• The McCartney/Mills divorce is now in the hands of London High Court judge Hugh Bennett, who will decide how much Mills gets in the settlement. According to the Daily Mirror, the ex-Beatle is to be "grimly determined" not to cave in to her demands and will let the legal process move forward.
• The couple announced their separation in 2006 following four years of marriage. McCartney filed for divorce citing his wife's "unreasonable behavior."

ROGER DALTREY DIDN'T MIND ROBERT PLANT COPPING HIS STAGE LOOK

Roger Daltrey says that he didn't mind that Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant borrowed heavily from his late '60s onstage look with the Who.

Daltrey spoke about their similarities in Q magazine's latest issue, and was asked point blank if he thought that Plant ripped him off, answered, "Oh, the 'rock God' look (laughs). Looking back Robert was a bit Mach II Daltrey, but I never got crossed about it because he's always been a friend. I was more jealous of Planty because he was so f***ing tall."

Daltrey gave an update on the upcoming Keith Moon biopic called See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked For Your Pleasure. The film, which Daltrey is executive producing, is set to star Mike Myers as Moon. Daltrey says that getting the film off the ground has been an up hill battle: "(We're) still struggling with the script. the difficult bit is trying to convince Hollywood to make a gritty, hard nosed rock 'n' roll film. They want to make 'Carry On Moon.' Yes (he) was funny, but there's two sides to Keith's story, especially if you're the bloke on the other end of a firecracker he's thrown down the toilet. That's the side I want to bring out, to talk about Keith, the desperate little man."

• There's been no start date announced for See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked For Your Pleasure.
• The Who will receive this year's only award at VH1's third annual Rock Honors event, scheduled to air July 17th.

CHICAGO AND THE DOOBIE BROTHERS SET FOR UPCOMING JOINT DATES

Chicago and the Doobie Brothers are teaming up for a 22-city tour which kicks off on June 3rd in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Chicago/Doobie Brothers tour dates (subject to change):
  June 3 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
  June 5, 6 - Universal City, CA - Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk
  June 7 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
  June 10 - Albuquerque, NM - Sandia Casino Amphitheater
  June 11 - Englewood, CO - Coors Amphitheatre
  June 12 - Kansas City, MO - Starlight Theatre
  June 14 - The Woodlands, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
  June 15 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Centre
  June 17 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
  June 18 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
  June 20 - Chicago, IL - Charter One Pavillion at Northerly Island
  June 21 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
  June 22 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre St. Louis
  June 24 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
  June 26 - Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
  June 27 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
  June 28 - Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
  June 29 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
  July 1 - Boston, MA - Bank Of America Pavilion
  July 2 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
  July 3 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
  July 4 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
• Chicago cofounder Robert Lamm says that over 40 years after launching the band, Chicago is just as dedicated to their live show as when they were starting out: "Every year we try and find a fresh way to present the core music that most of the audience comes to listen to and then we try to add a few new things every year -- a few surprises and we try to change the production. And all of that takes pre-planning and time."
• Chicago performs tonight and tomorrow (March 27th and 28th) in Temecula, California at the Pechanga Resort & Casino.
• The Doobie Brothers will next perform on April 11th in Elizabeth, Indiana at the Colosseum.

PHIL SPECTOR'S JUDGE REJECTS MOTION TO DISQUALIFY HIM FROM RETRIAL

The judge who presided over Phil Spector's murder trial for the 2003 shooting death of Lana Clarkson rejected a motion from Spector's defense team to disqualify him over presiding over Spector's upcoming retrial.

The Associated Press reported that Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler signed "a declaration that he was not biased or prejudiced against any party in the case." Fidler also said that the motion filed by Spector's attorney Doron Weinberg was untimely and that any issues with his actions should have been addressed during Spector's last trial, which ended in a hung jury.

In Weinberg's 44-page motion issued to the court last week, Spector's defense listed numerous alleged acts of bias by Fidler, including "the imposition of a gag order limited to Spector's wife and a potential defense witness, as well as his decision to withdraw a jury instruction and craft a new one after jurors first announced they were deadlocked."

• Weinberg is preparing to take the matter up with the California State Court of Appeals.
• Spector's defense alleges that Fidler gave the prosecution an unfair advantage by trying to counter the public's opinion that celebrities can be convicted of crimes in California courts.
• A hearing to decide a date for Spector's retrial is set for tomorrow (March 28th) Phil Spector remains free on $1 million bail.

JULIAN LENNON POSTS STATEMENT ON DEATH OF NEIL ASPINALL

Julian Lennon has posted a statement on his My Space page on the death of longtime Beatles aide and Apple Corps managing director Neil Aspinall.

Lennon's message reads: "I just wanted to say, that Neil was a unique man, a loyal man and a man of great strength. He will be missed. I just wanted to publicly send my condolences to his family and all that knew him from either working with him, or just knowing him as a friend. From myself and my mother, Cynthia (Lennon). We will of course be contacting his family directly too. R.I.P Neil, Hope you guys are having fun up there! Jules & Cyn x."

• Aspinall died of lung cancer on Sunday in New York City at age 66. Aspinall went to grade school with Paul McCartney and George Harrison. In 1961 at the urging of the Beatles' first drummer Pete Best, Aspinall became the band's driver an road manager.
• In the 1960s, Aspinall's role in the Beatles' organization expanded, and in 1973 he became the managing director of Apple and was in charge of running the company's short and long-term operations.

In other John Lennon-related news:

Yoko Ono has announced her first solo New York art exhibition in five years, called Touch Me. Ono posted on her My Space page, "In Touch Me, Yoko Ono will present an interactive painting, film, conceptual photography and sculptures that comment on different facets of the female experience, calling upon the viewers to make direct and deeply personal connections."

• The exhibition will open to the public on April 18th and will run through May 31st.

3/26/08

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM SURPRISED AT SHERYL CROW ANNOUNCING THAT SHE'S JOINING FLEETWOOD MAC

Lindsey Buckingham says that Sheryl Crow slightly jumped the gun in announcing that she'll be hitting the road next year as a member of Fleetwood Mac.

Last week Crow went public announcing that she'll be joining the band for their next road trek, before backtracking and saying that finalized plans are still a ways off.

Buckingham says the band was shocked that Crow would make any sort of announcement with any road plans so far from being finalized: ["The band has been talking about doing a tour in 2009. Sheryl's name certainly was mentioned and I know that she's a friend of Stevie (Nicks). I think all of us were surprised (laughs) that Sheryl was speaking with such certainly about it in the media, I guess that was last week or whenever that was, because nothing has been written in stone yet. Certainly she would be a great addition, you know, and I think it would be a lot of fun. But I don't know why she came out with that so early. We have not come to any real conclusions yet."] SOUNDCUE (:30 OC: . . . any conclusions yet)

• Yesterday (March 25th) Buckingham released his deluxe live CD/DVD Live At The Bass Performance Hall. In addition to solo favorites such as "Trouble," "Go Insane," and "Holiday Road" from National Lampoon's Vacation, the set features such Fleetwood Mac classics as "Big Love," "Second Hand News," "Tusk," "Never Going Back Again," "I Know I'm Not Wrong," and "Go Your Own Way."
• The collection features a 45 minute documentary called Not Too Late which includes behind the scenes footage from the recording of his 2006 album Under The Skin.
• Buckingham is planning a new album for release this summer. The album, which will be more rock oriented than his last one, will feature contributions from his Fleetwood Mac bandmates John McVie and Mick Fleetwood.

THE WHO TO GET VH1'S TOP ROCK HONORS

The Who will receive this year's only award at VH1's third annual Rock Honors event, scheduled to air July 17th. Surviving bandmembers Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend are slated to perform, along with some other acts to be announced soon, according to the Associated Press. In previous years, VH1 has honored multiple acts at the ceremony, but this time around, it's just the Who. Other past honorees have included ZZ Top, Genesis, Kiss and Queen. VH1's executive vice president Tom Calderone said, "The Who defined the rock era. Their music truly pushed boundaries, connected with millions of rock fans and inspired countless bands to fulfill their own musical destinies."

• The ceremony will be taped on July 12th in Los Angeles.
• The last Who album, Endless Wire, came out in October 2006. The band has been working on new material.

AEROSMITH'S JOE PERRY RECOVERS FROM KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry is in the hospital recovering from a successful total knee replacement surgery. After last Tuesday's (March 18th) operation, Perry spent a few days in ICU where doctors stabilized his pain. He'll spend a few more days in a private room before going home to continue his recovery through the end of the year. According to his rep, Perry put off the surgery for two years "so that he could fulfill the band's live commitments and perform for fans."

• Perry has canceled his April 5th solo show in Niagara Falls, New York, so he can recover from the surgery.
• The 57-year-old guitarist's knee gave out early this month after a pair of performances with his two sons.

HEART TO JOIN JOURNEY AND CHEAP TRICK ON TOUR

Heart has been tapped to join Journey and Cheap Trick on tour this summer. The outing kicks off July 9th in Denver and wraps September 30th in Los Angeles. Also in the works is a new studio album -- Heart's first since 2004's Jupiter's Darling. There's no word on when the album will be released.

• Heart is also booked to perform at the upcoming Idol Gives Back fundraising show set for April 9th on Fox. They're set to perform the classic "Barracuda" with pop star Fergie on the gala show. Also appearing will be Bono, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox, John Legend and others.
• Last September, Ann Wilson released her first solo album of mostly cover songs, Hope & Glory, with guest appearances by Elton John, K.D. Lang, Alison Krauss, Gretchen Wilson, Shawn Colvin, Rufus Wainwright and others.
• Nancy Wilson is recording a track for the soon to be released Martin Guitars tribute album, My Favorite Martin, and will be featured in the upcoming documentary film about rock guitarists, "Turn It Up."
• Heart tour dates (subject to change):
  March 27 - Marksville, LA - Paragon Casino Resort
  March 28 - Biloxi, MS - Hard Rock Casino & Resort
  March 29 - Orlando, FL - Universal Studios Florida
  March 30 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Olivia's Cruise for Our Cause
  June 5 - Honolulu, HI - Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall
  June 13 - Waikoloa, HI - Hilton Waikoloa Village
  Heart dates with Journey and Cheap Trick:
  July 9 - Denver, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
  July 11 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
  July 12 - Lake Tahoe, NV - Harvey's Lake Resort
  July 14 - Friant, CA - Table Mountain Rancheria (Heart solo date)
  July 15 - San Diego, CA - Coors Amphitheatre
  July 16 - Los Angeles, CA - Verizon Amphitheatre
  July 19 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion
  July 20 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion
  July 22 - Council Bluffs, IA - Mid American Center
  July 23 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheatre
  July 25 - San Antonio, TX - Verizon Amphitheatre
  July 26 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Mitchell Woods Pavilion
  July 27 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Amphitheatre
  July 30 - Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheatre
  July 31 - West Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheatre
  August 2 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Amphitheatre
  August 3, 4 - Atlanta, GA - Chastain Park Amphitheatre
  August 7 - Birmingham, AL - Verizon Amphitheatre
  August 10 - Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
  August 12 - Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Amphitheatre
  August 14 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
  August 16 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Amphitheatre
  August 17 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino
  August 19 - Boston. MA - Tweeter Center
  August 21 - Holmdel, NJ PNC - Bank Arts Center
  August 23 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Fair
  August 24 - Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
  August 26 - Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
  August 27 - Washington, DC - Nissan Pavilion
  August 30 - Bethel Woods, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
  August 31 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Pavilion
  September 6 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
  September 7 - Cleveland, OH - Blossom Amphitheatre
  September 9 - Detroit, MI DTE - Energy Music Theatre
  September 10 - Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Amphitheatre
  September 12 - Chicago, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
  September 13 - St. Louis, MO - Verizon Amphitheatre
  September 19 - Seattle, WA - White River Amphitheatre
  September 21 - Portland, OR - Clark County Amphitheatre
  September 24 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion at Concord
  September 26 - Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion at Sacramento
  September 27 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
  September 30 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre

JON BON JOVI AND RICHIE SAMBORA TO TALK SONGWRITING

Singer Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora will talk songwriting during a special Q&A at the 3rd annual ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo on April 10th. Their appearance coincides with the pair's 25th anniversary as songwriters. The EXPO will take place April 10the through 12th at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles.

• Bon Jovi is currently out on the road, and will perform next on March 31st in Denver. The band is taking a film crew out with them to shoot footage for an upcoming DVD. The guys are out behind their latest album, Lost Highway.

ARTISTS LINE UP FOR FREE EARTH DAY CONCERTS

This year's Earth Day will be celebrated with eight free simultaneous festivals in landmark parks across the U.S. on April 20th. Among the artists set to perform are the Roots, Warren Haynes, the Neville Brothers, Los Lonely Boys, Martin Sexton, Toots and the Maytals and others. The Earth Day Network and Green Apple Festival will feature all types of music artists, including blues legends to Latin pop stars, reggae acts, jam band favorites, hip-hop artists, R&B acts and rock bands.

• The all-inclusive, interactive and free public events will take place at New York City's Central Park, Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, Miami 's Bicentennial Park, Denver's City Park, Dallas' Fair Park, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, and Los Angeles' Santa Monica Pier. The flagship event will be Earth Day 2008 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

2008 Earth Day Network/Green Apple Festival Free Line-up (subject to change):

• NEW YORK
  Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
  Big Head Todd and the Monsters
  Vusi Mahlasela
  Vienna Teng
• WASHINGTON DC "Earth Day 2008 on the National Mall"
  The Roots & Friends
  Gov't Mule
  Toots and the Maytals
  Thievery Corp - DJ set
  Warren Haynes -- solo acoustic set
  Umphreys McGee
  DC Boys Choir
  City Dance
• CHICAGO
  Derek Trucks Band
  Dirty Dozen Brass Band
  Meshell Ndegeocello
  Chicago Afrobeat Orchestra
  Miss Lori Holton Nash
  The Gwalla Gwallas
• MIAMI
  Menudo
  Arrested Development
  Baby Loves Salsa
  Caravan of Thieves
• DALLAS
  Los Lonely Boys
  Martin Sexton
  Junior Brown
  Cas Haley
  The Steps
  George Stanford
• DENVER
  The Neville Brothers
  The Benevento/Russo Duo
  Rose Hill Drive
• SAN FRANCISCO
  Mickey Hart's Mass Drums
  Yonder Mountain String Band
  Brett Dennen
• LOS ANGELES
  Taj Mahal
  Ziggy Marley solo acoustic
  Juliette and the Licks
  School of Rock Hollywood All Stars
  The Frequency
  Coby Brown

SLASH DENIES VELVET REVOLVER IS BREAKING UP

Lead guitarist Slash has denied reports that Velvet Revolver is breaking up. Singer Scott Weiland stunned an audience in Glasgow, Scotland last Thursday (March 20th) when he told them that they were watching "the last tour" by the group. Weiland's announcement was followed by an online war of words between him and Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum. But in an interview with England's BBC Radio One, Slash simply said, "Well, let's put it this way -- this is not Velvet Revolver's last tour," adding that the group planned to make a third album.

• In the same interview, Slash also refuted comments made by bassist Duff McKagan that Velvet Revolver would open for Led Zeppelin on a rumored world tour. Slash said, "There's been a huge rumor going around about us opening for them and I think that was something that was taken out of context. I think as far as Zeppelin doing a tour, that remains to be seen."
• Led Zeppelin has made no plans to tour yet despite an acclaimed and hugely successful reunion show in London last December.
• On the other hand, Scott Weiland is reuniting with his previous group, Stone Temple Pilots, for a series of shows this summer, adding fuel to speculation that Velvet Revolver was on its last legs.

NEW R.E.M. ALBUM STREAMING