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11/30/06

THE EAGLES PACKAGE NEW MUSIC WITH AUSTRALIAN DVD THROUGH WAL-MART

The deal between the Eagles and Wal-Mart has led to the release of some new music. Wal-Mart stores are selling an upgraded version of the Farewell I Tour -- Live From Melbourne DVD package that now comes with a CD. The disc includes "No More Cloudy Days," first heard on the Farewell I DVD, along with two all-new tracks: "Fast Company," written by singer-drummer Don Henley and singer-guitarist Glenn Frey, and "Do Something," which comes from Henley, tour guitarist Steuart Smith, and bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who handles lead vocals. The package is exclusive to Wal-Mart and its affiliated stores, including Sam's Club, and it's priced at about $10.

• It's unknown whether these songs will be included on the album the Eagles have been threatening to release for many years now.

ELTON JOHN SLAGS AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER OVER GAY MARRIAGE

Elton John's never been one to hold back his feelings, and his latest target is Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Elton was being interviewed on Australia's Seven Network on Tuesday (November 28th) when the subject of his civil union with long-time partner David Furnish came up, and he said, "It was just a commitment I wanted to make because I love him, and vice-versa, and it was just a great day." Elton was then asked what message he would like to deliver to Prime Minster Howard, who's anti-gay marriage, and he said, "Up yours."

• The Howard government stopped plans to allow gay marriage in Australia earlier this year, though he claims he's not anti-gay. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the prime minister said, "It is not a question of discriminating against them. It is a question of preserving as an institution in our society -- marriage -- as having a special character, and if you look at the legislation, what it effectively says (is) a civil union is not a marriage, but it will be treated for all purposes as being equivalent to a marriage."
• Elton's got shows booked in Australia and New Zealand through December 11th.

STYX CUT YOUTH ORCHESTRA MEMBERS A BREAK ON SETLIST

When Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra first got together early this year to plan out their joint concert outside Cleveland, they had to come up with a setlist. Naturally, it would include hits like "Blue Collar Man," but there was a lot of give-and-take to come up with the material they played on the new One With Everything DVD and CD. Singer-guitarist Tommy Shaw said that he and his bandmates eventually decided to invoke the mercy rule on their young cohorts: "We just kept piling on the songs -- 'Well, what if we did this one? What if we tried that? And we got a couple of Christmas songs we could do, too!' And when we got to 20 songs that had to be all arranged, and learned, and worked up, and orchestrated and everything, and learned by the orchestra, we figured, 'You know, these kids are in school, they got other things going on, so let's don't pile on.'"

• Styx rolls into the Luxor Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for shows tomorrow and Saturday (December 1st and 2nd).

DEF LEPPARD ALREADY WORKING ON NEXT ALBUM

Def Leppard closed out their lengthy tour with Journey less than two weeks ago, but they're already thinking about their next album, and they plan to change things up this time. Guitarist Phil Collen said that Def Leppard's already began the process while on tour, which they'd never done before, and it should pay off quickly: "We got a start date for the album, which is in January. Yeah, we've got a bunch of ideas ready, and we've actually already started recording some of it. We're gonna try and get it out for next year -- well, we are gonna get it out for next year. It's gonna be probably the end of the summer, I think, and we'll have tracks way before that. Yeah, I think we'll have a couple of tracks by the end of this year, to be quite honest."

THE GRATEFUL DEAD'S 1976 NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW TO BE RELEASED AS THREE-CD SET IN JANUARY

One of the Grateful Dead's legendary New Year's Eve shows in their hometown of San Francisco will be released on CD in January. Live At The Cow Palace, New Year's Eve, 1976 includes their entire 22-song performance spread across three CDs. Among the highlights on the album are cover versions of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land," Merle Haggard's "Mama Tried," and the Rascals' smash "Good Lovin'," which was only the third time guitarist Bob Weir had done lead vocals on the song. Live At The Cow Palace comes out January 23rd.

• In the spirit of the holiday season, the Dead organization will stream the entire show for free at dead.net on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (December 31st and January 1st).
• The tracklisting for Live At The Cow Palace, New Year's Eve, 1976 includes:
  DISC ONE -- "Promised Land," "Bertha," "Mama Tried," "They Love Each Other," "Looks Like Rain," "Deal," and "Playing In The Band."
  
  DISC TWO -- "Sugar Magnolia," "Eyes Of The World," "Wharf Rat," "Good Lovin'," "Samson & Delilah," and "Scarlet Begonias."
  
  DISC THREE -- "Around And Around," "Help On The Way," "Slipknot!", "Drums," "Not Fade Away," "Morning Dew," "One More Saturday Night," "Uncle John's Band," and "We Bid You Goodnight."

U2 COLLECTION SOARS, 'ROCK STAR' FIZZLES ON ALBUM CHART

A major hits collection and a highly-hyped reality TV band debuted on this week's Billboard Top 200 album chart yesterday (Wednesday, November 29th). U2's latest compilation, U218 Singles, landed at Number 12 with first-week sales of more than 134,000 copies. The set was bolstered by the inclusion of the group's collaboration with Green Day on a charity cover of the Skids' "The Saints Are Coming," along with a brand new song called "Window In The Skies."

Meanwhile, the self-titled debut from Rock Star Supernova, the band built around Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and now-departed ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, landed with a thud at Number 101, selling less than 17,000 copies. The group was assembled for the second season of CBS-TV's Rock Star series, in which it selected Lukas Rossi as lead vocalist.

• Other notable rock debuts included metal act Killswitch Engage, whose new As Daylight Dies arrived at Number 32 with sales of 60,000 copies, and P.O.D., whose Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years proved not so great at Number 152 with sales of 10,000 copies.

BYRDS CO-FOUNDER SAYS NEW BOX SET RECALLS HAPPIER TIMES

The Byrds' bassist and co-founder Chris Hillman says that the band's new four-disc box set, titled There Is A Season, has left him with a good feeling about his former bandmates. Hillman, who today is a predominantly folk and bluegrass performer, talked about the project to the San Francisco Gate and revealed that, "I've probably rarely said this in 44 years, but they did a great job. It brings back the good memories, not the bad ones."

Hillman, who went on to form the Flying Burrito Brothers with former Byrds guitarist Gram Parsons, and was later joined by the band's drummer Michael Clarke, says that these days he tries to stay positive when talking about the Byrds, which also included Roger McGuinn and David Crosby: "I don't wish to waste energy on things that happened 20 or 30 years ago. We got to enjoy what I consider the very best part of the '60s. I was just the bass player."

• He added that, "The Byrds, as great as they were, my better work was with the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Desert Rose Band... But even if I cured cancer tomorrow I would be known as an ex-Byrd."
• Hillman is quick to give credit to the Byrds' co-founder and main creative force Roger McGuinn: "As far as I'm concerned, Roger McGuinn was the Byrds. He had the distinctive 12-string (guitar) sound that we built the band around... I was the guy in the back, not smiling, just holding the bass."
• The Byrds: There Is A Season features 99 studio and live cuts in chronological order, featuring all five lineups of the group and a bonus DVD featuring vintage '60s TV appearances.
• Among the songs included on the set are, "Mr. Tambourine Man," "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)," "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better," "Eight Miles High," "Why," "Mr. Spaceman," "So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star," "Time Between," "My Back Pages," "Lady Friend," "Triad," "Hickory Wind," "Chestnut Mare," "Ballad Of Easy Rider," and many more.
• Chris Hillman kicks of his next series of shows on January 5th in Carrboro, North Carolina at The Arts Center.

CYNTHIA LENNON SAYS YOKO SHOULD'VE LET JULIAN CONSULT ON THE BEATLES 'LOVE'

John Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Lennon, claims that the recent success of The Beatles LOVE extravaganza in Las Vegas was yet another missed opportunity for Yoko Ono to involve her and John's son Julian Lennon. The musical, which incorporates a musical mosaic of Beatles songs with Cirque du Soleil's gravity-defying acrobatics, is a runaway hit on the Vegas strip, with the show's soundtrack debuting this week at Number Four on the charts.

While Cynthia and Julian attended the LOVE premiere in June alongside Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, the family of George Harrison, and Lennon's second wife Yoko Ono, she feels that Ono should have done more to involve Julian in the project. The Irish Examiner reported Cynthia as saying that, "It seems to me that Julian could have brought something valuable (to the project.) (Ono) is a very powerful woman. She controls a quarter of the Beatles legacy. She can make or break new projects. After John died, I understood that she was positioning herself as the only woman in John's life, so that she could manipulate history."

• John and Cynthia Lennon were married from 1962 to 1968.
• In the late '90s Julian and Yoko settled out of court for a piece of Lennon's multi-million dollar fortune. Although neither has gone on record as to how much the settlement was for, Julian has said that part of the payout included a small portion of his father's songwriting publishing. Insider rumors are that Julian banked around $30 million in the settlement.
• The soundtrack to The Beatles LOVE was compiled by the band's legendary producer George Martin and his son Giles.
• Yoko Ono solely controls the Lennon estate. Since the Beatles' company Apple began releasing previously unreleased material in 1993, neither Julian nor any of the other Beatles' children have had any key involvement in any of the new Beatles' projects.

11/29/06

AEROSMITH BASSIST EXPECTED AT CONNECTICUT SHOW TONIGHT

Aerosmith's got a show practically in their own backyard tonight (Wednesday, November 29th), and they're expecting a special guest -- bass player Tom Hamilton. The band is playing the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, which isn't far from their home base in Boston, and that's where Hamilton has been recovering from throat cancer and the treatments for the disease, including radiation therapy. Hamilton couldn't do the tour, but he did show up at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, back in September to play "Sweet Emotion." Barring any last-minute developments, Hamilton should be on stage at some point to shoot his part for the band's NASCAR footage, according to a message on the aeroforceone.com website. There's no word on whether Hamilton will stick around for more songs.

• While Hamilton's been home, long-time Aerosmith friend David Hull has held down the bass position.
• The group shot interview footage, promos, and live versions of their song "Back In The Saddle" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas earlier this month. The material will be used next year on ESPN and ABC to promote the racing league.
• At that gig, lead guitarist Joe Perry suffered a concussion when he was hit in the head by a 2,000-pound camera boom, though he was able to finish the show.

BILLY JOEL TO DO NATIONAL ANTHEM AT SUPER BOWL IN FEBRUARY, TOUR TO FOLLOW

Billy Joel is lining up more U.S. tour dates for early next year, including an appearance at the Super Bowl. Before the game starts on February 4th, Joel will take the field at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, to do "The Star-Spangled Banner." There's no word yet on whether it will be a solo performance, or whether Joel will have his band with him. Joel will then kick off his 2007 touring on February 7th in Jacksonville, Florida. So far, he's announced 11 shows, with more to be added.

• Joel's playing shows in Japan over the next few weeks, and he closes out his 2006 itinerary with two dates in Hawaii on December 16th and 18th.
• The Bill Joel itinerary (subject to change):
  February 4 - Miami, FL - Dolphin Stadium (Super Bowl XLI)
  February 7 - Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
  February 10 - Orlando, FL - TD Waterhouse Centre
  February 12 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
  February 14 - Columbia, SC - Colonial Center
  February 17 - Greenville, SC - Bi Lo Center
  February 21 - Nashville, TN - Gaylord Entertainment Center
  February 23 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
  February 26 - Birmingham, AL - Birmingham Jefferson Arena
  March 1 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
  March 3 - Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
  March 6 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena

DOOBIE BROTHERS SINGER GETTING SIGNATURE ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Doobie Brothers singer-guitarist Tom Johnston has teamed up with the folks at C.F. Martin to produce a new acoustic guitar. The Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston Signature model will be introduced in Los Angeles in January, during the annual NAMM music merchants convention. The instrument is a version of Martin's popular D-42 model that's been "Doobie-ized" with the logo from the band's 1989 album Cycles on the headstock, and each guitar is hand-signed by Johnston. There's no word yet on pricing, or when the guitars will go on sale.

• Others who've been honored with Martin Signature guitars include Peter Frampton, Byrds leader Roger McGuinn, Eric Clapton, David Crosby, Steven Stills, and Graham Nash.
• The Doobie Brothers are on an extended break from touring. They head back out on the road beginning February 3rd in Kelseyville, California.

DAVID BOWIE & PHIL COLLINS BRINGING IN HIGH BIDS FOR ANTI-LANDMINE AUCTION

David Bowie and Phil Collins have so far brought in the highest bids in an anti-landmine auction that's going on now. They've each donated a signed pair of footwear from their personal collections, with Bowie's white fashion boots already over $900 and Collins' black-and-white Puma trainer boots topping $500. Other musicians taking part in the Give Landmines The Boot auction include Ringo Starr, Bill Wyman, and Brian May from Queen, along with actresses Susan Sarandon, Pam Anderson, and Gillian Anderson from The X-Files, among many others.

The auction runs through December 8th, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), which works to clear minefields and destroy small arms and light weapons around the world. To make a bid, go to eBay and do a seller's search for givelandminestheboot.

GUNS N' ROSES CANCELS TONIGHT'S SHOW IN MILWAUKEE

Guns N' Roses has canceled tonight's (Wednesday, November 29th) concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin because singer W. Axl Rose is suffering from an ear infection and strep throat. Rose was reportedly first diagnosed with his illness on November 20th in Canada and was seen by a doctor in Chicago on Monday (November 27th), who ordered him to rest for a few days. Rose said in a statement, "We had a great show in Chicago tonight and had hoped to do a surprise acoustic show afterwards. I have been fighting this off for a long time but the doctor told me tonight that the only way not to jeopardise the balance of the tour is immediate rest. We will now have three days off before continuing Friday. We are sorry to miss the fans in Milwaukee."

• The band's current North American tour is scheduled to resume on Friday (December 1st) in Ames, Iowa.
• This is only the second cancellation of the North American run. Earlier this month the group pulled out of a show in Portland, Maine for reasons that have still not been fully explained. Guns N' Roses claimed it was being hassled by fire marshals at the venue over unspecified production issues.
• Axl Rose also made news over the weekend by booting opening act the Eagles of Death Metal off the tour after one show.

REMEMBERING GEORGE HARRISON

Hard to believe, but it was five years ago today (November 29th, 2001) that George Harrison lost his long battle with cancer and died at the age of 58. His legacy was secured as soon as the Beatles started making records in the early 1960s, but Harrison wasn't content to just be a sideman to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

11/28/06

ROLLING STONES LIKELY TO TOUR AGAIN NEXT YEAR

The Rolling Stones wrapped up their A Bigger Bang tour on Saturday (November 25th) in Vancouver, British Columbia, but they might not be finished just yet. Long-time promoter Michael Cohl told Billboard, "I don't think we're done. There are still a lot of cancellations in Europe that the band the band feel obligated to try and make up. So I wouldn't be surprised if it keeps going next year." He added, "We had to reschedule a couple here and there, but other than the ones in early summer in Europe, which we couldn't make up, we played everything. And they were great."

• Cohl was talking about the cranial surgery that guitarist Keith Richards underwent, which shook up the European tour over the summer, as well as the European and North American dates that were affected by Mick Jagger's throat issues. The promoter said, "Definitely there was drama and hurdles, but at the end of the day, if you tour long enough, everything's gonna happen, isn't it?"
• It's unknown when the Stones will announce their 2007 plans.
• The A Bigger Bang tour has brought in $437 million, making it the top-grossing tour of all time. And with more shows next summer, the tally could easily top $500 million. U2's current Vertigo tour is in second place, and it's expected to bring in about $377 million by the time it ends next Saturday (December 9th).

'FORTUNE' SAYS BEATLES MUSIC COULD BE HEADED TO ITUNES

If a published report is to be believed, we could be very close to legally downloading Beatles music. A story in Fortune magazine said that negotiations between Apple Corps and Apple Computer have been ongoing, and a deal to put the Beatles on iTunes could be finalized very soon. According to the report, there was some hope that the arrangement would be announced last week, at the same time the Beatles LOVE album came out, but there have been a few sticking points, including:

• how much money Apple Computer would commit to the Beatles and to a marketing campaign;
• how long iTunes would be the exclusive online reseller of Beatles music;
• whether the Beatles would allow their music to be used in an iTunes commercial;
• and whether there would be a Beatles-branded iPod, as was the case with U2.

As much as it seems like the two sides want to make a deal, Fortune stressed that it could still fall apart, especially considering the legal battles that Apple Corps and Apple Computer have fought over the years.

• A Beatles spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

PETE TOWNSHEND USED GIRLFRIEND AS MUSICAL SOUNDING BOARD

Pete Townshend says that he didn't rely on Roger Daltrey's opinion much while composing the new Who album, Endless Wire, relying instead on his girlfriend Rachel Fuller. Townshend talked about the creative process on his official website (petetownshend.co.uk), explaining that, "Roger was not involved very much. He was an anxious investor in my work, and was as patient as he could be, but I think he would have preferred to develop songs in an open studio format as a band. I decided to work in isolation so he didn't get to hear songs until they were pretty much finished."

Townshend added that, "That method is the same one I used in the halcyon Who years by the way. I solicited many opinions about the stories behind the songs, but not the songs themselves. As well as songwriting and guitar playing I know I am a 'master' of home-studio recording. Rachel was there all the way through my home studio process. She would hear things I was working on through the door and encourage me."

• He went on to explain how both Daltrey and Fuller ultimately served both him and the project: "Roger becomes the most powerful ally once the wagon is rolling. Then he is all I need to move ahead. He is a practical man, an interpreter, a dramaturge, a performer. Not so much a creative team player, at least not in the way I work. Rachel has really provided me with creative nurturance in the mist of the early days of writing, and I hope I can give back what I get."
• Townshend said that in the past he never focused on who would perform his material, choosing to just let the inspiration be his guide: "What used to happen was that I used to write, irrespective of whether I was going to sing the song or that the Who were going to sing the song -- or to be honest, if someone came along to me one day... You know, if Paul Simon, or Sting, or Paul McCartney, or the Stones or something, said, you know, 'Have you got a song?' You know, I gladly would've written for anybody else, it's just that nobody asked me."
• The Who perform tonight (Monday, November 27th) in Hershey, Pennsylvania at the Giant Center.

DAVID GILMOUR REISSUES 'ON AN ISLAND' AS CD/DVD COMBO

Out today (Tuesday, November 28th) is an expanded version of David Gilmour's latest release, On An Island. Gilmour has fleshed out the package by teaming the album with a DVD of live performances. The new footage is taken from Gilmour's AOL Sessions visit in New York City in April; from his three-night stand at the Royal Albert Hall in London in May; and from his performance at the Abbey Road studios in London in August. The Albert Hall material is a teaser of sorts for a full-length DVD that will be out next year.

• On An Island was released in March, and it entered the Billboard album chart at Number Six. Gilmour said he worked on the music for the better part of a decade: "Yes, a couple of years this one's been in, in the pipeline directly. I've obviously been writing the stuff that it comes from over the last 10 years -- just jotting down little ideas and, and then popping them away into a place where I hopefully won't forget them forever, but come back to them later."
• The songs featured on the On An Island DVD are: "On An Island," This Heaven," "Smile," "Take A Breath," "High Hopes," and "Comfortably Numb," from AOL; "Astronomy Domine" from Abbey Road; and "Take A Breath" from Royal Albert Hall.
• The AOL Sessions material is still online at music.aol.com.

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM SETTING MORE TOUR DATES

Lindsey Buckingham is setting up a new round of tour dates for the new year, and he's announced the first shows, which begin January 12th in Turlock, California. So far, he's only announced five gigs, but more are expected soon. Buckingham is going out in support of his new album Under The Skin, which was released in October.

• At his recent shows, Buckingham played songs from Under the Skin and his earlier solo albums, as well as Fleetwood Mac hits such as "Second Hand News," "Go Your Own Way," "World Turning," and "Tusk."
• The Lindsey Buckingham itinerary (subject to change):
  January 12 - Turlock, CA - Community Theatre
  January 19-20 - Las Vegas, NV - Luxor Hotel & Casino
  January 21 - Palm Desert, CA - McCallum Theatre
  January 25 - Austin, TX - Hogg Memorial Auditorium

ELTON JOHN GETS SICK DURING AUSTRALIA CONCERT

Elton John got so sick during his weekend concert in Brisbane, Australia that he had to briefly leave the stage. According to the Associated Press, John was struck with a case of nausea, but ended up coming back to finish the show after taking a five-minute break. When he returned to the stage, the 59-year-old told the crowd, "I thought I'd better chunder in the toilet (rather) than all over the front row."

• John was recently awarded the 2006 Legend of Live honor at this year's Billboard Touring Awards.
• He performs in Sydney, Australia tonight (Tuesday, November 28th).

BLACK SABBATH DRUMMER CONFIRMS HE'S NOT IN DIO-FRONTED REUNION

Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward is officially not part of Heaven And Hell, which features his bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and former Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio. It was first thought that Ward was in the group, but reports spread last week that ex-Sabbath and Dio drummer Vinny Appice was on board. In response, Ward issued this statement through his official billward.com website: "I realize there has been some speculation as to whether or not I am participating in the Heaven And Hell project. I want to confirm that I will not be involved in either the recordings for the upcoming CD or the subsequent tour. I want to wish the guys ­ Tony, Geezer, Ronnie, and Vinny -- much success for the coming year."

A best-of collection from Dio's time in Black Sabbath is due next year. It will likely have two new songs that were written and recorded this year for the album.

• A formal announcement regarding their plans is expected soon, with Heaven & Hell touring Europe and North American next year.
• Original Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has sent his best wishes to Heaven And Hell, while also saying there can only be one Black Sabbath -- himself, Iommi, Butler, and Ward -- and that a new album and tour from the classic lineup is about a year away.
• Heaven And Hell takes their name from the first Sabbath album featuring Dio on vocals, which came out in 1980.

GUNS N' ROSES BOOTS OPENING BAND AFTER ONE SHOW

Guns N' Roses booted opening act the Eagles of Death Metal off their current tour after just one show, according to Blabbermouth.net. The Eagles played their first and apparently last gig with G N' R on Friday night (November 24th) in Cleveland, Ohio, where concertgoers booed the group throughout their hour-long set. Guns N' Roses frontman W. Axl Rose seemed to share the audience's feelings, saying at one point early in Guns N' Roses' show, "So how'd you like the Pigeons of S*** Metal? Don't worry, that's the last show they're playing with us."

• Eagles singer/guitarist Jesse Hughes said in a statement, "At first the audience refused to welcome us to the jungle, but by the time we took our final bow, it had become paradise city. Although Axl tried to November rain on our parade, no sweet child o' mine can derail the EODM night train. We say live and let die."
• The bill also featured former Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach and burlesque troupe the Suicide Girls. The Eagles were scheduled to play 15 dates on the trek.
• The Eagles of Death Metal released their second album, Death By Sexy, earlier this year. The band is the brainchild of Hughes and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, who plays drums on the Eagles' albums and occasionally plays live with the group. It's not clear if Homme was on the road with the Eagles for the G N' R dates.
• Guns N' Roses plays tomorrow night (Wednesday, November 29th) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

11/27/06

THE ROLLING STONES RECLAIM TOP-GROSSING TOUR TITLE

The Rolling Stones have been called the world's greatest rock-and-roll band --  and they are also currently the world's greatest earning band. Their A Bigger Bang tour, which began in August 2005, has brought in $437 million, according to Billboard. The Voodoo Lounge tour the Stones mounted in 1994 and 1995 had been the top-grossing trek with $320 million, but U2's Vertigo dates, which began in March 2005, are expected to bring in about $377 million, giving them the title for a short time this year. And with unconfirmed talk of more Stones dates next summer, the tally for all the A Bigger Bang shows could top $500 million.

• The Stones wrapped up their A Bigger Bang tour -- for this year, anyway -- on Saturday (November 25th) in Vancouver, British Columbia.

ERIC CLAPTON 'BLACKIE' REISSUE SOLD OUT

Reproductions of Eric Clapton "Blackie" Stratocaster guitar, which were true to the original down to the cigarette burn marks, went on sale through the Guitar Center retail chain on Friday (November 24th), and were gone in about seven hours. There were only 185 instruments made, so the quick sell-out might not be surprising -- until you factor in that each guitar was priced at $20,000. A portion of the proceeds from the sale has been earmarked for the Crossroads Centre substance-abuse facility that Clapton helped set up in Antigua.

• Clapton built Blackie out of parts taken from three other Strats, and it became his main guitar through the '70s and '80s. He toured the world with it, while also recording albums including Slowhand and 461 Ocean Boulevard. Guitar Center bought Blackie for $959,500 at the Crossroads guitar auction in 2004.
• Clapton and his band are currently in the middle of a Japanese tour. They've got more North American dates that begin February 28th in Dallas.

AEROSMITH GUITARIST STILL WONDERING ABOUT THE END

Aerosmith has gone through a lot this year, and guitarist Joe Perry understands that the ride could be coming to an end. It was hard enough dealing with frontman Steven Tyler's throat surgery back in the spring, but bassist Tom Hamilton's fight with throat cancer really hit home. Perry told the San Antonio Express-News, "What happened with Tom is beyond comprehension. It really knocks you back and makes you appreciate what you have. It's not like somebody left the band or (the health issues) are something under our control. If it was a drug relapse, it would be something of our own doing. We've had so many trials and this is just another one." Tyler also had surgery on one of his ankles this year, to correct a long-standing problem, while Perry got clocked in the head with a one-ton camera boom earlier this month and suffered a concussion.

• Perry also said, "We realize that every gig could be the last. We are definitely closer to the end than the beginning, so we just count our blessings and keep going. We've put ourselves through so much over the years between the car wrecks and all the drugs. We've survived everything. It really makes you appreciate every day in a way you can't imagine."
• Aerosmith's next show is Wednesday (November 29th) at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. Since it's relatively close to the Boston area, there's talk that Hamilton might come out to the gig, but nothing's been confirmed yet.
• The band is supposed to put out a new studio album next year. They wanted to release it in time for their current Route Of All Evil tour with Motley Crue, but they couldn't finish the songs in time. Instead, they put two of the tracks on their new greatest-hits collection, titled Devil's Got A New Disguise.

THE NEW CARS KEEPING FANS & THEMSELVES HAPPY

The New Cars have walked a fine line this year, between honoring their past and celebrating their present and future. Singer-guitarist Todd Rundgren said that the group has tried to be faithful to the music the Cars recorded without being a jukebox, and he joked about not being interested in simply earning a paycheck: "We're totally cognizant that that's, you know, a significant part of our mission. At the same time, if that's all we did, you know, it would look like we were just out there to collect the money -- and Lord knows, you know, none of us here care about the money. You know, our families are all in agreement with us -- you know, they're willing to drop out of school, you know, and eat matzoh, so that we can reestablish the brand."

• The next stop for the New Cars is tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28th) in St. Ignace, Michigan.
• As for the future of the New Cars, that's still up in the air. Rundgren told onmilwaukee.com, "It's one of those things where there has to be a legitimate business foundation to this. You can't do it on a whim. The audience has a lot to say about the longevity of the idea. If they come out and buy tickets, there's life. If they do not, then the audience has spoken. If we can't leverage a brand that's already famous to so many people, it doesn't make sense to start over."

YOKO ONO CALLS FOR DECEMBER 8TH TO BE A WORLDWIDE DAY OF HEALING

Yoko Ono, widow of John Lennon, took out a full-page ad in the New York Times on Sunday (November 26th) to call for the anniversary of her husband's death to be a worldwide day of forgiveness and healing.

Ono wrote: "Every year, let's make December 8th the day to ask for forgiveness from those who suffered the insufferable."

• To victims of violence and warfare, she wrote: "Know that the physical and mental abuse you have endured will have a lingering effect on our society... Know that the burden is ours."
• She also wrote that she does not know if she is yet ready to forgive her husband's murderer, Mark David Chapman: "I don't know if I am ready yet to forgive the one who pulled the trigger. ... But healing is what is urgently needed now in the world."

BLACK SABBATH DRUMMER OUT OF NON-OZZY REUNION

The lineup for the non-Ozzy Osbourne version of Black Sabbath appears to have changed. It was originally thought that singer Ronnie James Dio, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward had joined up to tour as Heaven And Hell, but several reports now indicate that Ward has been replaced by Vinny Appice, who's played with Sabbath and with Dio in his solo band. The group is expected to do shows in North America next year, as well as festivals in Europe.

In addition, the group is recording a few new songs for a Dio-era Black Sabbath best-of that should come out next year. It's unknown if Ward or Appice appears on the tracks.

• An official statement about the band is expected soon.
• Osbourne has sent his best wishes to Heaven And Hell, while adding that the classic Black Sabbath lineup -- including Ward -- will release a new album and mount a tour late next year.
• Heaven And Hell was the name of the first album Dio recorded with Black Sabbath, back in 1980.

ASIA TO RELEASE LIVE ALBUMS AT U.K. SHOWS

Asia will give fans a special keepsake at some of their upcoming shows in the U.K. The band will record three concerts this week and offer them to fans on CD immediately following the shows. Two-disc sets will be produced tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28th) in Liverpool; Thursday (November 30th) in Glasgow; and Sunday (December 3rd) in London. The band members -- singer-bassist John Wetton, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, and keyboardist Geoff Downes -- will make it even more special for those in attendance by signing the CDs after each performance. Plans will be announced soon for a wider release of the concert recordings.

• Howe said that when the guys reunited earlier this year, it took a lot of work for them to get the music where they felt it needed to be: "It was really good to come back to the music and think that we were gonna take it to the level that was required. Not the '92 level, which was the non-original Asia, if you like, but to find the original Asia back together and say, 'Well, let's play the original, the first album...' -- it was demanding, because artistically, it was a demand to get that music back to where it was, where it ought to have been, and where it can be, you know, with the original members."
• Asia will tour Japan in March, and they're expected back for more North American shows next summer.

GUNS N' ROSES ANGERS CANADIAN FAN OVER LATE START

A Guns N' Roses fan was furious upon finding out that the band wouldn't take the stage until after 11 p.m. last Monday (November 20th) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. According to the Chronicle Herald, fan Mary McDonald was disappointed in the news, explaining, "I'm in a wheelchair and if Axl Rose doesn't go on stage until 11, we probably won't get out of there until around 1 a.m. I have no way home because Access-A-Bus doesn't pick up its clients after 11:30 p.m...I feel I was misled by the promoters and as a ticket buyer I'm more than upset. We should have been told he goes on at such a late time."

• The evening began at 8 p.m. with the first of three opening acts. McDonald was concerned and called the venue box office to find out what time the headliners would be appearing.
• McDonald said she was forced to cancel her ticket after she was unable to find an alternate means of getting home after midnight.
• Of course, late shows are nothing new for Guns N' Roses. The band's tendency to keep audiences waiting for up to two hours stretches back to its first tours. The most recent jaunt has found the band taking the stage as late as midnight in some cases and not getting off the stage until 2 a.m.

11/22/06

ERIC CLAPTON FILLS OUT NORTH AMERICAN ITINERARY, ADDS FIRST-EVER SHOW IN CHINA

Eric Clapton has fleshed out his upcoming North American tour schedule. The guitarist has so far announced 24 shows, beginning February 28th in Dallas and wrapping up April 6th in Columbus, Ohio. Clapton has also added a special date to his current Asian itinerary -- he's set to play the Shanghai Grand Stage on January 20th, marking his first-ever performance in mainland China.

• All shows will feature Clapton's band, which includes long-time guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and Allman Brothers Band slide guitarist Derek Trucks. There's also been talk about Clapton performing with his old friend J.J. Cale, since the two of them have a new album out now called The Road To Escondido, but nothing has been confirmed.

IN RELATED NEWS:

The reissue of Clapton's famous "Blackie" guitar from the '70s will go on sale Friday (November 24th) for $20,000 through Guitar Center. The Fender Stratocaster is an exact reproduction of the instrument Clapton used on tour and in the studio, including on the albums 461 Ocean Boulevard, Slowhand, and Just One Night. Only 185 of the guitars are available nationwide, and a portion of the proceeds will go to Clapton's Crossroads Centre substance-abuse facility in Antigua. Guitar Center bought the original Blackie at Clapton's Crossroads auction in 2004 for $959,500.

• The Eric Clapton itinerary (subject to change):
  February 28 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
  March 2 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
  March 3 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
  March 5 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Ford Center
  March 7 - Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
  March 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Center
  March 10 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
  March 11 - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Center
  March 14 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
  March 15 - San Diego, CA - ipayOne Center At The Sports Arena
  March 17 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
  March 18 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion At San Jose
  March 20 - Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
  March 22 - Seattle, WA - KeyArena At Seattle Center
  March 23 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place
  March 25 - Edmonton, ALB - Rexall Place
  March 26 - Calgary, ALB - Pengrowth Saddledome
  March 28 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
  March 30 - Fargo, ND - Fargodome
  March 31 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center Omaha
  April 2 - Kansas City, MO - Kemper Arena
  April 3 - Moline, IL - Mark Of The Quad Cities
  April 5 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace Of Auburn Hills
  April 6 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center

NEIL YOUNG, R.E.M. & CSN FEATURED ON BRIDGE SCHOOL DOWNLOADS

Neil Young has begun releasing some of the live recordings from his annual Bridge School benefit concerts through iTunes. He's got six volumes of music, and the first one is available now, with 80 tracks by artists including Young doing "Cortez The Killer" with the Dave Matthews Band; Crosby, Stills & Nash doing "Just A Song Before I Go" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"; R.E.M. doing "Everybody Hurts" and "The One I Love"; and Billy Idol doing his "Rebel Yell," as well as covering the Buffalo Springfield classic "For What It's Worth." Future volumes will include Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, the Pretenders, Green Day, and Metallica, among many others.

• All proceeds from the sale of the music will go to The Bridge School, which was co-founded by Young's wife Pegi. The institution uses music therapy and other alternate methods of communication to reach people with severe speech and physical impairments. Young's son Ben, who was born with cerebral palsy, was a student at the school.
• Young recently released a vintage Crazy Horse concert from March 1970 titled Live At The Fillmore East 1970, as well as the raw tapes from this year's Living With War album. He's also got a Living With War CD/DVD combo in the pipeline for December 19th that includes the raw recordings and videos for every song on the album, along with footage from the war in Iraq, from demonstrations here in the U.S., and from the Al Gore documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

DEF LEPPARD WORKED HARD TO MATCH JOURNEY ON TOUR

The dust is still settling from the successful tour that Journey and Def Leppard just finished. The bands were together pretty much from late June until this past Sunday (November 19th), playing to sold-out crowds all across North America. Neither band has ever been afraid to share a stage with anyone else, but Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen said that his group had to work extra hard this time to keep up with their touring partners: "Journey really upped their game, you know, they're a great band, and then, you know, we'd have to go on after that. And, you know, if you're following 'Don't Stop Believin',' which was, like, a huge hit, and still is -- you know, it's, like, one of the Top 10 downloads of last year -- you (chuckles), you better be up to your game. So that just made us just raise the bar ourselves."

• A rumor has been going around that Def Leppard and Kiss are looking at a joint tour next year, but frontman Joe Elliott said "No, that's definitely not true" on the official defleppard.com website.

VINTAGE ROD STEWART AND KINKS CHRISTMAS SPECIALS COMING TO VH1 CLASSIC

Two vintage Christmas specials by Rod Stewart and the Kinks will have their U.S. premiere next month.

• Billboard reported that on December 7th, VH1 Classic will broadcast the Kinks' Christmas Concert, which was taped on Christmas Eve 1977 at London's legendary Rainbow Theatre, and includes such classics as "Lola," "Sunny Afternoon," "Celluloid Heroes," and "Waterloo Sunset."
• On December 21st, the station will air The Rod Stewart Christmas Concert, which was taped on Christmas Eve 1976 in London as part of the BBC music series The Old Grey Whistle Test. The show features Stewart performing "Maggie May," "Tonight's The Night," his cover of the Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine," and "I Don't Want To Talk About It."
• Check your local listings for stations, show times and repeat airings.

THE BEATLES PARTNERING WITH THE MIRAGE FOR 'REVOLUTION' LOUNGE IN LAS VEGAS

The Beatles and Las Vegas' Mirage Hotel are partnering once again, with a new club called The Revolution opening there next month. The Beatles' Cirque du Soleil musical LOVE is now running at The Mirage, and the new adjacent lounge will feature "cutting edge, interactive experiences to create a psychedelic sensory environment and a contemporary interpretation of the Beatles' era. Each night will be an evolutionary journey, where both the music and interior transform, resulting in an eclectic nightlife adventure."

The Revolution lounge will seat 400 patrons and will be open seven nights a week from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m. Each night will have a specific musical direction, with the club's DJ's featuring various types of music, from Beatles music to funky lounge remixes, house, rock, electro, new wave, and Brit pop.

• Giles Martin compiled and produced the soundtrack to The Beatles LOVE with his father, Beatles producer George Martin. Giles said that working with his father was both pleasurable and easy: "We get on very well, we're very similar. We're similar but different. And we compliment each other well. I think if we were both 37 (laughs) or if we were both 80, it would be a nightmare - but we're not. When we work together it's not like father and son, if that makes sense."
• The 26-track soundtrack to The Beatles LOVE includes such Beatles classics "Because," "Get Back," "Glass Onion," "I Am The Walrus," "Blackbird," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Octopus's Garden," "Lady Madonna," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "A Day In The Life," "Hey Jude," "All You Need Is Love," and others.
• The Beatles LOVE stage production is now running in Las Vegas at The Mirage.

YES TO RELEASE LATTER-DAY BOX SET IN DECEMBER

Yes will release a five-disc box set of their latter-day albums next month. The Essentially Yes package has complete versions of their most recent studio albums -- 1994's Talk, 1997's Open Your Eyes, 1999's The Ladder, and 2001's Magnification -- as well as an unreleased live show from the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland in 2003 that mixes older and newer material. Essentially Yes comes out December 5th.

• Yes is on hiatus, and there's no word on when the band will reconvene.
• The Montreux concert in Essentially Yes includes "Siberian Khatru," "Magnification," "Don't Kill The Whale," "In The Presence Of," "We Have Heaven," "South Side Of The Sky," "And You And I," "Awaken," and "I've Seen All Good People."

FLASHBACK: RINGO STARR HITS NUMBER ONE WITH 'PHOTOGRAPH'

It was 33 years ago Friday (November 24th, 1973), that Ringo Starr scored his first Number One single with "Photograph." The song was co-written with his former Beatles bandmate George Harrison, and was the first single from his new Ringo album.

• An early attempt to record the song took place during sessions for Harrison's Living In The Material World album, which Starr drummed on in early 1973.
• Although Ringo was Starr's third solo album it was his first rock album. His debut album from 1970, Sentimental Journey, featured Ringo singing standards from the 30's and 40's, while Beaucoups Of Blues, also from 1970, was a straight-ahead country album recorded in Nashville.
• In 1971 Starr teamed up with Harrison, who had produced Starr's first solo hit "It Don't Come Easy," which peaked on the charts at Number Four. Although uncredited, Harrison in fact wrote most of the words and music for the song. In 1972 the pair teamed up again for "Back Off Boogaloo," which went to Number Nine.
• In the spring of 1973 Starr began recording Ringo. From the beginning the sessions featured a star-studded cast, including members of the Band, Steve Cropper from Booker T. & the MGs, Billy Preston, Marc Bolan of T. Rex, Harry Nilsson, and all three former Beatles -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison.
• Ringo was the first solo album after the Beatles' break-up to feature new songs written by all four members.

11/21/06

ERIC CLAPTON SETTING WEST COAST DATES

Eric Clapton's North American tour just ended a few weeks ago, and he's already making plans to come back. Clapton has announced dates for a West Coast run that as of now starts February 28th in Dallas. There are currently seven shows booked through April 5th in Auburn Hills, Michigan, but that itinerary will expand in the coming days.

Clapton is also trying to work out a schedule where he and songwriter J.J. Cale can share the stage, to promote their new album The Road To Escondido. It's unknown whether Cale will be on these dates, or if they'll perform in different venues away from the arenas Clapton usually plays.

• Clapton and his group, which includes Allman Brothers band slide guitarist Derek Trucks, are in the midst of a Japanese tour that runs until December 9th.
• The Eric Clapton itinerary (subject to change):
  February 28 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
  March 5 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Ford Center
  March 23 - Vancouver, BC - General Motors Place
  March 25 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place
  March 26 - Calgary, AB - Pengrowth Saddledome
  March 28 - Winnipeg, MB - MTS Centre
  April 5 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace Of Auburn Hills

'THE BEATLES LOVE' RELEASED TODAY

The soundtrack to the hit Las Vegas musical, The Beatles LOVE, is released today (Tuesday, November 21st.) The show, which incorporates the group's music with Cirque du Soleil's acrobatic performance artists, features a newly created musical mosaic of Beatles tunes, including various elements of dozens of tracks to create a "new" collection of songs. The show's soundtrack was compiled by the group's legendary producer George Martin and his son Giles.

Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney said that after they and John Lennon and George Harrison's respective widows, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, signed off on the stage show, the obvious choice was to bring George Martin in to produce the show's sound: (Ringo Starr) "We had another couple of meetings, and it was 'Hey, let George Martin actually reinvent it really.'" (Paul McCartney) "Let him mess around with it, see what George and Giles came up with. We encouraged them to mess around as much and more than they wanted -- so that's become the album."

• Giles Martin said that fan reaction towards the project has been outstanding: "People have been very kind about this. It's just great that people have enjoyed listening to it. It's with a considerable amount of care and respect that we've gone about doing this. And I think that people are now appreciating that."
• Among the Beatles classics that were remixed and restructured for LOVE are "Drive My Car," "The Word," "Here Comes The Sun," "Octopus's Garden," "Because," "Within You, Without You," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Something," "Helter Skelter," "Lady Madonna," "All You Need Is Love," "Good Night," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "Get Back," and many more.
• The Beatles LOVE CD also comes with a DVD-Audio/DVD-video hybrid featuring an expanded 5.1 stereo mix.
• The Beatles LOVE stage production is now running in Las Vegas at The Mirage.

KISS RELEASES 'ALIVE' BOX SET

Kiss follows up the success of their Kissology DVD set with a new live album box set that comes out today (Tuesday, November 21st). The box set Kiss Alive! 1975-2000 comes with the first three Alive albums from 1975, 1977, and 1993, as well as the December 31st, 1999 Millennium show from Vancouver, British Columbia, which was supposed to be Alive IV but was never released.

• The first Alive! album was a landmark for the band, becoming their first gold record, but singer-bassist Gene Simmons said that their label wasn't in favor of the idea: "We were on our last legs, Casablanca was gonna go belly-up. We didn't get paid for the album -- in fact, when we told the record company we were gonna do a live record, they didn't want to do that, because live records didn't work. In those days, a live album was a liability. You did that after your career was over."
• Kissology, which is the first in a planned multi-volume series, features rare live footage of the band from their early days through the Alive II period. It was released on Halloween (October 31st) and debuted a week later at Number One on the Billboard Comprehensive Music Videos chart.

STYX DVD WITH YOUTH ORCHESTRA RELEASED

Out today (Tuesday, November 21st) is One With Everything, the new DVD from Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. It was shot back in May at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and it includes Styx classics like "Blue Collar Man," "Renegade," and their cover of the Beatles standard "I Am The Walrus," along with two new songs Styx wrote for the occasion, and some Christmas music. Styx singer-guitarist James "J.Y." Young said that the enthusiasm of everyone on the stage that night is evident throughout the DVD: "I know we're a strong live band, and I think finally, this videotape has captured our strength, and we have these young people next to us who are performing with us, and then their own enthusiasm just... that's what really jumps off the screen."

• Footage from the show began airing on cable's HDNet over the weekend, and it will be shown on PBS stations in December.
• There's also a One With Everything CD that came out two weeks ago.
• Styx is back on the road beginning December 1st in Las Vegas.

JIMI HENDRIX AUCTION BLOCKED BY JUDGE

A judge in New York City has blocked a recent sale of music from Jimi Hendrix's catalogue. The Ocean Tomo auction house sold the rights that have been claimed by the estate of former Hendrix manager Michael Jeffrey to an anonymous bidder for $15 million. But according to the New York Daily News, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lewis Kaplan blocked the sale last week because the Hendrix estate claims the ownership issue is in doubt.

Jeffrey was supposed to pay the Hendrix family a lump sum of $50,000 in 1973 for the rights to 33 master recordings, but the Hendrix family claims that Jeffrey and his estate have no claim to the music because the money was never paid.

DEEP PURPLE ERASES ORIGINAL GUITARIST FROM T-SHIRT

The never-ending drama between Deep Purple and original guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has reached a new level. According to the Purple fan site thehighwaystar.com, the band is selling a t-shirt with the cover of their 1972 album Machine Head, but Blackmore's image has been removed from the picture. Under the title "Most Ridiculous Item Of The Day," a post on the official blackmoresnight.com website reads, "We were shocked and appalled to learn in the last few days that someone has removed Ritchie's image from the Machine Head t-shirts. Apparently, this was done just because someone doesn't want Ritchie to receive any money from their sales." But people on thehighwaystar.com are wondering if Blackmore, who's been out of Deep Purple since 1992, didn't demand that his likeness be removed in a dispute over money.

• Blackmore and his long-time girlfriend Candice Night have devoted themselves to playing Renaissance-inspired music as Blackmore's Night, and he's shown no interest in rejoining his old mates.

11/20/06

THE BEATLES TO SPREAD THE 'LOVE' TOMORROW

The Beatles' legendary producer George Martin and his son Giles premiered the soundtrack to The Beatles LOVE at London's Abbey Road studios on Friday (November 17th). The father and son team, who compiled the aural tapestry for the Las Vegas Beatles-Cirque du Soleil musical, used various elements from dozens of Beatles tracks to create a "new" Beatles album.

Ringo Starr says that he, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon and George Harrison's respective widows, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, had unconditional trust in Martin supervising the music for the new project: "It's not just like 'cleaned up (versions of the songs),' because a lot of the tracks have never been heard this way! George has the credibility and the honesty. We've spent a lot of time together, and we trust him. He has our trust to actually, to do this job."

• George Martin told Reuters that for him, the project has brought his career with the group full circle, explaining that, "The project was a labor of love and rounds things off. In 1965 I did my first score for 'Yesterday' and this is my final score. It's a sort of top and tail of my life. I've had a pretty good run I must say. I started with the Beatles in 1962 and they broke up around about 1970 so we had a long period of time together."
• Martin added that although John Lennon would've probably balked at producing anything to be performed in Las Vegas, he would've been thrilled with the end result: "John, for all his inventions, was really quite conservative sometimes about taking leaps in the dark, particularly where showbiz was concerned. He wasn't a showbiz person, but he was a great character."
• The Beatles LOVE soundtrack album will be released tomorrow (Tuesday, November 21st). The CD comes with a DVD-Audio/DVD-video hybrid featuring an expanded 5.1 stereo mix.
• The Beatles LOVE stage production is now running in Las Vegas at The Mirage.

ZZ TOP HEADED TO HOUSTON RODEO

No one knows how far along ZZ Top is with their new album, but the plan was to tour behind it, and the first show has been announced. They're booked for the biggest hometown show possible -- closing out the annual Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo on March 18th. ZZ Top have played the Rodeo before, including back in 2002, when the event finished up a 37-year run at the Houston Astrodome before moving to its current home at Reliant Park.

• Other performers already set for the Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo are