MUSIC NEWS
John Lennon Posthumously Appears in Ad
The late John Lennon is featured in a new advertisement promoting the One Laptop Per Child initiative. Though it sounds like an impossibility, his voice is digitally sewn together to make him appear as though he's speaking out on the subject. ...Read More
Bon Jovi Aids Hillary Clinton in Final Campaign Fundraiser
Bon Jovi will perform at an upcoming fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton. This will likely be the last stop on the road for the former Democratic presidential nominee, who will shift gears to her new position as secretary of state ...Read More
Black Crowes Take To Levon Helm's Studio
The Black Crowes are preparing to record new material for an upcoming album during four sold-out shows in February and March at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, New York. The string of performances ...Read More
Live Nation Takes Hit on U2 Deal
The stock option deal that Live Nation inked with Irish rockers U2 will now cost the concert behemoth $19 million. The band has decided to sell the 1.6 million shares they obtained through their 12-year deal with the company. ...Read More
Plant Earns Regal Honors
Robert Plant was honored by the Queen of England in the New Year Honours List on Wednesday (December 31). The Led Zeppelin singer and current Alison Krauss collaborator ...Read More
Paul Simon Named to School Board
The Berklee College of Music in Boston has announced the appointment of Paul Simon to its Music Board of Trustees. The influential singer/songwriter has an honorary doctorate from the distinguished music ...Read More
Robert Plant Not Budging On Zep Reunion
The likelihood of a full Led Zeppelin reunion are diminishing, though Robert Plant says he still remains in close contact with Jimmy Page. During an interview with BBC Radio Wales this week, Plant said he was eager ...Read More
Tipsy Lennon Tape Sells at Auction
A 1973 recording of John Lennon doing a drunken rendition of Lloyd Price's "Just Because" sold for $30,000 at auction in Los Angeles last weekend. The demo was cut during one of Lennon's ...Read More
Whitney Houston's Stepmother Takes Her to Court
Barbara Houston, the stepmother of Whitney Houston, has filed suit against the R&B singer following a dispute over a $1 million insurance policy left in the wake of her father's death in 2003. ...Read More
Eddie Money Shares Love of Cars
Singer/songwriter Eddie Money's passion when not rocking out with a guitar is hitting the road. And while a tour bus might seem like his preferred mode of transportation, he usually opts for his 2006 Pontiac Solstice. ...Read More
Bono Recognized As Man Of Peace
U2 frontman Bono was honored with the Nobel Man Of Peace Award on Friday in Paris, for his myriad charity works and for leading humanitarian causes around the world. Spinner reports that Bono was humbled ...Read More
Rolling Stones Hometown Renames Streets
The town of Dartford, Kent is where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were born and spent much of their formative years. In recognition of the rock legends, the town will now rename a series of streets after Rolling Stones songs. ...Read More
Stevie Nicks Dishes On New Projects, Sheryl Crow
Stevie Nicks spoke with Rolling Stone this week about her upcoming DVD, 'Live In Chicago', due out in January. The new collection compiles some of her greatest hits with Fleetwood Mac plus her successful solo career. ...Read More
Elvis Costello to Perform at Obama Inauguration
Elvis Costello will front the line-up for a Washington DC concert for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on January 20th, 2009. Other musicians performing include Sting and Sam Moore. The event ...Read More
Stevie Wonder To Dance With the Stars?
Stevie Wonder shared a possible upcoming project when he sat in with radio host Sean Valentine's "Valentine in the Morning" program today (Dec. 11). The piano prodigy told the DJ that he could be a guest on ...Read More
Bon Jovi Tour Top Earner in 2008
Bon Jovi has earned the title of top-grossing tour of 2008, coming in ahead of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Madonna, and the Police. Each tour was massively successful and raked in tens of millions of dollars. ...Read More
New Springsteen Album Details Emerge
More details have been released about 'Working On A Dream', Bruce Springsteen's forthcoming album, which hits stores January 27th. The album includes one of Springsteen's lengthiest songs in years, "Outlaw Pete," ...Read More
Brian Wilson Receives Award from USC
Brian Wilson was honored over the weekend at USC's annual Charles Dickens Dinner. The Beach Boys founder was presented with the Thornton Legacy Award by fellow songwriting genius Lamont Dozier ...Read More
McCartney Angers Sussex Neighbors
British publication The Sun is reporting that Paul McCartney is behaving a bit boorishly to his neighbors. Adjacent property-owners to Sir Paul's Sussex home are complaining because the former Beatle refuses ...Read More
The Fireman Deny Lifting Song
Paul McCartney recently released an album as The Fireman, otherwise known as his electronic collaboration with producer Youth. And while a "new" album is generally regarded as new material, the band has had to deny accusations ...Read More
Dennis Yost, Singer for The Classics IV, Dies
Dennis Yost, who sang with the soft rock group The Classics IV in the 1960s, has died in an Ohio hospital. He was 65. Yost passed away on Sunday of respiratory failure at 2:25 a.m. at The Fort Hamilton Hospital ...Read More
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex Opens In NYC
Good news for East Coast Rock and Roll fans- you no longer have to make the trek to Cleveland, Ohio in order to get a taste of Rock history. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York's Soho opened its doors last week, allowing visitors ...Read More
Musicians Pay Their Respects to Rob Partridge
U2 and Tom Waits were among those in attendance at the funeral today (Dec. 9) of legendary music PR man Rob Partridge. Billy Bragg also paid his respects, singing a song at the North London service. ...Read More
Jim Morrison's 65th Birthday Marked With Aged Photo
Scientists have released an image of what late Doors singer Jim Morrison would have looked like if he were still alive today. Morrison suffered a heart attack on July 3rd, 1971, dying at the age of 27. ...Read More
The Who Among Kennedy Center Honorees
The Kennedy Center Honors celebrated its annual recipients last night (Dec. 7), and the glitzy Washington event took an unusual turn towards Rock and Roll, as The Who was honored along with Country singer George Jones and Barbra Streisand. ...Read More
Sir Paul Urges Vegetarianism to Save Planet
Paul McCartney has teamed up with a Nobel Prize-winning scientist to raise awareness and urge people to go vegetarian in a move spare the planet from harmful greenhouse gases created by raising livestock. ...Read More
Eagles Score Multiple Grammy Nods
The Eagles were one of the artists to pick up multiple Grammy nominations, picking up nods in four categories. The classic group is up for Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, ...Read More
Legendary Folk Singer Odetta Dies
Folk singer Odetta died Tuesday of heart disease Tuesday (Dec. 2) at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital at the age of 77. Known for her powerful voice, Odetta was capable of transfixing audiences and influenced fellow musicians for a half-century. ...Read More
Daltrey, Townshend to Receive Kennedy Awards
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who are among those brushing shoulders with President George W. Bush this weekend (Dec. 7) after accepting an invitation to receive ...Read More
Eleanor Rigby Signature Sold At UK Auction
One of the only traces of Eleanor Rigby fetched $170,000 at auction last week in the UK. The signature, left on a hospital report, features the name of the woman Paul McCartney has said inspired the Beatles' 1966 classic of the same name. ...Read More
Faces Reunion In The Works
Ron Wood is ready to put his best face on, as he's confirmed reports that his old band the Faces are hitting the road for a reunion tour next year. "We had a few fantastic rehearsals last week and we're ready to go," he told ...Read More
Grammy Hall of Fame Inducts New Class
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jimi Hendrix, the Police, Queen and Ennio Morricone were all inducted into the Grammys Hall of Fame. The songs chosen include Hendrix's legendary performance of the "Star-Spangled Banner," ...Read More
McCartney Talks Illegal Downloads, Digital Music
Paul McCartney stated that he "doesn't mind" illegal downloading, although he admitted that he found the concept "weird." While the former Beatle said he doesn't engage in the practice himself, he said ...Read More
Rare Keith Richards Songs May See Release
Legendary Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is gearing up to release an album of easy-listening tunes. The project is said to feature a jazz version of Judy Garland's classic "Somewhere Over The Rainbow," ...Read More
Bruce Springsteen May Chart Tour in 2009
Now that Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band have released their upcoming album's first single, "Working On A Dream," for digital download, the band appears to be looking forward to hitting the road in 2009. ...Read More
Beatles Deal With iTunes Stalling
Though reports filtered out recently that a Beatles/iTunes partnership would soon have classic Beatles songs on iPods the world over, Sir Paul McCartney has said that negotiations have "stalled" between Apple Corps and EMI. ...Read More
Vatican Forgives John Lennon's "Bigger Than Jesus" Comments
More than 40 years later, the Vatican has apparently forgiven the late John Lennon for the controversial statement he made claiming that his band were "more popular than Jesus." ...Read More
John McCain Sues Jackson Browne
Now that John McCain has lost the election, he's found a new opponent in Jackson Browne. The singer sued McCain in August when he learned that the Republican candidate was using the song "Running on Empty" without ...Read More
Jim Morrison Hangout To "Mark" Birthday with Unique Plaque
December 8th would mark former Doors frontman Jim Morrison's 65th birthday had he not died in 1971. To celebrate the day, Los Angeles radio station KLOS is hosting a special broadcast at ...Read More
Paul McCartney Open to Bob Dylan Collaboration
Paul McCartney has offered up the possibility of a collaboration with Bob Dylan. The former Beatle said that he thinks the time is right for the two icons of the 1960s to come together. "Bob Dylan would be ...Read More
Rod Stewart Confirms Faces Reunion
Rod Stewart has confirmed rumors that The Faces will reunite next year. When the former Faces singer was asked to confirm or deny the reports that surfaced last week, he offered, "Yes, absolutely." ...Read More
Tom Jones to Busk in London
Who says you can't get something for nothing anymore? Tom Jones will prove that point tomorrow (Nov. 19) when he performs three songs with an acoustic guitarist on the streets of London. ...Read More
Neil Young Offers Two Cents to Detroit Automakers
Neil Young has published an essay detailing his diagnosis to save the auto industry and jumpstart global warming efforts. Read the statement below: ...Read More
Experimental Beatles Track Could See Release
Just when you thought there weren't any more unreleased Beatles tunes, a song emerges from the Fab Four's catalog. Paul McCartney has said that the 14-minute "Carnival of Light," an experimental track ...Read More
11/17/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Ray Charles had his first U.S. number 1 hit when “Georgia On My Mind” made it in 1960. The Genius had hit the top 10 a year earlier with “What’d I Say,” and would return to the very top ...Read More
11/16/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Electric Ladyland hit number 1 on the U.S. albums chart for the first of two weeks in 1968. The double album includes such classic Jimi Hendrix tracks as “Crosstown Traffic,” ...Read More
11/15/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
New Musical Express in the U.K. published its first chart of pop singles, in1952. The top six positions were held by Americans, with Al Martino and his “Here in My Heart” single holding number 1 ...Read More
11/14/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Fats Domino had the best seat in the house to see the arrest of five audience members during a 1957 performance. He was playing as part of the Biggest Show of Stars tour in Boston, Massachusetts ...Read More
11/13/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Johnny Mathis hit the top of the U.S. albums chart for the second time. It happened in 1959 with his Heavenly album, at a time when rock and roll was dead. Elvis Presley was in the army and ...Read More
Ringo Accepts World Music Award for The Beatles
Ringo Starr was on hand at the World Music Awards in Monaco to accept the diamond award on behalf of his old band, a small foursome from Liverpool, England known as The Beatles ...Read More
Possible Kinks Reunion On the Horizon
The Kinks are edging closer to a reuniting, with frontman Ray Davies reportedly writing material for a potential reunion album. "We've started a little bit of this and that," he said. ...Read More
Paul McCartney Sheds Light on "Eleanor Rigby's" True Identity.
The true 'Eleanor Rigby' of Beatles fame has finally been identified, thanks to Paul McCartney. Sir Paul donated a hospital accounts log from the City Hospital of Liverpool to ...Read More
11/12/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Johnny Rivers was at number 1 in the U.S. for his only week, in 1966. “Poor Side of Town” was his fifth top 10 single, following “Memphis,” “Mountain of Love,” “Seventh Son” and “Secret Agent Man.” ...Read More
Neil Diamond Raises Money for Hurricane Relief
Neil Diamond has vowed to donate all of the gross merchandise sales from 20 upcoming shows to the residents of Oak Island, which is a small, unincorporated area east of Houston ...Read More
11/11/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
“Shake, Rattle and Roll” became Bill Haley’s first top 10 hit when it made it to number 7 in 1954. He had dropped his cowboy image about a year and a half earlier, while renaming The Saddlemen ...Read More
11/10/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls were injured in a car accident in 1958. Rawls was a member of Cooke’s back-up band, The Pilgrim Travelers Quartet, when their car went off a road in Arkansas ...Read More
11/9/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
In 1958, “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley joined the likes of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Gene Autry for sales of over three million copies ...Read More
11/8/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Melody Maker began its albums chart in the U.K. this week in 1958. The first number 1 album was South Pacific. It stayed there through all of 1959 and continued until March of 1960 ...Read More
Sam Moore Earns More Hall of Fame Honors
Lead singer Sam Moore, of legendary R&B duo Sam & Dave, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame last night in Youngstown, Ohio. Other inductees included Fleetwood Mac ...Read More
11/7/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
In 1988, John Fogerty was found not guilty of plagiarizing one of his own songs. He had recently released “The Old Man Down the Road,” which his former label for all CCR releases, ...Read More
11/6/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Fillmore West opened in San Francisco in 1965 with performances by The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. Promoter Bill Graham continued to feature many of ...Read More
11/5/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Beach Boys returned to number 1 in the U.S. in 1988 with “Kokomo.” Their last top hit at home had been “Good Vibrations” in 1966. Between these two songs, only “Rock and Roll Music” ...Read More
Neil Diamond To Be Honored
Neil Diamond is set to receive the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year Award at a ceremony and concert that will take place in Los Angeles the week of the Grammys. ...Read More
11/4/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
John Lennon made his famous request to British royalty in 1963 when he introduced “Twist and Shout.” “For our last number I’d like to ask your help. Would the people in the cheaper ...Read More
11/3/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
John Lee Hooker was accompanied only by his guitar when he had his first recording session, in 1948. Modern Records chose “Boogie Chillen’” as a single, which topped the R&B charts ...Read More
11/2/08 Today In Rock And Roll History
Dion didn’t return for his second performance on the live Ready, Steady, Go! television program in 1963. While trying to sing “Donna the Prima Donna,” dancers on the stage around him ...Read More
11/1/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
George Harrison became the first Beatle to release a solo album when Wonderwall Music was issued in 1968. It was also the first LP to be put out on Apple Records. The music was written as ...Read More
Beatles iPod Coming to Stores
A special edition Beatles iPod is set to go on sale through Bloomingdales, the U.S. department store. The new music player is feeding rumors that the Beatles, who have ...Read More
10/31/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Led Zeppelin III hit number 1 on the U.S. albums chart in 1970, with the help of “The Immigrant Song.” It was the first of 4 weeks at the top. Their second album had held the number 1 position ...Read More
The Beatles Coming To a Video Game Near You
MTV Games and Harmonix, the makers of popular video game "Rock Band," announced today that they've partnered with Apple Corps Ltd. to create a video game based on the music of the Beatles ...Read More
10/30/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
John Lennon’s Imagine album was number 1 in the U.S. in 1971, making it his first album to hit the top in both the U.K. and America. A remixed and remastered version was made available ...Read More
Fan Finds Rare Beatles Concert Film
A Fab Four fan discovered a silent, color film of The Beatles playing a concert in Kansas in 1964. Drew Dimmel was cleaning out his parents' house when he uncovered the roll of 8mm film still in its photo-lab box ...Read More
Elvis Tops List of Wealthiest Dead Celebrities
Though Elvis may have passed in 1977, he still rakes in plenty of cash. According to a Forbes.com report, the "King" is the #1 ranked dead celebrity for the second year in a row. ...Read More
10/29/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Three weeks before his 25th birthday, in 1971, Duane Allman was killed from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Allman swerved to miss a truck and crashed. ...Read More
