Monday, February 29, 2016

The Rolling Stones May Play Havana In March


Cuban cultural officials have announced that the Rolling Stones will perform in Havana sometime during Easter week. The confirmation of the show, which has been rumored for months, was first posted on a Cuban television news Facebook page on Feb. 26, and followed by an article in the official newspaper Granma which proclaimed the concert “will be a historic moment that will open the doors for other great bands to arrive in Havana.”

A U.S. source with knowledge of the situation says the deal had not yet been finalized.

According to the Cuban reports, the Stones will perform on the grounds of Havana’s Ciudad Deportiva, a sports complex built in 1957.

Talk of a Stones concert has been spreading around Havana since Mick Jagger visited the city last October.

The band is currently on its "Olé" tour of Latin American stadiums. If the Rolling Stones do play Cuba, it will be after two shows in Mexico City on March 14 and 17, the last dates currently announced on the group's website.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

'The Who Hit 50!' 50th Anniversary Tour To Relaunch Stateside In Detroit

As they prepare to re-launch the North American leg of The Who Hits 50! tour on Saturday, February 27 in Detroit, the Who returned to the stage Saturday, February 13 at SSE Arena, Wembley for their first show since the tour was postponed in September (2015).

That performance was described as "high-voltage virtuosity...The Who were in full flight...America's in for a treat. As these grizzled septuagenarians milked the ovation for their feats of rockin' physicality like punch-drunk boxers, there were no hard-and-fast goodbyes."

When the Who take the stage in Detroit, it will mark the beginning of a 28-date tour of rescheduled dates from 2015 (postponed to allow lead singer Roger Daltrey time to recover from his recent bout of viral meningitis) and includes stops in Toronto, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles, before wrapping Sunday, May 29 in Las Vegas.  Tickets for the originally scheduled shows will be honored at the new dates.

For the tour openers, the band has invited Tal Wilkenfeld to perform on the first 13 shows with Slydigs to accompany them on the remaining dates. In addition, 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (who accompanied the Who on the first leg of this tour) will perform as special guests at the Thursday, March 3 show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Who Hits 50! tour is being presented by AEG Live. The full touring schedule, tickets and VIP packages for the shows are available at www.thewho.com.

Citi is the official credit card of The Who Hits 50! tour.  Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase tickets for the U.S. dates through Citi's Private Pass Program. For details visit www.citiprivatepass.com.

Friday, February 19, 2016

New Eric Clapton Album To Feature George Harrison

Eric Clapton has announced a new studio album for this spring, and it will include contributions from and old friend.

The new set I Still Do drops May 20 and features acoustic guitar and vocals on the track “I Will Be There” from a musician named Angelo Mysterioso. This just happens to be a pseudonym used decades ago by none other than George Harrison.

The late Beatles guitarist first used the moniker when co-writing the song "Badge” for the 1969 Cream album Goodbye. Contractual obligations prevented Harrison from using his given name in the album credits for Clapton’s former band.

So far, not much else is known about the collaboration. Clapton detailed the album and its collaborators yesterday (Feb. 18) on his official website. It features cover art from Sir Peter Blake (who contributed to The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album sleeve) and was produced by Glyn Johns.

Clapton had numerous prominent collaborations with Harrison, prior to his death in 2001. Clapton performed guitar on the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and they both appeared on each other’s live albums in the late 80s and early 90s.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Roger Waters' 1992 Album 'Amused To Death' Wins Grammy For Best Surround Sound

Amused to Death, the third solo album from Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, has won a Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album. Longtime Pink Floyd engineer James Guthrie, along with his assistant Joel Plante, were awarded trophies at the 58th Grammy Awards on Monday, February 15.

The 5.1 surround remix of the original 1992 album was released in July 2015 on Blu-ray and DVD. A new remastered stereo mix of the album was also included on the reissue.

Amused to Death was produced by Waters and Patrick Leonard, and featured several high-profile guest musicians, including Jeff Beck (on seven tracks), Don Henley (“Watching TV”), Toto‘s Steve Lukather (three songs) and Jeff Porcaro (“It’s a Miracle”), Randy Jackson (“What God Wants, Part I and II”) and Rita Coolidge (“Amused to Death”).

Sean Evans, creative director for Waters’ subsequent solo tours of The Wall, created a new cover image for the reissue.

Guthrie earned a previous Grammy for his work on The Wall. He also co-produced Pink Floyd's The Final Cut and mixed and mastered several post-Waters Pink Floyd projects.



Monday, February 15, 2016

Bob Dylan Working On Follow-up To Frank Sinatra Covers Album

In 2015, Bob Dylan released his 36th studio album Shadows In The Night, which featured jazz and pop standards made famous by Frank Sinatra.

It's now being reported that Dylan is recording at Hollywood's Capitol Studios, where Sinatra himself recorded.

Engineer Al Schmitt confirmed that Dylan is working on the follow-up to Shadows In The Night, although he didn't confirm whether the songs would again be Sinatra covers.

"It's going along great," Schmitt said. "Dylan sounds great. His mood in the studio is fabulous. We’re having a good time. We’re like two old shoes together now, we’re so comfortable with one another now."

Schmitt added of Dylan: "He’s extraordinarily smart and he’s so aware of everything that’s going on, so he knows what’s happening at every moment."

No further details of Dylan's plans have come to light.


Saturday, February 13, 2016

Jeff Beck Celebrating 50 Years At The Hollywood Bowl

It was in March of 1965 that a young guitarist by the name of Jeff Beck was recruited by iconic band, The Yardbirds to succeed Eric Clapton on the recommendation of Jimmy Page. After innumerable live performances, ground-breaking albums and one of the most acclaimed careers as one of the premiere guitarists of our time, Beck celebrates 50 years of dynamic music making.

On August 10, 2016, Beck will make a very special appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, joined that evening by close friend and long-time collaborator, Buddy Guy, himself celebrating his 80th birthday!

“Sharing the stage and this moment with Buddy is a dream for me," Beck said. "His live concerts are legendary and the music world would be a very boring place without his influence.”

Over the course of Beck’s illustrious 50-year career, the trailblazing guitarist has earned many accolades.  He’s been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – twice!  First as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992 and then again, as a solo artist in 2009.  Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and he has earned a total of eight Grammy Awards during his long career.

In addition, Beck has been a guest performer at scores of sessions with everyone from Stevie Wonder and Buddy Guy to Tina Turner and Mick Jagger.  Throughout his career, the guitarist routinely makes the fantastically difficult sound effortless.

Currently, Beck has been hard at work on his first book, focused on his twin inspirations - hot rodding and rock'n'roll - now bound together. The London-based Genesis Publishing Group plans to release Beck01, a high quality “signed, limited-edition” book, this year.  In Beck01 Jeff Beck takes us on the journey of a lifetime.

Over five decades, he has blazed a trail, forging a unique guitar style lauded by critics, fans and fellow guitar legends. “Right from the beginning, I've tried to do something with anything I've got hold of," the guitarist said. "At the age of 13, I built two or three of my own guitars. I painted the frets on. It was fun just to look at it and hold it… I knew where I was headed.”

With everything else he's got going on, Jeff Beck is also hard at work on an officially sanctioned documentary and is currently penning his own autobiography.

Tickets the Hollywood Bowl show are available online at HollywoodBowl.com or via phone at 323.850.2000.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Fleetwood Mac: In Concert Comes To Vinyl

In 2015, Fleetwood Mac unveiled a  Deluxe Edition of its double album Tusk that featured 22 previously unreleased live performances selected from the band's 1979-80 tour. Until now, those concert recordings have only been available as part of the set and only on CD and digitally. That will change soon with the release of Fleetwood Mac: In Concert.

All of the live music from the 2015 reissue of Tusk will be available on March 4 from Warner Bros. Records as a three-LP set, pressed on 180-gram vinyl, and presented in a tri-fold jacket.

Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks originally released Tusk in October of 1979. The Grammy® Award-nominated, double-album went onto sell more than four million copies worldwide and introduced fans to hits like "Sara," "Think About Me," and the title track.

The music heard on Fleetwood Mac: In Concert was recorded at four stops during the band's 111-show world tour promoting Tusk. This new collection serves as a worthy companion to the classic 1980 album Live. Although a few songs are duplicated from that album, including "Say You Love Me," "Landslide" and "Go Your Own Way," each performance on Fleetwood Mac: In Concert is unique and taken from a different show.

IN CONCERT boasts 10 songs not heard on Live, including "World Turning" from the Fleetwood Mac's 1975 self-titled release, and "The Chain" from the band's best-selling album Rumours (1977), a Grammy-award winning juggernaut that has sold more than 40 million copies.

Several songs from Fleetwood Mac: In Concert were recorded at the Checkerdome in St. Louis just a month after the release of Tusk , and only seven shows into the tour. Those performances capture the band already in top form on songs like "Angel," "Save Me A Place" and "What Makes You Think You're The One."

The rest of the performances were recorded several months later, including 11 songs from the band's six-night stand at Wembley Arena in London in June 1980. Among the highlights are "That's Enough For Me," "Sisters Of The Moon," and the Top 10 smash from Rumours, "You Making Loving Fun."

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

'Amy' Filmmakers Say They Would 'Kill' To Make David Bowie Documentary

The filmmakers behind Amy Winehouse biopic Amy have said they would "kill" to make a documentary about the late David Bowie. 

James Gay-Rees has said that he and director Asif Kapadia are looking to expand their output into more "long-form options" such as a documentary series.

Gay-Rees told The Hollywood Reporter that one six-hour project was already set to go into production in the first half of 2016.

However, the filmmaker says he would "drop everything" to make a documentary about Bowie.

"We would kill to make that film. We would do anything to make that film," he said. "If his estate is listening, please give us a call…but it’s far too soon. But if there was ever a conversation to be had around it...."

He concluded that such a project would likely need to take a lengthier form than a one-off piece. There's so much great material to work with," he said. "Trying to do that in 90 minutes would be tricky."

It was recently revealed that Amy has been nominated for an Oscar.

Asif Kapadia's documentary about the late British singer was released in July to vast critical acclaim and became the biggest British documentary ever at the UK box office.

Amy is up for the Best Documentary award at this month's Oscars ceremony.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Peter Cetera Passes On Chicago Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Peter Cetera's on-again, off-again involvement in Chicago's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction is now back in the off position, effectively turning the band into this year's version of Kiss, Guns N' Roses and other inductees plagued with personal (and personnel) drama.

The group's original singer and bassist -- who left Chicago in 1985 -- has posted a copy of a note he sent to Rock Hall Foundation chief Joel Peresman and induction ceremony producer Alex Coletti on his website that reverses previous statements that he was willing to play with the band on April 8 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Cetera writes that, "Unfortunately this scenario doesn't work for me. I know we all did our best to make it happen, but I guess it's just not meant to be. Personally I'm frustrated and tired of dealing with this and it's time to move on. I have a life with two beautiful daughters and a solo career and its time to get back and give them the full attention they deserve. Thanks for all your help and consideration! Have a great show and please send any individual award I receive to the contact you have for me." The note does not specify what the "scenario" was for the show.

Cetera's post is the latest in a dramatic series of events surrounding his role in the induction. Singer-keyboardist Robert Lamm said in December that Cetera and founding drummer Danny Seraphine would be attending and performing at the ceremony, only to be corrected by Cetera. Lamm subsequently apologized for being premature, and in January, Cetera posted a letter on his website saying he was willing to perform "25 or 6 to 4" that night, also suggesting that all of Chicago's living members, past and present, be invited to play the song.

"I have to tell you... it's so weird," Lamm said before Cetera's latest missive. "I honestly don't know if he's going to be there. I don't know what's gonna happen, if it's gonna happen. I don't even know if our band is going to play. I don't know if it's going be a house band or Paul Shaffer playing. I have no idea. It'll all be worked out, I'm sure, but as to what I know now, it's very little."

Lamm was communicating with Cetera by email and said, "there was always a desire and assumption on my part" that Cetera would be there and perform during the ceremony. But Cetera apparently had other ideas. "He decided he wanted to play [the song] in a different key if he was going to play with us, which is definitely not going to happen, and then he wanted to play with his band but not with us and sing his songs or sing whatever songs the Hall wants him to sing," Lamm said. "It's all very strange."

Seraphine, who left Chicago in 1990, has not been heard from publicly. But Lamm said, "Danny and Peter are connected to the hip, so whatever happens with Peter will happen with Danny." Lamm said he did speak with Michelle Kath, daughter of Chicago's late founding guitarist Terry Kath, but more about the documentary she's making about her father than the Rock Hall induction.

Despite the turmoil, Lamm said he and remaining co-founders Lee Loughnane, James Pankow and Walter Parazaider are looking forward to the festivities. "After being passed over for so long, we just sort of put it out of our mind and didn't expect it to ever happen," he said. "So to finally sort of break through just kind of made us stop and just be grateful and remember to be gracious."

Monday, February 8, 2016

Dead & Company Announce 2016 Tour

Dead & Company -- Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir; singer/guitarist John Mayer; Allman Brothers' bassist Oteil Burbridge; and "Fare Thee Well" and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti -- is launching its highly-anticipated 2016 tour on Friday, June 10 in Charlotte, North Carolina, before headlining Bonnaroo 2016 that weekend.

The band's 2016 cross-country run features two nights at Citi Field in New York, a two show independence day weekend celebration at Folsom Field in Boulder and two nights at the famous Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin with the tour scheduled to conclude with two shows at Boston's iconic Fenway Park on Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16.

At each show, the group will perform two sets of music drawing from the Grateful Dead's historic catalog of songs.

Dead & Company will make their late night debut on Thursday, February 18 when the band performs on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, which airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. / 10:35 p.m. Central time on NBC.

In October of 2015, Dead & Company took to the stage for their inaugural nationwide tour, kicking off with three sold-out concerts at the legendary Madison Square Garden and ending the year with two sold-out performances at the Forum in Los Angeles.

Dead & Company 2016 Tour

June 10 - PNC Music Pavilion - Charlotte, NC
June 16 - Riverbend Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
June 17 - Klipsch Music Center - Noblesville, IN
June 20 - BB&T Pavilion - Camden, NJ
June 21 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center - Saratoga Springs, NY
June 23 - Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA
June 25 - Citi Field - Flushing, NY
June 26 - Citi Field - Flushing, NY
June 28 - Xfinity Theatre - Hartford, CT
July 02 - Folsom Field - Boulder, CO
July 03 - Folsom Field - Boulder, CO
July 07 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
July 09 - Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, WI
July 10 - Alpine Valley Music Theatre - East Troy, WI
July 13 - First Niagara Pavilion - Pittsburgh, PA
July 15 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA
July 16 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA

Tickets go on sale starting on Friday, February 12 at 10:00 a.m. at www.livenation.com with presale tickets available beginning Tuesday, February 9 at 10:00 a.m.

Check http://www.deadandcompany.com for complete ticketing information.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Members Serenade Staff, Patients During Colorado Hospital Visit

Jeff Hanna, Jimmie Fadden and Bob Carpenter of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recently delivered the healing power of music to patients, visitors and staff during a visit to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colo.

“Our visit and tour of the hospital was the highlight of our weekend - getting to see firsthand the amazing work that the doctors, nurses and administrative staff are doing was humbling and inspiring. It was our pleasure to play a few tunes for the patients, their families and staff. We gained the most from that experience. We’re really glad we were there,” Hanna said.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band also performed at the 2016 St. Anthony Hospital Gala for more than 900 in attendance. The gala, organized by the St. Anthony Hospital Foundation, raises money for St. Anthony Hospital programs and services.

Jeff Brickman, Group President, Mountains and North Denver Operating Group and President and CEO of St. Anthony Hospital was thrilled that the band took time out of its schedule to visit with Hospital staff, visitors and patients. “Music is therapeutic and provides another mechanism for healing. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it,” Brickman said.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band continues to tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary, with additional dates to be announced. Select shows will feature special guests.

March 11 - The Palladium at Center for the Performing Arts - Carmel, Ind.
March 18 - French Lick Resort - French Lick, Ind.
March 19 - Little River Casino Resort - Manistee, Mich.
April 08 - Riverside Casino - Riverside, Iowa
April 09 - Grand Falls Casino Resort - Larchwood, Iowa
April 29 - Las Cruces Downtown - Las Cruces, N.M.
April 30 - Talking Stick Resort and Casino - Scottsdale, Ariz.
May 20 - Penn's Peak - Jim Thorpe, Pa.
May 21 - The Colonial Theatre - Phoenixville, Pa.
June 18 - Southwind Casino - Braman, Okla.
July 07 - Country Concert at Hickory Hill - Fort Loramie, Ohio
July 08 - Hodag Festival - Rhinelander, Wis.
July 09 - Country Concert - St. Bernard, Ohio
July 17 - Jamboree In The Hills - Morristown, Ohio
Aug 05 - Manitoulin Country Fest - Little Current, Canada
Aug 06 - Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua Bayfield, Wis.

For more information, visit nittygritty.com.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Final Album From Gong & Soft Machine Co-Founder Daevid Allen To Be Released

On February 12, Purple Pyramid Records will release the final album from Daevid Allen, co-founder of Soft Machine and Gong. The album, Elevenses, was recorded with the Daevid Allen Weird Quartet, brings together Allen with Don Falcone of Spirits Burning, Michael Clare of Daevid Allen's University of Errors, and drummers Trey Sabatelli (the Tubes) and Paul Sears (rhe Muffins).
This is the second album by this band, following 2005's DJ DAY, released under the band name “Weird Biscuit Teatime.”

Elevenses is the last band album that Allen worked on before his death, in March of 2015. It is a mixture of styles of music found throughout his career, with a few surprises: a blues song in 7/4, a catchy Irish-tinged folk song, ambient and explosive instrumentals, a post-punk rave-up with Daevid's final message on a record.

The Daily Telegraph said, “Allen reveled in being the court jester of hippie rock and never lost his enthusiasm for the transcendent power of the psychedelic experience. He once remarked, 'Psychedelia for me is a code for that profound spiritual experience where there is a direct link to the gods.' That he never attained the riches and fame of many of his contemporaries did not concern him.”




Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Bob Weir Issues Statement Regarding Paul Kantner's Passing

Soon after hearing that Jefferson Airplane's Paul Kantner had died, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead sat down and composed a statement about his fellow rhythm guitarist.

"Paul lived at the heart of the music, where the chords, the melody and the rhythm join together with the lyrics to form the story. His guitar was the glue that held all that together. His voice was the foundation of the choral vocals. Paul lived at the heart of the song. He was there for the Muse - when she needed a human voice or instrument, she channeled it through him."

Jeff Lynne's ELO Announces 2024 North American Fall Tour

  Jeff Lynne’s ELO is set to embark on the band’s final tour dubbed “The Over and Out Tour.” The 27-date trek, produced by Live Nation, will...