Music News
Rounder RecordsThe temporary restraining order Robert Plant recently obtained against a female fan has now been made permanent. TMZ reports that Alysson Billings was ordered by a judge on Wednesday to stay at least 300 yards away from the former Led Zeppelin singer for the next three years.
According to the website's original report, Plant stated in court documents that the 40-something-year-old
...Read more
Facebook.com/MetallicaFrontman James Hetfield says that while Metallica has a number of songs written for their follow-up to 2008’s Death Magnetic, they're finding it difficult to record the new album because of the other projects on which they're working.
"I want it done yesterday," Hetfield tells Billboard. "[The Orion festival] and this [3D] movie [Through the Never] is keeping us pretty busy at this point and it's taking a lot of our time and effort."
The singer adds
...Read more
Uriah-Heep.comTrevor Bolder, who played bass in Uriah Heep and David Bowie's famed backing band The Spiders from Mars, died Tuesday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 62. Bolder's passing was announced in a message on Uriah Heep's website that praised the rocker as "an all time great, one of the outstanding musicians of his generation, and one of the finest and most influential bass players that Britain ever produced."
In homage to his former band mate, Bowie issued a
...Read more
Facebook.com/InterlockenFestivalNew details have been revealed about the recently announced inaugural Interlocken Music Festival, which is scheduled to take place September 5-8 at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia.
A new addition to the bill is John Fogerty, who will join veteran jam band Widespread Panic to perform a set of his classic Creedence Clearwater Revival material. Widespread Panic also is slated to play a second night at the festival without Fogerty.
Meanwhile, Grateful Dead spinoff group
...Read more
Second Annual Rock'n'Blues Fest Tour to Feature Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Ten Years After & More
The Albright Entertainment GroupThe Edgar Winter Band and Rick Derringer will return to take part in the second annual edition of the Rock'N'Blues Fest tour, which will feature a variety of veteran artists who showcase the merger of rock 'n' roll and the blues. Joining Winter's group and Derringer on this year's lineup will be two Woodstock legends -- Ten Years After and Canned Heat -- as well as Canadian guitar whiz Pat Travers.
The 2013 Rock'N'Blues Fest tour is scheduled to get under way on July 27 in Las Vegas and currently is plotted out through an August
...Read more
Jane Rose/KeithRichards.comA public library in Dartford, England, apparently can’t get satisfaction from Keith Richards.
The veteran rocker admits he still owes fines for books he borrowed and failed to return to the library decades ago, the Mirror reports. The newspaper quotes Richards as saying, “I’ve still got overdue fines from about 50 years ago. They must be astronomical by now.”
The Mirror estimates that with a 15 pence a day fine, plus interest and administrative fees, Richards
...Read more
Legacy RecordingsFrom punk pioneers to musical innovators who cross-pollinated rock with reggae, hip-hop and other genres, The Clash blazed a fiery trail during the 1970s and '80s that influenced and inspired countless bands that emerged in their wake.
Now, the group's surviving members have designed and compiled a massive new box set titled Sound System that collects all five of the U.K. rockers' studio albums along with a plethora of demos, singles, B-sides and outtakes; promotional videos; concert footage; memorabilia; and much more.
Scheduled to be
...Read more
Facebook.com/EltonJohnElton John joins a growing list of famous rockers, including The Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi, who will perform headlining sets at London's famous Hyde Park this summer.
Elton and his band will serve as the main attraction at a July 12 concert that also will feature Kinks frontman Ray Davies, plus Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe and several other artists. The event, part of Hyde Park's British Summer Time series, will showcase singer/songwriters.
"I am truly honored to be headlining the Songwriters evening of the new
...Read more
Gonzo DistributionA new two-CD/DVD set featuring highlights from 1970's star-studded Kralingen Music Festival in the Netherlands is scheduled to be released on July 2. The Dutch Woodstock 1970 offers rare vintage performances by such beloved rock acts as Santana, Pink Floyd, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, T. Rex and Canned Heat.
Among the memorable tunes featured on the set are Santana's "Jingo," the Jefferson Airplane classic "White Rabbit," and the early Pink
...Read more
Henry Diltz/Elektra RecordsIn the wake of Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek's death Monday at age 74 after a battle with bile-duct cancer, the group's two surviving members, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, have penned tributes to their longtime band mate.
After issuing a brief initial statement about Manzarek's passing on Monday, Krieger later posted a longer homage on his official Facebook page. In the message, Krieger notes that Manzarek and late Doors
...Read more
Oklahoma County SheriffSince a devastating tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma, on Monday, killing at least 24 people, the world has taken to Twitter and Facebook to express their support, send out prayers and wishes, and talk about how people can help. Among those reacting were many veteran rock stars. Here's a roundup of some of these artists' thoughts about the tragedy:
Kansas: "The band KANSAS would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the recent storms in Oklahoma and the Midwest. For those looking
...Read more
Photo: David LeveneThe Zombies recently expanded their plans for a U.S. summer tour. The veteran British group's initial series of stateside dates will visit the East Coast and the Midwest, kicking off June 13 in Englewood, New Jersey, and running through a July 7 show in Arlington, Massachusetts. The band also has a brief West Coast visit mapped out for late August and early Septmeber.
Among the events The Zombies have lined up is a free concert in New York City's Central Park on June 16. Prior to the show, founding Zombies members Colin
...Read more
Photo: Brian LoweLast month, Rush and Heart finally were welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after each being passed over for the honor for more than a decade. One legendary rock band that continues to be overlooked by the Rock Hall, much to the chagrin of its rabid fans, is KISS.
The group's longtime frontman, Paul Stanley, also is apparently pretty frustrated by the snub, while pointing out that the powers that be behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shouldn't necessarily be considered the authorities in charge of choosing which artists deserve to be recognized.
"Look,
...Read more
Facebook.com/pages/Ray-ManzarekThe rock world is reacting to the news of the death of original Doors member Ray Manzarek. The keyboardist died Monday at age 74 at a medical clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, after a long battle with bile-duct cancer.
Joe Perry tweeted, “I am very saddened by loss of Ray Manzarek now he's with Jim. They mean as much to me today as they did 40 years ago."
Slash tweeted, “RIP Ray Manzarek
...Read more
Eagle Rock EntertainmentAfter 50 years together, The Rolling Stones are continuing to thrill audiences on their current 50 and Counting Tour. Fans can find out how it all began for the band by checking out the Crossfire Hurricane documentary, which hits stores on DVD and Blu-ray today. The film charts the history of the rock legends from their formation in the early 1960s through the arrival of guitarist Ronnie Wood in the mid-'70s.
The movie, which was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Brett Morgen,
...Read more
Facebook.com/BonJoviBon Jovi is currently out on the European leg of its Because We Can world tour, and the band has still got a long way to go. After Europe, the New Jersey rockers play the U.K., then return to the U.S. for summer stadium dates, and then they head to Brazil and Australia. But no matter where the band plays, the one thing that strikes Jon Bon Jovi about the fans in the audience every night is their ages: young, old and everything in between.
Describing Bon Jovi fans as "multi-generational," Jon tells ABC News Radio that he's proud of the group's broad appeal, especially
...Read more
Vanguard RecordsJohn Fogerty has unveiled the collaboration he and the Foo Fighters recorded for his upcoming album, Wrote a Song for Everyone, which includes new renditions of some of his classic Creedence Clearwater Revival tracks. Fogerty and the Foos' version of CCR's 1969 hit single "Fortunate Son" is now streaming at RollingStone.com.
Wrote a Song for Everyone is set to arrive at all of the usual outlets on May 28.
...Read more
Credit: David BergmanJon Bon Jovi has opened up about the day his 19-year-old daughter overdosed on heroin.
"It was horrible, a horrible moment. It was my worst moment as a father," he tells the British newspaper The Daily Mirror.
The 51-year-old rocker recalls getting a 2 a.m. call from his daughter Stephanie Bongiovi, who was phoning him from a hospital near her upstate New York college.
"The first thing she said, 'I'm all right,' but then she said this is what happened," Bon Jovi
...Read more
Blind Pig RecordsRay Manzarek, founding keyboardist of The Doors, died Monday at age 74 at a medical clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, after a long battle with bile-duct cancer. At his side was his wife of 45 years, Dorothy, as well as his brothers Rick and James Manczarek.
In a statement, Recording Academy President Neil Portnow said, in part, "Ray Manzarek of the Doors was a gifted keyboardist and a founding member of one of the most influential and enduring groups of the ‘60s. He and his bandmates helped shape the sound of rock music, and...have
...Read more
Chapman BaehlerStone Temple Pilots may be without a lead singer, but that hasn’t stopped the group from making new music. They've partnered with Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington to create a new single, "Out of Time," which they debuted at an event on Los Angeles over the weekend. You can score a free download of the studio version of "Out of Time" at StoneTemplePilots.com.
"Chester has a one-of-a-kind voice that we've admired for a long time," said guitarist Dean DeLeo
...Read more
Capitol RecordsRod Stewart's latest album scored a #7 debut on the Billboard 200 chart, but it's made an even bigger splash on the other side of the pond. Time, the first full-length collection of original tunes the singer's released in more than 20 years, has topped the U.K.'s Official Albums Chart.
The milestone not only marks Stewart's eighth #1 album overall in his home country, it also gives him a U.K. record for the most years between chart-topping releases: 34. Rod's
...Read more
Jim McCrary/RedfernsOne-time Derek and the Dominos drummer Jim Gordon, who's been in prison since killing his mother in 1983, was denied parole last month and won't be able to apply for it again until at least 2018. According to Rolling Stone, a transcript from the hearing reveals that a California parole-board panel considers the 67-year-old musician "a danger to society if released from prison," noting that he's unwilling to take court-ordered medication.
Gordon stabbed his 71-year-old
...Read more
Cleopatra RecordsFounding Kinks guitarist Dave Davies' new album, I Will Be Me, won't be released until June 4, but the legendary rocker is giving fans the chance to preview the collection online now. All of the album's 13 tracks currently are streaming at Cleopatra Records' SoundCloud page.
I Will Be Me features guest appearances by an eclectic group of musicians, including veteran U.K. guitarist Chris Spedding, alt-country band The Jayhawks, punk group Anti-Flag,
...Read more
Darren Julien with guitar; Facebook.com/JuliensAuctionsA guitar once played by John Lennon and his Beatles band mate George Harrison sold at auction over the weekend for 408 thousand dollars.
The VOX guitar, featured in a Julien's Auctions sale in New York, was played by Lennon while recording a video for "Hello, Goodbye." Harrison used it to practice "I Am The Walrus" during the making of The Magical Mystery Tour project.
The instrument had been displayed in Ireland, the U.K. and New York prior to Saturday's sale.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
...Read more
Facebook.com/FooFightersThe Rolling Stones on Saturday night welcomed another special guest to their 50 and Counting tour: Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.
Grohl joined the Stones at their concert in Anaheim, California, sharing vocals with Mick Jagger on "Bitch," from the Stones' 1971 album, Sticky Fingers.
The Foo Fighters' official Twitter feed spoiled the surprise earlier in the day, writing, "Hey So Cal...Guess who's making a guest appearance at the @RollingStones show in
...Read more
Bernie Taupin, left; Kevin Mazur/WireImageElton John's songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, is currently dealing with a DUI case.
The Santa Barbara Independent reports the 63-year-old Taupin was arrested May 5 on suspicion of DUI in Santa Ynez, California.
Authorities say he was arrested after striking a wooden fence while attempting to turn into a private driveway. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the accident has not been disclosed.
No court date has been set
...Read more
Photo: Julie GardnerNeil Young & Crazy Horse have lined up their first U.S. concert event of 2013. The band will be one of the headliners at the inaugural Interlocken Music Festival, scheduled for September 5-8 at Oak Ridge Farm in Arrington, Virginia. Other acts on the initial bill include the Grateful Dead spinoff group Furthur, The Black Crowes, veteran jam band The String Cheese Incident, and country star Zac Brown.
The four-day event is being organized by HORDE festival founder David Frey and Peter Shapiro,
...Read more
Gus Stewart/RedfernsThe 13th annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash will be held Sunday night at New York City's Bowery Electric club, just up the block from where CBGB was located. The special show, which falls on what would have been the late Ramones frontman's 62nd birthday, will feature performances by late-era Ramones bassist CJ Ramone, Dictators
...Read more
Watch Heart, Rush and More Honored on HBO's Rock Hall Induction Ceremony Special, Premiering Tonight
Kevin Mazur/WireImageRock and Roll history was made on April 18 in Los Angeles when Heart, Rush, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, late disco queen Donna Summer, late bluesman Albert King and producers Quincy Jones and Lou Adler were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You can check out all of the highlights from the star-studded event by tuning in to HBO on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET/PT to catch the 2013
...Read more
Photo: Jim RaketeDeep Purple has debuted a campy and creepy new promotional video for "Vincent Price," the last track on the band's recently released studio album, Now What?! The clip follows the adventures of an attractive young couple who enter a haunted-house attraction only to find themselves transported into an actual black-and-white horror movie.
Interspersed with segments of Deep Purple rocking out in the spooky mansion, the video shows the young man and woman being terrorized by a vampire, the Frankenstein monster and a mummy. During their
...Read more