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Tom Petty must have been feeling a tad nostalgic recently. The renowned rocker who scored several decades of fame with performing with The Heartbreakers has reformed his original 1972 band Mudcrutch. Petty had formed Mudcrutch in his hometown of Gainesville Florida, later relocating to Los Angeles. When west coast success proved to be more illusive than real, the band eventually split up with Petty and two others going on to form Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The original Mudcrutch lineup consisted of Petty, Tom Leadon, Randall Marsh, Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench with Campbell and Tench reuniting with Petty in the new band. Last August Leadon and Marsh joined up with their "Heartbreaker" counterparts at Petty's Malibu home and initially recorded four songs in the relatively "non-studio" atmosphere of a nearby facility normally used by Petty for rehearsal. Over the ensuing two week period, the band had already completed an album's worth of recording. Mudcrutch has been released as a self-titled debut. (May 1, 2008)

E Street Band member Danny Federici has passed away at the age of 58. The keyboardist was lauded by Bruce Springsteen as being "the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician." Federici was diagnosed with melanoma in 2004 and had been battling the disease since. He last performed with "the boss" at a concert in late March 2008, some forty years after they had first started playing together at various Jersey Shore rock houses. The bond between them grew in the years to come, seemingly in step with the growing fame of Springsteen and the band. Federici has also played on albums by fellow E-Streeter Steven Van Zandt, Graham Parker, and Gary U.S. Bonds. (April 18, 2008)

Canadian blues / rock guitarist Jeff Healey who was rendered blind by a rare form of retinal cancer at the age of one died this Sunday at a Toronto hospital with his family at his side. The 41 year old musician and jazz aficionado was highly regarded for his unique style of playing - most often with his guitar flat on his lap while seated. Healey had undergone past surgery to remove tumors in his lungs and leg, which made it difficult for him to stand while performing. His life was ultimately claimed by an advanced stage of lung cancer. Besides his music career, Healey hosted a local Toronto jazz radio show and had appeared in the 1989 Patrick Swayze movie Roadhouse. (March 4, 2008)

Buddy Miles has passed away at the age of 60. The famed drummer had played in the second Jimi Hendrix group, Band Of Gypsys. His tenure included playing on Hendrix's classic Electric Ladyland and earlier work with Wilson Pickett and The Delfonics followed later by recording sessions with David Bowie, Muddy Waters, Stevie Wonder and others. Miles had reportedly died of congestive heart failure at his Austin, Texas home. (February 28, 2008)

Tom Scholz, founder and musical architect of the renowned classic rock band Boston has informed aspiring Republican candidate and bassist Mike Huckabee of his disapproval over the Huckabee campaign's use of the song More Than A Feeling. Initially, the song had been played live at some campaign events by Huckabee's own band Capitol Offense joined on the stage by former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau. In a letter to Huckabee, Scholz pointed out that Goudreau's participation did not amount to an endorsement of his campaign by the band. Goudreau was one of Boston's founding members, but left in 1978 after the release of the band's second album Don't Look Back. According to the Associated Press, Scholz wrote "Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for." By using my song, and my band's name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!" Scholz may have a fight on his hands as it turns out some members of Huckabee's team are not quite taking this sitting down. Said New Hampshire campaign manager Fred Bramante "Governor Huckabee plays Sweet Home Alabama. Does that mean Lynyrd Skynyrd is endorsing him? He plays Louie Louie. Does that mean the Kingsmen are endorsing him? To me, it's ridiculous." Scholtz has let it be known that he personally supports Democratic contender Barack Obama. (February 15, 2008)

The Rolling Stones will be releasing the soundtrack album of their forthcoming concert film Shine A Light through Universal Music, a move many music industry insiders view as a snub towards the band's current label EMI. An EMI representative however begged to differ, stating that since the film itself was being released through the corporation's Universal Pictures subsidiary, it was long understood that the soundtrack would also be released under the Universal brand and have no effect on the band's relationship with EMI. The Rolling Stones have been affiliated with the EMI Group for the past 16 years. The film is directed by Martin Scorsese and captures a 2006 live performance of the band at the Beacon Theater in New York City. EMI has recently endured the loss of some rather high profile artists such as Radiohead and Paul McCartney. Having been purchased last year by a private equity partnership, the company may now be facing a massive restructuring plan to offset revenue losses resulting from several years of falling CD sales. (January 17, 2008)

The reunited and (slightly) reformed Led Zeppelin put on a fine show at the memorial fundraiser for the late Atlantic Records founder and producer Ahmet Ertegun. With an inspiring 130 minute, 16 song set, original members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, joined by John Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums, aptly validated the band's ongoing legendary stature in the order of things rock'n'roll. The set included Zep standards such as Kashmir, Trampled Underfoot, the opener Good Times Bad Times, Dazed And Confused and of course the ubiquitous "signature" Stairway To Heaven. The set in general was performed with a slightly slower tempo than the studio originals and for that matter, previous live gigs. This was most apparent on Kashmir and In My Time of Dying in which Jimmy Page performed with slide and hollow-body electric guitars. The nearly 20,000 fans who were fortunate enough to attend the December 10 concert at London's O2 arena (perhaps "lucky" is a better word - due to demand, all public tickets were dispensed via an on-line lottery) witnessed a musical event destined to stand among the great live rock'n'roll events of our time. Even Ahmet Ertegun could never have asked for more. (December 13, 2007)

Peter Garrett the lead singer of the now disbanded late eighties band Midnight Oil has been appointed environment minister in his native Australia's newly elected Labor Party government. A dedicated environmental activist and supporter of aboriginal rights, Garrett initially chose music as the medium for his political discourse before disbanding Midnight Oil in 2002. The band is perhaps best known for their 1988 song "Beds Are Burning" whose lyrics dealt with the diminished land rights of Australia's indigenous people. While still involved with Midnight Oil, Garrett began his ascension into public life by heading the Australian Conservation Foundation and serving as an environmental board member of Greenpeace. (November 29, 2007)

The lead singer of Quiet Riot was found dead last Sunday in his Las Vegas home. Nevada authorities are investigating the death of 52 year old Kevin Dubrow. According to the Las Vegas metro police, a concerned neighbor had summoned both police and paramedics to the site. The police also said they had found no evidence of forced entry into the home nor had any suspicious circumstances been reported. The four member band was founded in the mid-seventies and scored a huge hit in 1983 with the "hair metal" classic album Metal Health. Following an extended period of occasional touring besot by personnel breakups and other changes, the band had released a new album just last year. (November 29, 2007)

Ozzy Osbourne is not pleased after a Fargo, North Dakota area sheriff conducted a sting using Osbourne's name to attract and arrest a group of warrant violators. Cass County sheriff Paul Laney had invited 500 individuals with outstanding warrants to what was billed as an exclusive nightclub party being held before a concert featuring Osbourne and fellow rocker Rob Zombie. The concert had taken place as scheduled at a local arena. The sting lead to over 30 arrests and was declared a success by the sheriff. In a formal statement, Osbourne said "Instead of holding a press conference to pat himself on the back, Sheriff Laney should be apologizing to me for using my name in connection with these arrests." Osboune went on to say "It is insulting to me and to my audience and it shows how lazy this particular sheriff is when it comes to doing his job." For his part, Laney was unapologetic, comparing his technique with a bar mentioning different football teams when promoting a Super Bowl party. Laney added that since criminals are creative in evading the law, his officers have to be equally creative in doing their job to reel them in. (November 3, 2007)

Record producer Phil Spector has gone for a walk. No ordinary walk, mind you - but a rather special one he'll likely remember for awhile. The Los Angeles jury deliberating over Spector's alleged guilt in the February 2003 shooting murder of actress Lana Clarkson has been unable to render a decision, even after receiving modified instructions from presiding Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler. With the jury foreman reporting a 7 to 5 impasse after a five month period of testimony, Judge Fidler had no choice but to declare a mistrial and let the 67 year old Spector go free. During the trial, prosecutors brought in Spector's chauffeur who testified he had heard a gun-shot like sound from Spector's mansion just before Spector came outside and said "I think I just killed somebody." They also presented five female witnesses acquainted with Spector who testified that Spector had pulled a gun on them during previous encounters. Spector's defence argued that Clarkson had attempted either suicide or self-inflicted wounding due to suffering from intense personal problems. The famed late 1950's girl-group producer now joins the company of a two other male L.A. celebrities charged with murder but ultimately discharged by their respective juries - namely O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake. (Sept 27, 2007)

Promoters of a UK concert being held to honor the late, famed music producer Ahmet Ertegun have announced the lineup will feature a performance by the surviving original members of Led Zeppelin. Ertegun, who had founded Atlantic Records in 1947 had passed away last December at the age of 83. The concert will be held this coming November 26 at the O2 in London. The deceased John Bonham's son Jason Bonham will take his father's place on the drum riser just back of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Ertegun had a thriving passion for jazz, soul and blues and had encouraged both Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones to incorporate a blues derived style in their material. Other rock luminaries announced as performers at the event include Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and Foreigner. (September 13, 2007)
UPDATE: Due to Jimmy Page having undergone a minor injury, the concert has been postponed to December 10, 2007. Page had accidentally fractured his finger and decided it would be best to push back the concert date so as to give the injury some time to heal. In a statement to the media, Page said "Led Zeppelin have always set very high standards for ourselves, and we feel that this postponement will enable my injury to properly heal, and permit us to perform at the level that both the band and our fans have always been accustomed to.” It was announced that refunds will be available and that tickets bearing the original date will be honored on the postponed date.

It's almost old news by now, but we wanted to make sure it's official: Van Halen will be reuniting with original vocalist David Lee Roth for a tour of 50 dates across North America. This tour will mark the first time Van Halen and Roth have performed togther since 1985 when Roth had left the band for a solo career. With Roth's departure, Van Halen continued touring and performing, first bringing in Sammy Hagar as Roth's replacement. Former Extreme singer Gary Cherone had joined the band barely long enough to record one album before Hagar returned. After one reasonably successful album, Roth's solo career quickly went south. Jokes about the band's reunion with Roth have been recently flying around fast and thick. In a monologue last week, Conan O'Brien said Van Halen and Roth had actually wanted to reunite sooner, but it never happened until now because they weren't desperate enough. The sad part is that Conan's comedic insight on this might be a lot closer to the truth than what's typical for late-night humor. (August 12, 2007)
UPDATE: It's been confirmed that Eddie Van Halen's 16 year old son Wolfgang will be playing bass on the tour and likely on the next album as well. Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony had already departed to pursue other activities - one of which is reportedly going on tour with none other than Sammy Hagar.

Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee is seemingly not too thrilled over a recent brush with reality - namely his involvement with two "reality TV" shows. Lee and the band are reported to be suing a manager who they claim self-servingly coerced Lee into participating in the shows for Lee's personal benefit at the expense of the band. The suit states that while Lee was involved in the production of Tommy Lee Goes to College and Rock Star: Supernova, the band's 2006 European tour was plagued with 40 cancellations and suffered an estimated $8 million loss in ticket and merchandising sales, all attributable to Lee's absence. The suit contends that both TV shows were ratings disasters and detrimental to Lee's music career. Besides co-managing the band, the manager named in the $20 million plus suit is also Lee's personal manager. (June 19, 2007)

ZZ Top has canceled their upcoming European tour to allow time for bassist Dusty Hill to undergo medical treatment for a growth in his inner ear. The benign growth has reportedly reached a size large enough to diminish Hill's hearing. The legendary Texas trio's European tour was originally scheduled to start June 15 and run into early July with a North American tour starting in mid July. (May 16, 2007)

The legendary executive music producer Ahmet Ertegun who had passed away last December was honored this week in New York at a tribute attended by scores of artists who's careers had been touched by his vision and guidance. As co-founder of the originally rhythm and blues oriented label Atlantic Records in 1947, Ertegun was at the forefront of overseeing early R&B's transition toward a "southern sound" and an eventual integration with rock'n'roll - something well reflected by his label's diverse roster of artists. Over the past half-century, Atlantic Records was either "home" to or affiliated with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Joe Turner, Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Led Zeppelin, Yes, AC/DC, Genesis, Phil Colins and The Rolling Stones. In addition to having received numerous music industry awards and honors, Ertegun was a co-founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Prior to his death on December 14, 2006, the 83 year old Ertegun had been in a coma for six weeks after sustaining head injuries resulting from a fall backstage at a concert celebrating former U.S. president Bill Clinton's 60th birthday. (April 22, 2007)

The long-time head of The Beatles' record label has stepped down. Sixty-four year old Liverpool native Neil Aspinall has quit as the top executive of London based Apple Corps. The company has already announced his successor as music industry executive Jeff Jones who will assume the title of CEO. Aspinall's relationship with the Beatles goes all the way back to the days when he was their driver. The relationship was so solid, he was often refereed to as "the fifth Beatle." Aspinall's management style was as cautious as it was conservative. He disdained titles and formalities. It was his strategy to not allow the re-issue of Beatle songs on multi-artist compilations. When the CD format arrived in the early eighties, he withheld re-issuing the Beatles catalog for several years until he could secure a preferential royalty rate. The lag also gave producer-engineer George Martin a good deal of time for completing his remastering work prior to the initial 1986 CD releases. Aspinall was originally an acquaintance of former Beatle Pete Best. After serving as their driver, the trainee accountant eventually became their road manager. When The Beatles started up Apple Records in 1968, Aspinall was their unanimous choice to head the new organization. His near forty year term in that post was testimony of Aspinall's great loyalty and sense of duty toward the surviving Beatles - Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr as well as the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison. (April 11, 2007)

A careless office cleaner had allegedly sent cardboard boxes containing valuable early photographs of The Beatles off to a waste compactor where they were destroyed. According to a report in Britain's The Daily Telegraph, the incident occurred at the office of an EMI executive where several photos had been packed in readiness for a transfer to an EMI archive branch. In a legal writ filed against the outside-contracted cleaning firm Crystal Services, EMI claimed the boxes had been labeled with a hand-written note explaining that contents were "not rubbish" and were "not to be moved." Both of these claims were reportedly denied by the defendants. One of the photos from a 1963 session had been used on the cover of the Beatles' Please Please Me Album. It shows the fab-four in an indoor multi-story atrium setting, leaning slightly forward over a railing and looking downwards toward the camera. That famed photo along with a similar one taken by photographer Angus McBean had also been used on the covers of separate "red" and "blue" compilation albums released in 1973. EMI and Apple Records claim that a total of seven Beatle photos along with another 452 transparencies and negatives worth almost $1.5 million (US) were destroyed in the incident. The works of the now-deceased McBean had been on display at a special exhibition last year at Britain's National Portrait Gallery. (April 7, 2007)

Vocalist Brad Delp of the band Boston was found dead in his New Hampshire home yesterday. A spokesman for the Atkinson, N.H. police said the cause of death was still under investigation, but foul play was not suspected. The 55 year old singer has fronted numerous Boston classics including Foreplay/Longtime, More Than A Feeling and Don't Look Back. Delp was an original 1976 founding member of the legendary classic rock band which was the creative brainchild of guitarist Tom Scholz. Comments from Scholz and other band members were not yet available for this report. (March 10, 2007)
UPDATE: The family of Brad Delp has issued a formal public statement in which they claim Brad's death was a suicide. This statement was issued shortly after the publication of our original report.

Apple Inc. and Beatles affiliated Apple Corps. have reached an agreement that allows the renowned computer and iPod manufacturer to continue gracing it's products with the coveted "Apple" logo. The two companies had previously been locked in a protracted, two decade name dispute. A 1991 agreement had allowed Apple Inc. to use the "Apple" name and fruit logo provided they did not enter the music business. In the view of Apple Corps., that condition lapsed roughly a decade later when Apple Inc. began selling iPod targeted music downloads through their iTunes music store. In May of last year, a British court upheld the 1991 agreement, ruling that it had not been violated. An appeal had been filed. The newest settlement gives Apple Inc. legal ownership of all the "Apple" related trademarks. This allows the manufacturer to continue using the familiar name and logos on their music related products and services. Apple Inc. will in turn license specific trademarks back to Apple Corps. Each side agreed to cover their own legal costs. Further details and terms were not disclosed. Apple Inc. had recently dropped the term "computer" from their corporate name. (February 5, 2007)

It's been reported the Eagles are about to release their first album of all-new material in 28 years. Founding lead vocalist Don Henley, quoted in the Las Vegas Review Journal said "It's coming out in 60 to 90 days, if we don't kill each other first." The band had been in Las Vegas performing a private concert at one of that city's major venues. The Eagles had formed in the early seventies and capping off a considerably successful near-decade string of albums and singles, their last studio album of new material was 1979's The Long Run. Since their disbanding in 1982, Henley had enjoyed moderate success as a solo artist. In 1994 the band reformed for a tour. The line-up featured Henley, and legacy members Don Felder, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, and Timothy Schmit. (January 31, 2007)

Famed early eighties trio The Police will reunite to perform at the 2007 Grammy® Award ceremony this February 11. Sting, Andy Summer and Stewart Copeland had dissolved the reggae inspired band in 1986 following a successful 4 year run. Sting is currently on tour in Europe promoting his latest album. (January 30, 2007)

Hold the phone on a published rumor that Tom Petty was planning to hang up his guitar sometime this year. An article in the July issue of Rolling Stone hinted the veteran rocker had planned to retire in 2007. Turns out this was as much of a surprise to Petty as it may have been to anyone else. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Petty denied having announced any retirement plans. He was quoted in a recently published Times article as saying "You never know how things are going to turn out, and I didn't see this year coming, but maybe next year will be even better." (January 2, 2007)

With the death of James Brown on Christmas Day, the end of 2006 marks the end of an era in popular music. The flamboyant singer and minister had passed away shortly after being admitted to an Atlanta Ga. hospital with congestive heart failure. At an age when most performers are either long retired or have drastically scaled back their schedules, the 73 year old Brown had showed no signs of slowing down right up to his death. Brown was in fact all set to embark on a multi-city tour in the months ahead. On December 28, Brown's body had arrived by horse-drawn carriage back where his career had began - New York city's famed Apollo Theater, where it would lie in state as thousands of fans filed by paying their respects. Brown is survived by four children with the status of a possible fifth child under a cloud of controversy. Brown's estate agents had disputed claims made by Tomi Rae Hynie, the child's mother, that she was in fact legally Brown's wife. The dispute arose out of Hynie's alleged incomplete documentation for the annulment of her previous marriage. A private remembrance ceremony was held today just outside of Augusta, Ga. with a larger public service set for tomorrow at Augusta's James Brown Arena. Brown's energetic performing style and signature "half-beat" rhythm made a lasting mark on four decades of gospel, soul, rock'n'roll and blues music. They remain a part of his legacy. (December 29,2006)

Former Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher has been awarded a 40% share in the musical copyright royalties from commercial sale and use of the group's 1967 hit song A Whiter Shade of Pale. Claiming he alone had composed the song's distinctive organ riff, Fisher had sued vocalist Gary Brooker over royalties that Booker and his publishing company had previously collected. Booker had always claimed to be the sole composer of the song's score. In documenting his decision, the presiding Judge wrote: "I have come to the view that Mr. Fisher's interest in the work should be reflected by according him a 40 per cent share of the musical copyright" Booker and lyric writer Keith Reid have stated they intend to appeal the decision. (December 21, 2006)

An academic who fought a quarter-century of endless government red-tape to obtain copies of the FBI's surveillance documents on John Lennon has finally prevailed in his quest. Historian Jon Wiener told the LA Times that while the papers yield new insight into Lennon's ties with various leftist/pacifist groups in London during the early 70s, there's no indication Lennon was ever considered a serious threat. The FBI had opposed the release of the documents on the grounds that doing so could result in diplomatic or economic sanctions against the U.S. by an unnamed foreign government that was said to have provided the original information under a mutual agreement of confidentiality. Some previously released files which Weiner had obtained in 1997 after wining a lawsuit against the government indicate the agency kept a close watch on Lennon's activities from 1971 to 1972. The report's remaining pages were later released from the tenacious grasp of Justice Department lawyers following a federal Judge's order in 2004. Mark Rosenbaum, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California said the documents portray "government paranoia at a pathological level." The ACLU had assisted Weiner with representation in the case. (December 20, 2006)

It has been announced that The Doors and the Grateful Dead will be presented with lifetime achievement awards at the 2007 Grammy® award ceremonies. (December 20, 2006)

Two past members of Procol Harum have appeared before a British magistrate seeking a decision as to how the copyright and royalty revenues from the top-ten 1967 song A Whiter Shade of Pale are to be divided among them. The legendary song has held up well over the decades and still evokes memories of the famous 1967 "summer of love" to many. Former organ player Matthew Fisher is suing vocalist Gary Brooker and his publishing company over the royalties Brooker has collected exclusively to date. Fisher, who left the band in 1969, claims to have composed both the organ melody as well as the distinctive 8-bar Hammond organ solo which his lawyer states were "crucial to the success of the song." Brooker's defense lawyers were skeptical of how long Fisher had waited before bringing his claim before the court, referring to the situation as "bizarre and obviously prejudicial." In his defense, Brooker claimed the organ parts were influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach's "Air on the G String" and "Sleepers Awake" and were composed by himself and lyricist Keith Reid before Fisher joined the band in March 1967. (November 14, 2006)

A foursome of Black Sabbath alumni have leapt ahead to the next stage in their musical careers with the formation of a new band: Heaven and Hell. Legendary metal rockers Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio are planning to take the new band on an international tour throughout 2007. As Sabbath "survivors," change is nothing new to these guys - Black Sabbath had undergone numerous personnel changes since it's formation in 1969 with Dio having replaced founding vocalist Ozzy Osbourne in the early eighties. The new band is said to have taken their name "Heaven and Hell" from Sabbath's 1980 song of the same name. Works for me! (October 28, 2006)

To a few acquaintances he had a seemingly loose grip on reality. To others he was simply a quiet neighbor who kept to himself while caringly tending to his garden. Yet to many others he was a creative genius with a vision for the ages. Such was the range of personas inhabited by Pink Floyd co-founder Syd Barrett before his death at the age of 60 on July 7, 2006. A statement from the band said "We were very upset and sad to learn of Syd Barrett's death. Syd was the guiding light of the early band lineup and leaves a legacy which continues to inspire." Barrett who's actual first name was Roger but preferred using "Syd" as an artist, had co-founded Pink Floyd in 1965 with fellow musicians Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright. The band’s sophisticated sound and multi-faceted concert performance which made use of images and light found a strong following among the more progressive members of London's fledging psychedelic movement. Unfortunately, by the time the band’s first album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was released in 1967, Barrett’s increasingly frequent use of LSD was rapidly weakening his already fragile mental stability. He left Pink Floyd in 1968, a mere three years after the band’s formation. Over the following decades with the exception of releasing two little-known solo albums, Barrett had essentially withdrawn from his musical past and had settled down to a quiet domestic life in suburban Cambridge England. He shunned fan and media attention, preferring to occupy his time with activities like gardening, cycling or painting. Following Barrett's departure, Pink Floyd went on to record the legendary 1973 album Dark Side Of The Moon with new band member David Gilmour. It’s lyrics harbored many themes and references toward mental illness no doubt inspired by Barrett’s condition. To this day, that album is widely regarded by fans and critics alike as a benchmark masterpiece of progressive rock. A subsequent album, Wish You Were Here with it's hauntingly beautiful extended-length track "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" comprised yet an even more poignant tribute to Barrett. The band’s recurring thematic exploration of mental illness surfaced yet again on 1979’s The Wall. Although Barrett was known to have Diabetes, the exact cause of his death has not yet been officially released. (July 11, 2006)

Seventies-era keyboard and vocal musician Billy Preston who had played and recorded with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones has died at the age of 59. Preston’s health had been deteriorating following chronic liver failure in 2002. He had been in a coma since last November while residing in a specialized Arizona care facility. The Texas born Preston had become a close friend of the late George Harrison who eventually invited him to play with The Beatles at the Let It Be sessions held at a London film studio in early 1969. The Beatles had later affirmed that Preston’s presence within the session's tense atmosphere helped maintain an air of civility during a time when their inter-personal feuds were threatening the music/film project if not signaling their finish as a band. Preston’s solo career took-off after winning a best instrumental Grammy for his 1973 instrumental Outta Space. He had already penned Joe Cocker’s iconic You Are So Beautiful and later made a national TV appearance as a guest musician on the debut 1975 Saturday Night Live show. He performed at George Harrison's The Concert for Bangladesh and almost three decades later at the Concert for George, a tribute following Harrison’s 2001 death from cancer. He ultimately played keyboards on several solo records released by ex-Beatles Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon. Other Preston session credits included Aretha Franklin's Young, Gifted and Black, Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and Sly and The Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin' On. He also toured and recorded with the Rolling Stones, playing on legendary albums such as Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street. He eventually suspended his relationship with the ‘Stones in the mid-seventies following a dispute over song composition credits. In spite of that, he returned two decades later to play on the 1997 Bridges to Babylon album. This era also had it’s troubled side as several of Billy Preston’s personal problems led to run-ins with the law. In 1992, he was ordered to spend nine months at a drug rehab center following no-contest pleas to cocaine and assault charges. In 1997, he was sentenced to three years in prison for violating his original probation. The following year he had pleaded guilty to insurance fraud and agreed to testify against other defendants connected with an alleged $1 million scam. We remember Billy Preston for his soulful keyboard artistry and his affectingly cheerful, upbeat vocal style. (June 6, 2006)

It's ironic that Paul McCartney and future ex-wife Heather Mills are publicly blaming the media for their breakup. It seems that it was only a few months ago (come to think of it, it was) when they were enthusiastically posing with a forlorn looking seal pup in front of a gaggle of media reporters and lenses while protesting the annual Canadian Maritime seal hunt. Like many celebrities, Sir Paul and Ms. Mills sought "fair weather" media coverage with lots of reporting on the good, charitable things they do and nary a word about nastier personal stuff such as how McCartney’s children by his first wife Linda Eastman reportedly refuse to speak to or generally not involve themselves with Mills. Linda died of cancer in 1998. McCartney and Mills married four years later in 2002. The lesson here is that short of owning your own outlet and publishing your own stories, you simply can't have and don't get it both ways. Others are already speculating about hidden motives on part of both Paul and Heather. Meanwhile, we doubt that very many in the media are shedding huge tears of guilt over their supposed part in this. (May 26, 2006)

Keith Richards is reported to have suffered undisclosed injuries after accidentally falling from a palm tree while vacationing with his wife at an exclusive South-Pacific island resort. A spokesman for Suva Private Hospital in Fiji's capital city later verified the 62 year old Rolling Stones guitarist had been admitted to that hospital but provided no further details. It was reported later that Richards had been transferred to a hospital in Auckland New Zealand. We wish Keith a speedy recovery and will relegate speculating just what he was doing up a palm tree to a future topic! No official statement has yet been released with regards to what effect Richard's alleged injuries will have on the Stones' Bigger Bang World Tour. The tour's last scheduled stop prior to the incident was in Wellington New Zealand on April 18. (May 1, 2006)

It's the battle of the Apples. A nice shiny green, 3D looking specimen versus a sleek iconic graphic with a small bite (byte?) taken out of it. Symbolism aside, the real battle is between the legendary Apple Corps founded by The Beatles in 1968 and California based Apple Computer Inc. In 1991 the two "Apples" came to an agreement brought on by the similarity of their names - with the outcome being essentially that Apple Computer agreed to not get involved in the music business. Of course, anyone who's even slightly up to speed on the pop-culture of the last five years knows that today's Apple Computer organization is very much involved in the music business. Apple Corps had claimed that Apple Computer violated the 1991 agreement by starting their iTunes on-line digital music download store. By the time you're reading this, a hearing will have been held in a London courtroom, where the two sides will begin arguing their respective cases before judge Martin Mann. By the way, the judge has already admitted that he owns an Apple iPod player. Although many songs are available for the good judge to download, Beatles songs are not to be found among them. Apple Records has not yet licensed The Beatles music catalog for purchase by digital download. (Mar 28, 2006)

Will this be more than a new paint job? The Cars have reformed and are going on tour with fellow 1970s New Wavers, Blondie. The 2006 reincarnation of the band billed as The New Cars, sees some personnel changes with only Greg Hawkes and Elliot Easton returning from the original 1976 line-up. Most notably, none other than Todd Rundgren takes over on lead vocal duties that once belonged to Ric Ocasek. Kasim Fulton replaces the late Benjamin Orr on bass. Orr had passed away in 2000. Prairie Prince formerly of The Tubes succeeds David Robinson on drums. The original line up of the Boston based band had released seven albums before going their separate ways in 1988. The new band has announced they will be releasing a cover album of original Cars songs. As we all know, album releases from reformed bands are usually a sure sign of an impending tour, and this case is no exception. The New Cars will be embarking on the cleverly named The Road Rage Tour on May 12, 2006 with the first of 27 dates in Robinsonville, MS. In conclusion, we are already wondering how large a part Rundgren will have in the production duties for the new album. Expect the album release to closely coincide with the start of the tour. (Mar 17, 2006)

Neil Young calls it his "dream concert." The film Heart of Gold, a collaboration between Young and award-winning director Jonathan Demme has premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The movie was filmed last summer over a period of two nights at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Young insists the movie is not a concert film as such - "it only looks like a concert film." The footage includes the premier performance of Young's latest album Prairie Wind and intentionally avoids typical concert film attributes such as crowd and ambient venue photography. Over the course of the filming Young was joined on stage by musicians Emmylou Harris and Spooner Oldham while his wife Pegi sang on backup vocals. (January 29, 2006)

A quarter century ago, Monday, December 8, 1980 was truly the last day in the life. The life was that of John Lennon. And what a life it was: A tumultuous childhood, riding a virtual roller coaster of Beatles’ fame while fending off the many temptations of it's darker side. A life so devoted to his own young family that he gladly set aside an assured solo career in order to be a at home with them as a husband and dad. A life that made him optimistic enough to believe that the world could really be a better place, yet resilient enough to take on those who opposed and mocked his "rebellious" stance. A life that was abruptly cut short at a point where it was brimming with renewed optimism and ready for a new decade. A life that has left us with an astounding legacy to remember him by. Exactly what was going on in the demented mind of the assassin that shot him dead outside his Manhattan apartment building that evening matters even less today that it did at the time. What does matter is that John's legacy has influenced and enriched the values and sensibilities of millions for the better - and will undoubtedly continue to do so. (December 8, 2005)

Led Zeppelin has been awarded Sweden's prestigious music award, the Polar Prize. The award is international in scope and was founded in 1989 by Stig Anderson who back in the day managed the mega-popular Swedish group ABBA. The Polar Prize includes a $124,000 US cash award and is bestowed annually to both a pop and classical music artist. Besides the surviving members of Led Zeppelin, the 2006 prize was also awarded to Russian conductor Valery Gergiev for his contributions to classical music. In announcing Led Zeppelin's award, the academy released a statement calling them "one of the great pioneers of rock." It further stated that "playful and experimental music combined with highly eclectic elements has two essential themes: Mysticism and primal energy." According to the Academy, this has since become the very definition of hard rock. The band's founding lineup in 1968 consisted of Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and John Bonham. The legendary band broke up when drummer Bonham died in late 1980 following the release of the album In Through The Out Door. (November 10, 2005)

Welcome to the legal jungle! Former Guns ’N’ Roses members Saul "Slash" Hudson and Michael "Duff" McKagan are suing GNR front man Axl Rose over the issue of who possesses administrative rights for the now lapsed 80s band. The suit alleges that Rose improperly assumed the role of administrator and in so doing, profited from revenue in the vicinity of $500,000 (US) that rightfully belonged to Hudson and McKagan. The suit was filed in Federal Court on August 17. Through his lawyer, Rose claimed the issue was the result of a clerical error by ASCAP (American Society Of Composers Authors and Publishers) which collects creative royalties and then in turn distributes them to member artists. Hudson and McKagan are now members of the band Velvet Revolver. (August 26, 2005)

Former Doors drummer John Densmore has won out in his quest to stop two of his original band-mates from using "The Doors" in the name of a band they are currently involved in. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger had been touring and performing the Doors' songs along with ex Cult vocalist Ian Astbury as The Doors of the 21st Century. As lead vocalist, Astbury was taking the front-stage place of the late Jim Morrison. When the band formed in 2003, Densmore took legal action to stop the use of the name. He reportedly had the support of Morrison's in-laws and possibly some other family members who also objected. In 1971 the original band members had agreed that any use of the band's name and logo must be supported by all of the (surviving) members. According to Reuters, an order by the Los Angeles Superior Court on July 22 declared they may no longer legally use the band's name. The order also stated they must share all profits with the original Doors partnership. (July 23, 2005)

The members of Pink Floyd will reunite to perform at the upcoming Live8 concert in July. It will mark the fist time vocalist / guitarist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, vocalist / bass player Roger Waters and keyboardist Richard Wright have performed together on the same stage since 1981. During the 1980s Roger Waters had a dispute with the rest of the band over various legal issues and eventually split from them. The Associated Press quoted Gilmour as saying "Any squabbles Roger and the band have had in the past are so petty in this context, and if re-forming for this concert will help focus attention then it's going to be worthwhile." The band will join other classic rock alumni such as Sirs Elton John and Paul McCartney who will also perform at the concert's London Hyde Park venue. The Live8 concert was conceived as a show of support for increased third-world assistance from the world's 8 wealthiest nations by Bob Geldof who was also the inspiration behind the anti-poverty Live Aid concert held two decades ago. (June 13, 2005)

The Rolling Stones are set to "roll" again. In an era when some of their day-one fans are probably more concerned with gall stones, The world's longest-toothed rock'n'roll band has just announced a 2005 / 2006 world tour. Following a gratis outdoors lunch-hour concert held in front of Manhattan's renowned Juilliard School Of Music, The 'Stones held a press conference to announce they will launch their new world tour Aug. 21 in Boston MA. Tour director Michael Cohl outlined that the tour will take the band through the U.S. and Canada until they pause for a holiday break from Dec. 1 to Jan. 7. The 'Stones will then tour Puerto Rico, Mexico, South America, Japan, and possibly China, before another break in May, and then tour Europe in the summer of 2006. The band will perform in different sizes of venues. These were said to include theaters, clubs, arenas and stadiums in different cities. There will be two unique stages for arenas and stadiums. Mick Jagger said "For the first time, we'll have some of the audience on the stage." "We have room for about 400 people." Jagger also claimed the band's new album is "about 85% finished." Tour schedule and ticket information is available online at https://tickets.rollingstones.com/. As is often the case in a tour of this scale, some additional stops are expected to be "penciled" in as the tour progresses. (May 11, 2005)

Legendary sixties blues-rock trio Cream reunited in front of a packed house at London's famed Royal Albert Hall yesterday. Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, now all in their sixties, were said by a Daily Telegraph reporter to have put on an "often brilliant, occasionally inspired" show. He went on to say that the former super-group got even better as the evening went on. The Monday set was reported to have included "Rollin' and Tumblin," "Deserted Cities of the Heart," and "Pressed Rat And Warthog," the inclusion of which was a surprise to many of the band's more astute fans. Ticket prices for the 4 date sold-out concert were $236 (U.S.) with scalper prices soaring as high as $3200 (sorry, but for that kind of "profit" I refuse to use the more politically-correct term "reseller" !!). The band had performed their original "farewell" concert on Nov. 26, 1968 at that very location shortly before recording their aptly-titled final studio album "Goodbye." (May 3, 2005)

Ted Nugent whooped up a wave of pro-gun sentiment by preaching to the converted at this year's NRA rally in Houston Texas. Nugent spoke with his familiar right-wing fervor as he encouraged the members present to increase their roster and to forge closer ties with each other. He encouraged the downtown convention center crowd to never give up their right to bear arms and never hesitate to use them. "I want car-jackers dead. I want rapists dead. I want burglars dead. I want child molesters dead. I want the bad guys dead. No court case. No parole. No early release. I want 'em dead! Get a gun and when they attack you, shoot 'em!" Say what you will about Nugent's opinions, but this is one dude that leaves little doubt about where he stands! (April 18, 2005)

Neil Young is recovering following surgery for a brain aneurysm. The operation was performed at a New York City hospital. The doctors involved have said the procedure was successful and that the 59 year-old Young is expected to make a complete recovery. According to the singer's publicist, Young had complained about experiencing "visual field disturbances" while performing at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction gala in New York. Subsequent medical tests led to the discovery of the aneurysm. (April 2, 2005)

Making it's way soon to a store shelve near you is a four-CD, 52-track boxed set featuring a comprehensive collection of recordings made by Ozzy Osbourne. Entitled Prince Of Darkness, the set will include both previously unreleased and new material. Osbourne's previous hit studio, live and demo tracks will encompass two of the CDs. The third will contain some sure to be off-the-wall collaborations with celebrities ranging from DMX to Dweezil Zappa. The fourth CD is a collection of all new cover recordings by Osbourne. To the best of our knowledge, there is no Black Sabbath material included in the set. Osbourne and his wife Sharon are currently making the rounds appearing on several high-profile talk shows promoting the set and a companion DVD. (March 17, 2005)

Molly Hatchet lead singer Danny Joe Brown has died of complications due to diabetes. The 53 year old Jacksonville TN native had spent four weeks in hospital only to pass away shortly after being released. He joined the southern rock band in 1975 before the release of two very successful albums - Molly Hatchet in 1978 and Flirtin' With Disaster in 1979. His diabetes forced him to leave the band in 1980. Two years later he rejoined to help record the less-successful No Guts . . . No Glory album before the band split up. In 1996 there was a reunion, tour and album entitled Devil's Canyon. In 1998 Brown suffered a stroke and was forced by poor health to retire permanently from the music business. (March 14, 2005)

As expected, U2 has announced the fall leg of their 2005 "Vertigo" tour which will begin with two dates in Toronto Canada on September 12 and 14. The previously announced spring leg runs from March 28 to May 26. The fall leg will cover 33 other North American cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Los Angeles, Montreal and Miami. It will wrap up December 19 in Portland OR. Tour details and ticket information for the entire tour are posted on the band's official site. (March 8, 2005)

It's the dead of winter in North America and Europe, but U2 has wasted no time in announcing their spring-summer 2005 tour. The tour is named after their powerhouse single "Vertigo" from the Irish band's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb album which was released to broad acclaim this fall. The first North American leg of the tour kicks off March 28 in San Diego CA. and continues with 13 dates through May 26. A 24 date European leg begins June 10 in Brussels Belgium and extends through mid-August. Tour details and ticket information are posted on the band's official site. A second North American leg which could begin in September is said to be in the planning stage with specific dates yet to be announced. With or without (no-pun!) the second North American leg, mark this one down as a sure bet for the year's highest grossing tour. (January 24, 2005)

If electric guitars could talk, this one would have a tale to tell -- and now with additional bragging rights! The guitar is a forty-year-old Gibson SG Standard with a history firmly entrenched in The Beatles' past. It was sold last Friday at Christie's Auction house in London for $567,500 (U.S.). The cherry-red Gibson originally belonged to the late George Harrison who played it in recording sessions for the Revolver album among others. Years later, Harrison loaned the guitar to John Lennon who played it during some White Album sessions. Around the time of the Beatle's breakup, Harrison gave the guitar to Pete Ham of Badfinger. Five years later after Ham tragically committed suicide, the guitar was acquired by his brother John who stored it beneath a bed in his home. In 2002 John Ham retrieved the guitar after being contacted by representatives of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame who were in the process of assembling a Badfinger retrospective. The guitar had remained under the bed intact and untouched for over 25 years! The selling price included a 12% premium and the buyer wished to remain anonymous. (December 19, 2004)

Metal band Damageplan guitarist (Dimebag) Darrell Abbott is dead following a point-blank gunshot attack while performing on stage at a Columbus, Ohio club. According to witnesses, a suspicious looking man had stormed into the club and was being tailed by security personnel while rapidly making his way toward the stage. He mounted the stage and appeared to be angrily shouting at Abbott before shooting him several times at close range. The gunman then shot at a bouncer that had managed to pull him back from the guitarist and fired several shots into the panicking crowd as they surged toward the exits. The gunman grabbed an innocent bystander as a hostage and held him in a head lock. At this point a responding patrol officer fatally shot the gunman in the face with a rifle. The hostage escaped unharmed. Exactly what the gunman was shouting at the band was reportedly uncertain due to being masked by the high loudness of the music. According to police, the incident resulted in the death of another two persons besides Abbott and the gunman with another pair being hospitalized. The gunman was identified as Nathan Gale, aged 25. Dimebag and his brother Vinnie Paul Abbott had produced the band's debut album New Found Power which was released last February. This is rock history's second December murder. Twenty four years ago to the day, John Lennon was murdered by a deranged "fan" just outside the grounds of his New York City apartment. (December 9, 2004)

Members of the children's choir that sang in Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall are now asking for a share of the royalties earned from 25 years of the song's sales and air-play. The 23 voice choir from London's Islington Green School has not yet received any royalty payments due to a dispute that arose when the headmistress banned the pupils from any further involvement toward promoting the song. A music teacher who had been approached by the band brought the students to a nearby studio to record the tracks in spite of not having the permission of school authorities. The song was later released on the 1979 album The Wall with the children's chorus singing the now legendary phrase "We don't need no education." A royalty specialist retained by one of the former students was reportedly attempting to contact other choir members before making further appeals to a U.K. based collection society. Under U.K. law, all commercial recording performers are entitled to receive royalty payments. As a token of gratitude, the band had initially sent the school £1,000 followed by a platinum record of the song after it hit #1 on the charts. (November 26, 2004)

Thirty-five years after disbanding, it's a first for The Beatles. Representatives of The Beatles and their record label Apple Corps have just signed onto a joint venture with the world-renowned theatrical performance company Cirque du Soleil. We are told the venture will result in a mammoth $100 Million (U.S.) live stage musical production based on The Beatles' works. The show will permanently reside at The Mirage Hotel And Casino in Las Vegas Nevada, in a new custom built 360-degree, 2000 seat theater. The surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are to have a background collaborative input into the show's production along with the families of the late John Lennon and George Harrison. The Mirage hotel lost it's long standing "signature" show last year when illusionist Roy Horn of the famed duo Sigfried And Roy was mauled by a tiger during a performance. This production will be the fifth Cirque du Soleil show based in Las Vegas. According to a Mirage executive, the show is expected to be ready in "about 20 months." Save your pennies, kids. Given the established high asking price for "neighbors" Celine Dion and Elton John next door at Caesars Palace, this gig is not going to be a cheap night out! (October 15, 2004)

Record producer Phil Spector has been indicted in the Feb. 3, 2003 shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson. Following a Los Angeles court session during which the indictment was unsealed and read in front of Spector and his attorney, Spector lashed out at the prosecuting D.A. comparing him to "Adolf Hitler." Spector remains free on $1 million (U.S.) bail and insists Clarkson shot herself. Spector might have had a better chance to prove that had the prosecution not taken the case directly to a grand jury. According to the D.A. office, this had been done to speed up the trial date due to an already considerable delay since the alleged murder. On the night of the incident Clarkson had been working as a hostess at the Sunset Strip House of Blues restaurant. According to witnesses, she had left the restaurant with Spector. (September 28, 2004)

Johnny Ramone is dead at 55, leaving behind only one surviving original member of the The Ramones. His passing comes only days after a fund raising concert celebrating the band's 30th anniversary was held in Los Angeles. Johnny Ramone co-founded the band with singer Joey Ramone, bassist Dee Dee Ramone and drummer Tommy Ramone who now remains the only original survivor. The Ramones released their first album in 1976 following several years of live appearances at New York clubs like CBGB's. They later worked with famed producer Phil Spector. In spite of never having any chart-topping hit songs, the band had a strong fan base and exerted a strong influence on then younger, forthcoming bands such as Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. According to the band's artistic director Arturo Vega, Johnny -- who's real name was Jeff Hyman, had been fighting a five-year battle with prostate cancer and finally succumbed in his sleep Wednesday afternoon at his Los Angeles home. He was said to be surrounded by family and friends. (September 16, 2004)

David Bowie has undergone emergency heart surgery in Germany. He was admitted to a clinic following a concert, complaining of pain in his left shoulder due to a pinched nerve. While examining the 57 year old singer's shoulder, doctors inadvertently discovered "an acutely blocked artery" in his heart. An emergency angioplasty proceeded was immediately performed to clear the artery. A spokesman said Bowie is now convalescing with his family and looking forward to resuming his tour as early as next month. (July 9, 2004)

Heroin didn't do anything but cocaine was alright - at least for a while. So admits Sir Paul McCartney in a recent interview published in London's Daily Mirror. McCartney claimed he'd inadvertently tried heroin without knowing what it was. "I was just handed something, smoked it, then found out what it was." He went on to say that he did cocaine for "about a year" around the time of the Sgt. Pepper album release (1967). He confirmed what may be one of the worst ever kept "secrets" in rock, namely that several Beatles songs were influenced by drugs! (You could have knocked me over with a feather...) Apparently "Got To Get You Into My Life" was "directly about pot. "Day Tripper" and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" were said to be both about LSD, in contrast to a long standing claim by the late John Lennon that "Lucy" was inspired by one of his son's drawings. (June 4, 2004)

They're back. Van Halen has reunited from a lengthy hiatus and announced their first tour in nine years. The tour is set to coincide with the June release of a track entitled It's About Time which will be included on a new Best Of album. For those into numbers, the band has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. Twelve Van Halen albums have been certified multi-Platinum. The band holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most No. 1 rock tracks (11) on AOR radio. Sammy Hagar returns as lead vocalist along with original veterans Eddie and Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony. (April 13, 2004)

Legendary Canadian producer Bob Ezrin was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame by one Vince Fournier who's more widely known as Alice Cooper. Ezrin worked with "Coop" on several of his signature albums including 1972's School's Out, 1976's Welcome To My Nightmare and his first album Love It To Death. The ceremony took place at the 2004 Juno Awards gala in Edmonton Alberta. Prior to his work with Alice Cooper, Ezrin had produced the Guess Who American Woman album -- a qualification that had drawn Cooper's interest. Other artists produced by Ezrin include Lou Reed, Peter Gabriel, Kiss and Jane's Addiction. I've always been weary of the need to say this, but (sigh) the Juno Awards are the Canadian Music industry's "equivalent" to the U.S. Grammy Awards. Have to say it though, because the Junos are not very well known outside Canada, especially in the U.S. (April 5, 2004)

Today closely marks the tenth anniversary of the suicide death of Kurt Cobain. Cobain and his band Nirvana were forerunners of the now well cliched Seattle "alt-grunge" movement that began in the early nineties, contrasting against the "shiny, big-hair" persona of many established eighties bands. Cobain had developed a serious drug addiction from his use of Heroin to alleviate a serious stomach pain condition. In spite of several attempts at receiving detox therapy, Cobain couldn't shake off his Heroin use. By early 1994, his condition worsened and he first attempted suicide by overdosing on tranquilizers, only to end up in a coma. Months later, in his final suicide note, Cobain quoted a line from Neil Young and also wrote he couldn't stand to think of his daughter becoming "the miserable self-destructive, death rocker that I've become." He was 27. (April 5, 2004)

Dave Crosby, founding member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young has been arrested on charges of marijuana and gun possession. Following a performance Thursday at Manhattan's B.B. King Blue's Club, Crosby had checked out of the mid-town hotel where he had been staying, but accidentally left behind a luggage case. The following day, the stray case was opened by a hotel employee in an attempt to identify the owner. Among the contents, the employee discovered a hunting knife, 28 grams of marijuana and a .45-caliber handgun with 26 rounds of ammunition. Hotel management then contacted police. Crosby later phoned the hotel to inform them he would be returning to retrieve the luggage. When Crosby showed up, the NYPD was said to be waiting for him. He was released on $3,500 US bail. A conviction on the gun charge alone could carry a seven year prison term. The 62 year-old Crosby has already served time in prison following a 1985 conviction for drug possession. That conviction was overturned after a year following an appeal. (March 6, 2004)

The entire Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers MCA album catalog has been made available for digital download on all of the major digital music websites. According to a Universal Music Group press release, this marks the first time albums such as "Damn the Torpedoes", "Full Moon Fever", and "Into the Great Wide Open" have been available for purchase as downloads. The albums include the hit singles "Don't Do Me Like That", "Free Fallin', "Refugee" and others. For more information, go to http://www.tompetty.com (March 4, 2004)

That's now Sir Mick to you! Mick Jagger was bestowed with a MBE title this week, much to the chagrin of his Rolling Stones band mate Keith Richards. The Knighthood honor presented by Prince Charles, represents quite a shift in attitude for both the British establishment as well as the 60 year old Jagger himself. In 1967, Jagger, Richards and the late Brian Jones were sentenced to prison for drug offenses. Jagger was sentenced to three months for possessing four stimulant pills that he had purchased legally in Italy. Keith Richards, never a fan of Britain's Monarchy and peerage system, claimed he'd never get the title because "they'd know exactly what I'd tell them to do with it!" In 1965, after the Beatles were made members of the Order of the British Empire, some outraged recipients returned their medals in protest. Previous knighted rockers include Paul McCartney, Beatles' producer George Martin, Elton John and Cliff Richard. Two other classic rock alumni, Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, were present at the same Buckingham Palace ceremony to collect MBEs in recognition of their recent charity work. (December 14, 2003)

Ozzy Osbourne is recovering in hospital from a near-fatal quad bike crash that happened at his estate in Buckinghamshire, southern England. Britain's Daily Mirror has quoted his wife Sharon as saying that he had stopped breathing and his heart had stopped beating for more than a minute after the accident. "The guard spotted it immediately. He had stopped breathing for a minute and a half and there was no pulse. But thank God, the security guard was there to revive him. He resuscitated him and got him breathing and his pulse going again. We are so, so grateful to him." The injuries sustained by Osbourne include a fractured left collarbone, eight broken ribs and a neck vertebra. Following the crash, he underwent emergency surgery to restore blood flow to a damaged blood vessel. He has been on a ventilator in intensive care at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, west of London. The hospital's medical director has indicated the 55-year-old Osbourne should make a steady recovery. Ozzy, you'd better stick with something less risky -- like trying to navigate your home theater controls! (December 14, 2003)

Producer Phil Spector has been charged with murder. The charges stem from an incident last February when a call to emergency authorities reported the death of a woman at Spector's suburban L.A. mansion. After a nine month delay, charges have now been filed against the famed recording producer in the death of B-movie actress Lana Clarkson. Shortly after the incident, Spector was arrested and released on $1 Million bail. He has denied any involvement in her death, insisting that she committed suicide. A District Attorney's spokesperson said the charge against Spector carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. (November 20, 2003)

George Harrison is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The former Beatles member who passed away two years ago at age 58 joins Jackson Browne, Bob Seger, Traffic, ZZ Top and several others. Although Harrison was previously inducted as a member of the Beatles, the upcoming 2004 round marks the late guitarist's first induction as a solo artist. (November 20, 2003)

His songs often mocked and taunted mortality. Now singer-songwriter Waren Zevon is dead at age 56. Zevon had succumbed to a lung cancer condition which he had first made public in September, 2002. Since being diagnosed, Zevon spent much of his remaining time with his two grown children and working on a final album, "The Wind," which was released last month. Zevon had a reputation as one of Rock music's most politically incorrect performers. The lyrics in his classic Seventies albums dealt with prom-date rapists; headless, gun-toting soldiers of fortune; and werewolves who drank pina coladas at singles bars. His musical influences included folk, hard rock, polka and even classical. Zevon once credited Bob Dylan as being a major influence on his music. He had performed a cover version of Dylan's Pat Garret & Billy The Kid anthem, "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" on his final album. (September 8, 2003)

Sam has left the building. Sam Phillips who founded the now legendary Sun Records and later signed on a truck driver named Elvis Presley, has passed away at the age of 80. Phillips was a true father of early rock'n'roll by virtue of his unique ability to recognize acts that seized youthful energy and rebellion -- as opposed to the mild "crooner" pop acts of the day. Besides Presley, the Nashville based Sun's roster included Johnny Cash, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins. Presley and Perkins alone were a major influence on The Beatles, who in their youth acquired various Sun recordings from British Sailors returning from the U.S. to their seaport hometown of Liverpool. In 1956, Phillips sold Presley's contract to RCA for $35,000 (!) Phillips had started out as a radio station engineer and later moved on to disc jockey duties. His motive in eventually starting Sun stemmed from his desire to record R&B and country performers who had no formal music training. Phillips realized that these artists were gifted with abilities beyond mere talent. For one thing, their music conveyed a raw emotion that was mostly absent in the era's pop music. He wanted to make records that captured that "raw emotion" -- a radical concept at the time. This was reflected in the Sun Records motto "We Record Anything, Anywhere, Anytime." Phillips had left the recording business in 1962 and sold Sun Records in 1969. (August 2, 2003)

The Rolling Stones SARS concert next week in Toronto might very well be among the largest tax-payer funded pop music events ever. At the very least, the so-called "SARS-stock", which will also feature Australians AC/DC, and Canada's The Guess Who and Blue Rodeo, is expected to draw the largest crowd of any concert ever held in Canada. As to the intrinsic benefit or value for the public expenditure involved -- well, that's the $6,000,0000 question, at least for the moment. Toronto boosters are quick to point out that since the lingering damage to their city's reputation (due to an outbreak of the highly-publicized SARS virus in that locality earlier this year) is psychological in nature, the cure (now that SARS is apparently on the decline) should be likewise. The big hope is that those who canceled plans to travel to Toronto (or anywhere else in Canada) due to SARS will reconsider after acknowledging that 430,000 fans had a great time smack-dab in the heart of that city and survived (!) The SARS virus originally appeared in Hong Kong and parts of China. As of this writing, tickets for the concert were selling on eBay for $13.80 with VIP passes going for $300 (both CDN funds). The 'Stones will fly from Prague to Toronto for the concert during a break in their current European tour. (July 26, 2003)

Speaking of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger turns 60 today. That's right -- the big SIX ZERO !! Happy birthday Mick! (July 26, 2003)

Noel Redding, the original and only bassist for the Jimi Hendrix Experience, has died at the age of 57. The band was short lived -- it was formed in 1966 and dissolved in 1969 before Hendrix's historical Woodstock appearance. Hendrix died the following year from choking on his own vomit induced by an over-consumption of sleeping pills and wine. Redding was recruited for the band by Chas Chandler, a former bassist for The Animals who became a rock manager. Chandler also signed up drummer Mitch Mitchell to form the Experience along with Redding and Hendrix in England. The band went on to produce three classic albums of blues-tinged, psychedelic rock -- "Are You Experienced?," "Axis: Bold as Love" and "Electric Ladyland." Redding always maintained that his greatest achievement was playing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where the band made its American debut. It was here that Hendrix lit his guitar on fire -- now a legendary rock moment. He was also proud of the band's 1992 induction into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last February, Redding had threatened to sue Experience Hendrix, the company that manages the Hendrix catalogue, for up to $5 million in lost earnings. The claim was rejected by the Hendrix estate. (May 13, 2003)

Who guitarist Pete Townshend has been cleared of charges of child-porn possession, but has been placed on a national U.K. registry of sex offenders. The listing will stand for 5 years. Townshend, 57, was arrested in January, 2003 on suspicion of making and possessing indecent images of children. This lead to a four-month police investigation that has just concluded. The investigation found that while Townshend had not downloaded any pornographic images of children, he had accessed a child-porn site -- using his own credit card to enter. Townshend insists that his motive for accessing the site was based on "research" purposes for a campaign he had began in 1985 "to counter damage done by all kinds of pornography on the Internet, but especially any involving child abuse." Along with the listing, Townshend's fingerprints, photograph and a DNA sample will be taken by police. (May 8, 2003)

The Mac is back! Fleetwood Mac has reformed (well sort of) for a tour and forthcoming album release. The ever-talented Lindsey Buckingham was running into record label resistance to his solo efforts on the grounds that his own name hasn't proved to be sufficiently "marketable." This contributed to the decision to shelve his latest solo project in favor of one from a reformed "Mac." Of course, "reforming the band" implies the involvement of more than one artist. Vocalist Stevie Nicks facing a situation similar to Buckingham, is also on board, as is originating drummer John McVie. Taking a pass is original keyboardist Christine McVie (John's ex) who, weary of the pop-star lifestyle has resettled down to a relatively domestic life in her native England. Without Christine's influence, the sound of the new album is expected to be somewhat more guitar oriented than that of vintage Mac. The new album will be the first project of original material from the band since 1987. It's titled "Say You Will." (May 2, 2003)

Howie Epstein, long-time bassist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers has died at the age of 47. Like many recent rock musician deaths, the suspected cause was a drug overdose. He had been suffering from a disease that infected one of his legs. Epstein joined the Heartbreakers in 1982, replacing Ron Blair. Epstein, who had a previous relationship with country singer Carlene Carter had parted ways with the band last year due to on-going health problems. (Mar 3, 2003)

So tragic, so sad, and so unnecessary. That's about the only way to sum up the deaths of 96 fans of the '80s band Great White at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island last Thursday. A pyrotechnic display during the band's first song "Desert Moon" sprayed hot sparks onto adjacent walls and the ceiling sufficient to ignite them. Many club goers at first thought the fire was just part of the act. From that point onward, it only took minutes for the entire club to be engulfed in thick, black smoke within a halo of flames. Although there were several fire exits, the majority of the crowd instinctively headed for the main doors. Many got trapped and were either burned or trampled - 200 were injured with 35 of them having very serious injuries. In what might go down in rock history as a classic case of either butt-covering or simply mis-communication, all parties involved are claiming they acted properly. The band claims that they received permission from the club management to stage the pyro effects. The club management claims that they neither gave such permission nor were even made aware that the band would be using pyrotechnics. Rhode Island State law requires a special license for detonating pyrotechnics. One witness said he thought it was "crazy" to even consider using pyrotechnics in such an old wooden structured building with low ceilings. Another witness reportedly said she "never knew that a place could burn so fast." She had barely escaped, unable to see a fire exit that was only 5 feet away. Among those still missing late Friday was Great White guitarist Ty Longley. (Feb 23, 2003)

Legendary recording producer Phil Spector has been arrested in connection with the death of a woman found in a suburban Los Angeles residence. Spector is best known for his signature "wall of sound" - a dense, reverberant orchestral laden background. His session players known as the "Wrecking Crew" included guitarist and country singer Glen Campbell, pianist Leon Russell, drummer Hal Blaine and the late Sonny Bono. Spector produced a string of hits for the 60s "girl-groups" The Ronettes and The Crystals. To the rock world he is best known for his work on The Beatles 1969 album "Let It Be." Spector wasn't involved in the actual recording sessions for that album - he was brought in later to "assemble" the album from many raw tracks and unfinished takes. Spector's last major album was "End of the Century," a 1980 collaboration with the Ramones. The late Dee Dee Ramone once claimed Spector had pulled a gun on the band during the recording session. (Feb 3, 2003)

The surviving members of The Beatles have announced they will be releasing an alternate version of their 1969 album "Let It Be." Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr claim that the sound of this version will be a lot more "basic" and truer to the style portrayed during the original sessions. Ringo used the term "de-Spectorized." The initial release of the album had been abandoned due to disagreements among the four Beatles. After the band had effectively broken up, John Lennon brought in producer Phil Spector to compile the album for release - a move that infuriated McCartney. This latest re-release project has been on track for more than two years already. It had the blessing of George Harrison before his death in 2001, and helped bring about the investigation that led to the recent recovery of the original session tapes stolen more than 30 years ago. Plans are in the works to release the film "Let It Be" on DVD at the same time as the new album version CD. (Feb 3, 2003)

The reports and commentary on this page are based on reports from a variety of on-line and print media resources. In rare cases where direct quotes are used, the editor will endeavor to name the original source that reported the quote.

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