http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 60 Classic Rock music news and commentary MFAC 2004-2005 Thu, 01 May 2008 22:13:04 -0600 Super Simple RSS editor*AT*rocknrollzone*DOT*com http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html A two-story high inflatable pig used as a prop by Pink Floyd during performances at southern California's Coachella Valley Arts and Music Festival had broken from it's tethers and drifted off only to be found later by some area residents just outside their homes. The mammoth pig, which belongs to vocalist Roger Waters had first appeared on the cover of the band's 1977 album Animals and had a creative tie-in with that album's song Pigs On A Wing. The two couples that found the pig's shredded and piled plastic remains will share the $10,000 reward and concert tickets being offered by festival organizers. Now that's what I call bringin' home the bacon! (May 1, 2008) Thursday,May 01,2008 22:06 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Thursday,May 01,2008 22:12 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Tuesday,March 04,2008 21:54 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Thursday,February 28,2008 12:21 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Friday,February 15,2008 21:20 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Thursday,January 17,2008 17:45 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Thursday,December 13,2007 13:40 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Friday,November 30,2007 17:58 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Friday,November 30,2007 17:46 http://www.rocknrollzone.com/plugged.html 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) Saturday,November 03,2007 20:47