Unc's Daily Update Archives

February 21 - 28, 2008


These are the scripts Joe Benson used on the air at 95.5 KLOS in Los Angeles. They all received final editing by Jan Benson, without whom the task would have been far too daunting. Remember to give credit where credit is due, and enjoy!


February 21, 2008


UncUpdate B-day Graphic

Talking Heads keyboardist Jerry Harrison is 59.

UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1975, David Bowie released his "Young Americans" album.

On this day in 1976, Peter Frampton's "Show Me The Way" entered the singles chart.

On this day in 1981, AC/DC's "Back In Black" peaked at #37 on the singles chart.

Off The Record logo

This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of The Doobie Brothers as well as more of Joe's conversation with guitarist/singers Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, and drummer Keith Knudsen.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

AC/DC Action (Finally)

AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams says the Aussie band will finally begin work on the follow-up to 2000's "Stiff Upper Lip" on March 1st. He also says that, although no plans have been discussed, he "fully expects" the boys will tour in support of the new album. About time!

Robert & Alison Are Coming

As expected, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss have added a second round of U.S. tour dates in support of their GRAMMY Award winning album "Raising Sand." All you need to know about the first 17 gigs is that the duo will be playing the Greek Theatre on June 23rd and 24th, the Santa Barbara Bowl on June 25th and Humphries in San Diego on June 30th. Band members for the tour include drummer Jay Bellerose and bassist Dennis Crouch — both of whom played on "Raising Sand" — as well as guitarist Buddy Miller and Stuart Duncan on fiddle, mandolin and other instruments. Producer T Bone Burnett will be playing guitar and 6-string bass. Stay tuned for ticket information!

Maiden's New Dates

Iron Maiden played the first U.S. show of their "Somewhere Back In Time World Tour" at The Forum in Inglewood Tuesday night. It was there that the band, in front of the 14,000 screaming fans, announced the first leg of their North American Summer tour. As predicted, they'll be playing the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on May 30th and 31st. Rock & Roll!

May Pang Speaks

May Pang, best known as John Lennon's "lost weekend" lover, will be releasing her new book "Instamatic Karma: Photographs Of John Lennon" on March 4th. Featuring numerous never-before-seen snapshots of the late Beatle, May has also written some very insightful commentary. Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Lennon, has endorsed the book. His second wife (and Pang's one-time boss), Yoko Ono, has not. You can check it out at http://www.instamatickarma.com/

Keef's Surgeon

The New Zealand neurosurgeon who treated Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards after Keef fell from the legendary tree (or bush) in Fiji two years ago is still living off the experience. Dr. Andrew Law says that one of the first things he told the guitarist was that he could die, and that Richards was fully aware of the severity of his condition. But not only did Keith make a full recovery from the brain surgery — crediting Law with saving his life — the two have become good friends. When The Stones were ready to resume their tour, the insurance companies insisted that Law travel with them. And while the tour's been over since August, the two are still in regular contact. As Dr. Law says, "I don't think he's run into too many neurosurgeons and I haven't run into too many rock stars." Sure hope that the Doc appreciates that there aren't any others like Keef still alive!


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Quote Of The Day

It was Dr. Seuss who said: "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

Joe interviewing Mark Martin.

NASCAR/Cal Speedway

Like he's done every year since the track opened in 1997, Uncle Joe will be announcing this weekend at the California Speedway's NASCAR Nextel Cup Automobile Club 500! Starting with a Friday afternoon broadcast of his KLOS show, Unc will be the Fan Zone's Master of Ceremonies before calling the races from the announcers' booth on Saturday and Sunday. Highlights will include one-on-one interviews with two-time Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson and Champ Car/Formula One/Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya in the Party Zone. Musical headliners will include George Thorogood and ZZ Top — it will be rocking! Check out a few photos from last year!


February 22, 2008


UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1965, The Beatles flew to the Bahamas to begin filming their second movie, "Help!"

On this day in 1967, The Beatles recorded the piano chord used at the end of "A Day in the Life."

On this day in 1968, Genesis released their debut single, "The Silent Sun." It really wasn't very good, but they eventually scored a commercial breakthrough — 10 years later.

On this day in 1969, The Beatles began sessions for their "Abbey Road" album with a take of John Lennon's "I Want You (She's So Heavy)."

On this day in 1969, T. Rex kicked off a British tour with a young David Bowie as the opening act. For this auspicious debut, David bypassed a musical performance to do a mime about a Tibetan monk. No, really — I didn't make that up.

On this day in 1975, Grand Funk Railroad's "Some Kind Of Wonderful" peaked at #3 on the pop singles chart.

On this day in 1978, The Police appeared as blondes in an advertisement for Wrigley's chewing gum. They never made a group decision to keep the look, but it sure worked out for them.

On this day in 1979, "Rolling Stone" magazine reported that Journey had entered into a deal with Budweiser, becoming one of the first corporate sponsorship agreements between a company and a rock act. Thus did their staging become bigger, video screens were added and Mick Jagger took serious notice of a new way to finance tours.

Off The Record logo

This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of The Doobie Brothers as well as more of Joe's conversation with guitarist/singers Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, and drummer Keith Knudsen.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

On Stage Tonight

Heart is playing the Gibson Amphitheatre as Queensryche rocks the House Of Blues on Sunset Friday night.

On Stage Saturday

Billy Joel will play at the Honda Center, George Thorogood will be rocking the main stage at the California Speedway and Queensryche returns to the H.O.B. on Sunset Saturday night.

On Stage Sunday

Sunday morning ZZ Top will play the pre-race gig before the Auto Club 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the California Speedway. Sunday evening Queensryche will rock the House Of Blues in Anaheim.

Macca Knocks 'Em Out

Sure he had a rough week in divorce court, but Paul McCartney's closing set at the 2008 Brit Awards has still got London talking. The annual back-slapping ceremony always features over-the-top posing by goofy artists, but on Wednesday night Sir Paulie simply rocked. After accepting his Outstanding Contribution To Music award, which he dedicated to his late wife Linda, the former Beatle started playing "Dance Tonight" on mandolin. That led directly into a very electric "Live And Let Die," "Hey Jude," "Lady Madonna" and "Get Back." The Brit tabloids declared that Macca's old school performance created the most excitement of the night in the aircraft hangar that is Earl's Court. They also had a field day pointing out that Sir Paulie erased former wife Heather Mills from his life in a video montage that played as he performed, paying tribute to Linda, his late father James and former bandmate John Lennon.

Henley's Gubernatorial Revenge

Add Don Henley to the list of artists recently P.O.ed by politicians using their music without permission. Somebody in Richard Moore's North Carolina gubernatorial campaign decided that the Eagles "Life In The Fast Lane" would be most excellent for their TV ads. As you would expect, the song was soon pulled off the air by request from the Eagles' management, and Moore apologized for the unauthorized use. Still, Henley and his wife donated $4,000 apiece (the maximum allowable amount) to the campaign of Moore's opponent, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Doobies/Chicago

The Doobie Brothers' co-headlining tour with Chicago will kick off May 31st at the Gibson Amphitheatre, and stop at the Greek Theatre on June 5th and 6th before it closes in Connecticut on July 4th. Don't be surprised if those hard working Doobies are back here again (by themselves) this Fall.


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Thought For The Weekend

It was Hal Lee Luyah (was that really his name?) who said: "There's a deception to every rule."


February 25, 2008


UncUpdate B-day Graphic

For many years George Harrison believed he was born today. But in 1992, he announced "I only learned recently after all these years that the date and time of my own birth have always been off by one calendar day and about a half hour on the clock." So in fact, his birthday was really yesterday, February 24th. He would have been 65.

UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1957, Buddy Holly & The Crickets did their first session with New Mexico record producer Norman Petty. They recorded "That'll Be the Day," which soon became their first #1 and biggest hit.

On this day in 1967, The Beatles released the single "Penny Lane" backed with "Strawberry Fields Forever."

On this day in 1993, Marshall Tucker Band guitarist Toy Caldwell died of heart failure at age 45 in his Spartanburg, South Carolina home.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

Station Nightclub Benefit Tonight

In a highly unusual personal appearance, Boston's Tom Scholz will join Chicago's Danny Seraphine and Carmine Appice's Slam for tonight's benefit to help victims still recovering from the 2003 Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island. Twisted Sister, Stryper, Staind frontman Aaron Lewis, Big & Rich's John Rich, Kellie Pickler and Gretchen Wilson, among others, will be playing for the Relief Fund Charity Concert at the Dunkin' Donut Center in Providence. The show is also being taped for a highlight special, which will air on VH1 and VH1 Classic on March 23rd. This month marked the fifth anniversary of rock's worst concert tragedy in which 100 people were killed while nearly 200 others were injured.

Who Comp

A companion CD to The Who's recent "Amazing Journey" DVD will be released on March 11th exclusively through Best Buy. The 16-track collection of live and studio recordings from the band's whole career will include a performance of "Won't Get Fooled Again" from The Who's legendary 2001 Concert For New York set.

Top's Tour

ZZ Top's rockin' little gig at yesterday's Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway Of Southern California (formerly the California Speedway) wasn't really the kick-off for their 2008 U.S. tour. The Little Ol' Band From Texas currently has 17 concerts on the schedule, stretching from an April 18th gig as part of the Gridiron Bash through an August 30th appearance at Milwaukee's annual Summerfest. That means their next Southland appearance will be in the early Fall, doesn't it?

Def Lep Dancing (Not)

It's two months away, but here's an early heads-up: Around the start of their 2008 World Tour in April, Def Leppard will be featured on ABC's Dancing With The Stars on April 29 — singing and playing, not dancing!

A Halen Shuffle

Not that it matters in the big picture, but the first two shows of Van Halen's 2008 U.S. tour have been postponed. The tour will now launch on March 3rd in Dallas.


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Quote Of The Day

It was Mae West who said: "She's the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success wrong by wrong."

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February 26, 2008


UncUpdate B-day Graphic

Johnny Cash would have been 75.
Rock & Roll Icon Mitch Ryder is 64.
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain of Journey is 58.

UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1966, "19th Nervous Breakdown" by The Rolling Stones entered the charts.

On this day in 1977, the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles entered the charts.

On this day in 1987, the first four Beatles albums were released on Compact Disc.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

Sir Elty's Oscar Party

The 16th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party pulled in $5.1 million Sunday night. Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Harrison Ford and Sean Penn were among those in attendance. This was the first year Sir Elton actually headlined his Oscar night party. He felt that because of this year's uncertainties surrounding the Academy Awards ceremony during the writers' strike, it wasn't fair to ask someone else to perform at a party that might fall flat. He notes with pride that 95% of the money received goes to programs the organization is either developing or supporting, and the foundation's success is very important to him, because it's his way of atoning for having not been more active and vocal in the fight against AIDS when it first surfaced back in the early Eighties. Right so!

New Rush

It's official. Rush will release their new two-CD concert set "Snakes & Arrows Live" on April 8th. The 27-song album was recorded in October 2007 in Rotterdam, and features cuts from the group's 2007 project, "Snakes & Arrows," along with many older tunes. Meanwhile, Rush have added a second show at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on May 8th. Yea!!

Clapton/Winwood

Before last night, the last time Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood gave a complete performance together was in 1969 when they were band mates in the short-lived supergroup Blind Faith. Winwood's participation in Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival last Summer in Chicago paved the way for the duo's three-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden. They'll hit the stage again tonight, and wrap up their stint with a final show on Thursday. Steve's new "Nine Lives" album will be out on April 29th, and he'll be on the road with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers later this Summer.

Bid/Meet The Stones

If you bid on one of the designated auctions to benefit VH1's Save the Music Foundation this month, you might win a VIP trip for two to the New York premiere of Martin Scorsese's documentary on The Rolling Stones, "Shine A Light." You'll also get to walk the red carpet, meet Mick Jagger and take home a Gibson guitar signed by The Stones. For more info, go to Vh1SaveTheMusic.com. "Shine a Light" will be in general release on April 4th.

New McCartney Brewing

Just seven months after the release of his "Memory Almost Full" album, Paul McCartney is back in the studio. Word is that last week Sir Paulie started recording material he's been writing for a while. It should be ready by the summer." Macca is reportedly working with producer Youth, a founding member of the band Killing Joke and the producer of albums such as the Verve's "Urban Hymns" and some portion (perhaps smaller than he anticipated) of Guns N' Roses' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy." Kind of scary sounding, isn't it?

Body Of War

The new double-CD compilation "Body of War: Songs That Inspired An Iraq War Veteran" will feature tracks by Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, John Lennon and Roger Waters, among others. The songs were selected by wounded Army veteran Tomas Young, who was the subject of the recent "Body Of War" documentary. Proceeds from the project, due out on March 18th, will benefit Iraq Veterans Against the War.


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Quote Of The Day

It was Mahatma Gandhi who said: "There is more to life than increasing its speed."


February 27, 2008


UncUpdate B-day Graphic

Guitarist Neal Schon of Journey and Santana fame is 54.
Singer Johnny Van Zandt of Lynyrd Skynyrd is 48.

UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1967, Pink Floyd recorded their debut single, "Arnold Layne." Based on the true story of a man arrested for stealing women's underwear off of clothes lines (three years before The Kinks recorded "Lola"), the single eventually sold tens of copies.

On this day in 1977, Rolling Stone Keith Richards got busted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who found 22 grams of heroin, five grams of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia in his Toronto hotel suite. Talk about your wicked room service!

On this day in 2003, pioneering children's TV host Fred "Mister Rogers" died of cancer at age 74.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

End Of The Moon

Roger Waters is saying that he'll perform Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side Of The Moon" in its entirety for the last time at two U.K. shows in May. As he'd done here at the Hollywood Bowl, the Floyd's co-founder will play the entire album as well as a mixture of classic Pink Floyd songs and solo material. The final two performances will take place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on May 15th and London's O2 on May 18th. Stay tuned for more forthcoming information.

OzzFest May Morph

Word is that OzzFest may morph into a two day non-touring event in Dallas this Summer. The 12-year-old festival is facing real competition from the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Tour, which will hit 30 amphitheaters across the U.S. and Canada in July and August — the exact time when OzzFest normally tours. Ozzy Osbourne will probably headline the festival that bears his name again, but it will have to be as a solo act since his Black Sabbath bandmates will be too busy with their band, Heaven And Hell. Oooo, the drama!

What Really Happened?

Motley Crue mastermind Nikki Sixx's recent memoirs, "Heroin Diaries: A Year In The Life Of A Shattered Rock Star," was so successful that it made it onto the New York Times Bestseller List. However, according to former Crue producer Tom Werman, a lot of the book's content is "totally deluded" and "stunningly inaccurate." The highly regarded producer wrote to the New York Times to contest the bassist's claims that Werman was on the phone while Sixx did all the work during the recording of some Crue albums. Tom referred to the assertions as "not only humorous but pure fiction... If this distortion of reality is the result of Sixx's past heroin habit, then his diary is truly nothing more than a pipe dream, and the events to which this book refers may simply be the needle-induced fantasies of an attention-starved junkie." Hmm...

The '08 Inductors

Justin Timberlake, Lou Reed, Billy Joel and John Fogerty are among the big names who've signed up to induct members of the 2008 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame class next month in New York. Timberlake will induct Madonna, Reed will induct Leonard Cohen, Joel will induct John Mellencamp and Fogerty will usher in the Ventures during the March 10th event at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. No word yet if all of the inductees will perform at the ceremony.

New H&H

This could be very interesting. Work on a new studio album from the Black Sabbath-related Heaven And Hell will begin next month. Ronnie James Dio will travel to the U.K. to write with guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Vinnie Appice. They say that the quartet will reconvene in Los Angeles to continue recording sometime in April and May. Rock on boys!


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Quote Of The Day

It was Woody Allen who said: "I'm not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."

Top 8 Mid-Winter Factoids

1. 75% of Americans want to change their bodies in some way, while only 13% say they'd want to change their intelligence.

2. Americans eat almost one million tons of potato chips each year.

3. The can opener was invented 44 years after canned food. In fact, until they came along, the thick-walled metal storage canisters had to be busted open with a hammer and chisel or bayonet.

4. If you pour a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

5. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

6. The 57 on Heinz ketchup bottles represents the varieties of pickles the company once had.

7. Coffee is the world's second largest item of international commerce. Petroleum is the first.

8. M&Ms are named after Frank Mars, the candy maker, and his business associate, Bruce Murrie.


February 28, 2008


UncUpdate B-day Graphic

Driving legend Mario Andretti is 68.
Brian Jones, founding member of The Rolling Stones, would have been 66.

UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1970, under the threat of a serious lawsuit from the family of Ferdinand Von Zeppelin, the brand new Led Zeppelin band performed in Denmark under the name The Nobs (English slang for male genitalia).

On this day in 1970, "No Time" by the Guess Who peaked at #5 on the charts as Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" hit #1 for the first of six weeks.

On this day in 1970, "Instant Karma (We All Shine On)" by John Lennon and "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum both entered the charts.

On this day in 1976, the Eagles released their "Greatest Hits" collection, which eventually became the best-selling record in America ever.

On this day in 1977, bluesman Booker T. Washington "Bukka" White died of cancer in Memphis at age 75.

On this day in 1981, Billy Idol left Generation X to pursue a solo career just as Rockpile drummer Terry Williams joined Dire Straits.

On this day in 1983, U2 released their "War" album.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

Macca/Mucca/Moola!

Whoa baby! The amount of cash Sir Paul McCartney will have to pay estranged wife Heather Mills to make her disappear will be announced by a London justice on March 17th. When the couple failed to reach an agreement at their recent divorce hearing, Judge Hugh Bennett was forced to decide the compensation issue. In a surprise announcement yesterday, he announced that he's made a decision and he'll be sharing the good news on St. Patty's Day. Well, that's sort of what he said...

Maxim Screws Crowes

Those wacky folks at "Maxim" magazine went and published a nasty review of the new Black Crowes album, "Warpaint," without even hearing the darn thing! What a bunch of jokesters! "Maxim" admitted Tuesday that it hadn't followed editorial policy, but no one there seemed too upset with themselves. The Crowes' manager labeled the magazine's statement "self-serving damage control" and is calling for Maxim to "issue a public apology" to the band. He also mentioned that the album will be out next Tuesday, not that anyone at "Maxim" gives a hoot.

Mellencamp/King Musical

In case you were worried, the John Mellencamp/Stephen King musical "Ghost Brothers Of Darkland County" will finally open in April 2009 at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre. True, that's nine years after the duo announced they were working on it, but sometimes superior quality work just takes longer. Or not.

KISS KISS KISS

Every show that KISS has announced for their upcoming KISS Alive 35 World Tour has sold out in minutes, no doubt making this the most successful KISS tour of Europe ever. The rockers will be on the road from mid-March through June, hitting Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Italy, Serbia, Greece, Russia and a handful of other European countries. And then they'll conquer the States!

Buddy Miles R.I.P.

One time Jimi Hendrix drummer Buddy Miles died of congestive heart failure on Tuesday at his home in Austin, Texas. He was 60 years old. Miles was one of many musicians who played on Hendrix's legendary "Electric Ladyland" album, and he later co-founded the well-regarded/short-lived Band Of Gypsys with the guitar god. In addition, he performed with the Electric Flag, Wilson Pickett, Carlos Santana, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder during his career. Miles will be remembered at a memorial concert in Austin on March 30th.


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Quote Of The Day

It was Tom Waits who said: "The large print giveth, but the small print taketh away."


February 29, 2008


UncUpdate On This Day Graphic

On this day in 1968, The Beatles became the first rock act to win the Album Of The Year GRAMMY Award. They earned the honor for their "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," which also won three other less important GRAMMYS. Other winners that night included Bobbie Gentry, who took home three trophies for the song "Ode to Billie Joe," and Glen Campbell, who was a two-time winner for the song "By the Time I Get to Phoenix."

Off The Record logo

This Sunday night at 9 on 95.5 KLOS, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of INXS as well as conversation with the Fariss brothers and singer Michael Hutchence.


UncUpdate Music News Graphic

On Stage Saturday

Larry The Cable Guy will be crackin' 'em up at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Saturday.

Keef Says Say No

Listen up punks — it's the gnarly voice of experience! In Keith Richards' most recent interview with "Uncut" magazine, he was asked what, if any, advice he would offer to his younger self: "I'd have said 'Lay off the dope.' That's my advice now to all younger members who are into this sort of thing — oh, give it up, it ain't really worth it." This is the second time in recent weeks that the iconic Rolling Stones' guitarist has spoken out against drugs. Following Amy Winehouse's success at the GRAMMY Awards earlier this month, Keef told reporters that the troubled singer, "needs to get her act together." Given his legendary drug-riddled past, some co-dependents think that Keith's words have been particularly harsh. I say who better to tell the truth than the man who's out lived them all!

Paul To Phantom Again?

Do you remember when KISS frontman Paul Stanley starred as The Phantom in the Toronto production of The Phantom Of The Opera back in 1999? Word is that he's in talks to reprise the role in a Las Vegas production of the musical. Say what you will about wearing make-up on the job, it takes huevos to step out from in front of a big kick ass rock band like KISS to sing in a broadway type production! Go for it Starchild!

Ray's Coming To Town

Great news! Between March 28th and April 8th, Kinks legend Ray Davies will perform in a select group of theatres to support his second solo album, "Working Man's Café." By hitting venues like our Wiltern on March 29th, The Warfield in San Francisco and New York's Beacon Theatre, Ray can focus on the intimate performances he's so good at. You should expect the tickets to go fast!

All Hail Ian

Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson received his M.B.E. (Member of the British Empire) award from Britain's Prince Charles at a formal Buckingham Palace ceremony yesterday. Ian was among those on the Queen's annual Honours List for 2008, earning the title for his contributions to music.

Slowhand's Tour Slowly Emerging

Eric Clapton has announced the first couple of dates for his upcoming North American tour. The guitar god is expected to visit at least a dozen cities in the U.S. and Canada, starting in early May with shows in Florida. No hint of any Southland dates yet, but you know how these things tend to grow and grow!

Roddy's Working

Yeah, Rod Stewart is doing an 18-city North American Summer tour, but there aren't any Southland dates on the itinerary (yet). Following stops in Australia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Sweden and Denmark, Stewart's U.S. and Canadian dates kick off on July 30th in Paso Robles and wrap on August 28th in Tampa. Of course that means we won't get to see Bryan Adams either, because he's just doing the first seven shows of Roddy's run. Darn the luck!

Mike Smith R.I.P.

Mike Smith, the lead singer/keyboardist for The Dave Clark Five, passed away at a London hospital on Thursday following a brief battle with pneumonia. He was 64. Smith's illness was a complication from a spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the chest down in September 2003. At the time of his death, Smith had been making arrangements to attend the DC5's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction in New York on March 10th. Charting 19 Top 40 singles — eight of which were Top 10 hits — The Dave Clark Five was one of the first of the British Invasion bands to break through in America, and was among the few real rivals to The Beatles. In addition, Dave, Mike and the boys made a record 18 appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" — more than any other British band.


UncUpdate News of Note Graphic

Thought For The Weekend

It was G. K. Chesterton who said: "You cannot grow a beard in a moment of passion."


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