September 21 - 30, 2009
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!
September 21, 2009
Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder is 62.
On this day in 1966, during his flight to London in search of a record deal as well as fame & fortune, James Marshall Hendrix changed the spelling of his nickname to Jimi. Upon his arrival in England, Jimi only had a few short days to assemble a band before he'd be kicked out of the country for lack of a work visa. So within a week the brand new Jimi Hendrix Experience was performing on stage.
On this day in 2006, original Bad Company bassist Raymond "Boz" Burrell died of an apparent heart attack at his home in Spain. He was 60 years old.
Eddie TV Tonight
Eddie Van Halen will play himself opposite actor Charlie Sheen in tonight's episode of the CBS comedy "Two And Half Men." The guitar god said, "I typically shy away from these requests as I am not an actor, but Charlie and I are friends and since it was a scene with him, I agreed... (we) had a great time, even though I was very nervous." Rock & roll!
Hall Party On HBO
Looks like we'll have a chance to enjoy the giant Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th anniversary party without enduring any set changes or long bathroom lines. HBO will film the entire 12+ hours of Madison Square Garden concerts on October 28th and 29th for a four-hour special to air on November 29th. Highlighted performances will include those by headliners U2, Metallica, Eric Clapton and Bruce Springsteen.
Follow The Money
Of course former Nirvana bandmates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl are disgusted with the Kurt Cobain avatar in Guitar Hero 5 singing along to Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." Even Jon Bon Jovi has voiced his displeasure. But as Grohl and Novoselic said, "The name and likeness of Kurt Cobain are the sole property of his estate — we have no control whatsoever in that area." Attempting to calm the storm of bad publicity, Guitar Hero's CEO pointed out that Cobain's estate "cashed the check" and handed over rights to the former Nirvana singer's image. That was followed by Courtney Love — Cobain's widow (and heir to his estate) — denying she gave Guitar Hero permission. Stay tuned
Stewart On Stage (Sort Of)
Not only has Stewart Copeland, drummer for The Police, composed the music for the new "Ben Hur Live" musical, he's also narrating the show. After this past weekend's run at London's O2 Arena, "Ben" will play Munich, Milan, Zurich, Lisbon, Vienna, Budapest, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Berlin. It's not known if Stewart will affect the proper accent in each tour stop, but that sure would add to the entertainment value!
It was Coach John Wooden who said: "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
It was Martin Luther King, Jr. who said: "It's the quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important."
September 22, 2009
Vocalist David Coverdale of Whitesnake is 58.
Joan Jett is a rockin' 48.
On this day in 1967, The Beatles appeared on the cover of "Time Magazine."
On this day in 1985, the first Farm-Aid concert, organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young to help the nation's farmers, was held in Champaign, Illinois and raised $10 million.
Ozzy's Wacked Book At Last
Although he admits to having had trouble remembering all the things he did, Ozzy Osbourne's new autobiography "I Am Ozzy" is getting rave reviews. Among the many stories is the one about his infamous bat-biting incident. "I did what I always did when we got a rubber toy on stage. CHOMP. Immediately, though, something felt wrong. Very wrong... The head in my mouth twitched." He called his reality show "terrifying," saying, "The whole thing felt like Beatlemania on LSD. I was no longer famous for being a singer. I was famous for being that swearing bloke on the telly." The often hilarious tome is being released in the U.K. on October 1st; Stateside sometime before Christmas.
Mega Roddy Box
A huge box set of previously-unreleased Rod Stewart recordings will be released on September 29. "The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998" contains previously unheard gems recorded between 1971 and 1998 — 63 songs in all. That should keep you busy over Christmas vacation!
Slash & Friends
Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Motley Crue's Tommy Lee, Rob Zombie, Courtney Love, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick and Led Zeppelin drummer Jason Bonham will join Slash for his October 2nd concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mirage in Las Vegas. But don't hold out for a Slash & Friends DVD: clearing rights for all those people and their songs would be a nightmare.
New/Old Dylan
The music streaming/rock merchandise web site Wolfgang's Vault has just released a new stream of a 1974 Bob Dylan and The Band concert recorded at the Fabulous Forum. The Valentine's Day show was part of the "Planet Waves" tour, which ultimately yielded the live "Before The Flood" album.
Timothy's Newest
"Expando," Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit's first solo album in eight years, will be released on October 20th. Timothy says, "For the first time I feel like it's totally me... I wrote the whole thing. I did it at my home studio, and I play as much on it as possible. Kid Rock and Graham Nash are among the notable guest musicians.
It was W.C. Fields who said: "Start off every day with a smile and get it over with."
It was Louis Brandeis who said: "Behind every argument is someone's ignorance."
Benatar's Return
This Thursday: After another Uncle Joe Meet & Greet at the KLOS Cool Patrol Booth at the L.A. County Fair, Unc will introduce old friends Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo on the L.A. County Fair's main stage! Here's what it looked like last time they played in Pomona... and check out these pix from last week's Lynyrd Skynyrd show.
September 23, 2009
Jazz legend John Coltrane would have been 83.
Ray Charles would have been 79.
Bruce Springsteen is 60.
On this day in 1965, Bob Dylan released the song "Positively 4th Street" as "Yesterday" by The Beatles entered the charts.
On this day in 1967, The Doors released "People Are Strange."
On this day in 1972, Elton John's "Honky Cat" peaked at #8 on the charts.
On this day in 1978, "Double Vision" by Foreigner entered the singles charts.
On this day in 1978, Boston played the first of two "Summer Fest" dates at Anaheim Stadium.
On this day in 1989, Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down A Dream" peaked at #23 on the charts.
On over 90 stations across America this weekend, OFF THE RECORD with Joe Benson will feature the music of Foreigner as well as Joe's brand new conversation with Mick Jones and Kelly Hanson. Stream on!
Crosby Down
In the midst of a European and North American tour, Crosby, Stills & Nash were forced to cancel their Santa Barbara show last night when David Crosby took ill. The boys have already rescheduled the S.B. gig for October 1st, but you should stay tuned to KLOS for the status of tonight's CSN show at the Greek Theatre.
Gimme Yer Money
Here's one from the "what are they thinking" file. Not only are the songwriting licensing organizations BMI, ASCAP and SGA demanding iTunes pay royalties (for the music the producers already paid for) when movies and shows are purchased, they want a payment every time potential customers play a 30-second song preview. That's correct: they want you to buy their product without hearing a free sample of it. And they can't figure out why the music business is on the rocks...
Big Bucks For Famous Mag
A copy of the September 1966 issue of "Datebook" magazine signed by John Lennon has sold at auction for $12,713. That edition (which originally sold for under a buck) is the one in which Lennon famously said that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus," sparking a worldwide backlash from Christian groups.
Mucho More Jimi
Jimi Hendrix's sister Janie Hendrix, CEO of Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix, has confirmed what producer Eddie Kramer told me last month on OFF THE RECORD. They have enough unreleased high quality recordings of Jimi's work to release a new album every 12 to 18 months over the next 10 years.
Examining Sir Elty's Past
Best selling celebrity biography author Mark Bego's latest subject is Elton John. "The Bitch Is Back," named after Elton's 1974 song of the same name, covers Sir Elty's long career from his feather boa days in the Seventies to the lucrative "Red Piano" show in Las Vegas. You won't have to wait long to dig into the stories since the book will be out on October 1st.
It was Steven Wright who asked: "If you shoot at a mime, should you use a silencer?"
It was Kurt Vonnegut who said: "Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God."
September 24, 2009
Linda McCartney would have been 68.
On this day in 1966, The Beatles' song "Eleanor Rigby" peaked at #11 on the charts.
On this day in 1966, Jimi Hendrix arrived in London with his new manager, Chas Chandler of The Animals. It was on that flight from New York that Hendrix changed the spelling of his name from "Jimmy" to "Jimi."
On this day in 1977, Styx released "Come Sail Away." Four months later, it peaked at #8.
On this day in 1977, "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac peaked at #3 as "Telephone Line" by ELO topped out at #7 on the charts.
On this day in 1978, Boston played the second of two dates ("Summer Fest") at Anaheim Stadium.
On this day in 1979, Led Zeppelin's final studio album, "In Through The Out Door," hit #1.
On Deck For Hall Of Fame
KISS, Genesis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, ABBA and The Hollies are among the 12 nominees for next year's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction. Note: this is KISS' first time on the ballot after 10 long years of waiting! The final five inductees — decided by the 500 Hall Of Fame Committee voters — will be announced in January. The 25th annual induction ceremony will be held at New York's Waldorf Astoria on March 15th, 2010.
Beatles Biggest
With their track record as the biggest, most successful band in the world — 545 million units sold worldwide by October 1972, over 1 billion units worldwide to date — The Beatles' digitally remastered catalog was going to sell a few copies. In fact, in just the first five days of availability, Beatles fans snatched up 2.25 million CDs (both as individual discs, and multiple-disc box sets) in the U.S., England and Japan alone, breaking multiple sales records around the world. Rock & roll!
Bono & The Pope
Sure it sounds like a joke, but Bono really will be hanging with Pope Benedict XVI at the Sistine Chapel on November 21st. The rarely reserved U2 frontman, along with 500 other artists/performers, will meet with the Pope as part of a concerted effort to reestablish the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and art.
Bruce Closes Another One Down
Beginning on October 13th, Bruce Springsteen will perform four shows as part of the Philadelphia Spectrum's Final Farewell Concert Series. The Spectrum will finally close after an extended 15-month goodbye.
No Dire/More Knopfler
Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler has just announced his North American Spring tour. The delayed support tour for his recently released "Get Lucky" album will kick off in Seattle on April 8th, hit our Pantages Theater on April 16th, then wrap up on May 7th in Philadelphia.
It was writer Gore Vidal who said: "A good deed never goes unpunished."
It was Mark Twain who said: "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
September 25, 2009
On this day in 1967, The Beatles recorded Paul McCartney's "Fool On The Hill" in Abbey Road Studios.
On this day in 1970, Janis Joplin recorded "Me and Bobby McGee."
On this day in 1971, Yes released the song "Your Move" and Cat Stevens released "Peace Train."
On this day in 1976, Boston's debut album entered the charts. It eventually climbed up to #3 and became the fastest-selling debut album in history.
On this day in 1976, Paul McCartney's band Wings played a benefit and raised $50,000 for the restoration of water-damaged art treasures in Venice's St. Marks Square. But the 25,000 audience members unknowingly set back the restoration project when their combined weight loosened paving stones and allowed water to seep through into the Square.
On this day in 1980, Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham died of overindulgence at the age of 32. Bonham passed away at guitarist Jimmy Page's home after a night of heavy drinking (reportedly 40 shots in just a few hours). The coroner reported that both asphyxiation and alcohol poisoning caused his death.
On this day in 1981, Genesis released their "ABACAB" album.
On this day in 1982, Aerosmith released the album "Rock in a Hard Place" as Don Henley's solo debut album, "I Can't Stand Still," and The Who's last studio album, "It's Hard," both entered the charts.
Guitar God Heaven
Former Yardbirds Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck — who co-headlined a pair of shows in Japan earlier this year — will play London's O2 Arena on February 13th. Both will perform a set of their own music before converging onstage for a set together. It's worth noting that, while both Clapton and Beck were both members of The Yardbirds, the two never performed together before this year's Japanese gigs: Beck replaced Clapton when he left The Yardbirds in 1965. Jeff has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame twice — for his solo career and his work with The Yardbirds — while Eric is the lone musician who appears three times in the Rock Hall: as a member of both Cream and The Yardbirds and as a solo artist. Of course the London concert leads many of us to assume the guitar gods will team up for a U.S. Tour — stay tuned!
A Petty Sample
Here's your chance to preview Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' upcoming compilation as part of its "Superhighway Tour." To promote the November release of the "Live Anthology" box set, fans can download 24 of "Live's" 48 tracks beginning on September 29th. The "Live Anthology" features songs spanning from 1978 to 2007 and will come in a standard four-disc set, a deluxe five CD edition and a Blu-Ray disc with all of the 62 tracks from the deluxe CDs, two DVDs and the 1976 "Official Live 'Leg" promotional album. But wait — there'll also be a seven-album vinyl set! For more info, check out http://www.tompetty.com.
Aerosmith Must Play
While the condition of frontman Steven Tyler remains in question, Aerosmith will have to do two shows in Hawaii next month. The boys lost a lawsuit forcing them to make up a performance they missed two years ago, plus they need to perform a second show and reimburse out-of-pocket expenses that fans spent to attend the original event. This should be interesting!
Formula 1 Top
ZZ Top will be the rocking part of a concert series leading up to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix this Sunday. The trio are performing today on the second day of the "F1 Rocks Singapore" festival. No Doubt, Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas and the Backstreet Boys, among others, will also be performing.
It was Walter Cronkite who said: "There's no such thing as a little freedom. Either you are all free or you are not free."
It was George Bernard Shaw who said: "England and America are two countries separated by a common language."
Wot a Language!
The bandage was wound around the wound.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
The cowboy decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
I did not object to the object.
The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
They were too close to the door to close it.
The buck does funny things when the does are present.
September 26, 2009
Crooner Brian Ferry of Roxy Music is 64.
Guitarist Craig Chaquico of Jefferson Starship fame is 55.
Los Lobos guitarist/singer/songwriter Cesar Rosas is 55.
On this day in 1964, The Kinks' "You Really Got Me" (their first American hit single) entered the charts.
On this day in 1965, Queen Elizabeth decorated The Beatles with the Order of the British Empire.
On this day in 1973, Paul and Linda McCartney and Denny Laine of Wings returned to England from Nigeria where they had recorded "Band on the Run."
On this day in 1975, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" opened in theaters.
On this day in 1979, The Clash released their first single, a remake of the Bobby Fuller Four's classic, "I Fought The Law."
On this day in 1981, The Police released their classic "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic."
On this day in 1986, Boston released their third album, "Third Stage," 10 years after their first.
On this day in 1987, Pink Floyd's "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason," Rush's "Hold Your Fire" and R.E.M.'s "Document" entered the album charts.
On this day in 1987, The Grateful Dead's "Touch of Grey" reached #9 on the singles chart — their only song to reach the Top 20 in a 40-plus year career.
On this day in 1987, Billy Idol's cover of the Tommy James & The Shondells song "Mony Mony" entered the singles chart.
On this day in 2003, singer Robert Palmer died of a heart attack in Paris at the age of 54.
September 27, 2009
Guitarist/songwriter Randy Bachman of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive is 66.
Singer/actor Meatloaf is 62.
On this day in 1967, The Beatles spent several hours at Abbey Road Studios recording "I Am the Walrus."
On this day in 1979, just moments after beginning the tune "Better Off Dead," Elton John collapsed on-stage at the Universal Amphitheatre during an exhausting two man show with percussionist Ray Cooper. Even though he claimed he was suffering from exhaustion brought on by the flu, Elton returned after a ten minute intermission to finish the nearly three-hour-long concert. Thank God Ray didn't have to sing!
On this day in 1986, bassist Cliff Burton of Metallica was killed when the band's bus crashed. He was only 24.
September 28, 2009
On this day in 1968, Janis Joplin announced that she was leaving Big Brother & the Holding Company next month because she and the band "weren't growing together anymore." Ah, the Sixties!
The Prince Of Dog-ness
You may recall back when Ozzy Osbourne's son Jack appeared on the "Armed and Famous" reality show based in Muncie, Indiana. It turns out that the Muncie Police Department recently needed a new police dog, so Ozzy stepped up and donated $10,000 for the purchase of the pooch. The new M.P.D. dog, named Ozzy, will soon finish his training and join Muncie's K9 Unit. You can add your own 'house-trained' joke here.
Brian Down
AC/DC have postponed six tour dates because frontman Brian Johnson's doctors advised him to take time to rest following some sort of medical procedure he had last week. So if you were planning on seeing the boys in Phoenix on October 1st, you'll have to wait until the show is rescheduled. Until then, get well soon Brian!
Faces Reunion (Sort Of)
One of Britain's favorite party bands, The Faces formed in 1969 and split up in 1975. Now they'll finally be reuniting for one gig on October 25th — but without frontman Rod Stewart. Guitarist Ronnie Wood, keyboard player Ian McLagen and drummer Kenney Jones will take the stage will former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman at London's Royal Albert Hall to raise money for the Performing Right Society's Music Members' Benevolent Fund. While Woodie didn't mention why Roddy wasn't going to show up (money?), he did say he wished late Faces bassist Ronnie Lane could be there: "I'm sure he will be there in spirit, God bless him."
Jovi Doc's Debut
Bon Jovi's new documentary will debut on Showtime on October 24th. They say that "Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful" tells the story of the boys going from local heroes to New Jersey legends selling-out stadiums all over the world. That's rock & roll!
New/Old Tull
Jethro Tull's widely bootlegged 1978 Madison Square Garden concert will finally be released on DVD and CD. The cleverly titled "Jethro Tull: Live At Madison Square Garden 1978" will be legitimately available for the first time on October 20th.
It was Muhammad Ali who said: "The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."
It was William Shakespeare who said: "I wasted time, and now doth time waste me."
September 29, 2009
Rock & Roll Icon Jerry Lee Lewis is 74.
Guitarist/singer Mark Farner of Grand Funk is 61.
Guitarist Mike Pinera, who worked with Blues Image, Iron Butterfly and Alice Cooper, is 61.
On this day in 1959, the cartoon show "Rocky And His Friends" debuted on ABC-TV. The first characters to be introduced were Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose as the heroes, along with Boris and Natasha as their enemies. Dudley Do-Right came on the scene a little bit later.
On this day in 1963, The Rolling Stones began their first-ever tour of the U.K. supported by The Everly Brothers and Bo Diddley.
On this day in 1964, The Beatles recorded "Every Little Thing," "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party" and "What You're Doing" with producer George Martin at Abbey Road Studios.
On this day in 1967, drummer Mickey Hart joined The Grateful Dead.
On this day in 1967, BBC Radio broadcast a production of Shakespeare's "King Lear" at 7:30pm. Not only was John Lennon listening, he also recorded a bit of the broadcast to use in The Beatles' song "I Am the Walrus."
On this day in 1972, Cat Stevens played a sold-out show with an orchestra at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium. He was supporting his #1 album "Catch Bull at Four."
On this day in 1973, Grand Funk Railroad hit #1 with "We're An American Band."
On this day in 1977, AC/DC released their album "Let There Be Rock."
On this day in 1979, "Bad Case Of Loving You" by Robert Palmer peaked at #14 on the charts.
On this day in 1984, "Drive" by The Cars peaked at #3 on the charts.
On this day in 1989, Glenn Frey joined Don Henley onstage in Los Angeles for the first time since the breakup of the Eagles, eight years earlier.
On this day in 1992, Peter Gabriel released his "Us" album.
On this day in 1996, it was announced that Julian Lennon was the anonymous buyer who had purchased Paul McCartney's handwritten recording notes for the song, "Hey Jude," at auction for about $40,000. The song was written by McCartney for young Julian when John Lennon separated from his mother, Cynthia, in 1968.
Lucy's Gone
Lucy Vodden, the subject of a Julian Lennon drawing that inspired his father, John, to write The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's classic "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds," passed away last week at the age of 46. Vodden had battled lupus for five years before succumbing, and Julian often sent her flowers and supportive text messages during her hospital stay. In 1966, Julian brought home a drawing of his preschool classmate Lucy, describing his image of the girl as "Lucy in the sky with diamonds." Inspired by his child's drawing, Lennon — and Paul McCartney, who contributed imagery like "newspaper taxis" — crafted one of their most famous and controversial songs. For decades, fans debated the Lucy story and argued that the song's psychedelic lyrics are veiled references to the band's experimentation with LSD. However, Lennon was very vocal about dispelling those rumors, including in a 1970 "Rolling Stone" interview saying, "'Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds,' which I swear to God, or swear to Mao, or to anybody you like, I had no idea spelled L.S.D." Rest in peace, Lucy.
G&R Might Tour (Or Not)
If anybody cares, Guns n' Roses are supposed to do a mini-tour of Asia in December. So far four shows in Taiwan, Korea and Japan have been announced, and India is also rumored to be on the schedule.
Humungous Live T.P. Coming
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers — one of the top live bands in all of America — will release a huge box set in November that will include recordings and video footage from every era of their 30-plus-year career. The live cuts (with no studio edits) from Petty's vast archive of recorded shows will come out on four CDs or in a deluxe 5-CD set, available exclusively at Best Buy. "The Live Anthology" will be unleashed on November 24th.
Breaking Records
U2's Thursday night Giants Stadium concert broke every attendance record for the venue! Over 84,472 fans actually broke Pope John Paul II's 1995 record of 82,948. Near the end of the show, Bono announced "News just in. We've broken every record for attendance in this stadium – including the Pope... Sorry Bruce!" (A reference to Bruce Springsteen hanging out by the side of the humungous stage.)
CCR Collection
Stand by for a mega box set containing every single released in the U.S. by Creedence Clearwater Revival! The collection — featuring two CDs and one DVD featuring hit after hit after hit as well as liner notes from former "Rolling Stone" editor Ben Fong-Torres — will be released on November 3rd.
It was Glenn Turner who said: "Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere."
It was Paul Gauguin who said: "There is always a heavy demand for fresh mediocrity. In every generation the least cultivated taste has the largest appetite."
Demo Derby!
This Thursday!: Do any two words put more fear into auto insurance companies than Demolition Derby? J.B. promised his mom he wouldn't drive in one, but that won't keep him from calling the action at the L.A. County Fair... feel free to crash the party!
September 30, 2009
Drummer Dewey Martin of Buffalo Springfield fame would have been 67.
Marc Bolan, who really was T. Rex, would have been 62.
On this day in 1955, James Dean, the icon of cool, died in an automobile accident at the age of 24.
On this day in 1961, Bob Dylan began his recording career. His harmonica playing in a session for Caroline Hester's debut album captured the attention of record executive John Hammond, who signed Bob to a solo deal the next day. The rest, as they say, is history.
On this day in 1966, guitarist Noel Redding was offered the job of bass player in Jimi Hendrix's new band, the Experience.
On this day in 1967, "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison peaked at #10 on the charts.
On this day in 1969, Crosby Stills & Nash's debut album was certified with "Gold" status, a half-million copies sold. Unfortunately, on that same day, David Crosby's girlfriend, Christine Hinton, died when her Volkswagen collided with a school bus in California.
On this day in 1971, Yes began their first tour with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had just joined the band the previous month.
On this day in 1978, Aerosmith's version of "Come Together" peaked at #23 on the singles chart.
On this day in 1982, Bruce Springsteen released his most haunting album, "Nebraska."
On this day in 1997, The Rolling Stones released their "Bridges To Babylon" album. The album didn't do so well, but the following tour was one of their most successful — both artistically and commercially.
AC/DC Big & Loud
AC/DC's new box set "Backtracks" will arrive in three editions on November 10th. The standard box set comes with one CD of studio rarities, one CD of live rarities and the "Family Jewels" DVD collection with bonus features. The "Backtracks" collector's edition features those things plus two live B-sides CDs, a double-sided LP and a "Live At The Circus Krone" DVD along with a bonus 164-page coffee table book and assorted band merchandise. There will also also be 50,000 super deluxe versions of the set that come in a real one-watt 'guitar' amplifier allowing fans to listen to the music in the box itself. Rock & roll!
Doing 'Em All
Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band will perform one of his classic albums in full each night of their five-show stand at New Jersey’s Giants Stadium. Springsteen will open up the September 30th to October 9th stand — the last-ever gigs at the legendary stadium — with a full performance of "Born To Run." The October 2nd show will feature "Darkness On The Edge Of Town," with "Born In The U.S.A." being featured the following night. Mr. Springsteen will wrap it up with performances of "Born To Run" and "Born In The U.S.A." on October 8th and October 9th. One can only imagine how the 60-year-old Boss will finish out the remaining hour-and-a-half of his show each night!
A Pearl Jam Quickie
With Pearl Jam hitting the Southland this week, it's interesting to note that singer Eddie Vedder says their new "Backspacer" album was one of the most enjoyable recording processes they've ever undertaken. He says, "What was so uplifting about part of the process was that it enabled you to immediately tackle the thing and throw a vocal on it, and a meaning to it, immediately. A lot of [the songs] were written real quick and happened quickly, as far as the lyrics, but it's all because of the others getting them into such a galvanized form."
Lots Of Dead
The Grateful Dead is heading to Wolfgang's Vault. The digital warehouse of Bill Graham produced concerts will upload 165 Grateful Dead concerts by early November. Among the notable performances is the Dead's May 15th, 1970 show at the Fillmore East in New York featuring songs from their soon-to-be-released "Workingman's Dead" album and from the classic "American Beauty."
A (Very Small) Piece Of Beatles History
A road sign from London's Abbey Road — the narrow little street made famous after it was featured on The Beatles' "Abbey Road" album cover — is one of 43 street signs that will be auctioned off on eBay to raise money for the city's transportation department. The sign was installed in 2003 but was removed in 2007 after it was damaged by graffiti from fans of the Fab Four.
Roddy's Latest
Rod Stewart will definitely release his new album "Soulbook" on October 27th. This time around Roddy covers Sixties and Seventies soul classics with great singers like Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder and more. No wonder he's skipping the upcoming Faces one-off reunion show in London!
It was President Dwight D. Eisenhower who said: "Leadership: The art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it."
It was Finnish composer Jean Sibelius who said: "Don't pay any attention to what the critics say. No statue has ever been erected over a critic."