1999 – Bluesman R.L. Burnside undergoes heart surgery in Memphis. The 72-year-old singer/songwriter/guitarist had recently canceled two shows due to shortness of breath and exhaustion; after extensive tests, it was determined that he required angioplasty surgery.
1999 – Megadeth release Risk. Their ninth album also continues their commercial decline, only peaking at No. 14 in the Billboard charts.
1999 – RioPort Inc., a division of Diamond Multimedia, introduces its new RioPort Audio Manager software, which allows consumers to find, organize, and download music.
1999 – Joe Thomas, co-producer of Brian Wilson’s 1998 album “Imagination,” countersues Melinda Wilson, the musician’s wife and conservator. The suit claims that Melinda Wilson “schemed against and… manipulated both Brian and Joe, and misused [the joint venture] in order to secure the full benefit of Brian’s star-status for herself.”
1999 – Oasis bass player Paul McGuigan announced he had quit the band just a few days after guitarist Bonehead had left the band.
1999 – Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx is charged with breach of the peace after he tells a Las Vegas audience they should turn some cars over.
1999 – Concord, Calif., demands from Whitney Houston reparations of $100,000. The ill diva canceled an August 1 concert there at the last minute, after the town had paid for advertising and the rider.
1999 – Lionel Richie plays the pyramids. Well, actually, he performs a gig in front of the Sphinx. Says Richie, “It’s civilization at its beginning, and for me it’s a homecoming.”
1999 – A collection of never-before released songs “The Vault… Old Friends 4 Sale,” produced, arranged, composed, and performed by The Artist, back in the day – when he was still known as Prince – is released internationally by Warner Bros.
1999 – Bassist Paul “Guigsy” McGuigan leaves Oasis. Guitarist Noel Gallagher confirms the band will tour in 2000, saying, “We’ve been left holding a sh*t sandwich here, but we’ve just got to get on with it.”
1999 – Elton John is sued by a songwriter who claims the song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” sounds a little too close to Glenn Medeiros’ “Listen to Your Heart.”
1999 – Don Henley sues Paramount Pictures, saying the studio backed out of a deal for him to write a song for the Ashley Judd film Double Jeopardy. “Taking You Home” later turns up on Henley’s 2000 album Inside Job. Person Don Henley Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts
