2010 – Axl Rose declares ‘war’ on promoters as Guns N’ Roses headline Leeds Festival
Singer says ‘f^^k you’ to festival chiefs as band make it to Main Stage…
Axl Rose described the feud between him and the Reading And Leeds Festivals organisers as a “war”, as Guns N’ Roses headlined Leeds Festival tonight (August 29).
The band started their set half an hour later than their scheduled kick-off time, arriving on stage at 9:30pm (BST). At the end of the main part of their set, after ‘Nightrain’, they returned to the stage and the frontman claimed that the promoters were cutting their set short.
“We would like to play a few more songs for you tonight,” Rose said. “But someone is telling us the show’s over. This war ain’t over yet.” He made the comment at around 11:20pm, and also claimed that he had been told they could play until 11:58pm. They then played ‘Paradise City’ for their one-song encore.
After the show Reading And Leeds Festivals boss Melvin Benn told NME that Guns N’ Roses had not been given the OK to play until 11:58pm. “I have no idea where that came from,” he said. “I was behind the sound equipment so I couldn’t actually hear what he said. Bands often say things like that when they are curtailed.”
The scenes followed the band’s performance at the Reading Festival on Friday, when they came on an hour late and organisers pulled the plug on their set as they were about to break the noise curfew. That night the band staged a protest by attempting to play without amplification, with Rose telling the crowd that they were not planning to head to Leeds.
Up until the encore, despite the late start, the Leeds show went ahead without any controversial incidents taking place, with the group attracting a huge crowd.
Rose made several costume changes throughout, switching from a silver jacket to a black one, a purple one, a red checked jacket with a cowboy hat, then a gaudy white jacket, and finally a white sleeveless top.
After ‘Paradise City’ the band then went to the front of the stage and bowed, with Rose saying: “Be safe getting out of here. And for the problems with the promoters, fuck you.”
Benn played down the “war” comment, saying he would actually consider booking the band again. “I’d definitely book them again but I don’t know if they’d come and play,” he said. “I doubt I’ll be getting a Christmas card from them, which is a shame because tonight was great. There are rules we have to abide by here in the UK, they’re very clear rules. It’s not personal, I think the band are great. Why would I make it personal?”
Guns N’ Roses played:
‘Chinese Democracy’
‘Welcome To The Jungle’
‘It’s So Easy’
‘Mr Brownstone’
‘Sorry’
‘Richard Fortus Guitar Solo’
‘Live And Let Die’
‘This I Love’
‘Rocket Queen’
‘Dizzy Reed Piano Solo’
‘Street Of Dreams’
‘You Could Be Mine’
‘DJ Ashba Guitar Solo’
‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’
‘Instrumental Jam’
‘Axl Rose Piano Solo’
‘November Rain’
‘Bumblefoot Guitar Solo’
‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’
‘Nightrain’
‘Paradise City’
Comment: ‘Axl Rose: Hero or Idiot?’ You decide.
NME is coming live from both sites at Reading And Leeds Festivals this weekend. Head to NME.COM/festivals for full coverage including news, reviews, videos and picture galleries.
Plus make sure you buy next week’s issue of NME to get the definitive review of Reading And Leeds Festivals, either on UK newsstands from September 1 or digitally worldwide.
2010 – Michael Jackson is most downloaded artist of all time: Report
LONDON: ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson has become the most downloaded artist of all time and is most popular in India, according to a new report.
The ‘Thriller’ hitmaker, who died of a drug overdose aged 50 last June, is the world’s most popular solo star, ahead of the likes of Lady Gaga, Elvis Presley, the Black Eyed Peas and Rihanna according to download records from Nokia’s Ovi Music Store.
Musicologist Geoff Roberts believes the singer’s birthday which is today could be responsible for an increase in his popularity, Contactmusic reported.
“Michael Jackson has always been a pop music legend. But the anniversary of his death and upcoming birthday celebrations seem to have revived Jackson fever as fans rediscover his songs – making him the most popular solo artist of all time,” Roberts said.
Jackson is most popular in India where he accounts for 26 per cent of the country’s entire Ovi downloads, followed by the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Finland.
His 1982 single ‘Beat It’ is the most popular track at the Ovi store, with ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Thriller’ close behind.
Meanwhile Jackson’s hometown of Gary, Indiana, will mark his birthday with a party outside his childhood home.
2010 – Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Anniversary Pushes Some in Texas to Seek Memorial
NEW YORK (CBS) Twenty years after his death, a Texas community is still seeking to honor native son Stevie Ray Vaughan.
The Grammy-winning singer and guitarist died in a helicopter crash Aug.27, 1990, and is buried in his hometown of Oak Cliff, Texas, on the outskirts of Dallas.
Jeff Castro, an Oak Cliff resident who co-founded an annual tribute motorcycle ride and concert that commemorates Vaughan’s birthday in October, has long been lobbying for a memorial..
According to the Dallas Morning News, Castro approached the city about a statue and fountain in Kiest Park, where the musician hung out as a kid, but was rebuffed Others have put forward plans for permanent housing of Stevie Ray Vaughan artifacts.
Recently, when Industrial Boulevard was being renamed, some in Dallas sought that as an opportunity to honor Vaughan. But the city chose the name Riverfront.
“He was proud of telling people he was from Oak Cliff,” said local Vaughan biographer Craig Hopkins. “Even after he went to Austin, he made no bones about it.”
2010 – Sir Paul McCartney Joins Ringo Onstage To Celebrate Drum Legend’s 70th Birthday
Last night at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, Sir Paul McCartney joined Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band during their performance Wednesday night as a surprise for his former Beatle bandmate’s 70th birthday.
Joining in on a rendition of the Beatles classic “Birthday” with other notable All Starr Band members guitarists Rick Derringer and Joe Walsh, along with Edgar Winter on keyboards, it was the kick off to the ensemble’s summer “Peace and Love” tour.
Yoko Ono also appeared onstage during the concert to wish Starr a happy birthday.
Here’s fan produced footage of “Birthday” live at Radio City Music Hall, New York City July 7th, 2010 :
2010 – Bret Michaels’ Doctors Deny Rumors That Singer Faked Medical Emergencies
07/08/2010 .Some people were amazed at Bret Michaels’ Lazarus like recovery from a series of very serious medical emergencies. Others took it further and became skeptical and some cynical enough to started suggesting that the Poison frontman and reality TV star was faking it for PR purposes. Now Bret’s camp has issues a strong statement, including the debunking of such rumors by Bret’s neurosurgeon and a doctor who operated on the singer. Here is what they had to say:
Recently there have been a few erroneous, false and irresponsible statements spread on the internet and one news station that Bret Michaels medical condition wasn’t serious, real or life threatening.
Dr. Joseph Zabramski, MD, Bret’s neurosurgeon at Barrow Neurological Institute states, “The fact is, the subarachnoid hemorrhage that Mr. Michaels suffered was very real, and very serious as was the T.I.A (warning stroke) and P.F.O., which will be operated on later this year. A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a life-threatening, neurosurgical emergency that requires an extensive work up and management in the ICU to prevent re-bleeding and manage the complications associated with the initial hemorrhage. For anyone to speculate that this was not a life threatening medical emergency is absolutely incorrect. Between 15 and 20 percent of patients die as a result of the initial hemorrhage, and only approximately 50 percent of those that survive have a good outcome. Recovery from subarachnoid hemorrhage is determined primarily by the size of the initial bleeding episode. Mr. Michaels quick reaction to the hemorrhage and immediate medical attention that followed aided in his ability to make a strong recovery and stop the brain hemorrhage before it caused severe and permanent brain damage. Mr. Michaels is fortunate to be alive after all that he has been through. Bret is truly one of the most determined individuals I have ever met when it comes to an attempt at making a full recovery.
Dr. Greg Gonzaba, whose team treated Michaels for the appendicitis in San Antonio. states “When I arrived I found Mr. Michaels to be acutely distressed, upon my examination I concluded he was suffering from an “acute abdomen”, a medical diagnosis suspicious for a serious, potentially fatal abdominal problem, such as appendicitis, cholecystitis or possible diverticulitis. These conditions, if left untreated could escalate to a potentially fatal problem such as organ rupture, sepsis/toxicity and eventually death by overwhelming infection not to mention Mr. Michaels is a diabetic which could complicate the condition. For a news source to assume and state his condition was not serious is completely false and irresponsible.”
In recent months Bret Michaels’ health issues and determination to recover and continue touring have been viewed as both inspirational by some and as potentially jeopardizing to his health by others. Michaels, a lifelong type 1 diabetic, had an emergency appendectomy, a brain hemorrhage, a T.I.A (warning stroke) and was diagnosed with a P.F.O (hole in his heart). This domino effect happened over the course of a month and a half. Although Michaels is not 100% yet his fight to recover both physically and mentally combined with continued lab work including blood tests MRI’s and physical’s, 4 daily insulin injections along with 2 daily Lovenox injections to thin the blood will be continued until he is able to have the operation on his heart in the fall ”
Janna Elias V.P. of Michaels Entertainment states “All people heal differently and while Bret may be out on the road and performing he is still not 100%. He still has pain from the chemical meningitis, short term memory loss and gets fatigued quicker than normal. Bret isn’t by any means trying to put his health in jeopardy by being on the road. He simply feels that music is a powerful healer. For Bret to sit around and not live his life to the fullest would likely be more detrimental to his recovery then playing music, it is the same mind set as the lyrics to Tim McGraw’s song “Live like you were Dying.”
2010 – May 30th Declared RONNIE JAMES DIO Day In Los Angeles
Hot Flashes
Posted on Tuesday, June 01, 2010 at 21:37:59 EST
Chris Martins from Laweekly.com is reporting:
The Los Angeles City Council has officially declared May 30th RONNIE JAMES DIO Day. The announcement was made at Sunday’s public memorial service for the recently deceased, metal singer.
Event MC Eddie Trunk, the host of VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show, announced the news to those 1,200 mourners gathered inside of Forest Lawn’s Hall of Liberty, as well as the hundreds more who crowded the courtyards of the Griffith Park cemetery.
Read more here.
Here’s the official statement from Koretz posted on Trunk’s website:
“I would like to adjourn in memory of Ronnie James Dio. Born Ronald James Padavona, in Portsmouth New Hampshire in 1942. He had an amazing career in music, marked by tremendous successes with heavy metal bands ELF, RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH and DIO. He began his career playing with rockabilly bands in the late 1950s, and gained wide exposure in 1972 while his band, Elf, as the opening act for DEEP PURPLE. In 1979, he replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the front man of Black Sabbath. He toured with Black Sabbath until 1982, by then he had formed his own group, Dio.
Ronnie’s charisma on stage was complemented by his compassion offstage. As an organizer for the non-profit organization Children of the Night, he was dedicated to the cause of assisting children who were forcefully subjected to prostitute themselves on the streets. Since 1979, this organization has provided victims of forced prostitution with intervention and counseling, as well as a roof over their heads and a place to sleep.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy, who is chair of Children Of The Night, and his son, Daniel, his father, Pat Padavona, and two grandchildren.
For his countless fans and admirers, there will be a public memorial service this Sunday, May 30th at 2:00 PM at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.
LED ZEPPELIN’s Jimmy Page Talks About The John Bonham Story In New Audio Interview – He Was “Head And Shoulders Above Anyone Around Him”
Rock Hard
Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 13:17:38 EST
The John Bonham Story, narrated by Dave Grohl (THE FOO FIGHTERS, THEM CROOKED VULTURES), will air 3 PM (BST) Monday, May 31, on BBC6 Music. LED ZEPPELIN guitar legend Jimmy Page dropped by BBC6 Music to talk about the documentary regarding his former comrade in arms, John Bonham. The two-part interview with host Lauren Laverne can be heard at this location.
“John Bonham was an extraordinary musician – head and shoulders above anyone around him,” Page remarked during the interview. “He had a definite vision of the drums, and how they should be played and how they would fit in with a band. It’s without doubt that his technique was beyond everybody else’s, and that’s why he’s so looked to, and looked back to with such reverence and love.”
Regarding Zeppelin’s early beginnings Page recalled: “I wanted it to be blues and for it to be rock, plus an eclectic taste – the way “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” was planned –no one else had done that before. John Bonham brought so much spirit to it – we were four musical equals and John was the backbone of the band. I certainly wanted to make something that was lasting.”
About Led Zeppelin performing again Page responded: “I never ruled anything out after the O2.’’
Contact: Adrian Bryan-Brown, Aaron Meier, Amy Kass (ameier@bbbway.com)
Follow MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET on Twitter: @milliondquartet or on Facebook
OPENS THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 11th!
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
THE NEW MUSICAL
At Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, a new musical, opens on Broadway this Sunday, April 11th at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).
The cast includes Eddie Clendening (Elvis Presley), Lance Guest (Johnny Cash), Levi Kreis (Jerry Lee Lewis), Robert Britton Lyons (Carl Perkins), Hunter Foster (Sam Phillips) and Elizabeth Stanley (Dyanne).
On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock and Roll,” who discovered them all. The four young musicians united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.
Inspired by the actual event, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET features a treasure trove of the greatest rock and roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these musicians, including such iconic songs as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Riders in the Sky,” “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry’s most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is directed by Eric Schaeffer, features a book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, and was originally directed and conceived by Mutrux. The design team for Broadway includes: Derek McLane (scenic design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Jane Greenwood (costume design), Kai Harada (sound design) and Chuck Mead (musical arrangements and supervision).
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, Broadway Across America, and James L. Nederlander.
For information about the Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, visit www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com.
Follow MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET news on Twitter @milliondquartet and on Facebook.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET are available online www.TicketMaster.com, by calling 212-307-4100, or by visiting the Nederlander Box Office (208 West 41st Street).
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET’s performance schedule is Tuesday at 8 PM, Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 7 PM. Matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM. Beginning Tuesday, April 13 the performance schedule will be Tuesday at 7PM, Thursday through Saturday at 8 PM and Sunday at 7 PM. Matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.
# # # #
www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com
Follow MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET news on Twitter @milliondquartet and on Facebook
2010 – Rockers The Who fear they’ve taken their final bow – because they’re struggling to stage shows with Pete Townshend’s hearing problems. The 64 year old has suffered from partial deafness and tinnitus for many years, and admits the condition is now so bad he is having to cut back the amount of time he spends on stage and in the recording studio.
He is testing new in-ear monitors, which help ease his tinnitus – but frontman Roger Daltrey fears their performance in London last month could be their last, if Townshend’s health problems persist. Daltrey tells Uncut magazine, “If carrying on is going to mean Pete going deaf, let’s stop now. Entering old age is a silent world – nothing is worth that.”
“That (last month’s concert) might have been the last gig. I honestly don’t know. We’re trying to deal with issues that we have never dealt with before. Our bodies are beginning to give up on us. I’ve had voice problems in the past year that I’ve managed to sort out and I’m really enjoying singing again but you have to be realistic – I am 66 years old.”
2010 – AC/DC Triumph in Chart Thanks to ‘Iron Man 2′
The rock band’s songs which are compiled in an album and used as the soundtrack to the Marvel movie is topping the U.K. Albums chart.
AC/DC Triumph in Chart Thanks to ‘Iron Man 2′
See larger image
AC/DC have returned to the top of the U.K. album chart with a little help from Iron Man. The group’s “Iron Man 2″ soundtrack has beaten Paul Weller to the top spot and the rockers are well on course to end Lady GaGa’s run at the top of the European album charts.
“Iron Man 2 – Official Soundtrack” is only AC/DC’s third chart topper in the U.K. Weller’s “Wake Up the Nation” debuted at two on the new countdown, with Meat Loaf’s new album “Hang Cool Teddy Bear” entering the chart at four.
Meanwhile, Diana Vickers’ “Once” tops the new singles chart in the U.K., ahead of “OMG” by Usher.
The sale of “Iron Man 2″ soundtrack could boost the sale of the movie’s tickets as well. Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Mickey Rourke as the hero and the villain respectively, the film is heading to theaters starting May 7.
PINK FLOYD news resource Brain Damage has received a message from RogerWaters.com in regards to yesterday’s announcement of The Wall Live Tour, stating that “more dates, including shows in Europe, will be announced in the near future”.
Waters, co-founder and principal songwriter of the archetypal progressive band Pink Floyd, is commemorating the 30th anniversary of the original release of The Wall with a monumental tour featuring a full band and a newly-mounted state-of-the-art production of his epochal masterpiece of alienation and transformation performed in its entirety.
Up to date details on Roger Waters’ The Wall Tour, and more, may be found on the artist’s newly relaunched and redesigned website, RogerWaters.com. Waters is personally involved with the site and will be communicating with fans through it.
The Wall has been previously performed live in its entirety by Waters just 31 times including Pink Floyd’s 1980-81 tour in support of the album. A spectacular Roger Waters solo staging and performance of the rock opera in July 1990, celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall, drew nearly a half million fans to the Potsdamer Platz.
Roger Waters’ The Wall North American Tour, produced by Live Nation, will open September 15th in Toronto and runs through December 13th at the Anaheim Honda Center (please see full itinerary following).
The New York Times (March 2nd, 1980) declared that “The Wall show remains a milestone in rock history, it will be the touchstone against which all
future rock spectacles must be measured.”
Originally released in November 1979, The Wall was America’s top-selling album of 1980, is one of the top-selling double albums of all time, and
is still in the US Top 5 best-selling albums of all time.
The Wall was made into a metaphorical musical film, directed by Alan Parker with screenplay by Roger Waters, in 1982.
One of the most profoundly influential albums in the history of recorded music, The Wall continues to affect pop culture while resonating with
generations of music fans.
Roger Waters’ The Wall North American Tour Itinerary (find tickets here):
September
15 – Toronto – Air Canada Centre
20 – Chicago – United Center
21 – Chicago – United Center
26 – Pittsburgh – Consol Energy Center
28 – Cleveland – Quicken Loans Arena
30 – Boston – TD Garden
October
5 – New York – Madison Square Garden
8 – Buffalo – HSBC Arena
10 – Washington DC – Verizon Center
12 – Uniondale – Nassau Coliseum
15 – Hartford – XL Center
17 – Ottawa – ScotiaBank Place
19 – Montreal – Bell Centre
22 – Columbus – Schottenstein Center
24 – Detroit – Palace of Auburn Hills
26 – Omaha – Qwest Center
27 – St Paul – Xcel Energy Center
29 – St. Louis – Scottrade Center
30 – Kansas City – Sprint Center
November
3 – New York – Izod Center
8 – Philadelphia – Wachovia Center
9 – Philadelphia – Wachovia Center
13 – Fort Lauderdale – Bank Atlantic Center
16 – Tampa – St. Pete Times Forum
18 – Atlanta – Philips Arena
20 – Houston – Toyota Center
21 – Dallas – American Airlines Center
23 – Denver – Pepsi Center
26 – Las Vegas – MGM Grand Garden Arena
27 – Phoenix – US Airways Center
29 – Los Angeles – The Forum
December
6 – San Jose – HP Pavilion
10 – Vancouver – General Motors Place
11 – Tacoma – Tacoma Dome
13 – Anaheim – Honda Center
2010 – VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has finally made peace with the Beatles, saying their drug use, “dissolute” lives and even the claim that the band was bigger than Jesus are all in the past — while their music lives on.
Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano paid tribute to the Fab Four in its weekend editions, with two articles and a front-page cartoon reproducing the crosswalk immortalized on the cover of the band’s album “Abbey Road.”
The tribute marked the 40th anniversary of the band’s breakup.
“It’s true, they took drugs; swept up by their success, they lived dissolute and uninhibited lives,” said the paper. “They even said they were more famous than Jesus,” it said, recalling John Lennon’s 1966 comment that outraged many Catholics and others.
“But, listening to their songs, all of this seems distant and meaningless,” L’Osservatore said. “Their beautiful melodies, which changed forever pop music and still give us emotions, live on like precious jewels.”
It is not the first time the Vatican has praised the legendary band from Liverpool.
Two years ago, Vatican media hailed the Beatles’ musical legacy on the 40th anniversary of the “White Album.” And last month the Vatican paper included “Revolver” in its semiserious list of top-10 albums.
Now, L’Osservatore says that the Beatles’ songs have stood the test of time, and that the band remains “the longest-lasting, most consistent and representative phenomenon in the history of pop music.”
Giovanni Maria Vian, the editor in chief of L’Osservatore Romano, said Monday that he loves the Beatles.
He said that at the time of Lennon’s sensational statement, Osservatore “commented that in reality it wasn’t that scandalous, because the fascination with Jesus was so great that it attracted these new heroes of the time.”
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