Scotland's Bay City Rollers have filed a lawsuit against Arista Records alleging the label failed to pay millions
of dollars in royalties (from albums, CDs, merchandise, multimedia licenses and rights to ringtones, movies and
commercials) to the group over the last 25 years. The suit claims a single payment of $254,392 was made in September
of 1997 and is the only one they received. The label claims that they have been holding on to royalties as they
do not know who is entitled to them.
Vocalist Grace Slick and manager Bill Thompson filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in California federal court against former
Jefferson Airplane/Starship member Paul Kantner for violating trademark rights and an $80,000 legal settlement
he signed in 1985. Slick is the majority shareholder in Jefferson Starship Inc. and in a previous lawsuit Kantner
promised never to perform as Jefferson Starship and never to use the names "Jefferson" or "Airplane"
without consent from Slick. According to the lawsuit, Kantner has been performing under variations of the names
starting in 1991and even signed a deal earlier this year with Microsoft Corp. allowing them to use the Starship
name in promoting the new Vista operating system at free concerts.
Iron Maiden drummer Michael "Nicko" McBrain was recently caught doing 116 MPH on the M74 motorway near
Lockerbie, Scotland and has been banned from driving in the U.K. for 6 months (and fined £500) after pleading
guilty.
Singer/songwriter Jackson Browne is among this year's inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which recognizes
the work of composers and lyricists who create popular music worldwide.
Paul McCartney has officially become the first artist signed to Hear Music, the new record label formed by Starbucks
and the Concord Music Group. McCartney's first album in the deal is due out in early June.
Actor/comedian Chris Rock has collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on a video for the group's 4th U.S. single,
"Hump de Bump," from their multiple Grammy-winning, double-platinum album Stadium Arcadium. The band
are still holding a contest where fans are creating videos for their upcoming single, "Charlie."
The Beat (or the English Beat here in the U.S.) vocalist/guitarist Dave Wakeling has decided to tour under the
band name this year for performances for the first time in over two decades. The group has signed on to support
INXS' U.K. tour starting in June. They are also scheduled to perform with UB40 on Aug. 26th at Los Angeles' Greek
Theatre.
The Traveling Wilburys' two albums (1988's Traveling Wilburys Volume 1 and 1990's Traveling Wilburys Volume 3)
will be reissued by Rhino Entertainment on June 12th with rare and previously-unreleased bonus tracks. Members
of the supergroup included George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison (who died prior to
Volume 3.)
Last week we mentioned the debut of Peter Kay and Matt Lucas' remake of the Proclaimers 1988 hit "I'm Gonna
Be (500 Miles)" at #3 on the U.K. Singles charts. This week, the song claimed the top spot on the chart. More
information about the song has come out. The single does raise money for charity but it's the BBC's Children In
Need. Kay and Lucas performed the song as their disabled characters Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin at the BBC's Comic
Relief 2007 with the Proclaimers. Well worth seeing the video at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OEMYYNLbEtw Meanwhile,
the success of the song has sent the Proclaimers original version of the song back onto the U.K. chart at #26.
Poison guitarist C.C. Deville (a.k.a. Bruce Johannesson) and longtime girlfriend Shannon Malone welcomed their
first child on Mar. 15th. Their son, Vallon Deville Johannesson, weighed in at 7 lbs. 2oz.
According to Sharon Osbourne, Ozzfest will be a "Freefest" during this the 12th year of the event. The
24-city tour starts in Seattle, Washington, on July 12th. Fans can expect Ozzy to return to headlining the tour
as it is believed that he will unveil a few new songs from his new studio album while on the road.
This week Peggy Seeger releases a 28-track double-disc set entitled Three Score And Ten which features performances
by Billy Bragg, Pete Seeger and Mike Seeger.
REO Speedwagon have been delivering copies of their upcoming CD, Find Your Own Way Home, and the album's first
two singles ("I Needed To Fall" and "Smilin' In The End.") The album is due out on Apr. 3rd
and an exclusive limited-edition 3-disc box set version will be available at Wal-Mart stores which contains the
original album, a live performance of the entire Hi Infidelity album with 3 live video clips and a DVD of unplugged
acoustic versions of 4 of their classic tracks as well as 3 from the new album with interviews.
Mick Jagger revealed during a cybercast that a 4-DVD live set from their A Bigger Bang tour will be released in
May or June. The year will also see Martin Scorcese's concert film shot last fall at New York's Beacon Theatre.
A double-CD collection, Lost Tracks Of Danzig, containing previously-unreleased material by the band from their
1988 self-titled debut up to present will be released on May 29th.
U2's The Edge has donated his favorite guitar ever (a 1975 Gibson Les Paul he's been playing for years) to an auction
benefiting the Music Rising charity.
Paul Rodgers plans to release his first solo DVD, Live In Glasgow, on May 29th and its companion CD on Apr. 17th.
The set was recorded last October during his 2006 U.K. tour. The DVD includes two new songs ("Warboys (A Prayer
For Peace)" and "Far Distant Shore.")
White Lion's Mike Tramp has nearly finished work on a DVD featuring his solo material. Meanwhile he is focusing
on a new White Lion album.
According to ExtraTv.com, Michael Jackson's spokesperson Raymone K. Bain has confirmed that the singer is not selling
his Beatles catalogue to any individual or entity and has no interest or intention to do so. According to the New
York Daily News, A 50-foot robotic replica of the singer is being planned for Las Vegas if the singer launches
a show there.
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult are previewing their new song, "TV Sista," on their MySpace site. The
song comes from their new studio album, The Filthiest Show In Town, due out on Apr. 3rd.
Sammy Hagar And The Wabos release their new live DVD, Livin' It Up Live!, on June 19th via Image Entertainment.
The performance was recorded during their 2006 U.S. tour date in St. Louis.
Elton John's performance at New York's Madison Square Garden last night celebrated his 60th birthday as well as
60th performance at the venue (the most by a single artist.) More than 30 of John's albums will become available
for the first time as digital downloads via iTunes exclusively from Mar. 26th to Apr. 30th.
"Weird Al" Yankovic's latest music video, "Trapped In The Drive-Thru," will be available exclusively
on MySpace from Mar. 19th to Apr. 15th. The 11-minute video is a take on R. Kelly's "Trapped In The Closet."
KRS-One has teamed up with executive producer Marley Marl for the new album Hip-Hop Lives which is due out May
22nd via Koch.
The Adolescents are currently composing new material for a follow-up to 2005's OC Confidential due out later this
year or early next.
Survivor will be performing live on ABC's Dancin' With The Stars on Apr. 3rd. The group, which now features vocalist
Robin McAuley, will play their classic hit "Eye Of The Tiger."
The Flaming Lips album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is reportedly being reworked into a Broadway musical by
the band, Aaron Sorkin and Tony award-winning director Des McAnuff.
Nine Inch Nails' new single, "Survivalism," has climbed to #4 on the Billboard's Modern Rock chart and
entered the singles chart at #68. Meanwhile, Trent Reznor has told Gigwise that he is now feeling more creative
than ever after fighting his way back to sobriety and can now write music while on tour.
Barbra Streisand will release her new album, Live In Concert 2006, on May 8th via Columbia. The 23-track double-disc
set includes tracks recorded at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center and New York's Madison Square Garden during her
tour. Three tracks on the release are collaborations with her opening act Il Divo ("Evergreen," "The
Music Of The Night" and "Somewhere.")
The new single, "Healing," by Ade Fenton vs Gary Numan will now be released on Apr. 30th. The date was
pushed back due to late filming of the "Healing" video.
R.E.M.'s cover of John Lennon's "#9 Dream" was the most added song at AAA radio stations in the U.S.
and has entered the top 30 on the U.K. and Irish singles charts. The song is the lead single from the Instant Karma:
The Campaign To Save Darfur album with proceeds from sales going to Amnesty International's Campaign to Save Darfur.
Sanctuary Records has signed Tigertailz to a new deal which will start with their new studio effort, Thrill Pistol,
due out as early as August. That album will be available as a double-CD that includes a bonus disc containing the
unreleased album, Wazbones.
Bruce Hornsby has been commissioned by the New York production firm Playwrights Horizons to write music for a new
musical that is tentatively-titled "SCKBSTD."
Stevie B. has recorded a guest appearance on the reggaeton track "Forgive Me" from the duo Bats N Rome.
Rush will release their first new studio album in nearly 5 years, Snakes & Arrows, in the U.K. via Atlantic
Records on Apr. 30th preceeded by the new single, "Far Cry." A U.K. arena tour will begin in October.
The album will be released on May 1st in the U.S. and the single debuted last week at #29 on Billboard's Mainstream
Rock chart.
Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics has composed a new song for Earth Day on behalf of Green Peace which will be released
via iTunes on Apr. 17th. "Go Green" features vocals by many female artists including Sarah McLachlan,
Bonnie Raitt, Imogen Heap and bandmate Annie Lennox.
KMFDM have announced that their 15th studio album will be titled TOHUVABOHU when released via Metropolis and KMFDM
Records on Aug. 15th.
Steve Vai has plans to start work on his Real Illusions Part 2 but first will record a live album from his upcoming
tour.
Rhino Entertainment's Rhino Handmade imprint plans to release a 41-track double-CD set entitled Buck Owens: The
Warner Bros Recordings in a 5,000 copy limited edition run. The songs were recorded by Owens from 1976 to 1988.
Great White keyboardist Michael Lardie is producing the group's new studio album which celebrates their 25 years
together. Currently, the material has moved into the mixing stage.
"No Such Thing" will be the first single released to U.S. rock radio outlets this week from Chris Cornell's
upcoming solo album, Carry On, due out June 5th via Suretone/Interscope.
New Model Army have entered the recording studio to begin work on their follow-up to Carnival. The band plan to
release the album world-wide at the end of the summer.
Deborah Gibson appeared on the Fox News special Britney Spears: Toxic Exposure on Saturday night with a re-airing
last night. She was also expected to appear last night on the series finale of NBC's Grease: You're The One That
I Want but didn't.
Loverboy are reportedly in the mixing stage of their new studio album. The group will then start looking for a
record label with plans to release the album in the middle of the year.
Prefab Sprout's 1985 Thomas Dolby-produced album, Steve McQueen, will be reissued in the U.K. on Apr. 2nd as a
special double-disc set. The second disc will include acoustic renditions of songs from the album.
Nick Lowe will release his first new studio effort in nearly 6 years, At My Age, on June 26th via Yep Roc. The
12-track disc will also feature a guest appearance by Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders.
Bon Jovi's new first single, "(You Want To) Make A Memory," from their upcoming album, Lost Highway,
will head to radio stations this week.
Waylon Jennings' 1980 single, "Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)," has been certified by
the Recording Industry of America as a Platinum Mastertone with sales of over 1 million ringtones.
Beowulf will release their new studio album on Apr. 24th. One track from the album is being previewed on the MySpace
page for I Scream Records.
Cyndi Lauper has been working on, Savoir Faire, her first new studio album since 2003's At Last. The album is expected
as early as July.
Alexander Robotnick (a.k.a. Maurizio Dami) will release his new 13-track disk, My La(te)st Album, on May 7th via
Hot Elephant. For this release, he used most of the analog synths that he used on the singles he released in the
early 1980s.
Glass Tiger are reportedly spending time in the studio working on a new album.
R&B singer/songwriter Luther Ingram, 69, succumbed to kidney disease on Mar. 19th. Ingram had undergone a kidney
transplant several years ago. Although Ingram is best known for his 1972 hit, "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I
Don't Want To Be Right," he continued recording into the mid-1980s including a 1986 self-titled album.
46 year-old Bill Sabo, the original drummer for Cleveland metal act Shok Paris, suffered heart failure and died
on Mar. 16th. A memorial service is planned for Mar. 31st. Sabo coined the band's name and co-wrote all of the
songs on their 1984 debut album, Go For The Throat. Sabo left the group to pursue other musical interests before
their next album.