Ronnie James Dio was interviewed by KIAH TV and
said,
"Cancer, I'll kick the hell outta you.", when talking about his battle
with a tumor in his stomach that is responding well to chemotherapy
treatment. "I'm lucky that I'm a hard person in terms of my
beliefs." Heaven And Hell have started booking some
performances for later this year.
The American Red Cross has named Wynonna Judd, LL Cool J and Reba
McEntire to their National Celebrity Cabinet. The cabinet is
a group of celebrity supporters who promote Red Cross services by
donating their time, helping neighbors prepare for emergencies,
responding to disasters and lending a helping hand to those in need.
Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin will be inducted into the hall of
fame at the Apollo Theatre in New York on June 14th.
Sade's Soldier Of Love fell 5 places to #11 on the Billboard 200 albums
chart. Gorillaz's Plastic Beach dropped 7 spots to
#16. The Scorpions' Sting In The Tail debuted at
#23. The Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel climbed 4
places to #30. The Crazy Heart soundtrack dropped 6 spots to
#38.
Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe" off their album, Backspacer, retained the
#78 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
The Chieftain's are seeing some success as they hold the #1 spot on the
Billboard Top Latin Albums Chart with, San Patricio, their tribute to
the ill-fated battalion of mostly Irish soldiers who abandoned the U.S.
army during the Mexican-American War and crossed the border to fight
alongside the Mexicans. The album includes guest appearances
by Linda Ronstadt and Ry Cooder.
Glee Cast's Glee: The Music: Season One Vol. 2 dropped 3 spots to #5 on
the U.K. Albums chart. Glee Cast's Glee: The Music: Season
One Vol. 1 fell 5 places to #11. Gorillaz's Plastic Beach
dropped 8 spots to #12. Journey's Greatest Hits fell 9 places
to #27. Whitney Houston's The Ultimate Collection climbed 4
spots to #35. The Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
soundtrack retained the #39 position.
Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" climbed 7 spots to #21 on the U.K.
Singles chart. Glee Cast's "Don't Stop Believin'" climbed a
place to #24.
The Scorpions' new and final album, Sting In The Tail, had a great
debut week taking the top spots on the Greek and German
charts. The album also went top 10 showings in Korea (#2),
Czech Republic (#3), Switzerland (#6), Austria (#6), Russian Federation
(#6) and Finland (#6.)
Inspired by his twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, Ricky Martin opened up
about his sexuality on his Web site. "I am proud to say that
I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who
I am. This is just what I need, especially now that I am the
father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who, with
their outlook, teach me new things every day. To keep living
as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that
my kids where [sic] born with."
Ozzy Osbourne's new song, "Let Me Hear You Scream," debuts on CSI: NY
on Apr. 14th at 10pm. The song is the first to surface off of
Osbourne's upcoming album, Scream, due out in the summer.
Meanwhile, Blizzard Of Ozz, a concert film from Osbourne's 1982 tour,
will be released on DVD on June 29th. The June 12, 1982
performance at Irvine Meadows amphitheatre took place just months after
the passing of guitarist Randy Rhoads.
Frontiers Records has announced the release of, Facemelter, the first
new Y&T studio album in 13 years due out May 21st in Europe.
NOFX vocalist/bassist "Fat Mike" Burkett has been 86-ed from ever
performing at Austin, Texas' Emo's Annex after a practical joke went a
overboard. According to TMZ, Mike was performing as his alter
ego Cokie The Clown. He took a shot of tequila from a bottle,
passed it around to the crowd and started talking about some rough
topics (like a friend's suicide and killing his mother.) He
then showed the crowd a video he shot before the performance showing
him peeing in the tequila bottle he served to fans. Austin's
Health Department last week said it was investigating Burkett's actions.
A new Delerium career-encompassing collection, Remixed: The Definitive
Collection, can now be purchased at iTunes and includes two versions of
their hit dance single, "Silence," featuring Sarah McLachlan.
The Steve Miller Band will release their first new studio albums in 17
years -- starting with, Bingo!, his blues covers set due out June
15th. A companion album of R&B covers is expected
next year.
Canadian metal act Thor have announced plans to re-issue their 1985
album, Only The Strong, this year with a CD release party scheduled for
Apr. 17th in Vancouver.
U2 360° At The Rose Bowl will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on
June 3rd. The performance was filmed during their biggest
show in 2009 with an audience of more than 97,000 attending.
Vocalist Ruby James has been working with producer/guitarist Charlie
Sexton on her sophomore album, Happy Now.
Lou Reed has directed a 28-minute documentary on his 99 year-old cousin
Shirley Novick (a.k.a. Red Shirley.) The movie will premiere
on May 20th at the Visions du Reel festival in Switzerland.
John Norum will release his new studio album, Yard Play Blues, via
Mascot Records on May 17th (with a bonus track for the Japanese
release.)
Alice Cooper recently announced on his radio show, Nights With Alice
Cooper, that he's already started work on his follow-up to 2008's Along
Came A Spider. About 10 demos have been done and he is
tentatively calling it The Night Shift.
Anthrax are mulling over plans for the music they've recorded with
recently ousted vocalist Dan Nelson. According to John Bush,
who has returned to the band, they have asked him about re-recording
the vocals for the album but he's been a little conflicted about
it. Legal issues may have them only put out a track as a
single or release an EP from the material.
OMD have announced that they are in the mixing phase for the next few
weeks on material for their new studio album, History Of
Modern. Negotiations with record labels are ongoing and an
announcement is expected at the end of the month.
Danzig will release, Deth Red Sabaoth, their first new studio album in
6 years via Evilive/The End Records on June 22nd.
U.K. punk band GBH have announced plans to release their 11th studio
album, Perfume And Piss, via Hellcat Records on Apr. 6th.
Madonna is taking her latest fashion collection, Material Girl, into an
affordable juniors' clothing line debuting this fall at Macy's thanks
to the help of 13 year-old daughter Lourdes.
Guitarist Steve Cropper (of Booker T. and the MGs) and
vocalist/keyboardist Felix Cavaliere (of the Rascals) have teamed for
their second collaboration, Midnight Flyer, on June 15th via Stax
Records.
The Cure have plans to reissue their classic 1989 album,
Disintegration, as a deluxe 3-disc set on May 24th containing the
remastered original, 20 unreleased out-takes and demos and, Entreat, a
disc of their 1989 live performance of the album at the London's
Wembley Arena bolstered with four 'missing' songs recorded during the
tour.
Alien Sex Fiend will release their new studio album, Death Trip, on May
3rd via 13th Moon Records on CD, digital download and limited edition
vinyl LP.
Three workers were injured when part of the stage being set up for
Elton John's weekend performance at Mexico's famed Chichen Itza ruins
collapsed during construction. One worker was hospitalized
and two were treated for slight injuries and then released.
The event is not expected to be canceled and there apparently was no
damage to the 1,200 year-old Mayan ruins.
Jazz guitarist Herb Ellis, 88, reportedly died on Mar. 28th in his Los
Angeles home. He had been dealing with Alzheimer's
disease. Ellis' career spanned 6 decades, saw him inducted
into the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame and work with a who's who of jazz
greats including Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Oscar
Peterson, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Buddy Rich, Mel
Torme, Lou Rawls, Dizzy Gillespie, Peggy Lee, Randy Newman and Billie
Holiday among others.