The Allman Brothers Band filed a lawsuit on
Monday
against UMG Recordings for over $10 million seeking the correct
payments from the "digital exploitation of the Capricorn
Masters." The band's first label was Capricorn Records which
they scored several hits on from 1969 to 1980.
Jackson Browne has filed a lawsuit against Republican presidential
candidate John McCain over the use of a portion of his hit "Running On
Empty" in a campaign ad against Democratic nominee Barack
Obama. Browne is seeking to prohibit any of his songs use in
the McCain campaign and is asking for unspecified damages.
According to his lawyer, "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong
commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the
misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely
reprehensible, and I have no doubt that a jury will agree."
Browne releases his new album, Time The Conqueror, next month.
According to the lawyer for Gary Glitter [a.k.a. Paul Gadd], the singer
will be deported to the U.K. on Tuesday after completing his 27-month
sentence for molesting two 11 year-old girls in Vietnam in 2005.
John Lennon's shooter, Mark David Chapman, was denied parole for his
5th time. Chapman is currently serving a sentence of 20
years-to-life in Attica prison for the 1980 slaying.
De La Soul, Too $hort and Slick Rick are among the acts that will be
celebrated during the 5th annual VH1 Hip-Hop Honors airing Oct. 7th.
Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry has been named as the recipient of this
year's BMI Icon Award to take place in London on Oct. 7th.
The Mamma Mia! soundtrack climbed two places to steal the top spot on
the Billboard 200 albums chart on sales of 130,000 copies.
Randy Newman's Harps And Angels debuted at #30 selling 16,000
copies. Journey's Revelation fell 12 spots to #35.
ABBA's Gold: Greatest Hits retained the #1 spot on the U.K. Albums
chart. Billy Joel's Piano Man: The Very Best Of Billy Joel
climbed 2 places to #11. The Mamma Mia! soundtrack gained 8
spots to #16. Madonna's Hard Candy fell two places to
#18. Neil Diamond's The Best Of Neil Diamond held onto
#23. Neil Diamond's Home Before Dark climbed 4 spots to
#26. Paul Weller's 22 Dreams gained 4 places to
#32. Bob Marley & The Wailers' Legend re-entered the
chart at #36. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss' Raising
Sand also re-entered the chart at #39.
The Bureau (which formed in 1981 when several original members of
Dexy's Midnight Runners members broke away from the band and teamed up
with keyboardist Mick Talbot -- later of the Style Council) have
reunited and will release, ...And Another Thing, their first new studio
album in 27 years. Their debut album -- originally released
only in Canada and Australia -- was reissued in 2007.
Live At Red Rocks, U2's first concert video, will be released on DVD
via Interscope/Island/UME on Sept. 30th and will include the remastered
CD of their 1983 live album Under A Blood Red Sky in a deluxe
version. Meanwhile, U2 fansite atU2.com has reported that the
new studio album will be titled No Line On The Horizon when released in
November.
Living Colour will release a new live album, CBGBs OMFUG Masters: The
Bowery Collection, on Oct. 28th. The 12-track set was
recorded in 2005 for a CBGBs benefit.
John Waite, Southside Johnny and Chris Thompson are among the guest
vocalists on The Keith Reid Project's The Common Thread album which can
be purchased at www.rockville-music.com.
The Cult have reportedly ended their association with Roadrunner
Records (who released their latest album, Born Into This.)
Tina Turner will be releasing an 18-track career retrospective entitled
Tina! on Sept. 30th via Capitol/EMI. The disc will include
hits, rare live recordings and two new songs ("It Would Be A Crime" and
"I'm Ready") and coincide with her world tour.
The video for, "Tomorrow," the second single from Sixx: A.M.'s Heroin
Diaries album has been released on YouTube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J9oSWE8Now
Stevie B has been working with Gabriel Antonio. He plans to
release his new single, "I Wanna Be The One," featuring Antonio in
October. Meanwhile, Gabriel Antonio will release "I Love The
Way" featuring Stevie B.
Todd Rundgren's new studio album, Arena, will be released via Hi-Fi
Recordings in North America on Sept. 30th (via Cooking Vinyl in the
U.K. the day before.)
Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor recently started talking to HBO about the
possible creation of a two-season television series based on the
storyline behind his 2007 album Year Zero. A second album
that expands upon Year Zero is also in future plans.
George Benson will see the re-release of his Absolutely Live DVD on
Sept. 16th via Eagle Eye Media. A mini-documentary, The
Making Of Absolutely Live, is included on the disc.
Morrissey's Live At The Hollywood Bowl DVD will be released in the U.K.
on Oct. 6th via Warner Music Entertainment. Meanwhile, Jerry
Finn who produced his You Are The Quarry and upcoming Years Of Refusal
albums was taken off life support on Saturday after a decision was made
by his family. The 39 year-old producer suffered a massive
brain hemorrhage last month. TrueToYou.net has reported that
Years Of Refusal will be pushed back to a Feb. 2nd release.
Tesla have announced that they will release their seventh studio album,
Forever More, via Tesla Electric Company Recordings on Oct.
7th. The first single, "I Wanna Live," heads to radio
stations on Aug. 18th.
Although Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford reunited for an upcoming U.S.
tour, they have not discussed work on a new Squeeze album as they have
been busy with their solo releases.
"The Bullet Train" has been announced as the first single from The Blow
Monkeys' reunion album, Devil's Tavern. The song becomes
available for download on Aug. 18th.
Waylon Jennings' final recordings will be released on an 8-track album
that features his son Shooter Jennings with his band the 357's backing
him. Waylon Forever is due out Oct. 21st.
Uriah Heep will release their 21st studio album, Wake The Sleeper, via
Universal Music on Aug. 26th. The album is their first
without long-standing and original drummer Lee Kerslake who had to
leave the band due to health issues last year.
The Vodafone Live Music Awards 2008 have started taking fan votes for
this year's awards. Iron Maiden recently advised their fans
to "please don't go looking to cast your votes for us. As we
are not quite sure where we are returning from, we have asked them to
remove us from the nominations and they have done this." To
correct the error, James will now join Led Zeppelin in the category of
Best Live Return.
Indigo Girls' Amy Ray has released her third solo album, Didn't It Feel
Kinder, via Koch Records last week.
J.D. Souther will release, If The World Was You, his first new studio
album in 24 years on Oct. 14th.
TNT's new studio album will be titled Atlantis when released in Japan
and Scandinavia on Sept. 22nd. This is their first release
with former Shy vocalist Tony Mills.
Yes, anything we say about Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy has to be
taken as speculation but... that Dr. Pepper could be on its
way. Word is surfacing of negotiations with a big retailer
for an exclusive release. The band is currently managed by
Irving Azoff's Front Line Management who notably have had success with
the Eagles and Journey's albums in deals with Wal-Mart.
Will Smith reportedly plans to revisit the character of Dr. Robert
Neville for a prequel to I Am Legend. A script is in the
works.
The first single from Grace Jones' new studio album, Hurricane, will be
"Corporate Cannibal" when made available as a download-only release on
Aug. 25th.
A specially-packaged double-CD/DVD Earth, Wind & Fire set
entitled Live In Japan heads to stores on Aug. 26th via Eagle Rock
Entertainment. The set was recorded in 1990 during band
leader/songwriter/producer Maurice White's final tour with the group
promoting their Heritage album.
Trace Adkins and 38 Special will tape an episode of CMT Crossroads next
week (Aug.19th) that will premiere on Sept. 24th.
Two different films about the life of Dusty Springfield are in the
pipeline with Nicole Kidman producing and starring in one.
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark will release their Sight &
Sound CD and DVD on Sept. 22nd which will include a mash-up remix with
Groove Armada entitled "Dazzle Ships At The River."
The Del Fuegos will see their 1984 debut album, The Longest Day, 1985's
Boston, Mass. and 1987's Stand Up will be reissued by Wounded Bird
Records next week.
Bette Midler has a new retrospective on the way entitled Jackpot: The
Best Bette aptly titled and timed with her current Las Vegas residency
at Caesars Palace.
Duff McKagan's Loaded have signed a deal with Century Media Records for
the release of their 5-song EP, Wasted Heart, due out in
September. A full-length album is expected early next year.
Lucinda Williams has been working on her 9th studio album, Little
Honey, due out Oct. 14th. The set will include guest
appearance by Susanna Hoffs, Matthew Sweet, Elvis Costello, Jim
Lauderdale and Charlie Louvin.
Tiffany has released her new single, "Just Another Day," via Perfect
Beat. It can be ordered at PerfectBeat.com and is expected to
hit iTunes soon.
According to Foreigner's Web site, the band has taped interviews and 5
acoustic songs (including their new single "Too Late") for
A&E's Private Sessions which could air as early as Aug. 24th.
Tom Jones has plans to record a new duets album and reportedly has his
eye on fellow Welsh singer Duffy.
Ultravox will see their 1980 album Vienna and 1981's Rage In Eden
released as remastered and expanded double-CD versions on Sept. 22nd in
the U.K. The sets will include the original remastered album
with b-sides, remixes and live versions.
James Brown's Double Dynamite DVD will be released via MVD on Sept.
30th containing performances from 1980 and 1985.
Dion will release his new studio effort, Heroes: Giants Of Early Guitar
Rock, via Saguaro Road Records on Sept. 30th.
Madonna celebrates her 50th birthday on Saturday.
Steel guitarist Don Helms, 81, died from a heart attack on Aug. 11th at
Nashville's Skyline Medical Center. Helms was the last member
of Hank Williams' original Drifting Cowboys band and played for many
other artists including Ray Price, Hank Williams Jr. and Hank Williams
III.
Grammy-winning soul singer Isaac Hayes, 65, died of an apparent stroke
on Sunday at his Memphis, Tennessee, home. He was found
unconscious near a still-running treadmill by his wife. Hayes
released four studio albums (1980's And Once Again, 1981's Lifetime
Thing, 1981's U-Turn and 1988's Love Attack) as well as a #18 1980 U.S.
hit single, "Don't Let Go," in the decade before focusing more on
acting. Eerily, Hayes died the day after Bernie Mac who
co-stars with him in the upcoming film Soul Men.
English-born Australian singer Christie Allen lost her battle with
pancreatic cancer on Aug. 12th. Allen was diagnosed with the
disease in March. After being signed to Mushroom Records, she
scored several substantial hits on her 1979 debut album, Magic Rhythm
and 1980's follow-up, Detour. She was also named Most Popular
Female Artist at the Countdown Music Awards in 1979 and 1980.
But a long illness followed and prevented her from adequately promoting
her career and she retired. After recovering, she started
singing again as a vocalist with country music acts in the '90s.