Members of the Romantics have filed a lawsuit against Activision, Harmonix Music Systems, Redoctane and Wavegroup
Sound over the Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks The 80's video game. The band claims that the companies used a sound-alike
recording of their song "What I Like About You" which improperly imitates the band's sound making it
"virtually indistinguishable from the authentic version" and confuses consumers into believing the band
actually recorded and endorsed the product.
Original Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle (a.k.a. Thomas Delmer Pyle), 59, has been arrested for failing to
properly register as a sex offender. He was booked after he went to the sheriff's office to speak with detectives
about a 1993 conviction. Pyle had pled guilty that year to charges of attempted capital sexual battery by an adult
on a victim under the age of 12 and principal to lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 16 years old. He was
ordered to register as a sex offender and was sentenced to 8 years probation. Pyle left Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1981
and formed the Artimus Pyle Band (or A.P.B.) recording several albums in the 1980's and this year released Artimus
Venomus.
Two of the trustees in charge of a portion of James Brown's estate have resigned from their positions over ongoing
questions over Brown's finances. The judge overseeing the administrators is attempting to unravel claims to the
singer's assets. A third trustee, David Cannon, was held in contempt of court for failing to pay $373,000 to the
estate from a previous order by the judge and to cease his position.
Motorhead's Lemmy Kilminster faces a more than $200 fine for smoking a cigarette on stage at the Hallam Arena in
Sheffield, England, while the band were supporting Alice Cooper. The smoking ban in public places started in July.
Other venues on the tour are reportedly being watched for further violations.
Nine Inch Nails new album, Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D, has headed to stores but it seems the band are caught in a legal battle
between Universal Music Group (which is the owner of the master files he made available on NIN.com for fans to
remix) and Google (who owns YouTube) and News Corp. (who owns MySpace.com.) Essentially the band's plans to host
a site allowing fans to remix their material has been scrapped as the other two sites do not have "safe harbor"
under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and Universal hasn't granted the the band permission.
Original E Street Band member, keyboardist Danny Federici, has had to leave the band while on tour to undergo treatment
for melanoma. On Nov. 24th, he was replaced with Charles Giordano from Springsteen's Sessions band.
King Diamond's North American tour starting in March has been canceled due to a herniated disc. According to the
singer, it could take 18 months for a severe herniated disc to heal properly.
Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea lost his $4.8 million home last week when a second fire swept through the Malibu
area engulfing 49 homes. He reportedly has two homes in the area as he had recently purchased a home in the area
for more than $10 million and the home that was destroyed was in the hills west of the Corral Canyon. Also damaged
by the fire was Axl Rose's home. Undamaged but postponed were the proceedings set for today (Nov. 26th) in the
post-divorce case involving financial issues between Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx and Donna D'Errico as she was
unable to return to her Malibu home to retrieve her case files.
Patti LaBelle has been honored with the famed Legacy Award, the highest International honor in music, at the 2007
World Music Awards.
After releasing 50 albums, 71 year-old Charlie Daniels has been invited to become the newest member of the Grand
Ole Opry. He will officially be inducted during a performance later this winter.
Celine Dion's Taking Chances has debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart selling 214,000 copies. Garth Brooks'
The Ultimate Hits dropped to #5 on 204,000 sold followed by the Eagles' Long Road Out Of Eden at #6, Led Zeppelin's
Mothership at #7, George Strait's 22 More Hits at #13, the Goo Goo Dolls' Greatest Hits, Volume 1, The Singles
at #33 and Duran Duran's Red Carpet Massacre at #36.
Led Zeppelin's Mothership dropped a place to the #5 spot on the U.K. Album chart last week. The Eagles' Long Road
Out Of Eden held onto #6. Celine Dion's Taking Chances fell 5 notches to #10. Whitney Houston's The Ultimate Collection
slid a spot to #13. Eric Clapton's Complete Clapton climbed six places to #19.
Deborah Gibson has signed on as a judge on Total Pop Star. The online series offers a chance to win a record contract
and prizes worth over $150,000. The first episode (and all following episodes) can be seen at TotalPopStar.com.
Motley Crue's Vince Neil is scheduled to perform the National Anthem tonight (Nov. 26th) for ESPN Monday Night
Football's Pittsburgh Steelers' home game against the Miami Dolphins.
Tangerine Dream plan to release a few new items before the end of the year including a new studio album, One Times
One, and the double-CD 'best of' compilation, Booster. The items are available only at www.tangerinedream-music.com.
Fans of Asia may find themselves confused as there are two band Web sites OriginalAsia.com and TheAsiaBand.com.
To clarify things for you, the original members of Asia have reformed and have been touring and the other members
of the band are continuing as Asia featuring John Payne. The latter have hired keyboardist Erik Norlander and started
recording their new album, Architect Of Time, due out next year.
Queensryche recently announced that they have started work on a new studio album (containing all new material)
with plans for a fall release.
Billy Bragg will release his follow-up to 2002's England, Half English in March under the title Mr. Love And Justice.
Bragg released the box set Volume II last month.
It seems that there is more clarification on the proposed 2008 Jackson Five reunion tour. According to an interview
with BBC6 Music, Jermaine Jackson expect Michael on board. "He has to be, he is a Jackson. He was at the meetings.
Michael will be involved." New material is being recorded by the Jacksons as they work out tour plans.
Jetboy recently released their new DVD/CD, The Glam Years - Movie And CD, via Cleopatra/Deadline Records. The set
includes 21 tracks of old demos, their 1986 performance at the Whiskey A Go-Go and more. They start touring this
month with Ratt vocalist Stephen Pearcy who expects to release his new solo album, Under My Skin, in a couple months.
During an interview with Billboard.com, Paul McCartney mentioned that he has plans to record with his son James
but there isn't anything set yet. Meanwhile, the elder McCartney has been spotted with 48 year-old actress Rosanna
Arquette by The News Of The World.
Extreme have announced they are planning their return in the spring with their first new album of new material
in 13 years. A release date, label and title for the album have yet to be determined but guitarist Nuno Bettencourt
will produce and the band have added new drummer Kevin Figueiredo.
Sparks have announced that they will perform each of their 20 albums at 20 shows chronologically during dates next
May and June. A 21st performance during the final show is expected to feature a performance of their currently-untitled
next studio album.
Tesla plan to release a 7-track collection of music recorded live in the studio entitled A Peace Of Time during
the holidays. The disc includes versions of their own songs, covers (including the Climax Blues Band's "I
Love You") and an acoustic solo version of "Silent Night." You can hear samples at TeslaTheBand.com.
According to Billboard magazine, My Bloody Valentine plan to release their first new studio album since 1991 by
themselves via the Internet although a vinyl release is also probable.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, David Hasselhoff has begun talks that would see him reprise his role as Michael
Knight in a Knight Rider TV movie with hopes it will relaunch a new series of the same name. No word on what, if
any, role in the possible series there would be for Hasselhoff. Meanwhile, he has been working on a new scripted
series for E! (similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm) entitled Tales From The Hoff and remains a judge on America's Got
Talent.
Phil Lewis of L.A. Guns has a new compilation available entitled Gypsy which contains some of his favorite remixes,
alternate versions and live recordings going back as far as 1980. A link to purchase can be found at his and the
band's MySpace page.
The 10th anniversary of Michael Hutchence's death was on Nov. 22nd and INXS have launched an area of their site
(http://www.inxs.com/mhtribute/) with videos, photos and memories of the singer.
Grace Jones is reportedly finishing work on her first new studio album since 1989. The album, Corporate Cannibal,
is expected to feature Brian Eno and Tricky. A video has reportedly been filmed for the title track.
A final list of contestants has been announced for NBC's Celebrity Apprentice and Gene Simmons will be among those
competing to raise over $1 million for their charities throughout the season beginning Jan. 3rd.
Gang Of Four have posted two new demos ("Password" and "Second Life") to bassist Dave Allen's
personal music blog (http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/) with plans to post two more tracks ("Faking It"
and "American Man") there.
UB40's Ali Campbell has released his next single, a cover of Charles & Eddie's 1992 hit "Would I Lie To
You," from his solo album, Running Free, as a download available only at iTunes. A video is also up at YouTube
at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l0xOhhDOeI
Ray Davies' second solo album, Working Man's Cafe, will be released in the U.S. on Feb. 19th via New West/Ammal.
The album was released internationally last month and will be released in standard, deluxe CD/DVD and a vinyl edition
(which is in the works.)
Willie Nelson has filmed a television ad supporting an anti-dogfighting bill in Georgia. The ad has "Georgia
On My Mind" playing in the background as Nelson talks about the currently weak dogfighting laws.
Expect a box set before a new studio album from Jesus And Mary Chain. The band have been working with Rhino Records
on a 4-disc box set of rarities from the vaults with a March release in sight. Their new studio album is tentatively
a late spring/early summer release.
Yes' Chris Squire will release his new 13-track album, Swiss Choir, which reworks classic baroque Christmas carols.
Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett appears on the album.
The Fleshtones will release their new Ivan Julian-produced studio album, Take A Good Look, via Yep Roc on Jan.
22nd.
Quiet Riot vocalist Kevin DuBrow, 52, was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Nov. 25th by friends. An official
cause of his death has yet to be determined and authorities are currently investigating. No suspicious circumstances
or forced entry at the house were reported. The singer was reportedly in good health when celebrating his birthday
in New Orleans last month. Drummer Frankie Banali has shuttered his official Web site posting only "I can't
even find words to say. Please respect my privacy as I mourn the passing and honor the memory of my dearest friend
Kevin DuBrow." Quiet Riot was the first metal act to debut at #1 on the Billboard's album chart, with Metal
Health, and scored a #1 hit with their cover of Slade's "Cum On Feel The Noize." The band regrouped in
2006 for their last album, Rehab.
Steel guitar player John Hughey, 73, died on Nov. 18th in Nashville from a heart attack and stroke. He worked on
albums for George Strait, Ronnie Milsap, Steve Wariner, Dolly Parton, Sylvia, Keith Whitley and Con Hunley during
the 80's and since worked with Vince Gill, George Jones, Sammy Kershaw, Marty Stuart, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson,
Conway Twitty, Ricky Skaggs and Shania Twain. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1996.