VVN Music: October 2010

Top Albums By Veteran Artists Around the World

The highest charting album by a veteran artist on each country's album chart:

Australia
All For You: The Best of Cold Chisel - Cold Chisel (#22)

Austria
Ihre Grössten Erfolge - Die Paldauer (#16)

Belgium
Goe Poeier! - Urbanus (#11)

Denmark
Tiden Brænder - Sanne Salomonsen (#13)

Finland
Tummansininen Sävel - Topi Sorsakoski (#13)

France
Lys & Love - Laurent Voulzy (#4)

Ireland
Greatest Hits - Bon Jovi (#30)

Italy
Grande Nazione - Litfiba (#1)

Mexico
XXV Años en Vivo - Pandora (#15)

Netherlands
50 Words for Snow - Kate Bush (#29)

New Zealand
A Foot in the Door: The Best of - Pink Floyd (#10)

Norway
The Best of 25 Years - Sting (#5)

Poland
The Best of 25 Years - Sting (#22)

Portugal
Best of - Cesaria Evora (#13)

Spain
1 (Volume 1) - Julio Iglesias (#5)

Sweden
Stans Bästa Band: 1971-2011 - De Första 40 åren - Eldkvarn (#11)

Switzerland
Footsteps 2 - Chris De Burgh (#3)

United Kingdom
Greatest Hits - Simon & Garfunkel (#33)

United States
Joyful Noise - Soundtrack (#12)

World
MTV Unplugged: Live Aus Dem Hotel Atlantic - Udo Lindenberg (#39)

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Dave Davies: "You don’t need to see silly old men in wheelchairs singing You Really Got Me."

by VVN Music

Dave Davies has made it clear that there will not be a Kinks reunion, at least one that includes him. Not now or ever.

Davies talked with Rebecca Hardy of England's Daily Mail, outlining a very contentious relationship between him and his brother Ray. One that has made it next to impossible to even talk with him much less be creative. They haven't seen each other in two or three years with Dave saying "You’ve heard of vampires. Well, Ray sucks me dry of ideas, emotions and creativity. It’s toxic for me to be with him. He’s a control freak."

Veteran Canadian Blues Band Downchild Leads Maple Blues Awards with Six Nominations

by VVN Music

The Canadian blues band Downchild are leading the way at the 14th Annual Maple Blues Awards with six nominations for Entertainer, Electric Act, Recording (I Need a Hat), Piano/Keyboard Player (Michael Fonfara), Horn Player (Pat Carey) and Bassist (Gary Kendall).

The Maple Blues Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the field of blues music by Canadian artists. The nominees are selected by a panel of blues DJs and journalists with the winners determined by the vote of blues fans. This year's awards will be given out on January 17 at Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Video: Annie Lennox Performs at the GQ Awards in Berlin

Annie Lennox was recently named as the GQ Charity Woman of the Year. Last Friday night, she made a surprise appearance at the awards show in Berlin, performing Universal Child from her upcoming album A Christmas Cornucopia along with her hit No More I Love Yous and made a very impassioned acceptance speech.

Chart Watch America: Chart of November 6, 2010

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current American music charts. Chart highlights

Elton John and Leon Russell debut at number 3 this week with The Union. That's the best for John since 1976's Blue Moves and for Russell since 1972's Carney. The album also premiers at 2 on the Rock Album chart.
Rod Stewart starts at number 4 with Fly Me to the Moon: The Great American Songbook, Volume 5. That equals the first volume of the series and is lower than the starts for volumes 2 (#2), 3 (#1) and 4 (#1).
Bob Dylan debuts three albums in the top 200 this weeks, The Bootleg Series Volume 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 at 12, The Best of the Original Mono Recordings at 91 and The Original Mono Recordings at 152. On the Folk Albums, the albums debut at 1, 5 and 7 and on the Rock Album chart Witmark is at 4.
The Beatles chart two updated versions of their compilation albums 1967-1970 (#29) and 1962-1966 (#32).
The Bee Gees are back, debuting at 41 with the latest Opus Collection from Starbucks. That's their best chart position since 2004's Number Ones which got to 23.

Previous week position noted in parenthesis. (N) is a new entry. (R) is a re-entry. Grayed charts were not available for update at time of publication.

Comprehensive

The Union

1st Week as Top Veteran

Top 200 Albums

#1 (N) - The Incredible Machine - Sugarland
#2 (N) - Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
#3 (N) - The Union - Elton John & Leon Russell
#4 (N) - Fly Me to the Moon: The Great American Songbook Volume V - Rod Stewart
#5 (1) - I Am Not a Human Being - Lil Wayne
#12 (N) - The Bootleg Series Volume 9: The Witmark Demos 1962-1964 - Bob Dylan
#29 (N) - 1967-1970 - Beatles
#31 (19) - Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All-Time - Santana
#32 (N) - 1962-1966 - Beatles
#38 (30) - Clapton - Eric Clapton
#41 (N) - Opus Collection - Bee Gees (Starbucks Exclusive)
#59 (41) - Band of Joy - Robert Plant
#66 (54) - It's a Wonderful Christmas - Michael W. Smith
#67 (61) - Wonder - Michael W. Smith
#71 (50) - Le Noise - Neil Young
#82 (45) - Power to the People: The Hits - John Lennon
#91 (N) - The Best of the Original Mono Recordings - Bob Dylan

Paul McCartney Helps Jack White Beat His Nerves

by Music-News.com

Jack White received some high power help with his nerves before playing in front of Barach Obama courtesy of Sir Paul McCartney.

The ex-Beatles singer and songwriter, who was at the White House to collect the US Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for Popular song earlier this year, decided to sit in on rehearsals before the White Stripes star performed Mother Nature's Son for both him and the US president.

Set List: John Mellencamp @ Indiana University (Opening of No Better Than This Tour)

by VVN Music

John Mellencamp opened his No Better Than This Tour on Friday night (October 29) with a 26-song set.

The night started with a seven-song Rockabilly set that saw the band play with John in various configurations (a theme that would continue throughout the night) on such favorites as Authority Song and Check it Out along with No One Cares About Me and The West End from the new album.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Yes Signs New Recording Deal With Frontier Records; New Album Next Year

by Music-News.com

Yes, one of the most influential and ground-breaking progressive rock 'n' roll bands, has announced the signing of a new worldwide recording deal with the Italian-based record label, Frontiers Records.

Songs such as Roundabout, I've Seen All Good People, Owner Of A Lonely Heart, and countless others, have served to place the group upon the pantheon of rock 'n' roll history. But history is still, yet to be written, because Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White, along with Oliver Wakeman (Rick Wakeman's son) and new lead singer Benoit David, will enter the studio to record the group's first new CD in a decade. It is anticipated for release before Summer 2011.

Ferlin Husky Hospitalized After a Fall At His Home

by VVN Music

Ferlin Husky, a recent inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame, was hospitalized in Hendersonville, KY on Friday after falling at his home. No further details were announced by his management.

Husky, 84, has had health problems for quite some time, including hospitalization in July of 2009 for a rapid heartbeat and possible pneumonia.

Black Country Communion Will Start Second Album in January

by VVN Music

Glen Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath) has announced on Twitter that Black Country Communion will begin recording their second album in January.

Studio is booked in LA for BCC 2 in January... good times people... its all about the music... GH

Video: Yusuf (Cat Stevens) and Ozzy Osbourne Battle at Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

From today's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, here's Yusuf and Ozzy Osbourne battling it out with their respective trains.

Gospel & Soul Singer James Phelps Passes Away at 78

by VVN News

Gospel and soul singer James Phelps passed away this past Tuesday in Los Angeles from complications of diabetes. He was 78.

Phelps was born in Shreveport, LA and moved to Chicago in his late teens where he began working with gospel groups like the Gospel Songbirds, the Holy Wonders whose lineup included a young Lou Rawls and the Clefs of Cavalry. It was with the last group that Phelps made his first two albums, Baptised (1962) and God's Light (1963).

Music City Walk of Fame Adds Arnold, Kristofferson, Tillis and Three More

by VVN Music

Nashville's Music City Walk of Fame will add six new stars on November 9 with the induction of Eddy Arnold, Kris Kristofferson, Mel Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Bobby Hebb and Rascal Flatts. The new members will bring the total number of stars to 48.

Julien's to Hold Auction of Rare Johnny Cash Memorabilia

by Music-News.com & VVN Music

Johnny Cash memorabilia including instruments, hand-written lyrics and stage outfits are all being put on auction next month. Over 1000 items are to go under the hammer and are expected to raise more than half a million dollars.

The auction, which is at Julien's Auctions in California, will take place on December 5. It includes items from Cash's military career all the way through to the end of his career.

Chart Watch Canada: Chart Date October 28, 2010

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current Canadian music charts. Chart highlights:

French Canadian pop singer Mario Pelchat leads an extraordinary week for debuts by veteran artists with his Toujours de Nous. It starts at number 3.
One step behind at number 4 is the debut Fly Me to the Moon: The Great American Songbook, Volume 5 by Rod Stewart.
The Beatles put three new titles (technically two reissued titles and a box set) on the Album chart with 1967-1970 at number 11, 1962-1966 at number 13 and 1962-1966 + 1967-1970 at number 46.
Four additional albums by veteran artists also debut:

The Union by Elton John & Leon Russell at 7
Il Etait Une Fois... by Nicole Martin at 9
The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 by Bob Dylan at 35
The Best and Beyond by Gino Vannelli at 51

Reba McEntire moves into the top forty Singles with Turn on the Radio. The track is in its 9th week as the top single by a veteran artist.

Previous week position noted in parenthesis. (N) indicates a new release. (R) indicates a record that is re-charting. There can be ties in chart positions.

1st Week as Top Veteran

Top 100 Canadian Albums

#1 (N) - Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
#2 (N) - Incredible Machine - Sugarland
#3 (N) - Toujours de Nous - Mario Pelchat
#4 (N) - Fly Me to the Moon: The Great American Songbook, Volume 5 - Rod Stewart
#5 (3) - Recovery - Eminem
#7 (N) - The Union - Elton John & Leon Russell
#9 (N) - Il Etait Une Fois... - Nicole Martin
#11 (N) - 1967-1970 - Beatles
#13 (N) - 1962-1966 - Beatles
#14 (5) - Going Back - Phil Collins
#27 (10) - Le Noise - Neil Young
#28 (14) - Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Songs of All-Time - Santana
#30 (19) - Clapton - Eric Clapton
#35 (N) - The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 - Bob Dylan
#37 (18) - Power to the People: The Hits - John Lennon
#42 (24) - Band of Joy - Robert Plant
#46 (N) - 1962-1966 + 1967-1970 - Beatles
#51 (N) - The Best and Beyond - Gino Vannelli
#59 (40) - Songs From the Road - Leonard Cohen
#75 (65) - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of - ABBA
#88 (185) - The Wall - Pink Floyd
#100 (86) - Scream - Ozzy Osbourne

Eric Claption, Brian May, Roger Taylor, Phil Collins, Tom Jones & More Set For Prince's Trust Rock Gala

by VVN Music

The Prince's Trust has announced an amazing group of performers for their 2010 Rock Gala. The concert is set for Wednesday, November 17 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Hosting will be Rob Brydon and Barry Humphries in the guise of Dame Edna Everage.

a-ha Gets Major Exhibition at the National Library of Norway

by VVN News

The National Library of Norway has mounted an extensive exhibition on the history of a-ha, Hunting High and Low: 25 Years With a-ha. The display comes as the group brings their careers to a close with a final world tour.

Open from October 20 to January 29, the exhibition puts on display the library's own extensive collection of a-ha memorabilia including music videos, sound recordings, photographs and other printed material from around the world.

Friday, October 29, 2010

For the Digital Download Generation, Old Blues is Good Blues

by VVN Music

The advent of digital downloads via iTunes, Amazon and other sites have given music consumers the ultimate outlet for their need for instant gratification. You can head to one of the sites within minutes of the first time you hear a song, buy it and add it to your iPod.

Take a look at Billboard's various Digital Songs charts and you'll see the very latest in pop, R&B and country music. Even radio tends to be a few weeks behind in adding music that has shot to the top on Digital Songs.

That's not the case with the blues.....

Keith Richards Sets the Record Straight on the Whole Snorting His Father's Ashes

by Tim Cashmere of Undercover

Keith Richards has cleared up the long standing rumour that he snorted his father’s ashes in his recently release autobiography.

The story sparked worldwide speculation as to whether or not he actually did it. Articles were written in support of Richards while others derided him for being a cannibal.

Preview: Bare Bones - Bryan Adams

Artist: Bryan Adams
Title: Bare Bones
Release Date: November 18, 2010
Label: Decca
Format(s): CD, DD

Bryan Adams starts his new relationship with Decca Records with a live album containing stripped down versions of some of his best known songs. Bare Bones sees Adams playing many of his hits using just his own guitar as accompaniment along with, on occasion, keyboardist Gary Breit.

Video: Trailer For Michael Jackson's Vision

by VVN Music

Michael Jackson's Vision, a 3-DVD set containing all of his music videos and films, will be released on November 22 (see our preview). This is a short promo piece on the release which serves to remind you of some of the imaginative work that he did.

Preview: S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook 9/19/71 - Allman Brothers Band

Artist: Allman Brothers Band
Title: S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook 9/19/71
Release Date: January 18, 2011
Label: Red General Catalog
Format(s): 2-CDs

Red General is set to put out the second of their Allman Brothers Band archival releases, this time concentrating on one of the last shows played by the original version of the band.

Triumph's Catalog Being Reissued in Europe

by VVN Music

Canadian hard rockers Triumph will have their Rick Emmett era catalog reissued in Europe by Frontiers Records. The ten albums will be released on December 3.

Triumph was formed in Toronto in 1975 by guitarist/singer Rik Emmett, drummer/singer Gil Moore and bassist/keyboardist Mike Levine. Their first album didn't garner much of a following until a San Antonio DJ started playing it on a regular basis. The growing popularity led to a contract with RCA who reissued their first album and the followup Rock and Roll Machine.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Aretha Franklin Canceling Shows Due to Illness

by VVN Music

Aretha Franklin canceled last night's appearance in Charlottesville, VA and this Saturday's show at Drury University in Springfield, MO on the advice of her doctors.

The Drury University press release on the cancellation also said that she would not be performing again this year. If this is true, it also means appearances are off at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, CT (11/20) and the Fox Theatre in Detroit (12/9); however, a representative for the singer told Pollstar.com that, so far, only the October dates are off.

At this point, the nature of the condition is not known although Franklin has had a number of setbacks in recent months. Two months ago, she called off two New York concerts after falling and breaking two ribs. Last month her her son was accosted and beaten up, requiring emergency surgery. The Charlottesville show was a make-up date for an October 1 show that was postponed so the singer could help her son with his recovery.

VVN Music, Undercover and Music-News.com Form Global Music Network

VVN Music has partnered with the leading music sites Undercover in Australia and Music-News.com in the United Kingdom to create a global music news network.

Together VVNMusic.com, Undercover.fm, and Music-News.com collectively produce music news content 24 hours a day from the United States, Australia and England.

"VVN Music is proud to be part of this new and exciting music news network, working with such respected news organizations as Undercover.fm and Music-News.com. With current technologies constantly shortening the news cycle, it is a great advantage to have affiliated organizations in major music capitals around the world," said VVN Music founder Roger Wink.

Video: Ray Davies Talks About Collaborations on See My Friends

Ray Davies' new collaborations album, See My Friends, hits stores on November 8 in the U.K. and will be available as an import from Amazon on November 9 in the U.S. The album sees Davies' working with Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Lucinda Williams, Alex Chilton, Mumford & Sons, Spoon and many more (see our original preview for the album).

Donna Summer Gets 23rd Number 1 of Her Career, Five Decades at the Top

Donna Summer moves to the top of the Billboard Dance Charts this week with her latest single, To Paris With Love. It is Summer's 23rd number one of her career on any of the Billboard charts and gives her a fifth decade in which she has scored at least one number one record.

Summer says that the record returns her to the sounds of Europe where she began in the 70's. "I wanted to give my fans something special and I couldn't think of a better theme than the glamour and allure of Paris. I want people to feel transported, whether they're listening on the dance floor or on their headphones at work. The idea is to let them escape into that magic world."

Look for a number of remixes of the song in the near future. The original was written by Summer and Bruce Roberts (No More Tears (Enough is Enough), The Main Event/Fight, The Lucky One) and was produced by Peter Stengaard.

Australian Fans Say Beach Boys Were Lip-Syncing Their Concert

Beach Boys fans in Australia who attended a recent concert at the Southport Parklands in Gold Coast, Queensland are fired up over their perception that the band was lip-syncing.

According to those who were at the Gold Coast 600 concert, the seats started emptying out well before the concert ended with many saying that the vocalists were using backing tracks instead of going live.

Bryan Ferry Plays Olympia Tracks Live in London, Talks About Kate Moss

by VVN News and Paul Cashmere of Undercover

Bryan Ferry debuted some of the tracks from his new album Olympia on Tuesday night in a private show at Phillips de Pury & Company in London.

Ferry played six songs, including five from the new album, and was joined by his full band and two dancers.

Randy Newman's Harps and Angels to Open in L.A. on November 22

Randy Newman has collaborated with famed Broadway director Jerry Zaks to develop the musical Harps and Angels based on songs from his catalog.

Zaks, who has won the Tony Award for directing four times (Guys and Dolls, Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me a Tenor, The House of Blue Leaves) has not revealed much about the plot of the show, saying only that it is "a compelling, honest and humorous commentary on what it is like to be born, grow up, fall in love, and live and die in America." The songs being used from Newman's catalog also haven't been revealed but it can be assumed that I Love L.A., Short People, Sail Away, Better Off Dead and I Think It's Going to Rain Today are in the score as they appear on the show's poster.

Preview: Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2 - Beastie Boys

by Music-News.com

Hot Sauce Committee

Will this be the cover of Pt. 2?

Artist: Beastie Boys
Title: Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2
Release Date:Spring 2011
Label: Studio (U.S.), Capital/Parlophone (U.K.)
Format(s): CD, DD

In what can only be described as a bizarre coincidence, following an exhaustive re-sequence marathon, Beastie Boys have verified that their new Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 will be comprised of the same 16 tracks originally slated for inclusion on Hot Sauce Committee Part 1.

Chart Watch Britain: Chart of October 30, 2010

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current British music charts. Chart highlights:

Veteran artists hold down 25% of the current British top 100 albums, led by the debuts of the two Beatles compilation. 1967-1970 (aka The Blue Album) debuts at number 4 while 1962-1966 (aka The Red Album) starts at 6. When the albums were first released in 1973, 1962-1966 peaked at number 3 while 1967-1970 hit number 2.
Ali Campbell's (ex of UB40) fourth solo album, Great British Songs, debuts at number 15. While high, that is the worst start of the four. 1995's Big Love peaked at 6, 2007's Running Free at 9 and 2009's Flying High at 13.
Bob Dylan's ninth volume in the Bootleg Series, The Witmark Diaries 1962-1964, premiers at 18. The last album in the series peaked at number 9 in late-2008.
Chris De Burgh follows up his 2009 album, Footsteps with Moonfleet and Other Stories which starts this week at 25. That far short of Footsteps which got to number 9.
The last debut of the week from a veteran artist on the Album chart is the latest career compilation from Crowded House. The Very, Very Best of is at 49.
On the Hard Rock and Metal Album Chart, Led Zeppelin moves into the top spot with its 2007 album Mothership.

Previous week position noted in parenthesis. (N) is a new entry. (R) is a re-entry. Grayed charts were not available for update at time of publication.

1967-1970 (Blue) Remastered

1st Week as Top Veteran

Top 100 British Albums

#1 (N) - Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
#2 (1) - In and Out of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010 - Robbie Williams
#3 (2) - Disc-overy - Tinie Tempah
#4 (N) - 1967-1970 - Beatles
#5 (13) - Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
#6 (N) - 1962-1966 - Beatles
#11 (3) - Bold as Brass - Cliff Richard
#15 (N) - Great British Songs - Ali Campbell
#18 (N) - The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 - Bob Dylan
#20 (10) - Going Back - Phil Collins
#25 (N) - Moonfleet & Other Stories - Chris De Burgh
#30 (22) - Power to the People: The Hits - John Lennon
#32 (19) - Band of Joy - Robert Plant
#33 (54) - Number Ones - Michael Jackson
#39 (48) - Mothership - Led Zeppelin
#43 (12) - Metallic Spheres - Orb Featuring David Gilmour
#47 (25) - 25: The Greatest Hits - Simply Red
#49 (N) - The Very, Very Best of - Crowded House
#58 (57) - Some Guys Have All the Luck - Rod Stewart
#64 (23) - 25 - A-Ha
#66 (39) - Clapton - Eric Clapton
#67 (70) - Very Best of - Fleetwood Mac
#71 (47) - Guitar Heaven - Santana
#80 (62) - Praise & Blame - Tom Jones
#83 (111) - Iron Man 2 Soundtrack - AC/DC
#87 (82) - Gold: Greatest Hits - ABBA
#88 (88) - Best of - David Bowie
#91 (99) - Piece of the Action: The Best of - Meat Loaf
#94 (85) - Private Investigations: The Best of - Mark Knopfler & Dire Straits

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Ringo's Childhood Home Boarded Up To Stop Fans From Looting

by Music-News.com

The house where Ringo Starr spent his childhood has been boarded up in an attempt to halt the stealing of mementos by fans.

The house - number nine Madryn Street, Liverpool, North East England - has had metal shutters fitted to it after numerous souvenir hunters descended upon the property to take bricks from around the windows of the home, which is scheduled to be demolished. The shutters have been put in place as a safety measure, as if more bricks are removed the property could present a danger to passers-by.

Yusuf to Release Live DVD of Roadsinger Tour

Australia and New Zealand will be the first two markets to see the new live DVD by Yusuf (the former Cat Stevens) from his Roadsinger tour which is only fair as the film chronicles his concerts during his first tour of Australia in 36 years. They will see the release in December with the rest of the world getting 2011 dates.

Yusuf - Roadsinger: Live in Concert includes songs from the singer's latest album along with many of his classics, all shot in HD. Among the 26 songs performed were The First Cut is the Deepest, Wild World, Father and Son and Peace Train (to see a sample set from the tour, see our July story on his appearance in Christchurch, New Zealand). The show also includes a twenty-minute showcase of a new musical that Yusuf is writing, Moonshadow.

Bon Jovi Announces 2011 Dates for North America and Europe

Bon Jovi Greatest Hits - The Ultimate Collection

Bon Jovi will be on the road throughout 2011 in support their upcoming Greatest Hits album (released November 9). February and March includes 16 North American shows followed by 22 shows in the U.K. and on the European continent. Additional dates are also expected to be announced.

Along with their past greatest hits, the tour is expected to include the four new tracks that the group recorded for the Hits packages, What Do You Got?, The More Things Change, No Apologies, and This Is Love, This Is Life.

The Union Gives Elton John Best Chart Position in 34 Years; 38 Years for Russell

Elton John and Leon Russell are seeing chart popularity that they haven't had since the 70's as The Union debuts on the Billboard Album chart at number 3.

While that might seem surprising for John, the fact is that he has not been that high on the chart since 1976's Blue Moves which also peaked at number 3. Moves was the followup to Elton's Rock of the Westies, the last of his seven number 1 albums.

Devo Postpones Balance of 2010 Dates Due to Mothersbaugh Injury

Devo has either postponed or canceled its remaining 2010 tour dates after guitarist Mark Mothersbaugh seriously injured his hand.

The following statement was released on the band's site.

DEVO deeply regret that they have had to postpone all of their upcoming live dates for 2010 due to a serious hand injury sustained by guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh. A glass shard sliced Mothersbaugh's right thumb to the bone, severing a tendon. He underwent immediate emergency surgery and is expected to make a full recovery after proper care and therapy.

Four Procol Harum Albums To Get Expanded Digital Releases, Group Sets North American Dates

The U.K.'s Union Square Music will be releasing expanded versions of four Procol Harum albums to digital download retailers on November 1. Included in the release are Grand Hotel, Exotic Birds and Fruit, Procol’s Ninth and Something Magic.

According to the label "Careful remastering has brought out hitherto elusive nuances; judiciously-selected bonus tracks offer a unique insight into the compositions of Gary Brooker (music), Keith Reid (words) and their less-frequent collaborators, and into Procol Harum’s studio methodology."

Kerry King From Slayer Performs With Megadeth For First Time in 26 Years

It's been a long time since Kerry King from Slayer got on a stage with Megadeth. Over a quarter century.

Some of the big four of thrash – Anthrax, Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth – have been reuniting of late, despite some long-standing feuds. Slayer guitarist Kerry King was briefly in Megadeth in 1984, but subsequently had a falling out with troublesome frontman Dave Mustaine.

Spend Halloween With a Couple of Rock's Greatest Ghouls

Rock music has had its share of ghoulish artists from Screaming Jay Hawkins and Bobby "Boris" Pickett to Rob Zombie and GWAR. Two of those artists of the macabre are doing TV specials to celebrate Halloween.

Of course one would have to be Alice Cooper. He returns to cable network WGN America again this year to host the Monstrous Munster Mash from 10 AM to 7 PM on Sunday, October 31. Cooper will appear during and between the eighteen episodes being shown to provide commentary. For those not in the know about the 60's TV classic, The Munsters was about a rather strange family that lives in your standard suburban neighborhood. The show stared Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis and Butch Patrick with guests including Paul Lynde, Leo Durocher, Charlie Callas, Dom DeLuise, Jane Withers, Louis Nye, Harvey Korman, Frank Gorshin, Bonnie Franklin and Ken Osmond.

Neil Diamond to Close BBC Electric Proms With Guest Lulu (and Maybe More?)

Neil Diamond has been selected to close this year's BBC Electric Proms which runs from October 28 to 30. He will appear the final night at The Roundhouse in London.

The appearance is just part of the celebration the BBC is planning for Diamond and his music. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 while, on November 13, highlights from the show will be shown on BBC Two television as part of A Night With Neil Diamond. Also included will be a documentary on the singer's career.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Social Distortion Announces Early-2011 West Coast Tour

Social Distortion is finally returning to the west coast of the U.S. for a series of dates in January and February. The tour is in support of their album Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes which will be released on January 18, two days before the kick-off of the tour.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (October 29) for the following dates:

01/20 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
01/24 – Bakersfield, CA – Kern Fairgrounds Ex Hall #2
01/25 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Theatre
01/27 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
01/31 – Modesto, CA – Centre Plaza
02/01 – Davis, CA UC – Davis Freeborn Hall
02/03 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
02/08 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballrooman
02/12 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
02/15 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Theatre
02/16 – Fresno, CA – EOC Gym Events Center
02/19 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
02/20 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues

Vince Neil to Hold His 6th Annual Off-the-Strip Poker Tournament

When Motley Crue's Vince Neil isn't busy getting in trouble with the law, he gives back with his annual Off-the-Strip Poker Tournament in Las Vegas. The sixth edition of the contest has been set for Sunday, November 7th at the Rio.

All proceeds from the tournaments go to the Skylar Neil Foundation. Skylar was Neil's daughter who passed away from an aggressive cancer. The Foundation exists to "grant and award the money raised to medical, research, and educational institutions/groups/individuals who are doing breakthrough work to find cures for cancer, AIDS, and other diseases."

Chart Watch Australia: October 25, 2010

Our weekly recap of veteran artists on the current Australian music charts. Chart highlights:

One of Australia's biggest (if not THE biggest) solo artists debuts this week at number 2. Jack is John Farnham's first studio album in five years and features covers of songs by Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield and Percy Sledge.
Also debuting is The Very, Very Best of Crowded House which kicks off its chart run at 11.

Previous week position noted in parenthesis. (N) indicates new entry. (R) indicates re-entry.

Top 50 Albums

#1 (N) - Come Around Sundown - Kings of Leon
#2 (N) - Jack - John Farnham
#3 (6) - In and Out of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990 - 2010 - Robbie Williams
#4 (5) - Recovery - Eminem
#5 (2) - Science & Faith - Script
#11 (N) - The Very, Very Best of - Crowded House
#16 (11) - Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time - Santana
#21 (10) - Power to the People: The Hits - John Lennon
#24 (13) - Going Back - Phil Collins
#28 (17) - Marcia Sings Tapestry - Marcia Hines
#31 (29) - Six Feet Down Under - Metallica
#35 (R) - Metallica - Metallica
#46 (40) - Very Best of - Fleetwood Mac

Prince Announces First Dates of Welcome 2 America Tour

Prince has announced that he will be bringing his Welcome 2 America tour to the New York metropolitan area in mid- and late-December, his first appearances on the U.S. east coast in six years. So far, three dates have been announced for the Izod Center in East Rutherford, NJ and two for Madison Square Garden in New York. Additional dates are expected in the near future.

At the original announcement for the tour last week, Prince stated that he would be acting as master of ceremonies for the night with the entertainment to include artists like Maceo Parker, Janelle Monae, Mint Condition, Esperanza Spalding, Cassandra Wilson, Sinbad, Lalah Hathaway, Sheila E. and Graham Central Station. Although details remain sketchy, it is assumed that each show will include some sub-set of the announced guests.

John Mellencamp Announces Dates for Third Leg of His No Better Than This Tour

No Better Than This

John Mellencamp has announced the third leg of his unique No Better Than This tour. Fans get a wide variety of experiences as the "opening act" is a showing of the documentary It's About You on the making of Mellencamp's latest album. The singer than plays in three separate configurations, an acoustic performance, a small combo playing blues, country and rockabilly, and a full rock band.

The new dates:

02/10 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
02/19 - New York City, NY - Radio City Music Hall
04/01 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre
04/02 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre
04/03 - Houston - Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
04/06 - Denver, CO – Temple Buell Theatre
04/08 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre
04/09 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
04/12 - Seattle, WA - McCaw Hall at Seattle Center
04/13 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre
04/15 - Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
04/19 - Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place
04/22 - Regina, SK - Conexus Arts Centre
04/27 - Omaha, NE - Omaha Civic Music Hall
04/28 - Ames, IA - Stephens Auditorium

Note that the February dates are additional dates in Toronto and New York on the tour's second leg.

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