Yes Legend Chris Squire Fighting Cancer
Prog rock legends Yes revealed on Tuesday that founding member Chris Squire has been diagnosed with cancer and will be replaced by former member Billy Sherwood on their summer tour.
Squire will be sitting out the North American tour with Toto in order to undergo treatment for Acute Erythroid Leukemia, which the band says is an “uncommon form of Acute Myeloid Leukemia”.
Chris released this message for fans: “This will be the first time since the band formed in 1968 that Yes will have performed live without me. But the other guys and myself have agreed that Billy Sherwood will do an excellent job of covering my parts and the show as a whole will deliver the same Yes experience that our fans have come to expect over the years.”
B.B. King’s Family Announce Public Viewing Details
(The Blues B.B. King fans are to be given the opportunity to pay their respects to the blues legend at a public viewing that will take place before his funeral, his family have announced.
The 89-year-old icon died in his sleep last week after an illness. His legacy was hailed by artists and statesmen across the world. King’s body will be laid in state at Las Vegas’ Palm South Jones Mortuary on Friday (May 22).
Members of the public will be able to visit between 3pm and 7pm. A private family funeral will take place on Saturday morning, with a public ceremony to follow at 11am.
Controversial Ozzy Osbourne Move Even Questioned By Bandmate
(Classic Rock) Faith No More drummer Mike Bordin has spoken about his role in removing the original drum and bass tracks from Ozzy Osbourne’s first two albums. The 2002 re-releases of Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman featured Bordin and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo – both then members of Ozzy’s solo band – in place of co-founding band members Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley.
The controversial move was a result of legal action between the departed duo and Ozzy’s management. Now Bordin tells Radio.com: “That was a really kind of ******-up thing. It’s funny that no one’s actually mentioned that.
“That wasn’t what I was going in expecting to do. It wasn’t the way it was presented to me at all. I never knew that – but that doesn’t lessen the fact that it happened.”
He refuses to “throw anyone under a bus” by suggesting who might be to blame, but adds: “I will say this – to hear the original guitar, bass and drum tracks in my headphones while I was recording was one of the most insane things I’ll ever experience.
“I think I heard some guitar solos that I’d never heard before. There’s a reason why those albums are so good – they’re magical. Far be it from me to ever want to **** with that.”
Bob Dylan Does Rare TV Performance On David Letterman Show
(Radio.com) Bob Dylan doesn’t perform much on late-night television. But when he does, he makes it memorable. On Tuesday night (May 19), Dylan did just that when he appeared as the musical guest on The Late Show with David Letterman. It was Letterman’s second-to-last show ever.
Dressed in a black suit with red trim, a white shirt and a black string tie, Dylan sang “The Night We Called It a Day,” a jazz standard from the 1940s that appeared on Dylan’s recent album, the Frank Sinatra tribute Shadows in the Night. Dylan’s voice took the lead against a smoky, late-night arrangement that stayed true to the studio version.
“Beautiful,” Letterman said, stepping up to greet Dylan once the song finished. “Thank you, Bob.” He turned then to the band, noting, “all brushes.”
Dylan first performed for Letterman in 1984 (during the NBC incarnation of his show). He returned in 1992 and then again in 1993, the year Letterman moved his show to CBS.
The Kinks Biopic Coming
(Classic Rock) The Kinks are the subject of a biopic written by award-winning duo Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, based on the official biographies of both Ray and Dave Davies.
It’s to be directed by Julien Temple, who made the Sex Pistols’ Great Rock And Roll Swindle, and stars Johnny Flynn as Ray and George Mackay as Dave.
Clement and La Frenais wrote 1998 rock comedy Still Crazy after a string of successful sitcoms including Porridge, The Likely Lads and Auf Wiedersehen Pet.
Producer Jeremy Thomas tells Screen Daily: “This is the story of the Davies brothers growing up and the group’s later disbanding. They’re the Cain and Abel of rock, but their story isn’t known as well as it should be.”
Rolling Stones Reveal Big Name Openers For Stadium Tour
(Radio.com) With the Rolling Stones headed back into stadiums for their new Zip Code tour, the opening acts are shaping up to be as big and diverse as previous tours.
Gary Clark Jr. will support the tour kickoff in San Diego, while Walk the Moon, Kid Rock, and St. Paul & The Broken Bones have all been announced to appear at certain points.
Maybe most notable is the Nashville stop on June 17 at LP Field where Brad Paisley will perform ahead of the classic rock titans. Paisley and the Rolling Stones may make an odd pairing on paper, but under the stadium lights, fans will be hard-pressed to find a matching double-bill of some of music’s biggest attractions.
Steven Tyler Lands On Country Chart With New Solo Song
(hennemusic) Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has debuted on the US Billboard charts with his first country single, “Love Is Your Name.” Billboard reports the song – written by Lindsey Lee and Eric Paslay – enters the Country Airplay chart at No. 33.
Tyler issued the single to radio last week and delivered the debut live performance of the tune on the season 14 finale of American Idol on May 13th.
The Aerosmith singer has been in Nashville since January working with songwriters on material for his debut solo album on Big Machine Records’ affiliated label Dot Records.
Aerosmith In The Studio For Toys In The Attic Anniversary
The latest episode of the syndicated radio show InTheStudio: The Stories Behind History’s Greatest Rock Bands celebrates the fortieth anniversary of Aerosmith’s album “Toys in the Attic.” The show sent over these details:
The perception that Aerosmith had broke with “Dream On” off their debut album is not entirely accurate. As drummer Joey Kramer recalls to InTheStudio host Redbeard,
“The first album really didn’t go anywhere until “Dream On” was released (as a single) three or four times. “Dream On” was a single when this record (Toys InThe Attic) hit.”
It was the third release of “Dream On” as a single, after the release of their second album Get Your Wings, that lit the fuse for Aerosmith’s breakout album Toys In The Attic. What followed was an monster album selling over 8 million copies and producing the timeless classics “Walk this Way” and “Sweet Emotion”, not to mention the first anti-child abuse song “Uncle Salty”, the circular contagion of “No More, No More”, a swingin’ cover of Bullmoose Jackson’s bawdy, “Big Ten Inch” and the riff rock title track “Toys in the Attic”.
Steven Tyler, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford take us back to this critical moment in history where Aerosmith began their rise as America’s greatest hard rock band.
Foo Fighters Add Support Acts To UK Tour
(Classic Rock) Foo Fighters have added God Damn and Honeyblood to their list of support acts for the UK tour that kicks off later this month. They join previously-announced guests Iggy Pop, Royal Blood, Ash, Kaiser Chiefs, Teenage Fanclub and Hozier, with various lineups appearing across the run of six stadium shows.
Dave Grohl and co start their run with an appearance at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Norwich, and end it with a set at this year’s Glastonbury festival.
It’s part of a wider Foos European tour in support of eighth album Sonic Highways, which was accompanied by an eight-part documentary series of the same name. Read more including the dates here.
AC/DC Frontman Visits MG Factory On Cars That Rock TV Series
(hennemusic) AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson visits the iconic MG factory in Longbridge in the latest episode from the second season of Cars That Rock. Johnson launched the first season of Cars That Rock in the spring of 2014.
Available on UK’s Quest TV, the series follows Johnson as he pursues his passion of cars, looking into the history, meeting with industry experts and reporting on racing in general.
In 2009, the AC/DC singer released his autobiography, “Rockers And Rollers: A Full Throttle Memoir.” The book details Johnson’s history – from teenage memories in the backs of beat-up coups to a side career as a racecar driver, Johnson shares his life story – a memoir told through his lifelong love affair with cars.
Les Paul’s 100th Birthday Celebrations Launches Next Month
(Gibson) Les Paul would have celebrated his 100th birthday on June 9 this year. In honor of the late musician and innovator, the day marks the start of a year-long celebration of his work.
The mobile exhibit dubbed Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience will make its first stop in New York City’s Times Square. It’s a music exploration where the visitor get to experience the sound and technology innovations by Les Paul, as well as some hands-on interactive entertainment. Best of all, Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience is free and open to the public!
Times Square is also the site for a sold-out celebration of Les Paul later that same day, to be held at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. Musicians like Joe Bonamassa, Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, Steve Miller, Joe Satriani, Journey’s Neal Schon, Steve Vai, Count’s 77, Johnny A and Lou Pallo and the Les Paul Trio will be performing at the event, which is expected to be attended by the likes of Zakk Wylde, Marky Ramone, and Rick Derringer, as well as producers Bob Ezrin and Jack Douglas among many others.
After New York City, Les Paul’s Big Sound Experience will go on a tour of the US expected to last through May 2016.
The Who’s Pete Townshend Previews Track From New Solo Collection
(hennemusic) Pete Townshend of The Who is previewing “Guantanamo”, a new track featured on his forthcoming solo collection, “Truancy – The Very Best of Pete Townshend.”
Due June 29 (June 30 in North America), the package presents 15 songs from the guitarist’s solo career plus two new tunes: “Guantanamo” and “How Can I Help You.”
“I hope it offers a selection that works to introduce new fans to my solo work,” says Townshend. “I am a bit of a dabbler I’m afraid. I am as interested in building, developing and playing with recording studios as I am with making music. The Who has taken up most of my road hours, and in this year of the 50th anniversary of our first significant year in 1965, we are back on the road again.”
David Crosby Sorry For ‘Slagging’ Neil Young’s Girlfriend
(Classic Rock) David Crosby has apologized to Neil Young and his partner Daryl Hannah after he called her a “poisonous predator.” He hit out at the actress last year when the couple started dating following Young’s split with wife Pegi after 36 years.
In October Crosby told the Idaho Statesman: “I happen to know that he’s hanging out with somebody that’s a purely poisonous predator now. And that’s karma. He’s gonna get hurt. But I understand why it happened. I’m just sad about it. I’m always sad when I see love get tossed in the gutter.”
But he’s now apologized for the comments, saying he had no right to criticize his longterm Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young bandmate and his partner.
He tells The Howard Stern Show: “I shot my mouth off when I shouldn’t have. I shouldn’t have done it and here’s the real reason why: I’ve screwed up massively. Daryl Hannah never wound up in a Texas prison. I’ve screwed up way worse than that girl.
“Where do I get off criticising her? Where do I get off slagging her? She’s making Neil happy and I love Neil and I want him happy. I was completely out of line.”
Credit www.antimusic.com
