MUSIC NEWS
Jim Morrison Hangout To "Mark" Birthday with Unique Plaque
December 8th would mark former Doors frontman Jim Morrison's 65th birthday had he not died in 1971. To celebrate the day, Los Angeles radio station KLOS is hosting a special broadcast at ...Read More
Paul McCartney Open to Bob Dylan Collaboration
Paul McCartney has offered up the possibility of a collaboration with Bob Dylan. The former Beatle said that he thinks the time is right for the two icons of the 1960s to come together. "Bob Dylan would be ...Read More
Rod Stewart Confirms Faces Reunion
Rod Stewart has confirmed rumors that The Faces will reunite next year. When the former Faces singer was asked to confirm or deny the reports that surfaced last week, he offered, "Yes, absolutely." ...Read More
Tom Jones to Busk in London
Who says you can't get something for nothing anymore? Tom Jones will prove that point tomorrow (Nov. 19) when he performs three songs with an acoustic guitarist on the streets of London. ...Read More
Neil Young Offers Two Cents to Detroit Automakers
Neil Young has published an essay detailing his diagnosis to save the auto industry and jumpstart global warming efforts. Read the statement below: ...Read More
Experimental Beatles Track Could See Release
Just when you thought there weren't any more unreleased Beatles tunes, a song emerges from the Fab Four's catalog. Paul McCartney has said that the 14-minute "Carnival of Light," an experimental track ...Read More
11/17/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Ray Charles had his first U.S. number 1 hit when “Georgia On My Mind” made it in 1960. The Genius had hit the top 10 a year earlier with “What’d I Say,” and would return to the very top ...Read More
11/16/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Electric Ladyland hit number 1 on the U.S. albums chart for the first of two weeks in 1968. The double album includes such classic Jimi Hendrix tracks as “Crosstown Traffic,” ...Read More
11/15/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
New Musical Express in the U.K. published its first chart of pop singles, in1952. The top six positions were held by Americans, with Al Martino and his “Here in My Heart” single holding number 1 ...Read More
11/14/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Fats Domino had the best seat in the house to see the arrest of five audience members during a 1957 performance. He was playing as part of the Biggest Show of Stars tour in Boston, Massachusetts ...Read More
11/13/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Johnny Mathis hit the top of the U.S. albums chart for the second time. It happened in 1959 with his Heavenly album, at a time when rock and roll was dead. Elvis Presley was in the army and ...Read More
Ringo Accepts World Music Award for The Beatles
Ringo Starr was on hand at the World Music Awards in Monaco to accept the diamond award on behalf of his old band, a small foursome from Liverpool, England known as The Beatles ...Read More
Possible Kinks Reunion On the Horizon
The Kinks are edging closer to a reuniting, with frontman Ray Davies reportedly writing material for a potential reunion album. "We've started a little bit of this and that," he said. ...Read More
Paul McCartney Sheds Light on "Eleanor Rigby's" True Identity.
The true 'Eleanor Rigby' of Beatles fame has finally been identified, thanks to Paul McCartney. Sir Paul donated a hospital accounts log from the City Hospital of Liverpool to ...Read More
11/12/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Johnny Rivers was at number 1 in the U.S. for his only week, in 1966. “Poor Side of Town” was his fifth top 10 single, following “Memphis,” “Mountain of Love,” “Seventh Son” and “Secret Agent Man.” ...Read More
Neil Diamond Raises Money for Hurricane Relief
Neil Diamond has vowed to donate all of the gross merchandise sales from 20 upcoming shows to the residents of Oak Island, which is a small, unincorporated area east of Houston ...Read More
11/11/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
“Shake, Rattle and Roll” became Bill Haley’s first top 10 hit when it made it to number 7 in 1954. He had dropped his cowboy image about a year and a half earlier, while renaming The Saddlemen ...Read More
11/10/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls were injured in a car accident in 1958. Rawls was a member of Cooke’s back-up band, The Pilgrim Travelers Quartet, when their car went off a road in Arkansas ...Read More
11/9/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
In 1958, “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley joined the likes of Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Gene Autry for sales of over three million copies ...Read More
11/8/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Melody Maker began its albums chart in the U.K. this week in 1958. The first number 1 album was South Pacific. It stayed there through all of 1959 and continued until March of 1960 ...Read More
Sam Moore Earns More Hall of Fame Honors
Lead singer Sam Moore, of legendary R&B duo Sam & Dave, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame last night in Youngstown, Ohio. Other inductees included Fleetwood Mac ...Read More
11/7/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
In 1988, John Fogerty was found not guilty of plagiarizing one of his own songs. He had recently released “The Old Man Down the Road,” which his former label for all CCR releases, ...Read More
11/6/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Fillmore West opened in San Francisco in 1965 with performances by The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. Promoter Bill Graham continued to feature many of ...Read More
11/5/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Beach Boys returned to number 1 in the U.S. in 1988 with “Kokomo.” Their last top hit at home had been “Good Vibrations” in 1966. Between these two songs, only “Rock and Roll Music” ...Read More
Neil Diamond To Be Honored
Neil Diamond is set to receive the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year Award at a ceremony and concert that will take place in Los Angeles the week of the Grammys. ...Read More
11/4/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
John Lennon made his famous request to British royalty in 1963 when he introduced “Twist and Shout.” “For our last number I’d like to ask your help. Would the people in the cheaper ...Read More
11/3/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
John Lee Hooker was accompanied only by his guitar when he had his first recording session, in 1948. Modern Records chose “Boogie Chillen’” as a single, which topped the R&B charts ...Read More
11/2/08 Today In Rock And Roll History
Dion didn’t return for his second performance on the live Ready, Steady, Go! television program in 1963. While trying to sing “Donna the Prima Donna,” dancers on the stage around him ...Read More
11/1/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
George Harrison became the first Beatle to release a solo album when Wonderwall Music was issued in 1968. It was also the first LP to be put out on Apple Records. The music was written as ...Read More
Beatles iPod Coming to Stores
A special edition Beatles iPod is set to go on sale through Bloomingdales, the U.S. department store. The new music player is feeding rumors that the Beatles, who have ...Read More
10/31/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Led Zeppelin III hit number 1 on the U.S. albums chart in 1970, with the help of “The Immigrant Song.” It was the first of 4 weeks at the top. Their second album had held the number 1 position ...Read More
The Beatles Coming To a Video Game Near You
MTV Games and Harmonix, the makers of popular video game "Rock Band," announced today that they've partnered with Apple Corps Ltd. to create a video game based on the music of the Beatles ...Read More
10/30/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
John Lennon’s Imagine album was number 1 in the U.S. in 1971, making it his first album to hit the top in both the U.K. and America. A remixed and remastered version was made available ...Read More
Fan Finds Rare Beatles Concert Film
A Fab Four fan discovered a silent, color film of The Beatles playing a concert in Kansas in 1964. Drew Dimmel was cleaning out his parents' house when he uncovered the roll of 8mm film still in its photo-lab box ...Read More
Elvis Tops List of Wealthiest Dead Celebrities
Though Elvis may have passed in 1977, he still rakes in plenty of cash. According to a Forbes.com report, the "King" is the #1 ranked dead celebrity for the second year in a row. ...Read More
10/29/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Three weeks before his 25th birthday, in 1971, Duane Allman was killed from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Allman swerved to miss a truck and crashed. ...Read More
Natalie Cole On The Mend; Looking Forward
Natalie Cole underwent a traumatic experience in her life when she had difficulty breathing and was subsequently hospitalized. Only then did the singer learn that her lungs had filled with fluid ...Read More
Man Claims Reward for Missing Wax McCartney Head
A missing wax head of Sir Paul McCartney is now safely back in the hands of its owner, after homeless man Anthony Silva discovered the lost noggin. Silva found the bin in a Reading train station ...Read More
10/28/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Buddy Holly made an appearance on American Bandstand in 1958. It was his last major TV showing. He lip-synched to “Heartbeat” and “It’s So Easy,” while The Crickets backed him. ...Read More
10/27/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Ben E. King recorded his first set of solo tracks in 1960, after leaving The Drifters. Included in the four songs were the monster hits, “Spanish Harlem” and “Stand By Me.” King had sung lead ...Read More
Stevie Wonder's Home Destroyed In Wildfire
Internet sources are reporting that California wildfires have burned down the home of soul legend Stevie Wonder. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency earlier this week ...Read More
10/26/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Paul Kantner, the only original member left in Jefferson Starship, suffered a stroke in 1980. Grace Slick and Marty Balin, the group’s two lead singers, had left not long before, and were replaced by ...Read More
10/25/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Pink Floyd released their double Umma-gumma LP in 1969. One of the records was live while the other consisted of studio recordings. The live disc revisited four of their stronger previous tracks ...Read More
10/24/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
James Brown recorded his famous Live At the Apollo album in 1962 at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre in New York. The 11 songs were released two months later. In 1995 he gave us the sequel, ...Read More
10/23/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
In 1964, Buddy Holly’s successor as lead vocalist with The Crickets, David Box, died in a plane crash. Spooky. Box joined in the spring of 1960, but left later in the year for a solo career ...Read More
10/22/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Britain saw its first rock ’n’ roll show in 1956. It featured Ronnie Harris and Kenny Flame and The Rockets. Harris had a hit a couple of years earlier when “The Story of Tina” made it to number 12 ...Read More
Missing: Wax Head of Sir Paul McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney seems to have lost his head on a train- or, a wax version of it at least. Joby Carter of the U.K., the owner of the head, is the unfortunate Beatle fan who left it on a Reading bound train ...Read More
Ringo Responds to Fan Mail Complaints
Last week legendary drummer Ringo Starr asked fans to stop sending him mail, stating that after Oct. 20 any fan mail would end up in the trash. However, the former Beatle has issued a response ...Read More
10/21/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Buddy Holly made his final studio recordings in 1958. The four songs completed that day were “It Doesn’t Matter Any More,” “Moondreams,” “Raining In My Heart” and “True Love Ways,” ...Read More
Soul Singer Dee Dee Warwick Dies
Dee Dee Warwick, soul singer and sister of Dionne Warwick, died at the age of 63 after battling poor health for a number of months. Warwick was a highly accomplished singer who gained widespread ...Read More
10/20/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
In 1969 this week, John Lennon released the embarrassing, The Wedding Album, with Yoko Ono. It was his third album without The Beatles in the past 12 months. The album came with a poster ...Read More
Elton John Staying Busy in 2009
Sir Elton John is filling up his 2009 schedule, with plans to tour again with Billy Joel for a string of what have proven to be wildly successful shows. He's also planning another Vegas residency ...Read More
10/19/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Jeff Beck left The Yardbirds in 1966 while the group was touring the U.S. by bus. He developed acute tonsillitis and eventually ended up forming a new band with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood ...Read More
Grammy Noms to be Announced in TV Special
The Grammys will announce this year's nominations via an hourlong TV special. "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night" will air Dec. 3 ...Read More
10/18/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The movie, How I Won the War, with John Lennon, premiered in London in 1967. It was during filming in Germany that Lennon wrote “Strawberry Fields Forever.” All four Fabs ...Read More
Neil Young to Release Classic Live Album
Neil Young is set to release a live album chronicling his famous two-night stint at Ann Arbor, Michigan's Canterbury House in 1968. Recorded days before Young's ...Read More
New McCartney Bio Due in 2010
A new biography about Paul McCartney will be published in the fall of 2010. The as-yet-untitled book will be written by Howard Sounes ...Read More
Levi Stubbs Dies
Levi Stubbs, the lead voice behind a string of hits by The Four Tops, passed away today in Detroit, according to the Detroit Free Press. Stubbs, 72, died in his sleep at home. ...Read More
10/17/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Zombies began a U.K. tour in 1964, with The Isley Brothers, Dionne Warwick and The Searchers in tow. Their biggest hit, “She’s Not There,” had just appeared in the U.S. top 40 ...Read More
10/16/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
Joan Baez began a ten day stay in prison in 1966 after being arrested for protesting compulsory military training for U.S. citizens. Over 100 demonstrators joined her in the California jail. ...Read More
10/15/2008 Today In Rock And Roll History
The Four Tops had the number 1 song this week in 1966, with “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” It was their last trip to the top, but they did continue having hits into the 1980s. Their best songs included ...Read More
10/14/2008 - Today In Rock And Roll History
Early in his career, Buddy Holly and partner, Bob Montgomery opened for Bill Haley and His Comets as Buddy and Bob, at a 1955 concert promoted by radio station KDAV ...Read More
10/13/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
As “To Know Him is to Love Him” was climbing the charts on its way to number 1 in 1958, Billboard Magazine featured The Teddy Bears in an article. An interview with member ...Read More
10/12/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Olivia Newton-John topped the U.S. albums chart for the first time in 1974. If You Love Me, Let Me Know contained the hit title track as well as her first number 1 single, “I Honestly Love You.” ...Read More
10/11/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Elvis Presley divorced Priscilla in 1973 after less than six and a half years of marriage and twelve years together. ...Read More
10/10/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Billy Joel hit number 57 in the U.K. in 1981 with his live album, Songs in the Attic. It was the very first live LP recorded digitally, and eventually made it to number 8 in the U.S. ...Read More
10/9/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Move over Johnny Mathis. In 1959, Bobby Darin became the youngest performer to headline at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Darin had released his biggest album that year ...Read More
Bob Dylan's Latest Garners Critical Praise
Among the new releases today (Oct. 7) is the 8th installment of Bob Dylan's "Bootleg Series." Released on Columbia Records, the latest from Dylan is already earning critical praise ...Read More
10/8/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Jerry Lee Lewis recorded his biggest hit, “Great Balls of Fire,” in 1957. The song was his follow-up to the six million seller, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.” ...Read More
10/7/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Steve Hackett announced that he was leaving Genesis in 1977 for a solo career. He had been experiencing the George Harrison blues ...Read More
10/6/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Art Garfunkel returned to the top 40 in 1973, with the solo single “All I Know,” taken from his Angel Clare album. ...Read More
10/5/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
The Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do,” was released this week in 1962. A special CD single of the track was issued in 1992 on its 30th anniversary ...Read More
10/4/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose in 1970 on October 4th. She had taken over lead vocals with Big Brother and The Holding Company and released the hit, “Piece of My Heart” with them in 1968 ...Read More
10/3/2008 - Today in Rock And Roll History
Elvis Presley won second prize in a radio-sponsored talent contest, at the age of 10, in 1945. He sang “Old Shep” at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show in front of several hundred people in downtown Tupelo ...Read More
10/2/2008 - Today in Rock and Roll History
The Bee Gees launched a lawsuit against manager Robert Stigwood in 1980. They were looking for $2 million compensation for fraud and misrepresentation. The group’s success had been fading since the year began, as disco got left behind with the 1970s. ...Read More
Singer Connie Haines dies at 87
Big-band singer Connie Haines, who performed with Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the 1940s, died Sept. 23 in Clearwater Beach, Fla. She was 87. ...Read More
10/1/2008 - Today in Rock and Roll History
Eric Clapton was still doing well in 1994 when his From the Cradle CD hit number 1 in the U.S. It was his “blues roots” album that he had wanted to record since the 1970s. Songs like “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Five Long Years” and “Motherless Child” were included, but the bland arrangements turned the album into a snoozefest. ...Read More
Paul McCartney arrives in Israel
The former Beatle is set to play to 50,000 fans in Tel Aviv, despite protesters asking him to boycott the gig because of Israel's occupation of the West Bank. ...Read More
9/30/2008 - Today in Rock And Roll History
Tina Turner had her Foreign Affair album debut in the U.K. in 1989 at number 1. It was a very strong album, including the popular singles, “The Best” and “Steamy Windows.” ...Read More
Natalie Cole Cancels Shows
Natalie Cole, who has been hospitalized since Sept. 12 because of side effects from her hepatitis C medication and a busy schedule promoting her new album, ...Read More
9/29/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
The Rolling Stones began their first U.K. tour in 1963. They played 32 dates, opening for acts like The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley and Little Richard. “Poison Ivy,” a recent single and the follow-up to “Come On,” had just been cancelled. ...Read More
Diamond Announces New Slate of Shows
Neil Diamond fans in 13 North American markets just received some very good news, as the singer just tacked on a dozen concerts to his tour schedule. ...Read More
Natalie Cole hospitalized in NYC
Grammy Award-winning singer Natalie Cole has been hospitalized in New York after suffering a setback in her battle against Hepatitis C, her spokeswoman said on Friday. ...Read More
Drummer Earl Palmer dies at 84
Earl Palmer, the session drummer who recorded on Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and The Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'," has died. He was 84. ...Read More
9/26/2008 - Today in Rock and Roll History
Buddy Holly and The Crickets had their only number one, “That’ll Be the Day,” this week in 1957. Their next two singles, “Peggy Sue” and “Oh, Boy!” also made the top 10 ...Read More
9/25/2008 - Today In Rock and Roll History
Elvis Presley released his second single on Sun Records in 1954. He covered “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” a song made popular in 1948 by Wynonie Harris. ...Read More
9/24/2008 - Today in Rock and Roll History
Billy Joel had the number 1 song this week in 1983 as “Tell Her About It” hit the top. It was his second of three number ones. ...Read More
