Broken finger delays Zeppelin gig
Led Zeppelin's eagerly-awaited reunion concert in London has been postponed for two weeks because guitarist Jimmy Page has fractured a finger.
Originally scheduled for 26 November, the tribute concert in honour of late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun will now take place on 10 December.
Page said he was "disappointed" by the postponement but that it would "enable my injury to properly heal".
All tickets for the original show will be valid for the re-arranged date.
Ticket holders who are unable to attend the rescheduled concert have until 1200 GMT on 14 November to apply for a full refund.
The postponement will... permit us to perform at the level that both the band and our fans have always been accustomed to
Jimmy Page
Page was injured last weekend and has been told he cannot play guitar for three weeks.
A spokesman said the band had not revealed which finger was affected or how the fracture occurred.
In a statement put out by the band, a specialist is quoted as saying that, "with proper rest and treatment", he will be ready to resume rehearsing around 23 November.
"Led Zeppelin have always set very high standards for ourselves," continued Page.
He said the delay would permit the reformed group "to perform at the level that both the band and our fans have always been accustomed to".
Page, singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones have not played together since 1988.
Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman, Paolo Nutini and Foreigner will also perform at the one-off concert at London's O2 arena.
More than a million fans applied for the 20,000 tickets available, which cost £125 each and were allocated by ballot.
Profits from the show will go towards scholarships in Ertegun's name in UK, the USA and Turkey, the country of his birth.
Page's accident will not prevent him from attending an awards ceremony in London on Monday, when he will be honoured as a living legend at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/7074382.stm
(I can not believe this has happened to poor Jimmy Page! It appears that bad luck still follows Led Zeppelin around somehow. Well now that the show is postponed until Dec 10th which is my birthdate, the Earth might just stop spinning, LOL!)
Friday, November 02, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Jim Morrison Death Case To Be Re-Opened?
Jim Morrison Death Case To Be Re-Opened?
July 9, 2007
Former New York Times journalist and French nightclub manager Sam Bernett has written a new book in which he claims that Doors singer Jim Morrison died of a drug overdose in a club that Bernett was managing, and not at home in his own bathtub as has been long believed. The testament is contained in Bernett's forthcoming book, The End - Jim Morrison, soon to be published in France, and the allegations are being taken so seriously that French authorities are considering re-opening the investigation into Morrison's death.
In the book, Bernett claims that Morrison died of a heroin overdose in the bathroom of The Rock 'n' Roll Circus nightclub in Paris, where Morrison was living at the time. Bernett says the death was then covered up by two drug dealers who transferred Morrison's body from the club to the singer's apartment and dumped it in the bathtub. Bernett was warned by the club's owners never to tell anybody what had happened.
According to Bernett, Morrison came to the club at 1 a.m. and bought heroin from two men working for Jean de Breteuil, a well known French drug dealer. "Both were French guys in their '20s. I knew what they were up to, and kept an eye out for Jim. He disappeared to the toilets at around 2 a.m.," Bernett told U.K. newspaper The Mail. "Then, about half an hour later, a cloakroom attendant came up to me and told me someone was locked in one of the cubicles and wasn't coming out. It was then that I got a bouncer to smash the door down."
Bernett found Morrison's body slumped on the toilet, and called for one of the club's customers, who was a doctor. After a brief examination, the doctor declared that Morrison was dead, but the two drug dealers insisted that he was just passed out. Then the two dealers lifted Morrison's body out of the toilets and along a corridor that linked the Circus with Alcazar, the club next door which still exists today. Minutes later, a representative of the club's owner allegedly warned Bernett not to tell anyone what had happened, because, "Since Morrison's friends want to take him with them, we have nothing more to do with this story. The club has no responsibility for what happens here. It was a sad accident, certainly, but that's fate. So we saw nothing, we heard nothing, we shut up! OK? It's what we better do to avoid a scandal."
Bernett, who today presents programs on French national radio, tells The Mail he has finally decided to break his silence despite risking prosecution for covering up the death in his club. "I was 26 in 1971," he said. "Today I'm past 60, and want to get rid of my heavy load. At least everything is now out there to be discussed. I've said what I have to say."
According to French law, criminal cases cannot be re-opened after 20 years have passed. However, civil law - as well as international law - may provide an opportunity for investigators to re-open the case. A spokesman for France's Police National said that, "The new evidence will have to be considered," according to The Mail.
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=436638
July 9, 2007
Former New York Times journalist and French nightclub manager Sam Bernett has written a new book in which he claims that Doors singer Jim Morrison died of a drug overdose in a club that Bernett was managing, and not at home in his own bathtub as has been long believed. The testament is contained in Bernett's forthcoming book, The End - Jim Morrison, soon to be published in France, and the allegations are being taken so seriously that French authorities are considering re-opening the investigation into Morrison's death.
In the book, Bernett claims that Morrison died of a heroin overdose in the bathroom of The Rock 'n' Roll Circus nightclub in Paris, where Morrison was living at the time. Bernett says the death was then covered up by two drug dealers who transferred Morrison's body from the club to the singer's apartment and dumped it in the bathtub. Bernett was warned by the club's owners never to tell anybody what had happened.
According to Bernett, Morrison came to the club at 1 a.m. and bought heroin from two men working for Jean de Breteuil, a well known French drug dealer. "Both were French guys in their '20s. I knew what they were up to, and kept an eye out for Jim. He disappeared to the toilets at around 2 a.m.," Bernett told U.K. newspaper The Mail. "Then, about half an hour later, a cloakroom attendant came up to me and told me someone was locked in one of the cubicles and wasn't coming out. It was then that I got a bouncer to smash the door down."
Bernett found Morrison's body slumped on the toilet, and called for one of the club's customers, who was a doctor. After a brief examination, the doctor declared that Morrison was dead, but the two drug dealers insisted that he was just passed out. Then the two dealers lifted Morrison's body out of the toilets and along a corridor that linked the Circus with Alcazar, the club next door which still exists today. Minutes later, a representative of the club's owner allegedly warned Bernett not to tell anyone what had happened, because, "Since Morrison's friends want to take him with them, we have nothing more to do with this story. The club has no responsibility for what happens here. It was a sad accident, certainly, but that's fate. So we saw nothing, we heard nothing, we shut up! OK? It's what we better do to avoid a scandal."
Bernett, who today presents programs on French national radio, tells The Mail he has finally decided to break his silence despite risking prosecution for covering up the death in his club. "I was 26 in 1971," he said. "Today I'm past 60, and want to get rid of my heavy load. At least everything is now out there to be discussed. I've said what I have to say."
According to French law, criminal cases cannot be re-opened after 20 years have passed. However, civil law - as well as international law - may provide an opportunity for investigators to re-open the case. A spokesman for France's Police National said that, "The new evidence will have to be considered," according to The Mail.
http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=436638
Monday, June 04, 2007
Favorite Summer Time Albums
What are some of your favorite summer time albums/cds? Albums that you enjoy hearing that make you think of summer time fun!
Albums that I like that make me feel real summery are:
Blondie Blondie first album
The Doors The Doors first album
Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
The Rolling Stones It's Only Rock n Roll
Billy Idol Billy Idol first album
Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Albums that I like that make me feel real summery are:
Blondie Blondie first album
The Doors The Doors first album
Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy
Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti
The Rolling Stones It's Only Rock n Roll
Billy Idol Billy Idol first album
Pink Floyd The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Friday, May 18, 2007
New Doors Live in Boston CD
New Doors Live in Boston CD
Featuring more than three hours of music and mayhem, LIVE IN BOSTON finds keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger at the peak of their powers as Jim Morrison leads them on a booze-fueled romp through "Roadhouse Blues" and "Light My Fire," plus mind-bending journeys for "When The Music's Over" and Elvis Presley's "Mystery Train."
Track Listing:
Disc 1 - First Show [Total Time 77:59]
1. Start [1:44]
2. All Right, All Right, All Right [0:13]
3. Howling & Moaning [0:40]
4. Roadhouse Moan [0:34]
5. Roadhouse Blues [4:48]
6. Ship Of Fools [6:34]
7. Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) [2:02]
8. Back Door Man [2:17]
9. Five To One [10:26]
10. When The Music's Over [15:00]
11. Rock Me [7:03]
12. Mystery Train [7:15]
13. Away In India [1:54]
14. Crossroads [5:14]
15. Prelude to Wake Up! [0:48]
16. Wake Up! [1:33]
17. Light My Fire [12:07]
Disc 2 - Second Show
[Total Time 70:22]
1. Start [1:22]
2. Break On Through [8:12]
3. I Believe In Democracy [0:33]
4. When The Music's Over [14:19]
5. Roadhouse Blues [5:53]
6. The Spy [5:43]
7. Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) [1:40]
8. Back Door Man [2:27]
9. Five to One [7:05]
10. Astrology Rap [0:38]
11. Build Me A Woman [4:18]
12. You Make Me Real [2:58]
13. Wait A Minute! [0:52]
14. Mystery Train [8:26]
15. Away In India [2:27]
16. Crossroads [3:21]
Disc 3 - Second Show Continued
[Total Time 36:17]
1. Band Intros [0:35]
2. Adolf Hitler [0:23]
3. Light My Fire [5:47]
4. Fever [0:23]
5. Summertime [7:26]
6. St. James Infirmary Blues [0:49]
7. Graveyard Poem [1:13]
8. Light My Fire [1:45]
9. More, More, More! [0:19]
10. Ladies & Gentlemen [0:13]
11. We Can't Instigate [0:13]
12. They Want More [1:16]
13. Been Down So Long [6:46]
14. Power Turned Off [9:08]
You can pre-order CD & Exclusive T-shirt at the Doors Official Store:
http://thedoors.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=1127_11433
Featuring more than three hours of music and mayhem, LIVE IN BOSTON finds keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger at the peak of their powers as Jim Morrison leads them on a booze-fueled romp through "Roadhouse Blues" and "Light My Fire," plus mind-bending journeys for "When The Music's Over" and Elvis Presley's "Mystery Train."
Track Listing:
Disc 1 - First Show [Total Time 77:59]
1. Start [1:44]
2. All Right, All Right, All Right [0:13]
3. Howling & Moaning [0:40]
4. Roadhouse Moan [0:34]
5. Roadhouse Blues [4:48]
6. Ship Of Fools [6:34]
7. Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) [2:02]
8. Back Door Man [2:17]
9. Five To One [10:26]
10. When The Music's Over [15:00]
11. Rock Me [7:03]
12. Mystery Train [7:15]
13. Away In India [1:54]
14. Crossroads [5:14]
15. Prelude to Wake Up! [0:48]
16. Wake Up! [1:33]
17. Light My Fire [12:07]
Disc 2 - Second Show
[Total Time 70:22]
1. Start [1:22]
2. Break On Through [8:12]
3. I Believe In Democracy [0:33]
4. When The Music's Over [14:19]
5. Roadhouse Blues [5:53]
6. The Spy [5:43]
7. Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) [1:40]
8. Back Door Man [2:27]
9. Five to One [7:05]
10. Astrology Rap [0:38]
11. Build Me A Woman [4:18]
12. You Make Me Real [2:58]
13. Wait A Minute! [0:52]
14. Mystery Train [8:26]
15. Away In India [2:27]
16. Crossroads [3:21]
Disc 3 - Second Show Continued
[Total Time 36:17]
1. Band Intros [0:35]
2. Adolf Hitler [0:23]
3. Light My Fire [5:47]
4. Fever [0:23]
5. Summertime [7:26]
6. St. James Infirmary Blues [0:49]
7. Graveyard Poem [1:13]
8. Light My Fire [1:45]
9. More, More, More! [0:19]
10. Ladies & Gentlemen [0:13]
11. We Can't Instigate [0:13]
12. They Want More [1:16]
13. Been Down So Long [6:46]
14. Power Turned Off [9:08]
You can pre-order CD & Exclusive T-shirt at the Doors Official Store:
http://thedoors.shop.musictoday.com/Dept.aspx?cp=1127_11433
Friday, March 16, 2007
Rock Autism Campaign
Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey & Steven Tyler among arists in autism campaign
Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, and Steven Tyler are among those contributing to a new campaign against autism. The three frontmen will be featured in a new initiative called "Rock Autism" that begins April 1st, since April is Mark Autism Awareness Month. The campaign will start with a public service announcement on VH1 Classic starring Plant, Daltrey, Tyler, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss, Motley Crue's Vince Neil and Tommy Lee, Ronnie James Dio, and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister.
"Rock Autism" will use public service announcements, news breaks on VH1 Classic, and an-air fundraising stunts including "Pay To Play," during which VH1 Classic will play requested videos in exchange for donations. Proceeds will go to the Cure Autism Now Foundation, which funds research into treatments and a cure for the neurobiological condition that affects one in every 150 children born today.
The Rock Radio online
Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, and Steven Tyler are among those contributing to a new campaign against autism. The three frontmen will be featured in a new initiative called "Rock Autism" that begins April 1st, since April is Mark Autism Awareness Month. The campaign will start with a public service announcement on VH1 Classic starring Plant, Daltrey, Tyler, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss, Motley Crue's Vince Neil and Tommy Lee, Ronnie James Dio, and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister.
"Rock Autism" will use public service announcements, news breaks on VH1 Classic, and an-air fundraising stunts including "Pay To Play," during which VH1 Classic will play requested videos in exchange for donations. Proceeds will go to the Cure Autism Now Foundation, which funds research into treatments and a cure for the neurobiological condition that affects one in every 150 children born today.
The Rock Radio online
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Heart's Ann & Nancy Wilson Still Rock Us
When Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart roll in with their entourage on Friday, they'll have an instant connection with the valley.
"My husband's from Indio," says Nancy Wilson of her mate, rock writer, film director and former Indio resident, Cameron Crowe. "So what's the place like? What should I know?"
What Wilson should know is that when Crowe was growing up out here, the valley was starved for entertainment. But that's not true anymore. Heart's coming to the valley for a concert at 8 p.m. Friday, March 16, which also happens to be Nancy's birthday.
Real rockers
Unlike the girl bands who came before Heart, the Wilson sisters could really rock. Nancy played guitar with all the accomplishment of any guy, while Ann's vocals alternately soared to the heights of the purely angelic, like Stevie Nicks, and raw energy of Robert Plant or Roger Daltry. They paved the way for other powerhouse girl singer like Pat Benatar and Rindy Ross who followed a few years later.
"Yeah, we were more like a Led Zeppelin," Nancy says of their style of rock. "We had the versatility and we could crank it out (like Zeppelin) or do the ballads, which was pretty cool. And there weren't any other bands with a girl playing lead (guitar)."
Thought of at first as a novelty in the rock world, the Wilsons and the rest of the band showed they had the chops to rock with the best of them. Songs like "Kick It Out," "Little Queen" and "Barracuda" showed they weren't just trying to keep up with the boys, but had developed their own style that blended a little metal with classic rock and R&B.
A little background
The reason, Nancy says, for their confidence in keeping up with and besting the boys came from being raised in a military family. "It came from my mom," she says. "We were a Marine Corps family and a lot of the time, my dad wasn't around. We didn't have a lot of gender-specific role models."
With the family living in Seattle in the early 1970s, Ann, who is four years older than Nancy, left home first and joined a band initally called The Army, and later White Heart. The group included Steve Fossen and the Fisher brothers, Roger and Mike, in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1970, with Nancy following four years later. With the sisters fronting the band, they changed the name to Heart and made a name for themselves in the Northwest.
A regional hit version of Dreamboat Annie, with "Crazy On You" and "Barracuda," sold fairly well and eventually was picked up by Capitol. Over the next five years and four albums, the women kept rock, but their popularity waned in the early '80s. In the mid-'80s Heart regained its momentum with the release of their self-titled Heart in 1985 that produced four top 10 hits in "What About Love?," "Never," "These Dreams" and "Nothin' at All."
Back to reality
These days touring is more of a family affair, with various kids (both Ann and Nancy have two each) and sister Lynn who is the band's wardrobe lady (and her kids). "It makes it a lot nicer," Nancy says. "We're all really comfortable with each other. And being in business with your sister isn't bad."
They still rock, playing not only old favorites, but tunes from their latest disc, Jupiter's Rising, released in 2004, along with oldies like the Zeppelin's "Rock 'n' Roll."
"There's still a lotta rock in us," she says. "We still love what we do."
I remember seeing Heart a couple of time in the 70's when they were a new band and they always did a few Zeppelin songs at their shows. Haven't seen them since, but hear they still do some Zep songs.
"My husband's from Indio," says Nancy Wilson of her mate, rock writer, film director and former Indio resident, Cameron Crowe. "So what's the place like? What should I know?"
What Wilson should know is that when Crowe was growing up out here, the valley was starved for entertainment. But that's not true anymore. Heart's coming to the valley for a concert at 8 p.m. Friday, March 16, which also happens to be Nancy's birthday.
Real rockers
Unlike the girl bands who came before Heart, the Wilson sisters could really rock. Nancy played guitar with all the accomplishment of any guy, while Ann's vocals alternately soared to the heights of the purely angelic, like Stevie Nicks, and raw energy of Robert Plant or Roger Daltry. They paved the way for other powerhouse girl singer like Pat Benatar and Rindy Ross who followed a few years later.
"Yeah, we were more like a Led Zeppelin," Nancy says of their style of rock. "We had the versatility and we could crank it out (like Zeppelin) or do the ballads, which was pretty cool. And there weren't any other bands with a girl playing lead (guitar)."
Thought of at first as a novelty in the rock world, the Wilsons and the rest of the band showed they had the chops to rock with the best of them. Songs like "Kick It Out," "Little Queen" and "Barracuda" showed they weren't just trying to keep up with the boys, but had developed their own style that blended a little metal with classic rock and R&B.
A little background
The reason, Nancy says, for their confidence in keeping up with and besting the boys came from being raised in a military family. "It came from my mom," she says. "We were a Marine Corps family and a lot of the time, my dad wasn't around. We didn't have a lot of gender-specific role models."
With the family living in Seattle in the early 1970s, Ann, who is four years older than Nancy, left home first and joined a band initally called The Army, and later White Heart. The group included Steve Fossen and the Fisher brothers, Roger and Mike, in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1970, with Nancy following four years later. With the sisters fronting the band, they changed the name to Heart and made a name for themselves in the Northwest.
A regional hit version of Dreamboat Annie, with "Crazy On You" and "Barracuda," sold fairly well and eventually was picked up by Capitol. Over the next five years and four albums, the women kept rock, but their popularity waned in the early '80s. In the mid-'80s Heart regained its momentum with the release of their self-titled Heart in 1985 that produced four top 10 hits in "What About Love?," "Never," "These Dreams" and "Nothin' at All."
Back to reality
These days touring is more of a family affair, with various kids (both Ann and Nancy have two each) and sister Lynn who is the band's wardrobe lady (and her kids). "It makes it a lot nicer," Nancy says. "We're all really comfortable with each other. And being in business with your sister isn't bad."
They still rock, playing not only old favorites, but tunes from their latest disc, Jupiter's Rising, released in 2004, along with oldies like the Zeppelin's "Rock 'n' Roll."
"There's still a lotta rock in us," she says. "We still love what we do."
I remember seeing Heart a couple of time in the 70's when they were a new band and they always did a few Zeppelin songs at their shows. Haven't seen them since, but hear they still do some Zep songs.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Ertegun's death ended Honeydrippers plans
Ertegun's death ended Honeydrippers plans
January 13, 2007
BY GARY GRAFF
DETROIT -- The death of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun in December put the kabosh on a new Honeydrippers album that Robert Plant planned to record this year.
Plant says he and Ertegun began talking about the project -- a followup to the platinum 1984 EP ''Volume One,'' which featured Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Nile Rodgers, among others -- after Plant was part of a tribute to Ertegun last June at the 40th annual Montreux Jazz Festival.
''We agreed to carry on and create a Honeydrippers thing a little bit later on in 2007,'' says Plant. ''He was suggesting material and stuff like that. I knew he was thrilled with the idea of it, and so was I.''
But Plant decided there was no reason to continue the project without Ertegun's involvement. ''I would only do it because I wanted the whole rapport with him and his history,'' Plant says.
The former Led Zeppelin frontman recently did some writing in Wales with his band, Strange Sensation, but he's also been recording in the United States with Alison Krauss and T-Bone Burnett.
''It's amazing. It's otherworldly,'' Plant says of the latter, which also includes guitarist Marc Ribot. ''I don't really know how to describe it. ... It's just very unique and very strong and very emotive.''
Plant would not predict when either project will be released but did say, ''It obviously is not gonna be very long.''
Billboard.com
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/poprock/209134,CST-FTR
January 13, 2007
BY GARY GRAFF
DETROIT -- The death of Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun in December put the kabosh on a new Honeydrippers album that Robert Plant planned to record this year.
Plant says he and Ertegun began talking about the project -- a followup to the platinum 1984 EP ''Volume One,'' which featured Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Nile Rodgers, among others -- after Plant was part of a tribute to Ertegun last June at the 40th annual Montreux Jazz Festival.
''We agreed to carry on and create a Honeydrippers thing a little bit later on in 2007,'' says Plant. ''He was suggesting material and stuff like that. I knew he was thrilled with the idea of it, and so was I.''
But Plant decided there was no reason to continue the project without Ertegun's involvement. ''I would only do it because I wanted the whole rapport with him and his history,'' Plant says.
The former Led Zeppelin frontman recently did some writing in Wales with his band, Strange Sensation, but he's also been recording in the United States with Alison Krauss and T-Bone Burnett.
''It's amazing. It's otherworldly,'' Plant says of the latter, which also includes guitarist Marc Ribot. ''I don't really know how to describe it. ... It's just very unique and very strong and very emotive.''
Plant would not predict when either project will be released but did say, ''It obviously is not gonna be very long.''
Billboard.com
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/music/poprock/209134,CST-FTR
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