the Rock Report

Now, this is somethin’ every fan’s gonna want to see:

A set of never-before-seen photos from the final concert before the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper went on display at the concert’s famous site (the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa) yesterday. The seven photos — taken February 2, 1959 by (at the time) a 16-year-old girl — were unveiled in a special ceremony Thursday night.

One of them shows Buddy Holly playing drums for Dion & the Belmonts (replacing their drummer, who had dropped out of the tour earlier with frostbite).

Incidentally, of all survivors who were involved in that last tour, only Dion DiMucci has refused to pay tribute to Holly, Valens and Bopper (J.P. Richardson).

Hey … remember when I mentioned that Hugh Laurie’s band, Band From TV, was releasing a CD called Hoggin’ All The Covers”? Well, they made their television talk show debut January 16, 2009 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno — and it resulted in a 500% jump in sales — with all of the proceeds being donated to charity!

“Hoggin’ All the Covers” shot up to a #1 sales ranking in Amazon’s music store and still maintains a steady top 15 sales position within the online retailer’s music store. That translates into mega-bucks to help charities the band — which is made up of TV stars, with Laurie on keyboards and vocals — promotes! GREAT job, mates!

And it looks like ‘The Boss’ is owning up to a mistake! In an interview with the New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn’t have made a deal with Wal-Mart. The store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest hits CD this month.

Fans were angry and a little confused because Springsteen has always been a supporter of worker’s rights — and Wal-Mart seems to ignore those.

Bruce told the Times that he “dropped the ball on it.”  He went on to say: “It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be.”

HERE’S THE PROMO VID FOR HOGGIN’ ALL THE COVERS

Now … since it’s almost 5:00 (AM) here (hey … it’s gotta be 5:00 Somewhere, right??), I’m gonna catch a quick 360. But stay tuned … there’s more in less than 23+1! Until then, I’ll just …

see ya on the flip side!

By now, everyone in the rock world knows that Billy Powell, (who survived the airplane crash that killed three other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd), was found dead Wednesday in his Florida condo. The band’s keyboardist was only 56.
He started as a roadie for the group before joining it in 1972. After the crash, he became a member of the Rossington Collins Band. When Skynyrd finally reformed (with the late Ronnie Van Zandt’s brother taking over the vocals), he was part of all their different formats.
He also was instrumental (no pun intended) in the creation of Kid Rock’s All Summer Long, which was a direct tribute to the band’s biggest and most copied hit, Sweet Home Alabama.
Needless to say, the gentle giant will definitely be missed. RIP, Billy … today you are a genuine “Freebird”.

A FEW QUICK NOTES

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have announced that Smokey Robinson will be getting their AMEE Award at the Media and Entertainment Excellence Awards in L. A. on March 9.

If there’s any surviving male soul artist from the era who deserves appreciation, it’s Smokey. From his fantastic group The Miracles to his songwriting (he penned the song, My Girl [the Temptation’s giant hit], in honor of his then-wife) and producing, to the charities he’s been involved with, the man has shown fans what the best of music is all about!

And Cher made an appearance at an L. A. City Council meeting Wednesday! She wasn’t there to sing, though (stop applauding, people!). She was part of a group of protesters who wanted to stop development of a new elephant habitat at the city’s zoo. Heck … even retired game show host Bob Barker offered to pay $1.5 million to transport the oldest elephant, Billy, to a shelter. But actress Betty White and Guns n’ Roses guitarist Slash wanted the project to be completed — and it was their side that won!

WOW!! Looks like this Sunday’s Super Bowl is gonna be as exciting for rock fans as it will be for football fanatics! With the lovely songbird, Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem (her first public gig since the tragic murders of her mom, brother and sweet 7-year-old nephew) and Bruce Springsteen at halftime, it was already something to anticipate! But, now, they’ve added the rock band Journey , who’ll perform during the pre-game festivities!

Okay … a little short, but … well, I “baby-butted” the last coupla days (huh?? Oh … got a little behind in my work). But stay tuned … in less than 12, we’ll be up-to-speed again ….

See ya on the flip side, then …

WHOA!!  Ya heard on Monday that producers are gonna turn Michael Jackson’s 14-minute “Thriller” video (from 1982) into a full-length Broadway production.

Well, John Landis, who co-wrote and directed the video, says Michael owes him his 50% royalties, which haven’t been paid for at least four years. He filed suit last Wednesday — before the Broadway announcement.

Strange … (but, then again, we are talkin’ Michael Jackson, right??)

And it was announced yesterday (28 January) that Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” is gonna be used in commercials for the British retailer, The Co-operative.  He’s already allowed its use in ads for iTunes, Victoria’s Secret and Cadillac.
(By the way … can anyone tell me why, since they have stores all over the place with their handkerchief-sized undies and lingerie as transparent as water, they still call it “Victoria’s Secret” ?)  Just wondered (huh?? ‘Cause I heard people talk about ‘em!  Why’d I go in there?  I don’t have anyone yet …)

Get this:  Meat Loaf will appear on a British children’s television series March 2, reading “The Lamb Who Came To Dinner” to a cartoon puppy.
(Ummm … wait a minnit:  Puppies are little dogs-in-training, right?  And Purina™ makes dog food with lamb and rice, right?  And Meat Loaf is reading a book about lambs to the dog?  Why’s the lamb coming to dinner?  Is he gonna be the main course?  And what if dogs are watchin’?  Would they suddenly get a craving for …?  Stay tuned …)

And Johnny Rivers was among those appearing at a tribute show for the late Elmer Valentine at the club he once owned, the famed Whiskey A Go-Go, in West Hollywood Monday night. Also there were John Densmore of the Doors, Stephen Stills, Hugh Masekela, John Mayall and the Byrds’ Chris Hillman. Valentine died this past December at the age of 85.

Okay … that does it for this edition, but stay tuned … there’s more comin’ up in just 24!  Until then …
see ya on the flip side!

Seems like somebody doesn’t like the late Roy Orbison!

Y’see, Roy (Pretty Woman, Crying, and a carload of other hits) had three homes built for him in the Nashville suburb while he was alive. Two of them caught fire for some reason — including the first one in which his two beloved sons perished (he never stopped grievin’ over his loss, and some say it contributed to his own death).

But now his THIRD one — a Hendersonville, Tennessee mansion built for him in 1963 and once owned by Tammy Wynette — has gone up in flames (yep … burned to the ground!). It happened Sunday night, and investigators are still lookin’ through the rubble to see what caused it …

There’s a new park across the street from the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas — and it’s gonna make his widow, Maria Elena, a little wealthier.

She’ll get $20,000 in license fees and her royalty income will increase by about $80,000 — and her name (as well as his) will grace a new city park in a deal approved by the Lubbock, Texas city council this past Monday (January 26).
The Center itself is gonna get $900,000 in improvements!

It was almost fifty years ago that Buddy died in the plane crash that also took the lives of Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.

DID THEY GO TOO FUR WITH THIS??

And Aretha Franklin’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame apparently doesn’t get any <em>”RESPECT”</em>

Now, it’s obvious that the supersized soul singer loves furs (or haven’tcha watched her appearances lately?).  Still, that doesn’t give someone the right to paint “Fur Hag” on the star’s Star — even if it is a protest to the Queen of Soul’s wardrobe.

The likely culprits are the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)! (I wonder … have they ever thought of a new way of gettin’ their point across — like, er, talking with fur-wearers first?)

Oh … and she’s not alone in her misery:  Actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and diva-in-her-own-mind Sharon Stone have had their stars vandalized, too!

IN MEMORY OF ROY … HERE’S YOU GOT IT:

THE FACES — MAYBE I’M AMAZED (no, not McCartney’s!)

Okay .. that’s it for now, but stay tuned: There’s more in 24! Soooo, until then …
see ya on the flip side!

DOLLY GOES HANNAH-WHERE

Yep … the buxomous songbird/business mogul Dolly Parton has just signed on to play the aunt of superyoungster Miley Cyrus in her next Hannah Montana movie, due out sometime in April.
Gotta hand it to the young lady (Miley, not Dolly): She’s really fightin’ back (with the help of dad Billy Ray) against the media that’s hounding her to change, ala Britney.
DIDJA KNOW that Miley (whose daddy was born and raised just a few miles from the Double-E’s nest) was actually given her nickname by her dad? She was born Destiny Hope Cyrus but, when Billy saw his little girl smile and giggle and coo, he warmly called her “‘Miley” (a childlike way of sayin’ smiley). That’s now her real name since she changed it last year.

Oh … in case you were wonderin’ why the egoic folk-rock balladeer James Taylor was wearing his hat and sunspecs when he played at the Inauguration: He had fallen during the rehearsal and hit his head on his guitar! The cut required 50 stitches! (Man, I know the feelin’! Not only did I have a cut like that [ummm … tripped over a cat …], but we share the same hairstyle!)

BOY, OH BOY!

Well, this figures: First, Boy George (who was just sentenced to 15 months in jail for beating and handcuffing a male ‘escort’ to a wall in his house) is spending his time signing autographs for inmates (hmmm … wonder what’d happen if he refused to do it?)

Second: I’m told he’s been given extra security because he’s afraid of being attacked by the prisoners for being gay. But don’t worry — he’s been given one of the easier tasks in the hoosegow: he serves inmates their food.
Gee … he might just have a new career when he gets out, if he does his job well, huh??

Anyway, that’s it for this news shot! Now, you know there’s gonna be more in about 24, soooooo …

I’ll see ya on the flip side!

GUITAR HERO … WITH REAL GUITAR??

Yep … for you fans of the rock-music vid game, it’s finally gonna happen!
Y’see, button-pushing rock star wannabes now have a chance to “show their stuff” in the form of Disney Star Guitarist. Now, this game uses an actual guitar with color-coded strings to give guitar rookies a chance to learn new songs, while still featuring the now-famous game modes.
So, if you wanna play the game while learning how to handle a real axe, here’s your chance. Now, I dunno if it’s out yet, but it’s bound to make the game a lot more interesting …

Legendary folk-rocker (and proud papa of sultry young actress Ione Skye) Donovan (Leitch) was made an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in a Cannes ceremony this Sunday.
The French Cultural Minister called him, “a living pop-folk legend, a genuine poet and true humanist.”
Today, while being involved in the spiritualist/humanist movement, the Sunshine Superman singer is still performing — and still sounds every bit as fresh as he did back-in-the-day.

CHER-ing THE STAGE

And the Double-E has just learned that superdiva Cher has signed to appear in the upcoming comedy film, “The Drop-Out”, with Johnny “Jackass” Knoxville.
It’ll be her first film — other than those in which she had a cameo appearance as herself — in nine years. Considerin’ how she’s worked her recent Vegas shows (often “calling in sick”), ya can’t help wonderin’ if she’s really gonna make it this time.
Actually, she’s been a pretty good actress … so, I’ll go out on a limb and wish her the best …

A BELATED NEW YEAR’S BLESSING TO MY READERS

Yeah … thanks to Angela at Baby Boomers News, this cool-as-all-get-out blessing is one I wanna repeat to you all. Due to my work load, I didn’t get to it before now, but … hey: Better now than never, right?

“May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal
your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault
your lips!
May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and
may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of
joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address!
In simple words
……….May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!”

Now … I’ll see ya on the flip side …

years.