Quick quips: Black Sabbath, Neil Young, Merle Haggard, Jim Reeves, Steven Tyler, Winston Riley

Advertisements

added: 23 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

Email this story Printable version

It seems that a cancer diagnosis is not keeping Tony Iommi from working on music for the Black Sabbath reunion. Bandmate Geezer Butler wrote on his website:

Today [January 19] we got the engines back up and running @ Tony's home studio. Far from being down and depressed about his lymphoma diagnosis, Tony had already written the music for two new songs, and I must say it has given us all a kick up the rump- it's great to hear him churning out those riffs again, assuaging the Demon C. Takes more than that to stop Tony. Can't wait for you all to hear our workings, it has been great working on this stuff.

Neil Young's LinkVolt LLC is being sued for $500,000 by Unigard Insurance over damages from a 2010 warehouse fire in San Carlos, CA. Unigard paid out to the owners of the building but allege that the fire was caused by Young's 1959 Lincoln Continental that he had converted to run on electricity and a bio-diesel powered generator.

Merle Haggard was released from the hospital on Friday after being treated for pneumonia. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery.
Haggard has postponed his remaining concert dates for January while he fully recovers.

A trial opens on Monday that will determine how the royalties for the late Jim Reeves' recordings will be split. Even though Reeves passed away almost fifty years ago, his work still generates $400,000 per year and Terry Davis, who married the singers widow, feels that he should receive part of them. Davis was married to Mary Reeves for thirty years until her death in 1999.
For the second year in a row, CMT will present a special edition of their long running Crossroads series during the festivities for the Super Bowl. Last year it was Faith Hill and the Pretenders and, this year, on February 4, it will be Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood.
The two previously performed together at last year's ACM Awards.

Jamaican reggae pioneer Winston Riley passed away on Thursday from gunshot wounds to the head he received in November. He was 65.
Riley had been the target of a number of unexplained attacks in 2011, including being shot in August and stabbed in September.

Riley was a founder of the Techniques while still a teenager and was still adapting and having hits into the 80's. He was also credited with introducing reggae to England.

Win our 'Wired For Sound' package worth over £500! Click here now.

> For more Music-News stories click here

Be the first to comment on this review:

View the original article here

Quick quips: Eddie Van Halen, Rolling Stones, Reba McEntire, Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, John Parr

Advertisements

added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

Email this story Printable version

Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 electric guitars from his collection to music programs at schools throughout the Los Angeles area. The gift was made in cooperation with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.
Van Halen said in a statement, "Music is the universal language. It has the ability to transcend and convey every human emotion that exists without saying a word. Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me.
"Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them. If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that's a wonderful thing. Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation."

A group called the Rolling Stones Liberation Front have issued six demands prior to the group's announcement of any 50th anniversary tour. They say if all six aren't met, they will wage a non-violent disruptive action. The demands are:
We want smaller venues.
We want lower ticket prices.
We want a set list overhaul.
We want to eliminate the horn section and back-up singers.
We want the expulsion of all opening acts.
We want all fans to take responsibility for themselves.
To read the details behind each of the demands, check out the article at Classic Rock magazine.

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton will return for their annual awards show on April 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It is Blake's second year as host and Reba's fourteenth.

The next night, the stars will return to the venue to tape ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends - A Lifetime of Hits. The special will air later in the year on CBS.

k.d. lang has filed papers to dissolve her domestic partnership with Jamie Price. The two first met in 2003 and entered into a partnership contract in 2009.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, TN has reached a major milestone, it's 25th anniversary year. Parton said of the restaurant "Over the years, some incredibly talented performers, those with two legs and those with four legs, have thoroughly amazed audiences with their talents, and our 25th anniversary season will be no exception!"

Jim Reeves is one of the most successful artists in country music history, racking up hits for years after his death in a 1964 plane crash. Larry Jordan, who knew Reeves and was close friends with his wife, Mary, has written a new book on the singer, Jim Reeves: His Untold Story.

John Parr, who hit in 1985 with the Theme From St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion), has recorded a new version of the song for Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow.

Win our 'Wired For Sound' package worth over £500! Click here now.

> For more Music-News stories click here

Be the first to comment on this review:

View the original article here