Monkees’ Mike Nesmith’s Miracle Cure
Former Monkee Mike Nesmith, 69, revealed on his Facebook page that he started going blind in 2007, “and then in 2010 it took a dramatic turn for the worse.” He said that at the beginning of this year he was legally blind. “I needed help for most all activities. I could not drive or cook or get around on my own. It got worst, but I will spare you all that.”
However, Nesmith, who lives in his native Texas, was referred to a man he calls, “a surfing ophthalmologist.” Nesmith writes, the eye doctor told him, “’Well, the bad news is that it is cataracts. The good news is that it is cataracts. I can fix those.”
Nesmith underwent “simple and painless” surgery in late January. “I can see clearly now, just like the song says. So, where I was blind, now I see. In fact, I see better now that I ever have in my life.”
Nesmith underwent “simple and painless” surgery in late January. “I can see clearly now, just like the song says. So, where I was blind, now I see. In fact, I see better now that I ever have in my life.”
Ringo Starr’s Pneumonia
When Paul McCartney received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, many in the crowd wondered why his fellow Beatle Ringo Starr wasn’t there to celebrate the occasion with his lifelong friend.
Later that weekend, the man referred in “Help!” as “The Famous Ringo” was set to present a Grammy Award at the Staples Center during the nationally televised show that featured not one, but two performances from McCartney, but Ringo was a no-show. Some who were hoping for an on-stage reunion of the two surviving Beatles wondered if they’d had a falling out.
The answer is “No,” according to Chris Carter, the host of “Breakfast With The Beatles” on KLOS-FM in southern California and on Sirius XM nationally, and who is recognized as an expert on all things Beatles.
It turns out that the drummer was on the Disabled List with pneumonia. However, Carter told me that, “he’s getting better.” Carter noted the Starr attended at the record release bash at the Troubadour for his brother-in-law Joe Walsh several days after the Grammys as evidence of his recovery. At the Troubadour, Starr played with The Eagles’ singer-guitarist on Walsh’s James Gang classic, “Rocky Mountain Way.”
During a “Town Hall” broadcast on Sirius XM hosted by actor-comedian Russell Brand that was also held at the Troubadour, Starr insisted that, unlike many of his legendary musician pals, he’ll never write a memoir. “I’ve been asked to write an autobiography of myself but they really only want those eight years,” that he was in The Beatles, he told Brand. “And I say, ‘But there are 10 volumes before we get to that and 20 afterwards.”
During a “Town Hall” broadcast on Sirius XM hosted by actor-comedian Russell Brand that was also held at the Troubadour, Starr insisted that, unlike many of his legendary musician pals, he’ll never write a memoir. “I’ve been asked to write an autobiography of myself but they really only want those eight years,” that he was in The Beatles, he told Brand. “And I say, ‘But there are 10 volumes before we get to that and 20 afterwards.”
Starr just released his latest CD, “Ringo 2012,” and will once again hit the road with his latest version of his All-Starr Band, this time with singer-guitarist Todd Rundgren, former Santana and Journey singer-organist Greg Rolie, Toto’s singer-guitarist Steve Luthaker, Mr. Mister singer-bassist Richard Page as well as returning backup members sax and percussion player Mark Rivera and drummer Greg Bissonette. Starr, et al, will end the June and July tour in southern California with gigs on July 19 at Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay, and July 21 at the Greek Theatre in L.A.
Now 71 years old, Starr doesn’t plan to stop performing, he tells USA Today. “As long as I can hold the sticks, I can play.” He joked, “I want to put a jam band together where we do a two-minute song and a 40-minute fade like The Grateful Dead.”
McCartney feels the same way. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the 69-year-old British knight says he can see himself recording and touring into his eighties. “I can imagine it. Rocking on until a grand old age…the only thing would be when it’s not pleasant anymore, then it would be, ‘That’s a good time to stop.’ ” He’ll be at London’s Royal Albert Hall for a six-night stand, March 29 – April 3 before headlining Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary “Diamond Jubilee” at Buckingham Palace on June 4.
Jagger, Jeff Beck, B.B. At White House
Sir Mick Jagger; B.B. King, Jeff Beck, the great guitarist who first came to America as a member of the British Invasion group The Yardbirds, and Buddy Guy were some of the performers at the White House before the Obama’s celebrating blues music. Other performers include Keb Mo, and a couple musicians who are new to the national music scene, guitarist Gary Clark, Jr., singer Shemekia Copeland, New Orleans jazz-fusion prodigy, Trombone Shorty, Allman Brothers guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks and Trucks’ blues singing wife Susan Tedeschi. The event will be shown on PBS on February 27.
“In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues” kicked off with 86-year-old King leading the ensemble in “Let the Good Times Roll,” that was a hit for Louis Jordan in 1946. Jagger, making his first visit to the White House, sang five songs, including, “Miss You,” his and Keith Richards’ Rolling Stones song that was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart in 1978, with Copeland and Tedeschi.
The evening ended with the collective guests performing Robert Johnson’s 1937 classic, “Sweet Home Chicago,” that had special meaning for President Obama, who sang lead back and forth with King.
Lambert To Perform With Queen
After tweets and statements back and forth in recent weeks, stop wonder, “will he or won’t he?” Former “American Idol” powerhouse vocalist has confirmed that queen has invited him to perform with the legendary British rockers at Sonisphere 2012 at Knebworth Park, north of London, according to the Associated Press. This will be the third time he’s sung with the band’s original members, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.
Queen fanatic Lambert, 30, told AP, “They are very sweet and to be up there doing this music is such an honor. Freddie Mercury was a hero to me and his voice, his song writing and being gay, the whole package is amazing.”
Mercury’s last concert with Queen was in 1986 and was also at Knebworth. Lambert says, “I’m just paying tribute (to Mercury)”, who died of AIDS in 1991.
Sabbath Reunion Postponed
Black Sabbath’s heralded reunion with singer Ozzy Osbourne has had a setback, according to a post on the band’s website. Guitarist Tony Iommi, 64, needs ongoing treatment for the lymphoma that was discovered in January. Because of this, the reunion tour dates set for this summer will instead be billed as “Ozzy and Friends,” and feature an Osbourne group that includes Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and Osbourne axeman Zakk Wylde and Slash. Sabbath drummer Bill Ward also recently said he would not participate further in the reunion until he gets a new contract.
The only Black Sabbath reunion concert still in place is a headlining gig at Britain’s Download Festival on June 10. The band will continue record its reunion album while Iommi received ongoing treatment.
Emmylou & Skaggs Play Memorial
Emmylou Harris, Boz Skaggs, Steve Earle, Gilliam Welch, country singer Jimmy Dale Gilmore and The Wranglers and others performed and eulogized Hardly Strictly Bluegrass founder Warren Hellman at a memorial before 15,000 at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. The philanthropic music-loving billionaire died December 18 from complications from his leukemia treatment at age 77, according to the Bay Citizen. Hellman began his annual free three-day concert in Golden Gate Park that often drew crowds of 100,000 in 2001.
Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson & Johnny Cash Update
Form 1985-95, the late country music legends Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash recorded and performed on and off with Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson as The Highwaymen.
Jennings family is announced that a 12-song set tentatively titled, “Goin’ Down Rockin’: The Final Recordings,” that were recorded shortly before the 2002 diabetes-related death of the Outlaw Country performer at age 64, will soon be released, according to AP. The CD will be released later this year. Eight of the 12 songs have never been released in any version before.
A new 18,000-square-foot Johnny Cash Museum will open this summer in downtown Nashville, according to the museum’s founder, Cash’s lifelong friend Bill Miller; and country singers John Carter Cash, who is Cash’s son; and the Man In Black’s brother, Tommy Cash.
Willie Nelson recently performed a sold-out fundraising concert outside Cleveland for his old friend, Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich. In years past, Nelson played fundraising concert for the congressman’s unsuccessful presidential runs.
Merle Haggard Is Back
Another Outlaw Country legend, Merle Haggard has recuperated from a nasty bout of pneumonia that kept the 74-year-old off the road. After cancelling shows on a tour of the South, he’ll resume touring on February 2 in Tucson, reports CMT. Haggard, who was hospitalized in Macon, Georgia, for pneumonia, underwent surgery for lung cancer in 2008 and was able to resume live performances the next year.
MC5 Bassist Dies
Bassist Michael Davis, who co-founded political Detroit proto-punk garage rockers MC5 in 1964, died of liver failure at age 68, according to Billboard. MC5 are best known for its 1969 debut LP, “Kick Out the Jams,” that Rolling Stone listed in 2003 at No. 294 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. After the band.
Davis was forced out of the band in 1972 because of his heroin use. The band broke up after a New Year’s Eve show that year. However, he was back on board for a lengthy reunion beginning in 2003, which pretty much continued until Davis’ death. After his 1972 firing from the band, Davis took up painting, studying at numerous schools, including at the Armory Center for the Fine Arts in Pasadena.
New Releases
Among the new album releases, re-issues and deluxe packages are “Tank Full of Blues,” from 72-year-old rock and roll pioneer Dion; “In Concert” from Blood, Sweat & Tears Featuring David Clayton-Thomas; a CD/DVD, “Voice Of Ages: Deluxe Edition” from traditional Irish band The Chieftains; a re-release, “Star Spangled Springer,” of a 1973 solo album by Phil Everly with backing from Warren Zevon, twangy guitar king Duane Eddy and Elvis Presley’s and Rock Nelson’s guitarist James Burton; an import, “Decca Singles 1975-1979” from British singer John Miles; “Live at the Fillmore 1969,” an import from The Move; Sinead O’Connor’s latest, “How about I Be Me (And You Be You)?”; an import re-issue, “Back to Front” from Gilbert O’Sullivan’ “Rockpalast Live 1983,” from Public Image Ltd, the post-Sex Pistols band led by John Lydon, aka, Johnny Rotten; and “Diana Ross: Special Edition.”
Re-issues from Real Gone Music include albums from Frankie Avalon, Rick Springfield, The Tubes and Wishbone Ash.
Recent DVDs include the late guitarist Roy Buchanan’s “Rockpalast”; “In Performance 1972” from The Carpenters; former Mott the Hoople leader Ian Hunter’s “Live at Rockpalast Featuring Mick Ronson”; Carole King’s “In Performance 1971”; “Santana: Live at Montreux 2011”; Ten Year’s After’s “Live Performance 1975”; and “From Straight To Bizarre” from Frank Zappa.
Among the new album releases, re-issues and deluxe packages are “Tank Full of Blues,” from 72-year-old rock and roll pioneer Dion; “In Concert” from Blood, Sweat & Tears Featuring David Clayton-Thomas; a CD/DVD, “Voice Of Ages: Deluxe Edition” from traditional Irish band The Chieftains; a re-release, “Star Spangled Springer,” of a 1973 solo album by Phil Everly with backing from Warren Zevon, twangy guitar king Duane Eddy and Elvis Presley’s and Rock Nelson’s guitarist James Burton; an import, “Decca Singles 1975-1979” from British singer John Miles; “Live at the Fillmore 1969,” an import from The Move; Sinead O’Connor’s latest, “How about I Be Me (And You Be You)?”; an import re-issue, “Back to Front” from Gilbert O’Sullivan’ “Rockpalast Live 1983,” from Public Image Ltd, the post-Sex Pistols band led by John Lydon, aka, Johnny Rotten; and “Diana Ross: Special Edition.”
Re-issues from Real Gone Music include albums from Frankie Avalon, Rick Springfield, The Tubes and Wishbone Ash.
Recent DVDs include the late guitarist Roy Buchanan’s “Rockpalast”; “In Performance 1972” from The Carpenters; former Mott the Hoople leader Ian Hunter’s “Live at Rockpalast Featuring Mick Ronson”; Carole King’s “In Performance 1971”; “Santana: Live at Montreux 2011”; Ten Year’s After’s “Live Performance 1975”; and “From Straight To Bizarre” from Frank Zappa.
Tommy Bolin Tribute
“Great Gypsy Soul” features guitarists Peter Frampton, Deep Purple’s Steve Morse, Wilco’s Nels Cline, Toto’s Steve Luthaker, Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, The Allman Brothers/Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes and fellow Allman axeman Derek Trucks as well as young hotshot Joe Bonamassa and others paying tribute to the late Zephyr/James Game and Deep Purple guitarist Tommy Bolin by playing to actual outtakes to Bolin’s 1975 “Teaser” album. The CD will be released March 27, according to a release from 429 Records.
Now Playing
Classic acts from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s continue to perform. Here’s what some of them are doing.
Roberta Flack scored five gold record singles in the ‘70s, including “The First Time Ever I saw Your Face” and “Where Is the Love,” both in 1972, and “Killing Me Softly With His Song” in 1973. The 73-year-old singer just played the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, and was interviewed by the cable news networks after attending her friend, Whitney Houston’s funeral. In March and April, she’ll be playing dates from Louisiana and South Carolina to Illinois and Arizona.
In 1966, Lou Christie took his song, “Lightnin’ Strikes” to No. 1 on the American and British Singles charts. Now, 69, Christie, who last month received the Silver Eagle Patriot’s Award from the Brain Injured Veterans Association for his continued support for injured veterans, is performing up and down New England this year, including dates on May 12 in Baltimore at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and June 23 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Earth Wind & Fire, the R&B band that formed 41 years ago in Chicago and have sold more than 90 million albums worldwide, including 15 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums, are hitting Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana from March 1-10, before heading off to Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, from March 28 through April 8.
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