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Wilson Pickett was laid to rest on Saturday, in Louisville, KY. Hundreds came to the service to pay their respects and say a final farewell.
Little Richard spoke at the service, and a framed photo of a Mustang memorialized one of Pickett's hits, "Mustang Sally."
Billy Joel performs during a concert Monday, January 23, 2006, at Madison Square Garden. Billy sold out eleven concerts at the Garden, breaking Bruce Springsteen's record of ten.
You don't see much of the guy in the middle these days, so here's a rare photo one of rock's greatest guitar players, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan and the Doobie Bros.), flanked by the Madden brothers (Benji, left, and Joel, right), of Good Charlotte, before they performed in an "All-Star Jam Band" concert Friday, Jan. 20, 2006, at The SkiHouse in Park City, Utah, during Sundance.
Woo-hoo! It's
Motley Crue! Members Nikki Sixx, left, Vince Neil, front center, Mick Mars, and Tommy Lee, right, celebtrate the unveiling of their star on the Walk of Fame in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan 25, 2006. The star is at the intersection of Las Palmas Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard.
Dates for the upcoming Donald Fagen tour. Starts March 1.
Although Artemis Records seem to be wanting to keep it a secret for some reason, they will be releasing a Warren Zevon collection of love songs on January 31. Entitled Reconsider Me, the tracks are mostly vintage Warren, taking a walk on the wistful side.
I love the songs myself. A couple take me back to the herky-jerky days of the late 70s, when I was a publicist working the Excitable Boy tour and album. We had a great time. Warren was getting a HUGE reaction on radio and on tour, while trying to dodge his personal demons and keep his head above the waves of sudden success. Luckily, he made it, and went on to become one of America's most literate songwriters - a songwriters' songwriter, if you like.
We lost Warren to cancer a year or so ago. It would be nice if folks went on appreciating and enjoying what good work he did. I hear Rhino is up to something with a box set -- hopefully, we'll hear more about that in the near future.
Here's the press release from Artemis, kindly provided by a member of the bb community on Warren's offical site. It mentions an 'oral history' being prepared by Frank DiGiacomo of Vanity Fair, assisted by Warren's wife, Crystal. It's a 'life and times' recounting, and sounds like it'll be interesting! Here's the link to Warren's artist page on the Rockphiles site, with a link to his official site.
Do you remember where you were on November 18, 1975? Me neither. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band know where they were, though - playing at London's Hammersmith Odeon. 
Well, living in Bahrain apparently has done nothing to reduce Michael Jackson's weirdness quotient. Here he is with one of the children, on a shopping spree on Wednesday. Yes, that is an abiyah he's wearing.
A recent story in Rolling Stone announces that the Dixie Chicks are working on a new album with Rick Rubin. The album will be more of a "rock with country leanings," work, and it seems that the Chicks, after the career lambasting they received following Natalie Maine's comments on George Bush three years ago, are taking a different musical road away from straight country.
Interestingly, after the comment, many 'closet Democrats' in the music industry in Nashville, have now organized themselves into a cohesive group of about 1300 influential individuals called The Music Row Democrats.
The Rolling Stone piece is right here.
In another music/politics-related item, author/musician Kinky Friedman, currently making a serious run for the Governorship of Texas, made an appearance on CBS's "60 Minutes" last Sunday. He'll be on Leno tonight.
That's significant national exposure for his campaign, and I personally cannot think of any Texan more deserving of the job than the Kinkster!
Always remember: Friedman's just another word for nothing left to lose! Kinky's official site.
In case you still have a burning interest in the family lives of 70s rock stars, Gene Simmons and family will soon step up to the plate courtesy of A&E (who were inspired by a Biography segment on Mr. S). Gene, his long-time partner Shannon Tweed (22 years and 'happily unmarried'), and their two children will live their lives for your viewing pleasure under the title "Family Jewels." Production is underway, Gene is exec producing, but so far no information regarding the show's first airing.
Unlike the colorful Osbourne kids, the Simmons children are described as "surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers, dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no-one else's parents." Charming, well-behaved teenagers?
I think I'd rather watch Mrs. O heave a ham at the noisy neighbors.
Sad to report that legendary r 'n' b vocalist Wilson Pickett died of a heart attack today at a Virginia hospital. He was 64.
He is survived by his children, and his fiancee. He will be buried beside his mother in Louisville, KY. Billboard story here and Rockphiles bio here.
Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint are collaborating on a recording project, currently underway in the Big Easy.
Costello and Allen Toussaint, long considered one of the greatest of New Orleans' musicians and songwriters, met during benefit concerts for Katrina and things went on from there. This story from the Times-Picayune is worth the read, and I just hope that they do record Robin Williams' impromptu composition "Red Beans and Condoleeza Rice."
