Rockphiles Blog

MAYER, JONES, BOLAN, FREE, MATTHEWS, VINCENT AND THE DIXIE CHICKS

Rockphiles has just added bios and links to ourA-Z Artist Index (drum roll, please!) - Gene Vincent, (that's Gene in the photo) Free, The Dixie Chicks, Marc Bolan - T. Rex, Norah Jones, John Mayer and Dave Matthews. 

The Artist Index has over 200 artists, with links to their official sites, fan sites, and Amazon, to purchase their recordings. 

We'd really appreciate any feedback from blog-readers - are there artists you think should be added?  Please bear in mind that Rockphiles is about 'classic' rock, not entertainers who happen to sort of sing, or fancy themselves rock stars (Are you listening, Paris?)

And speaking of Free, our intrepid English correspondent, Paul De Neve, should soon be turning in his review of the Paul Rodgers concert in Sheffield, this Sunday.  Please to report that Paul's UK tour is pretty much sold out!

STEVEN TYLER REVEALS BATTLE WITH HEP C

Steven Tyler, one of rock's most enduring legends, and lead singer of Aerosmith, revealed last night to Access Hollywood that he has been fighting hepatitis C, finally beating the disease after many months. He was diagnosed three years ago. 

Says Tyler, “I’ve been pretty quiet about this. The band took a break about three years ago and I’ve had hepatitis C for a long time, asymptomatic. And I talked to my doctor... and he said now is the time and it’s 11 months of chemotherapy. So I went on that and it about killed me.”

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the blood which can cause liver inflammation that is often asymptomatic, but ensuing chronic, untreated hepatitis can result in cirrhosis and liver cancer.Spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. hepatitis C is often associated with shared hypodermic needles.

Tyler said it hasn’t been easy, and the treatment took a toll on his body and his marriage to fashion designer Teresa Barrick, which ended this year.

“I had a little problem at home, to say the least,” he says, “and I would run upstairs at night, you know, to put the kids to sleep and wake up at 3 in the morning with a nosebleed you know, just passed out from the interferon, the treatment. It’s a shot and pills and all of that. But the good news is I stood the test of time.”

About 4.5 million Americans suffer from hepatitis C, which is hard to detect. In 2002, entertainer Pamela Anderson announced that she, too, has the disease.

But now Tyler gladly announces that the disease is gone from his bloodstream.

“Hepatitis C is the one that, of all the people in this room at least three have it and don’t know it. It’s the silent killer. I may go on Oprah and talk about this. I mean you know it’s just one of those things... it’s one of those things people don’t speak about it, but it is treatable. It’s non-detectable in my bloodstream and so that’s that.” he added.

YOUTUBE AND WARNER MUSIC IN PACT

YouTube, where over 100 million videos are viewed daily, and Warner Music, one of the world's largest record companies, have entered a commercial partnership .The pact will allow Warner to distribute music videos, behind-the-scenes segments, interviews and original programming from artists like Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

YouTube users will additionally be able to use music from Warner's catalog in the videos they create and upload.

Music videos belonging to Warner Music and other record companies are regularly uploaded to YouTube by its users but usually without permission from the labels.  Universal Music Group have had harsh words for YouTube and MySpace, calling them copyright infringers who owe tens of millions.  There is speculation that a lawsuit may be pending.

More here from Billboard.

JOHN MAYER FROM WEBSTER HALL SEPTEMBER 13

In support of his new album Continuum John Mayer will appear tonight (September 13) from Webster Hall, via John's official site.  Matt Kearny will also be appearing.  Show times are 8PM EST for Matt and 9:15PM EST for John.  Do yourself a favor, log on and check them out! 

Also, have a look at John's video Waiting For The World To Change.

Rockphiles will be adding John's bio and links to our A-Z index of over 200 artists real soon; keep you posted on that!  We consider John an important artist, who is certainly worthy of upcoming classic status. Continuum is so good that I'm providing the Amazon link - so far, there are 68 reviews over there and every one of them is favorable.  If you're into JM, this is his strongest album to date.  Like the new albums from Dylan, Seger, The Dixie Chicks, and Tom Petty, Continuum is one of those records you really should check out and/or buy. 

HE'S GOT TONIGHT - BOB SEGER TV APPEARANCES

Bob Seger will make his first national TV appearance in support of his new album, Face The Promise, on Jay Leno's "Tonight" show - September 14, 2006.  Check your local listings.  Set your Tivo, if you have to.   But don't miss it!

Also coming up - September 28 on The View.

Additional Seger TV appearances are in discussion, including "The Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS (and let's hope he makes it this time! Bob had to cancel the last appearance a few years back, due to a pulled muscle) and a possible CMT "Crossroads" episode that would pair Seger with an admirer from the country music world (could it be Travis Tritt?).

DYLAN AT NO. 1

Bob Dylan has an album at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the first time since 1976.  Modern Times is his highest debut and Columbia reports that the record sold nearly 200,000 copies in the US in its first week.

Modern Times is Dylan's third  Top 10 studio recording - the others were 1997's Time Out of Mind and 2001's Love & Theft.  Besides  1976's Desire and Modern Times, only two other Dylan albums have reached No. 1: Planet Waves in 1974 and the 1975 classic Blood on the Tracks.  Another essential purchase from this year's slate - here's the Amazon link to check out the bonus edition (with the DVD) or there's a straight audio CD available as well. 

Dylan will be doing a tour of ballparks this month, then heads west in October for dates in Portland and Los Angeles, among others.  More at the official Bob Dylan site.