Rockphiles Blog

BEATLES STAMPS TO BE ISSUED IN UK

The Beatles will be featured on British postage stamps for the first time. About 37 years after the Beatles broke up, the Royal Mail is releasing a set of six stamps on January 9, which depict well-known Beatles' album covers.The featured album covers: "With the Beatles," "Help!," "Revolver," "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Abbey Road," and "Let it Be."

The stamps are all irregularly shaped -- formed around a crooked stack of albums. Order from the Royal Mail.

They'll be happy to take your credit card payment no matter where you live!

Here they are:

THOUSANDS PAY LAST RESPECTS TO JAMES BROWN

As James Brown lay in repose in an open casket, clad in a diamond studded blue suit, thousands of fans came to Harlem's famed Apollo Theater to pay their respects and say their last goodbyes to the Godfather of Soul, who made his first public appearance at the Apollo in 1957.  James Brown was eulogized by close friend Rev. Al Sharpton, while his music played as the mourners filed by.  More here from Billboard.

GNR - CHINESE DEMOCRACY SLATED FOR MARCH

Rumored to have cost more than $13M and taken, so far, about 10 years to complete, the mythical Guns 'N' Roses album, Chinese Democracy, has been pushed to March 2007.  Axl explains at the Guns 'n' Roses official site link.

JAMES BROWN PASSES

After being rushed to an Atlanta hospital last night, suffering from severe pneumonia, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, whose record sales are second only to Elvis Presley, passed on overnight.  Generally known as the hardest working man in show business, James Brown was 73.  His influence on popular music was profound.  He will be missed. Biography here.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

and a happy New Year! 

THE DOORS AND THE DEAD TO RECEIVE LIFETIME GRAMMYS

The Doors and the Grateful Dead will receive lifetime achievement Grammy Awards next year, as will jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman and the late opera singer Maria Callas.

Other lifetime honorees include Joan Baez,  Booker T and the MG's, and country music icon Bob Wills. The awards will be made during a ceremony prior to the main Grammy Awards, which will take place in Los Angeles on Feb. 11.

AHMET ERTEGUN

Rockphiles extends their sympathies to the family of Ahmet Ertegun, the 83-year old co-founder of Atlantic Records, who injured his brain in a fall at a Stones concert on October 29, 2006, and is now in a deep coma at a New York hospital.  Ahmet is on life-support and his doctor says there is no chance of recovery.  Ahmet Ertegun is one of the great record guys, recently portrayed in the biopic, "Ray."  His contributions to jazz and r'n'b music, and the music industry itself, are incalculable.  Reuters report.  Among many other luminaries, Ahmet signed Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, and, ironically, The Rolling Stones to Atlantic. 

UPDATE: It is now reported that Ahmet has passed on.  Farewell and RIP.

THE CAT COMES BACK ...

In a markedly interesting move, Yusuf Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, and one of 60's Britrock's more influential singer/songwriters, has determined to return to his music.  He sat down with Billboard for a Q&A recently. 

GRAMMY NOMS ...

Here's the 411.

  Mary J. Blige and RHCP.

The Grammys have otherwise turned into a joke.