RINGO: With a Little Easy Help From His Friends
Ringo Starr has released a clip on YouTube of his performance of “It Don’t Come Easy” with Sheryl Crow, Mickey Guyton and Molly Tuttle from his CBS special, Ringo & Friends at the Ryman, which airs Monday at 8 p.m. ET. Captured in January over two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, it also features Jack White, Brenda Lee, Billy Strings, Rodney Crowell and The War and Treaty. This Saturday marks the 55th anniversary (1970) of Ringo recording "It Don't Come Easy" at Trident Studios in London. George Harrison, who co-wrote and produced the song, played guitar on it. The single wouldn't be released for another 13 months -- April 9th, 1971. Commenting on the song, he says there's a line in it that he lives by. "'Forget about the past and all your sorrows, the future won't last, it'll soon be your tomorrows.' I said that a long time ago, it's sort of... that's still how I am."
Neil Young Drops Trailer For "Coastal" Documentary
Neil Young’s 2023 “Coastal” tour is the focus of a new documentary, set to premiere next month. Now a trailer is out for the doc, which will offer fans a behind-the-scenes look at Young’s return to live performances after nearly four years. That return to the stage sure seems to be weighing on the veteran rocker. “I’m petrified,” Young admits in the trailer. Directed by his wife, Daryl Hannah, the film captures intimate moments from his run of solo concerts. The film will screen for one night on April 17th in select theaters, with the soundtrack album releasing the next day.
Whitesnake Announces "All Access Areas: Live" Box Set
Whitesnake is set to release a massive box set next month, “Access All Areas: Live.” The set will capture six live shows across eight CDs, from 2004 to 2015. That includes the band’s set at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2004, their headlining set at the “Loud Park” festival in Japan in 2011, performances from “The Purple Tour,” and more. “Access All Areas: Live” drops on April 24th.
Kansas Singer Says Cancer Surgery A Success
"I am home!" That's how Kansas singer Ronnie Platt began his statement on social media to announce that his surgery was a success to remove a cancerous thyroid.Platt posted that his doctor told him his "surgery couldn't have gone any better." He told fans that he "felt the power of everyone's prayers and positive energy." Platt expressed confidence in a full recovery when he announced last month that he had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He ended his post by saying "Thank you all again -- Carry On!"There's no word when he'll be able to rejoin the band, which is scheduled to go back on the road the first week of April.
KEITH RICHARDS: Between the Books
Keith Richards received the first-ever Governor’s Award for Excellence from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont Wednesday afternoon at the Westport Library in Westport, Connecticut. The award celebrates residents who epitomize the state’s core values: creativity, resourcefulness, passion, dynamism. and generosity. Keith, a voracious reader, took a shot at libraries and schools banning certain books. "Without our books, and without knowing things, and without their special meaning — you know, this isn’t movies, this is not someone drawing you images. This is a book, and you have the movie in your head, and, it’s very important that we keep our books unburnt. Basically, I can only thank you once again and leave it at that. But, just watch out with the matches." Richards, who was also presented with a library card, has lived in Connecticut for 40 years, moving there in 1985. "I brought the kids up here... I said I have to get the kids out of New York City so they could get some fresh air to breathe. So, we moved up here, and... we’ve had a great life... I’m incredibly happy about everything, especially things like this, because you don’t get them every day.” Keith also maintains a residence in his native England.
KEVIN CRONIN: Keeps the Writin' Goin'
With last year's developments that led to REO Speedwagon retiring their name, it's a good thing bandleader Kevin Cronin hasn't finished his memoir. "It's weird, 'cause I started writing the book by accident. You know, writing is my go to place when I'm feeling out of balance, you know, going through an emotional period, and started just journaling when we were touring in Europe in late 2016. And then the next thing I knew I was writing a book and I'd been writing it ever since. And, it's a pretty amazing story and hopefully I'll finish the book someday."
Until then, Cronin and The Kevin Cronin Band, which is REO minus the name, will be part of the Brotherhood of Rock tour this summer with Styx and special guest Don Felder.
LINKIN PARK: Prepping More New Music?
Even though Linkin Park's most recent album From Zero has been out for just a few months, that's not stopping them from working on new material. The latest LPTV episode ends with
Mike Shinoda and Emily Armstrong in a studio in Los Angeles, with Armstrong singing the lyric "Sometimes it feels like" over a loud track before the video abruptly cuts to black. Check it out on YouTube.
THE DOORS: World Tour
If you're a fan of The Doors and find yourself in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, London and Paris, Apple Maps, in conjunction with the map, has put together a guide that will help you navigate to locations that played a part in their career. Among them are:
· Whisky a Go-Go in West Hollywood
· Tail O’ the Pup hotdog eatery in West Hollywood, site of The Doors’ Workshop
· Electric Entertainment in West Hollywood, which used to be Elektra Sound Studios where they recorded
· The Fillmore in San Francisco
· Fillmore East in New York
· Roundhouse in London
· Four Season Hotel George V in Paris where Jim Morrison used to stay, and of course Pere Lachiase Cemetary in Paris where he's buried
For more details go to guides.apple.com
Courtney Love Covered Bob Dylan’s "Like a Rolling Stone"
Courtney Love recently made an appearance at an event at London’s Royal Geographical Society, which was celebrating Todd Almond’s new book “Slow Train Coming: Bob Dylan’s Girl From The North Country And Broadway’s Rebirth.” But she didn’t just hang out…she also treated the crowd to a performance of Dylan’s track “Like A Rolling Stone.” She didn't do the whole thing solo, however, because Almond joined in to provide backup vocals.
Supertramp Revisits Their Live Peak With Revamped ‘Paris’ Album
Supertramp's John Helliwell is pleased with the release of the new Live in Paris '79, which captures the band's peak moment during their world tour in support of Breakfast In America. The album features recordings from different nights at the Pavillion de Paris and includes two songs not on the original Paris album. Despite some acrimony among band members, Helliwell reflects on the band's legacy and ongoing disputes over publishing royalties. At 80, Helliwell remains active in music and plans to continue performing but acknowledges the possibility of retiring soon.
40th Anniversary Of Supertramp's First Post-Split Album
Many acts are releasing 40th-anniversary re-issues this year, but there's no word if Supertramp will follow suit. Their 1985 album "Brother Where You Bound" was the band's first since the departure of co-frontman Roger Hodgson, whose first solo album -- "In the Eye of the Storm" -- came out in late 1984.Artistic and other differences between Hodgson and co-frontman Rick Davies led to the split. Davies wrote all six songs on the album, including the 16-and-a-half-minute title track. The album received positive reviews and received heavy airplay on album rock radio, but it didn't come close to the monster success of 1979's "Breakfast in America."
Bruce Springsteen Wrote This Song for Elvis, but Elvis Died Before He Ever Got the Demo
Bruce Springsteen was inspired to pick up a guitar after watching Elvis Presley on television as a child. Decades later, Springsteen tried to collaborate with Presley, but the King of Rock and Roll passed away before the opportunity arose. Springsteen's song "Fire" was written with Presley in mind, but the Pointer Sisters ended up recording the most successful version of the track.
IN OTHER NEWS
Bryan Adams released a new song Thursday. “Make Up Your Mind” is available on YouTube and streaming services. He says it’s about “making the decision in a relationship to either move forward together or finally move on. If you’ve ever questioned the past, yearned for another shot, or felt the bittersweet sting of ‘what if,’ this song is for you.” It’s the second song off his forthcoming album, Roll With the Punches, which will be out later this year.
Grand Funk Railroad bassist Mel Schacher is under the weather and was replaced for last night’s (Thursday) show in Cleveland, Mississippi, and this Saturday in Columbus, Georgia by Stanley Sheldon, formerly of Peter Frampton’s band.
Def Leppard, Billy Idol, Stone Temple Pilots, Tom Morello and others have donated autographed drumheads to a CharityBuzz auction for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Bidding is open until March 17th at CharityBuzz.com.
John Fogerty has been added to the Glastonbury Festival lineup, taking the stage on June 28th, the same day as Neil Young, with Rod Stewart performing on the 29th.
The 14 albums Cheap Trick released on Epic Records have been compiled in a new vinyl box set. Pressed on clear vinyl and limited to a thousand numbered copies worldwide, The Complete Epic Albums Collection will be out on March 14th.
Lindsey Buckingham has started a new series on Instagram where he's teaching people how to play songs from his catalog. The first video is on Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again."
Prince and the Revolution's Purple Rain will be reissued on Blu-ray April 25th. It contains the 2024’s Dolby ATMOS mix as well as Prince’s original 1984 stereo mix in high-definition audio.
Cracker frontman David Lowery will release a new two-CD or three-LP solo album called Fathers, Sons and Brothers on May 30th. He calls it a "musical autobiography" that covers his 40-year career.