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Bob Dylan is in talks with multiple car companies to possibly voice their GPS system. Good luck understanding that nasally mumble on the way to grandma’s for Thanksgiving.
On record, at least. Apparently Ray Manzarek has gotten his head out of his ass and stopped embarrassing himself by touring with a Doors cover band and gotten back to the real Doors. The final NYC concerts recorded with Jim Morrison before his death, will be released in a six-disc collection on November 10th. The shows were recorded on January 17th & 18th, 1970 at Madison Square Garden’s Felt Forum. Man, that takes it back. The Felt Forum was awesome. Sorry, got side tracked. In more Doors news, Rhino Records will also re-release all The Doors albums on vinyl on September 15th. Click through to the track listings for the live box set.
“Due to unforeseen medical reasons, the “In The Present Tour,” featuring Yes’ Steve Howe, Chris Squire, and Alan White is cancelling shows through February 24″. Good. End this sham of a tour right now. The lead singer is Benoit David. The keyboardist is Oliver Wakeman. Stop. It. Now.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Paul McCartney revealed that he is trying to release a Beatles song that some swore didn’t exist and from the sound of it Rockheap wishes it didn’t. “Carnival of Light” is supposedly a 14 minute improvised psychedelic jam the band recorded in 1967 and was left off of the Anthology releases because it was “too adventurous.” “The time has come for its moment,” said McCartney, who is looking into getting approval from Ringo Starr and the estates of John Lennon and George Harrison to release the track. “I like it because it’s like the Beatles free.” Let’s hope it’s not free of any musical value.
Apparently Jimmy Page does have a shred of self respect and reverence for Led Zeppelin. Through his management company QPrime, Page has issued the following statement about his new “project”. “Whatever this is, it is not Led Zeppelin,” “Not without the involvement of Robert Plant.” Oh really? Thanks for the heads up Jimmy. Rockheap has an idea, why not dig up the corpse of David Coverdale and call it Coverdale/Page Part 2, since that went over so well. What? Coverdale is still alive? That makes it even easier. Page, Jones and Bonham have been holding rehearsals with singers including Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Word on the street is that experiment didn’t turn out too well. Myles Kennedy, lead singer of Alter Bridge also known as fake Creed, is also a possibility. A suggestion on what to call this mockery…Led Shitlin.
Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell was found dead in a Portland, Oregon hotel this morning. The unofficial cause of death has been ruled natural causes. Mitchell along with bassist Noel Redding were “The Experience”, Jimi Hendrix’s brilliant rhythm section from 1966 until 1969. Mitchell was the last surviving member of the band, Noel Redding passed away in 2003 and Jimi died back in 1970. In a statement from the Hendrix estate, Janie Hendrix (Jimi’s sister) said, “We’re all devastated to hear of Mitch’s passing. He was a wonderful man, a brilliant musician and a true friend.”
At a recent awards ceremony a drunk or senile or probably both Jack Bruce fired off a harsh critique of Led Zeppelin’s career. Apparently Jack Bruce forgot it was 2008 and not 1968. Bruce said about Zeppelin’s one-off reunion gig “Fuck off, Zeppelin, you’re crap”. “Everybody talks about Led Zeppelin, and they played one fucking gig — one fucking lame gig — while Cream did weeks of gigs”. He went on to say, “You’ve always been crap and you’ll never be anything else. Cream is 10 times the band that Led Zeppelin is.” Hmmm I wonder if Jack thinks Zeppelin is crap. Bruce is still bitter that Zeppelin and not Cream (as had been scheduled), became the headliner of the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at the O2 Arena in London in December 2007. Bruce, obviously realizing he himself is the fucking loser backtracked from his comments by saying “I was just having some fun with the press gallery, really” but then couldn’t keep is old ass quiet by adding, “The thing about Zeppelin is that obviously it’s a little bit of jealousy on my part — or more than a little bit — because the audience was created by Cream and Jimi Hendrix…this sort of very large audience. Then Zeppelin came along and had a very easy ride in that way. We were the pioneers and pioneers don’t always get the recognition they deserve, maybe.” As for Led Zeppelin’s decision to tour with a replacement for Robert Plant, Bruce added “Well, I always thought Robert Plant used the wrong kind of fertilizer, anyway, so I think he might be an improvement…I’m just joking.” Asked about Page vs. Clapton’s guitar gifts, “Let’s face it: Jimmy Page ain’t no Eric Clapton, no matter what anybody thinks,” Bruce said. Bitter much? Seems like the only fertilizer is coming out of ol’ Jack’s mouth.
After a massively successful reunion tour last year featuring Genesis’ most popular line-up, the band is setting it’s sites on a full scale reunion featuring original lead singer/freakshow Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett. Genesis is releasing a box set of Gabriel-era reissues and the band hopes to bring it’s reluctant and reclusive original lead singer back in the fold. “We’ve never said never about it, you know,” Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks told Billboard. “I know Phil (Collins) would be quite happy with the idea of just playing the drums; it would be quite fun for him. Mike (Rutherford) and I are certainly happy to do it. I know Steve (Hackett) is keen as well. I think it’d be down to Peter (Gabriel) more than anyone else.” Gabriel first suggested the idea of a Genesis reunion back in 2004, when he wanted the group to play the classic album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway live. When Genesis finally did reunite, Gabriel being Gabriel, decided to work on a solo album. “I think we should do this before one of us dies; we’re not getting any younger, to quote one of the songs, so maybe one day it’ll happen,” Hackett said of a reunion. Gabriel was too busy speaking Klingon to a tree in his backyard to comment.
According to AdWeek, Carlos Santana will be appearing in an upcoming Macy’s campaign titled, “Believe”. The campaign will emphasize the spirit of Christmas. Really Carlos? Isn’t it enough that you keep unleashing these awful duet style singles with every shit pop star in the universe? Now you have to shill for Macy’s too? Truly lame mi amigo. Truly lame.
Neil Young has decided to cancel his show tonight at the LA Forum after he was advised that the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) union, Local 33, were planning on picketing his show. The union is in a contract dispute with the Faithful Central Bible Church, who own the venue. I can only imagine what kind of freaks make up that congregation. Neil released a statement saying, “I am extremely disappointed to have to choose between satisfying my fans or backing my brothers and sisters of the IATSE. I will miss playing in Los Angeles and apologize to my fans for the inconvenience this has caused.” Obviously ticketholders are disappointed but you gotta respect for Neil for not crossing the picket line. He’s still proud to be a union man.
We’re hearing that Steven Tyler has been auditioning for the Zep reunion tour and is indeed a leading candidate. I’m not sure who this information makes me hate more - Page, for even considering this, Plant, for being such a pompous moron, or Tyler, for just sucking so damn much. Check out the above video for a possible preview of this trainwreck.
After Yes lead singer Jon Anderson made public his feelings on being temporarily replaced for Yes’s upcoming 40th anniversary tour, due to his illness, YES has remained silent, until now. Bassist Chris Squire is quoted as saying, “We’ve been together longer than most marriages. Jon will always be a member of Yes. I hope he has a full recovery and that he can come back.” Squire also went on to say that he hasn’t actually spoken to Anderson, but has sent him flowers and cards. What??? You dick. How about be a man and call, if you guys have been together for 40 years, don’t you think you owe him at least that?
“The Yes fan base in general has been very frustrated that Yes hasn’t been doing shows for four years,” Squire says. “Of course I wish him a full recovery, and I hope he’ll be well enough to come back at a later date. On the other hand, this might not happen. So we decided to look into, in my own words, getting an understudy for him to fill in.” Well the YES fanbase and RockHeap would like to actually see YES, not some bullshit mishmash and “understudy”. What is this Broadway or rock and roll? Pete was right, Rock is Dead.
The rumor mill has been in overdrive these past few weeks, with every rumor taken for fact “Zeppelin will tour this year”, “Page, Jonsey and Bonhnam will tour without Plant”. RockHeap Rules!”(OK that one is fact). But all these rumors came to a Hindenburg type ending twith this release: “Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years,” a statement on Plant’s official website reads. “Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets.”
Plant then added “It’s both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward,” Plant said. “I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects.” Plant is currently on tour with Alison Krauss to promote their album Raising Sand. Wow, that sucks. Nothing more we can say.
40 years after the Beatles were banned from playing Israel, Paul McCartney got his Matzo Ball on when he played his first ever concert in Tel Aviv today in front of 40,000 fans. McCartney even busted out some Hebrew to wish the crowd a happy Rosh Hashanah next week. Check the setlist after the jump.
On the verge of launching their 40th anniversary tour this summer; YES lead singer Jon Anderson suffered a severe asthma attack and was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and the dates were cancelled. ‘Nuf said. Reschedule the tour for 2009 when Anderson is healthy. Especially given the fact that he has been the lead singer for 40 years and is only sick, not dead. If you’re a YES fan, this would suck, but better he’s healthy and you would see them next year. Now comes news that YES will in fact go on with the 40th Anniversary tour without Jon Anderson. Say what? In what’s become a disturbing and quite frankly, lazy and lame ass trend, YES has turned to You Tube. They have hired Benoit David, a singer for a YES tribute band, to fill in for Anderson touring the tour. Anderson has posted the following on his website in response:
Disappointed, and very Disrespected
Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered.
And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES.
Getting sick was not “on my radar”, and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ”things happen”.
Of course I wish the guys all the best in their ’solo’ work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band.
This is not YES on tour…
I send best wishes to one and all,
Jon Anderson
September 2008
We couldn’t agree more with Anderson. The whole point of the 40th Anniversary tour is to celebrate YES. Why would you want to tour without your lead singer? On top of that you have your keyboardists son sitting in as well. Rick Wakeman’s son Oliver will be handling his father’s duties. Where the hell is Tony Kaye? So only 3/5 of the members are YES. Then to do this without Anderson even knowing, while he is sick, that is the definition of low. How fucking greedy can you be that you can’t wait for six months until he recuperates? Hiring a lame ass cover band hack to fill in. I mean what self respecting YES fan would give their hard earned money to see this abortion? To Chris Squire, Alan White and Steve Howe, RockHeap says shame on you, you backstabbing, money grubbing pieces of un-cool dog shit. Jon Anderson might be a fruity elf wanna be, but damn if he’s not the soul of YES.
Richard Wright, keyboardist and founding member of Pink Floyd has died. His family announced that Richard passed away Monday after a short battle with cancer. Wright was remembered by his friend and bandmate David Gilmour. “No-one can replace Richard Wright — he was my musical partner and my friend,” he said. “In the welter of arguments about who or what was Pink Floyd, Rick’s enormous input was frequently forgotten. He was gentle, unassuming and private but his soulful voice and playing were vital, magical components of our most recognised Pink Floyd sound.”
David Gilmour says there will never be a full on Pink Floyd reunion. The British rock icon and one of the wealthiest musicians in all of the U.K. raised fans’ hopes when the band performed at the Live 8 charity concert in London in 2005. It was the first time in almost a quarter of a century that Gilmour and estranged bandmate Roger Waters had appeared onstage together. But apparently once was enough. “The gig itself was excellent, really enjoyable,” said the 62-year-old guitarist and singer from The Astoria, his houseboat/recording studio on the River Thames. “The rehearsals were less enjoyable. The rehearsals convinced me it wasn’t something I wanted to be doing a lot of.”
He has a famously testy relationship with bassist and singer Waters, who walked away from Pink Floyd in 1985. “There have been all sorts of farewell moments in people’s lives and careers which they have then rescinded, but I think I can fairly categorically say that there won’t be a tour or an album again that I take part in”. “It isn’t to do with animosity or anything like that. It’s just that I’ve done that. I’ve been there, I’ve done it.” Gilmour’s latest project is a solo album and tour, captured on “David Gilmour Live in Gdansk,” a double concert album and DVD to be released Sept. 23 on Columbia Records. Gilmour says he’s happy these days to play the old Floyd songs. “I don’t like the idea of going out without a new album, without some new music to play,” he said. “But people have come long distances and paid a lot of money to see a show. I want to give them a bit of what they expect and will enjoy”. He says music is “one of the important things in my life, but it’s not the only thing. My family are more important. If I had to give one up, I wouldn’t be giving my family up”.
At The Toronto International Film Festival Jimmy Page was asked about rumors that he, John Bonham’s son Jason and John Paul Jones are recording right now and that a reunion is on the horizon. Page said, “We’re not actually recording. Playing at the 02, that was our reunion and it was one day and it was at the 02 in London”. Page ws referring to the December 10, 2007 benefit concert in honor of late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. He went on to say, “And basically that was it because if you’re going to do a reunion, you need four members. John Paul Jones, myself and Jason would sort of jam afterwards but it was nothing as monumental as people are speculating.” Can these assholes either shit or get off the pot? Do it or don’t do it, but stop dropping half ass clues like jamming together or showing up at award shows together, it’s really driving us nuts.
Who knew some tongue could cost so much. Over the weekend a London museum purchased the original Rolling Stones’ tongue-and-lips logo for $92,500. “The Tongue” was created by John Pasche in 1970 and first showed up on 1971’s Sticky Fingers, in what was perhaps one of the first cases of rock brand marketing. When approached by Mick Jagger to create a logo for the Stones, Pasche once said “Face to face with him, the first thing you were aware of was the size of his lips and his mouth”. The logo will be showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Hoping to win votes for Obama in the swing state of Pennsylvania, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead will reportedly stage a concert in the Keystone State on October 13th. No city has been named for the event, but the front runners appear to be Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. If the show does go on, it would mark the second Deadheads for Obama concert, as the reunited Dead previously played a San Francisco benefit concert in February (sans drummer Bill Kreutzmann). Anybody got an extra?