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ELTON JOHN Wraps Up Vegas Million Dollar Piano Run Early Due to Illness

MUSIC NEWS - Sir Elton John final three Vegas shows won’t go on as scheduled as he's under doctor's orders to rest ends his “Million Dollar Piano” Las Vegas residency early because of a serious respiratory infection.

A statement on the English singer-songwriter’s website says he came down with the infection on May 20 while performing in Las Vegas. His condition worsened during the week and he was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on May 23.  He underwent extensive tests and his physicians recommended John “not perform any concerts for approximately seven days with complete rest and antibiotic treatment to cure his respiratory infection and prevent any damage.”

PETER GABRIEL To Embark on 25th Anniversary "So" Tour

MUSIC NEWS - Peter Gabriel has today announced his “Back To Front” tour, a fall series of concerts in  North America that will feature a performance in its entirity of his classic 1986 album, “So.”

With the 25th anniversary of the album that includes “Red Rain,” “Sledgehammer,” “Big Time” and “In Your Eyes,” Gabriel will start the run in mid-September, accompanied by members of the original So touring band.

ROGER HODGSON Adds Summer USA Tour Dates

MUSIC NEWS -Roger Hodgson, the voice of Supertramp, recently wrapped up the first leg of his “Breakfast in America Tour” with sold out shows across the USA and South America. On June 6, Hodgson heads to Germany to kick off a summer run through Germany, Holland, Italy, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Spain, and Switzerland, before returning to perform in North America in August.

Fans the world over have been thrilled with Hodgson’s unforgettable songs such as “Breakfast in America,” “The Logical Song,” “Dreamer,” “Give a Little Bit,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and “It's Raining Again.”  

 

Prog Rockers ASIA Plan New Release and World Tour

MUSIC NEWS - Thirty years after its eponymous debut album, ASIA ascended to the top of the Billboard Top 100 chart, where it remained No.1 for nine consecutive weeks, the legendary British classic prog rock band returns with all original members,  Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer & John Wetton,  a brand new studio album, a 30th Anniversary edition of their debut album, two DVDs, and a world tour.

ASIA will release their new studio album "XXX" (Triple X) on Frontiers Records on July 3rd. The new record was produced by Mike Paxman and may be their best album since the group's classic early 80s releases, and features original artwork by Roger Dean.

Bee Gees' ROBIN GIBB Passes Away at 62

MUSIC NEWS - Bee Gees' singer Robin Gibb has died at age 62 on Sunday after a lengthy battle with cancer, his family said. The announcement they said, was made with "great sadness".  British-born Gibb's music career began when he started the Bee Gees with his brothers Barry and Maurice back in 1958, but it was their soundtrack album to the 1977 movie "Saturday Night Fever" that sealed their success. The album's signature sound; some called it "blue-eyed soul", still remains instantly recognizable over 40 years after its release.

The group is among the best-selling of all time with numerous hits that span six decades, including Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Massachusetts and Night Fever.   Gibb's family said in a statement: "The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery." "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

 

Antony and the Johnsons Go Live with CUT THE WORLD Album

MUSIC NEWS- Antony and the Johnsons announce CUT THE WORLD; a collection of live symphonic performances of songs from the band's four full length albums (SWANLIGHTS, THE CRYING LIGHT, I AM A BIRD NOW, S/T). and will be released August 7 on Secretly Canadian.  Recorded in Copenhagen, DK with The Danish National Chamber Orchestra, CUT THE WORLD features arrangements by Nico Muhly, Rob Moose, Maxim Moston and Antony.

Additionally the title track "Cut The World" is featured here for the first time. It is one of Antony's new songs for The Life and Death of Marina Abramović directed by Robert Wilson and staring Antony, Marina Abramović and Willem Dafoe.

VAN HALEN Postpones Thirty Concerts on Current Tour

MUSIC NEWS- Rockers Van Halen abruptly postponed over 30 concert tour dates this, following their June 26 concert in New Orleans.  A band rep said that no other information was available, and no explanation was given, and there was suggestion as to when the shows might be re-scheduled.

Thirteen concerts, including Saturday's concert in St. Paul, MN will go on as booked.  The band is on tour to promote its new album, "A Different Kind of Truth"; their first complete album with original lead singer David Lee Roth since the platinum-selling "1984," which was released on the last day of 1983.

Ticket sales have been brisk, with many sell outs, so we can only surmise the reasons for the postponements and hope it's not due to band in-fighting or Eddie's health.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros Release "Mother" Video

MUSIC NEWS - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros have released a video (below) for the song "Mother."  ES&TMZ's Alex Ebert created the video as a tribute to mothers everywhere. The track is featured on the "Every Mother Counts 2012" compilation album. Released with Starbucks this month, the album also includes songs from Bono, Eddie Vedder, David Bowie, Coldplay, Lauryn Hill and many others.

All-American Rejects' TYSON RITTER and Valiant Watchers Promote Haitian Charity

MUSIC NEWS - The All-American Rejects’ lead singer Tyson Ritter and Valiant Watches have launched a partnership campaign to support of Ritter’s charity Don’t Hate on Haiti, along with a touching video about the campaign. Twenty-five percent of proceeds from sales of Valiant’s featured BE.REAL Watch, as well as from sales using promotional code DHOH, will be donated to the organization, which is dedicated to bringing clean and safe drinking water to remote communities in Haiti.

“I’m so fortunate to have Valiant Watches partner with me to keep up awareness for those doing without in Haiti,” said Ritter, who confirms that 100% of donated funds go directly to building clean water projects for the people of Haiti.  Every $5,000 raised translates into a clean water well built in Haiti. In addition to supporting DHOH, Valiant customers who purchase the featured watch or use the promo code will be entered for a chance to win a guitar signed by The All-American Rejects.

 

Bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn Dies in Tokyo

MUSIC NEWS- Leading bass player and songwriter Donald "Duck" Dunn, a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T and the MGs as well as the Blues Brothers band, died in Tokyo on Sunday, he was 70. Dunn was in Tokyo for a series of concerts.  The news of his passing was posted on the Facebook site of his friend and fellow musician Steve Cropper, who was on the same tour who reported Dunn died in his sleep.

Miho Harasawa, a spokeswoman for Tokyo Blue Note, the last venue Dunn performed in, confirmed that "Duck" died alone, and offered no additional details.

Zooey Deschanel to Appear on Broadway as Country Music Legend, Loretta Lynn

MUSIC NEWS -  Actor/singer/tv pitch-person Zooey Deschanel, has signed on to portray Loretta Lynn in a Broadway stage adaptation of the 1980 film "Coal Miner's Daughter." Ms Lynn announced the casting and musical at a performance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN on Thursday, where she was joined onstage by Deschanel. The two then sang the country music legend's signature song, "Coal Miner's Daughter."

 "It's a long way from Butcher Holler to Broadway in New York City. I never imagined I'd see 'Coal Miner's Daughter' on a movie screen, and now I can't believe it's going to be on a stage for people to see," Lynn said in a statement. "I'm going to be right there in the front row. And I know Zooey is going to be great -- she sings and writes her own songs just like I do, and we even have the same color eyes!"

 

YES - PROCOL HARUM Announce USA Summer Tour

MUSIC NEWS - Grammy award winning, ground-breaking progressive rock band YES will return to the road this summer, 2012. The band will perform 24 very live concerts kicking off July 13th at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ and concluding August 21st at the Pepsi Center in Mexico City with more dates to be announced.

Prog rockers YES currently features a line-up of guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes and new lead singer John Davison. Special guest Procol Harum will also perform on these dates.

 

The Crimson ProjeKct Tour News and Camp Updates

MUSIC NEWS - Renowned musicians Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto have announced more  details about The Crimson ProjeKct Presents…Three Of A Perfect Pair Music Camp, held August 20 thru 24 at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. The week-long excursion will be highlighted by a rare live performance by The Crimson ProjeKct at the Bearsville Theater in nearby Woodstock, NY on August 23. 

 Bassist Tony Levin elaborated recently;  “At the camp, Adrian, Pat and I will be giving classes. Also expected to be in attendance on certain days are Markus Reuter, Julie Slick and Tobias Ralph--the other members of Adrian Belew Power Trio and Stick Men--which all together add up to The Crimson ProjeKct, who will have just spent the summer touring with Dream Theater. Count on a lot of insight into Crimson music, both at open rehearsals and at the Bearsville Theater concert where all campers will be guests for the soundcheck and show.”

moe.down 2012 Confirmed for Snow Ridge in Turin, NY

MUSIC NEWS -  moe. has announced that moe.down 2012 will take place on the site where the festival got its start thirteen years ago; at Snow Ridge in Turin, NY.  In addition to this change, the event will now run from August 10 thru 12, 2012, for three days of music, camping and fun, with moe. scheduled to play six sets over the entire weekend. 

This year's moe.down lineup features Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, North Mississippi Allstars Duo, The Wood Brothers, Umphrey's McGee, Galactic, Marco Benevento, Kyle Hollingsworth and SOJA. The revolving cast of The Everyone Orchestra will showcase the talents of founder/conductor Matt Butler, guitarist Steve Kimock, bassist Andy Hess, drummer Jeff Sipe, and more.