>>Report: George Michael Writes Letter To Fans About Attending Rehab
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British pop star George Michael has reportedly been in and out of rehab since his July 4th car accident. That's what the singer writes in a letter posted at his official website, according to E! Online. The letter reads, quote, "I feel you should know that on the day after the incident I checked into a clinic for a 14-day detox program here in London, which has been followed by ongoing outpatient drug counseling several times a week." The "Faith" singer apologizes for allowing his pride to get in the way of seeking help for personal problems. He also thanks those who allowed him to enter rehab in private. Michael entered a guilty plea last week to charges he had been driving under the influence at the time of his car accident. His sentencing date is set for September 24th.
>>Heart's Back This Week With "Red Velvet Car"
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One of the music business' "sister acts" is back this week with a new studio album. Sony Legacy released Heart's "Red Velvet Car" on Tuesday. It's the first studio album from Ann and Nancy Wilson in six years. The project features music that Mikael Wood of "The Los Angeles Times" describes as "strong." Wood further states, quote, "Rare is the band doing work this good at such an advanced age; rarer still is the band doing it, as Heart does on 'Red Velvet Car,' without employing a sober return-to-roots approach." "Red Velvet Car" is available now.
In related news, Heart is continuing to play their hits on the road through the end of the year. The band's playing the DTE Energy Center in Clarkston, Michigan on Friday, September 3rd.
>>"Soul Train" Celebrates 40 Years With DVD Box Set
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This week marks the release of a box set that celebrates the fortieth anniversary of "Soul Train." Time-Life released the three-DVD set, called "The Best of Soul Train," on Tuesday. The collection features highlights from the long-running variety show that introduced new music, fashions, and dances to the world. "The Best Of Soul Train" features historic performances from acts like Marvin Gaye, The O'Jays, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and the Jackson Five. A total of 50 performances are featured on the DVDs along with three additional hours of bonus features. The bonus features include interviews with "Soul Train" guests and with some of the show's dancers, along with "vintage" commercials that aired in the 1970s.
Regarding the DVD set release, "Soul Train" founder Don Cornelius says, "We're extremely proud of Soul Train's innovative history and legacy, and we look forward to sharing this with multiple generations to come. 'The Best of Soul Train' offers a rare, insiders view of the golden era of Soul, marking a classic time and place which can never be duplicated. As always--Love, Peace and Soul!"
>>Patti Smith, Music Elite Play Arkansas Show
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Patti Smith "and friends" are making headlines for a show in Arkansas over the weekend. Billboard.com reports that Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and Oscar-nominated actor Johnny Depp sang a few songs with Smith at a Saturday concert. The show at Little Rock's Robinson Hall coincided with a rally for the "West Memphis Three" -- three youths whom many believe were wrongly convicted of murder in 1993. Other music celebrities in attendance included the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines and members of the newly-formed Fistful of Mercy -- Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur, and George Harrison's son, Dhani.
Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr., and Jason Baldwin were teenagers when they were convicted in 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas for the murders for three children. The so-called "West Memphis Three" have garnered extensive media attention in the years since their incarceration. Supporters of the West Memphis Three believe that the young men are serving time for crimes that they did not commit, citing new evidence presented since the original case was tried.
>>Satriani's New Single Streams On His Website, Album's Due Next Month
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Joe Satriani is giving fans a sample listen to his upcoming studio project. The guitarist is currently streaming the single "Light Years Away" on his website, www.Satriani.com. That's the first track off Satriani's "Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards," the album that Sony Music Digital is releasing on October 5th. In addition to the streaming single, Satriani is offering a pre-sale that includes added features. Fans who buy "Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards" via pre-sale will also get an autographed copy of the CD, an advance MP3 download of "Light Years Away" on September 7th, and a ticket pre-sale code for access to Satriani concert tickets before they go on sale to the general public. The pre-sale bundle costs about 15-dollars.
Here is a listing of tracks appearing on Joe Satriani's "Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards."
1. Premonition
2. Dream Song
3. Pyrrhic Victoria
4. Light Years Away
5. Solitude
6. Littleworth Lane
7. The Golden Room
8. Two Sides To Every Story
9. Wormhole Wizards
10. Wind In The Trees
11. God Is Crying
>>Carlos Santana Previews Cover Album In Vegas
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Carlos Santana is previewing highlights from his upcoming cover album, "Guitar Heaven." RollingStone.com reports the veteran axe man hosted an event at Las Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel last Wednesday. The show was part of the 63-year-old rocker's "residency" at the Sin City hot spot. Joining Santana at the Hard Rock were Chris Daughtry, India.Arie, and Gavin Rossdale. All three took to the stage to perform tracks from "Guitar Hero" live. India.Arie did the singing on George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," while Rossdale sang the T.Rex track, "Bang A Gong." Daughtry warned the crowds before his song that he didn't have the range of Def Leppard's Joe Elliott. He then belted out a cover of Leppard's "Photograph" that reportedly brought the Vegas crowd to its feet.
Other guests on Carlos Santana's "Guitar Heaven" include singer Rob Thomas, rapper Nas, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and hard rocker Scott Weiland. The album is due on September 21st.
Here is a list of tracks on "Guitar Heaven."
Whole Lotta Love' featuring Chris Cornell (Led Zeppelin)
'Can't You Hear Me Knockin'' featuring Scott Weiland (The Rolling Stones)
'Sunshine Of Your Love' featuring Rob Thomas (Cream)
'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' featuring india.arie and Yo-Yo Ma (The Beatles)
'Dance the Night Away' featuring Pat Monahan (Van Halen)
'Back In Black' featuring Nas and Janelle Monáe (AC/DC)
'Riders On the Storm' featuring Chester Bennington and Ray Manzarek (The Doors)
'Smoke On the Water' featuring Jacoby Shaddix (Deep Purple)
'Photograph' featuring Chris Daughtry (Def Leppard)
'Bang A Gong' featuring Gavin Rossdale (T. Rex)
'Little Wing' featuring Joe Cocker (Jimi Hendrix)
'I Ain't Superstitious' featuring Jonny Lang (Howlin' Wolf, Jeff Beck Group)
>>Jackson Browne Due On Stage Tonight After Illness
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Jackson Browne is expected to be back on stage tonight in Pennsylvania following a cancellation in upstate New York earlier this week. TheDailyNewsOnline.com reports that the singer's show at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo on Monday was abruptly canceled due to illness. According to a statement from promoter Live Nation, Brown was ordered by doctors not to perform that evening. Live Nation is offering refunds to ticket holders for the Buffalo show at point of purchase.
The "Dr. My Eyes" rocker is apparently on the mend and scheduled to play the Toyota Pavilion in Scranton, Pennsylvania tonight with multi-instrumentalist David Lindley. From there, Browne and Lindley are off to the MAC Center at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey on Thursday, September 2nd and the Borgata Spa & Resort Event Center on Saturday, September 4th.
>>Alex Lifeson Discusses Rush Album In The Works
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Rush's Alex Lifeson is talking about juggling tour life with efforts to put out a new album. The guitarist tells MusicRadar.com that the band put a dent into "Clockwork Angels," its upcoming album, before launching its "Time Machine" tour. Lifeson says Rush wrote six songs earlier in the year for "Angels." Two of these tracks were recorded before the band kicked off its live shows in Albuquerque, New Mexico earlier this summer. Lifeson adds, quote, "Our decision to go on tour during an album project -- I don't know, we just thought it'd be kind of cool. Plus, there's nothing that gets your playing chops together like being on tour. We wanted a break in the routine, and I think we didn't want to just sit in a studio and feel burdened with coming up with an hour's worth of music at one time." "Clockwork Angels" will release next year.
Rush's "Time Machine" tour will continue this week with a show tomorrow night at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. This Friday, the Canadian rockers will play the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.
>>Las Vegas Landlord Sues Michael Jackson's Estate
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Michael Jackson's former landlord is taking the singer's estate to court. According to TMZ.com, Aner Iglesias claims he never received the 234-thousand dollars Jackson owed him for damaging his Las Vegas home between 2008 and 2009. The lawsuit -- which was filed in L.A. County Superior Court -- alleges that the King of Pop damaged the home's interior and exterior, while also ruining the phone and alarm system. Iglesias says he previously filed a creditor's claim with Jackson's estate, but the administrators ignored his allegations so he decided to file a lawsuit. Reps for Michael Jackson's estate have yet to comment on Iglesias' lawsuit.
Last Sunday, August 29th, marked what would have been Michael Jackson's 52nd birthday. The singer died in June of 2009 from cardiac arrest. It was later discovered he had lethal levels of the sedative propofol in his system. Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, admitted to providing the drug, and has since pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges. A preliminary hearing in Murray's case is set for January 4th.
>>Quick Bite: Guitar Stolen From Rock Band "The Guess Who"
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A guitar from the classic rock band "The Guess Who" was stolen sometime Saturday during a concert in Blue Ash, Ohio. The band was in the area performing at "The Taste Of Blue Ash." Police say one of the band's assistants put a Gibson model EC30 acoustic guitar into a case and left it off stage. When he returned a short time later, the case was gone. The guitar is valued at four-thousand dollars.
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