Thursday, May 30, 2002
Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth hit the road together
While the future of their former band remains a mystery, ex-Van Halen frontmen Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth have put aside nearly two decades of mutual animosity to join forces for a co-headlining summer tour.
While the future of their former band remains a mystery, ex-Van Halen frontmen Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth have put aside nearly two decades of mutual animosity to join forces for a co-headlining summer tour.
The outing--verbosely dubbed the Sammy Hagar & David Lee Roth Tour 2002: Song for Song, the Heavyweight Champs of Rock ‘N Roll--kicks off in late May and is scheduled to visit 21 cities. More dates are expected if demand meets promoters’ expectations.
Hagar and Roth--who, in various interviews over the past 17 years, have had nothing but insults and acrimonious words for each other--appeared together at a press conference on Tuesday (4/16) to announce the tour.
Criticized in the past by former bandmate Eddie Van Halen for having insurmountable egos, Hagar and Roth have agreed to alternate their order of appearance throughout the tour.
Roth has released five studio albums and one greatest-hits collection since leaving Van Halen in 1985, the most recent of which is 1998’s “DLR Band,” released on his own indie label, Wawazat. He also recently sent to the press a promotional VHS tape featuring bizarre music-video footage of himself performing martial arts, winding his way through a laser-tag maze accompanied by a mock paramilitary entourage and wetsuit-clad women, posing for pictures and occasionally performing a cover song, among other things. He reportedly plans to publicly release the collection in DVD format.
Hagar has released three solo albums since his 1996 departure from Van Halen. His most recent effort is October of 2000’s “Ten 13.”
Roth fronted Van Halen from the mid-’70s to mid-’80s, during which the group released its first six, multi-platinum albums, but left the group on bad terms in 1985.
Hagar replaced Roth that same year, and the group went on to release four studio albums and a two-disc live compilation, all of which are certified multi-platinum.
In 1996, Hagar and Van Halen parted acrimoniously.
At the time of Hagar’s departure from Van Halen, Roth briefly returned to the group to record two new songs for a greatest-hits compilation, but was bounced, again on bad terms, within a matter of months.
Rumors of a potential Van Halen reunion featuring either Hagar or Roth have swirled since third Van Halen frontman Gary Cherone left the group in 1999 after releasing with the band its least successful album, 1998’s “Van Halen 3.” (Cherone, in a recent SoundSpike interview, said that he has told Hagar that he would like his new band, Tribe of Judah, to open for Hagar and Roth during the duo’s upcoming tour.)
Guitarist Edward Van Halen last year confirmed long-circulating rumors that he was successfully battling cancer, but he, brother Alex Van Halen (drums) and fellow founding member Michael Anthony (bass) have remained virtually silent about the band’s plans since announcing Cherone’s departure.
Roth announced last year that he had recorded some new material with Van Halen during the summer of 2000, but also said at the time that he had not been in touch with the group in months. He subsequently launched a solo tour with a band whose lineup included a guitarist from a Van Halen cover band, and a set-list comprised almost entirely of Van Halen songs.
Earlier this year, Hagar announced that he and Anthony have reunited and, along with Journey guitarist Neal Schon and Journey drummer Deen Castronovo, formed a side-project dubbed Planet Us. The group hopes to release an album and embark on a tour later this year.
Behind both the Roth-Hagar outing and the Planet Us project is high-powered manager Irving Azoff, who announced on Tuesday (4/16) the Hagar and Roth jaunt, and a separate summer outing featuring another of his classic rock acts, the Eagles.
The Rolling Stones outline 2002-2003 tour plans
Forty years after they played their first gig in London, the Rolling Stones have announced--in typically grand style--plans for yet another world tour.
Forty years after they played their first gig in London, the Rolling Stones have announced--in typically grand style--plans for yet another world tour.
The band commandeered a blimp emblazoned with the band’s lips-and-tongue logo and landed in New York’s Van Cortland Park to make the announcement on Tuesday (5/7).
The tour, which is the Stones’ first in three years, gets underway on Sept. 5 in Boston. In an unusual twist, it will visit a mix of stadiums, arenas and clubs, sometimes visiting three venues in a single market. Ticket prices will range from about $50 to $350, according to various reports.
In its Tuesday (5/7) press conference, the band announced that three totally different productions--sets, lighting and special effects--are under design, so a fan could see the band in all three types of venues and have a unique experience each time.
The band will be on the road in North America through early 2003. Later in 2003, the tour will visit Europe, Australia, Mexico and the Far East. Dates outside of North America haven’t been announced.
Pre-sale tickets will be available in some markets beginning on Wednesday (5/8), but fans will have to pony up $60--on top of the ticket price--for a chance to purchase a pair. The $60 fee enrolls fans in “getAccess,” a subscription club formed by concert promoter Clear Channel Entertainment and the Sam Goody record-store chain, but doesn’t guarantee members that they’ll get tickets. Details are available on the Sam Goody http://www.samgoody.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/SamGoody/HtmlWrapper.mac/report?&htmlpage=MusicLand-seasonal/Spotlights/clearchannel.html >website.
Core band members Mick Jaggar, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts will be augmented on the tour by keyboardist Chuck Leavell and bassist Darryl Jones. Leavell and Jones appeared with the band on its Bridges to Babylon and No Security tours of 1997-1999.
The Toronto Star reported that the band is expected to rehearse for the tour in Toronto, and may play a club date in that city.
The Rolling Stones last toured in 1999 to back their 1998 live album, “No Security.” According to Pollstar, that tour grossed $66.7 million over 34 dates. The band was the top-grossing band of the ‘90s, taking in nearly $751 million on 12 million tickets sold, according to Amusement Business.
“No Security,” was recorded during the band’s 1997-98 tour behind “Bridges to Babylon,” which is the group’s last studio set.
The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, and released their first single in 1963.
Discuss the tour in SoundSpike’s Rolling Stones forum.
Tommy Lee postpones tour until late June
Tommy Lee’s new album, “Never a Dull Moment,” is still due in stores on Tuesday (5/21), but the start of his tour behind the release has been delayed.
Tommy Lee’s new album, “Never a Dull Moment,” is still due in stores on Tuesday (5/21), but the start of his tour behind the release has been delayed.
Originally due to launch in Denver on Friday night (5/24), Lee’s club and theater tour now begins on June 21 at the Anaheim, Calif., House of Blues, and is being re-routed to hit all of the stops listed on the original itinerary.
Tickets for the originally scheduled shows will be honored on the new dates, according to tour promoter House of Blues’ Tommy Lee tour page.
Lee’s publicist said that the juggling was necessary because “Tommy is working on a TV deal,” but was unable to provide further details.
Lee’s new album, “Never a Dull Moment,” features his current single, “Hold Me Down,” which is streaming at Lee’s official website.
George Strait lines up fall arena tour
George Strait, after four years of playing in stadiums atop the roster of his George Strait Country Music Festival, will embark on a headlining arena tour this fall.
George Strait, after four years of playing in stadiums atop the roster of his George Strait Country Music Festival, will embark on a headlining arena tour this fall.
“We definitely had a great time doing the stadiums but I’m excited about seeing some faces again,” Strait said in a statement. “Not that 20,000-seat arenas are exactly intimate settings, but you can tell a difference and I think it will be a fun change of pace.”
Jo Dee Messina will open the tour, which runs from September through early November and will visit more than 20 cities.
Strait, who has 27 platinum albums (more than any other country artist, according to the Recording Industry Association of America), plans to return to the studio in the fall to begin work on the follow up to his current CD, “The Road Less Traveled.”
Messina is touring in support of her platinum-certified 2000 release, “Burn.”
Last year, the George Strait Country Music Festival featured Strait, Alan Jackson, Lonestar, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and Asleep at the Wheel. Over its four year run, the event grossed about $100 million from ticket sales alone, according to Amusement Business.
Courtney Love’s contract dispute dealt a blow
A judge has thrown out a key pillar in Courtney Love’s suit against her record label, and has also set a trial date for the legal challenge.
A judge has thrown out a key pillar in Courtney Love’s suit against her record label, and has also set a trial date for the legal challenge.
Love is pursuing a breach-of-contract suit against Geffen Records, now a part of the Universal Music Group. She filed the suit--which also claims fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and other charges--after Geffen sued Love and her band Hole for failing to deliver albums as their contract stipulated.
Love’s suit also argued that the recording industry’s exception to California’s “seven-year statute,” which limits personal contracts to seven years and allows record companies to sue artists for damages, is unconstitutional. In a Wednesday (5/29) decision, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Fumiko Wasserman dismissed that portion of Love’s case.
Fifteen claims were included in Love’s initial suit, five of which have been dismissed by judges. Despite the setback, Love’s attorney A. Barry Capello remained optimistic.
“When we first filed this case, many prognosticators in the music industry said Courtney’s suit was frivolous and shrugged it off,” he said in a statement. “I doubt they feel the same way now. The judge reviewed all of Vivendi Universal’s arguments and let the key claims stand. It tried everything it could to get this case thrown out, but it failed. We’re ready for trial.”
A Universal Music Group spokesperson reportedly told Reuters, “We find it amazing that even in defeat Courtney Love attempts to claim victory. All that is left is a ‘garden variety’ contractual dispute, which pales in comparison to Universal’s damages claim for Hole’s failure to deliver the albums promised under their contract.”
The judge ordered the two sides to meet in court with a state-appointed mediator on June 10. If the parties aren’t able to hammer out a settlement, a trial will begin the next day.
Pam Tillis wraps tribute to her father
Pam Tillis, along with several big-name guests, has finished recording an album that pays tribute to her father, country legend Mel Tillis.
Pam Tillis, along with several big-name guests, has finished recording an album that pays tribute to her father, country legend Mel Tillis.
Among the guests is Mel Tillis himself, as well as vocalists Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton and the Jordanaires. Delbert McClinton plays harmonica, and Marty Stuart plays mandolin.
The album, which is Pam Tillis’ debut for Columbia’s Lucky Dog imprint, is set for release on Aug. 27. Among the tracks covered are “Detroit City,” “I Ain’t Never,” “So Wrong” and “Heart Over Mind.”
Pam Tillis produced eight of the tracks on the album, and Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson handled production duties on the remaining four.
“I wanted to venture outside Nashville to work with Ray,” Tillis said in a statement. “There’s great tradition in these songs, and I felt Ray would respect the integrity of the style of those songs.”
Silverchair calls off tour plans due to illness
Silverchair has canceled its upcoming concert plans because lead singer Daniel Johns is suffering from a severe case of reactive arthritis, according to the band’s label.
Silverchair has canceled its upcoming concert plans because lead singer Daniel Johns is suffering from a severe case of reactive arthritis, according to the band’s label.
“I am truly sorry that I am not able to do the touring we had planned for so long,” Johns said in a statement. “I am doing everything humanly possible to try and get well, but lately things have just kept getting worse.”
The symptoms of Johns’ condition include chronic swelling of the joints, which impairs movement and causes extreme pain.
Silverchair had been scheduled to perform sold-out gigs in New York and London over the next two weeks. Those holding tickets to those shows, as well as a Sydney concert that was postponed last week, will be offered refunds.
The band was also scheduled to play additional dates in North America and Europe--including several major festival appearances--over the summer. Those plans have been delayed indefinitely so that Johns can recover.
According to Atlantic Records, Johns contracted the virus that causes reactive arthritis late last year. The condition typically lasts only a few months, but doctors found that Johns had some underlying complications that hindered his recovery. Doctors believe that Johns will make a complete recovery.
Silverchair’s new album, “Diorama,” is scheduled for release in the United States on July 30. The album debuted at No. 1 in the band’s native Australia, where it remains in the top ten two months after its release.
Creed unveils rescheduled tour dates
Originally due to kick off in late April, the latest leg of Creed’s “Weathered” tour will begin in July now that frontman Scott Stapp has sufficiently recovered from injuries he suffered in the April car accident that derailed the outing.
Originally due to kick off in late April, the latest leg of Creed’s “Weathered” tour will begin in July now that frontman Scott Stapp has sufficiently recovered from injuries he suffered in the April car accident that derailed the outing.
The rescheduled jaunt is divided into two legs, the first of which runs from mid-July until early September. The second leg starts in late September, but venues have not yet been confirmed for that round of dates.
New tickets will be sold for all dates; tickets for previously-scheduled shows that were canceled will not be honored. Ticket-holders can obtain a refund at the point of purchase.
The group plans to add more dates to the tour’s first leg, and will soon announce additional details about the second leg, according to the band’s publicist.
Stapp was injured in late April when another driver rear-ended the S.U.V. he was driving. The singer’s injuries included a torn disc in his lower back and a bulging disc in his neck.
Doctors have cleared Stapp to resume touring, and were “happy with the success of a rigorous physical therapy and strengthening program,” according to a band press release.
Creed is touring in support of its multi-platinum 2001 release, “Weathered.” The group plans to play 70 shows before the end of the year.
The first leg of the Creed’s summer tour will, on various dates, feature support from the group’s Wind Up Records labelmates 12 Stones, as well as former Alice in Chains guitarist-singer Jerry Cantrell. More details are available at Creed’s official website.
Wednesday, May 29, 2002
Lit stays on tour trail through the spring
Lit will be on the road well into June during its headlining run in support of last year’s “Atomic.”
Lit will be on the road well into June during its headlining run in support of last year’s “Atomic.”
Released last October, “Atomic” features the top-20 hits “Lipstick & Bruises” and “Addicted.” Additionally, the album’s track “Happy in the Meantime” turns up on the May soundtrack for the Adam Sandler film “Mr. Deeds.”
“Atomic" is the follow-up to Lit’s RCA Records debut, 1999’s platinum-certified “A Place in the Sun.” That album houses a trio of hit singles: “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Zip Lock” and “Miserable.”
In a statement, guitarist Jeremy Popoff commented on how the group dealt with the pressure of recording a follow-up to its 1999 breakthrough album.
“We don’t know if there will ever be another ‘My Own Worst Enemy’ and we really aren’t focusing on that,” he said. “This record is better than the last record and as long as we continue improving, that’s what’s important. The minute we try to bottle some sort of formula, we’re dead.”
Lit, whose tour is hitting clubs and theaters throughout the U.S., also opens for Kid Rock on May 9 at Philadelphia’s First Union Center, May 10 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden and May 11 at Fairfax’s Patriot Center.
Additionally, Lit co-headlines with Live at the Orlando, Fla., House of Blues on May 26.
In Brief: George Strait, Paul Westerberg, MTV video awards
Plus news on David Lee Roth, C-Murder, George Clinton, Simon & Garfunkel, Five for Fighting and Joan Jett.
Plus news on David Lee Roth, C-Murder, George Clinton, Simon & Garfunkel, Five for Fighting and Joan Jett.
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A Nov. 2 George Strait concert will inaugurate the SBC Center in San Antonio, Texas. The arena will be the new home of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.
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Paul Westerberg has canceled the last two appearances on his in-store solo acoustic tour due to exhaustion, according to a statement issued by his management. The performances were to take place at Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas, and at Borders Books & Music in Ann Arbor, Mich.
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This year’s MTV Video Music Awards will take place on Aug. 29 at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Tenacious D‘s Jack Black and actress Sarah Michelle Gellar of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” will host.
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Former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth has dropped his lawsuit against VanHalenStore.com, the company’s Van Halen magazine (titled The Inside) and company owner Jeff Hausman, according to a press release. Last year, Roth filed a suit in which he alleged that Hausman was advertising fraudulent “Official Van Halen” merchandise.
“Mr. Roth has determined that nothing illegal has been done by Mr. Hausman, The Inside or VanHalenStore.com and he has decided to drop his lawsuit in this regard,” reads the statement.
Later this month, Roth launches a co-headlining tour with fellow ex-Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar.
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Rapper C-Murder‘s $2 million bond was revoked by a judge after prosecutors accused the rapper, whose real name is Corey Miller, of using a cell phone he allegedly smuggled into jail to threaten potential witnesses in his murder trial.
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Funk legend George Clinton has filed a malpractice suit against attorney Johnnie Cochran, the Los Angeles Times reports. The suit alleges that inadequate representation by one of Cochran’s employees cost Clinton his copyrights.
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Simon & Garfunkel‘s “Live from New York City 1967,” a previously unreleased 19-track concert album recorded at Lincoln Center on Jan. 22, 1967, will be released by Columbia/Legacy in July. The acoustic set includes songs from the three albums they had released up to that date: “Wednesday Morning 3 AM,” “The Sounds Of Silence,” and “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”
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Five for Fighting will support the Goo Goo Dolls on a month of tour dates that begin on June 7.
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Several independent female musicians--includingDeena Miller, Lava Baby, Ina May Wool and Julia Greenbe--have joined forces for “It’s About Eve (Music for the Cure),” a benefit album to support breast cancer awareness. The album also includes Joan Jett‘s rendition of the Beatles song “The Word.” All net proceeds will benefit the TJ Martell and Libby Ross foundations.