#WhatsHappening for January 30, 2016

Good morning, kiddios. It's a chilly Saturday at the karaoke compound, but we'll be heating up the house tonight at Saturday Night Karaoke- live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am.

Another week, another rock n' roll fatality. Paul Kantner, founder of Jefferson Airplane, died Thursday after a heart attack.
The one-time folkie was at the forefront of the psychedelic rock movement, forming Airplane in 1965 with Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady. Grace Slick joined the band in 1967- a year after their debut album, “Jefferson Airplane Takes Off”. 
Kantner was with the band until 1985, when a legal dispute with his then-former wife Slick led to the formation of Starship.
He was 74.

Look, no one's perfect. I've been guilty of telling seriously offensive jokes in my life. 
Hell, there's a group of semi-regulars who come to SNK that are offended by the profanities that come out of my face (but, seriously? It's a bar!) and were horrified when I opined that the only reason Shania Twain had a career was because she fucked Mutt Lange- supported by the evidence that we'd heard pretty much zero new music from her since their divorce.
Of course, I'm not remotely famous. Sure, a few people in Savannah might remember me from radio, but I don't have millions of fans like Phil Anselmo of Pantera- who is evidently one of the dumbest dumbasses on the planet.
At last weekend’s Dimebash, a celebration of Pantera’s late guitarist Dimebag Darrell, Anselmo tossed up a Nazi salute and screamed “white power!”

One attendee, who caught the move and posted it to YouTube, called it a “very sad moment and to me ruined the night! This is not what Pantera is about!!! Absolutely uncalled for and I can see why Vinny Paul wants nothing to do with this man. Phil Anselmo you are a Racist prick!!”
Anselmo took to Loudwire to defend himself, saying he was joking, and saying “okay folks, I’ll own this one, but dammit, I was joking, and the ‘inside joke of the night’ was because we were drinking fucking white wine.”

Suggested wardrobe addition for Mr. Anselmo

Then, of course, he tried to make it someone else's fault- saying “Some of y’all need to thicken up your skin. There’s plenty of fuckers to pick on with a more realistic agenda. I fucking love everyone, I fucking loathe everyone, and that’s that. No apologies from me.”
Personally, I never want anyone in this country to have to apologize for the things they say. Or believe. I strive to hold true the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and believe that I should no more participate in “abridging the freedom of speech” than the government should.
At the same time, sometimes you yourself need to realize when you should keep your mouth shut. This was probably one of those times. 

Birthdays today include: Jody Watley; Steve Bartek of Oingo Boingo; Marv Ross of Quarterflash; Phil Collins; William King of The Commodores; and Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane. #MusicalBirthdays

What's Happening for 01/28/16

Hey, hey- it's Thursday. That means the weekend's almost hear. Can I get an “aw, yeah”?

Color me thoroughly underwhelmed by the promos for Fox's live version of “Grease”. I mean, I enjoyed the movie version (well, Olivia Newton-John, anyway), but this new one just looks “meh”.

Blonde cheerleader? Well, if I have to.

Speaking of underwhelming- “Adele: Live in London” is coming to BBC America.
The show will premiere on the channel on February 14. The special features Adele singing (and I use the term loosely) as well as chatting with Graham Norton
Adele: Live in London airs will air at 10 p.m. ET on BBC America.

Me, when Adele is playing.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week. 

White Horse Pictures has tabbed Lee Daniels to direct “The Apollo Film Project”, chronicling the history of the famed Harlem theater..
Established in 1934, the Apollo was the jewel of the “Chitlin’ Circuit” during the time of racial segregation in the United States- and became Harlem's answer to Carnegie Hall- showcasing everyone from Nat King Cole to Jimi Hendrix. 
The Apollo continues to hosts performances, and it's Amateur Night at the Apollo has been running most every Wednesday since it premiered in 1934.

Really, Billboard? SIX stories about Rihanna on the front page?

Just for the hell of it, here are Kristen Bell and Dax Shepherd in Africa. Complete with music.

Birthdays today include: Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys; Joey Fatone of N*Sync; Rick Ross; Sarah McLachlan; DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill; Rakim; and William Nelson of Funkadelic. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 26.

Hope your Tuesday was terrific, kids. Let's get this week over with, though, shall we?

Iggy Pop and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age are hitting the road in support of their new album, Post Pop Depression. The tour will play historic theaters in North America and Europe through May, and kicks off begins March 28 in Seattle

A taping for PBS' Austin City Limits is also in the works.

The duo performed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on last week.

An Key West bar employee has filed suit against Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter over an altercation earlier this month.

The man accuses Carter of battery in the lawsuit filed yesterday, and claims Carter struck and punched him earlier this month at the Hog's Breath Saloon. The lawsuit also says Carter and a friend were escorted out of the bar because of unruly behavior and told not to return.

Carter previously pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge related to the incident and was released on $1,500 bail. A judge also ordered Carter not to return to the bar.

Vampire Weekend has broken up. Kind of.

Rostam Batmanglij announced via Twitter today that he is no longer a member of the band he co-founded in 2006.

In his official statement, Rostam says he plans to continue collaborating with Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig on “future tracks” and “future Vampire Weekend songs,” though he will mainly pursue solo efforts.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Birthdays today include: Kirk Franklin; Andrew Ridgeley- also known as “the other guy from Wham!”; Anita Baker; Norman Hassan of UB40; Eddie Van Halen; Lucinda Williams; David Briggs of Little River Band; and Derek Holt of Climax Blues Band. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 23

Seriously. I hate this fucking thing.

Well, here we are at another weekend. I don't mind the cold- it's the wind (and the fact that I'm in the damned boot again and my toes are cold!). Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke tonight, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am. Sadly, this'll be our second tribute night in a row- it's Glenn Frey night. 

Yesterday, Pearl Jam spread some goodwill in water-crisis-stricken Flint, Michigan, donating $125,000 to the United Way of Genesee County to help the Flint Water Fund- and enlisted Republic Records, the Universal Music Publishing Group and Ticketmaster to pledge an additional $175,000 to the cause.

The band also announced a Crowdrise campaign to help out, which had raised $8,000 as of last night.

Spotify released data yesterday that shows 79% of Beatles' listeners on their service were born after the band's break up in 1970.

“Come Together” is the most-streamed of the band's catalog across all age groups, and the new data shows different ages have different tastes (because we didn't know that already).

The most popular for each age group:

17 & Under: Here Comes The Sun

18-24: I Want To Hold Your Hand

25-29: I Want To Hold Your Hand

30-34: She Loves You

35-44: We Can Work It Out

45-54: Back In The U.S.S.R.

55+: Rock And Roll Music

Don McLean's wife was granted a temporary order of protection from the singer after she cited a pattern of abuse going back three decades.

In a handwritten request for protection, Patrisha McLean called the singer's rage “unfathomably deep and scary” said his abuse often left her bruised, and that she feared for her life when she called 911 earlier this week. “Don terrorized me for four hours, until the 911 call that I think might have saved my life,” she wrote.

Police in Maine arrested McLean on a domestic-violence charge on Monday.

The singer issued a statement Thursday saying his marriage is experiencing a “very painful breakdown” and said he is “not a villain.”

His attorney said McLean will plead not guilty and “vigorously denies” his wife's allegations.

I'm not sure if this is John or GaGa.

Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Lady Gaga has been working on a new album- and EltonJohn says he's signed on to work with her.

In a interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, John said he's “heard two songs, which are killer. They're just great songs. It's, like, back to the early stuff of hers — like 'You and I' and the Bruce Springsteen one, as I always call it, 'Bad Romance.'”

He also told Lowe he would be “writing with Gaga” the following day.

Birthdays today include: Nick Harmer of Death Cab for Cutie; Earl Falconer of UB40; ReggieCalloway; Robin Zander of Cheap Trick; Bill Cunningham of the Box Tops; Patrick Simmons of the Doobie Brothers; Anita Pointer of the PointerSisters; and Millie Jackson. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 22

Well, it's the weekend, at least! Hope you're all managing to stay high and dry. And warm- especially those of you who're in the northeastern US!

I never would've thought I'd have anything in common with Dave Mustaine, but he's not convinced that the current crop of politicians can get the job done.

Don't cry- you could always get a haircut.

“I've seen 10 presidents come and go during my lifetime and I can't help but ask myself if this is the best we've got. You think about some of the things people are capable of doing, the inventions they come up with and the things you see them do, like some of these Nobel Prize winners... I'm not talking about Obama. I'm talking about people who come up with cures for diseases and come up with incredible things that benefit mankind. Where are the people like that? When people get a taste of greed and stuff, they lose sight of what's right. It's like a fighter: as soon as they go from being somebody who works out in a sweat lodge and practices to finally becoming the champ, the dollar signs get in the way and they lose perspective. The next thing you know, they're knocked out. I think as long as the corruption is as rampant as it is right now and you have all the different factions, it's not gonna get any better.”

Seriously, though- if Captain Hairpiece and Madame Secretary are the best the parties have to offer... yikes.

Mustaine's band, Megadeth, releases Dystopia Friday and kicks off a North American tour in Dallas on February 20.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Hope he's had his shots.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are back on. After splitting up in September 2013, the pair are reportedly are back on again- and re-engaged.

Us Weekly and E! report that the two have reconciled and are planning on continuing their engagement.

Because I'm still bummed about his passing, here's David Bowie imitating other singers.

The Sierra Club has filed suit against the California Coastal Commission and six developers over a real estate development project in Malibu backed by U2's lead guitarist The Edge.

The project, approved by the Commission just over a month ago, was initially proposed in 2007 and seeks to build five mansions on the “southern flank of Santa Monica Mountains.”

Pictured: A "Fuck You, I Won" face.

The Sierra Club is accusing the California Coastal Commission of overlooking several provisions within three of California's environmental protection laws- including not taking into account scenic views, insufficient mitigation of the project's environmental impact, illegal greenhouse gas emissions, danger of life-endangering wildfires, noise pollution and unsustainable traffic from its “celebrity occupants” possibly hosting frequent parties.

The Club also alleges that the site “contains large areas of critical habitat designated as environmentally sensitive habitat area (ESHA) by the Country of Los Angeles,” and that the Commission did not take into consideration the extension of Sweetwater Mesa Road, which the development would require, and accuses the Commission of caving to legal pressure from the six developers named in the suit. “The Commission and its staff failed to fully enforce the Coastal Act, the LCP and [the California Environmental Quality Act] because of the threat posed by the Applicant Lawsuits.”

Birthdays today include: Orianthi; Willa Ford; Steve Adler of Guns N' Roses; D.J. Jazzy Jeff; Teddy Gentry of Alabama; and former Journey frontman Steve Perry. #MusicalBirthdays

What's Happening for January 20th.

Welcome to Wednesday.

I was truly apprehensive about checking out my sources today for fear I'd learn some other artist I really like had died. 

HBO Latino will kick of its 2016 music slate with Sirope Vivo, a live show from AlejandroSanz.

Filmed last September at Madrid’s Barclaycard Center, the show was part of world tour and features guest performances by Zucchero and Paula Fernandes.

The show premieres February 12 at 8 p.m.

Bridgestone Arena in Nashville's March 16 line up will be a star-studded affair as artists line up to honor Country Music Hall of Famer Kris Kristofferson.

Among those performing including Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church and LadyAntebellum.

Kristofferson himself will also perform the same day.

Others who've signed up to pay tribute include Dierks Bentley, Ryan Bingham, Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson, Darius Rucker and Trisha Yearwood.

Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday at Ticketmaster locations and online at Ticketmaster.com.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavernfrom 10pm-1am this week.

Pictured: Natural Hair Color

Paramore's Hayley Williams says the band is working on a new album- its first since 2013.

In a Twitter conversation earlier today, Williams said “...we're writing it” after a fan asked about a new album from the group.

Williams and guitarist Taylor York are the only remaining original members of the band, and they'll be on board for their second Parahoy! cruise from March 5-9.

Sales of David Bowie works have sky-rocketed since the singer's death last week. His single “Lazarus” debuted in the Billboard Top 40 this week, and he has a staggering 21 of the 50 positions on the Hot Rock Songs chart.

The appearance of “Lazarus” in the Top 40 is Bowie's first visit to that chart since 1987's “Never Let Me Down.”

I'm expecting a similar uptick in sales of Eagles and Glenn Frey solo discs this week.

Birthdays today include: Nathan Connolly of Snow Patrol; Rob Bourdon of Linkin Park; Nicholas Allen Jones of Manic StreetPreachers; Ian Hill of Judas Priest; Paul Stanley of Kiss; George Grantham of Poco. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 16, 2016

Hey, hey- Saturday. I'm so happy you're here. And don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud tonight at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am. It's going to be Bowie Night, in honor of the late singer.

David Bowie has gotten his own constellation, honored to him by Belgian radio station Studio Brussel and MIRA Public Observatory.

The constellation is constructed by seven stars in the direction of Mars that appear to be shaped like the lightning bolt that cover's Bowie's face on the cover of his Aladdin Sane.

“It was not easy to determine the appropriate stars,” Philippe Mollet from MIRA told DDB Brussels. “Studio Brussels asked us to give Bowie a unique place in the galaxy. Referring to his various albums, we chose seven stars -- Sigma Librae, Spica, Alpha Virginis, Zeta Centauri, SAA 204 132, and the Beta Sigma Octantis Trianguli Australis -- in the vicinity of Mars. The constellation is a copy of the iconic Bowie lightning and was recorded at the exact time of his death.”

You can check out the stars listed at Google Sky.

I guess I'm one of the only people in the country who's actually happy that Walmart is shutting down stores.

My mental image of a typical Walmart executive.

The company announced this week that all of its Walmart Express locations would be shut down, as well as 23 Neighborhood Markets, 12 Supercenters, seven stores in Puerto Rico, six discount centers, and four Sam’s Clubs. The list includes seven Georgia locations.

Of course, they announced a bunch of new store openings, too- so I'm not that excited.

I haven't set foot inside a Walmart since I was 25 (long story), and- if I can manage it- I'll stay out of them for the rest of my life, too. It's too bad people don't understand just how bad the company actually is for local economies, ecologies, and human dignity. #FuckWalmart.

Fox's Grease: Live! has added some of the 1978 movie's cast to its roster, as Didi Conn and Barry Pearl (who played Frenchy and Doody) have joined the ensemble.

“It was important for us to A. pay respect to this thing that moved us, many of us, to end up doing this so we had a chance to reach out and have some of these members from the original cast who also were in some of the stage versions of it,” director Thomas Kail told reporters.

This time around, Conn will play Vi, the waitress at the local malt shop who interacts with Frenchy, now played by pop singer Carly Ray Jepsen.

“We do have a moment where we have the generations staring at each other and having this really wonderful scene and that was pretty thrilling to watch to say the last and incredibly moving for all of us,” Kail said.

In other cameo news- Tim Curry will do the time warp again.

The original Dr. Frank-n-Furter has signed on to appear in Fox's production of The Rocky Horror Show. Deadline says Curry will take the role of the criminologist narrator.

Bowie’s death this week has spiked demand for his music across pretty much every platform. His new album, Blackstar, currently tops the charts and his four of his previous offerings have crept back into the top 20, and video service Vevo says Bowie’s music videos were watched more than 51 million times on January 11- more views than any other artist ever got on Vevo on a single day- a 5198 percent spike in views over the average during the prior week.

Birthdays today include: Nick Valensi of The Strokes; Jill Sobule; Maxine Jones of En Vogue; Paul Webb of Talk Talk; Sade; Ronnie Milsap; Barbara Lynn; William Francis of Dr. Hook; and Bob Bogle of the Ventures. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 14

One. More. Day.

Fox's live version of “The Rocky Horror Show” continues to add names- with Adam Lambertsigning on for the roll of Eddie.

“I grew up watching Rocky Horror, but could never imagine that I would be part of this new vision. Rocky Horror always made me feel like it was OK to celebrate my weirdness. Hallelujah, bless my soul! I love that old time rock-n-roll!” Lambert told The Hollywood Reporter.

Others in the cast for the fall broadcast include “Orange Is the New Black” actress Laverne Cox as Dr. Frank-n-Furter, Victoria Justice and Ryan McCartan as Janet and Brad, Penny Dreadful's Reeve Carney as Riff-Raff, and Staz Nair as Rocky.

Janet Jackson has announced the rescheduled dates for her Unbreakable World Tour, with the North American leg the tour kicking off May 14 in Las Vegas.

The singer also shot down rumors that she had been diagnosed with cancer, saying “I do not have cancer. I'm recovering... My doctors have approved my concerts as scheduled in Europe, and as I promised, the postponed shows will be rescheduled. Thank you for your prayers and love.”

The tour plays Philips Arena on August 7.

Legendary composer/conductor John Williams was among the Academy Award nominees announced this morning.

The 83-year-old New York native was nominated for his first Oscar in 1967 for Valley of the Dolls. His nomination for Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the 50^th of his career. He has won the honor five times- including a win for Star Wars in 1977.

“I'm deeply honored and grateful to the Academy for this recognition,” Williams said in a statement. “It's been a privilege and a joy to revisit the Star Wars galaxy and to work with the brilliant director J.J. Abrams on this very special film.”

Williams also won for Fiddler on the Roof, Jaws, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler's List.

At last night's show at L.A.'s Wiltern, Elton John played an instrumental version of David Bowie's “Space Oddity” in tribute. At a show the previous night, he called Bowie “innovative, he was boundary-changing, and he danced to his own tune -- which in any artist is really rare.”

Earlier in the week, Madonna performed “Rebel Rebel” at a show in Texas. 

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Birthdays today include: Caleb Followill of Kings Of Leon; Pitbull; Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters/Nirvana; LL Cool J; Zakk Wylde; Chas Smith of Madness; Geoff Tate of Queensryche; and Tim Harris of the Foundations; . #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 11

Well, fuck you too, Monday.

Sad, sad, sad. I'm still just sad.

You know what I think is hitting me the hardest? David Bowie wasn't that old.

Paul McCartney? 73.

Ringo Starr? 75.

Bob Dylan? 74.

Mick Fleetwood? 68.

John McVie? 70. (And he's had his own fight with cancer, too.)

Steve Miller? 72.

Sting? 64.

David Byrne? 63.

And those are just some of the ones who are still with us.

All these artists who've provided us with such joy over the years will end up the same way we will.

It doesn't matter what color your skin is, what god you follow (or don't), whether you're a Democrat, Republican, socialist, dictator, billionaire, heterosexual- this list goes on: None of us are getting any younger, and none of us is getting out of here alive. We have that in common. Everyone on the planet.

My parents were too old to have listened to David Bowie's music, my sister's musical influence on me ran more along the lines of the Carpenters, the Monkees, and Carly Simon and my brother was a Pink Floyd, the Eagles, and Black Sabbath kind of guy- so my first real exposure to Bowie was his “Let's Dance” album.

I was mesmerized.

And then I started exploring his previous efforts- starting with “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”- and I was even more impressed.

There's not a whole lot I could say about the man that hasn't already been said- nothing I could really add, so I'll simply say this: Rest in Peace, David Bowie.

The reason I don't watch award shows: Lady Gaga somehow managed to win a Golden Globe for her “performance” on “American Horror Story: Hotel”.

Also, “The Martian” was a musical or comedy? Man, did I misinterpret the previews I saw!

And hey- Yahoo!- I don't know how you can describe the censor bleeping out “entire sentences” from Ricky Gervais a “Low” in the broadcast. That would be a definite “High” in my book.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Birthdays today include: Mary J. Blige; Tom Rowlands of Chemical Brothers; Tom Dumont of No Doubt; Vicki Peterson of The Bangles; Naomi Judd. #MusicalBirthdays

In Memoriam: David Bowie

I'm having trouble coming up with the right words to describe how I feel about the very unexpected news that David Bowie died this morning.

A statement posted to the singer's social media sites read “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief.”

Some reaction from my friend Robin:

“Great. First Lemmy, now Bowie.

Fuck this shit. Seriously. Bieber is running around healthy and breathing, the Kardashians are all over the news everywere multiplying, and we lose two great musicians that severely affected the directions music went for DECADES within a couple weeks. I have too much DAMN IT in my mind right now. upset emoticon But at least they're having drinks together in that great glittery dive bar in the..wherever it is. R.I.P. Bowie.”

Other reactions:

“David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is.” - Iggy Pop via Twitter

“as I'm sure you can imagine I'm gutted hearing of David's passing. He was the biggest influence & encouragement I could ever have wished for”- Yes' Rick Wakeman via Twitter

“So lucky to have met you!!!! Hot Tramp I love you So! ❤️ #rebelheart”- Madonna via Twitter

“Bowie existed so all of us misfits learned that an oddity was a precious thing. he changed the world forever.”- Guillermo del Toro via Twitter

“Words cannot express: RIP David Bowie”- Brian Eno via Twitter

“Not just upset by Bowie's death but disorientated: like I've woken up and the world is out of joint. I think I assumed he was immortal.”- Daniel Baddiel via Twitter

“Very sorry and sad to say it's true. I'll be offline for a while. Love to all.”- Bowie's son Duncan Jones, via Twitter.

Rest in Peace, sir.

#WhatsHappening for Saturday, January 9th

Hey, hi, howdy kids- we’ve made it to Saturday. Hope you’re enjoying yourself- and don’t forget to join Magic Mark tonight for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at the Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am. 

Pictured: Primal Impulses.

The Hollywood Reporter said yesterday that Katy Perry and AmySchumer have joined the mix as hosts of this year’s Golden Globes ceremony.
Other presenters announced yesterday include Chris Evans, Kate Bosworth, Sofia Bush, Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, designer Tom Ford, John Krasinkski, Matt Damon, Andy Samberg and Tom Hanks. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Mark Wahlberg were previously announced as presenters.

Schumer and Damon are also among the night's nominees, Schumer for her screenplay for Trainwreck and Damon for his performance in The Martian.

The 73rd Golden Globe Awards airs live on tomorrow night at 8 on NBC.

Justin Bieber made chart history in the U.K. this week, becoming the first artist ever to occupy the top three spots on the singles chart with his “Love Yourself” at #1, “Sorry” at #2, and “What Do You Mean?” moving up to #3.

Does this mean British tastes have gotten even worse?

The Hinds are coming back to America, and they want to hang out with you. The group, which hails from Madrid, Spain and toured the US last year as the opening act for Glass Animals, released their debut set- Leave Me Alone- yesterday in the United States.

As for hanging out, bass player Ade says during the band’s trek across the Midwest last year, “we played Kansas City… (and) we got a message from a guy before the tour saying, "Hey, I love your band, I'm having a house party, I live in Kansas City, you want to come? We're big fans. There will be other bands playing and we'll all be drunk, want to come?" So we play [the tour stop] with Glass Animals and we go to the party and it was crazy. Twenty people in a basement getting super drunk and super high. We told Glass Animals about it and said, "Want to come?" And they said, "You're going to play there? Think we could also play?" And we're like, "Of course, this guy will go crazy." They were touring in a huge bus. We were in the house, on these little streets, and this huge monster tour bus shows up like the beginning of Star Wars at their house. And they played a few songs. The play a super complicated set but they were using my 200-year-old bass. And then we partied until 5 a.m. or something. We gave them the best party… If you want to have a house party with us…”

“Send us a message!,” said guitarist Carlotta. “We run every single social media we have. So please, write us.”

Pictured: Billy Corgan? Justin Bieber?

Billy Corgan says he’s not done working his memoir- despite its current 1,000 plus page length.

Corgan gave the status update while speaking with Chicago TV personality and spiritual author Jennifer Weigel last month.

Corgan said the current title for the project is God is Everywhere, From Here To There, which is very close to the name of a website Corgan once ran- Everything from Here to There- where he discussed concepts of “Mind-Body-Soul integration.”

Corgan also said he is changing the names of the characters involved in order to bring the listener into a more “interpersonal experience” of his life.

“The average person will be able to go, 'Oh yeah that's so-and-so.' But it's not meant to be a clever legal device. But it's not meant to be a legal device, it's meant to get you out of what you think you know and take you hopefully in the very interpersonal experience which I experienced. Which, I would argue, is mythology. Most of what I have experienced in my life isn't real.”

Birthdays today include : A.J. McLean of Backstreet Boys; Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews Band; Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth; Carl Bell of Fuel; Eric Erlandson of Hole; Crystal Gayle; David Johansen of New York Dolls (also known as Buster Poindexter); Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin; Kenneth Kelly of The Manhattans; Joan Baez. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening January 7, 2016

Thursday. Just one day from the weekend. What can you say but “hell yeah!”

I was very sad to read that Nicholas Caldwell, co-founder of the Whispers, had passed away Tuesday.

Caldwell, along with twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott, Gordy Harmon and Marcus Hutson, started the group in the early ‘60s and the group proved a popular draw even since- most recently playing the Microsoft Theater in LA last month.

I met Caldwell and his band mates back in 1987, after a show in Savannah. I can honestly say, they were some of the nicest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. To a man, they were all so very genial and kind- taking the time to talk to everyone who approached- including this then-18 year old kid who was just a late night deejay at a pop station in a small town.

Rest in peace, sir.

Yesterday, Janet Jackson addressed rumors that she had canceled recent tour dates due to throat cancer, posting to her Twitter account- saying “believe it when you hear it from my lips. I do not have cancer. I'm recovering. My doctors have approved my concerts as scheduled in Europe, and as I promised, the postponed shows will be rescheduled.”

Jackson concluded the message, “Thank you for your prayers and love.”

Boyz II Men are going back to school. Well, Rydell High, anyway.

The group announced on their Twitter feed yesterday that they would be performing during Fox's “Grease: Live” broadcast, appearing in the part of Teen Angel (or angels, I guess).

They will perform “Beauty School Dropout”- which was done by Frankie Avalon in the 1978 film.

Parliament Funkadelic keyboard player Bernie Worrell has been diagnosed with two different cancers, according to his wife.

Judie Worrell revealed on her Facebook page and confirmed to the Asbury Park Press that one of the diagnoses is stage 4 liver cancer.

“Bernie was first diagnosed with prostate cancer but a mild form and the doctors said men can live with that 20 to 30 years,” his wife said in an email to the paper. “Then tests showed 4th stage liver cancer that has metastasized to his liver and the pleural cavities.”

Worrell has rejected chemotherapy but is “investigating various options.” He and his wife have also launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund the release of his final album, Retrospectives.

In addition to being a part of Parliament Funkadelic, Worrell has also performed with Talking Heads throughout the 1980s.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Birthdays today include: John Rich of Lonestar; Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's; Kenny Loggins; Rolling Stone co-founder Jan Wenner; Paul Revere of Paul Revere & The Raiders. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for January 5

Hey, hi, howdy, cats and kittens. Hope it's all been smooth sailing for you so far.

Calvin Harris, Guns N'Roses, and LCD Soundsystem will headline this year's Coachella.

The lineup for this year's festival was released last night. Here's the poster.

Pictured: A lot of names my old ass doesn't know.

Proving once again that dying is a good career booster, Motörhead's “Ace of Spades” is on its way to its first stint in the U.K. Top 10, moving from 103 to 9 on this week’s Official Singles Chart Update in the wake of Lemmy Kilmister's death.

Meanwhile, LA's Rainbow Bar & Grill- where Kilmister often could be spotted, enjoying a beverage- announced on their Facebook page last Saturday that they'd hold their own memorial service for him- and later expanded the memorial to include the entire Sunset Strip, due to positive response. Kilmister's “formal” service, which takes place Forest Lawn Memorial Park the same day, will be live streamed for fans.
“Motörhead is respectfully asking that fans don't attend the service at the cemetery, but the band wants everyone to be a part of this, so they are setting up a live feed of the service via the Internet on Motörhead's official YouTube channel,” said a rep for the band in a statement.

Pitbull's “Time of our Lives” show will return to Las Vegas in March.

Tickets for the two week run at The Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort go on sale Friday.

In other festival news, Florence + The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stevie Wonder have been named headliners of this year's BottleRock Festival in Napa Valley.

The three-day event is scheduled for May 27-29 at the Napa Valley Expo.

The Lumineers, Death Cabfor Cutie, Lenny Kravitz, Walk the Moon, Rodrigo y Gabriela, ZiggyMarley, and Grouplove will also perform for the fourth annual event. Passes go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m. PST.

See the full 2016 lineup here.

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Birthdays today include: Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age; Marilyn Manson; Kate Schellenbach of Luscious Jackson; Grant Young of Soul Asylum; Chris Stein of Blondie; George Brown of Kool & The Gang; and Grady Thomas of Funkadelic. #MusicalBirthdays

#WhatsHappening for Sunday, January 3.

Ah, Sunday. Time to relax and prep for the week.

Oh. And do laundry. Wash the dishes. Mop the floors. I probably should wash my car, too.

So much for relaxing.

Lana Del Rey has reportedly obtained a restraining order against two Russian fans.

Promotional shot from "Carrie" remake? I'm not really sure what's going on here.

The singer claims that the pair threatened her and screamed at her in public, left letters at her home threatening violence, and stalked her to her new home and slept “outside her house and screaming her name in the middle of the night.”

Del Rey has also hired a full-time bodyguard for protection.

The order requires the two 100 yards clear of Del Rey and her home.

Del Rey was the also the victim of another fan who was arrested in November after being found camping in the garage of the her home.

Slash and the Conspirators offered up a tribute to Lemmy Kilmister at their New Year's House of Blues gig in Las Vegas- covering Motorhead's “Ace of Spades.”

Slash called Lemmy “Rock n Roll personified & the embodiment of everything it stands for & a truly good friend” and said he'll miss the singer “more than words can express.”

You can check out the performance below.

Tommy Lee's last blast with Motley Crue (until the inevitable reunion tour) was more of a dud after his 'Cruecifly' drum setup malfunctioned on New Year's Eve- stranding Lee upside down over the audience.

Those the stage crew was eventually able to right the structure, Lee said was stranded for a time.

“It looks like the rollercoaster is broken. Well, fuck the rollercoaster! Come on, guys, help. Come get me. I can't believe this is happening on the last night. I knew something wasn't right when I took off.”

Your opportunity to point and laugh...

Don't forget to join us for Saturday Night Karaoke, live and loud at The Iron Horse Tavern from 10pm-1am this week.

Saturday Night Karaoke fun. 

From the fuck-all to do with music file:

"...most of the black quarterbacks, they like running, because they’re probably used to running from the law."

So says former NFL player Dexter Manley.

Who has been arrested seven times in his life (so far) and was accused of burning down a neighbor's house when he was a teenager.

Who served prison time.

You know it's bad when the uptight white guy is the one who looks embarrassed.

Who somehow graduated high school- and went to Oklahoma State University on a full scholarship- despite being completely illiterate.

Who was kicked out of the NFL. Twice.

Who somehow has pissed away every single opportunity the world has ever given him.

Considering all of that, what I really wonder is why anyone would be surprised at any stupidity that comes falling from his face hole.

Speaking of idiots who never seem to learn the important lessons, Chris Brown is under investigation by Las Vegas police after being accused of assault and battery incident at the Palms Hotel last night.

The alleged victim claims Brown punched her in the face at a private after party held in his suites.

A press release from the LVMPD said the woman “was alleged to have been battered by Brown, who at the same time took her cell phone. A verbal altercation took place as the victim was escorted out of the room by private security and into the hallway.”

The woman was escorted off the hotel property, but later returned to file the report. Detectives could not reach Brown in his suite and learned he had left the hotel before officers arrived at the scene.

A representative for Brown told Entertainment Tonight the woman had a “total meltdown” in the hallway, and added there were witnesses of her “throwing her purse to the ground and claiming that she 'could buy everyone in the hotel.'”

“Her claim that she had her phone in her possession inside the after party and was able to take a photo causing an altercation with Chris Brown is a complete fabrication,” the rep continued. “Making false accusations seems to be a pattern of behavior for (her). Whatever her motives, her statements are unequivocally untrue.”

Innocent until proven guilty, sure. When there's a pattern of questionable behavior, though...

Birthdays today include: Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk; John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin; Stephen Stills; and Sir George Martin. #MusicalBirthdays