New Music Releases - December 7, 2010

Bob Dylan's 'The Original Mono Recordings,' which collects his first eight studio albums as well as an early live performance, is out on vinyl this week, as is a reissue of Nine Inch Nails' Pretty Hate Machine. Also new music by Duffy, T.I., Hinder and an EP from Sufjan Stevens just to name a few.

Look for re-releases from Dead Can Dance, Eric Burdon & War, Giant Sand, Minus the Bear, ZZ Top, the Zombies and more.


As always CVR Blog picks are in red:





ABBA - Gold: Special Edition (CD/DVD)
Air Supply - The Earth Is
Anika - Anika
Average White Band - Feel No Fret
Banjo or Freakout - 105

Beatles - 1962-1970: Collector's Edition Box Set (Remastered Red & Blue Albums with Cards & Stamp)






Bill Withers - Making Music
Bill Withers' first Columbia album is making its debut on CD. The album yielded the singles "Making Music" and "Hello Like Before" and features a killer band that includes David Walker, Ray Parker Jr., Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin, bassist James Jamerson, Ernie Watts and Ralph MacDonald.

Bill Withers - Naked and Warm
Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning (Vinyl)
Black Hole - Black Hole (Californian Punk 1977-1980)
Bob Dylan - The Original Mono Recordings (Amazon.com Exclusive Bonus Edition) Bonnie Prince Billy & Trembling Bells - New Year's Eve's the Loneliest Night of the Year (Vinyl)
Boston - Boston [Vinyl]
Brooklyn Dreams - Sleepless Nights
Celebration - Hello Paradise
Charlie Wilson - Just Charlie
Christian Kane - The House Rules
Clarence Carter - Testifyin
Clouds - Up Above Our Heads (Clouds 66-71)
Connie Stevens - Tradition: A Family At Christmas
Cowsills - On My Side
DNTL - After Parties 1 (Vinyl)
DNTL - After Parties 2 (Vinyl)
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy (soundtrack)
Dave Baby Cortez - Organ Shindig
Dead Can Dance - Dead Can Dance (4-LP reissue) (Vinyl)
Deadmau5 - 4x4=12
Deodato - Prelude (Vinyl)
Diane Birch and the Phenomenal Handclap Band - The Velveteen Age
Seven covers of songs by the Cure, Joy Division, Siouxsie & the Banshees and others are given a neo-soul treatment with Birch unleashing vocals more rooted in the 1970s -- a bit of Stevie Nicks here, some gospel there, and her inner-folkie in between.

Dino, Desi & Billy - Memories Are Made of This
Dino, Desi & Billy - Souvenir
Duffy - Endlessly
The singer returns with her second album, recorded in New York, London and Spain with Albert "It Never Rains in California" Hammond co-producing. The first single, "Well Well Well," features the Roots.

Einsturzende Neubauten - Strategies Against Architecture IV
Eluvium - The Motion Makes Me Last EP
Engineers - In Praise of More
Eric Burdon & War - Best of
Eric Burdon & War - Black Man's Burdon
Eric Burdon & War - Eric Burdon Declares War
Eric Burdon & War - Love is All Around
Eric Johnson - Up Close
Fairport Convention - Dirty Linen: Live at the Marlowe Theatre
Feist - Look at What the Light Did Now
Floating Bridge - Floating Bridge
Frank Sinatra - Frank Sinatra Boxset (36 CDs)
Freebass - It's A Beautiful Life
Giant Sand - Ballad of a Thin Line Man: 25th Anniversary Edition (reissue)
Giant Sand - Storm: 25th Anniversary Edition (reissue)
Gospel Music - Duettes
Gregory and the Hawk - Leche (Vinyl)
Hamilton Camp - Here's to You
Heavy Winged - Sunspotted
Hinder - All American Nightmare (Deluxe Edition)
INXS - Original Sin
I The Breather - These Are My Sins
Iron Maiden - The Interview Sessions
James Levine - 40 Years at the Met" (32 CDS)
Janis Siegel - At Home
Jefferson Airplane - Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66: Late Show: Signe's Farewell
Jefferson Airplane - Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 10/16/66: Early & Late Shows: Grace's Debut
Jefferson Airplane - Live at The Fillmore Auditorium 11/25/66 & 11/27/66: We Have Ignition 11/27/66: We Have Ignition (2 CDs)
Jefferson Airplane -Return to The Matrix 2/1/68 (2 CDs)
Jimi Hendrix - Blues  (2 LPs) 
John D. Loudermilk - Elloree 1
Jonathan Richman - O Moon, Queen of Night on Earth (Vinyl)
Juanes - P.A.R.C.
Kate Bush - Sensual World (reissue) (Vinyl)
Keith Christmas - Tomorrow Never Ends: Anthology 1974 - 1976
Latimore - It Ain't Where You Been
Liz Janes - Say Goodbye
Memoryhouse - Caregiver b/w Heirloom
Michael Bolton - Home for Christmas
Mick Jones - Mick Jones
Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice (Vinyl)
Misfits - X-posed
Morning Dew - Morning Dew
Morris Day - Daydreaming
Motels - Motels / Careful
Mount Kimbie - Crooks & Lovers (Vinyl)
Muddy Waters - They Called Me Muddy Waters / Live at Mister Kellys
Mumford & Sons with Laura Marling and the Dharohar Project
A four-song EP featuring Mumford & Sons, the blokes who just received a Grammy nomination for best new artist. These recordings were made during a tour of India in December 2009. Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling spent several days with Rajasthani folk musicians in a makeshift studio at an arts & culture school in Delhi.

Natasha Bedingfield - Strip Me
Nina Simone - Classic Hits
Nine Inch Nails -  Pretty Hate Machine: 2010 Remaster (Vinyl)
Ohio Knox - Ohio Knox
Out of Focus - Out of Focus
Peggy Lee - Black Coffee & Dream Street
Perfume Genius - Learning (slipcase edition with three bonus tracks)
Perry Como - The Complete Christmas Collection (2 CDs)
Pet Shop Boys - Together (Single)
Pet Shop Boys - Ultimate (CD/DVD)
Plain White T's - Wonders of the Younger

Psychedelic Aliens - Psycho African Beat
The Psychedelic Aliens were a rock band in Ghana in the late '60s and early '70s that combined elements of American soul, funk, garage rock and psych with African rhythms and melodies. "Psycho African Beat" brings together their four-song EP and two 7-inches with a 32-page booklet.





Randy Meisner - One More Song / Randy
Ric Ocasek - Fireball Zone
Ric Ocasek - Quick Change World
Robin Trower -  The Playful Heart
Royal Trux - Thank You (reissue) (Vinyl)
Ryan Bingham - Junky Star (Vinyl)
Sammy Hagar - Loud & Clear
Silverstein - Transitions
Solomon Burke - The Best of (Vinyl)
Star & Micey - 12 Days of Memphis Christmas
Stay Ahead Of The Weather - We Better Get Goin' If We're Gonna
Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP
The EP is built around two different versions of Sufjan Stevens' long-form epic ballad "All Delighted People," an homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui and Paul Simon's "Sounds of Silence." Other songs on the EP include the 17-minute guitar jam-for-single-mothers "Djohariah," and the gothic piano ballad "The Owl and the Tanager," a live-show mainstay.

Surfers - Sing Hit Movie Songs From the Exotic Islands
T.I. - No Mercy
The Coathangers & the Numerators - Chicken 30 b/w Strawberry Dreams
Two Cow Garage - Sweet Saint Me
Various Artists - ABC of the Blues (52 CDs)
Various Artists - Angola Soundtrack (Vinyl)
Various Artists - Flower Power: Music of the Love Generation (3 CDs)
Various Artists - Motown Collection (3 CDs)
Various Artists - O Brother Where Art Thou: Deluxe Edition (2 CDs)
Various Artists - Romancing the 70s (3 CDs)
Various Artists - Sound of Siam
Various Artists - The Ultimate Oldies but Goodies Collection (3 CDs)
War - All Day Music
War - Deliver the Word
War - Greatest Hits Live
War - Life (Is So Strange)
War - Live
War - Outlaw
War - Peace Sign
War - Platinum Jazz
War - Very Best of
War - Why Can't We Be Friends
War - World is a Ghetto
War - Youngblood
Wires Under Tension - Light Science
ZZ Top - Deguello (Vinyl)
ZZ Top - Rio Grande Mud (Vinyl)
Zombies - On the BBC (Vinyl)
Zombies - Time of the Season (Vinyl)
Zombies - Zombies '66 (Vinyl)


Find New Jazz Releases  Here

Remember, if you are a record company and have new releases or know of any I missed (especially vinyl), please email me and I will add your music to the list. I also do reviews of new vinyl, email me for more information.

New Music Releases are put together from a variety of sources by blog owner Robert Benson

Have new music for the list? Email me at rbenson30@wi.rr.com  

Rock & Roll Trivia

In the 1950s, Paul McCartney's father lead a combo called Jim Mac's Jazz Band, where he played piano and trumpet. When he was a boy, Paul said that someday he hoped to be as good as his dad.

Set to Ronald White's tune, Smokey Robinson was inspired by his wife Claudette to write the lyrics to one of music history's greatest love songs, "My Girl". Smokey's personal problems lead to their divorce in 1986.

From clay tablets and other forms of pictures, historians have determined that stringed musical instruments were developed in ancient Egypt and Rome over 3,300 years ago. The first six string guitar, called a vihuela, was developed in Spain in the 17th century.

In February 1949, after RCA Victor introduced the first 45 rpm phonograph, they put together a promo package of seven 45s that were sent to US disc jockeys and retailers. The records were color coded for classification of music. Popular - Black; Classical - Red; Popular Classical - Midnight blue; Children's - Yellow; Country and Western - Green; Rhythm And Blues - Cerise; International - Sky blue.

John Fogarty's comeback album, 1985's "Centerfield", included a couple of songs titled "Zantz Can't Dance" and "Mr. Greed", which were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, which forced Fogerty to issue a revised version of "Zaentz Can't Dance", changing the lead character's name to Vanz.

The Knack's lead vocalist, Doug Fieger, is the older brother of famed attorney Jeffrey Fieger, who defended doctor-assisted suicide advocate, Dr. Jack Kervorkian.

Three Dog Night's 1972, #1 hit "Black And White" was written in the mid-1950s about the 1954 US Supreme Court's landmark decision banning segregation in public schools. Some of the verses were changed in the Three Dog Night version. The original second verse went "Their robes were black, Their heads were white, The schoolhouse doors were closed so tight. Nine judges all set down their names, To end the years and years of shame".

Diane Renay, who was born Renne Diane Kushner, initially wanted to be billed as Renay Diane. She chose the "Renay" spelling to keep it from being mis-pronounced as "Ree-nee". Unfortunately, Atco Records misunderstood and printed early copies of her first recordings that said "Diane Renay". Rather than make an issue out of it, she decided to leave it that way. The record, "Navy Blue", went on to reach #6 in the US in 1964.

Joey Scarbury, who reached #2 on the Billboard chart with "Believe It Or Not" in 1981, was discovered by singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb's father, who wandered into a furniture store and heard the 14 year old's mom praising her son's singing ability. His initial recordings were not successful and it took another 12 years for Joey to have his big hit. Although he never cracked the Top 40 again, he did record the soundtracks for ER, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Fahrenheit 9/11.

By 1968, around eighty-five different manufacturers had sold over 2.4 million cassette players world wide and in that year alone, the cassette business was worth about $150 million. In August, 2008, ABBA's "Gold" compilation rose to #1 on the UK album chart for the fifth time since being released in 1992, making it the oldest ever UK #1 album to return to the top of the chart, 16 years after release.

"For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield got its title when Stephen Stills first played the song for the group, saying "Here's a new song I wrote, for what it's worth." When he finished playing, he was asked what the title was. Stills said he didn't have one. Someone then replied, "Sure you do. You just said it."



David Rose, who had a Billboard #1 hit in 1962 with an instrumental called "The Stripper", also wrote the theme for the TV show Little House On The Prairie.

In January, 2005, on what would have been Elvis Presley's 70th birthday, "Jailhouse Rock" was re-released in the UK where it went straight to #1. At over 47 years after its original release, it became the oldest recording ever to top the UK charts.

The lightest Elvis ever weighed as a six foot tall adult was 170 lbs in 1960 following his discharge from the U.S. Army. The heaviest was at the time of his death, which was 260 lbs.

Helen Reddy's husband, Jeff Wald, was also her manager. He was also the manager for Sylvester Stallone, George Foreman, James Brolin, George Carlin, Elliot Gould, Deep Purple, Donna Summer, Flip Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Chicago and Crosby, Stills & Nash, to name only a few.

New Vinyl Record Talk Tuesday December 7th

New Vinyl Record Talk Tuesday December 7th 8pm ET/ 5pm PT

Check out the show. We're playing a number of 60's Northern Soul we've turned up, like 45's from Denita James and King Davis House Rockers.


Plus the news and Top 5 vinyl sales on eBay, and a personal discussion on a topic too gross to mention here 'cause it might scare ya from listening.

Vinyl Record Talk

Metallica Vinyl Project Produced by Furnace Record Pressing Graces Billboard Magazine Cover

The latest issue of Billboard Magazine features Metallica founding members Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield holding up the vinyl version of “Live at Grimey’s” made at Furnace Record Pressing.

Fairfax, VA (PRWEB) December 7, 2010

The latest issue of Billboard Magazine features Metallica founding members Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield holding up the vinyl version of “Live at Grimey’s” made at Furnace Record Pressing.

The double 10” vinyl set issued on 11/26/10 as a Record Store Day exclusive for the inaugural event “Back to Black Friday” was recorded in the basement of Nashville’s Grimey’s New & Pre-loved music store. “Back to Black Friday” offers exclusive titles not available online in a successful attempt to draw music lovers into independent retail store.

Furnace MFG, Record Store Day’s official CD and vinyl manufacturing sponsor, is proud to have been selected to produce this important and exclusive Metallica release.

Says Eric Astor, CEO of Furnace MFG, “We have a strong relationship with Warner Music and with Record Store Day. Given this project’s short turn-around time it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for anyone else to complete it. We excel at this kind of high volume and time sensitive project.”

From start to finish, the Metallica project took Furnace less than 3 weeks to complete. Manufacturing the vinyl, component proofing and printing and assembly all went off without a hitch, enabling Record Store Day to launch “Back to Black Friday” with the Metallica retail exclusive centerpiece.

Michael Kurtz, co-founder of Record Store Day adds, “In order to support the retail channel, labels and artists need to be able to provide high quality product when scheduled. Inferior product results in returns and missed street dates, which results in disappointed customers and lost sales. Record Store Day selected Furnace MFG as the official CD and vinyl manufacturing partner because of their reputation for fast turnaround times and high quality product. They fully lived up to their reputation.”

Adds Astor, “as we look forward to the April, 2011 Record Store Day event, we are excited to work with participating artists and labels and we are confident we’ll be able to deliver for our clients our high quality product on time and on budget.”

About Furnace MFG: In business since 1996, Furnace MFG (http://www.furnacemfg.com/vinyl) is a recognized leader in CD and DVD duplication, replication, and vinyl record manufacturing and packaging.

# # #

This Date In Music History - December 7

Birthdays:

Tom Waits (1949)

Mike Nolan - Bucks Fizz (1954)

Tim Butler - Psychedelic Furs (1958)

Barbara Weathers - Atlantic Starr (1963)

Huw Chadbourne - Babybird (1963)

Brian Futter - Catherine Wheel (1965)

Nicole Appleton - All Saints (1974)

Aaron Carter (1987)


They Are Missed:

The late Louis Prima was born in 1911.

Inventor Dr Peter Carl Goldmark was killed in a car crash in 1977. Goldmark invented the long-playing microgroove record in 1945 that went on to revolutionize the way people listened to music.

The late Harry Chapin was born in 1942. Killed on July 16, 1981, when a tractor-trailer crashed into the car he was driving.

Richard Taylor of the R&B vocal group, The Manhattans, died at the age of 47 in 1987.

52 year old Dee Clark, most often remembered for his 1961 million-seller, "Raindrops", passed away following a heart attack in 1990. The singer, born Delectus Clark, could never match the success of "Raindrops" and as The British Invasion arrived, his career took a downward spiral. By the 1980s he was performing on the oldies circuit and spent some time living a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Although he had suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death.

Manic Street Preachers co-manager Phillip Hall died from cancer in 1993. Hall was a former Record Mirror journalist and had also worked in PR for Stiff Records. Represented many acts including The Stone Roses, The Pogues, James, The Waterboys, The Beautiful South and Radiohead.

In 2008, Dennis Yost, lead singer of the 1960s soft rock group, The Classics IV, died of respiratory failure at the age of 65. He had been in a nursing home since suffering a brain injury in a 2005 fall. The Classics IV's hits included "Spooky", "Stormy" and "Traces of Love."





History:

In 1954, Marty Robbins became the first major artist to cover an Elvis Presley tune when he recorded the Arthur Crudup composition "That's All Right" for Columbia Records. Robbins' effort will pay off in a Top Ten hit on the Billboard Country chart.

The Rolling Stones auditioned bass players at the World's End pub in Chelsea, London in 1962. One candidate was Bill Wyman. He got the job partly because he had tons of cool equipment the band could use.

The Beatles second album 'With The Beatles' started a 21-week run at #1 on the UK album chart in 1963. Also today, all four Beatles appeared on BBC TV's 'Juke Box Dury'. Some of the songs The Beatles judged were “Kiss Me Quick” by Elvis Presley, “The Hippy Hippy Shake,” by the Swinging Blue Jeans and “Where Have You Been All My Life” by Gene Vincent, among others. The group voted Bobby Vinton's "There! I Said It Again" a miss. Ironically, in two months' time they would knock the record out of the #1 spot in the U.S.

"Dominique" by The Singing Nun was the #1 record in North America in 1963, edging out The Kingsmen's "Louie, Louie." The song would eventually sell over 1.5 million copies and win a Grammy Award for the year's best gospel song. Her given name was Jeanine Deckers and she would leave the convent in 1967 before taking her final vows, partly to pursue a recording career, but never repeated her earlier success. In 1985, the center for autistic children in Belgium that she helped to found had closed due to lack of funds. In despair over this failure, the 51 year old Deckers and her friend Annie Pescher committed suicide.

Also in 1963, the Murmaids, an L.A. trio consisting of sisters Carol and Terry Fischer along with Sally Gordon, enter the Billboard chart with "Popsicles and Icicles," which will rise to #3.

Brian Wilson has a nervous breakdown while on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston in 1964. He decides to stop touring with the Beach Boys.

In 1967, Otis Redding went into the studio to record “(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay.” The song went on to be his biggest hit. Redding didn't see its release; he was killed three days later in a plane crash.



The Beatles Apple boutique opened its doors in 1967. The store closed seven months later when all the goods were given away free to passers by.

1968, The Beatles 'White Album' started a seven-week run at #1 on the UK chart in 1968. The double set was the first on the Apple label and featured "Back In The USSR," "Dear Prudence" and the Harrison song "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

Eric Burdon disbanded the Animals for good in 1968. Eric Burdon announced that the Animals would split up after a December 22 concert at Newcastle City Hall. He moved to California to embark on a largely unsuccessful acting career, while bass guitarist Chas Chandler would go on to manage Jimi Hendrix.

In 1971, Paul McCartney's new band, Wings, release their first album, 'Wild Life' in the UK. The LP would not be issued in the US until 1980.

Unable to get Fleetwood Mac together for touring in 1973, the group’s manager creates a bogus version and sends them out on the road. Legal proceedings ensue but the tour is cancelled because nobody cares. The whole business is a low point for the group but they see their fortunes drastically improve in just two years.

1974 Barry Manilow's first hit, "Mandy" enters the US chart in 1974 on its way to number one. The song was originally written by Scott English and Richard Kerr as "Brandy," but was changed by Manilow when a group called Looking Glass had a hit with that title six months before. Manilow's version reached #11 in the UK.

Carl Douglas started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1974 with “Kung Fu Fighting.” The song was recorded in 10 minutes, started out as a B- side and sold 10 million. His follow-up, "Dance the Kung Fu", would be a total flop. Possibly the worst song in pop music history (or at least a tie with Rick Dees “Disco Duck”). Any more nominations for the worst #1 song in music history?

Linda Ronstadt recorded "You're No Good" in 1974. The song became one of her signature hits, peaking at #1 the following year.

Bob Seger's fortunes were about to change when he released the LP 'Night Moves' in 1976. The record would turn out to be his breakthrough album and took him from being a local Detroit favorite, to an internationally known Rock star. 'Night Moves' reached #8 on the US album chart and sold over 5 million copies.

“We’ll do everything we can to restrain their public behavior,” says EMI Records’ chairman Sir John Read of the Sex Pistols. He makes the statement at the company’s annual general meeting in 1976.

In 1984, Michael Jackson testifies in a Chicago courtroom that he, not an Illinois man, wrote "The Girl Is Mine". The jury rules in favor of Jackson.

Mr Mister started a two week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1985 with "Broken Wings."

In 1987, the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a Kentucky schoolteacher who had been fired for showing the film Pink Floyd - The Wall to a group of grade 9 to 11 students on the final day of school.

Originally billed as Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie’s final performance with Fleetwood Mac, it wasn’t. However, it is still an emotional show at L.A.’s Great Western Forum in 1990.

George Michael and Elton John were at #1 in the UK in 1991 with a live version of "Don't Let The Sun Go down On Me," (a hit for Elton in 1974). All proceeds from the hit went to aids charities.

Michael Jackson started a 7 week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1991 with "Black Or White," his 12th solo #1, also a #1 in the UK. "Black or White" becomes Michael Jackson's 12th US number one hit, tying him with The Supremes for the third most, behind The Beatles (20) and Elvis Presley (17).

Two weeks after Freddie Mercury's death 'Queen's Greatest Hits II' started a four week run at #1 on the UK album chart in 1991.

U2 went to #1 on the US album charts in 1991 with 'Achtung Baby.'

In 1993, Guns N' Roses announced they would keep the tune written by Charles Manson "Look At Your Game, Girl" on their album, 'The Spaghetti Incident?' The decision to keep the song came when the band learned that the royalties would go to the son of one of Manson's victims.

Bush went to #1 on the US album chart in 1996 with 'Razorblade Suitcase.'

Toni Braxton started a 11 week run at #1 on the US singles chart in 1996 with "Un- Break My Heart." Written by Dianne Warren it gave Braxton her second US solo #1 hit.

In 1999, the Recording Industry Association of America launched a lawsuit against the on-line, file sharing company Napster, seeking $100,000 in damages for each song copied. Yeah, that worked...

The Eagles held a press conference in 1999 to announce that their first 'Greatest Hits' package had become America's best-selling album. Glenn Frey stated, "I hated popularity contests when I was in high school, and I hate them now." No word on if he hated the money he made from being in the band….

Britney Spears was at #1 on the US album chart in 2003 with ‘In The Zone’ the singer's fourth US #1 album. The singer broke her own record from being the first female artist to have three albums enter the US chart at #1 to being the first female artist to have 4 albums enter at #1 consecutively.

Outkast went to #1 on the US singles chart in 2003 with "Hey Ya."

In 2005, the MBE medal that John Lennon returned to the Queen was found in a royal vault at St James' Palace. Lennon returned his medal in November, 1969 with a letter accompanying saying, "Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against Cold Turky slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon." Historians were calling for the medal to be put on public display.

In 2006, a couple who witnessed the Damageplan show on 12/08/04 in Columbus, OH, where five people were shot and killed, including guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, file a lawsuit against the club's owners. The plaintiffs claim club security was inadequate and that they suffered severe and permanent emotional injuries from witnessing the shooting.

In 2006, former Sublime bassist Eric Wilson and drummer Floyd "Bud" Gaugh file a trademark-infringement lawsuit against Southern California tribute band Sublime Remembered for allegedly claiming to include original Sublime members. "I've got two of their fliers and both of them actually said 'featuring' former members of the band," says the attorney for Wilson and Gaugh, who also requested that the cover band remove any references to Sublime from its promotional campaigns.

Also in 2006, guitars autographed by Slash, Scott Weiland, Dave Navarro and the Edge are among the items up for bid in the online Grammy Charity Holiday Auction. VIP tickets to see Aerosmith in concert, signed memorabilia by Rod Stewart and Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood and a signed, life-size KISS banner, are also on the block. Proceeds go toward MusiCares and the Grammy Foundation.

Paul McCartney and U2 are among more than 4,000 artists who sign a full-page ad in the Financial Times in 2006 demanding "fair play for musicians" in the United Kingdom. Record companies and performers lobby the U.K. government for an extension of copyrights on sound recordings from 50 years to 95 years. 95 years is the copyright protection length offered in the United States. 2006

In 2007, Yoko Ono issues a statement encouraging world peace on the eve of the 27th anniversary of husband John Lennon's murder. "Let's not waste the lives of those we have lost," writes Ono. "Let's, together, make the world a place of love and joy."

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler deliverd an anti-drugs statement at the ninth annual Fort Lauderdale Harley-Davidson Bikers Bash in 2007. "I want to pass the message to kids that it is so easy to smoke a joint, quit school and get into trouble, but that leads to nowhere," says Tyler, whose acoustic set at the charity event includes a duet with Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil on "Chip Away The Stone."