Music News & Notes

Plant Says No One More Time

Robert Plant told Britain's BBC Radio Wales that he will not be doing a Led Zeppelin tour. Among other things, he said that he was getting too old to to perform in two-hour rock shows all over the world.

"I'm doing very well with Alison and I'm enjoying that.

"I still see Jimmy quite a lot and he's very complimentary and supportive of what I'm doing, but we are in different places now and you have to go on to do different things."

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Rick Wakeman Reviving Six Wives of Henry VIII

Rick Wakeman is in the process of reviving his 1973 album, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, and will perform it in its entirety this spring in London.

The May 1 and 2 shows will be at Hampton Court Palace's West Front for an audience of 5,000 each night. Joining him on the dates will be the English Chamber Choir, a full orchestra and a guest narrator.

The Six Wives album was Wakeman's first solo project outside of Yes and is heralded as one of the forerunners of progressive rock. The album was totally instrumental with Wakeman playing the Moog, Organ and Mellotron. He studied the personalities of each of the wives and wrote a separate piece to try and capture each of their spirits. Joining him on the album were Yes members Chris Squire, Bill Bruford and Steve Howe along with the Strawbs' Dave Cousins.

In the U.S., the album peaked at number 30 on the album chart. The press release for the London shows claims that, over the years, the album has sold 15 million copies around the world.

Wakeman has also written three new pieces for the performances, Tudor Overture, Defender of the Faith and Tudor Rock.

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Count Five Singer Dead

John "Sean" Burne, the lead singer and guitarist for the Count Five (Psychotic Reaction), passed away last Monday (December 15) from cirrhosis of the liver.

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Drunk Lennon Recording Sold For Big Bucks

A recording of John Lennon performing Lloyd Price's Just Because was sold at auction on Monday for $30,000. The recording, made in 1973, includes some improvised lyrics and was, reportedly, made while Lennon was drunk.

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Jacko Not Sicko

Michael Jackson's spokesperson has denied claims that the singer is in ill health.

Dr. Tohme Tohme (really!) said, "Concerning this author's allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized 'biography.' The writer's wild allegations concerning Mr. Jackson's health are a total fabrication."