Music News & Notes

Pearl Jam Is Back!

It appears that Pearl Jam is on course to score a #1 album, their first in 13 years, according to Billboard magazine. Judging from current projections based on this week’s sales, the band’s new album Backspacer, released last Sunday, could conceivably sell anywhere between 175,000 to 200,000 bythe end of the week. If so, the album may very likely land ahead of its competition when the Billboard 200 chart for the period ending September 27th is published this coming Wednesday.

Signaling a new direction for the band, Backspacer will be the Pearl Jam’s first album not released via a major label. Instead, Eddie Vedder and company are releasing the album in the U.S. through iTunes, Target, the band’s own website, and via independent retailers.

Over the course of their nearly twenty-year career, Pearl Jam’s releases have consistently climbed to the top of the charts with Vs.and Vitology having landed back-to-back at the number one spot in 1993 and 94.

In addition to the deal for the release of the new album, the band has also scored a deal with Target for the limited edition release of a T-shirt that features Tom Tomorrow’s astronaut playing drums, as seen on the new album’s back cover art. The band announced that all proceeds from the sales of the shirts will go to Feeding America, a charity dedicated to ending hunger in the U.S. According to the Pearl Jam Website, the shirts are in short supply and interested buyers and collectors may want to make their purchases as they are not expected to stay in stock for long.

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Spandau Ballet Single

Spandau Ballet are to release their first new single since 1989's Crashed Into Love this November. The band, who announced that they were to reform in March, release 'Once More' on November 9.

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New Creed Music

Creed is back with their first album in 8 years, "Full Circle" (due October 27). If you head over to MSN you can hear the new single, "Rain," plus watch the video for the first single, "Overcome". Creed Single

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Faces Reforming To Play Royal Albert Hall (Less Rod Stewart)

Classic Rock Magazine is reporting that The Faces are reforming – for one night only. But it will be without Rod Stewart.

After 37 years guitarist Ronnie Wood, drummer Kenney Jones and keyboard player Ian McLagan are getting back together on October 25 at the Royal Albert Hall. This is for the charity event PRS For Music Members Benevolent Fund.

Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman will replace the late Ronnie Lane, while a host of special guests will help out on vocals.

Also on the bill include Albert Lee, Rick Wakeman, Jan Akkerman among many others.

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AC/DC Singer Needs Rest

Heavy-rockers AC/DC have been forced to postpone six tour dates because frontman Brian Johnson is recovering from a medical procedure and per his doctor's advice, he will take some time off to rest.

According to the band’s official Website, the group’s October 1st show in Phoenix will be postponed, along with concerts in Las Vegas, Louisville, Kansas City, Des Moines and Milwaukee. The Black Ice World Tour gets back on track October 16th in Washington, DC.

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Jackson tickets on sale Sunday

Tickets for the most highly anticipated film of the year go on sale to the general public throughout the UK this coming Sunday, September 27.

UK audiences will be able to book tickets from 12.01am on Sunday morning at http://www.thisisittickets.co.uk or via all the usual cinema websites and telephone booking lines. Tickets will also be available from local cinemas from Sunday, September 27 during the usual box office opening hours.

Tickets will be available for all showings of the movie, including the first screenings open to the general public in the UK from 4.00am on Wednesday October 28.

Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT will be in cinemas worldwide for two weeks only beginning Wednesday October 28.

www.thisisit-movie.com.