The "If You Don’t know Me By Now" hitmaker, who was paralyzed from the waist down from a car accident in 1982, passed away in Philadelphia at age 59, after a battle with colon cancer.
Soul singer Teddy – who shot to fame as singer in Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes - was the first black male singer to record five consecutive multi-platinum albums in the US, and didn’t tour for nearly 20 years after the car accident which left him paralyzed.
His son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said: 'To all his fans who loved his music, thank you. He will live on through his music.'
The singer’s friend and long-time collaborator Kenny Gamble said that despite his difficult condition, he never felt sorry for himself.
He added: "In quite moments, he probably did a lot of reflection. But I never saw him pity himself."
"He stayed busy. But I feel that he’s in a better place now, he doesn’t have to go through that pain or whatever he was going through anymore."
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Mightier Than Sword Records re-releasing pop-punk classics on vinyl
Mightier Than Sword Records got a license to print money when they landed the contract to repress Blink 182's catalog on vinyl. They're taking the press they've received -- and the attendant money -- to continue to repress some of the classic pop-punk releases of the late '90s.
In the coming months, you can look forward to reliving your youth with the following records:
The Juliana Theory - Understand This Is A Dream - 10th Anniv. Series #2 - March 23
The Ataris - Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits - 10th Anniv. Series #3 - April 13
Both are limited pressings of 500 on 180 gram black vinyl.
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Autechre to Releases New Album
Iconic electronic mavericks Autechre are set to return in 2010 with their new album 'Oversteps'. Autechre are one of the most groundbreaking acts in British music. Fired up by the Acid House explosion Rob Brown and Sean Booth choose to ignore dancefloor possibilities and experiment with sound. As a result Autechre's music sounds unlike anything around it. From their initial recordings to debut album 'Incunabula' and beyond the duo have spent the best part of twenty years crafting a unique back catalogue.
The Warp mainstays were an important part of the label's 20th anniversary celebrations last year. Having been signed with the imprint for the bulk of those two decades, Autechre were perfectly placed to pay tribute to Warp. Playing a series of celebratory shows, Autechre have also been working on a new album. The follow up to 2008's dense work 'Quaristice' new album 'Oversteps' comes as Warp Records looks again to the future.
Available as a download, the new album will also be released on CD and lavish vinyl. The deluxe vinyl edition will include a specially designed sleeve, a massive double sided poster and more.
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Knack’s Fieger Battling Cancer
This from http://www.pollstar.com/
The Knack’s Doug Fieger is suffering from brain and lung cancer, causing the man who sang the 1979 monster hit “My Sharona,” to reflect on his life, mortality and life’s final curtain call.
“Everybody is in the same spot,” the 57-year-old Fieger told his hometown newspaper, the Detroit News, during a phone interview while resting in his Southern California home. “I just know there is something that will potentially end my time here.”
Fieger’s first bout with cancer occurred in 2004 when surgeons removed a portion of his lung. Thinking the problem was solved, Fieger continued to do the occasional Knack date, and it was while performing with the band two years ago in Las Vegas that he realized he had forgotten the words to “My Sharona.” Since then, doctors determined Fieger suffered from more than 20 brain tumors.
As with many cancer patients, the treatment is often more painful than the disease. Fieger told the News that he’s “weak but pain-free” and that the treatment had taken its toll on him, causing him to decline further therapy.
He’s also dropped a lot of weight. His ex-wife, Mia, has been taking care of him and the singer credits her with helping him push his weight back up to 140 pounds, which isn’t all that much when you’re six feet tall.
But no matter what happens, Fieger is pretty philosophical about it all, saying he’s led a good life and that’s he’s been sober for 26 years.
And he’s still somewhat optimistic.
“My grandmother from Brooklyn used to come visit my family in Oak Park for the summer,” Fieger told the News, saying she was once diagnosed with cancer and given three years to live.
“She lived 21 more years,” Fieger said, “and didn’t die of cancer. So you can never tell.”
Yoko Ono & Band Perfomance
A host of stars have signed on for a February 16 performance by Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Eric Clapton and Klauss Voorman from the original group will be back along with Paul Simon and son Harper Simon, Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, Bette Midler, Jim Keltner, Sean Lennon, Martha Wainwright, Mark Ronson and the Scissor Sisters.
