FRIDAY, JULY 30
John Rzeznik of The Goo Goo Dolls has a secret -- he can't hit that high note in ``Iris.'' Rzeznik says he could barely hit it the day he recorded that song. When he does it in concert, he either sings a different note or throws the microphone in the audience and lets them sing it. He warms up his voice by doing vocal exercises for about half an hour before a show, and he says the rest of the band tortured him for years about that. He says it's because he was standing there like a fool making these ridiculous sounds with his mouth. The Goo Goo Doll's new album, ``Something For The Rest Of Us,'' comes out August 31st.
FRIDAY, JULY 30
Godsmack singer Sully Erna is releasing a solo record, but it's not going to sound like Godsmack. Erna says in a statement that his album, ``Avalon,'' is not a rock record, but a series of beautifully arranged compositions. He says it was recorded with hand drums, cellos, flutes and piano. He describes it as something that you will want to put on when you're in the mood to lie on your couch, dim the lights, and light all your candles and incense. ``Avalon'' comes out September 14th.
FRIDAY, JULY 30
Ozzy Osbourne has psychic abilities. The rocker insists he predicted Princess Diana's death weeks before her tragic crash in France. The Black Sabbath rocker claims he awoke from a restless night's sleep weeks before the British royal's untimely demise following a road traffic accident in Paris in 1997, and he instantly told an assistant of his macabre prediction. He tells Britain's Sunday Times Magazine, I remember when Princess Diana was still alive, I woke up one morning and said to my assistant, 'You know what? Something very bad's gonna happen to her.'
THURSDAY, JULY 29
The Black Crowes promise to dish all of the dirt from their past in an upcoming series of webcasts. The Black Crowes will release one webcast per day on BlackCrowes.com beginning on Tuesday. That's the same day they release a double album called ``Croweology.'' The webisodes will cover things like singer Chris Robinson's arrest, the relationship between Robinson and his brother Rich, whether the band really spent a million dollars to make an album and the wild night in the studio during the ``Amorica'' sessions.
THURSDAY, JULY 29
For the bride who'd rather wear black leather than white lace, there's the chance to get married at Ozzfest. The ``Unholy Matrimony'' package includes admission for the bride and groom and eight guests. Ozzfest M-C Big Dave, who is an ordained minister, will conduct the ceremony. The package includes an Ozzfest cake and champagne toast, a backstage tour, access to the V-I-P lounge, tour shirts, posters and other goodies. The couple must secure a marriage license. The package has already been sold for three Ozzfest tour stops.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28
Stevie Wonder backs up Paul McCartney on ``Ebony and Ivory'' on a P-B-S special airing tonight. It was the first time they'd ever performed the song live together. It happened at the White House, where they performed for U-S President Barack Obama. McCartney has said singing that song for America's first black president was very emotional for him
TUESDAY, JULY 27
A rep for Jon Bon Jovi has slammed the singer's former tour manager for releasing a set of raunchy photos of the rocker in bed with topless women - insisting he's attempting to cash in on his former boss' fame. Rich Bozzett has published a series of racy shots featuring the Bon Jovi frontman in a newly released memoir, Sex, Drugs and Bon Jovi. Bozzett says the pictures, taken by famed rock photographer Ross Marino during Bon Jovi's 7800 degree Fahrenheit tour in 1985, were meant to be publicity shots.
TUESDAY, JULY 27
The White House does not mess around with security, even if it's Paul McCartney knocking on the door. McCartney says when he played the White House last month, he had no problems with the rehearsal, but for the actual concert, he wasn't allowed in. He says he told the guards at the gate that he was the entertainment, and the guard told him he would have to walk around the other block. McCartney says the traffic was bad that night too. Still, he loved playing for the Obamas for what he calls a little club gig. The show was recorded for P-B-S and will air beginning tomorrow.
MONDAY, JULY 26
Rockers Kings of Leon were forced to abandon a concert in St. Louis, Missouri on Friday night after they became targets for pooing pigeons. The Sex on Fire group attempted to play on as the birds let the bandmates know what they thought of their music, but when bassist Jared Followill was hit in the face three songs into the set, the act left the stage at the Verizon Amphitheatre. A spokesman for the band's management says, It was disgusting and it's a toxic health hazard. They (band) really tried to hang in there.
MONDAY, JULY 26
Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott's favour for friends has turned into a side project. Elliott was asked if he'd put together a band to open for Mott The Hoople. Elliott says he and the rest of the band thought it was a shame that they played so well together for only one concert, so they decided to make an album. Elliott says they didn't have a record label and he financed it himself. He took it to Def Leppard's management and they wanted to release it. The band is called Down 'n' Outz and the album is a collection of remakes called ``My ReGeneration.''
MONDAY, JULY 26
John Fogerty says he's truly honoured to have his song ``Centerfield'' inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Fogerty played a rendition of it on his baseball-bat-shaped guitar ``Slugger'' at the Hall of Fame ceremony yesterday. Slugger went on display later that day. Fogerty says the eight-year-old boy in him is saying it ain't getting any better than this. The Hall of Fame has played ``Centerfield'' before every induction ceremony for more than a decade.
FRIDAY, JULY 23
Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart will mark the 15th anniversary of the death of singer Jerry Garcia with kazoos. Hart hopes to break the record for largest kazoo ensemble by leading fans in a kazoo rendition of ``Take Me Out To The Ball Game'' during the seventh-inning stretch at the Cubs-Giants game in San Francisco on August 9th. Bandmate Bob Weir will perform the U-S national anthem before the game, and Garcia's daughter, Annabelle, will throw out the first pitch. Fans can buy tickets to a special Jerry Garcia section at the park and they will receive a bobblehead of Garcia in a Giants jacket.
FRIDAY, JULY 23
Warrant have issued a press release reminding the world that they are not in jail. Former singer Jani Lane was recently sentenced to jail time for a drunk-driving charge. The rest of the band has released a statement saying Lane is no longer affiliated with the band and Robert Mason is their singer now. Warrant is on tour and say they are ready to rock as scheduled. They also wish Lane the best.
THURSDAY, JULY 22
Militant rockers Rage Against the Machine said Wednesday they would headline a concert to raise money for organizations challenging a new Arizona law that targets illegal immigrants. The show, the group's first in its Los Angeles hometown for 10 years, will take place Friday, and will also raise the profile of a SoundStrike artist boycott of the state.
THURSDAY, JULY 22
It's the perfect gift for the Elvis fan with a gruesome side. The instruments used during Elvis Presley's autopsy and embalming will be auctioned in Chicago on August 12th. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers say the items for sale include rubber gloves, forceps, a comb and eye liner. The invoice for the coffin and the hanger that held Elvis' burial suit are for sale too, as is the toe tag that reads ``John Doe.'' The original one that said ``Elvis Presley'' was stolen by a fan at the hospital. The items will be sold in two sets valued at six-thousand and eight-thousand dollars.
THURSDAY, JULY 22
No matter what kinda music you’re into, everyone loves at least one Beatles song, and if you have a Beatles fan in your life a piano played by the Beatles and other musicians is up for auction. The instrument comes from the Abbey Road studio back in 1964 and its current owner will be selling it on auction August 15.
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The Rock Report ...