Quick quips: Eddie Van Halen, Rolling Stones, Reba McEntire, Lionel Richie, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, John Parr

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added: 12 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

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Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 electric guitars from his collection to music programs at schools throughout the Los Angeles area. The gift was made in cooperation with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.
Van Halen said in a statement, "Music is the universal language. It has the ability to transcend and convey every human emotion that exists without saying a word. Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me.
"Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them. If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that's a wonderful thing. Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation."

A group called the Rolling Stones Liberation Front have issued six demands prior to the group's announcement of any 50th anniversary tour. They say if all six aren't met, they will wage a non-violent disruptive action. The demands are:
We want smaller venues.
We want lower ticket prices.
We want a set list overhaul.
We want to eliminate the horn section and back-up singers.
We want the expulsion of all opening acts.
We want all fans to take responsibility for themselves.
To read the details behind each of the demands, check out the article at Classic Rock magazine.

The Academy of Country Music has announced that Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton will return for their annual awards show on April 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It is Blake's second year as host and Reba's fourteenth.

The next night, the stars will return to the venue to tape ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends - A Lifetime of Hits. The special will air later in the year on CBS.

k.d. lang has filed papers to dissolve her domestic partnership with Jamie Price. The two first met in 2003 and entered into a partnership contract in 2009.

Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, TN has reached a major milestone, it's 25th anniversary year. Parton said of the restaurant "Over the years, some incredibly talented performers, those with two legs and those with four legs, have thoroughly amazed audiences with their talents, and our 25th anniversary season will be no exception!"

Jim Reeves is one of the most successful artists in country music history, racking up hits for years after his death in a 1964 plane crash. Larry Jordan, who knew Reeves and was close friends with his wife, Mary, has written a new book on the singer, Jim Reeves: His Untold Story.

John Parr, who hit in 1985 with the Theme From St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion), has recorded a new version of the song for Denver Broncos' quarterback Tim Tebow.

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Quick quips: Van Halen, Kool & the Gang, Aerosmith, Metallica, Ronnie James Dio, Gregg Allman, Ted Nugent, 100 Club

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added: 10 Jan 2012 // by: VVN Music 

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Van Halen has made an interesting choice to open some of their shows on the upcoming tour, 70's/80's funkmasters Kool and the Gang. Tickets for most of the stops announced go on sale on Saturday, January 14.

Steven Tyler talked about the upcoming Aerosmith album while being interviewed at the TCA panel for American Idol. "All of it's been written but I've got to lay lyrics on it and I haven't had a lot of time. What I've listened to so far knocked me out. I know a good song and I know what gets played on the radio. I'm not that pretentious to say we've got hits, but we've got something and that's all that matters."
As far as the sound, "It's Aerosmith, how do you hide from my big mouth?"

Kirk Hammett was also talking about Metallica's upcoming album. He told Rolling Stone "If Death Magnetic was a logical successor to .And Justice For All, the next album will be a heavier Black Album. We're not going to the depths of complexity that we did for Death Magnetic. The stuff we're coming up with is more groove-oriented, a heavier version of what we were doing in the early 90s.

A long list of rock and metal greats are getting on board a tribute album for the late Ronnie James Dio. Signed up so far are Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Alice Cooper, Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple), Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) and Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters). The album is expected to be out next year.

Two men attending Gregg Allman's show last Wednesday at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville got into a fight with the result being one sustaining a knife wound to the face and the other being arrested by authorities.
Not that this will be any big surprise, but Pierce Munitions, makers of precision ammunition, will be putting out a new line of hunting bullets under Ted Nugent's name.

The 100 Club in London has failed in its attempt to get historical protection. English Heritage, the organization that make recommendations on landmarks backed the plan, noting it was the oldest active club in London, but the British government rejected the bid.
A government spokesperson told the Sunday Telegram "There's no denying the club's place in British pop music history, but in the end it's only the stage and the signage that mark it out as being any different from any other basement club. I can't help but feel that giving the cradle of punk rock listed building status would not be quite in tune with that movement's driving spirit."

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