Rush at Barclays Center, October 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

In a just-held ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in L.A. that was hosted by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, the 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were announced after nominees surfaced a short two months ago. Among this year's class are Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Heart, Albert King and the long-snubbed Rush, along with receipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award, Lou Adler and Quincy Jones.

Reportedly, Rush was the clear beneficiary of the recently instituted popular vote, and the band had the following comment:

"We are honored to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 3 of us are especially appreciative of our loyal fans whose support and dedication has gone a long way to making this possible. P.S. And special thanks to our moms for voting 6000 times!" - Alex, Geddy, & Neil

"Oh hell no sandy's trying to damage the rock hall oh my god no" - Maram Eadeh

"Ok I woke up to a video of the rock hall being slowly ripped apart from this storm.. Nearly cried, I hate you now Sandy" - @Lindss123

damaged siding on the Rock Hall (via)

The east coast wasn't the only part of America to be damaged by Hurricane Sandy last night. As ABC News 5 points out, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland lost some of its siding due to wind damage and water levels from Lake Eerie came close to flooding the building. Ultimately there are no reports that any of the memorabilia inside was damaged and the Rock Hall is still opening today (10/30), just an hour late (11 AM). You'll have to try harder than that to destroy the legacy of rock and roll, Earth.

An ABC News 5 video detailing the damage is below.

Continue reading "Rock n Roll Hall of Fame survives Hurricane Sandy, but not all of its siding did (video) (boring but true) (and music related)"

Kraftwerk at MoMA in April (more by Greg Cristman)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2013 nominees: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Deep Purple, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Albert King, Kraftwerk, The Marvelettes, The Meters, Randy Newman, NWA, Procol Harum, Public Enemy, Rush, and Donna Summer.

For the first time in its history, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will offer fans the opportunity to officially participate in the induction selection process. Beginning on Thursday, October 4 and continuing through December 5, the public can vote for the five nominees they believe to be most deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a "fans' ballot" that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2013 inductees.

Donovan will be in the Northeast US this weekend for Syracuse Jazz Fest, but before he makes his way upstate, he'll stop in NYC for a free performance and autograph signing at J&R's 23 Park Row location at 5 PM.

Donovan, who has been creating great folk, pop, and psychedelia since the mid-'60s, was inducted into the Rock N roll Hall of Fame this year. Here's what he had to say about it:

I suppose that it is a bit like an Academy Award, as one is awarded by one's peers. It is wonderful. Of all the awards that I have received in my career, this one is very, very singular and very, very large. It is quite pleasant, really. It will focus a searchlight on my work.

I love awards just for that reason; this one is huge. When my work is highlighted, then a younger generation will discover my work. When the word "Donovan" is Googled then twenty seven albums will appear for them to discover. This is an extraordinary thing because the young people will be able to discover my music. My mission has always been to continually be of assistance to young people everywhere. My music and my poetry are filled with stuff that they can use. This award has double meaning as it has a very personal feeling attached to it, as well as being a great honor to my work.

There is poetic justice to it all, as well. My work will be reevaluated by a whole new generation and they'll find in it comfort that they can use. Whether they are musicians, students or just young people in general, my work is positive and I am so glad that they will be exposed to it.

A list of all dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Donovan performing & signing autographs at J&R in NYC before Syracuse Jazz Festival"

Axl Rose @ Webster Hall in February (more by Ryan Muir)

Earlier today we posted Matt Sorum's letter regarding the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of Guns N'Roses, along with Axl's pre-induction open letter. Today he tweeted a new letter. Check it out below...

Continue reading "Axl Rose writes another lettter (to Cleveland, Ohio, Guns N' Roses Fans and everyone who's shown support for my decision regarding the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.)"

Matt Sorum gestures as Duff McKagan, back left, Steven Adler and Slash, back right, watch, after Guns N' Roses was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Saturday, April 14, 2012, in Cleveland.

Guns n' Roses were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame over the weekend, but as was reported far and wide, not all the original members, most notably Axl, chose to show up. Matt Sorum was there representing though, and now he just wants to clarify a few things. Red his entire statement below...

Continue reading ""Official Statement from MATT SORUM About Guns N' Roses and the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame Induction""

The Cure at Coachella 2009 (more by Darren Kim)

Back in May, The Cure performed their "Reflections" show at Vivid Live in Sydney, Australia. The show included a performance of their first 3 albums (Three Imaginary Boys, Seventeen Seconds, and Faith) in their entirety. The Cure are now planning to bring their "Reflections" show to other cities including, New York, London, and Los Angeles. Each album will be performed by different lineups of the band, as they were done at Vivid Live. Those lineups are listed at The Cure's website. NYC will get their shows at Beacon Theatre on November 25, 26, and 27. Tickets are not on sale yet but check ticketmaster for updates.

The Cure were also nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2012 induction. Other nominees include Eric B. & Rakim, The Small Faces/The Faces, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Guns 'N Roses, Donovan, War, Laura Nyro. The induction ceremony will be held at the Rock Roll Hall of Fame on April 14, 2012.

All dates, some videos of The Cure at Vivid Live, and a full list of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees below...

Continue reading "The Cure playing full albums in NYC, LA & London, nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame "

"the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced the Alice Cooper Band, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love and Tom Waits as its 2011 performer inductees. Also being inducted this year as individual recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award are Jac Holzman and Art Rupe. The Award for Musical Excellence (previously the Sidemen category) will be presented to Leon Russell. The 26th annual ceremony will take place on Monday, March 14, 2011, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and be broadcast on Fuse, Madison Square Garden's national music television network."

"The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC will conclude its stay in New York on January 3 at 8PM. The Rock Annex is exploring opportunities for a tour that would bring exclusive artifacts to music fans and rock enthusiasts around the world. Fans have just one more month to experience the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, showcasing rare artifacts from legendary artists including Springsteen, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and its featured exhibit, JOHN LENNON: THE NEW YORK CITY YEARS"

Not too surprising. Adult tickets are $25.60 each. Videos from inside the museum, below...

Continue reading "NYC's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex closing in January"

Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello @ MSG (BMoreSweet)

U2 closed the second night of the MSG Rock & Roll Hall of Fame shows on October 30th. At the first (10/29), it was Bruce Springsteen & Billy Joel (before one big group sing on Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher")...

After "Badlands" much of the drained audience began leaving and then rushed back to their seats when Billy Joel sat down at the piano and launched into "You May Be Right," "Only The Good Die Young" and "New York State Of Mind." (The pair were uniting the kindred spirits of New Jersey and Long Island, Springsteen explained.) "Higher and Higher" wrapped up the night. The official set list had the show ending at 11:36:55 (yes, they thought they had it down to the exact second), but the final notes rang out at 1:31 a.m. Six straight hours of music, and that was just the first of two nights. [Rolling Stone]

HBO will be airing four hours of highlights on Thanksgiving weekend.
(November 29th at 8PM ET).

Bruce's current tour wraps up November 22nd in Buffalo. He was at Giants Stadium earlier this fall, playing the last concerts ever there. U2 also played the venue for two nights in September, and will be back in Jersey in 2010 as part of their just-announced tour.

Set lists for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shows are below...

Continue reading "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame hosted 2 very long shows @ MSG (setlists), will air on HBO Thanksgiving weekend"

Nine acts -- including Sting, Van Morrison and Little Richard -- have been added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th-anniversary concerts taking place at Madison Square Garden, Oct. 29 and 30.

Sting, Little Richard, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Smokey Robinson and Bonnie Raitt will join previously announced artists Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel and Crosby, Stills and Nash, on Oct. 29.

Morrison, Jeff Beck and Jerry Lee Lewis have been added to the Oct. 30 lineup, joining U2, Aretha Franklin, Metallica and Eric Clapton.

More artists are expected to be added in the coming weeks. Tickets are $79.50-$2,504.50. [NJ.com] (thx Michael)

Van Morrison also has a show coming up at the Theater at MSG.

Bruce Springsteen @ Izod Center in May (more by Tim Griffin)

Reports on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary show have been confirmed. The two-night event will be happening at Madison Square Garden on October 29th & 30th. The lineup for those shows will include...

October 29:
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
Simon & Garfunkel
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends
Paul Simon
Stevie Wonder

October 30:
Eric Clapton
Aretha Franklin
Metallica
U2

"American Express cardmembers have access to advance tickets Monday, July 27 at 9AM to Sunday, August 2 at 9PM, before they go on sale to the general public on Monday, August 3 at 9AM. For once-in-a-lifetime VIP Benefit Packages priced from $25,000 to $100,000, email rockhall@eventassociatesinc.com. For other Special VIP Benefit Packages priced from $750 to $5,000, go to ticketmaster.com." The cheapest ticket price is $79.50.

More info on the show's various sets and collaborations from Rolling Stone, who is helping to produce it, below...

Continue reading "Hall of fame shows @ MSG confirmed - tickets, lineup (U2, Bruce, Metallica, Simon, Garfunkel, Clapton, Stevie, Aretha) "

UPDATE: These shows are confirmed

Bruce Springsteen @ Izod Center (more by Tim Griffin)

Reports are circling around the web about a 25th Anniversary Event of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame slated to take place at Madison Square Garden on Oct 29-30. Although so far unconfirmed by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame site showbiz411.com reports...

Tentatively scheduled for the Thursday show are Bruce Springsteen, Simon & Garfunkel, Paul Simon as a solo act, Stevie Wonder, and the whole posse that includes Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and friends.

Then on Friday: Aretha Franklin headlines, with U2, Metallica, and Eric Clapton. Those are the names I've heard so far, but we won't be surprised if Paul McCartney, Sting, the Rolling Stones and a few other big names like Bob Dylan.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is the most famous rock and roll institution in the world. In 2009, the Hall of Fame celebrates its twenty-fifth year with numerous events in Cleveland and a two-day anniversary concert on October 29 and 30 at Madison Square Garden that will be filmed. A four-hour edited version will appear on HBO in mid-November. While we are not a liberty yet to give out the names of the artists confirmed, you can be assured that the top names in music will appear. Artists that have been approached include Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, U2, The Eagles, Prince, Stevie Wonder, and other artists of this calibre. The event is being produced with Tom Hanks' company Playtone; Tom and award-winning writer and director Cameron Crowe will be involved in the creative. The Hall of Fame is just beginning to reach out to sponsors. The publication of this book is timed to release with the HBO television special and the induction of the 2009 nominees.

Paul McCartney is playing Citi Field tonight (7/21) (assuming it is rain or shine), one of three shows at the venue from the legend (pics from night one here).

Metallica are also playing Madison Square Garden, just a couple weeks after the supposed Hall of Fame show. Those sold-out shows, slated for 11/14 and 11/15, will feature support from Lamb of God (who are headlining a show at Wellmont Theater with Gwar).

Metallica were inducted into the Hall of Fame in April. Videos below...

Continue reading "Rock n Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concerts @ MSG?"

"Joey Ramone (May 19, 1951 - April 15, 2001), born as Jeffrey Ross Hyman, was a vocalist and songwriter best known for his work in the punk rock group the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon." [Wikipedia]

The event will also be the unveiling of new tracks from the forthcoming posthumous Joey Ramone solo record. In other Joey Ramone news, the singer's induction award to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was re-presented to his estate at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC, and accepted by Mickey Leigh and Tommy Ramone, on Thursday, May 14th, after mistakenly being left off the program in the original 2002 ceremony.

Coming up, Tommy Ramone and Handsome Dick Manitoba, who will be at the birthday bash, are speaking with Lenny Kaye (of the Patti Smith Group and more) and Chris Stein (of Blondie) at "LOUD FAST JEWS! A Summit with Four Jewish Fathers of Punk" on Thursday, June 11th at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (15 West 16th St). Tickets to that event are on sale. More info below.

Catch Chris Stein this summer with Blondie, as the band tours alone and with Pat Benatar and The Donnas. All three will play the tour's NYC stop, a free show on August 13th at Coney Island's Asher Levy Park.

Also coming to NYC is Gods and Monsters' 20th anniversary show, scheduled for NYC's Gramercy Theatre on June 11th. The band, helmed by guitarist Gary Lucas, will be joined by guests that include Lenny Kaye. Tickets are still on sale.

Uncle Monk, Tommy Ramone's indie-bluegrass band, has scattered shows in NYC and elsewhere coming up. The band plays June 10th at Banjo Jim's and June 21st at Local 269. More dates below.

Joey Ramone's B-Day bash poster, Loud Fast Jew info, and a video of the Ramones' initial induction ceremony, also below...

Continue reading "Joey Ramone would be 58 today, party in NYC tonight ++ other Ramones / Blondie / Manitoba / Kaye appearances "

interview by Chris Bilton, intro by Andrew Frisicano

Bassist Mike Watt has been in New York since Sunday, at work recording his fourth solo album, hyphenated-man, at a studio in Williamsburg. Watt is accompanied on that record, and on his current, nearly two-month tour, by the Missingmen -- drummer Raul Morales and guitarist Tom Watson.

NYC-area audiences finally get a chance to hear what Watt and the band have been up to when they play tonight, May 7th at Maxwell's in Hoboken. That's the first of two NYC-area shows; the second comes Friday, when Mike Watt and the Missingmen play the Mercury Lounge (openers include Lite, Kahoots and John DeVries of Agitpop). Tickets are still on sale.

The Missingmen project is just one of Watt's many efforts as a bandleader (to say nothing of his sideman gigs for the Stooges, J. Mascis and others). Another of those Watt fronted bands, the Black Gang (a project with Wilco guitarist Nels Cline), also recently cut a record. Release dates for both are TBA, but there's no lack of activity on the horizon. Cline and Watt are slated to open an August 1st show at the Central Park Summerstage, with M. Ward headlining.

EYE WEEKLY writer Chris Bilton spoke with Watt in mid-2008, where they discussed the bass player's storied history and busy future. That interview has remained on his hard drive until now...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Mike Watt (who is in town now) "

January 14, 2009-New York - The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today announced its inductees for 2009. The induction ceremony on April 4, 2009 will take place in Cleveland for the first time since 1997, and will be broadcast live on Fuse TV in a new three-year broadcast deal between the Foundation and Fuse. The ceremony will be supported by a weeklong series of events. In addition, for the first time in its 24- year history, tickets to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be accessible to the public.

"This year's class of inductees truly represents what the Hall of Fame is all about. From classic artists that began their careers in the 50's and 60's to those that have defined the modern sound of rock and roll," said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President & CEO Joel Peresman. "These artists demonstrate the rich diversity of rock and roll itself. We are proud to honor these artists and celebrate their contribution to rock and roll's place in our culture."

Continue reading "Metallica, Run-D.M.C., others inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"

"But just as CBGB is getting its due [at the new Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Annex in NYC] alongside John Lennon's piano and Jimi Hendrix's guitar, its ownership and legacy are being challenged by a lawsuit that has riven the family of its proprietor, Hilly Kristal, who died last year. Like the battle over the Brooke Astor estate -- minus $100 million or so, but still worth plenty, thanks to the popularity of CBGB T-shirts -- the case is filled with accusations of fraud and deception, and it adds a bitter coda to the story of a beloved New York institution.

In the suit, filed last year in Surrogate's Court in Manhattan but amended in a hearing last week, Mr. Kristal's 83-year-old former wife, Karen [pictured (Robert Stolarik for The New York Times)], says she is the rightful owner of the business, and that Mr. Kristal and their daughter, Lisa Kristal Burgman, 53 -- who inherited the bulk of her father's estate of more than $3 million -- systematically deceived her by hiding money from the sale of merchandise." [NY Times]

The Clash will be the first band in the spotlight at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in SoHo, which has moved up its grand opening date to November 24, according to the museum's new website.

The annex will house a hall of fame gallery, a theater, and roots and influences gallery and a New York Rocks gallery, featuring memorabilia from the likes of John Lennon and Billy Joel and an interactive map with locations such as CBGB and the Chelsea Hotel.

The special exhibit on The Clash will open December 1 and run through Spring.

Tickets, priced at $28.18 (plus $3 service fee for online and phone orders,) are pegged to a specific entry time. [NewYorkology]

Iggy Pop & the Stooges @ Virgin Fest (more by Bao Nguyen)

The nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum were announced today. The nine nominees are: Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Metallica, Run-D.M.C., the Stooges, War, and Bobby Womack. Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will select artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 24th Annual Induction Ceremony on April 4 at historic Public Hall in Cleveland. For the first time, tickets to the ceremony will be made available to the public.
To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year's nominees had to release their first single no later than 1983.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will pay tribute to the "father of the electric guitar" this fall.

Les Paul will be honored at the annual American Music Masters series, a weeklong event that begins Nov. 10, Rock Hall officials said Tuesday. A tribute concert -- artists will be named later -- is scheduled Nov. 15 at Cleveland's State Theater.

Paul, 93, is hoping to attend, said Rock Hall President and CEO Terry Stewart. [AP]

New York City is hoping an annex of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opening this year will boost tourism, as well as commemorate the artists and music venues that formed the city's rock history.

The annex to Cleveland-based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is due to open in the art-and-fashion district of SoHo in November, and will feature such memorabilia as Bruce Springsteen's first car, a 1957 Chevy Convertible.

It will also house an original phone booth from the downtown music club CBGB where Patti Smith and Ramones played, and have interactive maps highlighting venues like Studio 54 and The Hotel Chelsea.[Reuters]

Leonard Cohen, RnR Hall of Fame induction - Mar 10, 2008 (Ryan Muir)

Madonna spoke of being possessed by magic as she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday along with Leonard Cohen, rocker John Mellencamp, pop band The Dave Clark Five and instrumental group The Ventures.

"I felt like I had been possessed by some magic and luckily for me I have been miraculously and continuously possessed by some kind of magic," Madonna said at the annual Hall of Fame ceremony in New York.

"I have gone on to do so many things in my life, from writing children's books, to designing clothes, to directing a film. But for me it always does, and it always will, come back to the music, so thank you," she said.

Madonna, 49, was inducted by pop star Justin Timberlake, who has co-written and co-produced half the songs on her new album "Hard Candy," which is released next month. "Nobody has gotten into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame looking this damn fine," he said. "You're no old museum piece." [Reuters]

If you're a man, you can't get in to the show in the Knitting Factory Tap Bar tonight.

BV @ SXSW starting tomorrow: WED DAY, WED NIGHT, THU DAY - all at venues very close to each other.

What else?

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today announces the artists who will induct this year's honorees at a ceremony on March 10, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City:

Leonard Cohen will be inducted by Lou Reed

The Dave Clark Five (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson, Rick Huxley, Denis Payton and Mike Smith) will be inducted by Tom Hanks

Madonna will be inducted by Justin Timberlake

John Mellencamp will be inducted by Billy Joel

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be inducted by Jerry Butler

The Ventures (Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee, Mel Taylor, Don Wilson) will be inducted by John Fogerty

Little Walter will be inducted by Ben Harper

"The ever-evolving Madonna was announced as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee on Thursday along with John Mellencamp, The Ventures, Leonard Cohen and The Dave Clark Five." [AP]