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January 6, 2010
Rolling Stones Deny Rumors of Tour This Year
Rolling Stones fans are likely to be a bit disappointed to hear word from the group’s publicist that the venerable rockers do not have plans for a tour during 2010. Public relations firm Rogers & Cowan have released a statement that reads:
“Following recent UK media speculation, The Rolling Stones would like to make it clear, there are no plans at the moment for the band to tour in 2010.”
Now I suppose we could spend some time dissecting this statement, and making note of the fact that it contains the words “at the moment.” We could speculate about whether this means they don’t have plans, but could be planning to make plans, but it’s probably best just to wait and see what happens. It’s not like we’re suffering through a drought where rock star rumors are concerned.
There are a few good reasons to harbor some doubt about the tour rumors, after all. First, one must consider the source. The rumors of a 2010 Stones tour were reportedly started by guitarist Ron Wood’s former squeeze, Ekaterina Ivanova. Ivanova was said to have leaked the news to friends after hearing it from directly from Wood.
Considering what state of mind Wood could have been in at the time, it’s plausible to consider the possibility that it was just nonsense. Wood’s problems with drugs and alcohol are well documented, and according to Ivanova, Wood’s drinking and drug use continued throughout their stormy relationship.
On the other hand, we also might wonder about Ivanova’s motives. Having just recently signed on as one of the “housemates” on Britain’s Celebrity Big Brother TV program. She’s already generating the attention she seems to have grown accustomed to – and perhaps enjoys a great deal – by employing a unique and unexpected tactic that seems to have made her the center of attention on the program for the moment.
The weapon of choice? Flatulence. Yes, you read that right. After a fellow contestant lamented his inability to indulge himself quietly due to the fear of embarrassment, Ivanova is reported to have given her fellow contestant a quick lesson, but obviously omitted the finer points of the silent delivery.
It’s not hard to imagine that someone willing to go to such lengths in order to garner attention on television is someone who relishes it. Could the rumor of the Stones tour be another one of Ivanova’s attention-getting schemes? She was quite successful setting the fans talking, the printing presses humming and the electrons flitting about the internet when the rumors surfaced.
If the stories about Ron Wood’s continued and frequent alcohol and drug abuse problems are true, it would introduce doubt about his eligibility to join up with the rest of the group for a world tour. It certainly would not be the first time that a performer was on tour and off the wagon at the same time, but it also raises questions about the tolerance the other band members have for such behavior while touring.
We’re just barely into the new year, so there’s plenty of time left for tour announcements, if they are forthcoming. Even if the Stones do not tour this year, it could leave Ron Wood available to reunite with The Faces. How they would deal with Wood’s alleged lack of sobriety is uncertain.
For a formerly unknown barroom waitress, Ekaterina Ivanova comes out of this deal smelling like a rose. Well, perhaps that’s a bad metaphor for the times, but there’s no denying that she has played her hand (and other regions of her anatomy) well if she set out to make a name for herself for herself as a “celebrity.” The folks at Celebrity Big Brother surely seem to be buying into it.
January 1, 2010
Classic Rock Preview For 2010
I see a lot of stories around this time of year about what was. TV programs featuring the notable events of the previous 12 months are never in short supply after Christmas. Ditto for other media, such as newspapers and radio. It’s also pretty good fodder for bloggers, who have weighed in with their versions of what was important during 2009.
Instead of looking back, I’m going to look forward. Granted, looking back has its benefits, especially when we think about those things we wish we had not done. In those cases, we all hope we have learned from our mistakes.
The new year looks like it will be an interesting one for classic rock fans. A number of our old favorites will be going on tour or releasing a new album. There’s clearly a lot of demand out there for the music of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, and fortunately, many of the big names from those decades are still going strong.
Yes resumes their tour next month on the 4th at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. Still no Jon Anderson, but as long as he stays healthy, there may be a chance we’ll see him fronting the group again some day.
Although it has not been confirmed, the Rolling Stones are said to be preparing for a world tour sometime this year. We can thank Ron Wood’s ex-girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova for leaking that little gem to her friends.
In April, Bad Company will reunite for a brief tour of the U.K. What’s a little unique about this reunion is that it will be made up of the original members. So many of the classic acts seem to have undergone significant line-up changes over the years, so it’s really kind of nice to see the real deal on stage for this one.
In May, Scorpions hit the road for a world tour of their own. They are also working on a new album, but have not revealed a release date that I am aware of.
The Faces appear set to reunite for a tour sometime this year, although it remains to be seen how many of the original members will be there. Other members of the group seem to have lost their patience waiting for a decision from Rod Stewart about the tour, and have decided to forge ahead without him. Stewart reportedly decided he would rather work on other projects. With Ron Wood presumably set to tour with the Stones, it’s not clear what his status is regarding the reunion.
That enduring trio from the Great White North may soon be dusting themselves off and getting back to work on a new album and tour. No confirmation on any plans yet, but Rush is rumored to be kicking around the idea of linking up and figuring out what kind of project they want to do.
Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart are working on a new album that is planned for release this summer. Word is that we’ll be hearing a lot more from Nancy on vocals for this new release.
No dates have been lined up yet, but Randy Bachman and Fred Turner are planning what will probably be the closest thing to a BTO tour we will ever see, although they will probably not be billing themselves as Bachman-Turner Overdrive for legal reasons. Seems Randy’s brother and former BTO drummer Rob, and former BTO guitarist Blair Thornton, have teamed up in an effort to ensure that the name is not used. They claim that Randy Bachman gave up any rights to it when he went solo in 1977. I guess that’s what you call “Takin’ Care of Business.”
With the future of Aerosmith hanging in the balance, it’s hard to predict which direction they will be headed in this year. The continuation of Aerosmith in its current form seems to be in the hands of frontman Steven Tyler, who has reportedly checked himself into rehab recently.
As time carries us further into the new year, we’re very likely to hear from more classic acts who have plans for new material, a tour, or perhaps both. As long as the fans are out there in sufficient numbers, a lot of these enduring groups seem quite happy to forge ahead and continue making music as long as the aging process will permit.
December 8, 2009
Future Yes Plans Make No Mention of Jon Anderson
Could it be that Jon Anderson and Yes have parted company for good? When the band made the fateful decision to embark on their 40th anniversary tour with a stand-in while Anderson was recuperating from a respiratory ailment, it may have been the beginning of the end for the group called Yes that was fronted by a fellow named Jon Anderson.
Initially, Anderson was initially quite upset about the group’s plans to soldier on without him, and made no secret of it, posting his thoughts on his personal website. The rest of the group reacted in a way that seemed to suggest that the presence of Benoit David – The “understudy” who was chosen to take Anderson’s place – was only temporary, and that Anderson would be welcomed back to the group when his health would allow it.
Since that time things seemed to have evolved. Although there have been no public statements from Anderson regarding his official status as a member of Yes, a recent announcement from another member of the group suggests that they may have split with Anderson for good.
Chris Squire, the only continuous member of the group since its founding, has recently announced that the group plans to tour next year in its current form; in other words without Jon Anderson. There is also talk of a new album. In addition to what Squire told Plant Rock Radio back in October regarding their plans for a tour and album, he also revealed that both Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman are now official members of the band. “This is now Yes,” Squire was reported to have said.
With regard to the status of Jon Anderson, Squire indicated that the group – in its current form – has his blessing and that they are still friends. Anderson is reportedly not well enough to endure a full tour schedule with Yes and has decided to continue his solo efforts. Squire adds that he hopes he will have the chance to work with Anderson again some day.
The 2010 tour begins in February on the 4th at the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, NH. The tour then works its way west and winds up the month with a show in the 28th at the Sunset Cove Amphitheater in Boca Raton, FL. Not a bad place to be in February.
A quick look at the Yes discography shows that Jon Anderson played a major role in creating a very significant quantity of the group’s material, including some of their best-known hits like “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Roundabout,” and “Owner of A Lonely Heart.” This, it would seem, gives Anderson a financial stake in whatever activities the other members are engaged in as long as they continue to use material that Anderson wrote or shares credit on. Not being a lawyer or music company executive, this is just speculation on my part, but it seems like a reasonable conclusion.
Whether Anderson and the rest of the group ever reunite – even for a single gig – remains unclear. Things often change quite unexpectedly in the music industry, so I think we can safely assume that almost anything is possible.
November 30, 2009
News of Rolling Stones World Tour Leaked
Reports from the U.K. indicate that the Rolling Stones have plans to embark on a world tour sometime next year. Perhaps it is not surprising to learn that the source of the leaked information was Ron Wood’s 20-year-old girlfriend, Ekaterina Ivanova.
The U.K. tabloids have kept the couple in their crosshairs since the Rolling Stones guitarist left his wife of two decades to shack up with the Russian beauty during the summer of 2008. The couple has reportedly endured a somewhat rocky relationship, with reports of knock-down-drag-out domestic disputes, and disagreements on the subject of children.
Although Ivanova is said to be keen on the idea of becoming a mom, Wood is reportedly dead set against the notion, and at the age of 62, it’s hard to blame the guy.
Now it seems that Ivanova has landed herself in hot water with Ron again, and it’s quite likely that the rest of the Stones are not too thrilled with her either. Although she was instructed not to tell anyone about the plans for the 2010 world tour, she seemed unable to prevent herself from sharing the news with a few friends. From there, the news made its way to the pages of The Sun.
With recent word that Rod Stewart has decided to sit out an upcoming 2010 Faces tour, the Stones alleged plans for a tour next year make one wonder if the Faces might be minus yet another member as they work out the details of their road trip.
With the Stones last tour, A Bigger Bang, netting them nearly $500 million between 2005 and 2007, another tour may be well worth Wood’s time, in light of the hefty divorce settlement that resulted from his split with ex-wife Jo. The settlement is one that is likely to make a significant dent in his savings account.
Whether his new squeeze will be an integral and influential force on tour as his former wife Jo was is doubtful, given the history of their relationship thus far.
Although no specific dates or venues are yet known, perhaps that information will be revealed soon, since the secret is now out regarding the tour. Stones fans the world over are probably anxious to hear if the legendary rockers will be featured at a venue in their vicinity.
November 20, 2009
Scorpions Announce Plans For 2010 World Tour
The latest classic rock group to announce tour plans for next year are Germany’s hard-rocking Scorpions. As the most successful rock band from Germany, the Scorpions are recognized around the world and can draw fans to arena-sized venues in from South America to Russia.
Even after working through a two-year world tour in support of their most recent album, Humanity: Hour 1, they have announced plans to hit the road again next year for a tour that is planned to last two years and bring the hard-working group to stadiums and other large venues.
With the tour scheduled to kick off in their home country next May, the group are currently working in the studio on a new album that is set for release next year. Also announced was word of a “sensational statement” that is expected from the group in January, which the group has not elaborated on.
Although no date has yet been announced for release of the new album, it makes sense to expect it to be available before the 2010 tour, which would give the Scorpions new material to showcase for their fans around the world. A new DVD, Amazonia - Live In The Jungle, which features footage from two of their shows in Brazil during the “Humanity World Tour” is available beginning today. The new DVD seeks to draw attention to the efforts of Greenpeace and their work to stop the destruction of Amazonian rain forests. Part of the proceeds from the DVD will be donated to Greenpeace.
After the start of the tour in Germany, plans are in place to bring the group to the United States, South America, Asia, Russia and other locations in Europe.
Fans will also be interested to learn that guitarist Rudolf Schenker has written a book called Rock Your Life. Although it is currently available only in a German-language version, there are other versions planned for release, including an English version. As the interview below shows, the book is less about rock and roll and more about self-improvement and fulfillment of one’s desire to be truly happy.
More information is available on the Scorpions official website.
