twitstamp.com

follow Tommie on twitter

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

A few rock notes for the day...

Pete Townshend has changed his mind about a new project for The Who this year. In the band's fan club newsletter, he says, "I've E-mailed everyone (in the band) to tell them I've changed my mind. I'm not mad. I'm not selfish. I really have to be strong enough to admit that today. I really do not have a clue what to do next." He had agreed to head into the studio in September, and one of the thoughts bantered about was an album of R-and-B covers with producer T-Bone Burnett. There was also talk of doing a few shows.

A handwritten copy of John Lennon's lyrics to "Give Peace a Chance" will be auctioned July 10th in London. The paper, given to Gail Renard -- a Montreal teenager who snuck past security at the city's Queen Elizabeth Hotel during John and Yoko's Bed-in for Peace in 1969 -- is part of a collection that also includes photos taken with her and the couple. None of the pictures taken by Renard, who remained friendly with John and Yoko after the historic occasion, have previously been displayed. Helen Hall of Christie's auction house in England tells the Associated Press, "It's important not just as one of Lennon's most famous peace anthems, it's also the fact that it was written at such a historical event."

Jimi Hendrix is the subject of an X-rated D-V-D, Jimi Hendrix, the Sex Tape, that will be released by Vivid Entertainment on May 6th. Vivid obtained the footage, which shows Hendrix in a threesome in a hotel room, from a memorabilia collector. According to a press release, "Hendrix appears mellow while on the receiving end of bi-racial lovemaking from the two girls. In contrast, his enthusiasm to give back pleasure appears to be boundless." Vivid consulted with several experts to authenticate the footage, including super groupie Pamela Des Barres and Cynthia Plaster Caster, famous for creating plaster molds of the penises of rock stars, including that of Hendrix. Both women provide commentary on the D-V-D. Cynthia says, "That's Jimi Hendrix's [penis], and I should know." Des Barres adds, "Hendrix liked to be filmed having sex. He's the ultimate adult-film movie star. I understand why everyone wanted to sleep with the guy. He played like an all-encompassing rock orgasm. He reeked of sex. You wanted to strip to keep up with him when he played 'Foxy Lady.'" You can buy the video online at HendrixSexTape-dot-com. A spokesman for Hendrix had no comment.

Two of Elton John's early albums are getting the deluxe treatment -- 1970's Elton John and 1971's Tumbleweed Connection. Both have been remastered and will be re-issued as two-C-D sets...the original album, plus a bonus C-D of previously unreleased tracks including demos and live BBC sessions. And each booklet contains extensive new sleeve notes, period photos and lyrics. The bonus disc for Elton John contains 20 songs, 15 of which are previously unreleased. Three of the songs -- "Thank You Mama," "All the Way Down to El Paso" and "I'm Going Home" are demos from the sessions that did not make the original album and have never been released. The bonus disc for Tumbleweed Connection has 13 tracks, 10 of which have never been released. There is also an alternative version of "Madman Across the Water" featuring Mick Ronson of The Spiders From Mars on guitar. Both albums are scheduled to be released on June 3rd.