AOR, A To Z, is Underway!

From New Year's Eve at 10am, until...um...we run out of songs...we're airing out the entire WAOR Music Library, in order.

Happy New Year from all of us at AOR, and thanks for 2008!

Tuesday Rock Roundup

It looks like Guns n' Roses might follow up the release of Chinese Democracy with a tour. Guitarist Richard Fortus says that GNR are scheduled to hit the road in late March for a two-year world tour.

Staying home? Then tune into FOX's New Year's Eve Live for Lynyrd Skynyrd and NBC's New Year's Eve With Carson Daly for Elton John live from London.

Randy Bachman's plans for the New Year include two of his former musical partners. The Guess Who and BTO co-founder says Burton Cummings and Fred Turner will be among the guest stars on his new CD of original songs next fall. Bachman has also cut tracks with fellow Canadians Neil Young and Jeff Healey (with whom he recorded not long before Healey's death last winter) for the still-untitled album.

Bonnie Raitt has added more shows to her late winter tour. It now starts February 27th right here in South Bend at The Morris and runs through March 15th in Clearwater, Florida.

The Kennedy Center Honors, including The Who's Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend among the honorees, will air on CBS tonight at 9:00.

NEW RELEASES:

Rumours-Classic Albums DVD - Fleetwood Mac. This is a great series, very interesting documentaries, and this should be an excellent one.
Nip/Tuck - Season 5, Part 1 DVD
Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season DVD
The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season 1 DVD
Hellbound: Hellraiser II - 20th Anniversary Edition DVD
Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget: Uncensored DVD

JibJab's Year In Review

Heatherless Headlines

Man tries to deter drunk driving with paintballs

Police say alleged drug dealer accepted gift cards

Ore. woman, 88, gives naked intruder the 'squeeze'

Car wash worker chases off robber, ends up in jail

Injured burglary suspect returns to Tenn. store

Man carrying over $70 chooses jail over $1.57 soda

Man found holed up in attic

Woman sweeping neighbor's porch charged with trespassing

Coming up on Vinyl Monday: George Thorogood

Monday, it's George & his Destroyers with Side 2 of 1982's Bad To The Bone:

Bad To The Bone

Miss Luann

As The Years Go Passing By

No Particular Place To Go

Wanted Man

A Jimi Hendrix Christmas...on the next Vinyl Monday

In Christmas of 1969, while rehearsing for the Band Of Gypsys performance at New York's Fillmore East, Jimi put together three holiday favorites straight to two-track recorder. He paired it with his version of Three Little Bears (recorded in May of '68), and put it out as a goof. This is an exceptional snapshot of Jimi Hendrix just having fun with some friends. This is not a typical polished and produced Hendrix recording, just an intimate portrait of a true artist letting it all hang out on raw tape.

As is our tradition, Vinyl Monday presents both sides of the rare single Band Of Gypsys - "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year"

Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne

Three Little Bears

Disturbing Early Programming DVD

Don't get me wrong: I love the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. But I spotted this while finishing up my Christmas Shopping yesterday after work. And it just seems wrong: If you can't read it, it says: "Celebrate your love for Notre Dame with your child in this engaging, fun-filled, interactive introduction to the University of Notre Dame!"

This seems like a somewhat disturbing piece of mind-programming to me...a commercial for your favorite school posing as a playtime/educational film.

School Closings & Delays from WNDU.COM

Click the bus. The bus knows all.

Sock And Awe

Hit Bush with a shoe online: http://play.sockandawe.com/

We interviewed the guy who found Saddam Hussein this morning

Eric Maddox, former Army Staff SGT who still works as an interrogator for the military, called us this morning to discuss his book. He was the person who organized the trail of informants that led to Saddam on December 13th, 2003. In honor of that anniversary, his story is being published this month to tell the true story of what we didn't see on the news, and how the former Iraqi Dictator was collared on a small farm outside of Tikrit.

Hear our conversation with Mr. Maddox on the usPod - - - >

WAOR Wednesday Weather Kid from Meijer: Shelby

Shelby and her Dad braved the roads to come in and let her cover the weather for us today on WAOR. She's a 7th Grader in Niles, and she did a great job. Hear it on the usPod, and all day today on WAOR!

Travelling for the holidays?

You'll want to check road & airline information, especially with all those recent cancellations at O'Hare.

Airline information
TSA: Registered Traveler program
Airline data and statistics
Airline on-time statistics
TSA airline restriction changes
New passport requirements for travelers

Check Travel Conditions
Indiana - or call (800) 261-7623
Indiana Toll Road - call (574) 651-6252
Michigan - or call (800) 381-8477
Illinois
Ohio
South Bend Regional Airport
City of Chicago Airport System
South Shore/NICTD
Amtrak
Flight Delay Information — Air Traffic Control System Command Center

(courtesy of WSBT)

SPAMALOT gift

A gift from the Broadway Theatre League.

The cow drops here starting January 6th, and I can't wait...

Price Grabber Dot Com Interview on the usPod

BIG thanks to Ron LaPierre from PriceGrabber.com for joining us this morning...very interesting website, we've used it and it makes the process of comparison shopping nice and painless.

Hear it on the usPod - - - >

Jumpin' Juice & Java

They sent us breakfast this morning, in honor of Craig's Birthday.

Breakfast Pinwheels with Egg, Cheese, & Bacon...Heath Bar Cheesecake...and Smoothies (Pink Passion & Maui Breeze).
Thanks, gang!
Check out their website...great stuff!

Where Fire Meets Desire: Brilliant BK Marketing Website

Click for one of the funniest and most disturbing ads ever...

Keep clicking the bottle after it loads to change the scene. And...wow...

Tommie's Science Corner

Sun Induces Strange 'Breathing' of Earth's Atmosphere

St. Joe Tax Website

We've had a few calls asking about the website, so here it is: http://www.stjosephtax.net/

Tuesday Rock Roundup

Chickenfoot...the working title of the supergroup of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, drummer Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and guitarist Joe Satriani...is making progress on its debut album. On his website, Anthony writes, "Chad and I just got back from recording in the San Francisco area, and I am pleased to say that the basic tracks are finished and smokin'! Right now, Joe is sprinkling some guitar magic on everything, and this week Sam will be doing vocals. Then I'll be back up there to slather some background vocals on everything." The album will be out during the first half of next year followed by a summer tour. Both have the potential to be very, very dangerous...

Meanwhile, Sammy Hagar is down to two Cabo Wabo Cantinas after removing his name from the one in Fresno, California last week, just a month after he did a free show there to celebrate its grand opening. Hagar says, "This is a really unfortunate situation... I have always stood for providing an exceptional experience for my fans and associating myself with like-minded business partners. If the owners of the current license in Fresno intend to keep the location open, it will not be under the Cabo Wabo brand."

On Friday, Bono was presented with the Man of Peace prize in Paris for his work to alleviate African debt, poverty and disease. In the presence of a number of Nobel peace laureates, Bono said, "This is a very big award for me, because let's be honest this is as close as I am going to get, as close as a rock star is ever going to get, to the Nobel Peace Prize. I am an over-awarded, over-rewarded rock star. You are the people who do the real work. So I am very, very pleased to be in such esteemed company."

The British town where Mick Jagger grew up will name the streets in a new subdivision after Rolling Stones songs. Dartford, England will honor its "famous son" with 13 streets in the Bridge neighborhood which will bear such names as "Satisfaction Street," "Angie Mews," "Dandelion Row" and "Ruby Tuesday Drive." This won't be the first time Dartford is honoring Jagger and the Stones -- the town already is home to the Mick Jagger Music and Arts Center. British postal authorities have already okayed the names, but local police weren't as supportive. Dartford councilman Jeremy Kite took a more positive approach, telling the BBC, "I think there is more chance of people coming to have their photographs taken there... It is not just fun -- it puts the place on the map and links to our heritage."

The producers of the Osbournes' variety show, which will premiere next year on FOX, are looking for "real people with hilarious stories." They want people with "embarrassing and/or funny secrets; [a woman] in a relationship with a man who won't propose; and someone with a home filled with evidence of a unique taste or obsession." If you fit any of those bills, send your details to varietytv@gmail.com or call 800-403-2304 for consideration. A first episode of the show was taped earlier this month in Los Angeles. The family performed parody sketches of Apollo 13 and Pirates of the Caribbean, with Ozzy as "Jack Sparrow.". This sounds like it's going to hurt...a lot...

Reclusive Guns n' Roses frontman Axl Rose broke his lengthy silence Thursday night by popping up on two GN'R fan sites to answer questions for a couple of hours. He revealed that a video for the band's latest single "Better" should be released before Christmas to start some "monumental promotion" and that a revamped booklet for Chinese Democracy will be out at some point. Rose added that it was not his idea to send a letter to Doctor Pepper threatening a lawsuit. He wrote, "The actions taken so far had nothing to do with me and I was taken off guard as I had specifically told our team, 'Who cares?! Right now we have a record to deal with.' My feelings are after their public response. It was cute. Maybe the guy who got it rolling originally meant well, but it turned out sour and maybe it's just me, but he seems like maybe he wants a bit too much attention." Rose added the band hasn't yet decided if it's right time for a tour.

The legendary 1982 Van Halen concert rider that banned brown M&Ms from their dressing rooms has finally been found and posted on The Smoking Gun dot com. The rider also stipulated that promoters provide thegroup with "herring in sour cream," four cases of Schlitz Malt Liquor beer, eight bottles of wine and liquor and "one large tube K-Y Jelly." I can only assume it was used to slide Diamond Dave into those tights...

NEW RELEASES:

Picture Book by The Kinks CD Box Set
Complete Studio Recordings by Led Zeppelin CD Box Set
Playlist: The Very Best of Bob Dylan 1960's by Bob Dylan
Chinese Democracy (Deluxe Edition) by Guns N' Roses
- Includes the album in a standard Jewel Box with a 24 pages CD booklet packed in a bigger box. Also includes a T-Shirt with "GnR" printed on front and back, a patch, a bandana, a key ring, and a belt buckle. All for a paltry $107...
Mamma Mia! The Movie DVD
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Widescreen) DVD
The Mummy Trilogy DVD
Traitor ~ Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Neal McDonough, and Jeff Daniels DVD
Burn After Reading ~ George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and John Malkovich DVD
The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Boot Camp ~ Bob Harper DVD
The Biggest Loser: The Workout - Weight Loss Yoga ~ Bob Harper DVD
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea [Special Edition] DVD
Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Vol. 6 DVD
Generation Kill DVD
The House Bunny ~ Anna Faris DVD

Random thought on President Bush and the shoe-thrower

Don't you kind of wish the journalist who whipped his size nines at W had been Australian, and used a boomerang instead?

Ice Sculptures in Fernwood

Our old friend Danny Bloss, master ice carver and former NASCAR Reporter for the show, came in first over the weekend at a winter festival in Fernwood, MI, with this bluegill. Click the picture and scroll down to see the rest of the entries. Congrats, Danny!

Heatherless Headlines

Santa gets parking ticket while delivering toys

Fast-food worker laughs, tells robber to get a job

Man decked the halls with stolen Santas, cops say

Boy, 4, breaks into Texas store, plays with toys

Malaysia burglar stuck for 3 days in haunted house

Fla. woman drinking on roof asks man for more beer

Next time on Vinyl Monday: The Beatles, Let It Be, Side 2

Santa & Mrs. Claus (and Quinn the Elf) in the studio this morning...

Audio on the usPod - - - - - - >

Phriday Photo Phinish

Travel The Amazon For Rarely-Seen Seger:

The three albums Bob Seger released between 1982 and '91 -- The Distance, Like a Rock and The Fire Inside -- have been out of print...until now. Seger has re-mastered them and put them back in print exclusively for Amazon Music for Christmas. Among the songs on these albums are "Even Now," "Shame on the Moon" and "Roll Me Away" from The Distance; "American Storm" and the title track from Like a Rock; and the title track from The Fire Inside.

A few quick rock notes from Premiere this morning:

John Mellencamp's Homeward Bound special premieres on A-and-E's Bio channel tonight. The 90-minute program visits Mellencamp's hometown of Seymour, Indiana and features the people who inspired his music. It features commentary from Mellencamp, archival footage, personal photos and interviews with childhood friends, band members and other key people in his life. It also includes concert performances of several songs, including cuts from his latest album, Life, Death, Love and Freedom. You can preview the special at UK-dot-YouTube-dot-com. It airs tonight at 9:00 and 10:30 [ET] with repeat broadcasts on Friday at 1:00 a-m and 2:30 a-m [ET] and Sunday at 1:30 p-m [ET]. Biography: John Mellencamp will precede tonight's premiere at 8:00 [ET]. What's next for Mellencamp? He tells us he had planned to do more shows, but with the bad economy he doubts that will happen. He also says T-Bone Burnett, who produced Life, Death, Love and Freedom, wants to do another album, and Mellencamp still has the musical he's working on with author Stephen King. "I haven't had any time for the last three years. I don't know I just might stay home for a couple of years till my kids get out of high school or quit or whatever they do." --Sal Cirrincione

Rush have pushed back the release of their next Retrospective collection from January 27th to February 24th. Retrospective Three will be a C-D/D-V-D set with 27 songs from their Atlantic albums spread over two discs. Among the tracks are "One Little Victory," "Roll the Bones," "Ghost of a Chance" (live), "Show Don't Tell," "The Seeker" and "Driven." --Sal Cirrincione

In addition to Comin' Down the Road, a D-V-D of his show last June at London's Royal Albert Hall, John Fogerty will release a new album next year. The Return of the Blue Ridge Rangers is a sequel to his 1973 album The Blue Ridge Rangers, his first following the demise of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Fogerty says, "This seems like the right time for the Blue Ridge Rangers to come back. The last time around, it represented something of a clean slate for me and that country rock sound is still something I hold dear. We're really excited about revisiting the whole sensibility that Blue Ridge Rangers represent." Unlike the original Blue Ridge album, in which Fogerty played all the instruments, he'll be backed on this new one by a number of top players, including his touring drummer, Kenny Aronoff. It was produced by T-Bone Burnett and Lenny Waronker. It should be out in mid-2009. --Sal Cirrincione

Despite numerous published reports, Axl Rose has no plans to reunite the most successful Guns n' Roses line-up. Guns' co-manager Irving Azoff says, "There are no plans of a reunion, nor have there been any discussions of a reunion, with former Guns n' Roses band members. In the future, we hope that if media have any questions concerning G-n-R, they'd at least check their facts before running inaccurate stories for their own benefit." The most successful line-up of the band -- Slash, Gilby Clarke, Izzy Stradlin, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan -- began splintering in the mid-'90s with McKagan the last to leave in 1998. McKagan, along with Slash and Sorum, formed Velvet Revolver in 2002. --Sal Cirrincione

The long-rumored deluxe re-issue of Pearl Jam's Ten will finally be released on March 24th. The re-issue will come in four different versions, each of which will feature the original 1991 album remastered and a new remixed version by the band's frequent producer Brendan O'Brien. The Vinyl Collection version features both mixes of Ten on separate pieces of vinyl. The two-disc Legacy Edition adds previously unreleased takes on "Breath" and "State of Love and Trust" from the Singles soundtrack and four previously unreleased songs. The Deluxe Edition adds special packaging as well as a D-V-D of Pearl Jam's 1992 M-T-V Unplugged performance in surround sound. The Super Deluxe Edition combines the Vinyl Collection, the Deluxe Edition, a vinyl-only live disc called Drop in the Park recorded in Seattle in September 1992 and a cassette replica of the original "Momma-Son" demos. This cassette is a copy of the original three-song demo that Eddie Vedder was sent in 1990 and that he quickly wrote the lyrics for -- the songs became "Alive," "Once" and "Footsteps." Pearl Jam are expected to release a new studio album produced by Brendan O'Brien next year as well. --Steve Reynolds

Festivus For The Rest Of Us

(story by KOMO)

OLYMPIA, Wash. - State officials, besieged by requests for more seasonal displays at the state Capitol, have approved several more - including a "Festivus" display honoring a faux holiday popularized by TV comedian Jerry Seinfeld.

The new display requests come on top of an anti-religion placard, a Christmas tree and a Christian nativity scene erected earlier this week and a pro-religion sign added Friday.

The state General Administration, which runs the state Capitol building, have OK'd four of the requests so far:

• On Saturday, Dec. 6: A balloon nativity shelter from a private citizen.
• On Sunday, Dec. 7: A demonstration by a group called "Private Citizens of Federal Way" against the atheistic sign will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on the front steps.
• On Monday, Dec 8: A display will go up in the capitol from the Washington Values Alliance.
• On Wednesday, Dec 10: A Festivus display from a private citizen.

According to the online reference Wikipedia, Festivus is an annual holiday invented by writer Dan O'Keefe and introduced into popular culture by his son Daniel, a scriptwriter for the TV show Seinfeld.

Most people now celebrate the holiday on Dec. 23, as depicted on the December 18, 1997, Seinfeld episode "The Strike."

The holiday includes novel practices such as the "Airing of Grievances", in which each person tells everyone else all the ways they have disappointed him or her over the past year.

Meijer Wednesday Weather Kid

Bryan, a 4th Grader in South Bend, was today's Wednesday Weather Kid on WAOR and won a gift card to Meijer for his efforts.

Hear him on the air with us and his forecast on the usPod - - - >

Your kid could be the next Meijer Wednesday Weather Kid! Find out how at WAOR dot com!

Heatherless Headlines

(named for our News Director, Heather Richards, who is a real journalist and shouldn't have to read these dumbass stories. So we do, weekday mornings around 630)

Michigan cops help couple break the chains of love

Man sprays 'toilet-papering' teens with fox urine

Woman Crashes Into New Jail Hours After Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Owner cited after fat dog freezes to Wis. sidewalk

Chinese girl gets 'kiss of deaf'

Priest chases thief, recovers church money

Woman accused of trying to smoke pot near officer

Nagging wife, sausage help man win $4.2M lottery

Tuesday Rock Roundup

AC/DC has re-released their new Black Ice album in a steel box exclusively in Europe. In addition to the album, it also contains a 20-page booklet, a DVD on the making of the first single, "Rock n' Roll Train," five stickers, an AC/DC flag and guitar pick. It is limited to 25-thousand copies, but can be ordered in North America through Amazon dot com.

The NFL wants you to be part of the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Super Bowl halftime show. Producers are looking for volunteers to be part of the on-field audience for the show. To be considered, you have to take part in several pre-show rehearsals to practice your enthusiasm. No-no's include drinking, smoking and foul language of any kind. For more information, go to SuperBowlCast dot com. Super Bowl 43 will take place in Tampa, Florida on February 1st.

Elvis Costello and Sting are among the first acts confirmed to play at an event surrounding the presidential inauguration January 20th in Washington, D-C. They'll both be performing at The Creative Coalition's party at the Harman Center for the Arts. Costello will do a solo acoustic set, and Sting will perform as a guest during a set from soul legend Sam Moore.

John Lennon might not have endorsed "Imagine" license plates, but in this case, it is for a good cause. More than 31-thousand Florida cars now bear the vanity plates, and the fees collected for them have raised 786-thousand dollars for the state's food banks. Feeding America, an association of food banks, is close to having similar plates issued in Georgia and the other 17 states that issue specialty plates for charitable purposes. Lennon was killed 28 years ago yesterday.

Nancy Wilson says Heart will start recording a new album in "about five weeks."

NEW RELEASES:

Changing Tracks DVD by Bob Dylan
Electric Ladyland (CD w/DVD) by Jimi Hendrix
AC/DC: Church of Rock - The Bon Scott Years DVD
The Dark Knight DVD in 1 & 2 disc
Lost - The Complete Fourth Season DVD
Horton Hears a Who DVD
A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All DVD
Deadwood: The Complete Series DVD Box Set
Happy Days - The Fourth Season DVD

Letters For The Troops Live Broadcast at Casey's General Store - Pics

Click For Pictures

WSBT are reporting tonight that UND is headed to the Hawaii Bowl

Clickity.

SRV on the next Vinyl Monday

Side One of Texas Flood is up Monday Morning, 9a, on Vinyl Monday

Love Struck Baby

Pride And Joy

Texas Flood

Tell Me

Testify

Pics From Into The Wild Giveaway

The giveaway was during all that wonderful weather Saturday, from Noon to 2 in Benton Harbor at Harbor Sports & Cycle...click above and scroll to the right when you get there to see a few shots from the remote. Their new showroom is fantastic...

Somewhat crappy video of Private Island Escape Winner

A HUGE thanks to Club Landing, and to our sponsors: The CW25, Bud Light Lime, Casey's General Store, and Malibu Tanning

WE NEED LETTERS FOR THE TROOPS

Craig and I are asking you to write one letter, just one letter, addressed to "Any Soldier". We are shipping them to the troops next week through our friends at Soldier's Angels. Patty Patton-Bader will join us again Thursday morning at 7am to talk about it, and we hope to have all the letters together Monday so we can get them sent off.

We'll be live at Casey's General Store in Osceola Monday Morning collecting the last of the letters. We'll even have paper there if you want to stop by and write a quick note for a soldier. And you can drop them off before hand at our studios, Mon-Fri/8-5. The special WAOR paper is at our front desk, too.

Author of "Every Man Sees You Naked" on this morning

Our thanks to author Dave Matthews (not the singer guy), for joining us this morning to discuss his book - - - - >

If you missed it, you can find it on the usPod

Learn more at http://www.everymanseesyounaked.com/

Heatherless Headlines

(named for our News Director, Heather Richards, who is a real journalist and shouldn't have to read these dumbass stories. So we do, weekday mornings around 630)

NJ woman sues Pa. sports bar for toilet seat break

Man allegedly assaults girlfriend with burger

Man uses candy cane to subdue attacker with knife

Fla. man accused of making boy drive on beer run

Woman accused of stealing neighbor's decorations

Man accused of tossing Christmas tree at his dad

OBAMA License Plates Targeted By Thieves

Thief steals Thanksgiving dinner off woman's porch

Would-be robber fails to get pot, gets shot

Late workers, students get notes blaming NY subway

Busy day in Rock History...

We don't usually do the This Day In Rock History thing, but today is a busy and significant day...so here's the highlights:

12.3.79: 11 fans are trampled to death getting into a Who show in Cincy. The tragedy changes the way crowd control is done at shows.

12.3.76: While shooting the cover photo for their Animals album, the members of Pink Floyd watch their giant inflatable pig break it's tether and float away. It was later recovered, not too worse for wear.

12.3.71: During a Frank Zappa & the Mothers Of Invention concert, Switzerland's Montreux Casino burns down. Across the lake, Deep Purple are recording an album, and stop to watch the fire. Then they write Smoke On The Water about it.

12.3.65: The Beatles begin their last English Tour. And in Sacramento, Keith Richards is electrocuted onstage during a Stones show...THEN GETS BACK UP AND FINISHES THE SHOW. Quite a set of nads on that guy...

12.3.48: The former frontman of one of the most legendary acts in rock history, the Prince Of Darkness, the ultimate force of evil in rock, the devourer of souls and winged creatures, and star of stage and television...Kermit The Frog, is born. I mean Ozzy. Ozzy's 60 today. Yeah. My bad.

12.3.38: Alfred Lennon marries Julia Stanley. They have one kid, 22 months later, and name him John Winston Lennon. He becomes famous and stuff.

When Is A Festival Not Worth Attending?

...when you have a five-month payment plan for tickets. Are they kidding?

(from Premiere)

The eighth annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will return to Manchester, Tennessee June 11th through the 14th. Early-bird tickets will go on sale tomorrow through the Bonnaroo website and will be available through December 31st. The festival's promoters have also announced that due to the economic downturn, they're allowing fans who buy tickets in December to use a five-month payment plan. The announcement of the lineup is expected in late winter.

Tuesday Rock Roundup

Big news for Boss fans: another track from Springsteen's upcoming album Working on a Dream went up for download yesterday. "My Lucky Day" will be available exclusively through Amazon until just before Christmas. And the bonus track "A Night With the Jersey Devil", which he gave away on Halloween as a free download from his website, has been removed from the track listing. Working on a Dream is still scheduled for January 27th.

The new additions to the Grammy Hall Of Fame have been announced. Queen will be honored for 1977's "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions". CSNY for 1970s "Ohio". Jimi Hendrix for his version of "The Star Spangled Banner". Lynyrd Skynyrd for "Sweet Home Alabama". And The Police are going in for their Synchronicity album. The Grammy Hall Of Fame was created in 1973 "to honor recordings of lating significance".

The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger plans on releasing a solo album early next year. Krieger says the disc is a mostly instrumental affair that is heavily influence by Spanish flamenco guitar. Krieger adds that Little Feat's Richie Hayward plays most of the drums on the as-yet-untitled disc, which Krieger hopes to put out in late January or early February.

Yoko Ono is doing a little something for the troops this Christmas. She says, "While I'm making Christmas packages for my friends, I'm adding packages to go to Walter Reed Hospital as well, for the veterans. I hope you will do the same. They need all the love they can get and just getting your Christmas card will mean so much to them."

Paul Stanley has shed more light on KISS recording their first studio album in 10 years. On the band's website, he says, "It's going to be very much a vintage, classic '70s KISS album without much regard to what's happened since then. It's back to the roots." Their last studio album was 1998's Psycho Circus with the original line-up.

Van Halen's concert rider from their recently completed reunion tour with David Lee Roth has been published on The Smoking Gun. Unlike the early '80s, where they specified that all brown M&M's be removed, this time they asked for a "study room" for Eddie's son Wolfgang to do his school work with his tutor. Roth's room was to not contain any kind of floor covering to he could do his martial arts exercises, and it needed to be "far away from" his bandmate's dressing rooms. As for Eddie, despite a stint in rehab, which delayed the start of the tour, he requested "mini bottles" of Gallo Twin Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in his onstage cooler.

Jethro Tull was scheduled to perform in Mumbai, India on Saturday, but postponed the show until this Friday due to the terrorist attacks. Despite the attacks, Tull's Ian Anderson says he won't back down. "The threat of terror is palpable everywhere all the time -- every time I take the underground in London, terror is on my mind. India does not scare me in any way more than anywhere else. I don't think the Mumbai attacks will stop me from visiting this country in the future.

Plans for a movie about the life of late Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott have been derailed because the remaining band members are upset by the script. The bio-pic had former CSI star Gary Dourdan signed on as Lynott, but guitarist Scott Gorham will not approve use of the band's name and music unless the script is completely rewritten. Gorham says the script leans too heavily on just Lynott's drug use, and not enough on who Phil really was.

While America was celebrating Thanksgiving, Heaven and Hell, a.k.a. Dio's Black Sabbath, started recording in Wales, England last week. The disc, which is expected out in the spring, would be the first full length studio release for the quartet since 1992's Dehumanizer...which was one of the worst albums ever released by anybody.

NEW RELEASES TODAY:

Sugar Mountain-Live At Canterbury House 1968 (CD/DVD) by Neil Young
Allies CD by Crosby Stills & Nash
Vol. 2-Fillmore Auditorium San Francisco 1967 CD by Quicksilver Messenger Service
11 (Deluxe Edition) (Incl. Bonus DVD) CD by Bryan Adams
One With Everything [Blu-ray] by Styx
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian DVD and a 3-disc version
Wanted DVD
Step Brothers DVD
Frost/Nixon: The Original Watergate Interviews DVD by David Frost...I saw him talk to Jon Stewart about this on The Daily Show...looked really interesting if you're into history.
The X-Files: I Want to Believe DVD and a 3-disc version
Saturday Night Live - The Complete Fourth Season (1978-79) DVD
Law and Order: The Sixth Year DVD
Austin Powers Collection: Shagadelic Edition Loaded With Extra Mojo (BD) [Blu-ray]
Casablanca (Ultimate Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray] also on DVD
Mythbusters: Big Blasts Collection DVD

Paul Hardy, 1952 - 2008

A good friend and a good mate of mine has died in Australia.

We'd never met face-to-face, but Paul and I had worked together on a number of audio projects on and off for six years. He even sent me vegemite a couple of years ago after I mentioned that I'd never tried it (and I wish I still hadn't, that stuff was horrible).

When I was doing research for the novel I wrote in '06, he was a great deal of help to me. He filled major gaps in my knowledge of his home country, and of the sport of cricket. He was also a great sounding board for character development (both for Aussies and Kiwis), and never asked for anything in return. We spoke on the phone once during the process, and he was one of the funniest people I've ever spoken to.

I have few details beyond he died of a heart attack some time Sunday Night. He was 56, and he will be missed.

Godday, Paul.

Found at wil wheaton's place:

Ummm...how did I not hear about this? Isn't my job to hear about the surreal stuff?

Mr. Skin on the show today at 730