Ann Wilson’s procedure that forced cancellation of the foreign part of Heart’s reunion tour has turned out to be a confirmation of cancer, thus canceling the balance 2024 of their tour altogether. (This is SUCH sad news … Ann’s voice was as strong as ever … we are SO glad to have finally been able to see this great band before any of this happened … and how much sadder that the Wilson sisters were finally able to set aside their long-standing differences and get back out on the road again and actually have FUN performing together again.) The news is much worse than we anticipated, since previous press announcements played it up as simply a “routine procedure” that would take about six weeks of recovery time. Sadly, this has now turned into a lifetime sentence.
(Heart announced on May 29th that their summer dates in Europe and the U.K. had to be cancelled because Ann Wilson required a “time-sensitive but routine medical procedure for which the minimum recover time is six weeks.” The new statement released on July 2nd stated that Ann “recently underwent an operation to remove something that, as it turns out, was cancerous.”)
In a statement released yesterday (the 2nd) Ann said “I recently underwent an operation to remove something that, as it turns out, was cancerous. The operation was successful and I’m feeling great but my doctors are now advising me to undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I have decided to do it. And so my doctors are instructing me to take the rest of the year away from the stage in order to fully recover. Please know that I absolutely plan to be back on stage in 2025. Thank you for all the support. This is merely a pause. I’ve got much more to sing.”
Our prayers are with you, Ann, to pull thru this thing and continue to sing those great songs we all know and love so well. (kk)
Pink had to cancel one of her shows this week as well due to health reasons. And yesterday we told you about several Pearl Jam concert cancellations. Willie Nelson had to miss the opening performances of his tour recently. (After missing the first eight stops on his Outlaw Music Festival Tour, Willie finally was able to make an appearance at his annual 4th of July Picnic.)
Unfortunately, we’re seeing these announcements more and more it seems. Like I said, we’re all getting older … and the long-lasting impact of Covid and all that followed in its wake may have had greater repercussions that we may have imagined. (kk)
Meanwhile,Stevie Nicks had to cancel a couple of shows on the European leg of her tour due to a recent leg injury that will require surgery.
Her concert in Glasgow was cancelled at the very last minute on Saturday … and a press release said she’d also be missing her scheduled performance in Manchester this evening as well.
(Her upcoming performance scheduled for Friday, July 12th, as part of the 2024 BST Hyde Park Festival is expected to go on as scheduled.)
In an official statement released by Stevie’s team, they said, “Due to a recent leg injury requiring a minor surgical procedure that will need a few days of recovery time, Stevie Nicks’ scheduled performances in Glasgow Saturday 6 July and Manchester Tuesday 9 July have been postponed. More information will be available at point of purchase, but ticketholders are advised to hold on to their tickets as rescheduled dates will be announced soon. Stevie looks forward to seeing everyone at Hyde Park in London.”
Joe Egan, one half of the creative team that led Stealers Wheel to their three National Top 40 early '70's hits, passed away on Saturday (July 6th) ... he was 77.
Along with Gerry Rafferty (who passed in 2011), Stealers Wheel struck Top 40 Gold with "Stuck In The Middle," which climbed to #3 in 1973. "Everyone's Agreed That Everything Will Turn Out Fine" followed it to #31 later that year ... and then "Star" became their final chart entry in 1974, reaching #20.
While Egan wrote or co-wrote all three of their hits, it was Rafferty who went on to enjoy a successful solo career, placing five more tunes in The National Top 40, including the #1 Hit "Baker Street" in 1978.
The official announcement came via Gerry's daughter Martha, who posted on her father's Facebook page ...
“Very sad news that the other half of Stealers Wheel, Joe Egan, passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon with his nearest and dearest around him. I will always remember him as a sweet and gentle soul. May he rest in peace.”
No cause of death was given. (kk)
The 4th of July SCREAMS Summer …
So Rock Cellar Magazine just selected their Top 11 “Sun” Songs …
https://rockcellarmagazine.com/top-11-sun-songs/
And the 4th of July always sparks the memory of Casey Kasem’s first American Top 40 program! You can listen to a rebroadcast of portions of this very special and historic program here …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju5UUD7yF_4&t=91s
Happy 4th!
David Letterman's first show ever was The Beach Boys ... with the original line-up.
DIS
John Stamos made a surprise appearance at The Beach Boys' 4th of July concert here in Elk Grove Village Thursday Night. In fact, he even brought his on up on stage to play drums for a little bit.
We weren't able to make it to the show ... but I'm told The Beach Boys drew an awesome crowd of fans, who joined in on the festivities. (kk)
Seeing this week's Hot 100 60 years on is so cool. Plus REALLY kinda cool that the Beach Boys would be #1 this week on the 4th of July sixty years ago … and probably as the #1 Summer Songs artists. SO many different genres and songs and ideas and writers here, unlike today.
Old and new Chuck Berry at #3 and #11, Brit Invasion everywhere with the 4 Seasons refusing to be denied their normal status. Ipanema -- nothing sounded like that on the Hot 100. BOTH Billy J Kramer sides and both Beach Boys sides AND both sides of Sam Cooke (just four months from his death) … make you wonder how high these records might rank if charted together … could be #1, #2 and #3!
Roger Miller's novelties, Motown, Beans In My Ears! Girl group sound hanging on by a thread, Dean-o back in the fold, Stones struggling 10 weeks in and only #55 -- but maybe their new one at #81 will do better? Boston Pops’ orchestrated Beatles is the highest debut of week, while the Dave Clark 5 just hit Top 10, yet their new one is already two weeks in! Everlys starting to live their new reality of low charting. Herbie Alpert making this new sound get going, too. Boyce & Hart helping Chubby hang in with one of their early songs written hits at #42.
Just so much to hear and absorb then as a kid. Loved it!
Clark Besch
Our FH Buddy Bob Lind shares his joy … and is clearly flattered … by this new Tribute Page he came across online … TO SOME OF MY FRIENDS & FANS: Shameless bragging? Of course it is. But there's something else at play, too. It's a joy to share things that make me happy with the people I care about. Others my age have grandkids and 40-year anniversaries to brag about. I only have my career and my passion for continuing it. So here it is: I came across this forum a few days ago and was delighted that people like Steve Hoffman (who knows what he's doing when it comes to music) has created a Bob Lind Tribute Page. I particularly like that he celebrates not only the stuff from the past, but also includes songs from my more recent albums as well. Happy songs like "Roll the Windows Down," sad and philosophical ones like "Magellan Was Wrong" and live performances like "Too Late to Let You Go." This is it. Take a look and comment on one of the threads if you're a-mind to: Love to youse, Bob
Bob and Marianne’s interview lunch with Dick Biondi … |
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has extended their summer hours …
If you are planning a trip to Cleveland to visit the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum, you can now do so between the hours of 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday thru Wednesday, and between 10 and 8 pm, Thursday thru Saturday, for the months of July and August.
The rest of the world finally caught up to the Elvis Presley / Blue Suede Shoes auction that our very own Chuck Buell told us about over a week ago …
From Ultimate Classic Rock …
Well, it's one for the money ...
Elvis Presley's iconic blue suede shoes have sold at auction for $152,000, the top end of what auction house Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd. had expected to fetch for the lot.
The shoes were expected to command anywhere between $126,000 and $152,000 when bidding recently began. The auction ended on June 28 with the shoes going for the highest expected amount.
Presley received the shoes not long after his version of Sun Records labelmate Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" appeared as the opening track on Presley's self-titled debut album released in March, 1956.
According to the auctioneers, "Elvis wore these iconic blue suede shoes during the 1950s on and off stage. In 1958, the night before Elvis left for the Army, he gave these shoes to close friend and entourage member, Alan Fortas. The heel of each shoe is stamped 'Nunn-Bush' and inside of each shoe is stamped 10-1/2, stating the shoe size. There is a lot of history wrapped up in these well-worn blue suede shoes which are synonymous with the name Elvis Presley."
Presley wore the blue suede shoes during public appearances throughout the '50s, including, most famously, his promotional visit to The Steve Allen Show in July, 1956, where he sang a reserved version of his hit "Hound Dog" to a basset hound. You can watch the clip here: https://youtu.be/w3r5AiBJr2M?feature=shared
After Presley entered the Army in
March, 1958, Fortas owned the shoes for a while before they were displayed in
several museums over the decades.
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
7/9/64 – Rock star Courtney Love is born
