MASSIVE ATTACK'S LATEST

Massive Attack has a new album out, Heligoland. I don't think I've written about them often in No Expiration, but I think that their 1991 album Blue Lines and the followup, 1995's Protection, are two of the best albums of the '90s.  I don't have the new album, but I did buy the single, "Paradise Circus," off of iTunes.  It features guest vocals (as many Massive Attack songs do) by Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star. It's a great song, and I'll have to check this album out soon (I plan to discuss it on The Morning Jolt in the next few weeks). It also reminds me that Mazzy Star supposedly have a new album on the way.  I would love to hear that also.

PETER WOLF DUETS WITH SHELBY LYNNE ON NEW ALBUM

Former J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf returns with a new album, Midnight Souvenirs, in April. Dude gets insanely great reviews in Rolling Stone magazine, but somehow he is still kind of underrated. I dig some of his old J. Geils stuff, but what I really dig is his last solo album, 2002's Sleepless. It has this amazing song with Mick Jagger, called "Nothing But The Wheel," and Mick really sounds like he means it when he's singing. Another song features Keith Richards, "Too Close Together." I mean the fact that he can get Mick and Keith on an album, come on! Peter is a great frontman, a great singer and has great taste.

Anyway, this new album has a duet with Shelby Lynne, "Tragedy," which is on iTunes, and it's another great song.  There are also duets with Neko Case and Merle Haggard, so I guess it's an Outlaw Country kind of vibe.

DANIEL MERRIWEATHER COVERS THE WHITE STRIPES

Hi, meet Daniel Merriweather! Actually, I don't know that much about Daniel Merriweather. Other than the fact that he guested on an album by super-producer Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen) and sang an incredible version of The Smiths' "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before." Ronson signed him to his label and is putting out Merriweather's debut album, Love & War. I've heard that the album has been a bit problematic and has been delayed a few times.  I downloaded two songs from iTunes: a great duet with Adele "Water and a Flame," and a really great cover of The White Stripes' "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told)." So far I'm pretty sold on the guy.  It's pretty interesting that a band like The White Stripes, have been covered by pop/soul singers like Daniel, as well as Joss Stone ("Fell In Love With A Girl") and Kelly Clarkson (who sometimes covers "Seven Nation Army").

THE COCKTAIL SLIPPERS COVER ELLIE GREENWICH

This is the third video from one of my favorite albums of 2009, The Cocktail Slippers' Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. It's my job to expose more people to this awesome, awesome band. Not my job, but my responsibility. This is a song written by the late Ellie Greenwich, one of the greats of the Brill Building era. She is getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year in the "non-performer" category. Little Steven will be at the ceremony, to present The Hollies. Maybe he can hook it up so that the Slippers can perform a tribute to Ellie.

CELEBRATE THE (BLACK) SABBATH THIS WEEKEND ON LIQUID METAL!

This weekend, No Expiration makes its return to the airwaves of the SIRIUS|XM Channel Liquid Metal. Liquid Metal, rightfully so, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of the debut album by the almighty Black Sabbath. I wrote a bunch of things for the black celebration, and the channel's commander, Jose, asked me to do them as voiceovers, which I happily did.  I don't really have a metal sounding voice, I think I sound maybe too "NPR"-ish, but Jose said it was cool.

Anyway, the celebration has started already: every hour on the top of the hour (and sometime during the hour) today through Sunday, you'll hear bits about the band's history and some of their music too. Some of those bits will be voiced by me.

Why me?  Other than the fact that I am a huge fan of the band, I had the honor and the privilege to write liner notes for The Black Box, a box set that collected all eight studio albums from the band's original lineup, which featured Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward. I never tire of the band's music and I am always awed by the power of their music. Celebrate the Sabbath this weekend!

GREAT RICK RUBIN INTERVIEW RE: JOHNNY CASH AMERICAN VI

Really interesting interview with Rick Rubin, talking about Johnny Cash's American VI: Ain't No Grave with New York magazine. What interested me most was his comparing the end of the album - the traditional Hawaiian song "Aloha Oe," to the song that ended American IV: The Man Comes Around. That album ended with "We'll Meet Again," and featured backing vocals by Johnny's friends, family and employees.  Johnny thought that that would be the last song on his last album, his health wasn't in great shape at that point. But the day after the album was done, Rick asked him if he wanted to start working on American V. So all the sessions they worked on at that point made up the final two albums.  This time, he really did know his time was running out, hence "Aloha Oe" ending what actually was the final album.

AEROSMITH'S NEW SINGER: STEVEN TYLER!

Aerosmith just posted this video on their website yesterday, along with European tour dates. So, at least we know that they aren't going to "replace" Steven Tyler with another vocalist. It would never have worked. And I guess that this means that they aren't suing each other anymore.

So, you know that I'm a huge fan of the band, and I'm glad they are back together so they, and we, can celebrate their 40th anniversary in style. But Joe Perry doesn't look too comfortable in this video. He's generally a pretty reserved guy, and he gets more reserved around Tyler (who has incredible charisma). I'm sure they haven't resolved all of their personal issues, but here's hoping that this works out. (By the way, Brad Whitford isn't in the video probably because he is on a Jimi Hendrix tribute tour).

THE ROLLING STONES EXILE REISSUE. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

I love The Rolling Stones, but they never do their catalog justice.  They've reissued thier albums twice, and never include anything extra (other than the recent Get Your Ya-Ya's Out box set). So, I'm really excited to hear ten unreleased songs on the upcoming deluxe version of Exile On Main Street, which is coming out May 18 according to their website. Mick Jagger told Rolling Stone that some of the songs weren't complete, and he added some vocals to some, and wrote and sang new lyrics to "Follow The River." Keith Richards added a bit of guitar stuff, but mostly they left the original recordings alone. Now that they are in Stones mode, I wonder if the guys will do any new music.  If the rumors of them working with Jack White are true... well, that would be awesome.

JEFF BECK'S LOST MOTOWN ALBUM?

I never even knew that Jeff Beck recorded an album at Motown - the actual, legendary Hitsville studio where all the early stuff was recorded - until I read this interview with him on Rolling Stone's website today. This part of the interview didn't even make it into their current cover store (a great piece in itself, that features both Jeff and Eric Clapton). Anyway, the part the posted online today was pretty great, you should check it out.

THOM YORKE'S OTHER BAND IS CALLED ATOMS FOR PEACE

In September, I wrote about Thom Yorke's sideproject. Up until now, he's been calling the band "?????" Well, he just wrote on Radiohead's "Dead Air Space" that they are going to be called Atoms For Peace. They are doing a bunch of gigs (which will be impossible to get tickets for) and then Coachella. He didn't mention doing any new music with them, but I know he is working on a Radiohead record, and of course Flea is working on a new Red Hot Chili Peppers record.

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS: GOT THEIR "MOJO" WORKIN'

I loved Tom Petty's last two albums, both of which were non-Heartbreakers projects: 2008's Mudcrutch reunion/debut album, and 2006's solo album Highway Companion (which reunited him with the Full Moon Fever team of Heartbreaker Mike Campbell and Traveling Wilbury Jeff Lynne). But I'm glad that his next album will be the first Heartbreakers studio album since 2002's underrated The Last DJ. The album is called Mojo and will be coming out in the spring.  And if you buy tickets for the band's summer tour, you automatically get a free digital copy of the album. Also of note: the opening bands on this summer's tour include My Morning Jacket, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills & Nash, ZZ Top and The Drive-By Truckers. Man, I would LOVE to see The Drive-By Truckers with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Anyway, get more info about the album and the tour at Tom's website. And by the way, check out his weekly SIRIUS|XM Radio show on Deep Tracks, you can also hear it all day long on SIRIUS|XM Music Showcase.

TOMORROW NIGHT ON THE CATHOLIC CHANNEL: JOHNNY CASH

For those of you who are new to No Expiration, once a month I go on SIRIUS XM's Catholic Channel's Busted Halo show on "Faith and Culture Thursday." Each time I discuss a different artist.  Tomorrow, I'll be talking about Johnny Cash on the eve of the release of what will be his final album, American VI: Ain't No Grave. I think that producer Rick Rubin may have saved the best for last. These really are the final songs that Cash recorded before he passed away.  I have listened to the album a few times now, I totally recommend it. I'll be talking about songs from his Sun and Columbia Records years as well.

WHO *IS* WILLIAM DUVALL (ALICE IN CHAINS' SINGER)?

When Alice In Chains reactivated with new singer William DuVall, I was a bit familiar with him: he had actually played rhythm guitar in Jerry Cantrell's solo band. When they performed Alice songs, it was pretty intsense, so when I heard he was actually joining AIC, it kind of made sense.  What I didn't know was his history. He used to be in an underground punk band called Neon Christ. And he co-wrote the '90s-era hit "I Know" for former Arrested Development singer Dionne Farris (Alice and AD toured together on Lollapalooza '93, by the way). Read an interesting piece about DuVall at Atlanta's Creative Loafing.

BEN HARPER AND RELENTLESS7 TO RELEASE LIVE ALBUM

Ben Harper & Relentless7 are releasing Live From The Montreal International Jazz Festival on March 9. It'll contain most of the songs from their great first album together White Lies For Dark Times, as well as covers of Jimi Hendrix' "Red House" and the David Bowie/Queen classic, "Under Pressure." The iTunes exclusive version will also have a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times."

INXS TO RE-RECORD CLASSICS WITH DIFFERENT SINGERS

Twenty-Four Bit reports that the surviving members of INXS are re-recording some of thier classics with different singers. Ben Harper, Rob Thomas, Nikka Costa, Tricky and that dude from The Killers are involved. Ben did "The Devil Inside," which should be awesome.

RAY DAVIES DOING A DUETS ALBUM

NJ.com reports that Ray Davies' next album will be a bunch of new versions of Kinks songs done as duets.  He has a version of "Better Things" with Bruce Springsteen in the can, and also a version of "Celluloid Heroes" with Jon Bon Jovi. He's talking about recording other duets with Lucinda Williams and Metallica. It's just weird that it is coming on the heels of an album of choral versions of Kinks songs. 

MARY J BLIGE TO PLAY NINA SIMONE IN BIOPIC

I can't wait to see that. Rolling Stone says that she is going to play Nina Simone in a biopic of the legendary singer. I don't think I've seen Mary J. Blige act (other than playing herself on 30 Rock), but I would definitely line up and buy my tickets to see her playing Nina. She conveys pain and angst in her music like very few other singers can. Need proof? Here's a version of her doing "Color" from Precious at the SIRIUS|XM studios (I actually was one of the camera-people, it was pretty heavy being in the room: the band hadn't actually rehearsed the song!

ROCK HALL ANNOUNCES PRESENTERS: LITTLE STEVEN BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG, WYCLEF, TREY

Today Rolling Stone announced the presenters for this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day for The Stooges. You know I love Green Day. But Billie Joe, to me, isn't the right guy.  In my mind, it would have been Anthony Kiedis or Perry Farrell.  Even Kris Novoselic.  Of course, Billie Joe and Green Day did back Iggy Pop on his Skull Ring album, so there is some connection.

Trey Anastasio of Phish for Genesis. A weird pick, and I really thought Muse would have perfect for this. I know that when Trey split up Phish, he was really influenced by Peter Gabriel's solo song "Solisbury Hill," which was written about quitting Genesis.  I'm not sure that makes him the right guy to celebrate Genesis, especially the trio lineup from the '80s and '90s.

Wyclef Jean for Jimmy Cliff. That's who I would have picked. He does a great "Many Rivers To Cross," and at one point I heard that The Fugees were going to star in a remake of The Harder They Come.

Little Steven Van Zandt for The Hollies. I kind of picked that also. If you listen to Little Steven's amazing SIRIUS|XM channel The Underground Garage, you know that Steven is a huge champion of the more pop and harmony based '60s garage rock bands.  He gives a great speech: his speech about The Rascals in the '90s is what got him his role on The Sopranos.

And Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees will do the speech for ABBA, which makes sense. I was kind of thinking Madonna or Lady Gaga or even Elton John, but the Gibbs is a great choice.

Anyway, I can't wait for the ceremony, which airs on March 15 on Fuse.

ROGER DALTREY WANTS TO WORK WITH JIMMY PAGE

Well, it could be cool... or it could be two millionaire legends making edgeless music. Roger Daltrey told BBC6 that he'd like to form a new project with Jimmy Page.  He says that he's a great blues singer, and he'd like to record some blues with Page. I would check that album out.  Maybe Page will do it: after all, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones have both done really well with their new collaborations. And with Pete Townshend's tinnitus getting worse, if Roger wants to rock, he may have to do it outside of The Who.

TOMORROW ON OUTQ: DAVID BOWIE

For those of you who are new to No Expiration, every Wednesday morning at 9 am ET I go on the SIRIUS XM channel OutQ. I am a weekly contributor to The Morning Jolt with Larry Flick. We talk about - surprise! - music. This week I'll be talking about David Bowie. Despite the fact that he often says he doesn't like to look back, he releases an awful lot of catalog stuff. If you're a fan, that's a cool thing.

Late last year, David's first solo album, Space Oddity, was reissued. I say it was his first solo album because before that he recorded with bands like Davy Jones & The Mannish Boys and Davy Jones & The Lower Third. Space Oddity isn't a classic album, and as the Brits say, it's a bit "naff." It's very 12-string acoustic guitar folky, but with much weirder lyrics. That said, the title track is obviously a classic, and there are lots of other great songs also. I really like "Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed." The reissue is two discs, and has lot of bonus tracks, including demos and BBC sessions.

In the summer of 2008, I talked about Bowie's Santa Monica '72, recorded at the very beginning of his first U.S. tour with The Spiders From Mars. Unlike Ziggy Stardust: The Motion Picture, recorded at the end of that tour, this was at the beginning when Bowie and the band had something to prove. It is a classic live album that more people should know about, and probably my favorite Bowie release.

Bowie recorded his episode of VH1 Storytellers in 1999 while he was promoting his Hours album. I'm not sure why it took a decade to release it on CD, or if there was a huge demand for it. I was a bit skeptical, I admit. But it actually is a great performance. And maybe the best thing about it is the stories that Bowie tells between songs. It's a CD/DVD set that is well worth the money.

David Bowie's last tour was for the Reality album, which came out in 2003. The A Reality Tour live album just came out: again, don't know why the wait, and if there was a demand. It's a good live album, but it sort of makes the arguement that Bowie's last decade was as good as the '70s or '80s, which is a tough arguement to pull off. Still, there are some great moments. I have to say, I prefer Storytellers.

I'll also be talking about David's classic 1976 album Station To Station, which is due to be reissued later this year.

Feel free to call in and talk about your favorite era of Bowie!

"ROMEO & JULIET" SET TO JEFF BUCKLEY SONGS?

It's a great idea, actually: an adaptation of Romeo & Juliet using the songs of Jeff Buckley.  This was actually staged at Joe's Pub in May, but now I've read at Twenty-Four bit who found out from Flavorwire who found out from Variety that it is being developed for the 2010-2011 season. I'd like to see that.

ABBEY ROAD: PROTECTED

There's been a lot of rumors lately that EMI Records is going to sell Abbey Road studios.  I read in the New York Times that that won't happen, and that the British government rightfully granted it status as a historic building. It would have been a shame if that building wasn't preserved.

CELEBRATE THE MAN IN BLACK

This Friday would have been Johnny Cash 's 78th birthday, and as I've mentioned, there's a group asking people to wear black to commemorate the occasion. Another group is celebrating the man with a movement to get Columbia Records to re-release Bitter Tears, Johnny's 1964 album about our country's gross mistreatment of Native Americans. Read more about that at Reuters.

Meanwhile, as I write about this, I'm listening to what is most likely the final Johnny Cash album, American VI: Ain't No Grave.  Producer Rick Rubin may well have saved the best of the American Recordings sessions for last.

THROUGH BEING COOL: STING

That headline is a bit harsh, I guess, and I actually am a fan of lots of Sting's post-Police solo work.  The Dream of The Blue Turtles was a good album, Bring On The Night is a really great live album, and I'm a big fan of his ... Nothing Like The Sun album. The Soul Cages was devastating, and I really enjoyed Ten Summoner's Tales.  He's done lots of one-off tracks that were great too, like "Freak The Mighty" for The Mighty soundtrack, an amazing cover of Elton's "Come Down In Time," and I could go on and on. I just haven't liked much of his recent stuff.  The latest: he is going on tour with a symphony orchestra. It's called "An Evening With Sting."

CYPRESS HILL ALBUM FEATURES TOM MORELLO, DARON MALAKIAN AND MARC ANTHONY

I used to think of Cypress Hill as the AC/DC or Ramones of hip-hop, but that comparassion doesn't exactly work.  Both of those bands are great at one thing, and Cypress Hill does two: menacing sounding hip-hop and rock/hip-hop hybrids. So, it is no surprise that their next album, Rise Up, features Tom Morello, as well as System Of A Down leader Daron Malakian, as well as some dude from Linkin Park. They have also always been proud of their Latino roots, and they nod to that with some other guests: Mr. J-Lo Marc Anthony and Cheech & Chong even make an appearance. The album also features Everlast and Pete Rock. It's their first record for Priority Records: they were (allegedly) signed  by Snoop Dogg, who now is the public face of the label. Rise Up comes out April 6.

THE HOLD STEADY RETURN WITH "HEAVEN IS WHENEVER"

Although I don't write about too many new-ish bands (i.e. anyone who started after the mid-'90s) The Hold Steady is a band I definitely dig. I just found out that their next album, Heaven Is Whenever, comes out on May 4. This is their first album as a four-piece; a few months ago, keyboardist Franz Nicolay announced that he was leaving the band. That changes the sound a lot, because his piano and organ were a big part of the group's (E Street Band-ish) sound.

ROGER WATERS TO PERFORM "THE WALL" ON TOUR?

Today I heard a rumor (and also read about it a bit in Rolling Stone) that Roger Waters may go on tour this year, performing Pink Floyd's The Wall. That would be pretty amazing, and I'll report on it as soon as I hear more! If anyone has heard about this, please comment!

U2 NAMES OPENING ACTS FOR SUMMER TOUR

Unfortunately, those acts are Lenny Kravitz, Interpol and The Fray. Actually, Lenny Kravitz is pretty good live, I've seen him once or twice. Interpol, I think I saw them open for The Pixies, I can't even remember, and The Fray, I've never seen them.  I guess it would be hard to follow up having Muse open for them. U2 have had some pretty great opening acts over the years: I saw Primus, PJ Harvey and No Doubt open also, I usually like the bands that they choose.

ROCK CRITIC ON BLACK SABBATH: "WE WERE WRONG" DAMN RIGHT!

An interesting article in England's Guardian about how wrong critics were about Black Sabbath back in the day. They were pretty dismissive, as everyone knows (Ozzy Osbourne writes about this in his new book, I Am Ozzy). Who cares what critics thought: the fans knew, and know, the deal. The writer wonders what else critics might be missing, or what they may be wrong about, today.  He poses Fall Out Boy as a possible example. A band that fans love and critics don't.  He's quick to say they aren't even in Sabbath's league. Who are the critics overlooking these days?

One thing the critics are wrong about? Animal Collective!

GREG DULLI WORKING ON NEW TWILIGHT SINGERS ALBUM

Spin has a cool interview with Greg Dulli who is working on his next album with his band The Twilight Singers. He says it is a happy sounding album, and it is influenced by '70s AM radio. Ani DiFranco, Petra Haden and Greg's Gutter Twins bandmate Mark Lanegan all guest on the album. He also says that The Afghan Whigs could reunite... but it would take a sheik or a sultan to afford it. Read the whole interview here.

I THANK YOU: SAM & DAVE

I know that Sam Moore, formerly of the duo Sam & Dave is on tour.  So, I figured that was a good reason to bust out The Very Best of Sam & Dave and rock it in the car. All I have to say is: damn.  You listen to Sam & Dave and their labelmate Otis Redding, and you realize where Bruce Springsteen (and Steven Van Zandt, and Southside Johnny, and many others) got 90% of their vocal influence from. That, of course, is not put down to Jersey's finest. Everyone has influences, why not be influenced by the greatest. There was something beautiful and raw going on at Stax Records back in the day: Booker T & The MGs played on lots of the Stax Records, and Isaac Hayes was a behind-the-scenes guy before he started making his own records. But for some reason, Sam & Dave don't seem to be as well remembered as many of their peers (although their biggest hit, "Soul Man," will never go away). You may not have any of their music, but if you trust me, pick up a copy of The Very Best Of Sam & Dave. It's just one CD, and it is gold from start to finish.

GREAT REVIEW OF JOHNNY CASH: AMERICAN VI: AIN'T NO GRAVE

I just got my digital copy of Johnny Cash's American VI: Ain't No Grave, but I haven't digested it yet. I'll be talking about it next Thursday night on SIRIUS XM's The Catholic Channel's Busted Halo Show, and at some point on OutQ's The Morning Jolt With Larry Flick as well. But there's a really moving article/review of the album at the LA Times, which discusses the difference between that album and American V: A Hundred Highways.  Check it out.

THE RETURN OF THE PLASTIC ONO BAND

Earlier this week, Yoko Ono put on a show with a new (and almost definitely one-off) version of The Plastic Ono Band at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It featured former Plastic Ono Band members - bassist Klaus Voorman and, um, Eric Clapton (but not Yes drummer Alan White!). But also: Sean Ono Lennon, Mark Ronson, Bette Midler, Thurston Moore, Kim Gordon and Paul Simon.  Weird bunch, and it's hard to imagine anyone other than Yoko pulling that off.  Read a review of the show at Rolling Stone. It sounds like the show was a great tribute to the band's original co-leader, John Lennon.

METHOD MAN + RAEKWON + GHOST = WU-MASSACRE

Last year, I wrote about Method Man, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah of The Wu-Tang Clan doing an album as a trio.  They're calling it Wu-Massacre, and here's the cover. (Via Nah Right). It comes out on Def Jam on March 30. I filmed an interview with the three of them today at my day job, and I'll probably post something soon. Meth mentioned that he hates blogs - if you post something negative about an artist, post your picture or address so they know who you are.  I don't agree with that - hell, the last thing I need is Animal Collective or Pavement coming to my brown picket fence surrounded suburban crib looking for drama - but since I rarely post anything about artists that I don't like, he probably won't mind that I'm writing about him. On the other hand, I generally only rip on artists who I would steal lunch money from.  Just kidding.

THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND BEACON BOX

The Allman Brothers Band is about to kick off their latest March Madness string of NYC shows.  It will be hard to beat last year's run: they were joined, over the multi-night stand, by Eric Clapton, Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Weir and Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and many others.  The box set costs $500.  You got that right.  But it's 49 CDs! Not bad for that price! Although you can get the concerts individually for $27 each.  Find out more here. I have a recording of the March 19 show which featured Clapton.  I've often said that he can be pretty lazy (my opinion). When he joined the Allmans onstage, that was not the case. You should check out some of these shows. 

WATCH THE NEW JIMI HENDRIX VIDEO

This is the "new" video for Jimi Hendrix' "Valleys Of Neptune" which I wrote about before. The song is not quite as "previously unheard" or "unreleased" as they are saying it is. It was previously released on a long out-of-print box set called Lifelines: The Jimi Hendrix Story that came out in 1990. (I have it on cassette!) It was on Warner Brothers Records, which was two or three record labels ago for the Hendrix catalog. Anyway, "Valleys Of Neptune" is included as part of a radio show (I think it was produced by the BBC), but the problem is, the DJ talks a bit over the song. (The first three discs is the radio show, the fourth is a concert recording). I have to pop it in my cassette deck and listen to it again, but I am afraid it may be warped! Anyway, great song. The album, Valleys Of Neptune, featuring some of Jimi's last recordsings, comes out March 9.

KNEBWORTH GETS A 20TH ANNIVERSARY REISSUE

Wow, it's been twenty years? I remember working at sleepaway camp over the summer and listening to the live broadcast of this concert over the radio. The concert featured British rock royalty, and raised funds for the Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and the Brit School of Performing Arts. Nordoff -Robbins "specializes in transforming the lives of children and adults constrained by illness, disability, trauma or isolation, through the power of music." It's easy to understand why so many musicians would donate their time and efforts. Learn more about Nordoff-Robbins here.

The concert itself was incredible.  Tears For Fears, a very hot band at that time, opened. They were followed by two legendary U.K. bands that never caught on here, Cliff Richard & The Shadows and Status Quo. And then it got really good.

Robert Plant, who was absolutely huge at that moment thanks to his hit album Now & Zen performed, and towards the end of his set was joined by Jimmy Page. Phil Collins, one of the biggest stars in the world played a solo set.  After a few songs, most of his band (minus drummer Chester Thompson and guitarist/bassist Daryl Stuermer) left and Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks joined for a Genesis set. Then Phil's band rejoined for a huge-ass "Turn It On Again" medley. Eric Clapton and The Dire Straits (both at their commercial peaks) performed a set together, playing songs from both catalogs, and then were joined by Elton John for some of his songs (including his then-#1 single "Sacrifice"). 

Paul McCartney, who was at the time on his first tour in over a decade and played an abbreviated version of his usual show. And, believe it or not, he wasn't the headliner: Pink Floyd (the post-Roger Waters version, alas) closed the show. I lost my CD version of the show, and ended up finding it on eBay and buying a new copy. I really like some of it: especially Plant's set, but before and after Page joins.  He was really enjoying having a hit album, I think. I also liked the Clapton/Elton/Dire Straits thing. Plus it brings back memories of listening to it over and over that summer (of course we taped it off the radio. I wish I still had the tape, since not all the songs made it to the album).  But now, Eagle Rock Entertainment is reissuing it (unfortunately with no bonus tracks).  It comes out March 23.

WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE: DOORS DOC DUE IN APRIL

A new documentary on The Doors, When You're Strange, is coming out in April. It's going to be narrated by Johnny Depp, former guitarist of P and director of an upcoming Keith Richards doc. Watching Johnny Depp's interviews kind of remind me of Jim Morrison in a way, so I guess it is fitting.  I'm looking forward to seeing this one. The Doors have always been one of my favorite bands, but I haven't listened to them much recently: that's about to change! Watch the (not embeddable) trailer at the film's website.

TWO LIVE YARDBIRDS: JEFF BECK AND ERIC CLAPTON

Pretty cool of Rolling Stone to put two guitar legends on thier cover: for the first time, tourmates and fellow ex-Yardbirds Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton sit down for an interview together. I look forward to reading this.  I would love to see their show together, but I am sure it costs a ton of money.  Still, I bet Jeff Beck could coax some great performances out of Clapton (as Steve Winwood did when they toured together last year).

ANOTHER OSCARS UPDATE: THE CEREMONY WILL BE LONGER AND LESS MUSICAL

I'm glad that the great Ryan Bingham has been nominated for an Oscar for his song "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart. It's a bummer that you won't see him performing that song at the Academy Awards though.  I wrote about this a while back, but today it was confirmed: according to New York magazine, the Oscars won't feature any musical performances. Instead, you'll hear the recordings of the songs while you watch highlights montages from the films they are from. Lame.

SADE IS #1

Ten years after their last album, Sade's latest, Soldier Of Love, debuted at #1 on the charts this week, selling over 500,000 copies.  In one week! The lesson here, I think, is: you don't have to pander. You don't have to put out albums until you are ready to. You don't have to be a part of a trend or a scene. You don't have to "tell all" in "exclusive" interviews. You don't even (necessarily) have to "engage" your fans on "multiple platforms." You just have to be great, and don't betray the trust of your fans.  And yes, I referred to Sade as "they," not "she." The band is fronted by Sade - aka Helen Folasade Adu - but also three other musicians, Stuart Matthewman, Paul Spencer Denman and Andrew Hale.  Helen Folasade doesn't do many interviews, but you can read one here.

WATCH: JOHN MELLENCAMP COVERS "BORN IN THE U.S.A."

Here's the video of John Mellencamp covering the Bruce Springsteen classic "Born In The U.S.A." from the Kennedy Center Honors from a few months ago. I wish he would release this on iTunes, as Ben Harper and Eddie Vedder 's performances are now available (both raise funds towards rebuilding Haiti).

TOMORROW ON OUTQ: SADE, RAE, PATTY AND MORE

Last week, I didn't make it in to work on Wednesday due to all the snow we got here in New Jersey, so I didn't get to go on The Morning Jolt with Larry Flick on SIRIUS XM's OutQ channel.

So, if you tune in tomorrow morning at 9 am ET, I'll be talking about the albums I meant to talk about last week: Sade's Soldier of Love, Corinne Bailey Rae's The Sea, Patty Griffin's Downtown Church, as well as new songs by rockabilly legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson, and a new group called The Black Belles (the latter two artists are both produced by Larry Flick's arch-enemy Jack White, so we'll see how this goes over).

LOLLAPALOOZA RUMORS: SOUNDGARDEN, GREEN DAY, GAGA

This year, Lollapalooza will take place, as usual, in Grant Park in Chicago on August 6-8. The rumored headliners are Green Day, Soundgarden and Lady Gaga. Pretty cool lineup: Green Day and Soundgarden were both Lollapalooza main stagers back in the '90s. And I think that in her own way, Lady Gaga kind of fits in. Although if I were going, I would stay until the last note of Soundgarden and Green Day rang out. I would not, however, brave a parking lot traffic jam for Lady Gaga (although I'd be curious to check out her live performance).

AEROSMITH - THE FULL AEROSMITH - TO PLAY DOWNLOAD?

The Download Festival is a big UK festival, and they've just announced via their website that Aerosmith will be one of the headliners this year (along with AC/DC and Rage Against The Machine). The website is very careful to specify that this won't be the Aerosmith guys with another singer: "Last playing as headliners of the Donington Monsters Of of Rock Festival in 1990 and 1994, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry et all return with their legendary juggernaut performance..." Great! I wonder if Joe Perry knows? Download takes place June 11 - 13 at Donington Park in the UK.

LITTLE STEVEN: "WE NEED AN EMERGENCY BOSS"

Less than two weeks after his editorial for Politico about "reimagining Haiti," Little Steven Van Zandt has written another opinion piece. This one is for Huffington Post, and says that we need an "emergency boss," or an official "master of disaster."  Literally: there should be someone responsible for relief efforts when a huge disaster strikes, a la Haiti or Katrina. Responsible for organizing a quick, global response, and also responsible for accounting for where all the millions of dollars that inevitably get raised goes to. It's an interesting idea.  Read the whole piece here.

MUSIC LISTOGRAPHY: A COLORING BOOK FOR ADULTS

If we go for a long drive, let me sit in the backseat with my copy of Music Listography, and I promise I'll be good for the entire ride!

My wife got me this awesome book and I love it. Created by Lisa Nola, with great illustrations by Michael Gillette, the book has very little copy in it. Instead, it gives you ideas for lists! It's like, make your own Nick Hornby book! The first list is "List Your Top Twenty Favorite Bands."  I'm still working on that one, I may change it to 120 favorites. There are lots of other great lists like "Music From Your High School Years," "Favorite Instrumental Pieces," "Saddest Songs In The World," "Best Duets," "Bands and Genres of Music To Explore Someday," "Your DJ Alter-Egos," "Motivational Self-Help Anthems" and more. It's a lot of fun. Apparently, they have lots of other lists at their website.

THOM YORKE DISSES PETER GABRIEL DISSES GENESIS

I've written about Peter Gabriel's upcoming album, Scratch My Back, where he covers songs by other artists.  He's also hoping to put together an album of those same artists covering his songs.  That may not happen: the NME reports that he's worried that Thom Yorke may not be digging his version of Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)." That's got to sting: he's always seemed a bit obsessed with having cred among younger rockers. 

On the other hand, he's always been very cavalier about the band where he got his start: Genesis. The AP reports that he won't be at the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That's a bummer: I could understand his not wanting to perform. He has talked about his one reunion with the band in the '80s: they didn't really rehearse, and apparently it wasn't really that good. But I think it would be have been cool for his former bandmates, and the fans, for him to at least show up.