SLY STONE: DON'T CALL FOR A COMEBACK

I occasionally read reviews of shows by Sly & The Family Stone -- with the reclusive Sly Stone on stage with the group. Sly even played B.B. King's in NYC recently, but I couldn't bring myself to go. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm not an ageist, and I love to see great artists thrive, regardless of how old they are. But I just don't think Sly is in the right condition to rock the stage. I still love the records though.

JANE'S ADDICTION REUNITED

I didn't even want to write about this, because for some reason I didn't think it was going to happen, but the other night, Jane's Addiction reunited for a club gig in L.A. The full band: Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and even bassist Eric Avery, who hadn't participated in the band's reunions until their recent performance at the NME Awards. Dave Navarro wrote about the gig on his blog, giving credit to the other guys who have played bass for Jane's over the years, but saying that it isn't really Jane's without all four guys.

Without getting my hopes up too much, I gotta think this will lead to something else. Then again, if money is thrown into it, Eric may just split. I give him credit: clearly he is interested in making a buck: I bet his gig in Alanis Morissette's band pays well, and he tried out for Metallica. He just doesn't want to mess with the memory of his band. Still, I'd love to see the band with him back in it, and so would lots of other people. I can see them doing Coachella and Lollapalooza this year, but hopefully, they'll come to NYC as well.

AN OPEN LETTER TO JOHN PAUL JONES

Hi, Mr. John Paul Jones. I've recently written "open letters" to your friend and bandmate Jimmy Page - twice. Actually, one of them was to you and him. I don't mean to come off creepy. But I gotta ask you one last time: Please don't tour as Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant. You will just look silly.



Don't get me wrong: I'd love to see you on the road with Jimmy. Having Jason Bonham on drums is fine with me also. I just think it will look super lame without him. People would love to see you guys play together. They'd love to see and hear you perform Zeppelin songs. Just don't call it Led Zeppelin, because it isn't Led Zeppelin. I mean, when Robert and Jimmy toured without you in the '90s, they just called it "Jimmy Page & Robert Plant." Hey, man, I'm just looking out for you!

MY HALLOWEEN MIX

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm a big fan of Halloween. I wish there were as much music recorded for Halloween as there is for Christmas. I thought I'd put a short mix of my favorite Halloween (or Halloween-ish) songs.

The Cramps: "Human Fly"
The Misfits: "Vampira"
Alice Cooper: "Welcome To My Nightmare"
Ozzy Osbourne: "Bark At The Moon"
Black Sabbath: "Black Sabbath"
White Zombie "I'm Your Boogie Man"
Rob Zombie with Lionel Richie and Trina "Brick House"
The Fuzztones "I'm The Wolfman"
Jarvis Humby "Man With The X-Ray Eyes"
Tegan & Sara "Walking With A Ghost"
John Zacherle aka The Cool Ghoul "Dinner With Drac (part 1)"
Ryan Adams "Halloweenhead"
Creedence Clearwater Revival "Bad Moon Rising"

TOMORROW ON OUTQ: HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I know that there's more Christmas

albums than Halloween albums, but for my money, Halloween is the most rock and roll holiday there is.

So, tomorrow on OutQ, I'll be talking about two Halloween compilations that I really dig.

Little Steven just released Halloween A Go-Go, a collection of previously released songs that aren't necessarily about Halloween, but which sort of have an appropriate theme. Lots of songs I already knew (The Electric Prunes' "I Had Too Much To Dream," Howlin' Wolf's "Howlin' For My Darlin'," Roky Erickson's "I Walked With A Zombie") and great songs that I hadn't heard before (The Fuzztones' "I'm The Wolfman," Jarvis Humby's "Man With The X-Ray Eyes (Silver Surfer)," and Sweatmaster's "I Am A Demon And I Love Rock 'N Roll").

I also love Rob Zombie's 1998 collection Halloween Hootenanny. This featured a bunch of artists recording Halloween songs exclusively for the album. Although I'm more of a Little Steven guy, I like this compilation better (although I like both). Highlights include Rob's "Halloween (She Get So Mean)," The Reverend Horton Heat's "The Halloween Dance" and The Swingin' Neckbreakers' "No Costume, No Candy."

I'll also be talking about one of my favorite soundtracks ever - to one of my favorite films ever, The Nightmare Before Christmas. There's been a lot of covers from that soundtrack over the years, but none beat the originals from the soundtrack. Although I do like Fiona Apple's "Sally's Song." But I wouldn't play it at my Halloween party.

TOMORROW ON OUTQ

In an attempt to keep Keith Price awake, I'll be taking a break from "rock" and talking about some great female singers (I'll refrain from the term "diva"). Adele, Estelle, P!nk, Nikka Costa, Jennifer Hudson and also the new James Bond theme song by Alicia Keys and Jack White.

But before that, I'll pay tribute to the late Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops.

AN(OTHER) OPEN LETTER TO JIMMY PAGE

Hi, Mr. Jimmy Page, it's me again. It's been about a month since I last wrote. Last time, I kind of begged you and John Paul Jones not to do a Led Zeppelin tour without Robert Plant.

But it struck me that I wasn't really offering you any other alternatives. So I decided to come up with some.

I remember before all the hype about Zeppelin reuniting to play the O2 Dome started, there were actually rumors that you and Jeff Beck were going to do a Yardbirds tour. I think Jeff said he wouldn't do it, but I bet he could be convinced. It would be awesome, and, with all due respect, it would be easier to get someone to sing the late Keith Relf's parts than Robert's. There'd be a bit less pressure and less scrutiny on a Yardbirds tour than a Zeppelin tour. You could still do Zeppelin songs!

Or get Terry Reid to sing Zeppelin tunes, that'd be cool. The rumor has always been that he was your first choice to sing in Led Zep anyway.

Here's some other guys that might want to collaborate with you guys: I know Dave Grohl has been saying that he wants to take some time off, but he's also said he'd drop everything to do a Zeppelin tour. I know he was referring to playing drums for you guys, but maybe if you get him and one or two other guys to switch off on vocals. I bet Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes would do it! Maybe Jack White would - he's said that Robert was his least favorite part of Led Zeppelin. Ben Harper has covered Zep before, and he's jammed with John Paul Jones!

Speaking of John Paul, he works with that bluegrass group, Uncle Earl, right? Maybe you guys could do an acoustic tour with them. And take Dan Tyminski of Union Station (that's Alison Krauss ' band. They've had to wait for her to finish a tour with Robert!).

Whatever you do, please comment here and PROMISE me that you're not really thinking about using the guy from Alter Bridge. I don't want to hate on the guy, it isn't my style, but you're about to see your stock plummet if that happens. (And also, don't call David Coverdale either).

Thanks - Your Fan Always,

No Expiration.