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Classic Rock News

By Gary Graff - The Classic Rock Insider

Updated Wednesday, May 07, 2008

MELLENCAMP/KING POSTPONE MUSICAL'S DEBUT

John Mellencamp and Stephen King fans will have to wait awhile longer for "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County," the theater piece the duo have been collaborating on for several years. The production was set to debut last month at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, but an official postponement has just been announced due to "unanticipated scheduling problems which could not be resolved in time for the production." The company's statement added that "members of the creative team realized the script would not be ready by spring 2009" and that Alliance hoped to have it in production for its 2009-2010 season. The theater describes "Ghost Brothers..." as "a sultry Southern gothic mystery with a blues-tinged, guitar-driven score" about the deaths of three children in 1957 in the fictional town of Lake Belle Reve, Miss. Previously, Mellencamp told the Insider that the hang-up was "trying to find a director. Having the right director for this is key...so we're looking at directors and drivign everybody crazy at the same time; 'Would you guys get on with this!' " Further work on the production will have to wait for Mellencamp, however; the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee hits the road on July 8th -- and comes to the DTE Energy Music Theatre on July 18th -- to promote his new album, "Life, Death, Love and Freedom," which comes out July 15th.

ROLLING STONES KEYBOARDIST ADDRESSES CMU GRADS

Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell told graduates of Central Michigan University to pursue excellence at school's annual commencement ceremony on Saturday (May 3rd) in Mount Pleasant. In his address, Leavell -- who also played in the Allman Brothers Band and Sea Level -- said that "The pursuit of excellence can take you to the Super Bowl or the Hollywood Bowl, if you're committed. If you keep these principles in life, no matter what you've chosen to do, you will be successful." His talk wasn't all serious, however; early in the speech he asked "What's the difference between a musician and a municipal bond? A municipal bond matures and makes money." Leavell, who received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from CMU, spends his free time working on the model tree farm he keeps near Macon, Ga., where he raises Southern yellow pine for use in homes and paper products.

ROLLING STONES FILM GETTING NEW DVD TREATMENT

The Rolling Stones' first film, 1969's classic "Gimme Shelter," will get a refurbished DVD treatment this summer. A never version of the film, directed by Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Swerin, is due out August 12th from Warner Home Video with fully restored sound and picture, the directors' audio commentary track and outtakes from the 1969 concert at New York's Madison Square Garden that opens the film. The DVD will also come with a 40-page booklet that includes some new essays about the Stones' 1969 tour and the tragic Altamont concert that "Gimme Shelter" also chronicles. The film also features performances by Jefferson Airplane, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Ike & Tina Turner. The Stones' latest concert film, the Martin Scorsese-directed "Shine a Light," is currently in theaters.

PURPORTED HENDRIX SEX TAPE HEADED FOR SALE

Jimi Hendrix fans are getting a new look at the rock guitar icon thanks to "Jimi Hendrix: The Sex Tape," which is due to be released on May 6 for $39.95. Vivid Entertainment claims the DVD features 11 minutes of footage of Hendrix cavorting with two groupies about 40 years ago in a hotel room. The DVD also includes a documentary that includes an interview with Cynthia Plaster Caster in which she confirms that it's definitely Hendrix in the sex video and talks about making the famous plaster caster of Hendrix's penis. Others, including Hendrix biographer Charles Cross and former girlfriend Kathy Etchingham, have said the man in the tape, whose full face is only seen for a few seconds, is not Hendrix. In a statement, Vivid's Steven Hirsch says that the video "shows that Jimi Hendrix could have been as great a porn star as a rock star." Vivid says the tape comes from a rock 'n' roll memorabilia collection,

TOWNSHEND SUSPENDS WHO PLANS FOR 2008

The Who is going on hiatus according to guitarist Pete Townshend. In a lengthy posting at www.thewho.com, Townshend writes that he's scuttling plans for the Who to record a covers album in September and also tour later this year. Townshend writes in part that "I don't want the Who to evaporate before my eyes, but I can't see how to push it forward without some kind of cohesive creative strategy, or great new idea to carry me along...I must not commit to studio time or show dates, especially not to long tours, without some kind of creative programme. I don't know whether I can write songs for the Who. I don't know if I can come up with some idea, some story, some angle, that will make me feel good about being the writer for the Who. Most important of all I don't know if I write something whether I should try to force the Who to carry it." Townshend called himself "clueless" about where the Who should proceed from here and says the situation "tears me apart." The Who is still expected to go ahead with its appearance at the 2008 VH1 Rock Honors on July 12th in Los Angeles, which will be broadcast on July 17th. T-Bone Burnett, who's slated to produce the covers album, recently told the Insider that he, Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey had settled on "five or six" songs for the project, and he expected to record a total of "about 15."

LOU REED WEDS

Lou Reed has taken a "Walk on the Wild Side." Now he's taken a walk down the aisle. News has just leaked that Reed, 66, married his longtime girlfriend, avant-garde musician Laurie Anderson, on April 13th in Colorado. Wedding guests reportedly included actor Richard Belzer and award-winning director Julian Schnabel. Reed and Anderson, 60, have lived together for the past 12 years but have only intermittently worked together. This year Reed has celebrated the release of the Schnabel-directed performance film "Lou Reed's Berlin," which features a contemporary performance of his landmark 1973 album. Reed plans to play more "Berlin" shows this year, mostly in Europe.

ALICE COOPER EYEBALLING AUGUST RELEASE FOR NEW ALBUM

Detroit-born shock rocker Alice cooper says that he's about three-quarters finished with his next album, "Along Came a Spider," and hopes to have it ready for an August release. Cooper tells Billboard that "it's a real 'Alice' album," a concept piece about a serial killer named Spider who wraps victims in silk webs. "Every song is sort of a letter to the police," Cooper says. "They think they're investigating it from the outside, but he's actually woven them into the whole thing." He plans to kick off the Along Came A Spider Tour on July 24th in London, England, with North American dates beginning July 31st; no Detroit area show has been announced yet, and last year Cooper's camp said they might be considering something other than his annual stop at the Michigan State Fair. Cooper tells Billboard that the "Along Came A Spider" concerts will be modeled after old-time radio dramas, with extras playing detectives and prowling the stage between songs. On May 9th, Cooper will receive the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award at the fourth annual MusicCares MAP Fund benefit concert in Los Angeles, honoring his work in helping other musicians achieve sobriety.

SPRINGSTEEN KEYBOARDIST SUCCUMBS TO CANCER

Longtime Bruce Springsteen cohort and E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici lost a three-year battle with melanoma on Thursday (April 17th), passing away at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City at age 58. Springsteen posted a tribute on his web site late Thursday saying that "Danny and I worked together for 40 years -- he was the most wonderfully fluid keyboard player and a pure natural musician. I loved him very much... we grew up together." Springsteen and the E Street Band have postponed concerts on Friday (April 18th) concert in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Saturday (April 19th) show in Orlando, Fla., though no funeral or memorial information has been set yet. Federici played with Springsteen in pre-E Street bands such as Child, Steel Mill and Dr. Zoom & the Sonic Boom before Springsteen formed the E Street Band in 1973. He was nicknamed "Phantom" after a comical escape from police during a 1970 riot at a Springsteen show in Richmond, Va. Federici also played on albums by Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker and E Street Band guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt, and he released a pair of instrumental albums -- "Flemington" in 1997, "Sweet" in 2004 and "Out of a Dream" in 2005. Springsteen announced that Federici would be taking a leave of absence from the band for cancer treatments after the fall leg of the group's Magic Tour wrapped on November 19th in Boston. Federici made a surprise appearance at the group's March 20 show in Indianapolis, and at the time band members and others in the Springsteen camp spoke hopefully of a recovery and of Federici eventually rejoining the band full-time. Charlie Giordano, who was part of Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Band, has taken Federici's place since November. The Federici family is establishing a Danny Federici Melanoma Fund; more details on the Fund will be forthcoming."

TED NUGENT FILMS PARTS FOR TOBY KEITH FILM

Moviegoers beware; Ted Nugent is taking aim at the silver screen. The Motor City Madman recently shot scenes for country star and good pal Toby Keith's film adaptation of the latter's hit "Beer For My Horses." Nugent plays Skunk Tarver, who he describes as "an uppity, defiant, long-haired, over-the-top rock 'n' roll deputy sheriff in Jackson County, Oklahoma, who loves bowhunting and guns. He will do whatever is necessary to keep Jackson County safe from criminal danger." The movie follows a group of small town deputies who defy their sheriff boss by heading out of town to save a woman kidnapped by drug dealers." Willie Nelson is part of the cast, along with actors Tom Skerritt, Claire Forlani and Barry Corbin. The film is due out later this year. There's no word yet on whether Nugent -- who is also in talks with the state of New Mexico for a new TV show, "Ted Nugent Spirit of New Mexico" -- will contribute any music to the film's soundtrack...In other Nugent-related news, Cliff Davies -- the drummer in Nugent's band during his mid-'70s heyday -- apparently committed suicide over the weekend. Davies' body was found on Sunday (April 13th) at his home in the Atlanta suburb of Dallas, Ga. Police are investigating, but a friend told the Associated Press that Davies had called him Saturday and was "extremely distraught" over medical bills.

DOCUMENTARY ON BEATLES

A documentary will be coming out this year about "LOVE," the Beatles/Cirque du Soleil collaboration in Las Vegas. "All Together Now" chronicles the making of "LOVE," including interviews with surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison's widows Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison, Cirque du Soleil principles and Grammy-winning music producers George Martin and his son, Giles Martin. Producer Martin Bolduc told the Canadian Press wire service that the film is "raw and emotional;" he's currently waiting for the Beatles' Apple Corps to clear the film. "We presented it to Apple and said, 'This is what we think it is, these are the themes, this is the film,' " Bolduc said. "And they were happy...For a company that big and that known for control, they were really quite accepting of us and didn't censor us." The "LOVE" soundtrack won a Grammy Award in February for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.

STARR'S STATUE LOSES ITS HEAD IN LIVERPOOL

Hell apparently hath no fury like a city spurned. Former Beatle Ringo Starr learned that recently when his head was decapitated from a statue of the Fab Four that sits in the middle of Liverpool. The vandalism is suspected to be retribution for some negative comments Starr has made about his home town while promoting his latest album, "Liverpool 8." When asked on the BBC's "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross" what he misses about Liverpool, Starr replied "nothing," causing something of an uproar in the city. Starr has not yet commented on his head being lopped off the statue. He begins a tour with his latest All-Starr Band on June 19th in Niagra Falls, Ontario. No Detroit area appearance is planned; the closest he comes in a July 12 show at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant.

MCCARTNEY REPORTEDLY PLANNING WORLD TOUR

Paul McCartney may be on the road again before the end of the year. The ex-Beatle, who last toured North America -- including two shows at the Palace of Auburn Hills -- in the fall of 2005, is planning what's said to be a large-scale tour that will include dates in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australia. Britain's Daily Mirror reports that representatives from McCartney's camp have been meeting with promoters around the world about the tour, which may accompany a new album release. Among the possible dates is a show at the 50,000-capacity Halifax Common, where the Rolling Stones performed in 2006. Firm dates and details are expected to be announced in May.

QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS REVEAL 2008 PLANS

Queen + Paul Rodgers have begun the campaign for their next move. The group premiered a new song, "C-Lebrity," Friday (April 4th) on the British TV show "Al Murray's Happy Hour," and confirmed it has recorded a new album that will be released this summer. It will be the first Queen album since 1995's "Made in Heaven," a compilation of unreleased studio recordings. The last Queen set conceived as an album was "Innuendo" in 1991, shortly before frontman Freddie Mercury died of complications from AIDS on November 24th, 1991. Queen + Paul Rodgers also announced plans to tour this fall, beginning September 21st in Berlin. A North American tour is likely in early 2009.

COSTELLO LINES UP TV SHOW

He sang about "Radio, Radio," but TV is in Elvis Costello's future. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has signed a deal with Elton John's Rocket Pictures for "Spectacle: Elvis Costello With...," a series of 13 one-hour shows that will begin taping in New York City soon and begin airing in December on the Sundance Channel, as well as outlets in England and Canada. The shows will include interviews, group discussions and performances. In a statement, Costello called the show "a wonderful opportunity to talk in complete thoughts about music, movies, art or even vaudeville, then frame it with unique and illustrative performances. I'm not interested in extracting some dark secret. I'd rather hear about a bright secret, a deep love or a curiosity that might be otherwise obscured by fame." John also issued a statement saying that "Elvis Costello is teh foremost expert on popular music. I thought it would be sensational to use his knowledge and intelligence to explore the artistry of musicians and other fascinating people involved in making great music, as well as true music aficionados." It's not Costello's first brush with hosting a TV show; in 2003 he filled in for David Letterman while the CBS host was laid up with a severe case of Shingles. Costello and his band, the Imposters, will also be on the road this summer opening for the Police

MCCARTNEY, STARR TO FINISH LENNON SONG?

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are reportedly considering recording a "new" Beatles song in tribute to their recently deceased comrade Neil Aspinall. The two would finish off "Now and Then," a John Lennon song from the '70s that currently exists in demo form. A source told Britain's Sun newspaper discussions have started about possibly finishing the song, though he added "It would be quite a task. It will need a significant amount of work to get it into a condition where it could be released." No official confirmation has come from either McCartney or Starr's camp, and there's no sense of how the late George Harrison might be involved in whatever becomes of "Now and Then." Aspinall -- long considered the true "fifth Beatle" for his role as the band's tour manager and latter head of its Apple Corps company -- died on March 24th.

LOTS OF ZEP RUMORS QUASHED

There's not a lot of good news for Led Zeppelin fans hoping for more from the band in the wake of its December reunion show in London. Guitarist Jimmy Page recently told Britain's Mirror.co.uk that there are no plans to release a CD or DVD of the show at the O2 Arena in London. "We didn't go in with the express purpose of making a DVD to come out at Christmas, or whatever," Page said, though he didn't rule out a release "at some distant point." Meanwhile, Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash doused some cold water on the ubiquitous Led Zep tour rumors, telling the Daily Star's Playlist that "I'm good friends with Jimmy Page so I can tell you once and for all the tour doesn't look like happening any time soon. But who knows, one day?" Slash also acknowledged rumors that Velvet Revolver had already been tapped to open for a Zep reunion tour but said "those reports were taken out of context." Last week, singer Robert Plant, whose reluctance has been cited as the main impediment to a Zep tour, told Gigwise.com that he'd be open to another show with the band, but "for another really, really good reason" rather than a conventional tour. The December show was a benefit for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, honoring the late Atlantic Records co-founder and longtime Zep friend. Plant will spend the spring and summer touring with bluegrass legend Alison Krauss to promote their Grammy-winning collaboratioin "Raising Sand," including a June 17th appearance at Detroit's Fox Theatre.

ALLMANS POSTPONE SPRING DATES DUE TO DISEASE

The Allman Brothers Band has postponed its annual run of shows at New York's Beacon Theatre and canceled a festival appearance because frontman Gregg Allman is battling Hepatitis C. The group is hoping to reschedule the 15 New York dates, an annual ritual slated to take place in May this year. Additionally, the group is bailing out of its appearance at the Wanee Festival in Florida next month, though band members Warren Haynes (with Gov't Mule) and Derek Trucks will still perform. In a statement, Allmans management said that "the recovery time from the side effects of the treatment are taking longer than originally projected. Since the Allman Brothers Band are known for exhilarating and exhausting concert performances they don't want to give fans anything less than they have come to expect; so the band members made a group decision to delay the first round of dates." In his own statement, Allman said that, "I'm getting better but I'm still tired. I need to be at 110% to do the shows the way we do them. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the support and understanding my Brothers and our fans have given me." The Allmans plan to go ahead with their performance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 14th as well as with a late summer tour that kicks off August 16th in Mansfield, Mass. The full itinerary for the tour is expected to be announced soon, but no Detroit area date is expected.

LOTS OF ZEP RUMORS QUASHED

ALLMANS POSTPONE SPRING DATES DUE TO DISEASE

BUCKINGHAM OUTLINES FLEETWOOD MAC PLANS

Fleetwood Mac is gearing up for activity in 2009 -- with or without Sheryl Crow. The group's Lindsey Buckingham told the Insider that the group, which has been dormant since 2004, is "looking at the idea of touring sometime in the first half of 2009" and may even have some new material to play. As for Crow's recent revelation that she may be joining the band, Buckingham said that "I don't think anything is written in stone yet. I think we were all a little surprised (Crow) was announcing that to the world with such certainty. We have talked about the possibility of bringing another woman into the scene to kind of give Stevie (Nicks) a sort of foil and shake it up a little bit. (Crow) was certainly a name that has come up. Certainly she would be a great addition, and I think it would be a lot of fun. We'll have to see." Nicks has been the group's sole female member since Christine McVie retired from the band in the late '90s. Buckingham said he has "a ton of new stuff" in terms of material, some of which will be used for a solo album coming this summer -- the follow-up to 2006's "Under the Skin" -- and some of which might be used for a new Fleetwood Mac project. "Whatever happens," Buckingham said, "we'll all sit in a room and make something work as a group. a little more like we used to, sort of try to open it up and get everyone sharing the activity a little more." Buckingham has just released a new concert DVD, "Live at the Bass Performance Hall," from his 2006-07 solo tour and hopes to play some solo dates this year, before Fleetwood Mac gets active.

PETTY REVIVING OLD BAND FOR ALBUM, LIVE SHOWS

Tom Petty is going back to the future this year with a revival of his pre-Heartbreakers band, Mudcrutch. The group, which includes Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench, formed in Petty's native Gainesville, Fla., and moved to Hollywood in the mid-'70s, where it released one single, "Depot Street," before changing members and morphing into the Heartbreakers. A few of its songs, including an early version of the Heartbreakers' hit "Don't Do Me Like That," appeared on Petty's 1995 box set "Playback." On April 29th, Mudcrutch -- which includes original members Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh -- will release its first-ever album, a self-titled affair, while the group will also play a series of concerts in California only beginning April 12th. Petty and the Heartbreakers, meanwhile, are set to begin a summer tour on May 30th in Grand Rapids, with the second date the following night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

ALICE COOPER TO RECEIVE MUSICARES HONOR

Detroit-born shock rocker Alice Cooper will be honored with MusiCares' annual Stevie Ray Vaughan Award this year during a ceremony and concert set for May 9th at the Music Box Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. Cooper will be cited for his support of MusiCares' MAP Fund, which provides musicians and music industry professionals access to a variety of treatment and recovery options for substance addictions. Cooper will perform at the show along with fellow honoree Slash, who's getting the organization's From the Heart Award, plus Blind Melon and Camp Freddy, an all-star group featuring past and current members of Guns N' Roses, the Cult, Velvet Revolver and Jane's Addiction. In a statement, Cooper notes that, "When I got sober more than 20 years ago, the MusiCares MAP Fund did not exist. It's so important that musicians and other music industry people have access to the kind of resources MusiCares and the MAP Fund provide and I'm proud to be honored this year and help raise funds to support this significant work."

JUDGE SAYS MCCARTNEY'S EX WAS HER

Heather Mills was "her own worst enemy," according to the judge in her divorce case against Paul McCartney, revealing why her claim for nearly $250 million was knocked down to $48.6 million. In documents released Tuesday (March 18th) High Court Justice Hugh Bennett castigated Mills as "not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid. Overall she was a less than impressive witness...She has an explosive and volatile character." Bennett said he found Mills' financial claim to be "exorbitant." Meanwhile, the judge praised McCartney as "consistent, accurate and honest." Mills further distinguished herself after the decision was announced on Monday (March 17th) by dousing McCartney's attorney, Fiona Shackleton, with a jug of water and accusing her of "letting down womankind" by representing mail clients such as McCartney and Prince Charles. Shackleton, who reportedly made $6 million for representing McCartney, could ask for Mills to be held in contempt of court, while Mills has said she plans to report Shackleton to the Law Society. In addition to the payment to Mills, McCartney will also pay $70,000 a year for their four-year-old daughter Beatrice, plus nanny and school expenses. Despite everything, Mills professed to be "very, very, very pleased" with the settlement, which amounts to about $34,000 for each day she was married to the former Beatle

BOSTON ANNOUNCES SUMMER TOUR

Boston is planning to hit the road again this summer. A preliminary band announcement confirmed the tour -- whose second date will be June 15th at the DTE Energy Music Theatre -- and said the lineup would include Boston founder Tom Scholz and longtime guitarist Gary Pihl along with singer Tommy DeCarlo, guitarist Michael Sweet, singer-bassist Kimberly Dahme and drummer Jeff Neal. It will be Boston's first tour since the March 9, 2007 suicide of original singer Brad Delp, leaving a public note that read "I am a lonely soul." Boston's last album, "Corporate America," came out in 2002. The group is planning a live DVD in conjunction with this summer's tour.

SHERYL CROW TO JOIN FLEETWOOD MAC?

Fleetwood Mac may be getting a new member in the near future. Sheryl Crow stopped short of making in ''official'' announcement that she'd be joining the band but told AOL's music site spinner.com that she and the Mac ''definitely have plans for collaborating in the future, and we'll see what happens.'' Crow said it would likely happen in 2009, after she finishes touring to support her latest album, ''Detours.'' Crow would be replacing Christine McVie, who had joined the band in 1970 but retired from touring in 1988. Both Nicks and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham have told the Insider that Nicks was unhappy being the only female member of the group. Crow produced and co-worte several tracks on Nicks' 2001 album ''Trouble in Shangri-La'' and said that Nicks is ''the person I learned the most hands-on from...she's a true artist.'' Fleetwood Mac last toured in 2004. Stay tuned for details.

VAN HALEN POSTPONES MORE TOUR DATES

Van Halen has postponed nearly six weeks worth of concerts due to guitarist Eddie Van Halen's still-mysterious medical condition. The group, which reunited with original singer David Lee Roth in 2007 (though Eddie's son Wolfgang is currently playing bass in place of Michael Anthony), is coming off the road until April 19, when Van Halen is slated to play golf champ Tiger Woods's Tiger Jam in Las Vegas. Tour organizers say that Eddie Van Halen, who has battled substance abuse and cancer in the past, is "currently under doctors' care" and will "continue medical tests to define a course of treatment." No other details were revealed. A recent National Enquirer report claims that Van Halen into a San Antonio rehab clinic after a backstage fight with Wolfgang, but that has not been substantiated. The postponement affects 17 shows including an April 5 date in Grand Rapids. The tour organizers say the dates will be rescheduled and fans should hold onto their tickets.

NEW ROCK HALL CLASS READY FOR INDUCTION

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts its 23rd annual class Monday (March 10th) at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Among the inductees are: John Mellencamp, who will perform and is being inducted by Billy Joel; the Dave Clark Five, who will be inducted by actor Tom Hanks and feted by Joan Jett, who will be backed by the Beatles tribute band the Fab Faux; the Ventures, who will perform with their inductor, John Fogerty; and Leonard Cohen, who will be inducted by Lou Reed. Iggy Pop & the Stooges, meanwhile, will perform in honor of fellow Michigander Madonna. Blues great Little Walter and the Philly soul production and songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will also be inducted. The ceremony will be broadcast live on VH1 Classic starting at 8:30 p.m., with a live Internet stream at www.bestbuy.com/halloffame.

PAUL MCCARTNEY, U2 ASKED TO PLAY AT MANDELA BIRTHDAY BASH

Paul McCartney and U2 have been asked to perform at a concert that will celebrate South African leader Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday on June 27th in London's Hyde Park. Queen + Paul Rodgers have already signed on for the show, which will be hosted by actor/rapper Will Smith and his wife, fellow actor Jada Pinkett Smith. Detroit rapper Eminem has also been invited to be part of the show, while former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox and younger British bands Razorlight and Keane have already confirmed. More acts are expected to be announced in coming weeks.

VAN HALEN TOUR DOWN, NOT OUT

Despite a recent rash of postponements due to medical issues affecting Eddie Van Halen, the Van Halen reunion tour with David Lee Roth is expected to go on. The group recently postponed four shows scheduled for this week in Dallas, Cincinnati, Raleigh, N.C., and Baltimore and issued a statement saying that the guitarist "is undergoing a battery of comprehensive medical tests to determine a defined diagnosis and recommended medical procedures." The Van Halen camp has not elaborated on the health issue. The web site TMZ.com reported earlier this week that the entire tour would be canceled due to renewed conflicts between Roth and the rest of the band, but Billboard magazine sources say the shows -- currently booked through April 25, including an April 5 date in Grand Rapids -- will indeed go on. But tickets for some previously announced shows for May have not been put on sale, which leads some to believe the reunion will come to a premature end. Regardless, it's been a lucrative run for the quartet; the first leg of the tour last fall, which included shows at Joe Louis Arena and the Palace of Auburn Hills, netted $56 million in 39 shows.

REPORT: PLANT SAYS NO TO MORE ZEP

Hopes for a Led Zeppelin tour -- or at least more live shows -- are being dashed according to a report in Britain's Sunday Mirror. The story quotes an unnamed source close to frontman Robert Plant as saying he was the reason Zep has turned down an almost $200 million tour offer. The source tells the Sun that "the decision did not come down to money. They always said they would do the one-off show and then see how they felt. Jimmy (Page) enjoyed the concert in December enough to want to tour. He argued they still had something to offer. He likes the idea of another chapter in the band -- the grown-up tour. John (Paul Jones) sided with Jimmy. He loved making music with the others again. But Robert wanted to leave last year's concert as their legacy. They had proved they could still do it and that was enough. He has other commitments and is happier looking forward to those." Page had previously said that Zep would not play live again until at least September, after Plant finishes his tour with Alison Krauss. The tour begins April 20th in Louisville, Ky. They play Detroit's Fox Theatre on June 17th.

BEATLES NEWS: LENNON ICE CREAM, MCCARTNEY DIVORCE, MARTIN APOLOGY

There's plenty of news in, around and from the Beatles universe these days. To wit... * The latest Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, Imagine Whirled Peace, takes its inspiration from the late John Lennon and features his image and signature on the carton. The flavor is a mix of toffee, cookies and fudge with fudge peace sign pieces swirled in. At its web site, Ben & Jerry's notes that: "When Ben & Jerry's wanted to talk about peace, we couldn't think of a better person to exemplify the message than John Lennon. Through his art and lyrics he imagined a world without war and asked us all to 'Give Peace a Chance'. We hope this whirly mixture of toffee cookies and fudge peace signs enlightens your bellies and souls and makes you ask what you can do to promote peace in your lives". * British High Court Justice Hugh Bennett will announce a settlement in the Paul McCartney-Heather Mills divorce case on March 17. The couple had reportedly agreed on a settlement earlier this month but McCartney did not sign, reportedly under advisement that he'd fare better if he allowed the judge to decide the terms. The settlement will be kept secret unless either McCartney or Mills decide to challenge it. * Beatles producer George Martin has publicly apologized to Pete Best, the band's first drummer, for making a suggestion that helped lead to Best's ouster in 1962. Martin tells the Across The Universe fan website that during the Beatles' first EMI audition, he told manager Brian Epstein that "it doesn't matter what you do with the boys, but on record, nobody need know. I'm gonna use a hot drummer'...It was pretty tough for (Pete) and I felt guilty because I felt maybe, I was the catalyst that had changed his life, so I'm sorry about that, Pete."

ROGER WATERS SCHEDULES FINAL RUN FOR

Roger Waters is getting ready to close the curtain on "Dark Side of the Moon" -- for now, at least. The former Pink Floyd bassist will play the album in its entirety just eight more times, including at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on April 27th and at two newly announced U.K. shows on May 15th in Liverpool and May 18th in London. The latter pair of shows will be similar to those Waters has been touring the world with for the past two years, playing "Dark Side" during the first half and a selection of other Pink Floyd songs and his solo material during the second. The Coachella performance will be one long set. Waters is also slated to play "Dark Side" at shows in Denver (April 30th), Dallas (May 2nd) and suburban Houston (May 4th), and in the Netherlands (May 11th) and Denmark (May 13th).

LED ZEPPELIN, AEROSMITH, OTHERS INVITED TO PLAY WORLD PEACE CONCERTS

Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, U2 and ZZ Top are among the artists who have been approached top play a worldwide series of concerts on May 17th to promote world peace. The concerts are the initiative of World Peace One, a non-profit advocacy group that wants the concerts to kick off a 10-year drive to rid the planet of war. Cities targeted for the initial shows include Beijing, Istanbul, London, Johannesburg and Miami, as well as locations in Portugal, Brazil, Puerto Rico, India and other countries. INXS, Velvet Revolver and Madonna are also among the dozens of acts who have been invited to be part of the event. None of the groups have yet responded; Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant does have the day off from his tour with Alison Krauss, though he's playing in Sweden on May 17th and Norway on May 18th.

DYLAN COMPILES NEW ALBUM FOR STARBUCKS

Bob Dylan has signed on as the latest contributor in Starbucks' Artist's Choice series. Dylan has compiled a 16-track collection which is due at the coffee chain Tuesday (Feb. 26), tilting heavily towards jazz, R&B, blues and country with songs by Pee Wee Crayton, Ray Price, Charley Jordan, Junior Parker, Wanda Jackson and Junior Wells. It's not yet known whether Dylan wrote track-by-track comments about the songs as have other Artist's Choice compilers such as the Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Elvis Costello and Emmylou Harris. Meanwhile, the English label Ace Records is releasing "Theme Radio Hour With Your Host Bob Dylan," a two-CD set featuring 50 songs Dylan has played on his syndicated radio show. The full track listing for Dylan's Artist's Choice set includes: Pee Wee Crayton, "Do Unto Others;" Clancy Eccles, "Don't Brag, Don't Boast;" Stanley Brothers with the Clinch Mountain Boys, "The Fields Have Turned Brown;" Gus Viseur, "Flambe Montalbanaise;" Red Prysock, "Hand Clappin';" Sol Hoopii & His Novelty Quartette, "I Like You;" Ray Price, "I'll Be There (If You Ever Want Me);" Stuff Smith & His Onyx Club Boys, "I'se A Muggin' (Part 1);" Charley Jordan, "Keep It Clean;" Junior Wells, "Little By Little (I'm Losing You);" Patty & The Emblems, "Mixed-Up, Shook-Up Girl;" Getatchew Kassa, "Tezeta;" Flaco Jimenez with Toby Torres & Jose Morante, "Victimas De Huracan Beulah;" Wanda Jackson, "I Gotta Know;" Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra, "I Hear Music;" Junior Parker, "Pretty Baby."

STONES ANNOUNCE

The Rolling Stones have revealed plans for two different versions of the soundtrack for their Martin Scorsese-directed documentary, "Shine a Light," which will open in select theaters on April 4th. The soundtrack, which comes out April 1st, will come in single- and double-disc editions, though the guest performances -- by Detroit native Jack White of the White Stripes, Christina Aguilera and Buddy Guy -- will be included in both. The album also features the Stones' first officially released live versions of "All Down The Line," "Some Girls," "Connection," "She Was Hot" and "As Tears Go By." "Shine a Light," which was filmed October 29th and November 1st, 2006 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, premiered on February 7th at the Berlin Film Festival and will make its U.S. debut at the South By Southwest Film Festival in mid-March. The U.K. premiere will be April 2nd in London. There are rumors that the Stones will play some shows this year to promote the film, but no details have been announced. The track listing for the two-disc "Shine a Light" set includes: Disc 1 -- "Jumping Jack Flash," "Shattered," "She Was Hot," "All Down The Line," "Loving Cup" (with Jack White), "As Tears Go By," "Some Girls," "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," "Far Away Eyes," "Champagne & Reefer" (with Buddy Guy), "Tumbling Dice," "You Got The Silver," "Connection." Disc 2 -- "Sympathy For The Devil," "Live With Me" (with Christina Aguilera), "Start Me Up," "Brown Sugar," (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Paint It Black," "Little T&A," "I'm Free," "Shine A Light." The single disc version of the album, which will be available only in the U.S., includes: "Jumping Jack Flash," "She Was Hot," "All Down The Line," "Loving Cup" (with Jack White), "As Tears Go By," "Some Girls," "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," "Far Away Eyes," "Champagne & Reefer" (with Buddy Guy), "You Got The Silver," "Connection," "Sympathy For The Devil," "Live With Me" (with Christina Aguilera), "Start Me Up," "Brown Sugar."

KINKS REUNION STILL ON HOLD

Ray Davies releases his second full-length solo album, "Working Man's Cafe," on Tuesday (February 19th). But he recognizes that fans mostly want to know when the Kinks will reunite -- and he has no firm answer for them yet. "It depends on if Dave and I get together," Davies tells the Insider, referencing his brother, Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, who suffered a stroke in 2004. "He's gradually getting his strength back, but he's playing again, so that's a good sign. It really depends on a) if he can do it and b) if we've got the will to do it...and if there's any new music. I can't get a band together just to play the old hits. They'd have to be able to do, like, 10 percent new material. I think that will be the determining factor in the long run." Davies says he's had reunion discussions not only with his drummer but with the original rhythm section of bassist Pete Quaife and drummer Mick Avory. Davies reports that "Dave's just got a few reservations about it, about taking on too much too soon, but he's definitely on the mend." Acknowledging an Internet posting by Dave that he's not interested in a reunion, Ray Davies quips that "he's getting well enough to shout at me, so that's a good thing." The Kinks have been disbanded since 1996. Ray Davies, meanwhile, plans to tour to promote "Working Man's Cafe," but no dates have been announced except for a couple of mid-March shows in Australia.

BEATLES NEWS: ALL-STARR TOUR, MCCARTNEY DIVORCE

While his onetime bandmate Paul McCartney wraps his divorce proceedings in London, Ringo Starr has announced the 10th edition of his All-Starr Band, which will tour this summer. The troupe is comprised mostly of All-Starr veterans -- Edgar Winter, Billy Squier, Hamish Stuart of the Average White Band and McCartney's late '80s/early '90s group, and former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay. New to the All-Stars this year is Gary Wright ("Dream Weaver") and drummer Gregg Bissonette, a former Detroiter who played in David Lee Roth's first solo band. The All-Starr tour kicks off June 19th in Niagra Falls, while more summer dates will be announced soon...McCartney, meanwhile, is scheduled to wrap up his divorce hearing against Heather Mills today (February 15th) in London's High Court. The couple is apparently still deadlocked on financial terms and a custody arrangement for their four-year-old daughter Beatrice. Should they not agree today, a judge will rule on all issues.

POLICE TO HIT DETROIT ONE MORE TIME ON REUNION TOUR

The Police plan to bust through North America and Europe one more time this summer -- then call it quits for good, they say. The reunited trio, whose 2007 tour took home Major Tour of the Year honors at last week's PollStar Concert Industry Awards, will play between 30-40 amphitheatre and arena shows on these shores in May, July and early August -- including one in the Detroit area -- with 15 European dates in June. Elvis Costello & the Imposters will open the North American dates. About half of those will be in cities the Police did not play during last year's run. The Police wrap up the current leg of their tour on Sunday in Honolulu.

SPRINGSTEEN, EAGLES, OTHER CLASSIC ROCKERS NOTCH GRAMMY WINS

Although not as prevalent as, say, Amy Winehouse or Kanye West, Classic Rock had its place at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (February 10th), taking home a handful of the evening's trophies. Bruce Springsteen was the genre's big winner with three -- Best Rock Song and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for "Radio Nowhere," the first single from his "Magic" album, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Once Upon a Time in the West," which he recorded for the "We All Love Ennio Morricone" tribute album. The Eagles won their first Grammy in 29 years -- but for Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals rather than in a rock category. Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant shared a trophy with Alison Krauss in the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocal category, while Joni Mitchell won the Best Pop Instrumental Performance prize for "One Week Last Summer" and, of course, was the inspiration for Herbie Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters," which was the surprise Album of the Year winner. Also taking home trophies Sunday were Eric Clapton and JJ Cale, Best Contemporary Blues Album for their joint project "The Road to Escondido," and The Band's Levon Helm, Best Traditional Folk Album for his solo effort "Dirt Farmer." The Band also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

BEATLES SALUTE A NO-BRAINER FOR 50TH GRAMMYS

The Beatles will get their due at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, which take place Sunday (February 10th) in Los Angeles. The group will be honored via a segment that features performances of "A Day in the Life" and "Across the Universe" from the Cirque du Soleil "LOVE" show. Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich tells the Insider that saluting the Beatles at the 50th Grammys was a no-brainer: "For 45 of our 50 years, is there any other single group that's had the impact on modern music more than the Beatles -- including this year, where there are a number of nominations for music written by (John) Lennon and (Paul) McCartney? So, what we wanna do is celebrate their music." Both the Beatles' "LOVE" and the "Across the Universe" soundtracks are competing for the Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media. McCartney, meanwhile, is up for three Grammys for his latest album, "Memory Almost Full." Ringo Starr, Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia will be attending the Grammys; McCartney, whose divorce from Heather Mills goes to court on Monday (Feb. 11) has opted to remain in England. The Grammys air at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBS, WWJ-TV Channel 62 in Detroit.

STONES FILM READY FOR WORLD, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERES

The light is about to shine on "Shine a Light," the Martin Scorsese-directed Rolling Stones concert film. The project will have its first public showing on Thursday (February 7th) at the Berlin International Film Festival. Scorsese and the Stones will be in attendance for the premiere. The group has also announced the North American debut of the movie, at this year's South By Southwest Film Festival, which runs March 7-15 and overlaps with the SXSW music conference and festival. No date has been announced yet for the Stones film; the festival's schedule comes out February 15th. The performance footage was filmed in October of 2006 at former U.S. President Bill Clinton's 60th birthday party at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Buddy Guy, the White Strips' Jack White and Christina Aguilera are all featured in the movie. Stones guitarist Ron Wood tells the Insider the group is very pleased with the film: "I was like, 'Wow...!' It was right in my face. People were going, 'That was fantastic!' I was going, 'Was it?' It was too much for me. I love it, but it was too much." "Shine a Light" is expected to have theatrical distribution later this year as well as a DVD release.

WOLF OFFERS GEILS BAND FIX DURING KID ROCK SHOWS

J. Geils Band fans will be able to get a rare concert fix of the group's hits when Kid Rock rolls into town for some home town shows this weekend at Joe Louis Arena. Rock's Rock and Roll Revival Tour is featuring a couple of segments with Geils frontman Peter Wolf as special guest; Wolf performs "Love Stinks" with Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker Band," then closes the concert's first half by joining Rock and company for "Centerfold," a Motown medley of the Supremes' "Where Did Our Love Go" and the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "Musta Got Lost," which Wolf introduced by recreating the "Woofah Goofah" rap, twisting it slightly to include Kid Rock. For the encore, Wolf joins Rock, Twisted Brown Trucker and Run-DMC's Rev. Run, another special guest, for Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" and the spiritual "This Little Light of Mine." Before the troupe's February 1st concert in Grand Rapids, Wolf told the Insider that, "It's a good connection. We're all coming from the same place, musically." Rock, meanwhile, tells the Insider that Wolf has joined him on stage in New Hampshire over the years and was a natural choice to include on the tour: "Just growing up here in Detroit, J. Geils was obviously so huge, so it kind of made sense. He's got so many great songs, some pop stuff and some of the older stuff, too. It's a great fit." Wolf won't be the only classic rocker on stage with Rock on Friday and Saturday (February 8 and 9; former Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts joins the tour at those shows and is expected to play "Rambling Man," among other songs

NASA TO BEAM BEATLES SONG ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

The Beatles are headed across the universe -- literally. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the U.S. space agency NASA will beam the Fabs' "Across the Universe" towards the North Star Polaris via its Deep Space Network at 7 p.m. on Monday (February 4th). Paul McCartney was pleased with the honor, sending NASA a message saying, "Well done. Send my love to the aliens." John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, meanwhile, said that "I see this as the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe." NASA is asking Beatles fans to mark the occasion by playing the song at the same time on Monday -- just in case the aliens are hard of hearing...In other Beatles news, there are rumors that the long-awaited online rollout of the group's catalog will be announced during a Super Bowl XLII commercial on Sunday (February 3rd). iTunes is expected to have a three-month exclusive run before the remixed and remastered albums are released to other online outlets and come out on CD. No confirmation has come from the Beatles camp, however.

NO LED ZEP TOUR BEFORE SEPTEMBER, AT LEAST

Jimmy Page says Led Zeppelin is prepared to tour -- he just doesn't know when. At a press conference Monday (January 28th) in Tokyo, Page told reporters that whatever the group does will have to wait until at least fall, when frontman Robert Plant finishes touring with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss in support of their album "Raising Sand." "Robert Plant has a parallel project running, and he's really busy with that project -- certainly until September, so I can't give you any news," Page said. Nevertheless, the guitarist noted that "I can assure you the amount of work that we put into the (London show Led Zep performed in December)...the staging of it was probably what you put into a world tour." Bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones previous said he, Page and Plant planned to meet this month to discuss future activities. Led Zep has reportedly received massive financial offers for a tour from a variety of concert promoters.

PETTY, HEARTBREAKERS TO START NEXT TOUR IN MICHIGAN

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers will kick off their next tour in Michigan. The group -- which plays the Super Bowl XLII halftime show on Feb. 3rd in Glendale, Ariz. -- stars the road trek on May 30th at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, where it began two previous tours, then rolls into the Palace of Auburn Hills on May 31st. Tickets are expected to go on sale Feb. 4, with prices to be announced. Though he said the Heartbreakers' 2006 tour might be the band's last, Petty now tells the Associated Press that "the band wants to go really bad, so we had a meeting about it, and we decided, why not?" He promises a show that's "drastically different in content" and says he "would like to see a set list that changed every night." There won't be a new Heartbreakers album, but Petty is releasing a reunion disc with his pre-Heartbreakers band, Mudcrutch, which includes Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell and keyboardist Benmont Tench.

VINTAGE BEATLES LIVE SHOW MAY BE RELEASED

Previously unheard 1962 live recordings of the Beatles in Germany may be released by a record company in Florida. The set comes from one of the group's famous shows at the Hamburg Star Club, reportedly not long after Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best as the drummer; among the songs are "Twist And Shout," "I Saw Her Standing There," "Hippy Shake," "A Taste Of Honey" and "Ask Me Why," as well as covers of Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues," Maurice Williams' "Do You Believe" and Barrett Strong's "Money." British promoter and producer Jeffrey Collins obtained the 15-song tape from a DJ who was scheduled to play on the same bill as the Beatles. No release date has been set for the recording, and the Beatles' Apple Corps is investigating its legitimacy.

STICKY LAWSUIT FOLLOWS BOSTON SINGER'S SUICIDE

Some bad blood is continuing in Boston. Group leader Tom Scholz is suing the ex-wife of the late Boston singer Brad Delp, who committed suicide last year, for defamation. Scholz's suit was prompted by comments made by Micki Delp and her sister, Connie Goudreau -- wife of guitarist Barry Goudreau -- that Scholz was to blame for the singer's suicide last March 9th, when he killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning in his Atkinson, N.H., home, with a note pinned to his shirt. The two women made the allegations against Scholz in a Boston Herald article, and Scholz claims they've also been speaking out via aliases on Boston fan sites and online chat rooms. Their comments have also questioned the credibility of his DTS Charitable Foundation, and Connie Goudreau has acknowledged creating a fake web site, DTSFoundation.com, to lure users away from Scholz's dtscf.org site. Goudreau has denied Scholz's other charges, while Micki Delp, who now resides in California, has so far not responded to suit. Scholz -- who played a tribute concert for Brad Delp in August -- is seeking damages, but his suit does not specify a dollar amount.

CLAPTON SALE TO BENEFIT CROSSROADS CENTRE

Eric Clapton is again selling off a variety of collector's items to benefit his Crossroads Centre rehabilitation facility in Antigua. While it's not quite as dynamic as his previous guitar auctions, Clapton has established an eBay store -- also accessible through his www.ericclapton.com web site -- to sell guitar pick collections, T-shirts, hats, tour programs, pins, a tour jacket from his 2006-2007 world tour and several items from his 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago, including backstage passes and posters. All proceeds got to Crossroads, which Clapton founded in 2007 to provide recovery programs for substance abuse addictions. Clapton is also warming up for his three concerts with Steve Winwood on February 25th, 26th and 28th at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

FESTIVAL DENIES -- AGAIN -- THAT LED ZEP IS CONFIRMED

Organizers for the Bonnaroo Music & Art Festival are again denying rumors that Led Zeppelin will reunite again to perform at their event, which takes place June 12th-15th in Manchester, Tenn. After a report in the British newspaper The Mirror that Zep was confirmed to play at Bonnaroo, a spokesman for the festival issued a statement saying that "It's still a rumor and the information in the Mirror is inaccurate." The Mirror reported that Robert Plant, reportedly the only Zep member who did not want to tour, has "had a change of heart." But while speculation continues to mount about future Zep dates, the only thing that's for sure is that Plant will be touring with Alison Krauss to promote their Grammy nominated 2007 album "Rising Sand," beginning May 5 in the U.K., with North American dates expected to start in June.

BEATLES, SANTANA ON LIST OF BEST-SELLING ALBUMS

Albums by the Beatles and Santana are among the top 10 best-sellers of the SoundScan era, a measuring service that began in 1991 and whose computerized sales figures represent an accurate idea of music and video sales. Santana's 1999 smash "Supernatural" is No. 6 on the list, according to SoundScan, with sales of 11,643,000 copies. The Beatles' 2000 hits collection "1,", meanwhile, sits at No. 9 with sales 11,097,000 copies. Topping the list was country singer Shania Twain's "Come On Over," with 15,449,000 copies sold. Filling out the Top 10 were albums by Metallica, Alanis Morissette, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Creed, Celine Dion and the film soundtrack to "The Bodyguard." The Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)" is the best-selling album of all time, with more than 27 million copies sold in the U.S. and more than 41 million worldwide.

CLASSIC ROCK INTERVIEWS COMING TO CABLE

"60 Minutes' " classic rock interviews will have a new home starting this weekend, with the premiere Sunday (January 6th) of "Classic 60 Minutes" on VH1 Classic. The half-hour show, which will air at 8 p.m. weekly, will feature interviews from "60 Minutes' " archives, including material not used in the original broadcasts. CBS News correspondent Lara Logan will host the episodes and provide updates about the performers. The new series kicks off with an Eric Clapton interview, and subsequent episodes will feature Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Sting and the Eagles.

STILLS RESTING AFTER SUCCESSFUL CANCER SURGERY

Stephen Stills is home and resting comfortably after prostate surgery on Thursday (January 3rd) in Los Angeles. Stills' wife, Kristen, issued a statement saying that "Stephen's procedure went remarkably well, and he couldn't be better...The pain will be minimal." Stills plans to be back on his feet in short order; his press representative said he'll be attending the January 25th world premiere of "CSNY/Deja Vu," the Neil Young-directed documentary of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 2006 Freedom Of Speech Tour. Stills also plans to tour solo in North America this spring, while CSNY are reportedly considering some election-year touring, most likely in the summer or fall.

OZZY OSBOURNE PLANNING MEMOIRS FOR MAY

Ozzy Osbourne is apparently going to be the next classic rocker hitting the book shelves. Osbourne is planning to publish a memoir in May, joining his wife and manager Sharon, who has published two of her own books in recent years. This comes despite pre-tour comments by Ozzy in October that he had no desire to chronicle his life: "There's a lot in my career and my life that I remember, but there's also a s***load that I've got no idea what happened. I mean, since I had my bike accident, my short-term memory is really f***ed, you know?" There's no word on who wrote the forthcoming book with Ozzy or what it will be titled. In other Ozzy news, his Beverly Hills, Calif., mansion where "The Osbournes" reality show was set has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by pop singer Christina Aguilera and her husband Jordan Bratman. Aguilera has gone on record as a fan of the show and particularly of the kitchen. Ozzy, however, took all the crucifixes and other macabre decorations, as well as the studio gear on which he recorded his latest album, "Black Rain."

MCCARTNEY HAS HEART SURGERY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Paul McCartney experienced varying fortunes during his holiday period. British media reports that the former Beatle had heart surgery last week, undergoing a coronary agioplasty to treat a suspected case of angina; according to The Sun, the decision to operate came after McCartney visited a doctor in London, complaining of chest pains. An unnamed source told the newspaper that "it was all very routine, but any work on your heart is a big deal." McCartney is said to be recovering without complications. On a lighter but more positive note, his latest album, "Memory Almost Full," received a seal of approval from the Disney universe; the set was named Best Adult Rock Album of 2007 by the company's family.com web site, which declared that "the elder statesman of rock provides an introspective and moving rock 'n' roll album that transcends age and genre. McCartney merges experimental sounds with his tried-and-true musical craftsmanship. Stand-out songs on the album include 'Nod Your Head,' 'Only Mama Knows' and 'Dance Tonight.' " "Memory Almost Full" debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart in June, McCartney's highest bow since "Flaming Pie" in 1997. McCartney is up for three Grammy Awards, which will be presented on February 10th -- Best Pop Vocal Album for "Memory Almost Full," Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for "Only Mama Knows" and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Dance Tonight." He'll also receive an Outstanding Contribute to Music Award at the Brit Awards ceremony on February 20th in London.

CSNY FILM TO PREMIERE AT SUNDANCE

"CSNY Deja Vu," the documentary of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's 2006 Freedom Of Speech tour, has been chosen to close this year's Sundance Film Festival. Young, under the alias Bernard Shakey, directed the film, which not only features live performances but also reports from "embedded" correspondent Mike Cerre, a war journalism veteran who interviewed fans at the shows about the group and its highly politicized music as well as their feelings about America and the "war on terror." Graham Nash tells the insider that the timing of the movie's release is important: "We want to bring it out in hopes of influencing the presidential election in 2008, yeah, absolutely." The Sundance Film Festival runs January 17th to 27th in Park City, Utah. It's unlikely CSNY will perform there because Stephen Stills will be recovering from prostate cancer surgery, and his health has put a planned CSNY tour into question as well. "CSNY Deja Vu" is expected to be shown in theaters in 2008 before being released on DVD.

NEIL YOUNG'S

Neil Young's 2003 album "Greendale" is getting a couple of second lives in the new year. The Undermain Theatre company in Dallas is adapting "Greendale" into a full-scale stage musical, which will run from March 29th to May 3rd. While staying mostly faithful to Young's original "musical novel" (and accompanying movie), the group is planning to expand the script a bit to flesh out characters and further explore the themes of waning small town life, environmentalism, media and corruption that were part of Young's story. Young's "Greendale" tour also featured set pieces, with actors and crew members acting out the narrative. Young has not commented on the Undermain's plans, he's given his approval and is even promoting the production at his web site. "Greendale" is also slated to be turned into a graphic novel in the spring by the DC Comics subsidiary Vertigo.

VAN HALEN AND BERTINELLI DIVORCE -- FINALLY

Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli have divorced. You're thinking that happened a long time ago, but not really; the couple's split was finalized just last week in Los Angeles Superior Court, after seven years of legal separation and two years after actress Bertinelli filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Van Halen and Bertinelli were married in 1981. No details about the settlement or the custody arrangement for their son, 16-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen -- who's now playing bass in his dad's band -- were disclosed. Van Halen's tour was the ranked No. 5 on this year's PollStar survey, raking in $56.7 million in ticket sales. The group plays Friday and Sunday (December 28th and 30th) in Las Vegas, then begins its 2008 tour on January 22nd in Oklahoma City.

STEPHEN STILLS TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY WITH PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY

Just days after Dan Fogelberg succumbed to prostate cancer comes word that Stephen Stills is also battling the disease, with surgery scheduled for January 3rd -- which is also his 63nd birthday. Stills' frequent collaborator Graham Nash broke the news on CNN's "Larry King Live" but assured fans that the prognosis is good: "Unlike Danny, who left it too long to be seriously checked, Stephen found his (cancer) at an early stage," said Nash, who was appearing on the show by telephone with Joe Walsh to pay tribute to Fogelberg, who died on Sunday (December 16th). Stills himself has not made any official comment about the situation. Stills, who auditioned to be in the Monkees in 1966, is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash -- and was ranked 28th on the Rolling Stone magazine list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time. Before his concert earlier this year at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, he told the Insider that "I hate to think that I'm one of those people that peaked in their '20s and it's been hanging on ever since, you know, 'cause I only got good at the guitar when I was 50...Now every tour is an adventure because I can basically make up a new solo every night."

BLACK SABBATH '08 REUNION STILL UP IN THE AIR

Ozzy Osbourne jokes that he's "the last person to be told anything" when it comes to his career, but even he's hip to the Black Sabbath reunion rumors for 2008. But the Ozz-man tells the Insider that he has conditions under which he'll get back together with his mates after touring on the 2005 OZZFest. "I'd love to do another Black Sabbath album," Osbourne says. "We did try and write together; there are a bunch of things written. But the problem I'm having is it's got to be at least on the same level as when we departed. If it's not, then what's the point in doing it...I'm definitely doing another album (in 2008), whether with my own band or Sabbath. As long as I'm not doing bulls***..." Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Terry "Geezer" Butler spent 2007 on the road as Heaven and Hell with second Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio. Both have voiced a similar desire to come up with new Sabbath material if there is indeed going to be a reunion. Osbourne, meanwhile, brings his solo show to Detroit at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (December 18th) at Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Drive, Detroit. Tickets are $89.75, $69.75 and $39.75. Call (313) 471-6606 or visit www.olympiaentertainment.com.

JOHN MELLENCAMP TOPS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2008

After several appearances on the final ballot, John Mellencamp has been named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Indiana rocker will be inducted into the shrine on March 10 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, joining a class that also includes Michigan native Madonna, the Dave Clark Five, the Venutres and Leonard Cohen. LIttle Walter will be inducted in the sideman category, while the newly named Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performers will go to legendary Philly Soul producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. Mike Wanchic, who's been playing guitar with Mellencamp since 1976, tells the Insider that the news is a vindication of sorts for Mellencamp, who lobbied the Hall to induct Bob Seger several years ago. "This is a bona fide recognition of John's art and staying power and our ability to continue to make records over 30 years and grow," Wanchic says. ""It's something I don't think we ever felt would happen. I think in some ways we'd probably written it off -- like, y'know, always a bridesmaid... -- and for it to finally happen was a surprise." In a statement Thursday (Dec. 13), Mellencamp said that "I'm very honored and pleased to be recognized this way, especially among people whom I greatly admire." Mellencamp has recorded a new album, "The Company We Keep," that will be released in 2008.

LED ZEPPELIN RUMORS BACK IN OVERDRIVE

It's no surprise that rumors about Led Zeppelin's future plans are in overdrive again following Monday's (Dec. 10) triumphant return at the O2 Arena in London. The latest report, published in Britain's Sun newspaper and quoting a backstage source, have Zep playing a three-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2008. The Sun quotes its source as saying: "The band were really fired up and were talking about their late drummer John Bonham and what he would have thought about it. Then the talk went to, 'What next? Was this it or would there be something else?' One of the guys started talking about their three concerts at the Garden. There was a consensus of, 'Why not?' " There are also rumors, equally unsubstantiated, that the group is holding dates at a number of venues around North America for some kind of tour in the new year. What is definite, however, is that frontman Robert Plant plans to tour with American bluegrass star Alison Krauss to support their Grammy-nominated album "Rising Sand." Plant is also reportedly talking to that set's producer, T-Bone Burnett, about working on Plant's next solo album.

MCDONALD TO TAKE DIFFERENT COVERS ROUTE ON NEXT ALBUM

After a pair of Motown albums, Michael McDonald plans to explore another creative avenue in 2008. On March 11th, the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan alumnus plans to release "Soul Speak," a collection of mostly cover songs that he describes to the Insider as "songs I remember hearing as a kid that really changed my musical direction or turned my head around. They were my musical education, in a way." Among the selections are Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life," Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" and a bluesy rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." McDonald also wrote three original songs that he says "seemed to fit on the record." This may be his last foray into covers territory for awhile, however. "It's probably kind of a transition back into doing what will probably be, on the next record, all-original compositions, which I haven't done in awhile," he says. McDonald performs a Christmas show at 8 p.m. Tuesday (December 11th) at Orchestra Hall in the Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Tickets are $22.50-$128.50. Call (313) 576-5111 or visit www.detroitsymphony.com.

SPRINGSTEEN, MCCARTNEY TOP CLASSIC ROCK GRAMMY NOMINEES

Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney lead the classic rock contingent in this year's field of Grammy Award nominees. Springsteen has four total, including Best Rock Song and Best Solo Rock Performance By a Male with Vocals for "Radio Nowhere," the single from his latest album, "Magic." "Magic," meanwhile, was nominated for Best Rock Album -- though not for the prestigious Album of the Year -- while "Once Upon a Time in the West," Springsteen's contribution to a tribute album for composer Ennio Morricone, was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. McCartney, meanwhile, grabbed three nominations: Best Pop Album for "Memory Almost Full," Best Solo Rock Performance by a Male with Vocals for "Only Mama Knows" and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Dance Tonight." He also has a stake in three Beatles nominations -- Best SurroundSound Album for "Love" and entries for "Love" and "Across the Universe" in the Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media. The list of classic rock Grammy nominees also includes: Bon Jovi: Best Pop Vocal Album ("Lost Highway"); Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group ("(You Want To) Make A Memory") Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale: Best Contemporary Blues Album ("The Road to Escondido") The Eagles: Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals ("How Long") John Fogerty: Best Rock Album ("Revival") Levon Helm: Best Traditional Folk Album ("Dirt Farmer") John Mellencamp: Best Solo Rock Performance by a Male with Vocals ("Our Country") Joni Mitchell: Album of the Year (Herbie Hancock's "The Joni Letters"); Best Pop Instrumental Performance ("One Week Last Summer") Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)") Rush: Best Rock Instrumental Performance ("Malignant Narcissism") James Taylor: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album ("James Taylor at Christmas") U2 -- Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Instant Karma (We All Shine On)"); Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group ("Window in the Skies") The 50th Annual Grammy Awards will be presented on February 8th in Los Angeles and broadcast at 8 p.m. on CBS.

FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS DENY LED ZEP BOOKING

While hopes for more Led Zeppelin shows in 2008 remain afloat, one rumored appearance has been quashed. Organizers of the annual Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee have issued a statement refuting reports that Zep will play its event in May; in a statement issued Tuesday (December 4th), Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment said that "The rumors that are out there about the Bonnaroo 2008 headliners are inaccurate. We're very excited about the lineup that we're putting together for this year's festival. We'll be announcing the confirmed lineup toward the end of January/beginning of February." Zep will play together for the first time since its 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on Monday (December 10th) in London as part of a tribute concert to the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. Despite plenty of rumors about more shows the band has confirmed nothing, and frontman Robert Plant is planning to tour at least part of 2008 with Alison Krauss to support their recent album "Rising Sand."

PETTY, HEARTBREAKERS TO ROCK SUPER BOWL

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers will be get the prestigious halftime spotlight at Super Bowl XLII on February 3rd in Glendale, Ariz. Though the Eagles had been heavily tipped to be playing, Petty and company got the nod when tire manufacture Bridgestone, which has an existing marketing relationship with Petty, signed on to sponsor the halftime show. Petty joins a line of halftime rockers that includes the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Aerosmith and, of course, Up With People. This year's Super Bowl XLI was seen by nearly 140 million in the U.S. Super Bowl XLII will be broadcast in more than 230 countries, and by Fox in the U.S. Petty recently released "Runnin' Down a Dream," a documentary by director Peter Bogdanovich.

KINKS LEADER PLANS U.S. RELEASE FOR SECOND SOLO ALBUM

Kinks leader Ray Davies has set a February 19th release date for his second-ever solo album, "Working Man's Cafe." The set includes a dozen new songs by Davies, including politically tinged tracks such as "Vietnam Cowboys" and "The Voodoo Walk" as well as "Morphine Song," which he wrote while in a New Orleans hospital after being assaulted and shot in 2004. A deluxe CD/DVD edition of "Working Man's Cafe" will include an interview and performance footage. The album was released overseas in October and is the follow-up to 2006's "Other People's Lives." Davies is expected to tour in support of the album.

SPRINGSTEEN KICKS OFF EUROPEAN TOUR WITHOUT KEYBOARDIST

After weeks of speculation, Bruce Springsteen has confirmed that founding E Street Band keyboardist Danny Federici is battling cancer and is sitting out the group's European tour, which kicked off Sunday night (November 25th) in Madrid, Spain. In a statement last week, Springsteen and company confirmed that Federici is being treated for melanoma, while Charlie Giordano, the former Pat Benatar keyboardist who was part of Springsteen's Seeger Sessions Band in 2006, will "temporarily" sit in. There's no word on whether Federici -- who's been playing with Springsteen since 1969 in bands such as Child, Steel Mill, the Bruce Springsteen Band and Dr. Zoom & The Sonic Boom -- will return for Springsteen and the E Streeters' next North American leg, which begins February 28th in Hartford, Conn. Last week's statement quotes Springsteen saluting Federici as "one of the pillars of our sound and has played beside me as a great friend for more than 40 years. We all eagerly await his healthy and speedy return." Federici's last show was November 19th in Boston, during which other E Street Band members made a point of playing close to him, while Springsteen brought him center stage for the final bows. Springsteen did indicate to the Madrid crowd that he and the group would be returning overseas in 2008 as well, closing the show with the shout, "See you in the summer!"

NEW WRINKLE ADDED TO LED ZEP TOUR RUMORS

There's additional heat on the Led Zeppelin tour rumors, which have been on a front burner since the group announced its one-off reunion show for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Trust. According to media reports, Ian Astbury, frontman for the hard rock group the Cult, recently told an audience in Cincinnati that his band will "be back next year because we're opening for a band you may have heard of...the name starts with an L and has a Z in it." When a fan shouted, "Led Zeppelin," Astbury nodded and raised his arm in the air. News outlets around the world have immediately proclaimed this confirmation of a 2008 Zep tour, but there's been no confirmation from that camp or from the Cult's. In a recent Guitar World interview, however, Zep guitarist Jimmy Page noted that doing just one show -- Dec. 10 at the O2 Arena in London -- would be "selfish" and teased that "Everything is possible...maybe it (a tour) could be. It certainly wouldn't be because anyone had gone ahead and booked dates for us. No, no, no, no, no. That wouldn't be the case at all. It would be because we felt like we'd like to do it." Billboard.biz predicts that a Zep tour would be "potentially one of the biggest ever," with a nightly guarantee of $3 million and a projected $15 million plus in merchandise sales. All remains speculative, however, but stay tuned.

LED ZEP READY TO RESUME REHEARSALS FOR REUNION SHOW

Led Zeppelin is getting back to work preparing for its December 10th reunion concert in England. Guitarist Jimmy Page has told Reuters that his injured left pinky is feeling better and that the group plans to resume rehearsals this week. "It's going to be fine for the concert," Page said. "It's just a bit bruised and a bit painful, but it's going to be fine. "I suppose something like a Zeppelin reunion wouldn't be right without a bit of drama." The show, a benefit for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Trust honoring the late Atlantic Records co-founder who signed Led Zep, was originally scheduled to take place November 26th but had to be postponed when Page injured the finger. Zep is planning a full-length set to close the show, which will be opened by Pete Townshend, Paul Rodgers, Foreigner, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and Paolo Nutini. A new and expanded version of the soundtrack to Zep's 1976 concert film "The Song Remains the Same" comes out today (November 20th) along with a refurbished DVD edition of the movie.

BRITISH REPORT SAY MCCARTNEY'S PLAYING HARDBALL IN DIVORCE

The Paul McCartney divorce is reportedly taking another ugly turn. According to Britain's News of the World, McCartney has reduced his settlement offer to Heather Mills from $83 million to $13.5 million -- retribution for Mills' recent string of interviews in which she's been critical of the former Beatle and his daughter, designer Stella McCartney. British courts are allowing the couple the remainder of the year to come up with a deal; if not, the divorce will likely go to court in early 2008. But don't expect McCartney to have much to say about it; he told the Insider last week that when it comes to the divorce, "I don't want to talk about it, and for really one reason; I have a baby daughter, I have a four-year-old, and I do not want to excite the envelope in any direction whatsoever. I'm just sort of keeping the dignified silence. It really would not be wise to sort of say, 'You know what? You know what?! I'll tell you -- let me tell you!' So I'm not doing that." McCartney is expected to make his first public appearance with reported new girlfriend Nancy Shevill at the December 15th wedding of movie mogul Harvey Weistein to fashion designer Georgina Chapman in Westport, Conn.

POLICE COME UP BIG AT TOURING AWARDS

The Police were the big winners at the fourth annual Billboard Touring Awards, held Thursday (November 15th) in New York City. The trio's reunion tour was named Top Tour (for top financial gross) and Top Draw (for top ticket sales), while Kathy Schenker Management, which represents the Police, was named Top Manager. Other winners at the ceremony included Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince, country star Kenny Chesney, pop singer Justin Timberlake and New York's Madison Square Garden, which was named Top Arena. Booking Agent Frank Barsalona, who's handled the Who among many others, received the Legend of Live career award. The Police wrap up their North American tour on Tuesday (Nov. 20) in San Atonio, Texas, before moving on to Mexico and South America. The group will tour New Zealand, Australia and Japan in early 2008, with European dates planned for the summer. A return to North America is also expected. The Police -- along with Van Halen and Genesis -- are also nominated for the Favorite Reunion Tour prize at the 34th Annual People's Choice Awards, which airs January 8th on CBS.

MCCARTNEY PREDICTS BEATLES WILL GO DIGITAL IN 2008

The Beatles will be coming to a download site near you -- and your computer -- in 2008, according to Paul McCartney. Sir Paul told the Insider that the Beatles' catalog, a long-awaited holdout from the digital realm, is "kinda set" for a rollout, most likely in the new year. "Most of us are sort of all ready," McCartney said. "The whole thing is primed, ready to go. There's just maybe one little sticking point left, and I think that is being cleared up as we speak, so it shouldn't be long. It's down to the fine-tuning, but I'm pretty sure it'll be happening next year, 2008." McCartney added that the Beatles' camp has taken great care in lining up the catalog for digital consumption. "You've got to do these things right," he explained. "You don't want to do something that's as cool as that and in three years' time you think, 'Oh God, why did we do that?' " While we wait, McCartney is providing plenty for fans to see -- and hear; he's just released "The McCartney Years," a three-DVD collection of videos and live performances from throughout his solo career, along with an expanded edition of his latest album, "Memory Almost Full," which features three bonus tracks, two videos and a DVD of a concert he played during June in London.

GENESIS DVD SET FOR 2008 RELEASE

Genesis has announced a February 18th release date for "When In Rome -- Live 2007," the official DVD from the group's reunion tour. The DVD was filmed before a crowd of 500,000 on July 14 at Rome's Circus Maximus; in addition to the show, the DVD will feature new interviews with Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, as well as a behind-the-scenes documentary about the reunion and tour. "When In Rome" is part of a product onslaught coming from the Genesis camp that includes the lavish book "Genesis: Chapter and Verse" that came out in September and two releases set for November 20 -- the "Genesis 1983-1998" box set featuring four albums and an "Extra Tracks" collection, and "Live Over Europe," a two-disc set culled from the overseas leg of the reunion tour.

STONES RULE OUT GUEST APPEARANCE AT ZEP GIG

The Rolling Stones have formally shot down speculation that any of its members will be taking part in the upcoming Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert -- aka the Led Zeppelin reunion gig -- next month in London. Responding to a flurry of rumors, the Stones' management office in England has released a statement that "Contrary to media speculation Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts will not be participating in any way at the Led Zeppelin Concert in December but wish them well for a great gig." Jagger and Watts were said to be performing with former Stones bassist Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, which is serving as the house band for the first part of the show. Besides Zep, the concert, a benefit for the newly established Ahmet Ertegun Education Trust, will feature the Who's Pete Townshend, Paul Rodgers, Foreigner and Paolo Nutini. The show was postponed from November 26th to December 10th to allow Zep guitarist Jimmy Page to recover from a broken pinky on his left hand.

RULE CHANGE ALLOWS EAGLES ALBUM TO BE NO. 1

Thanks to a Billboard magazine policy change, the Eagles have their first No. 1 debut. "Long Road Out of Eden," the group's first set of all-new material in 28 years, bows atop the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts now that the trade magazine has decided to count sales of albums available at just one outlet; "Long Road Out of Eden" is being sold exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores, and online at www.eaglesband.com. Those combined to sell 711,000 copies of the set in its first week on sale, nearly triple the sales of second-place "Blackout" by pop singer Britney Spears. Billboard previously did not consider such "proprietary" titles eligible for its charts, but when Wal-Mart agreed to share its sales data with the monitoring company SoundScan, the magazine altered its policy. Billboard's director of charts, Geoff Mayfield, said that "We know that some retailers will be uncomfortable with this policy, but it was inevitable that Billboard's charts would ultimately widen the parameters of to reflect changes that are unfolding in music distribution." "Long Road Out of Eden" also debuted at No. 1 in the U.K. and Australia this week. The Eagles will perform Wednesday (November 7th) at the start of the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards at 8 p.m. on ABC.

RULE CHANGE ALLOWS EAGLES ALBUM TO BE NO. 1

EAGLES TOP U.K. CHARTS; UNCERTAIN ABOUT U.S.

The Eagles are No. 1 on the U.K. album charts -- whether they'll do the same in the U.S., however, is another manner. "Long Road Out of Eden," the Eagles' first set of all-new material in 28 years, topped Britney Spears' "Blackout" in Great Britain, giving the group its first No. 1 album there in 33 years, since "On the Boarder" in 1974. Whether they'll repeat the feat on these shores, however, depends on whether Wal-Mart, which is selling "Long Road Out of Eden" exclusively, releases its first-week sales figures. The company traditionally has not revealed such information for its exclusive titles, but with evidence that the Eagles' album might indeed beat Spears for No. 1 in the U.S., the group has reportedly asked Wal-Mart to make an exception. One advantage the Eagles have over Spears is that, as a two-CD set, "Long Road Out of Eden" counts as two units sold; so if, for example, 100,000 copies of the album were sold it would count as 200,000 units on the sales report. The U.S. charts will be announced on Wednesday (November 7th) -- the same day the Eagles perform on the 41st Annual Country Music Awards at 8 p.m. on ABC.

PAGE FRACTURES FINGER, POSTPONES ZEP REUNION SHOW

Led Zeppelin fans will have to wait a little longer for their reunion fix. A broken finger suffered by guitarist Jimmy Page has pushed the scheduled November 26th concert in London back to December 10th. How Page suffered the injury was not revealed, but in a statement the guitarist said that: "I am disappointed that we are forced to postpone the concert by two weeks. However, Led Zeppelin have always set very high standards for ourselves, and we feel that this postponement will enable my injury to properly heal, and permit us to perform at the level that both the band and our fans have always been accustomed to." Tickets for the show, which were sold by lottery, will be honored for the new dates, and refunds are being offered until November 14th for those who can't make it. A new lotte