TimmyB

From www.billboard.com

Police Reunion Rumors Reaching Fever Pitch

January 03, 2007, 3:10 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

Rumors are swirling that the Police will reunite for 2007 dates in England and the United States, which would be the legendary trio's first since disbanding in 1986. Sources tell Billboard.com the reports are legitimate but would not publicly comment until final details are nearer to completion.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States. In a statement issued last month, A&M Records said, "It is our intention to mark the anniversary by doing something special with the band's catalogue of songs. Needless to say, everyone is hopeful the band will support our plans and while early discussions have taken place, nothing has been decided."

Sources say in addition to DVD releases, A&M is planning another multi-disc collection in the vein of 1993's "Message in a Box," which featured the band's complete studio recordings and a handful of rarities.

A Police reunion has been the concert industry's dream for two decades, as it is believed the band could play stadiums internationally should it choose to reunite. But besides an impromptu set at Sting's 1992 wedding to Trudie Styler, the Police's only other post-breakup performance was in celebration of its 2003 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

And while Sting has repeatedly expressed reluctance at reuniting, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers have kept the flame alive. This summer, Summers told Billboard he was certain the group could have continued on past its 1983 commercial peak with "Synchronicity."

"The more rational approach would have been, 'OK, Sting, go make a solo record, and let's get back together in two or three years,'" he said. "I'm certain we could have done that. Of course we could have. We were definitely not in a creative dry space. We could have easily carried on, and we could probably still be there. That wasn't to be our fate. It went in another way. I regret we never paid it off with a last tour. We snuck out the back door, which is what we were told to do, until it just became too frustrating to lie about it."

"I'm very keen on it," Copeland told Billboard.com of a potential reunion, the day after the Rock Hall induction. "But I absolutely understand why it's not going to happen and I'm down with that. It was really great to be the Police for 15 minutes. If you can think of some other award we can go get or some other good reason, give me a call, and I'll try it out!"

In 2001, Copeland excitedly told Billboard about "one piece of unreleased Police product" which he hoped would eventually see the light of day.

"One of the times when they were working on the box set or something like that, they convened the three of us on the phone. Sting and Andy were in Italy; Andy was visiting Sting at the time, and I was on a DSL line in L.A.," he recalled. "And we went down all the song titles from all of our albums. Song title: 'Can't Stand Losing You.' And we each just talked about the track and argued and shouted and screamed. There was laughter and tears. It was very cathartic. It was almost like a therapy session. It was hysterical. It was so much fun."

"We were really going at it with all the language, straight for the jugular, refighting the battles, laughing hysterically while we put the stiletto exactly where we stuck it last time," he continued. "The engineer said it was like watching a concert. They were in Italy and it's like after dinner, and I'm here in L.A. at 10 in the morning. I'm getting more and more caffeinated as they're getting drunker and drunker."

"It seems like we're in contact all the time, but actually, years go by," Copeland said of his ongoing relationship with Summers and Sting. "It's sort of like whenever we see each other, it's like we saw each other five minutes ago. We don't have any sensation of time going by. We don't pick up the phone every week, but when we do, we pick up from where we left off."

I'd bet on Bonnaroo

I don't know if bonnaroo will want to spend the money that it will likely take to book the Police?Though I hope they do, as I'm usually there in June.

Tim

Sweet.

Tim

www.billboard.com

Modest Mouse Pounds The 'Dashboard'

January 03, 2007, 2:05 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.

"Dashboard," the first single from Modest Mouse's upcoming Epic album "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank," will hit U.S. radio outlets Jan. 16, Billboard.com has learned. A poor quality version of the cut, which was roadtested during the band's fall shows in Los Angeles, New York and London, has already leaked online.

Among the other tracks tipped for inclusion on the album, which is due in March and introduces former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr into the Modest Mouse fold, include the more sedate "Fire It Up" (sample lyric: "even if we knew which way to head, still we probably wouldn't go"), the swampy "Steaming Genius" and the multi-faceted "Parting of the Sensories," which features violin and ukulele.

The Shins' James Mercer guests on three tracks: "We've Got Everything," the tight rocker "Florida" and "Missed the Boat," which is somewhat reminiscent of "3rd Planet," the opening track on Modest Mouse's 2000 Epic debut "The Moon & Antarctica."

The album's most unusual moment comes on "Spitting Venom," and eight-and-a-half-minute epic that blooms from a sleepy acoustic intro into a full on psychedelic jam.

Modest Mouse is in the midst of a short Australian tour that plays Sydney tonight (Jan. 3) and Busselton on Saturday. Dates for the rest of 2007 have yet to be announced.

It is huge...... I could never see them doing this JUST in the UK. IF it happens, lets assume there'll be North American dates too. Probably at $250 a ticket.

$250 might be the top ticket price for the first twenty or thirty rows. But I'm sure if the Police toured this year the majority of the ticket prices would range from $100-$150 and possibly with a handful under the $100 range.

People will pay it to be sure, including myself.

Tim

Congratulations Brian and Tara,

It was great to see you on your wedding night at Pepper Jacks.

Peace and Love,

Tim

LEE'S PALACE/ATG PRESENTS

MIDLAKE @ 10:15PM

LEGAL AGE 19/NO SMOKING

LEE'S PALACE

529 BLOOR ST WEST

MON FEB 12, 2007 DRS 8PM

$10.50

I'm very much looking forward to seeing Midlake for the first time.

Tim

Thank you, you're too kind as I'm just the messenger.

The real kind words will be coming from the mouth of Chris Hillman on the Hugh's Room stage on April 11th and 12th.

Tim

CHRIS HILLMAN

HUGH'S ROOM

WEDNESDAY APRIL 11 & THURSDAY APRIL 12, 2007.

$38 ADVANCE $42 DOOR

For ticket reservations please call: (416) 531-6604

Hugh's Room is a warm, spacious and inviting 200 seat music venue located in Roncesvalles Village

in Toronto, featuring exceptional local, national and international musicians. Tantalizing salads,

appetizers and lovely main dishes.

I am very excited to be seeing Chris Hillman again, being an original member for my favorite American band the Byrds. And to see this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee for his work with the Byrds and former member of the Flying Burrito Bros., Manassas and the Desert Rose Band in such an intimate venue makes it all the better.

Tim

It is HUGE!

I have seen Sting six times and Stewart Copeland three times and to see them together with Andy Summers will be like a dream come true.

Tim

[blurb]I can not believe this might happen! If it does I hope the Police will have European dates in early July when I will be already across the Atlantic Ocean.

Either way here's hoping for a huge World Tour from Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland.

[/blurb]

Tim

From www.dailymail.co.uk

Police fans may soon be walking on the moon again

By JAMES TAPPER, Mail on Sunday

Last updated at 21:25pm on 30th December 2006

Sting is in talks to re-form The Police and tour with the group - 30 years after they were formed.

The band, who rank alongside The Rolling Stones and The Beatles among the greats of rock, are considering playing a series of dates in the UK next summer.

Consisting of Sting on bass and vocals, drummer Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers, the group have been in discussions for months.

They became one of the biggest bands of the Eighties with hits including Walking On The Moon, Every Breath You Take, Don't Stand So Close To Me and Message In A Bottle.

News that they are re-forming will surprise fans as Sting, 55, has always resolutely opposed the move in the past.

Sources say rehearsals have been pencilled in to take place before Sting begins the February leg of his latest European tour and after Copeland has finished his stint as a judge in the BBC celebrity duet show Just The Two Of Us.

The record label, A&M, is believed to be planning a special anniversary release in June and the tour dates would coincide with that.

A source said: 'They were intending to announce it in January after all the tour dates had been finalised.

'They are speaking to venues about booking dates in May and June. Everyone who knows about it is incredibly excited because they were a legendary band.'

A spokeswoman for A&M confirmed discussions had taken place but denied there were any firm dates for concerts.

She said: 'Next year is the 30th anniversary of the release of Roxanne, the first Police single. It is our intention to mark the anniversary by doing something special with the band's catalogue of songs.

'Needless to say, everyone is hopeful the band will support our plans and while early discussions have taken place, nothing has been decided.'

Miles Copeland, the former manager of The Police and brother of Stewart, said: 'It's the 30th anniversary and there has been mention of this for some time, but I can't comment.'

Stewart formed The Police in 1977 with Sting. Miles recognised the power of their blend of pop, punk and reggae and got them a record deal when he heard Roxanne, the first of many worldwide hits.

Hey Jaimoe,

Great minds think alike.

Tim

12/30/2006 2:45pm-?

James Brown funeral is on CNN right now.

With the passing of James Brown, who I was lucky enough to see twice, it reminded me that these artists are not going to be around forever.

So today I gave myself a Christmas present by going onto ticketmaster and luckily finding myself a single to see Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band play in his home state of Michigan during this Christmas season.

Seger is playing a four night run at the Palace of Auburn Hills between December 22-30 and all four gigs sold out in less than a half an hour. I've been checking ticketmaster from day to day and had found nothing until Christmas Day.

I grew up on Bob Seger and missed him the last time he came around over a decade ago and since I have never seen him live I feel this might be my only chance.

So I'll be looking forward to hearing "Night Moves," "Hollywood Nights," "We've Got Tonight" "Old Time Rock and Roll" and "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" on December 28. Damn, Seger loves songs with the words "night" and/or "rock and roll" in the title.

Tim

Happy Xmas (War is Over)

John Lennon, Yoko Ono

(Happy Xmas Kyoko

Happy Xmas Julian)

So this is Xmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Xmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Xmas

For weak and for strong

For rich and the poor ones

The world is so wrong

And so happy Xmas

For black and for white

For yellow and red ones

Let's stop all the fight

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Xmas

And what have we done

Another year over

A new one just begun

And so happy Xmas

We hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

War is over, if you want it

War is over now

Happy Xmas

God bless us everyone.

Tiny Tim

Happy Xmas (War is Over)

John Lennon, Yoko Ono

(Happy Xmas Kyoko

Happy Xmas Julian)

So this is Xmas

And what have you done

Another year over

And a new one just begun

And so this is Xmas

I hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Xmas

For weak and for strong

For rich and the poor ones

The world is so wrong

And so happy Xmas

For black and for white

For yellow and red ones

Let's stop all the fight

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

And so this is Xmas

And what have we done

Another year over

A new one just begun

And so happy Xmas

We hope you have fun

The near and the dear one

The old and the young

A very Merry Xmas

And a happy New Year

Let's hope it's a good one

Without any fear

War is over, if you want it

War is over now

Happy Xmas

May James Brown rest in peace.

Tim

www.billboard.com

'Godfather Of Soul' James Brown Dies At 73

December 25, 2006, 10:25 AM ET

James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a founder of rap, funk and disco as well, died early today (Dec. 25), his agent said. He was 73. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. today, said his agent, Frank Copsidas. Longtime friend Charles Bobbit was by his side, he said.

Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said.

Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger andMichael Jackson among others. Songs such asDavid Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style.

If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.

"James presented obviously the best grooves," rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy once told the Associated Press. "To this day, there has been no one near as funky. No one's coming even close."

His hit singles include such classics as "Out of Sight," "(Get Up I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine," "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Say It Loud -- I'm Black and I'm Proud," a landmark 1968 statement of racial pride.

"I clearly remember we were calling ourselves colored, and after the song, we were calling ourselves black," Brown said in a 2003 Associated Press interview. "The song showed even people to that day that lyrics and music and a song can change society."

He won a Grammy award for lifetime achievement in 1992, as well as Grammys in 1965 for "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (best R&B recording) and for "Living In America" in 1987 (best R&B vocal performance, male.) He was one of the initial artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, along with Presley, Chuck Berry and other founding fathers.

He triumphed despite an often unhappy personal life. Brown, who lived in Beech Island near the Georgia line, spent more than two years in a South Carolina prison for aggravated assault and failing to stop for a police officer. After his release on in 1991, Brown said he wanted to "try to straighten out" rock music.

He earned the nickname "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business" and often tried to prove it to his fans, said Jay Ross, his lawyer of 15 years. Brown would routinely lose two or three pounds each time he performed and kept his furious concert schedule in his later years even as he fought prostate cancer, Ross said.

With his tight pants, shimmering feet, eye makeup and outrageous hair, Brown set the stage for younger stars such as Michael Jackson and Prince. And rap stars of recent years overwhelmingly have borrowed his lyrics via sampling. Brown's work has been replayed by the Fat Boys, Ice-T, Public Enemy and a host of other rappers. "The music out there is only as good as my last record," Brown joked in a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone magazine.

Born in poverty in Barnwell, S.C., in 1933, he was abandoned as a 4-year-old to the care of relatives and friends and grew up on the streets of Augusta, Ga., in an "ill-repute area," as he once called it. There he learned to wheel and deal. "I wanted to be somebody," Brown said. By the eighth grade in 1949, Brown had served 3 1/2 years in Alto Reform School near Toccoa, Ga., for breaking into cars.

While there, he met Bobby Byrd, whose family took Brown into their home. Byrd also took Brown into his group, the Gospel Starlighters. Soon they changed their name to the Famous Flames and their style to hard R&B. In January 1956, King Records of Cincinnati signed the group, and four months later "Please, Please, Please" was in the R&B top ten.

While most of Brown's life was glitz and glitter -- he was the singing preacher in 1980's "The Blues Brothers" -- he was plagued with charges of abusing drugs and alcohol and of hitting his third wife, Adrienne.

In September 1988, Brown, high on PCP and carrying a shotgun, entered an insurance seminar next to his Augusta office. Police said he asked seminar participants if they were using his private restroom. Police chased Brown for a half-hour from Augusta into South Carolina and back to Georgia. The chase ended when police shot out the tires of his truck.

Brown received a six-year prison sentence. He spent 15 months in a South Carolina prison and 10 months in a work release program before being paroled in February 1991. In 2003, the South Carolina parole board granted him a pardon for his crimes in that state.

Adrienne Brown died in 1996 in Los Angeles at age 47. She took PCP and several prescription drugs while she had a bad heart and was weak from cosmetic surgery two days earlier, the coroner said. More recently, he married his fourth wife, Tomi Raye Hynie, one of his backup singers. The couple had a son, James Jr.

Two years later, Brown spent a week in a private Columbia hospital, recovering from what his agent said was dependency on painkillers. Brown's attorney, Albert "Buddy" Dallas, said the singer was exhausted from six years of road shows.

Brown was performing to the end, and giving back to his community. Three days before his death, he joined volunteers at his annual toy giveaway in Augusta, and he planned to perform on New Year's Eve at B.B. King Blues Club in New York.

"He was dramatic to the end -- dying on Christmas Day," said the Rev.

Jesse Jackson, a friend of Brown's since 1955. "Almost a dramatic, poetic moment. He'll be all over the news all over the world today. He would have it no other way."

Wassink Wild Card! and will first be going to Blue Rodeo with Kathleen Edwards, Matt Mays & El Torpedo and Poor Angus at Copps Coliseum.

Then we will be off to see the Fat Cats at Pepper Jacks and many of you wonderful people, especially MarcO who was so kind to let me borrow his better half for the first part of New Years Eve.

Tim

Happy 40th Birthday Jhamie,

Now you're not a young kid anymore, like me at 32 and 1/2, so slow down a little will ya.

Look who I'm talking to here, forget what I just said and keep on keepin' on.

Peace and love,

Tim

The Howe Gelb gig is tonight for all of you great folks in Ottawa that don't know what to do with your night.

If I was there that was were I would be, but instead I will be seeing Mister Gelb tomorrow in Toronto at Lee's Palace.

If any of you are going to the Lee's gig let me know?

Tim

The gig is tonight, if anyone is interested?

Though it looks like no one is, which is unfortunate because Sean Lennon's latest effort is fantastic.

Tim

A fantastic album ''Sno Angel Like You' where Howe Gelb (of Giant Sand fame) records in Canada with a Canadian choir and we Canadians are lucky we get these three tour dates with Gelb and the choir.

Tim

Here are Howe Gelb’s Upcoming Tour Dates

Howe w. Gospel Choir Fri Dec 15 La Sala Rossa Montreal Canada

Howe w. Gospel Choir Sat Dec 16 Ottawa Folk Festival Ottawa Canada

Howe w. Gospel Choir Sun Dec 17 Lee’s Palace Toronto Canada

GENERAL ADMISSION

CA $20.00

Internet Onsale Info

Onsale to General Public:

Sat, 10/28/06 10:00 AM EDT

EMERGE.CA PRESENTS

SEAN LENNON

WITH JIM NOIR

THE OPERA HOUSE

735 QUEEN ST E/LGL 19+

WED DEC 13 2006 DRS 8:00PM

Sean Lennon's new album 'Friendly Fire' has moments where you can definitely tell that Sean is his father's son. It is a powerful piece of music and look forward to seeing him perform.

Tim

Did he actually not believe in Heaven, or did he just "Imagine there's no Heaven?"

I believe the lyrics to this John Lennon song answers that question.

God is a concept,

By which we can measure,

Our pain,

I'll say it again,

God is a concept,

By which we can measure,

Our pain,

I don't believe in magic,

I don't believe in I-ching,

I don't believe in bible,

I don't believe in tarot,

I don't believe in Hitler,

I don't believe in Jesus,

I don't believe in Kennedy,

I don't believe in Buddha,

I don't believe in mantra,

I don't believe in Gita,

I don't believe in yoga,

I don't believe in kings,

I don't believe in Elvis,

I don't believe in Zimmerman,

I don't believe in Beatles,

I just believe in me,

Yoko and me,

And that's reality.

The dream is over,

What can I say?

The dream is over,

Yesterday,

I was dreamweaver,

But now I'm reborn,

I was the walrus,

But now I'm John,

And so dear friends,

You just have to carry on,

The dream is over.

This is always a difficult time of year for Beatles fans, with the anniversary of the passing of George Harrison only days before (November 29, 2001).

There is no sadder death in popular music than that of John Lennon, one could only imagine (no pun intended) what his commentary would have been in the world today.

May you rest in peace John and though I know you do not believe in Heaven, I know you are there.

Tim