Stranded In Stereo: Monday Morning Newsletter (12-15-08)

Monday, December 15, 2008

Monday Morning Newsletter (12-15-08)

Last week at a ceremony, the Kennedy Center uncharacteristically bestowed honors on a number of musicians. The honorees included The Who, George Jones, and Barbra Streisand. The conjunction of the three is considered to be a harbinger of the apocalypse. The Who are the first tock band to be regaled with the honor. Actor Jack Black introduced the legendary British band at the Washington, DC Opera House. José would have enjoyed it better if Tenacious D had performed.

Coldplay has issued a flat denial to accusations of copyright infringement last week. Guitarist Joe Santriani had accused them of stealing some of his work and using it in the single 'Viva La Vida'. Their statement read in part: "If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him. Joe Satriani is a great musician, but he did not write the song 'Viva La Vida.”

ABC has announced the lineup this year's Dick Clark New Year's Eve special. The painfully wholesome Jonas Brothers and
Taylor Swift will be headlining and Ryan Seacrest will be hosting. Also performing will be Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, and the Pussycat Dolls. José will be going to bed early.

Ben Harper is heading out on tour with a new band, Relentless7. The blues-rock act has booked a score of club dates leading up to their debut album, White Lies For Dark Times in May 2009. José expects this will be like the late career change that Henry Rollins made from Prog-rock to cock-rock.

The line up for Barack Obama's inaugural ball has been top secret until this week. So far we have learned that Ludacris and Big Boi will appear at one event place in Washington D.C. Other rumored performers include David Banner, Bobby Valentino, Lil Jon, T-Pain, Cedric the Entertainer, the Cheetah Girls, Fantasia and Monica, as well as a number of NBA stars. Jose was hoping for Chuck Berry.

Julien's Auctions has put up Michael Jackson's famous sequined white glove. The bidding begins April 21st, 2009. The glove, was first seen in his 1983 video for Jackson's hit "Billie Jean." The world-renowned chomo plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the charity MusiCares. The rest he will spend on cabaña boys.

Former CCR front man John Fogerty is wrapping up in the studio and will be releasing
The Return of the Blue Ridge Ranger in 2009. The album serves as a sequel to his 1973 album Blue Ridge Rangers. Fogerty is also putting out Comin' Down the Road, a documentary DVD about his life and career.Did anybody else think this guy was dead?

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