This year's edition of Farm Aid is set for September 30th in Camden, NJ. Principals Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews will be joined by a diverse group of artists both old and new, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Arlo Guthrie, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Los Lonely Boys and polka man and perennial Grammy winner Jimmy Sturr. We'll keep you informed if any media outlets such as CMT will be covering the event this year.
- The Beatles have been allowed to pursue litigation against EMI for lost royalties of $57 million and to reclaim rights to all their master recordings. EMI has vowed to appeal the ruling.
- Reprise will be releasing a six-disc boxed set of the Bee Gees early recordings on November 7th.
The set will be comprised of the Gibb's first three albums along with outtakes and alternate recordings.
- Brian May of Queen is ticked at a certain social site who shall remain nameless (because this column runs there) because three separate blogs have appeared claiming to be May's writing. Meanwhile, a celebration of Freddie Mercury's 60th Birthday in his hometown of Zanzibar, Tanzania is being protested by the local Muslim community who does not want the primarily Islamic island associated with Mercury or his lifestyle.
- In country music news, the Country Music Association announced its nominations today for the 40th CMA Awards. The complete list of nominees is . Of note from the world of vinyl are nominations in the category of Musical Event of the Year for Merle Haggard (on Gretchen Wilson's "Politically Uncorrect", Dolly Parton (on Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going", and Bon Jovi (with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland on "Who Says You Can't Go Home.
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- The Country Music Hall of Fame also announced this year's inductees. Harold Bradley will go in as "Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980", Sonny James for "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" and George Straitt, still a powerful force on the charts, for Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present."
- The Village People's policeman, Victor Willis, has vowed that he will enter a treatment program for drug abuse as part of his plea deal for a possession charge.
- Rockabilly singer and songwriter Jumpin' Gene Simmons has died. He was 69. Simmons recorded for Sun Records, worked with Sam Phillips, Elvis Presley and the Bill Black Combo and wrote Tim McGraw's first hit "Indian Outlaw.
" In 1964 his single "Haunted House" reached #11 (Hi Records).
- Also passing is Sanders Barber, Jr., founder and lead singer of the doo-wop group The Condors.
- R B singer Betty LaVette is touring again. LaVette had a top 10 R B hit in 1962 with "My Man - He's a Lovin' Man" and was part of the cast of the Broadway show "Bubblin' Brown Sugar." Straight.
com in Vancouver has a on her current tour.
- Lee Rocker, former bassist for the Stray Cats, is also out on the road supporting his Rockabilly album "Racin' the Devil." More information on Rocker is available in in the Rockford, IL.
Rock River Times.
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