Keane pictures from Rolling Stone

Phish to Headline Bonnaroo 2009, Sources Say

Photo: Getty Bonnaroo, the East Coast’s premiere multi-day, multi-stage gathering of the vibes (held in Manchester, Tennessee from June 11th to 14th) usually doesn’t release its lineup until early February — but RollingStone.com hears from reliable sources close to Phish that the band will top the bill for two nights, restoring the fest to its jam-friendly roots. It would be the fifth time frontman Trey Anastasio appears on the ‘Roo stage, having performed as a solo artist in 2002 and 2004, with bandmate Mike Gordon in 2006 and alongside Matisyahu in 2005. Phish announced their official reunion and first public gigs in four years (their March 6-9th Hampton, Virginia shows) in early October; reps for the band and the fest declined comment for this story. Also being buzzed about with some legitimacy: Bruce Springsteen as Sunday night’s closer. No pressure, but there is a deadline approaching for pre-sale tickets and VIP packages. As for Coachella, the fest reputed for reuniting many a dormant band (the Pixies in 2004, Rage Against the Machine in 2007), Blur is believed to be a frontrunner, though a show scheduled for London’s Hyde Park in July raises some doubt — would the Brits really forestall a comeback gig on their home turf for a U.S. one-off jaunt? We think it’s more likely Britney Spears would pull off a dance tent set, a la Madonna in 2006. (And wouldn’t you know it, Britney is off on Coachella Saturday, April 18th, between tour stops in Los Angeles and Anaheim.) Other artists currently looking at routing dates around the three-day party in the desert include Coachella vets Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as the Pretenders, the Killers, Keane and We Are Scientists. Related Stories: • Photos: Phish Through the Years • Phish Reunite, Plan Virginia Concerts for March 2009 • Bonnaroo News, Photos, Reports and More on RollingStone.com

Published: 2008-12-16 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Festivals, Bonnaroo, Coachella

Bono and the Edge Play Surprise Charity Gig, Quiet Riot Singer Found Dead, Rivers Cuomo Posts New Song

U2’s Bono and the Edge performed a surprise set in London on Friday to benefit Mencap, a learning-disability charity. With only 200 people in the audience, the duo played a twenty-minute acoustic set that included the hits “Stay,” “Desire,” “Angel of Harlem” and “Wave of Sorrow,” which features on the band’s Joshua Tree reissue. Snow Patrol, Keane and other “surprise guests” will perform for the charity’s Little Noise sessions this week. A proposed 2008 Jackson Five reunion tour “will involve” Michael Jackson, according to older brother Jermaine, who told BBC6 Music, “He has to be, he is a Jackson. He was at the meetings. Michael will be involved.” The Jackson bros. are currently recording new material as they finalize tour plans. Rivers Cuomo has posted “Blast Off!,” from his upcoming Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, on his personal MySpace page. Cuomo previously told Rolling Stone that the song was a track off Weezer’s never-released space opera Songs From the Black Hole. Kevin DuBrow, lead singer of Quiet Riot, was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sunday. He was fifty-two years old, and the cause of death is currently unknown. Following the revelation that Jam Master Jay’s killer had a neck tattoo, it is now believed that the Run-DMC DJ may have actually known his murderer. According to JMJ’s friend Tony Rincon, Jay was armed the night of his murder, but likely didn’t immediately defend himself because he knew the shooter. [Photo: Yui Mok/AP Photos]

Published: 2007-11-27 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Afternoon News Roundup

Bruce Springsteen Playing Warm-Up Dates, Sammy Hagar Speaks on Michael Anthony-Free Van Halen, Keane Channel Dr. Dre

Before their new album Magic comes out on October 2nd, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will play two benefit rehearsal shows at Asbury Park’s Convention Hall next Monday and Tuesday. Tickets for the event are $100, and will support an as-of-yet unannounced beneficiary. Springsteen and the band will embark on a tour, starting in Hartford, the same day Magic is released. Keane are bringing an unusual influence into the recording sessions of their third album. Drummer Richard Hughes explains that the band is listening to a ridiculous amount of Dr. Dre’s 2001, and hope to capture that album’s sparse sound on their next release. Sammy Hagar has finally spoken out about his former band’s semi-reunion. We say “semi-reunion” because Hagar feels it’s not the real thing without ousted bassist Michael Anthony. On a previous tour, when Hagar was still in the band, Eddie Van Halen attempted to exile Anthony, but Hagar insisted he wouldn’t tour without Anthony on bass. Hagar had no explanation for why Eddie wanted Anthony out, but it probably has something to do with Eddie’s desire to “play with his son (Wolfgang, who took over bass duties).” Yung Joc will emulate Snoop Dogg in Old School (or George Clinton in PCU, whichever you prefer) when he performs at the 100th anniversary celebration of Cornell University’s Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. The frat came under fire in 2004 for throwing a racially insensitive “Ghetto Fab” party at which revelers were told to dress like rappers. Friends of family of George Grantham (of POCO) are collecting items to auction off to help pay his medical bills (Grantham suffered a stroke and has no health insurance to defray the cost). Don Henley and Graham Nash have donated so far, and more information is available here.

Published: 2007-09-21 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Afternoon News Roundup