McCARTNEY SALUTING WINGS' GOLDEN ERA WITH NEXT REISSUES

With Ram, the fourth installment of the Paul McCartney Archive Series being released tomorrow (May 22nd), hardcore fans are already rejoicing in the news that Christmas will see a total of four projects released as the next installment of the ongoing project. The usually reliable Beatles site, wogew.blogspot.com, reported that December will see expanded versions of McCartney's Wings classics ‘Venus And Mars’ (1975), ‘Wings At The Speed Of Sound,’ (1976) and the band's only live set, ‘Wings Over America’ (1976). The trilogy marked the last time that McCartney would score three consecutive Number One albums as a solo artist.

Also available -- probably as part of the ‘Wings Over America’ package -- will be the Rockshow DVD, McCartney's definitive and long out of print 1980 concert film chronicling Wings' sole North American tour in 1976. All three releases showcase, arguably, Wings' best lineup, with Paul and Linda McCartney, guitarist and bassist Denny Laine, drummer Joe English, and the late virtuoso guitarist Jimmy McCulloch.

Denny Laine, who was McCartney's right-hand man and frequent collaborator during Wings' decade-long run, fondly remembers guitarist Jimmy McCulloch, who died of a heroin overdose at age 26 in 1979: "Jimmy was more kind of tuneful and a team person. He was a younger guy, he was into playing lots of different styles -- but he was equally good at all of them."

McCartney told us that he looks back to the 1975/1976 ‘Wings Over The Word’ tour with particular pride: "I remember Wings, we did have some good lineups. And I think '76, with Joe and Jimmy, and Denny and Linda, we had -- I think that was pretty good lineup, and we did some good stuff then."

Jagger Impersonates Steven Tyler, Rocks Out with Foos, Arcade Fire and Beck on "SNL"

On the season finale of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ guest host Mick Jagger appeared in most of the show's sketches, while also singing several songs with help from the other announced musical guests -- Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire and Jeff Beck.

Among Jagger's acting highlights on the late-night extravaganza:

-- Playing a flamboyant movie star and celebrity contestant on the fake '60s game show Secret Word;

-- Appearing as a nerdy insurance salesman at a karaoke bar who is underwhelmed with his fellow patrons' attempts at singing Rolling Stones songs, yet too shy to take the mic himself;

-- Portraying Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, who serves as one of the judges for a mock talent show titled So You Think You Can Dance at an Outdoor Music Festival.

Jagger was joined by Arcade Fire for a raucous rendition of The Stones' "The Last Time."  Later in the show, he hit the stage with the Foo Fighters for a medley of two Stones classics -- "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll." Lastly, the famed frontman debuted a new tune titled "Tea Party" about the upcoming presidential election that featured blistering accompaniment by blues-rock legend Jeff Beck.

Closing out the program was a sketch that started out with Jagger emceeing a 2012 graduation and transformed into a special farewell to SNL's Kristen Wiig, who apparently is leaving the show after a seven-year stint.  The segment featured Arcade Fire playing The Stones' "She's a Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday," as Jagger and various cast members, past and present, sang along and also took turns dancing with Wiig.

Several clips from the episode currently are streaming online.

Waters Talks About ‘The Wall’ and Pink Floyd on ’60 Minutes’

Roger Waters, who’s been breaking attendance records during his ‘The Wall’ tour, sat down with CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ on Sunday night to talk about the tour, leaving Pink Floyd, and how much he wishes everyone would just leave their cellphones at home already.

Interviewer Steve Kroft calls Waters “prickly” but adds that even at 68, the legendary songwriter is also “gracious” and “totally committed to his work.”

Asked why ‘The Wall’ has had such staying power with fans, Waters replied, “I think it strikes some chords that may be just beneath surface in most of us. What it’s about is the walls that exist between human beings, whether on a family level or on a global level. And I think that resonates with people.”

Waters has taken great pains in the stage show to reproduce the sound of the original record, even using several artists to replicate — note for note — what Pink Floyd’s singer and guitarist David Gilmour did. That made Kroft ask the obvious question: did Waters ever think about pulling his old bandmates back in?

He barely had the question out of his mouth before Waters stopped him.

“There must have been a reason back in 1985 why I left Pink Floyd, left the name, left that big umbrella of comfort … and there was a reason for why I did, okay,” he said. “And [that reason] didn’t go away, certainly, in the intervening 25 years or however long it’s been.”

But something Waters feels has changed are concert-goers — specially, the ones who wield cell phones at his shows. “It drives me insane,” he said, adding that he doesn’t understand why people are so focused on taking photos of the show and staring at a tiny screen when there’s “this huge spectacle” going on in front of them.

Bitching aside, though, Waters loves his job — and has no illusions about the life of a rock star.

“People always used to say, it must be so hard you know, how do you do it? You know, it must be so hard being on the road, being in a rock and roll band. It’s amazing that you survived. And I would look at them like, what are you talking about?,” he said.

“It’s the easiest job in the world … I mean, compared with something really hard, like for instance, looking after a two-year-old child, it’s an absolute doddle.”

DLR: VAN HALEN IS 'GETTING ALONG FAMOUSLY,' BUT NEEDS BREAK

Van Halen has reportedly not canceled the final 31 dates on its current North American tour due to poor ticket sales, illness or internal turmoil. Singer David Lee Roth posted a video message online over the weekend, saying that "the band is getting along famously, better than we have in quite some time, and I think the shows reveal that through the miracle of YouTube." But, Roth added, "As usual we bit off more than we can chew when it came to scheduling. The band is winning but our schedule has been sidelined for unnecessary roughness. If we continue past July 4 and all the way into Australia and Japan then we're asking for the robot zombie tour."

The frontman admitted that the band is taking a break now to avoid greater exhaustion later on, saying that they plan to be on the road for two years. He finished, "Stay tuned, and we'll see you down the road in just a little bit."

According to Billboard, a reliable source close to the Van Halen camp corroborated Roth's message, saying that "fatigue" is the reason for the dates being scrapped. The source also said that the shows will not be canceled outright, but will be rescheduled.

The source said, "(The band is) doing great with ticket sales. They're not fighting. They're just burnt and they want to take some time off. They got so excited and everything was going so well, they said, 'let's add more dates,' and I don't think they realized how tired they were. That may not sound like the truth, but it is."

Van Halen will still play 15 more dates on the current leg of the trek, ending on June 26th in New Orleans. The source said that more shows will be booked, but "we just don't know when yet."

Van Halen is touring behind ‘A Different Kind Of Truth,’ its first album in 14 years and first with original singer David Lee Roth since 1984.

The Billboard story follows a similar report at VHND.com, widely regarded as the authoritative Van Halen fan site. That site reports that the band has been "working tirelessly for the last 18 months" and "wants the second leg (of the tour) to be as awesome as the first."

Hagar Comments On Van Halen Tour Postponement

On Thursday, Van Halen postponed 31 newly-announced dates of its "A Different Kind Of Truth" tour without explanation. Former VH singer Sammy Hagar, still very bitter over his two departures from the group, chimed in with his thoughts while doing a charity event in Atlantic City on Friday.

"They're hard people to get along with, those brothers," the Denver Post reports. "Otherwise I'd still be in the band."

"I'm surprised it took this long" for the tour to experience major difficulties, he added. "I predicted this was going to happen a lot sooner. I lost money on that bet!"

THE WHO TO RELEASE DELUXE 'QUADROPHENIA' DVD IN AUGUST

Coming to DVD and Blue-ray on August 28th is the Who's 1979 mod coming of age drama, Quadrophenia. TheWho.com reported that "the new, high-def restoration. . . includes new interviews, commentary and behind-the-scenes footage." The disc will feature a new audio commentary from director Frank Roddam and director of photography Brian Tufano, along with interviews with the Who's long time sound man, Bobby Pridden, who supervised the new 5.1 mix and manager Bill Curbishley.

The disc will also include on-set and archival footage, behind-the-scenes photographs, along with a booklet "featuring an essay by critic Nick James, a reprinted personal history by original mod Irish Jack -- who inspired Pete Townshend's character "Jimmy" -- along with Townshend's original liner notes from the 1973 double-album.

Although the Who don't star in the film, one rocker who appeared in Quadrophenia -- starring as "Ace Face" -- was none other than Sting, in his first major movie role: "The movie came out just as the Police were having our first success, so there was a sort of double whammy of me (laughs) as a singer and then a figure in Quadrophenia -- which was quite a small part, but I seem to have made a big impact with a sort of iconic look. I'm not taking much credit for it, I didn't do very much in the film, but I thought it was a good film. I thought it was one of those films that summed up an era."

Pete Townshend explained why Quadrophenia remains his most multi-dimensional work: "Quadrophenia is music, it's angry music, it never lets up, it's full of energy. But it's also simply a story of a kid who has a bad day. It rains and he goes and sits on a rock. And he contemplates the future and the present, and he decides to do something that he's never done before -- he prays."

Bono Laughs Off Billionaire Rumors

As reported last week, Bono's investment firm, Elevation Partners got a massive windfall when Facebook floated on the New York stock exchange as they own 2.3% of the company. That share is now worth an estimated $1.5bn and the U2 frontman was thought to have received a big portion of it.

However, Bono has told MSNBC that the reports are wide of the mark.

"Contrary to reports, I'm not a billionaire or going to be richer than any Beatle - and not just in the sense of money, by the way, The Beatles are untouchable - those billionaire reports are a joke," he told MSNBC.

Adding: "In Elevation, we invest other people's money – endowments, pension funds. We do get paid of course. But you know, I felt rich when I was 20 years old and my wife was paying my bills. Just being in a band, I've always felt blessed. I got interested in technology because I'm an artist..."

U2: New Fan Club Live Compilation Album

U2 is offering up a new compilation album, exclusively to members of their fan club.

Titled ‘U22,’ it's a limited-edition double-live CD that's the soundtrack of their last tour, 360-Degrees. It contains 22 songs chosen by the fans, and among the picks are "All I Want Is You," "Walk On," "Mysterious Ways," "Bad," "Even Better Than the Real Thing" and "With or Without You."

It comes in a deluxe book of live photos complete with liner notes from bassist Adam Clayton. If you subscribe to their website, U2.com, you can download four of the songs, including "Unknown Caller," which is not on the album. On May 30th, another eight tracks will be available for download.

Bono is featured in the new issue of Time. He calls on the leaders of the G8 to ensure that a resource boom in developing regions like Africa benefits the many, not the few.

GN’R Request 20 Models To Fill Front Row Of Glasgow Show

According to Dailyrecord.co.uk, GUNS N' ROSES have requested the front row of their Scots gig (May 25th at The SECC in Glasgow) is filled by stunning models.

The legendary band, fronted by Axl Rose, contacted a model agency to demand 20 of their prettiest girls for their gig at Glasgow’s SECC on Friday.

Sources claim the rockers are keen to have eye-candy in the front row during their gig.

The band’s promoter invited 20 models, from All Talent – The Sonia Scott Agency, to join them backstage after the concert.  The band will then party into the night with the girls.

A source said: “The band’s promoter contacted Sonia and asked if she could provide the band with models for the gig.  He asked Sonia for 20 of her prettiest models to stand in the front row and wow the band while they’re performing. The girls have then been invited to join Axl and the boys backstage for drinks and they’ve even asked Sonia if she can arrange a party for the band.”

The source revealed the band have a soft spot for Scottish girls.

Axl Rose Demands Square Melon on Tour Rider

Axl Rose demands a square melon on his tour rider, an exotic item ''that absolutely can't be missed.''

The Guns N' Roses singer has an unusual backstage demand for the exotic fruit, but claims it is essential to his performance.

The rider document states it should include ''wines, beers, vodka, red and white roses and a square melon.'' The document adds the melon is an ''exotic'' item ''that absolutely can't be missed.''

Square melons were developed in Japan as a convenient way of storing and transporting the fruit, which is usually round. They cost more than double the price of a normal watermelon, but taste the same.

Among other items demanded by the Axl - currently touring the UK with his group, which also includes Tommy Stinson, Chris Pitman, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal and DJ Ashba - is a custom made Italian leather sofa to relax on ahead of the show.

Axl has actually toned down his backstage demands since 2010, when he asked for a ''dressing room to be all black and decorated with fresh roses, 18 of red and white each (sic),'' and a bed, so he could sleep before stage time.

Other articles named on the 41 item rider included seven kinds of cheese, six lamps, a rug and ''two bear-shaped tubes of honey.''

SABBATH MEMBERS PERFORM TOGETHER FOR FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS/WARD REQUESTS PHOTO REMOVAL

Original Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler performed live together for the first time in seven years on Saturday night (May 19th), playing an intimate show at the 3,800-person O2 Academy in Sabbath's hometown of Birmingham, England. The show, which served as a warm-up for the group's headlining appearance next month at the Download Festival, was laced with emotion and drama: it was the first live appearance for Iommi since being diagnosed with cancer, and it was the first with stand-in drummer Tommy Clufetos, making the split official between founding drummer Bill Ward and the rest of Sabbath.

According to Classic Rock, Iommi was visibly moved when the audience began chanting his name after opening number "Into The Void," and continued chanting it intermittently throughout the show.

Ward, meanwhile, announced again that he was declining to join his former bandmates for its scheduled 2012 dates, as well as the recording of a new album, due to a contractual dispute.

He also had his lawyers direct Sabbath to remove him from photos of the band posted at the official Black Sabbath website "so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current Black Sabbath lineup," according to a statement issued by his publicist.

Geezer Butler issued a lengthy retort at his own website, writing that Ward "hadn't told any one of us he was having contractual problems, and frankly those things are worked out between our representatives, and never between the four of us let alone in public."

Butler added that the band did not expect to make a lot of money from its Download appearance and planned to donate the proceeds from the Birmingham gig, saying, "Apparently, this wasn't acceptable to Bill's representatives, they wanted an amount that was so unrealistic that it seemed to have been a joke."

Until now, Iommi told us a while back that the members of Sabbath stayed friendly even when there were legal or other issues going on: "We've always been talking. We've always been in touch with each other. There might be a lawsuit in the thing between us, but we still talk to each other like nothing's happened, you know."

In addition to Download, the members of Sabbath will play at Lollapalooza this August in Chicago, their only scheduled U.S. gig. The rest of the scheduled Sabbath tour dates will be played by Ozzy and billed as "Ozzy & Friends."

Ozzy, Iommi and Butler are working on their first new album together in 33 years. Clufetos is a member of Ozzy's solo touring band.

EDDIE MONEY SAYS STAYING NORMAL GAVE HIM A CAREER

Eddie Money credits his continued success over five decades to the fact that he never tried to hide the fact that he was just a normal guy. Money, who's been taking on a backbreaking series of one-nighters over the years, just might be one of rock's most hard working performers and kicks off his spring and summer tour on Friday night (May 25th) in Clarkson, Michigan.

We asked Money how despite his success in the '70s and '80s he's still a top concert draw -- without ever having to launch a "comeback" tour to entice audiences to come out: "Well, y'know why that was? Because I wasn't a Huey Lewis or a Michael Bolton or somebody that was gonna hit and hit big and -- 'Get outta here, we're so sick of this!' Everybody pictures Eddie Money in, y'know, not really an earring, or a goatee. (I'm) usually a shirt and tie kinda guy and with a. . . Sears & Roebuck jacket on (laughs)." )