Ramble On: The WTTS Blog

10,000 Maniacs covered Springsteen’s “Because the Night” on MTV Unplugged and had a hit. An anonymous band in New York covered it, and things got all litigious. The performance rights group ASCAP is suing Connolly’s Pub in Manhattan for allowing bands to perform licensed music without paying a fee and they’re suing on behalf of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss, however, wants no part of the suit. A statement posted to brucespringsteen.net, says:

Bruce Springsteen had no knowledge of this lawsuit, was not asked if he would participate as a named plaintiff, and would not have agreed to do so if he had been asked.

Bruce’s representatives demanded the immediate removal of his name from the action.

The New York Post reports a man walked into a Manhattan bank and provided a credit card and drivers license identifying him as Paul Simon. He even had the famous musician’s correct Social Security number. What Rafael Ramos also had was about 10-inches on the famously short singer, coming in at 6-foot-1 to the real Paul Simon’s 5-foot-3. The teller wasn’t fooled, Ramos fled, and was apprehended by police shortly thereafter.

Ringo Starr taking drum lessons? Tina Sugandh, also known as Tablagirl, met up with Mr. Starr to show him how to correctly play the tabla hand drums. Tablagirl knows him through their mutual friend, Dave Stewart, and Starr was so impressed by her skill that you can hear her playing tabla and singing on his newest album, Y Not.

Here’s what we know so far. Bonnaroo will happen June 10th through 13th at their 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. For the first time ever, tickets will go on sale the same day as the lineup announcement. And that lineup announcement? February 9th. Bonnaroo-dot-com tells us that’s the date they will unveil the artists we can look forward to this year. There are so many acts rumored that if we simply read our A-to-Z list, that would count as reporting.

Speaking of A-to-Z, our annual tradition of working our way through the vast WTTS library song-by-song in alphabetical order is also coming up in February. We’ll start Monday the 15th and who knows when it will end? Check out a 60-second sample of World Class Rock A-to-Z.

Neil Young was honored last week as Musicares Person of the Year for 2010. Artists like Elton John, Dave Matthews, and Wilco paid tribute to the music legend by performing his songs at the ceremony. Red Hot Chili Peppers used the opportunity to debut their new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who is replacing John Frusciante in the band, and performed their cover of “A Man Needs A Maid.”

Coming back to the man of the night, Neil Young won his first Grammy just days after the ceremony for best art direction on a boxed or special limited edition package for Neil Young Archives Vol. 1. So, congrats to Mr. Young for the fancy packaging…oh yeah, and the rest of your 50-year career.

It was a relatively tame night for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night. The emphasis was on high production value performances that might have been more at home on a Broadway stage, which in the case of Green Day will be happening soon. Among our favorite artists, Kings of Leon came up big snagging trophies for three of the four categories where they received nominations; Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, and Best Rock Song.

Are you sick of the cold, snow and ice? Can’t wait until summer? There is some light at the end of the tunnel that is winter. Dave Matthews Band has announced their summer tour and per usual they will be making two stops in Indiana and a little earlier this year. June 18^th and 19^th the band play Verizon Wireless Music Center.

A musician is once again upset with a politician for using his song in a campaign. The musician penned the song for The James Gang. The politician is seeking office in Illinois. Both are named Joe Walsh. A supporter of candidate Walsh wrote new lyrics for guitarist Walsh’s tune, so his lawyer wrote a letter that demands they stop using the song. And, as one might expect from Joe Walsh’s attorney, the letter is hilarious. It reminds the candidate that the guitarist is no stranger to politics having run for President in 1980 and again in 1992.

Thousands of songs from the vast WTTS music library, in alphabetical order. WTTS World Class Rock A To Z is coming February 15th. We don’t know how long it will last. We don’t know who will be the first to wear the Official WTTS World Class Rock A To Z Dunce Cap. We do know we’re looking forward to it as much as you are, so here’s…for now…is a taste of what’s to come.

Enjoy!

In advance of the release of his new double live album, Britain’s The Guardian asked to take a peek at David Bowie’s iPod. The mix is predictably eclectic including Afro-Pop from Amadou & Mariam, American minimalist composer Steve Reich, and Chinese folk music. The track list of David Bowie’s A Reality Tour CD is a little more conventional than that assortment.