REBEAT News Roundup (October 12 – October 18)
Breaking news
Elton John penned an editorial about fighting against HIV/AIDS for the philanthropy issue of Billboard. In the article, which was also posted on Yahoo Music on October 15, John speaks of the work that must still be done in defeating the disease, despite the great strides that have been taken to eradicate it. He felt called to take action, saying:
I knew I had to help. I needed to do something. I started small by volunteering and lending my voice to the growing chorus of activists speaking out about the crisis. But I quickly realized that wasn’t enough. And not only that, I realized I could do so much more, thanks to the incredible reach of the music industry and the power of music in our culture. So in 1992, I created the Elton John AIDS Foundation in the United States and, a year later, in the United Kingdom. We weren’t looking for a cure – we simply wanted to help people, provide care and support and comfort, and fight the injustices faced by those living with HIV/AIDS. Most of all, we wanted them to know they mattered and that someone cared.
John, along with Lady Gaga, are featured on the cover of this week’s issue of Billboard, which can be purchased here.
Albums, singles, and tours
- Another previously unheard version of a Bob Dylan track has been released in preparation for the release of the next installment of his Bootleg Series collection. You can listen to the first take of “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window” here.
- According to guitarist Steve Morse’s interview on the podcast GuitCast, Deep Purple is set to begin recording a new album in 2016. This announcement comes just about a week after the band was nominated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Queen is releasing footage of their 1975 show at the Hammersmith Odeon on multiple formats on November 20. Queen – A Night at the Odeon – Hammersmith 1975 is set to be released on CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, vinyl, and in digital formats.
- Promoter John Giddings is quoted as saying that David Bowie has officially retired from touring. In an interview with NME, Giddings said, “He has decided to retire and, like Phil Collins, you can’t demand these people go out there again and again and again.”
Happy birthday!
- October 12 – Samuel Moore of Sam & Dave (born in 1935), Melvin Franklin of the Temptations (1942)
- October 13 – Paul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel (born in 1941)
- October 14 – Roger Moore, actor (born in 1927), Cliff Richard, musician (1940), Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues (1946)
- October 15 – Don Stevenson of Moby Grape (born in 1941), Richard Carpenter of the Carpenters (1946), Tito Jackson of the Jackson 5 (1953)
- October 16 – Nico of the Velvet Underground (born in 1938), Fred Turner of Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1943), Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead (1947)
- October 17 – James “Jim” Seals of Seals and Crofts (born in 1941), Gary Puckett of the Union Gap (1942)
- October 18 – Chuck Berry, singer and guitarist (born in 1926), Russ Giguere of the Association (1943)
