December 28, 2014 by Amy Gold
During the week of December 21, 2014, fans bade a final farewell to the legendary Joe Cocker whose many hits included his iconic rendition of the Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends."
Also that week, a Who's Who list of oldies bands and artists were announced as being among this year's inductees into the Pop Music Hall Of Fame: Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, Chubby Checker, the Eagles, the Everly Brothers, the Four Seasons, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Ricky Nelson, the Righteous Brothers, and Linda Ronstadt.
Jefferson Starship, Styx, and Bob Seger all announced upcoming tours for 2015 and/or 2015 tour date additions. The "Weekend Of LOVE Getaway" Beatles tribute festival is set to take place this February in Las Vegas. Featured acts include the Pete Best Band and the original Quarrymen. Also this February, Lynyrd Skynyrd will be giving two shows in Jacksonville, FL which will be filmed for a TV special. Also, KISS announced its upcoming KISS Kruise V which is set to leave from Miami, FL next October.
A highly sought-after 1978 Bruce Springsteen concert, dubbed "Darkness On The Edge Of Town," is now available as a download from his website. This February, David Bowie is set to release a vinyl single of a 2007 remix of his 1974 hit song, "Young Americans." Also, several Bob Marley releases are planned for 2015. The first in this series is a live CD/DVD titled "Easy Skanking In Boston '78" which is due out in February.
Also that week, it was announced that Poco will be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Former member Timothy B. Schmit, who left the band in 1977 to join the Eagles, will reunite with Poco for the induction ceremonies which take place this January.
(For more information about the above-listed news items, please see below for a list of sources with links and article summaries.)
December 21, 2014: Bob Seger Adds New 2015 Show Dates
Bob Seger will be adding six new shows for next March to his upcoming North American 2015 tour which begins on January 20 in Toledo, OH. This tour, which wraps up on March 26 in Auburn Hills, MI, will cover various other cities in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia, plus Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.
Source: Bob Seger Adds New Dates to His 2015 Tour Itinerary
December 22, 2014: Bob Marley Releases Scheduled For 2015
Several Bob Marley releases are planned for 2015, the year the late and great reggae legend would have turned 70. The first in this series is a live CD/DVD titled "Easy Skanking In Boston '78" which is due out on February 10, 2015. This package, to be released for the first time, will include some never-before-seen footage shot by a fan with a handheld camera. Other upcoming Marley albums will be announced throughout the year.
Source: Bob Marley Reissues Planned for 70th Birthday
December 22, 2014: Joe Cocker Passes Away
Famed rock and blues singer-songwriter Joe Cocker died on December 22, 2014 at age 70 in Crawford, CO after battling lung cancer. He was famous for his impassioned, raspy vocals and his bluesy covers of various pop tunes that included the Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends."
He was born John Robert Cocker in Sheffield, England and first sang in public at age 12 in a skiffle group. In the early 1960s, he recorded under the name Vance Arnold which he dropped in 1964 when he formed Joe Cocker's Big Blues. In 1968, Cocker burst on to the international music scene with his iconic cover of the Beatles "With A Little Help From My Friends" which was used many years later as the opening theme for the TV series, "The Wonder Years." This song was followed by a long string of hits lasting through 1990 that also included "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window" (1969), "The Letter" (1970), "Cry Me A River" (1970), "High Time We Went" (1971), "You Are So Beautiful" (1975), and his chart-topping duet with Jennifer Warnes, "Up Where We Belong" (1982). The latter song won numerous awards and was part of the soundtrack for the 1982 movie, "An Officer And A Gentleman."
Over his long career, Cocker has toured and recorded extensively. The Grammy award-winning rocker is in Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Singers, and his numerous other honors and accolades also included being awarded the OBE by the Queen of England.
Cocker is survived by his wife, Pam Baker.
Source: Joe Cocker, Iconic Rock Singer, Dead at 70
December 23, 2014: 'Weekend Of LOVE Getaway' To Take Place This February
On February 20-22, 2015, the "Weekend Of LOVE Getaway" will take place in Las Vegas in celebration of the Beatles 50th anniversary. Hosted by Liverpool Productions, this event will feature numerous Beatles tribute bands and other acts that include the Pete Best Band and the original Quarrymen whose members played important roles in the early history of the Fab Four. For more info and tickets, go to liverpooltours.com.
Source: MHT - Weekend of LOVE
December 23, 2014: Lynyrd Skynyrd To Film Live Concerts
On February 12-13, 2015, Lynyrd Skynyrd will give two shows in the band's hometown of Jacksonville, FL which will be filmed for a TV special. In one show, the band will play in full the 1973 album, "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd." The other show will feature a complete performance of the 1974 album, "Second Helping."
Source: Lynyrd Skynyrd To Film Live DVD In Jacksonville
December 23, 2014: Styx To Launch 2015 US Tour
On January 15, 2015, Styx will be launching a tour in Aspen, CO, which will cover various cities in Arizona, California, Indiana, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas before wrapping up on March 20 in Norman, OK. Afterwards, the band is set to perform next June in the Bahamas as part of the Carnival Cruise LIVE Concert Series.
Source: Styx Launching 2015 US Tour Next Month
December 23, 2014: Paul McCartney, Four Seasons, Eagles Inducted Into Pop Music Hall Of Fame
Paul McCartney, the Four Seasons and the Eagles are among those to be inducted into the 2014 Pop Music Hall Of Fame. This year's honorees also include Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, Chubby Checker, the Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, Ricky Nelson, the Righteous Brothers, and Linda Ronstadt. Founded in 2012 in Canonsburg, PA, the Pop Music Hall of Fame honors bands and artists with at least one charting song before 1974 who are chosen by a panel and selected by popular vote.
Source: Report: Paul McCartney, Four Seasons, Eagles Inducted into America's Pop Music Hall of Fame
December 24, 2014: Bruce Springsteen 1978 Concert Now Available As Download
Bruce Springsteen fans will be happy to know that his highly sought-after 1978 concert, dubbed "Darkness On The Edge Of Town," will soon be available as a download from his website, live.brucespringsteen.net. This famous concert took place on August 9, 1978, in Cleveland's Agora Theatre and Ballroom. Up to now, it has been available only as a bootleg.
Source: Bruce Springsteen Releases Legendary 1978 Cleveland Show
December 24, 2014: KISS Announces Upcoming Cruise
Next fall, KISS will be launching its KISS Kruise V which is set to leave from Miami, FL on October 30, 2015. The main highlight will be the band performing its classic 1975 album, "Alive," in its entirely. The trip itinerary also includes a stop in Jamaica and a tour of the Caribbean before returning on November 3. For more info and tickets, go to thekisskruise.com.
Source: KISS Kruise V Announced For 2015
December 26, 2014: Jefferson Starship To Launch 50th Anniversary Tour In 2015
Jefferson Starship announced its upcoming North American tour which begins on January 16-17, 2015 in Ontario, Canada and covers various cities in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The band will also commemorate its beginnings in a 50th anniversary celebration of its earlier incarnation, the Jefferson Airplane, which was founded in 1965.
Source: Jefferson Starship to Salute Jefferson Airplane's 50th Anniversary During 2015 Tour
December 26, 2014: David Bowie To Release 2007 Remix Of 'Young Americans' As Picture Disc Vinyl Single
On February 24, 2015, David Bowie will be releasing a 7" picture disc vinyl single. Side 1 will feature a 2007 remix of Bowie's 1974 hit song, "Young Americans." Side 2 will feature an alternate version of "It's Gonna Be Me" which is also from the "Young Americans" album.
Source: New David Bowie Picture Disc Featuring 2007 Mix of "Young Americans" to Be Released in February
December 27, 2014: Poco To Be Inducted Into Colorado Music Hall Of Fame
On January 9, 2015, Poco will be among those to be inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. The ceremonies will take place at Denver's Paramount Theater. Bassist Timothy B. Schmit, who used to be a member of Poco before leaving in 1977 to join the Eagles, will reunite with Poco for the induction ceremonies.
Source: Timothy B. Schmit To Reunite With Poco For Colorado Music Hall Of Fame Induction
