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We announced this show on Thursday last week…300 tickets…well, they’re gone!  Tonight Randy Bachman reunites with Fred Turner – the “B” and “T” respectively from the legendary B-T-O (…that’s Bachman-Turner Overdrive) for an intimate performance @the Pyramid Cabaret!  It’s been 21 years since they last shared a stage together; happy to see they’ve put aside their differences and can focus on what really matters!  From what Mandshein tells me of last night’s rehearsal, ticket holders are going to need something for their ears!

Simon and Garfunkel‘s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” will be the Towering Song at this year’s Songwriters Hall of Fame inductions. The Grammy winner for Record of the Year spent six weeks at number-one and inspired a gospel-based cover by Aretha Franklin that topped the soul chart. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans are among the more than 300 artists who’ve covered the song.

Paul Simon will attend the June 17th ceremony in New York to accept his honor. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” joins such previous Towering Song recipients as “Unchained Melody,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” and “What the World Needs Now (Is Love).”

Pat Benatar has a full slate of promotional appearances scheduled in support of her autobiography, Between a Heart and a Rock Place. The book is out on June 15th. Pat will also be on tour this summer on a bill with REO Speedwagon. 

Pat Benatar book tour

Paul McCartney admits The Beatles‘ use of marijuana and LSD was “a development thing.” In a recent interview with London’s Telegraph, he explains, “It certainly made us stretch further than we might otherwise from Rubber Soul onwards.” Sir Paul feels mixed emotion, because “we did some pretty good work before that, as well. [So to create great music] it’s not a requirement.”

McCartney performed in Mexico City last night with a second show tonight (Friday). For tonight’s show he is setting up a giant screen in a park so upwards of 10,000 people can see the show for free.

A 90-minute version of Bruce Springsteen‘s new concert DVD, London Calling: Live in Hyde Park, will be screened in theaters before it hits stores on June 22nd. Proceeds from the screenings will go to the Danny [Federici] Fund / Melanoma Research Alliance.

For a schedule of screenings, log onto Backstreets.com/News.

The public memorial for Ronnie James Dio will be held on Sunday at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. Dio died on May 16th from stomach cancer. He was 67. Sadly, the service may be may be disrupted by religious extremists. The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas has issued a statement saying that Dio was an “arrogant God-hating fool” who “changed his name from Padavona to Dio (meaning ‘God’ in Italian). His Black Sabbath fans worshipped him as a god. He stood idly by and watched his niece, Gen Padavona, become a filthy porn star.”

Wendy Dio, Ronnie’s widow and manager, commented on the planned protest, saying, “Ronnie hates prejudice and violence. We need to turn the other cheek on these people.”

Dennis Hopper, the director, star and co-writer of “Easy Rider” and an edgy actor in numerous other films, has died at age 74 after a lengthy illness, his production company Easy Rider Productions confirmed.

Hopper died at 8:15 a.m. PT at his home in Venice, Calif., from complications of prostate cancer, a friend, Alex Hitz, told the Reuters news service.

Though he may be best known for “Easy Rider,” the 1969 cult classic, Hopper’s film and television career extended back into the 1950s and he stayed active up until recently.

He also was considered something of a Hollywood wild man, whose battles with drugs, alcohol and erratic behavior may have helped stall his career in periods both before and after “Easy Rider.”

Nevertheless, he enjoyed an acting comeback in the 1980s and afterwards on the strength of films such as “Apocalypse Now” (1979), “Rumble Fish” (1983) and “Blue Velvet” (1986).

Despite his declining condition in recent months, Hopper recently appeared in Hollywood to receive a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in March. Surrounded by his children and colleagues, the actor appeared to be in good spirits, smiling, laughing and waving.

“Everything I learned in life I learned from you,” he told a crowd of supporters at the star ceremony, referring to Hollywood. “This means so much to me. Thank you very much everyone, and Hollywood.”

By the time of his death, Hopper also had become well known for his paintings and photography, as well as an avid collector of art.

Bitter Divorce Battle in Months Before Death

However, Hopper’s final days were marked by his bitter divorce battle, in which he claimed his estranged wife, Victoria Duffy-Hopper, stole valuable artwork and other property and kept him away from their 6-year-old daughter, Galen.

In a March statement, Hopper claimed the stolen items included silver flatware, Egyptian cotton linens, Venetian glass pieces and wood furniture from Africa, with a total worth of more than $1.5 million. adsonar_placementId=1280599;adsonar_pid=44749;adsonar_ps=-1;adsonar_zw=165;adsonar_zh=220;adsonar_jv=’ads.adsonar.com’;

The month before, Hopper filed court papers claiming Duffy-Hopper hid Galen from him for long periods of time. He said he spent Christmas “in utter distress” after Duffy-Hopper took Galen to Boston, a trip he learned about from her attorney.

She, meanwhile, accused him of being verbally abusive and mentally incapable of making decisions for himself or in the best interests of Galen.

In his final days, Hopper made financial arrangements for his estranged wife and family. According to court documents filed in March, Duffy-Hopper will receive $250,000 from her late husband’s $1 million life insurance policy and the balance will go to his estate. Hopper also arranged for Galen and his three other adult children from previous marriages to receive a “substantial portion” of the insurance. His will remains to be seen.

The actor dealt with marital woes throughout his five marriages.

In 1970, he wed Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and Papas — but their union lasted a grand total of eight days. Phillips later told Vanity Fair that she was subjected to “excruciating” treatment while with the actor.

In anticipation of his forthcoming disc “Scream”, the Ozzman decided to have some fun @ Madame Tussauds’ Wax Museum in Times Square, New York… 

Rock’s first ladies of Arena Rock – Ann & Nancy Wilson aka HEART will release their first new studio album in nearly 6 years August 31 titled “Red Velvet Car”.

Heart will be performing songs from their new disc at selected Lilith Fair dates and will headline their own tour beginning July through September. 

92 CITI FM is anticipating an announcement for Winnipeg Heart fans for October!

Stay tuned!!