DON KIRSHNER – the famous songwriter, manager, publisher and music executive – and host of Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, died Monday (January 17) from heart failure in Boca Raton, FL at the age of 76. The syndicated Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert grew out of his involvement as a creative consultant for ABC’s In Concert, with Kirshner insisting that the acts play live rather than lip-synching their performances. The show launched on September 27, 1973, with THE ROLLING STONES’ first American TV appearance in more than four years. Its 230 episodes, which ran through 1981, featuring a wide array of artists such as BLACK SABBATH, KISS, RUSH, FOGHAT, KANSAS and many others. BLUE OYSTER CULT sampled Kirshner’s Rock Concert voice on the song ‘The Marshall Plan’ from its 1980 album, Cultosaurus Erectus. Funeral services for Kirshner are being arranged in Florida. The family asked for donations to be made to the Don Kirshner Scholarship Fund for emerging songwriters (70 West 36 Street, Suite 701, New York, N.Y. 10018).

“He is the baddest motherucker in the world,” says Dave Grohl of FOO FIGHTERS.

For five decades, MOTÖRHEAD frontman Lemmy Kilmister has been a pounding force in heavy metal, both onstage and afterhours. With a tolerance for partying that rivals Keith Richards and bedpost notches that exceed a thousand women, Lemmy‘s incredible music and life story will be celebrated in the latest installment of the VH1 Rock Docs, series. “Lemmy” premieres Friday, February 11 at 11:30 p.m. on VH1, VH1 Classic, and Palladia.

Directors Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski create an intimate portrait of a man revered by his longtime fans as well as musicians spanning the musical spectrum. Lemmy has more than a few stories, often littered with drugs and alcohol, to share about his electrifying career with MOTÖRHEAD. He’s paved the way for countless metal bands, and from his favorite barstool at the Rainbow to his cluttered apartment filled with memorabilia, Lemmy continues to inspire a new generation of metalheads.

Even before MOTÖRHEAD began, Lemmy had a lifetime of experiences under his belt — he saw THE BEATLES at the Cavern Club, served as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, and played in both Merseybeat and psychedelic rock bands. Although he’s 65, this rock god still acts not a day over 25 and doesn’t plan to put down his Rickenbacker bass anytime soon.

Filmed over the course of three years, “Lemmy” made its world premiere at the 2010 South By Southwest Film and Music Festival, and has since collected rave reviews at film festivals around the globe. Other interviews featured in the film include musicians Dave Grohl, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Joan Jett, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, THE CLASH‘s Mick Jones, JOY DIVISION/NEW ORDER‘s Peter Hook, Ice-T, David Navarro, PULP‘s Jarvis Cocker, as well as actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton and professional wrestler Triple H, all of whom make the case that Lemmy is more than just a tremendous musician: he symbolizes what metal is, what it was, and what it should be. “Lemmy” is currently screening at theaters nationwide and the uncensored director’s cut will be available in stores on DVD and Blu-ray on Tuesday, February 15.

“Lemmy” is the newest film in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Docs franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles and musical perspectives.

“Lemmy” was produced by Damage Case Films. Brad Abramson, Warren Cohen, Shelly Tatro, and Jeff Olde oversee for VH1.

VELVET REVOLVER/ex-GUNS N’ ROSES drummer Matt Sorum is putting the finishing touches on the new album from Cherie Currie (THE RUNAWAYS), tentatively due later this year. The CD will feature additional contributions from Nick Maybury (PERRY FARRELL, MINK) and Grant Fitzpatrick (MINK) and is described by Sorum as “a great representation of Cherie‘s voice.” He revealed to VH1 Radio Networks‘ Dave Basner, “I told her when I said I’d produce it, ‘You have to trust me on this. You need to make a cool, current rock and roll album.’ The album is very much a rock album with some depth.”

Matt told VH1 Radio Networks he’s recruited some of his famous friends to help out on the effort.

“It’s sounding great; I’m really excited about that,” he said. “Slash [VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N’ ROSES] played on it, Duff [McKagan; VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N’ ROSES] played on it, I got Billy Corgan [SMASHING PUMPKINS] on a track, THE VERONICAS are coming in, Juliette Lewis, Courtney Love…”

Sorum performed with Currie when she supported her former THE RUNAWAYS bandmate Joan Jett and THE BLACKHEARTS on August 11, 2010 at the Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa, California as part of this year’s Orange County Fair. Joining Sorum in Cherie’s backing group were Nick Maybury (PERRY FARRELL, MINK) and Grant Fitzpatrick (MINK) and Cherie‘s son, Jake Hayes, on guitar and vocals.

Fan-filmed video footage of the performance can be viewed below.

A review of the concert is available at OCWeekly.com.

Sorum previously stated about performing THE RUNAWAYS material with Cherie: “Sandy West‘s drumming was so cool, especially for her age of 16 at the time ‘Live in Tokyo’ was recorded. The tones of the guitar were awesome, too — very QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, but done in the mid-’70s, of course.”

WHITESNAKE, the legendary rock’n’roll legacy founded and formed by renowned singer/songwriter David Coverdale, unleashes a brand new storming ‘Snake statement, Forevermore, on Frontiers Records on March 25th in Europe and March 29th in North America. Their 11th studio album, Forevermore, was recorded, produced and mixed by Coverdale, guitarist Doug Aldrich and Michael McIntyre at Snakebyte Studios and Grumblenott Studios & Villas in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, with additional work at Casa Dala, Sherman Oaks, CA, and Whitesnake will take to the road for a full world tour in support of the release. The album’s release will be anticipated by the digital only release of the first single/video clip, ‘Love Will Set You Free’, on February 21st. Forevermore will be specially released on a “Snake Pack” edition for the first 3 weeks in England only. This very special release – arranged in conjunction with Future Publishing and Classic Rock magazine – will come with a collectors edition 132 pages deluxe magazine plus A1 poster and metal pin badge and shall feature an exclusive cover art and 2 bonus live tracks, ‘Slide It In’ and ‘Cheap An’ Nasty’, which will serve as an appetizer for the forthcoming Live @ Donington 1990 to be released in the summer 2011. Forevermore tracklisting: ‘Steal Your Heart Away’ ‘All Out Of Luck’ ‘Love Will Set You Free’ ‘Easier Said Than Done’ ‘Tell Me How’ ‘I Need You (Shine A Light)’ ‘One Of These Days’ ‘Love And Treat Me Right’ ‘Dogs In The Street’ ‘Fare Thee Well’ ‘Whipping Boy Blues’ ‘My Evil Ways’ ‘Forevermore’.

Published by rbtaleman

Heavy metal (fiend/friend?) Writer, frustrat(or), frustrat(ee), decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Husband(twice), father(three times), grandfather(of seven), FM radio veteran, Concertgoer, music collector, muscle car aficianado. Grown up since five. Child since 45. View all posts by rbtaleman