A compilation of the short stories that were published over the last week in VVN Music Short Takes and Fascinating Facts section
Monday, January 16
Tom Waits will publish his first book of poetry in February called Seeds on Hard Ground. The book includes pictures of the homeless taken by Michael O'Brien. Only 1,000 copies are being printed and the proceeds go to the Redwood Food Bank and Sonoma County’s Homeless Referral Services and Family Support Center.
A judge has ruled that Etta James' husband may use $60,000 of her savings for her continued care. James is suffering from leukemia and dementia.
Johnny Marr of the Smiths has been offered a book deal. He wrote on Twitter "I have been offered a book deal, a serious one... It will be an autobiography of course, that or about my collection of fascinating public bus tickets from the '80s. That would be cool."
Devo's Bob Mothersbaugh returned to the stage on Saturday in Los Angeles. He had been sidelined since October after a serious cut to his thumb.
James Burton was given the Goldener Rathausmann from the city of Vienna, Austria on Sunday night after a concert. The award salutes his career and has been previously been given to such luminaries as Billy Joel and Gregory Peck.
Wednesday, January 19
Alex Kirst, a drummer who had worked with Iggy Pop and the group the Nymphs, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on January 13. He was 47.
It's another bad week for the recording industry as the number 1 album, Cake's Showroom of Compassion, sells only 44,000 copies. They beat the old record, set last week by Taylor Swift, who only sold 52,000.
Friday, January 21
Ted Nugent will not be charged in a South Dakota incident where he was caught shooting pheasants while his hunting privileges were suspended.
Sting, Jim Morrison and Jon Anderson are three of the artists that will appear on the album Prayer Cycle 2: Path to Zero. It will be out on May 10.
Boy George has returned a religious icon to the Church of Cyprus which he had acquired in 1985 and later found out that it had been stolen in the Turkish invasion of northern Cyprus of 1974.
David Cassidy's Florida DUI case has been postponed until February 16.
Gwen McCrae successfully had her gall bladder removed on Wednesday.
Saturday, January 22
The family of Bob Marley have won a court case against a Nevada company who was using the icon's image on apparel. The basic award was $300,000 which could increase after the judge examines lost revenue.
Halle Berry has turned down the chance to play Aretha Franklin in the Queen of Soul's planned biopic.
Michael Anthony said at the NAMM trade show that Chickenfoot will be entering the studio on January 29 to record their second album.
Cherie Currie, originally of the Runaways, is in the studio working on a new album with Velvet Revolver's Matt Sorum. She says there will be some big name guests.
VIDEO: Chicago, watch the Undercover interview with Chicago here:
