Aerosmith are considering replacing Steven Tyler with a new vocalist, according to guitarist Brad Whitford.

The band's future has been thrown into doubt over recent months, after Tyler fell offstage during a gig in Dakota in August. Aerosmith subsequently postponed a South American tour, and lead guitarist Joe Perry admitted that Tyler had 'got to get his act together' if the band are to survive.

In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, Whitford has revealed that the band are to hold meetings – probably without Tyler – in the next fortnight to discuss their future. One direction being considered is to replace Tyler with a new singer, Whitford confirmed.

"I'm not sure how good that would look, it would largely depend on who we could get and who would want to do it. That's big shoes to fill," he said.

"Nobody could replace Steven or imitate him – he's one of a kind. But if somebody was willing to do it and the chemistry was right, why not?"

He added that for Aerosmith's recent gigs, Tyler had been given a separate dressing room to the rest of the band.

In September, Perry said he still hoped to record a new Aerosmith album with Tyler.

Source NME

Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations and others will be on hand later this month to celebrate Motown's 50th anniversary back home in Detroit.

The two-night affair on Nov. 20-21, titled "Live It Again!," will benefit the Motown Historical Museum, which is located in the company's original Hitsville U.S.A. headquarters in Detroit's midtown section. The weekend will kick-off at the Roostertail, a nightclub that hosted many Motown performances and parties, with a program honoring Motown alumni followed by a an autograph session with members of the Contours and Miracles, among others. A "Bop to the Ballroom" dance party will follow.

On Nov. 21, the Temptatons and Franklin will headline a black-tie gala at Detroit's GM Renaissance Center, while Stevie Wonder will offer "a special tribute performance" to Motown Founder Berry Gordy, Jr., and his sister, Esther Gordy Edwards, a Motown vice-president who founded the Motown museum. Actor/comedian Sinbad will host, and the evening will also include memorial tributes to Michael Jackson, the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs and producer/songwriter Norman Whitefield, and honors for Motown's "First Five" -- Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman, Janie Bradford and Raynoma Singleton.

Tickets for the Nov. 20 Roostertail party are $50, while the Nov. 21 gala runs $350. Tickets can be purchased by calling (313) 875-2264 or visiting motownmuseum.com.

Motown's 50th will also be feted during halftime of the Detroit Lions' annual Thanksgiving day football game. "A Motown 50th Anniversary Tribute" will feature current Motown stars -- including KEM, Melanie Fiona and Shontelle -- performing some of the label's biggest hits. The segment will be televised by Fox, and fans will be able to download a recording of the medley online at nfl.com/thanksgiving, with proceeds going to benefit the United Way.

Source Billboard

Paul McCartney has contributed a brand new song "(I Want To) Come Home" to the soundtrack for new movie Everybody's Fine - and it has been posted online.

The film also stars Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

The film, starring Robert De Niro is released nationwide on December 4, but you can hear Macca's new track below.

McCartney says he identified with De Niro's character in the film, and easily wrote the song in just one evening, saying: "I could definitely identify with Robert De Niro’s character because I have grown-up kids who have their own families."

The film also stars Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

Source UNCUT

Ray Davies and Chrissie Hynde have recorded a duet together, "Postcard From London", which is due for release on December 7.

The Davies-penned tracked will be added to his 'Kinks Choral Collection' album which was released in June.

The video for the track, has been directed in London by accalimed film maker Julien Temple; and features landmarks from Davies career including: The Statue of Eros steps, Carnaby Street and Waterloo Bridge.

Joined by the Crouch End Festival Chorus, Ray Davies will also play some live dates next month:

• Cambridge, The Corn Exchange (December 11)


• Birmingham, Symphony Hall (12)


• Glasgow, Concert Hall (14)


• Manchester, The Bridgewater Hall (15)


• London, Hammersmith Apollo (19)

Source UNCUT

Previously-unseen lyrics written by The Beatles' late guitarist George Harrison have been turned into a song by Wirral songwriter Dean Johnson.

Watch a video of Johnson performing 'Silence (Is Its Own Reply)' live on BBC Radio Merseyside by scrolling down and clicking below.

Harrison is said to have penned the lyrics to the song in the latter part of the 1960s before handing them to The Beatles' biographer Hunter Davies. After Davies referenced the lyrics – which he had forgotten about until recently – on a BBC Radio Merseyside interview, host Spencer Leigh decided to contact Johnson to get him to write the music for the track.

"I found it unbelievable, tremendously exciting and, above all, a complete honour. My brief was to follow George's sentiment through to its conclusion," Johnson explained.

An explanation of the track on Deanjohnsonmusic.co.uk suggests that the lyrics are likely to be about the guitarist's troubled relationship with John Lennon.

"The lyrics are of a personal nature and were first thought to be a song of unrequited love but, in hindsight, they seem to allude to George's uneasy relationship with John Lennon," the note on the site reads. "This is substantiated by first-hand observations by Hunter Davies and by people close to Harrison."

Watch Dean Johnson performing 'Silence (Is Its Own Reply)' on BBC Radio Merseyside's 'On The Beat' show at NME.

The Beatles' catalogue is still available for free streaming and digital download purchase on BlueBeat.com - despite the fact that EMI is now suing the US-based website.

EMI, which distributes The Beatles' recordings via an agreement with Apple Corps, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the company Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles. "EMI has not authorized content to be sold on BlueBeat," a representative for EMI told MusicRadar.

The Beatles recordings - which have been recently remastered and issued as lavish box sets in both stereo and mono - are being sold on BlueBeat for as little as 25 cents (15p) a track.

According to Variety, representatives of Media Rights Technologies (owners of Bluebeat) recently wrote to the Librarian of Congress asking that the webcasting licenses of such firms as iTunes, Pandora and MSN Music be revoked on piracy grounds.

"MRT will not condone copyright infringement nor risk infringement liability for our customers and partners. Until Apple is fully compliant with government regulations, iTunes will not be permitted on our sites," said Hank Risan, co-founder and CEO of MRT.

Will this be a long and winding road in the courts? We shall see.

Source music-radar