Subj : Rock News
To   : All
From : Piper Christian Vierik
Date : Thu May 29 2003 06:49 pm

JEFF BECK AND B.B. KING                  
 
Blues legend B.B. King and rock guitar hero Jeff Beck will be 
the headliners at the 12th annual B.B. King Music Festival. 
This nationwide tour kicks off on the West Coast July 25 and 
will include amphitheater stops in major U.S. markets through 
September. The landmark event, presented by VH1 Classic, will 
feature King and Beck on tour together for the first time ever. 
Rounding out the tour are New Orleans-based progressive funk 
outfit Galactic and up-and-coming Florida-bred blues band 
Mofro. This year's festival lineup marks a turning point with 
the inclusion of newcomers Galactic and Mofro signaling the 
festival's desire to embrace the exploding American grassroots 
rock scene. These two bands not only will bring their par-
ticular brands of funk, soul and blues to the shows, but also 
a dedicated and ever-growing fan base that defines the genre. 
In years past such greats as George Thorogood, Buddy Guy, Etta 
James, The Neville Brothers, Little Feat, Dr. John and many 
more shared the stage with King.

LOVE ON TAP                         

Columnist Liz Smith reports Courtney Love is putting the 
finishing touches on a new album entitled "America's Sweet-
heart" in the south of France before deciding which label to 
sign with. Smith writes Virgin, Sanctuary and Richard Branson's 
V2 labels all are in the running for the disc and one will get 
the nod from Love before the week is out. Love proceeds from 
there to the Japanese MTV awards May 25, where she will present 
the Best Rock Video trophy. Later this year she's slated to 
begin filming Luc Besson's "Macbeth," in which she will play 
the malevolent Lady Macbeth.

 
                  PEARL JAM MAY LEAVE SONY                  

Grunge pioneers Pearl Jam are looking for a new record label, 
the New York Post reports. The Seattle-based band completed 
its contractual obligations to Sony last year. The Post quotes 
sources as saying talks with other labels have been "heating 
up." A band spokesperson declined to confirm the Post report. 
Pearl Jam currently is on tour. Sony, which has undergone a 
reorganization since the departure of company chief Tommy 
Mottola at the beginning of the year, recently lost top artist 
Wyclef Jean. Another star, Ozzy Osbourne, quit Sony's Epic 
subsidiary after 23 years on the label.

AMERICAN IDOL JUDGE BORED                  

Randy Jackson, a judge on the "American Idol" TV series, told 
TV Guide he's bored by the talent he's being asked to evaluate 
on the show. "These kids are singing terribly," Jackson said 
of the final contestants. "I miss the showmanship of Justin 
(Guarini) and Tamyra (Gray). I think some of these contestants 
have tried too hard to play it safe."      


Piper Christian
KC8TEZ

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