News

Soul Train Fans Bop On Broadway In Cornelius Fete

2012-02-05T16:01:00Z

Fans of “Soul Train” boogied down Broadway wearing afro wigs and bell bottoms on Saturday while others recounted their favorite episodes at a Harlem meeting hall in tribute to the TV show’s late creator, Don Cornelius.

About 100 dancers descended on Times Square in a “flash mob” organized through the Internet. As startled tourists looked on, they recreated one of the show’s “Soul Train lines” in which people would take turns dancing toward a TV camera while showing off their most outrageous moves.

“Don Cornelius was a big influence in my life, and I just wanted to pay tribute,” said disc jockey Jon Quick, as he held up a speaker blasting disco grooves. “He was playing the music that nobody else wanted to play. He was an amazing man.”

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Cornelius, 75, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Wednesday. He had suffered from health problems, a difficult divorce, and had pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor spousal battery charge in 2009.

But on Saturday fans praised Cornelius’ vision in creating, hosting and selling “Soul Train” to television stations that were originally skeptical about programming aimed at blacks. The show aired from 1971 to 2006.

“Don Cornelius brought soul to the whole world,” said Ramona Hamm, 37, who came to Times Square with her 9-year-old daughter, Kayla Charles. The dancers bounced down Broadway for about 45 minutes until police told the party to disperse.

In Harlem, the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist, led a tribute to Cornelius as part of the weekly community meeting at the headquarters of his National Action Network. In 1974, a 19-year-old Sharpton appeared on “Soul Train” to present an award to his mentor James Brown, the legendary soul singer.

Singer Roberta Flack said Cornelius was an inspiration to other black performers and entrepreneurs.

“He didn’t have a great big light telling him, ‘Go over here, don’t go over there, watch where you step, there’s a hole right there,’“ Flack said. “He stepped.”

Former “Soul Train” dancer Tyrone Proctor recalled how he hid in the trunk of a friend’s car to get through the gates of the studio where “Soul Train” was filmed in 1972. Cornelius liked his dance moves and let him stay, dubbing Proctor “The Bone” because he was so skinny.

“He turned us into stars,” Proctor said. Moves that “Soul Train” dancers developed spread nationwide and are now staples of music videos and pop concerts.

“Blocking, popping, ticking, waacking, punking – when Madonna does what she does at the Super Bowl, you’ll see some of these things done there,” Proctor said. “Don Cornelius created all of this. It came out of his mind.”

Fans recalled tuning in to see “Soul Train’s” cartoon train chugging across their television screens. When Flack recalled Cornelius’ stiff-necked delivery, the Harlem crowd of about 300 people laughed knowingly.

William “A.J. Dynamite” Aponte, a keyboard player, said he was ecstatic as a kid when his idol, Elton John, appeared on the show. He says the appearance showed that people of all races could find common ground in music.

“He sang ‘Benny and the Jets,’ and I thought it was so great because Elton John is not black, he’s white and he’s British,” Aponte said. “It influenced me to want to do music.”

Proctor said Cornelius was also generous. When Proctor won a car on “American Bandstand,” ‘‘Soul Train’s” competition, Cornelius paid the $334.25 in taxes so the struggling dancer could receive his award.

“He wrote the check out and that was it, no questions asked. He just said, ‘Go get the car,’“ Proctor said.

Proctor and other speakers said they were shocked when they heard that Cornelius had committed suicide. Author Terrie Williams named other black performers who had killed themselves and said Cornelius’ death should be a warning for victims of depression to seek help.

“One of the things that Don’s death brought us to is that we’ve got to look in the mirror before we end up in this kind of situation,” Sharpton told the crowd.

5 Norteno Musicians, 4 Others Killed In Mexico

2012-02-05T14:01:00Z

A masked man opened fire on a band playing popular norteno music Saturday in a Chihuahua city dance hall, killing five musicians, four customers and injuring 10 others.

Chihuahua prosecutors spokesman Carlos Gonzalez said the attack appeared to target members of the La Quinta Banda group but the motive behind the early morning shooting wasn’t clear. The suspect, a short man wearing a gray sweatshirt, fired about 40 times with a high-caliber weapon in the Far West disco.

Among the dead was an off-duty police officer, Gonzalez said.

Norteno singers in Mexico have been targeted before, apparently for getting involved with drug cartels, which pay them to compose narcocorridos, or ballads that glorify drug lords.

In 2010, popular norteno singer Sergio Vega was shot dead as he road in his red Cadillac in Sinaloa, a state that has produced many of Mexico’s most notorious drug kingpins. Another Norteno singer killed was Valentin Elizalde, “El Gallo de Oro,” who was shot to death along with his manager and driver in 2006 following a performance in Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas.

La Quinta Banda was well-known in the city of Chihuahua, but not nearly as popular as Elizalde or Vega.

Its MySpace account showcases songs mostly about love and parties.

Photos from local newspapers showed the bloody bodies of the band members lying next to their instruments on stage. Four people were killed in another shooting at the same dance hall in August 2009.

People who answered cell phones listed for La Quinta Banda identified themselves as relatives of the musicians but didn’t want to give their names.

The band had reduced its workload, while sometimes playing at extravagant parties in ranches, because of increased drug violence in the northern state.

Also on Saturday, federal police announced the capture of a leader of one armed gang hired by the world’s most powerful drug lord Joaquin Guzman, also known as El Chapo.

Jose Antonio Torres Marrufo, 33, is the suspected leader of Gente Nueva, an armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel mainly based in the border city of Ciudad Juarez. Federal police agents arrested Torres with his bodyguard Friday in the central Mexican city of Leon.

Federal police anti-drug chief Ramon Pequeno said Torres is accused of being the mastermind behind a September 2009 massacre at a rehab center where 18 people were killed.

Torres has an arrest warrant in El Paso, Texas, on drug trafficking charges, Pequeno said.

Keith Urban Makes Return From Vocal Surgery

2012-02-04T16:01:00Z

The country star returned to the stage during The Grand Ole Opry on Friday night, hitting a few high notes in his first public appearance since vocal surgery late last year.

Keith Urban let loose with a “Yeehaw!” after a standing-room only crowd at Ryman Auditorium leapt to its feet when he took the stage.

He played three songs and an unexpected encore. He was joined by a string quartet on “Long Hot Summer,” then turned down the volume and sang “Making Memories of Us” microphone-free with the audience. His full band then joined him on stage for “You Gonna Fly” and “I Wanna Love Somebody Like You.”

Urban didn’t address the surgery while speaking with the crowd.

The 44-year-old Australian had a polyp removed from a vocal cord last November. His last public performance was at a taping for the “CMA Country Christmas” television special in mid-November. The surgery forced Urban to postpone the tail end of his 2011 tour and his “All For The Hall” benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame. That star-studded event is now being held April 10.

Mother Of Slain Actress Settles Suit With Spector

2012-02-04T14:01:00Z

A lawyer says the mother of the actress Phil Spector was convicted of killing has settled her wrongful death suit against the legendary music producer.

Attorney John Taylor tells the Los Angeles Times the terms of Friday’s settlement were confidential, but says his client, Donna Clarkson, is pleased and relieved the suit is over.

Lana Clarkson was shot and killed in the foyer of Spector’s Alhambra mansion nine years ago.

Donna Clarkson attended the 2009 trial daily, and testified that her daughter was upbeat and not at all suicidal, as Spector’s defense alleged.

Spector was convicted in the death and is serving a 19 years-to-life sentence.

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Taylor says he signed off on the settlement.

Best Of The Best – Concert Industry Awards Winners

2012-02-04T08:01:00Z

The 23rd annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards took place Friday night at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.

Coming together in one massive networking spectacular, the concert industry’s major players took advantage of our unlimited open bar, ate exotic foods and even made a few deals. Oh, and they honored their own as award winner after winner walked up to the podium to receive the plaque that will be treasured forever. Or sold on eBay, depending on our economy’s future.

So without any further delays or additional service charges, here are the Concert Industry Award winners for 2011.

Major Tour of the Year – Lady Gaga

Most Creative Stage Production – Roger Waters

Best New Touring Artist – Adele

Red Rocks Award for Small Outdoor Venue (non-touring) – Greek Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)

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Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue – Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, CA)

Arena of the Year – Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

Theatre of the Year – Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)

Nightclub of the Year – Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)

Best New Major Concert Venue – Austin City Limits Live At The Moody Theater (Austin, TX)

Facility Executive of the Year – John Bolton (BOK Center, Tulsa, OK)

Major Music Festival of the Year (non-touring) – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival (Indio, CA)

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Music Festival of the Year (non-touring) – The Hangout Music and Beach Festival (Gulf Shores, AL)

Bobby Brooks Award for Agent of the Year – Jonathan Levine (Paradigm)

Third Coast Booking Agent of the Year – Scott Clayton (Creative Artists Agency)

Independent Booking Agency of the Year – The Windish Agency

Booking Agency of the Year – Creative Artists Agency

Personal Manager of the Year – John Silva (Foo Fighters, Beck, Ryan Adams)

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Road Warrior of the Year –Gus Brandt (Foo Fighters, Blink-182)

Bill Graham Award for Promoter of the Year – Louis Messina (The Messina Group)

Talent Buyer of the Year – Don Strasburg (AEG Live)

Nightclub Talent Buyer of the Year – Lesley Olenik (Club Nokia, Los Angeles, CA, Fox Theater, Pomona, CA)

Lighting Company of the Year –Upstaging

Sound Company of the Year – Clair

Staging or Equipment Company of the Year – All Access Staging & Productions

Transportation Company of the Year – Rock-It Cargo

Video Company of the Year – Moo TV

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UK Booking Agent of the Year – Neil Warnock (The Agency Group)

International Promoter of the Year – Barrie Marshall (Marshall Arts)

International Music Festival of the Year – Glastonbury Festival (UK)

International Venue of the Year – The O2 (London, UK)

Todd Snider Beefs Up His Calendar

2012-02-04T01:01:00Z

Traveling America with a full band, Todd Snider pumps 25 new dates into his already fat schedule.

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A perpetual touring machine, this time Snider is supporting his upcoming album, Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables, which drops March 6 on Aimless Records.

New stops on Snider’s schedule include several newly listed shows in Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Tennessee with the tour wrapping up in Nashville, Tenn., at the famed Ryman Auditorium.

New destinations along the way during Snider’s journey to The Ryman include Sacramento, Calif., at Harlow’s Night Club April 14; two nights at Seattle’s Triple Door April 19-20; Salt Lake City at The State Room April 24; Dallas at Granada Theater May 2 and New Braunfels, Texas, at Gruene Hall May 4-5.

Snider also has a few dates in the Denver area, playing Fort Collins at Hodi’s Half Note April 25; Boulder at Boulder Theater April 26 and the Denver’ s L2 Arts and Culture Center April 27.

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Some of the new dates are already on sale. Click here for more information.

Iron & Wine To Headline Old Settler’s

2012-02-04T00:31:00Z

Singer/songwriter Iron & Wine tops a lineup featuring Amos Lee, Railroad Earth and JJ Grey & Mofro.

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Scheduled for April 19-22 at the Salt Lick Pavilion and Camp Ben McCullock outside Austin, Texas, the 25th annual Old Settler’s Music Festival will also feature performances by Doyle Lawson, Bob Schneider, Psychograss, James McMurtry, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sarah Jarosz, Gaelic Storm, Marshall Crenshaw, The Bottle Rockets and more.

With Old Settler’s you get four stages set in the great outdoors and the chance to experience four days of no rush/no hurry festival action. There will be artisans, children’s activities and more, all for you to experience while soaking up the event's blankets and lawn chairs atmosphere. This isn’t your gigantic rock-till-you-drop festival, and Old Settler’s fans like that just fine.

Tickets include four-day platinum packages that include camping and perks to single day passes. Visit OldSettlersMusicFest.org for more information.

Black Sabbath Answers Ward’s Plea For ‘Signable Contract’

2012-02-04T00:01:00Z

Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward posted a message to his website Thursday saying he couldn’t go along with the band’s reunion tour and album unless he received a “signable contract.” The band has now answered him and the news isn’t pretty.

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Plans for the original Black Sabbath lineup include the band’s first album with Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ward in 33 years, as well as a global tour scheduled to begin in Moscow May 18. But that was then.

Now it looks as if the album and tour will go forward as planned but without Ward.

From BlackSabbath.com:

“We were saddened to hear yesterday via Facebook that Bill declined publicly to participate in our current Black Sabbath plans...we have no choice but to continue recording without him although our door is always open... We are still in the UK with Tony. Writing and recording the new album and on a roll... See you at Download!!!

Steven Tyler Defends National Anthem Performance

2012-02-03T23:01:00Z

Steven Tyler says he meant to sing the national anthem like that.

The Aerosmith frontman and “American Idol” judge endured plenty of jabs after his rendition of the anthem at the AFC Championship game last month, but Tyler says he doesn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

“I don’t know. As I said before, I put emphasis on, ‘In the land of the free’ and I went up,” Tyler explained. “Oddly enough I hit the note so I don’t know what they are talking about. I emphasized ‘free’ which was for freedom. It was well thought out prior to. I wasn’t messing with American tradition.”

Enduring negative criticism at that football game did not stop Tyler from enjoying pre-Super Bowl festivities with Carrie Underwood. The duo is in Indianapolis for CMT’s “Crossroads,” which brings acts from different genres together to perform. It’s not the first time the two have sung together: They performed a duet at the Academy of Country Music Awards last year.

“I just love to sing and I love her stuff. A good friend of mine writes songs with her. When I heard ‘Undo It,’ I said, ‘What is that?’ That is an Aerosmith song, right? I am going to finish recording that with you. He said, ‘No, I wrote that with Carrie, it is coming out in a week,’“ he said. “I met her and it was all over after that, once I looked into her eyes. She opened her mouth and sang and she is that good. I loved singing with her.”

The two rehearsed Thursday evening in North Greenfield, just outside of Indianapolis, ahead of their scheduled Saturday show (it will air the same night on the network). The former “Idol” champ says she enjoys working with the lively Tyler because he “makes everybody all warm and fuzzy.”

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While Tyler, closely connected to Boston for years, made clear he was rooting for the New England Patriots in Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, Underwood demurred when asked to name her pick. In her house, she says hockey is the main focus, since husband Mike Fisher is a professional hockey player in Nashville.

“He is Canadian so I have had to switch his focus from so much hockey to a little football because we watch a lot of hockey,” she said. “I love watching him and I love watching the Predators.”

Odds & Ends: Mötley Crüe, Ziggy Marley and The Search For The Lowest Voice … Ever

2012-02-03T22:01:00Z

Las Vegas honors Mötley Crüe; Ziggy Marley gets his own show on SiriusXM and a record label launches a search for the person capable of singing a note that has yet to be sung.

Vegas Loves Mötley Crüe

Mötley Crüe begins its Las Vegas residency at The Joint @ the Hard Rock Hotel / Casino tonight, playing 13 shows now through Feb. 19. To celebrate, Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman proclaimed today “Mötley Crüe Day” in Sin City.

Now, before you start entertaining images of Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee running rampant through the desert city on a day where nothing is denied to them, think again. It’s just a proclamation and not the keys to the city or a collective “king for a day” arrangement. But wouldn’t it be fun to turn the town over to Mötley Crüe for a day? The mind boggles as to what the boys might do if given total control over the city.

Meanwhile, the band’s residency has The Crüe playing four shows a week, including Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. Visit Motley.com for more info.

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Ziggy On The Air

Ziggy Marley has signed on to SiriusXM Radio with a new monthly show.

Appropriately titled "Ziggy Marley’s Legends Of Reggae,” the radio program features the son of reggae legend Bob Marley talking about, well, reggae legends. Debuting Feb. 5 on the eve of Bob Marley’s 1981 death, the first program features Ziggy talking with Jimmy Cliff.

Along with talking to and about reggae musicians, the program will feature plenty of music from the entire Marley family as well as Ziggy talking about music and culture.

“It is my privilege to use this medium to honor the legends of reggae and to use it as a vehicle to educate and enlighten listeners,” Marley said.

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Hitting Rock Bottom

Believe it or not, there are notes that haven’t yet been sung, some too high and some too low.

The Decca music label has launched a search to find someone with the pipes to sing the latter, a low “E,” which resides in a very bassy world located almost three octaves below a piano’s middle “C.”

There’s a reason for all this low-end activity. Paul Mealor, who composed the Christmas hit “Wherever You Are” sung by The Military Wives, has written a piece called “De Profundis (Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord), which features the never-before-sung low “E,” reports Reuters.

“My setting of De Profundis calls for a rich and powerful voice; a voice that can not only touch the heart with its sincerity and truth, but also make every fabric of the human body resonate as it plunges into the very lowest parts of the vocal spectrum,” Mealor said.

As to how low a voice can go, “Guinness World Records” claims the lowest note produced by a singer is a low “F Sharp” sung by American Roger Menees two years ago.

Think your voice can go deep enough on the scale to hit low “C?” The label has a website where singers can upload their recordings. Click here for all the details.

More 'Book Of Drugs' Dates For Mike Doughty

2012-02-03T21:01:00Z

The former Soul Coughing frontman lines up more cities for his “Book Of Drugs” tour featuring music, a reading from his book and taking questions from fans.

Mike Doughty’s memoir – “The Book Of Drugs” – covers his career including all the nasty parts like addiction and what he refers to as his “doomed-from-the-start” time with Soul Coughing. Every show includes Doughty reading from the memoir as well as answering questions from the audience.

But “The Book Of Drugs” is only one aspect of his tour. He’s also supporting his most recent studio album, Yes and Also Yes, as well as his new two-disc live album, The Question Jar Show.

New dates include Evanston, Ill., at Space March 22; Minneapolis at the Theatre At The Woman’s Club March 24; Milwaukee’s Shank Hall March 25; Ames, Iowa, at the Maintenance Shop March 28; Kansas City at Knuckleheads March 31; Seattle’s Triple Door April 7; San Francisco at the Swedish American Hall April 10 and San Diego’s Anthology April 13.

Many shows are on sale now. Visit MikeDoughty.com for more information.

James Taylor In The U.S.A.

2012-02-03T20:01:00Z

After spending three months touring Europe, Sweet Baby James returns to North America beginning in June.

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While some dates for James Taylor were released by individual venues, his summer tour is beginning to take shape, showing the singer/songwriter cruising through the U.S. in June and July.

Additions to Taylor’s schedule include Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center June 20; Syracuse, N.Y., at the Oncenter Complex June 21; Holmdel, N.J., at PNC Bank Arts Center June 23 and Portland, Maine, at Cumberland County Civic Center June 24.

But wait, there are more shows you need to know about. Like Atlantic City at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa July 6; Cleveland at Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica July 9; Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena July 12 and Memphis at Mud Island Amphitheatre July 15.

Heading westward, Taylor plays Springfield, Mo., at the JQH Arena July 17; Tulsa’s BOK Center July 18; St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox theatre July 20; Kansas City at Starlight Theatre July 21 and Morrison, Colo., near Denver at Red Rocks Amphitheatre July 23.

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Presales will launch Feb. 6 and 7. Most general onsales begin Feb. 10. Head on over to JamesTaylor.com for more information.

Sasquatch! Music Festival Announces Lineup

2012-02-03T19:01:00Z

The Northwest festival unleashes a gigantic lineup for its 11th year ranging from Jack White to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah to Pretty Lights, Tenacious D, The Shins and more.

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Scheduled for May 25-28, the lineup for the Sasquatch! Music Festival is packed with talent and includes Beck, Bon Iver, The Shins, Beirut, Girl Talk, The Roots, The Head And The Heart, Portlandia, Feist, Silversun Pickups, Metrick, Explosions In The Sky, and more.

Actually, we could burn through tons of bytes listing all the acts appearing at Sasquatch! this year like The Walkmen, Spiritualized, Wild Flag, and The War On Drugs as well as M. Ward, John Reilly & Friends, Jamey Johnson and the country/folk duo The Civil Wars.

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There’s also some funny business planned for this year’s Sasquatch in the form of comedians Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Todd Barry, Beardyman, Rob Delaney, Pete Holmes, Howard Kremer and more.

But we’re just brushing the surface of the festival named for the mythical beast that roams the Northwest. For more data, including ticket information, visit SasquatchFestival.com.

Black Sabbath Drummer Wants ‘Signable Contract’

2012-02-03T18:01:00Z

Saying he’s vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract, original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward warns that he may not be on board for the band’s reunion tour.

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In a lengthy posting on his website, Ward said he would “love nothing more than to be able to proceed with the Black Sabbath album and tour.” But, as with all good things, there is a catch.

“However, I am unable to continue unless a ‘signable’ contract is drawn up; a contract that reflects some dignity and respect toward me as an original member of the band.

“Last year, I worked diligently in good faith with Tony [Iommi], Ozzy [Osbourne] and Geezer [Butler]. And on 11/11/11, again in good faith, I participated in the L.A. press conference. Several days ago, after nearly a year of trying to negotiate, another ‘unsignable’ contract was handed to me.”

Ward doesn’t actually say why the contract was “unsignable." Instead, he focused on what might happen if he signed the contract offered to him.

“The place I’m in feels lousy and lonely because as much as I want to play and participate, I also have to stand for something and not sign on,” Ward wrote. “If I sign as-is, I stand to lose my rights, dignity and respectability as a rock musician.”

If you’re thinking Ward’s objection to the contract offered him is all about the money, the drummer says he’s not “greed-driven.”

“I’m not holding out for a ‘big piece’ of the action (money) like some kind of blackmail deal. I’d like something that recognizes and is reflective of my contributions to the band, including the reunions that started fourteen years ago.

“After the last tour I vowed to never again sign on to an unreasonable contract. I want a contract that shows some respect to me and my family, a contract that will honor all that I’ve brought to Black Sabbath since its beginning.”

Ward’s essay is the second speed bump to emerge for Black Sabbath’s reunion tour. Last month the band announced guitarist Tony Iommi had been diagnosed with lymphoma but did not say whether the illness would impact the tour.

So far, Black Sabbath has only announced Euro dates for its global outing. The reunion tour is scheduled to be in Moscow at Olympiiski May 18.

Madonna Tickets Soon?

2012-02-03T17:01:00Z

Live Nation’s top exec says Madonna tickets will go on sale after this weekend’s Super Bowl.

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It’s shaping up to be a Madonna weekend, what with Clear Channel honking her new single – “Gimme All Your Luvin’” – throughout the corporate giant’s multi-platform empire of radio stations, websites and billboards. Then comes Sunday with Madge headlining the Super Bowl Halftime Show, ensuring that everyone in the known universe is aware of her album, her single, her… infinite presence.

Plus, it’s looking as if we’re going to see Madonna tour dates and ticket onsales very soon. While speaking to the Los Angeles Times’ Randy Lewis about big names like Springsteen, Roger Waters and Van Halen hitting America’s touring superhighway in 2012, Live Nation president and chief executive Michael Rapino said tickets for Madonna will go on sale very soon.

“Madonna’s going on the road, and those tickets will go on sale right after the Super Bowl,” Rapino said.

As to this year’s concert scene, the article also mentioned the possibility of The Rolling Stones touring, although Jagger & Co. haven’t confirmed any plans. But the Times did quote Pollstar’s own Megamind Gary Bongiovanni saying the next 12 months will be “blessed with riches” and that 2012 is “going to be a great year with a wide array of artists out there working.”

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But first, Madonna. We’ll see how accurate Rapino’s remark is come Monday.