Here are the major album releases, TV appearances, anniversaries and other events coming up in the next seven days. Mark your calendars and pre-order your favourites — but don’t blame me if things change at the last minute:
TOP NEW ALBUMS
Reel Big Fish
Life Sucks … Let’s Dance
‘Hey, guys! I’ve got a great idea! Let’s release our first album in six years just four days before Christmas! That way, everybody buying music in all the CD stores will be sure to see it! Right? Right?’
Van Duren
Waiting: The Van Duren Story (Original Documentary Soundtrack)
Memphis musician Van Duren was managed by Andrew Loog Oldham and played with two former members of Big Star. He was hailed as the new Paul McCartney. So how come no one has heard of him? This documentary (and soundtrack) provides the answers.
MUSIC ON TV
Monday, December 17
Kodak Black | Jimmy Kimmel Live
Black Thought feat. Salaam Remi | Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
St. Paul & The Broken Bones | Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Middle Kids, Cardi B | Late Late Show With James Corden
Patrick Droney | Late Night With Seth Meyers
Gwen Stefani | The Talk
Tuesday, December 18
Skylar Grey | Jimmy Kimmel Live
Pusha T | Late Night With Seth Meyers
Gwen Stefani | Late Late Show With James Corden
Wednesday, December 19
Gryffin feat. Elley Duhe | Jimmy Kimmel Live
Hailee Steinfeld | Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Black Eyed Peas | Late Late Show With James Corden
Thursday, December 20
Mitski | Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jessie J | Late Show With Stephen Colbert
BOOKS
My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
The outspoken British singer-songwriter hasn’t exactly been shy about sharing her thoughts until now. The only difference would seem to be that this time, she’s decided to put them between two pieces of cardboard and charge $27 for them.
Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass by Geddy Lee
When some guys retire from their lifelong career, they rummage around the house and start organizing their stuff. When you’re Rush singer and bassist Geddy Lee, that’s the first step in the creation of a coffee-table book about your massive collection of instruments, augmented by interviews with peers like John Paul Jones.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Monday, December 17
In 1971, David Bowie released his fourth album Hunky Dory, featuring the hits Changes and Life on Mars — and the musicians that would become the Spiders From Mars. Maybe the young Mike Mills got it for a present — the future R.E.M. bassist was born on this day in 1958. On a sadder note, the one and only Captain Beefheart died on this day in 2010. Do you remember Jeff Bridges mentioning it during his sign-off while hosting SNL? I do. We talked about it when I interviewed him a few years later and he started singing Brick Bats. Good times.
Tuesday, December 18
It’s a two-party day for Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones guitarist is now three-quarters of a century old — he was born on this day in 1943, exactly 75 years ago. Not coincidentally, exactly four decades later, Richards married Patti Hansen. So they’re celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary today too. Also born on this day: Be Bop Deluxe singer-guitarist Bill Nelson. He’s turning 70.
Wednesday, December 19
It was the beginning of the end for Elvis Presley: In 1957, The King was served with his draft notice for the U.S. Army. After he came home from serving in Germany, he went Hollywood and his music career never completely recovered. It’s also a big day for musical birthdays: Cabaret songbird Edith Piaf was born in 1915, New Orleans piano master Professor Longhair was born in 1918, folksinger Phil Ochs arrived in 1940 and Earth, Wind and Fire‘s Maurice White came into the world in 1941.
Thursday, December 20
Two big names died on this day: Former teen idol and crooner Bobby Darin died in 1973 at the age of 37, while Canadian country superstar Hank Snow died in in 1999. And five big name were born: KISS drummer Peter Criss — the only member of the original band I haven’t interviewed — arrived in 1947, producer-turned-Project manager Alan Parsons was born a year later, rabble-rousing folk-punk Billy Bragg and punk bassist Mike Watt were both born in 1957, and Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson was born in 1966.
Friday, December 21
It was the day The King met The Prez: In 1970, Elvis Presley visited Richard Nixon at the White House to obtain a Narcotics Bureau Badge — ostensibly so he could work as an undercover agent in the war on drugs. Wonder how that worked out for him? It seems somehow appropriate that this is also Frank Zappa‘s birthday — the iconoclastic composer and singer-guitarist was born in 1940. Also born on this day in 1946: Beach Boys guitarist Carl Wilson.
Saturday, December 22
In 1987, Nikki Sixx from Mötley Crüe briefly died in an ambulance when his heart stopped beating for two minutes after an overdose. He was given two shots of adrenaline to revive him. Two other artists who died on this day — and unfortunately stayed that way: Clash singer Joe Strummer died of a heart attack in 2002 at the age of 50, while blue-eyed soul singer Joe Cocker died of lung cancer in 2014 at the age of 70. On the plus side, Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen was born on this day in 1948, making him the only 70-year-old who still dresses like that, while Robin and Maurice Gibb arrived a year later in 1949. Fun fact: In 1980, Stiff Records released an album The Wit and Wisdom of Ronald Reagan. It contained 40 minutes of silence.
Sunday, December 23
Two tough breaks for rockers: In 1959, Chuck Berry was arrested after taking a 14-year-old prostitute, across a state line, and was later sentenced to five years in jail. In 1964, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson had a breakdown during a flight from L.A. to Houston and stopped touring to live in his sandbox-equipped mansion. After you listen to your Beach Boys discs, switch to Pearl Jam: Frontman Eddie Vedder was born on this day in 1964. Also celebrating today: Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray is turning 60, singer-guitarist Adrian Belew is turning 69, and Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls is turning 75 — as is his close friend and sometime musician Harry Shearer.
