Top 9 Pop Stories for Nov 09

We conclude our look back at the top stories of 2009 with this edition from November.

Dio Fighting Cancer

(antiMusic) We learned the sad news that metal legend Ronnie James Dio is battling cancer after the Day in Rock was published before the Thanksgiving break. If you missed that report, here it is again. While it is disturbing news Dio's wife and manager, Wendy Dio, says that the cancer is in the early stages and she seems optimistic about his recovery. She posted the following update on the Dio website on Wednesday:

"Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

"Thanks to all the friends and fans around the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up. Long Live Rock and Roll, Long Live Ronnie James Dio" - Dio website for the latest

Steven Tyler Taking Time Off From Aerosmith to Pen Memoirs

(Sleazeroxx) Steven Tyler has opened up about his rumored hiatus from Aerosmith - he's taking some time off to write a book while his injured shoulder heals.

The group has been thrown into chaos in recent weeks, with Tyler's baffled band mates admitting he's kept them in the dark over whether he plans to continue as their frontman.

Guitarist Joe Perry recently claimed Tyler is planning to take a "two-year" hiatus, leaving the band in turmoil. However, a spokesperson for the frontman is adamant Tyler is just taking a quick break while he recovers from a shoulder injury, which he sustained after falling off stage at a gig in August. - more on this story

Dredg 'Arrested' Onstage

Dredg singer/guitarist Gavin Hayes and drummer Dino Campanella had a run-in with the law while in the midst of their headlining show at Columbia Club in Berlin, Germany on Friday night.

Two "police officers" interrupted the band's set to escort Hayes and Campanella offstage and issue arrest warrants for a vandalizing incident that happened the last time the band performed at the venue. Back then, bottles were broken outside the venue and, while the owner was mad and had police contact the band, they had no proof so charges were never officially pressed.

Flash forward to last week when the band returned to the scene of the crime as part of their month-long overseas tour in support of "The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion," bassist Drew Roulette decided to play a practical joke on Hayes and Campanella and hired actors in police outfits waiting to arrest them. Thankfully it all proved to be fun and games. - watch it here

Artist Defends Dimebag Murder Painting

(Rock Radio) Artist Tom Sanford, who painted a picture depicting the on-stage shooting of ex-Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, has spoken out about the heavy criticism he's taken for his work.

Dimebag was playing in Ohio with Damageplan on December 8, 2004, when crazed fan Nathan Gale opened fire, killing the star and three others before being shot dead by police. A few months later Sanford revealed his painting of the event, leading to outbursts or hate mail and death threats. The work is up for sale for the second time this weekend, leading to an upsurge in fury from Dimebag fans.

Now Sanford has spoken out about his motives. "Most of the emails were cursing me out while accusing me of crimes ranging from poor taste to exploiting the death of Dimebag. I guess I'm guilty of both.," he says in a blog. "When I made the painting the reaction of Dimebag's fans wasn't on my mind. I was interested in this tragedy as a historical event. Normally the industry is able to define newsworthy events with an image or video. In our media-saturated world it was without a defining image." - more on this story

Them Crooked Vultures Already Planning Second Album

(Sleazeroxx) NME.com is reporting that Them Crooked Vultures have confirmed that they are to start work on their second album. Despite their self-titled debut having only been released earlier this month, the three-piece say they are already thinking about its follow-up.

"I felt we've only just started to pick up steam. Why would we want to stop now?" singer Josh Homme told The Sun, while bassist John Paul Jones agreed. "We all know we have so much more in us yet," he said.

Dave Grohl said that "when we make our second record, it's going to be even more powerful than this one" - more on this story

Metallica Live CD and DVD Details

Metallica announced details of their upcoming live CD and DVD: In June of this year we were fortunate enough to return to Mexico City for three sold out shows at Foro Sol Stadium and with 155,000 of you there over the three nights, we knew it would be extra special. So we asked our friend Wayne Isham to join us with a film crew and the results of that crazy, magical, most memorable long weekend will be available on DVD and CD starting November 30 as "Orgullo, Pasion y Gloria: Tres Noches En La Ciudad de Mexico" ("Pride, Passion, and Glory: Three Nights in Mexico City").

The region free DVD's and CD's include songs from all three shows recorded on June 4, 6, and 7. Each show had a unique set list, totaling 34 different songs . . . they're all there on the two DVD set along with interviews with us. Other versions that will be available include one DVD (18 tracks), Blu-ray version of that DVD, a digi-pack with the DVD and two CD's, and finally the aforementioned deluxe version in a slip case with two DVD's and two CD's. In keeping with the local theme, all the credits will be in Spanish (Portuguese for our Brazilian buddies) and will only be available at stores in Latin America. Of course we will also have it in The Official Metallica.com Store, starting sometime the week of December 7.

Most areas of Latin America will have the DVD available on November 30, however if you live in Brazil, check your local music store on December 8 and for fans in Argentina and Chile, "Orgullo, Pasion y Gloria: Tres Noches En La Ciudad de Mexico" hits the stores on December 10. All DVD's are region free and will play on any player worldwide. - more on this story

MTV Walls Off Free U2 Berlin Show

Oh the irony. Oh the boneheadedness. Oh the bad PR move. Someone thought it was a good idea to erect a wall around a free U2 concert staged to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Not such a good idea. Then again, you can say that about most of their prime time programming.

But at least MTV's excuse is better than the East Germans who erected the first wall because they were just trying to keep out all of the greedy capitalist from trying to avail themselves to the joys of communism. This time it was for "safety" reasons, according the Associated Press. Watch, they'll next try and play it off as being intentional and meant to be symbolic.

Here is part of the AP report: U2 returned to Berlin for a free mini-concert Thursday in front of the Brandenburg Gate, but the show was obscured from public view by a nearly 6-1/2-foot (two-meter) high metal barrier. "It's completely ridiculous that they are blocking the view," said Louis-Pierre Boily, 23, who came to Berlin even though he failed to get U2 tickets. "I thought it's a free show, but MTV probably wants people to watch it on TV to get their ratings up." -

The Beatles, AC/DC Music Now Available Digitally?

Music Radar reports: The Beatles' entire catalogue is available digitally- for now, it seems - on a US-based website called BlueBeat.com, with individual tracks going for 25 cents (15p) each.

The website is also streaming the recently remastered albums in their entirely, allowing listeners to listen to them for free. All of which is rather strange and shocking news to EMI and Apple Corps, who have fiercely blocked the online sale of all Beatles music.

[BW&BK also reports: In addition to the Beatles, one can find selections from AC/DC and Def Leppard on BlueBeat, artists who haven't licensed their full catalogs to iTunes.] - more on this story

Iggy Pop and The Stooges Reunion Tour Coming

Iggy Pop and the Stooges are planning to turn a one-off reunion into a full fledged tour, according to the iconic frontman.

"The band have been rehearsing more without me than with me because I've been doing other things this year. But we have been rehearsing all together more recently," Iggy said in a BBC Report. "We're going to be doing a one-off show in Brazil in a few weeks but the real touring starts next year."

Sadly, original guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead in his Ann Arbor, Michigan home back in January. History has a way of repeating itself as Asheton's high school bandmate James Williamson will once again step in to fill Asheton's shoes in The Stooges like he did three decades ago. - more on this story

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