Frampton and Yes to Tour
It's not too difficult to imagine some synergy between guitarist-vocalist Peter Frampton and prog rockers Yes. In fact, we won't have to imagine it when they begin a nine-date (so far) U.S. tour starting in June. No doubt the set list will include some selections from Frampton's new album, Thank You Mr. Churchill, due out April 16.

Simon & Garfunkel Adding Dates
When 2010 started it was announced that Simon & Garfunkel would do just one performance together this year, at JazzFest in New Orleans. Don't know what may have happened to change that, but more bookings have been confirmed -- more than a dozen North American shows are on the books for April and May. Smart money bets there will be more to come.

Allman Brothers Subtracting Dates
Because of what are being called "unforeseen family matters," Allman Brothers Band are shortening their annual New York City residency by a few shows. They will still be performing through March 20 at United Palace, but have canceled shows scheduled between March 22 and 27 at that venue. So far, none of the band's other scheduled performances have been affected.

The concept of a native American rock band was a novel one back in 1969, but when Jimi Hendrix (himself part Native American) suggested it to brothers Patrick and Lolly Vasquez, they took the idea and ran with it. They changed their last name to Vegas, and landed a recording contract with Epic Records.

This week, Redbone's lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Lolly Vegas died of lung cancer at the age of 70. He had not been well ever since he suffered a stroke in 1995.

Vegas (second from right on the album cover) wrote and sang the band's best known song, "Come And Get Your Love" (watch it on YouTube) as well as their first hit, "Maggie." He co-wrote "Witch Queen Of New Orleans" with his brother, Pat.

Tributes from fans, friends and colleagues are at Vegas's MySpace page.

^{Album cover image courtesy Sony}

Wow, that was quick. When Pink Floyd sued EMI over the label's sale of individual tracks from Floyd albums, everybody thought it would be a long, drawn out court battle. Not so much, as it turns out.

A judge ruled this week that selling downloads of individual tracks violates the band's contract, which prohibits selling tracks "unbundled" from their original albums. EMI argued that the contract applied only to physical albums, not downloads. The judge didn't buy it, ruling that the label is "not entitled to exploit recordings by online distribution or by any other means other than the complete original album without Pink Floyd's consent."

The end result: EMI will have to pay the band's court costs, plus damages and royalties (amounts yet to be determined) and the artistic integrity of Pink Floyd's concept albums (think The Wall, Dark Side Of The Moon) will remain intact.

^{Photo courtesy Capitol EMI Archives}

Joan Armatrading is one of a handful of artists who have avoided being pigeon-holed in any one particular genre, but who move smoothly from one to another. Although her greatest commercial success was with a series of rock albums in the '70s, her repertoire extends to blues, folk, pop, and jazz.

A recently released 1980 performance DVD tips toward rock, with enough of her other artful fusions to show off her musical versatility. More in my review of Joan Armatrading: Steppin' Out.

^{Cover image courtesy Eagle Rock Entertainment}