Rock ‘n’ Roll Rundown: Zep, Billy, Bruce

Time for a Rock ‘n’ Roll Rundown here at ZAGSBLOG. It’s back by popular demand (mostly from Mike Byrnes, head coach at Winchendon Prep) ….

**Looks like Led Zeppelin and its fans must continue to wait on Robert Plant before any full-fledged tour takes place. Plant is still out on the road with Alison Kraus promoting their “Raising Sand” album, which has sold more than 100,000 copies in Canada. The tour was extended until Oct. 5, meaning no Zep dates until at least then, and Plant doesn’t sound all that fired up about it.

“Zzzzzzzzzzz,” Plant said when the topic was raised, dropping his chin to his chest and pretending to fall asleep at a press conference on Toronto’s waterfront.

All of which begs the question: Is Alison Kraus the Yoko Ono of Led Zeppelin?

**Long Island’s own Billy Joel will play the last concerts ever at Shea Stadium on Wednesday and Friday nights. More than 50,000 tickets were sold for “The Last Play at Shea” in 48 minutes. I highly recommend this New York Times story by Dan Barry on the 59-year-old Joel, once married to super-model Christie Brinkley and now married to a woman 30 years his junior. Speaking of Shea, the other day I heard a radio play of a Beatles song from when they played Shea in the mid-60s. The boys could barely hear themselves singing because of all the girls screaming in the crowd. Ah, the joys of being a rock star.

 

**Bruce Springsteen returns from Spain to play three dates at the end of the month at Giants Stadium: July 27, 28 and 31. My wife and I and 2 friends are looking for 4 good seats if anyone can help us out. Bruuuuuuce in the summer in Jersey. Can’t wait.

**The Police are winding down their final tour and have a series of dates in New York and New Jersey in early August.  I saw a billboard the other day that advertised their Aug. 7 gig at Madison Square Garden as their “Last Concert Ever.” We wonder why they’d make such a proclamation…didn’t The Who have like 3 Farewell tours?

**My mother-in-law wants me take her to see Neil Diamond at MSG Aug. 14 or 15. I’ve seen him before and it’s actually a lot of fun. Think I’ll be calling my man at MSG for some tix soon.

**Finally, Eddie Vedder is embarking on a solo tour and hitting the United Palace Theater in NYC Aug. 4 and 5. We’re supposed to be away at the beach then, but I’d really love to see Eddie solo. Plus, you know he’s gonna cover some tunes from my boy (and his) Neil Young.

Keep on rockin in the free world folks….