Rock News

ROCK NEWS

ADELE, LMFAO BIG WINNERS AT BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS

An absentee Adele was the big winner at last night's (Sunday, May 20th) Billboard Music Awards, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. She prevailed in 11 categories, including Top Female Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Pop Album for 21, and Top Alternative Song for "Rolling in the Deep."

LMFAO also took home an armload of trophies, six in all, after opening the show with a medley of their hits "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy And I Know It," which had Taylor Swift, among others, up and dancing in the audience.

The Billboard Music Awards were hosted by the stars of ABC's Modern Family, Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen. The three-hour broadcast boasted more than 15 performances, including Kelly Clarkson singing a new song called "Dark Side"; The Wanted with "Glad You Came"; Chris Brown with "Turn Up The Music"; Usher with "Scream"; Justin Bieber singing "Boyfriend"; Carly Rae Jepsen with "Call Me Maybe"; Carrie Underwood debuted "Blown Away"; Katy Perry gave her first performance of "Wide Awake," which she said was her "most personal song" ever; Linkin Park sang "Burn It Down"; and Nelly Furtado gave her first national performance of "Big Hoops."

Other show highlights included tributes to Donna Summer, Whitney Houston and The Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch. Natasha Bedingfield sang "Last Dance" in memory of Summer, while John Legend and Jordin Sparks sang "The Greatest Love of All" and "I Will Always Love You," respectively, in honor of the late Whitney Houston. Cee Lo Green & Goodie Mob performed "Fight For Your Right To Party" in tribute to Yauch.

The Billboard Awards also offered a moment of silence for Bee Gee's member Robin Gibb, who died yesterday.

The show closed with a performance by Alicia Keys and Stevie Wonder, who received the Icon Award.

WINNERS LIST

Top Artist: Adele

BLACK SABBATH MEMBERS PERFORM TOGETHER FOR FIRST TIME IN SEVEN YEARS

Original Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler performed live together for the first time in seven years on Saturday night (May 19th), playing an intimate show at the 3,800-person O2 Academy in Sabbath's hometown of Birmingham, England. The show, which served as a warm-up for the group's headlining appearance next month at the Download Festival, was laced with emotion and drama: it was the first live appearance for Iommi since being diagnosed with cancer, and it was the first with stand-in drummer Tommy Clufetos, making the split official between founding drummer Bill Ward and the rest of Sabbath.

According to Classic Rock, Iommi was visibly moved when the audience began chanting his name after opening number "Into The Void," and continued chanting it intermittently throughout the show.

Ward, meanwhile, announced again that he was declining to join his former bandmates for its scheduled 2012 dates, as well as the recording of a new album, due to a contractual dispute.

He also had his lawyers direct Sabbath to remove him from photos of the band posted at the official Black Sabbath website "so as to not give the public the wrong impression about his involvement in the current Black Sabbath lineup," according to a statement issued by his publicist.

Geezer Butler issued a lengthy retort at his own website, writing that Ward "hadn't told any one of us he was having contractual problems, and frankly those things are worked out between our representatives, and never between the four of us let alone in public."

Butler added that the band did not expect to make a lot of money from its Download appearance and planned to donate the proceeds from the Birmingham gig, saying, "Apparently, this wasn't acceptable to Bill's representatives, they wanted an amount that was so unrealistic that it seemed to have been a joke."

Until now, Iommi told us a while back that the members of Sabbath stayed friendly even when there were legal or other issues going on: "We've always been talking. We've always been in touch with each other. There might be a lawsuit in the thing between us, but we still talk to each other like nothing's happened, you know."

In addition to Download, the members of Sabbath will play at Lollapalooza this August in Chicago, their only scheduled U.S. gig. The rest of the scheduled Sabbath tour dates will be played by Ozzy and billed as "Ozzy & Friends."

Ozzy, Iommi and Butler are working on their first new album together in 33 years. Clufetos is a member of Ozzy's solo touring band.

DAVID LEE ROTH: VAN HALEN IS 'GETTING ALONG FAMOUSLY,' BUT NEEDS BREAK

Van Halen has reportedly not canceled the final 31 dates on its current North American tour due to poor ticket sales, illness or internal turmoil. Singer David Lee Roth posted a video message online over the weekend, saying that "the band is getting along famously, better than we have in quite some time, and I think the shows reveal that through the miracle of YouTube." But, Roth added, "As usual we bit off more than we can chew when it came to scheduling. The band is winning but our schedule has been sidelined for unnecessary roughness. If we continue past July 4 and all the way into Australia and Japan then we're asking for the robot zombie tour."

The frontman admitted that the band is taking a break now to avoid greater exhaustion later on, saying that they plan to be on the road for two years. He finished, "Stay tuned, and we'll see you down the road in just a little bit."

According to Billboard, a reliable source close to the Van Halen camp corroborated Roth's message, saying that "fatigue" is the reason for the dates being scrapped. The source also said that the shows will not be canceled outright, but will be rescheduled.

The source said, "(The band is) doing great with ticket sales. They're not fighting. They're just burnt and they want to take some time off. They got so excited and everything was going so well, they said, 'let's add more dates,' and I don't think they realized how tired they were. That may not sound like the truth, but it is."

Van Halen will still play 15 more dates on the current leg of the trek, ending on June 26th in New Orleans. The source said that more shows will be booked, but "we just don't know when yet."

Van Halen is touring behind A Different Kind Of Truth, its first album in 14 years and first with original singer David Lee Roth since 1984.

The Billboard story follows a similar report at VHND.com, widely regarded as the authoritative Van Halen fan site. That site reports that the band has been "working tirelessly for the last 18 months" and "wants the second leg (of the tour) to be as awesome as the first."

DEF LEPPARD FRONTMAN NOT A FAN OF LIVE DEEP CUTS

Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott is adamant that playing large chunks of new music is the kiss of death to a vintage live act. Classic Rock reported that Elliott chatted on an Omaha, Nebraska radio station and explained the conundrum, saying, "People come to hear what they know. The only place people go psychologically prepared for an hour of brand-new music is an open mic night in some little bar. You don't go to Madison Square Garden expecting to hear two hours of brand new Paul McCartney, Def Leppard, Roger Waters, or the Who. You go to see Quadrophenia, something you've owned for 40 years. That's what these gigs are."

He went on to say: "There's always a little thread on the website: 'They never changed the set.' But you change the set and 99 percent of the audience start(s) to moan they didn't hear the hits. You can't cater to the minority. You just can't. But occasionally you get these pangs of guilt where you do."

When we last caught up with Elliott, he explained his point in broad terms as to why rarities are only for the hardcore fans: "Let's be honest; not many people go to a Rolling Stones concert hoping they're going to play something off the new album. And that's no disrespect to the Stones at all. 'Out Of Tears' (from Voodoo Lounge) I still think is one of the best songs they've ever written, but I might be on my own when I think that. Most people go to see 'Jumpin Jack Flash,' and 'Satisfaction,' and 'Brown Sugar' and that's just a sad, tragic fact."

Def Leppard, Poison, and Lita Ford kick off their summer tour on June 20th at Salt Lake City's Usana Amphitheatre.

EDDIE MONEY SAYS STAYING NORMAL GAVE HIM A CAREER

Eddie Money credits his continued success over five decades to the fact that he never tried to hide the fact that he was just a normal guy. Money, who's been taking on a backbreaking series of one-nighters over the years, just might be one of rock's most hard working performers and kicks off his spring and summer tour on Friday night (May 25th) in Clarkson, Michigan.

We asked Money how despite his success in the '70s and '80s he's still a top concert draw -- without ever having to launch a "comeback" tour to entice audiences to come out: "Well, y'know why that was? Because I wasn't a Huey Lewis or a Michael Bolton or somebody that was gonna hit and hit big and -- 'Get outta here, we're so sick of this!' Everybody pictures Eddie Money in, y'know, not really an earring, or a goatee. (I'm) usually a shirt and tie kinda guy and with a. . . Sears & Roebuck jacket on (laughs)." )

UPDATED: Eddie Money tour dates (subject to change):
May 25 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
May 27 - Simpsonville, SC - Charter Amphitheatre
May 30 - Victorville, CA - San Bernardino Fairgrounds
June 1 - Palo Alto, CA - Stanford University
June 2 - Shawnee, KS - Old Shawnee Town
June 9 - Las Vegas, NV - South Point Hotel & Casino
June 15 - Oshkosh, WI - Midwest Fest Sunnyview Fairgrounds
June 16 - Rothbury, MI - Sandy Corley Memorial Run Double JJ Resort
June 23 - Arlington, TX - Levitt Pavilion
June 27 - Farmington, NY - Finger Lakes Race Tracks
June 30 - Mount Clemens, MI - Stars & Stripes Festival at Downtown Mount Clemens
July 1 - Brooklyn, NY - Fort Hamilton
July 6 - Lockport, NY - Ulrich City Courtyard
July 13 - Great Falls, MT - Montana Brewfest Grounds
July 20 - Albany, OR - Linn County Fairgrounds
July 26 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
July 27 - Readington, NJ - QuickChek New Jersey Festival Of Ballooning at Solberg Airport
July 28 - Newton, IA - Iowa Grand Motorcycle Rally at Iowa Speedway
July 29 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Arena
August 1 - Waterville, ME - Taste Of Greater Waterville at Downtown Waterville
August 3 - Otsego, MN - Otsego Waterfront Jamfest at Rockwoods Grill
August 4 - Mankato, MN - Vetter Stone Amphitheater
August 15 - Salt Lake City, UT - Usana Amphitheatre
August 24 - Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
September 15 - Florence, KY - Champion Window Field
September 21 - Albuquerque, NM - New Mexico State Fair at The Expo
September 22 - Oklahoma City, OK - Oklahoma State Fair at State Fair Park
September 30 - East Meadow, NY - Harry Chapin Theatre
October 6 - Uncasville, CT - Wolf Den
January 18 - Austin, TX - One World Theatre

JETHRO TULL'S IAN ANDERSON SET FOR 30-CITY TOUR BEHIND 'THICK AS A BRICK' SEQUEL

Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson will launch a 30-city tour behind his follow-up to Tull's 1972 album, Thick As A Brick. In April Anderson released the much-touted follow-up, Thick As A Brick 2: Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock? The sequel chronicles the fictional Bostock's life now as a 50-year-old -- going so far as to update the album cover artwork, which in 1972's was passed off as an eight-year-old boy's epic poem featured on a newspaper.

Anderson told us that it was more curiosity than nostalgia that made him revisit the story behind Thick As A Brick: "Well, I wonder what the little Gerald Bostock guy would be doing today 40 years down the line. And I wonder what would've happened to St. Cleve Chronicle -- the 16-page newspaper that formed the packaging of the original vinyl album. With an almighty jump 40 years into the future, to think what would be the fate of a young boy growing up at that time; what would he have become later in life? And taking The St. Cleve Chronicle into the Internet age as St.Cleve.com intrigued me enough to make me think, maybe I should explore that idea, or both those ideas, in a new album."

Ian Anderson North American tour dates (subject to change)
September 18 - Miami Beach, FL - Fillmore Miami Beach At Jackie Gleason Theater
September 19 - West Palm Beach, FL - Kravis Center
September 21 - Saint Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
September 22 - Orlando, FL - Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
September 23 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
September 24 - Fort Myers, FL - Barbara B. Mann Performance Arts Hall
September 25 Fort Pierce, FL - Sunrise Theatre
September 27 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
September 28 - Asheville, NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
September 29 - Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
September 30 - Richmond, VA - Carpenter Theatre At Richmond CenterStage
October 3 - Lynn, MA - The Lynn Memorial Auditorium
October 5 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
October 6 - Atlantic City, NJ - Caesars Atlantic City
October 7 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Hall
October 17 - San Diego, CA - Balboa Theatre
October 18 - Santa Ynez, CA - Chumash Casino
October 19 - Rancho Mirage, CA - The Show At Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
October 20 - Long Beach, CA - Terrace Theater
October 22 - Salt Lake City, UT - Abravanel Hall
October 23 - Denver, CO - Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
October 26 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre At Grand Prairie
October 27 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
October 28 - Austin, TX - Paramount Theatre
October 30 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
November 1 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
November 2 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
November 3 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
November 4 - Akron, OH - Akron Civic Theatre
November 5 - Newark, OH - Midland Theatre

NEW YORK CITY FANS PAY TRIBUTE TO LATE BEASTIE BOYS MEMBER ADAM YAUCH

New York City fans were set to pay tribute to late Beastie Boys member Adam "MCA" Yauch on Sunday (May 19th) with "MCA Day," which was scheduled to take place in Greenwich Village's Union Square beginning at 11:00 a.m. Organizers said on Facebook and Twitter that fans who planned to attend were encouraged to share songs, memories and anything else they wanted to do in honor of Yauch, a native New Yorker who deeply loved his hometown.

Yauch passed away on May 4th at the age of 47 after a three-year battle with cancer, three weeks after the Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone reported that the New York State Senate, led by Senator Daniel Squadron, drafted and adopted a resolution honoring Yauch.

The resolution, J4637-2011, recognized Yauch's many contributions to the state of New York, reading in part, "The Beastie Boys exemplified New York through a period in which grassroots creativity and a community of iconoclastic artists helped redefine and rejuvenate a city on the ropes, with iconic imagery from Brooklyn to Ludlow Street."

The resolution also addressed Yauch's work with the charitable organization Milarepa, his political and social activism, and his founding of the independent film company Oscilloscope Laboratories.

PAUL McCARTNEY SALUTING WINGS' GOLDEN ERA WITH NEXT REISSUES

With Ram, the fourth installment of the Paul McCartney Archive Series being released tomorrow (May 22nd), hardcore fans are already rejoicing in the news that Christmas will see a total of four projects released as the next installment of the ongoing project. The usually reliable Beatles site, wogew.blogspot.com, reported that December will see expanded versions of McCartney's Wings classics Venus And Mars (1975), Wings At The Speed Of Sound, (1976) and the band's only live set, Wings Over America (1976). The trilogy marked the last time that McCartney would score three consecutive Number One albums as a solo artist.

Also available -- probably as part of the Wings Over America package -- will be the Rockshow DVD, McCartney's definitive and long out of print 1980 concert film chronicling Wings' sole North American tour in 1976. All three releases showcase, arguably, Wings' best lineup, with Paul and Linda McCartney, guitarist and bassist Denny Laine, drummer Joe English, and the late virtuoso guitarist Jimmy McCulloch.

Denny Laine, who was McCartney's right-hand man and frequent collaborator during Wings' decade-long run, fondly remembers guitarist Jimmy McCulloch, who died of a heroin overdose at age 26 in 1979: "Jimmy was more kind of tuneful and a team person. He was a younger guy, he was into playing lost of different styles -- but he was equally good at all of them."

McCartney told us that he looks back to the 1975/1976 Wings Over The Word tour with particular pride: "I remember Wings, we did have some good lineups. And I think '76, with Joe and Jimmy, and Denny and Linda, we had -- I think that was pretty good lineup, and we did some good stuff then."

ROBIN GIBB OF BEE GEES DIES AFTER CANCER BATTLE

Bee Gees singer and songwriter Robin Gibb passed away on Sunday (May 20th) at the age of 62. Barry Gibb, along with Robin and his fraternal twin brother Maurice Gibb -- who passed away in 2003 -- formed the Bee Gees in 1958.

A statement from Gibb's spokesperson read: "The family of Robin Gibb, of the Bee Gees, announce with great sadness that Robin passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time."

The singer had been diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago but in February of this year, told reporters he had made a "spectacular recovery," and that his cancer was nearly gone. Gibb had intestinal surgery in March after a secondary tumor developed and was again hospitalized in April for pneumonia. He fell into a coma but regained consciousness 12 days later.

He is survived by his brother, Barry; mother, Barbara; second wife, Dwina, and their son, Robin-John; two children from his marriage to Molly Hullis, Spencer and Melissa; and another daughter, Snow Robin, from another relationship.

Gibb last performed on stage in February for a charity concert at the London Palladium.

Barry, 65, is the only living member of the Bee Gees. Maurice died in January of 2003 after undergoing emergency abdominal surgery in Florida.

The newest message on Gibb's Twitter account reads, "Sadly Robin Gibb has passed away May 20th, 10:47 UK time."

LIFE & MUSIC CAREER

Robin Gibb -- along with twin brother Maurice -- was born in 1949 in the Isle of Man and raised in Manchester. We spoke with Robin a few years back and he told us about the group's beginning: Well we started writing songs when we were eight years old and started natural harmonies. Nobody ever taught us anything, so we did it out of fun -- for nothing else. We started in Manchester just copying what we heard on the radio and imagining what their new single would be like and as young as eight or nine we were actually imagining and composing music."

In 1958 the family moved to Australia where Robin, Maurice and their older brother Barry began harmonizing as a group. The trio performed on TV as the "B.G.'s" and had some success. They even hosted a weekly variety show during their stay in Australia but soon returned to England in the 1960s where the group began to take off after signing with manager Robert Stigwood.

Robin quit the group in 1969 and launched a solo career. He had a hit in Europe with the song, "Saved By The Bell," while Barry and Maurice continued as the Bee Gees. The group soon reunited and had their first Number One hit in the U.S. in 1971, with "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart."

In 1975 the group had hits with "Jive Talkin' " and "Nights on Broadway," but in 1977 -- with the release of the movie Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta -- the Bee Gees' popularity soared to new heights. The soundtrack album to Saturday Night Fever, featuring music by the Bee Gees, Yvonne Elliman, KC & The Sunshine Band, Tavares, MFSB, and the Trammps, went on to become the biggest-selling soundtrack of all time, selling over 15 million U.S. copies to date. The album scored four Number One hits: "How Deep Is Your Love," "Stayin' Alive," and "Night Fever," by the Bee Gees, and Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You." All four hits were actually written by Barry, Maurice and Robin.

Following the success of Saturday Night Fever the Bee Gees' had six Number One hits from their 1979 album, Spirits Having Flown. When we spoke to Robin some time ago, he told us, "That particular piece of music, it was the biggest selling soundtrack of all time. It still is. And there is nothing . . . it's equated to walking on the moon, nothing really touched the sales of it. The thing about it is, there was no hype, because in those days you couldn't really hype anything. It was purely organic unlike today of course, where everything is hype."

Gibb continued with the Bee Gees but began to promote his solo career again in the 1980s. He released three albums, How Old Are You, Secret Agent and Walls Have Eyes. He had a hit single from How Old Are You with the song "Juliet."

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, three years after Robin was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Robin spoke to us about the group's cultural impact on music: "The fact is that it had an impact on the culture. And there are people who have hit records and people who have impact on the culture. 'Fever' did, there is no doubt about it. People use the words "Stayin Alive" and the expression with everything. And it is, no doubt, indisputably part of the music culture.

Maurice Gibb, Robin's fraternal twin brother, passed away in 2003. Barry and Robin Gibb spoke to us about what they went through on a professional level following Maurice's death: "(Barry): The idea of going on without Mo, became something that was -- 'Oh, we could do that! No we couldn't. Yes we could! No we couldn't.' (Robin): Well, we were in shock."

The brothers said that keeping the music alive was their most important mission: "(Barry) Robin and I love music so much (Robin): Yes. (Barry): And it's so ingrained in our souls that we don't know how to move away from it. (Robin): I think it's important also for Maurice's merit. . . (Barry) Yes. (Robin): . . . just as much. (Barry): The legacy of the Bee Gees must go on one way or the other."

When Robin and Barry Gibb became the sole surviving Gibb brothers, following the deaths of younger brother Andy, and Robin's twin Maurice, in 1988 and 2003, respectively, Robin told us he cherished his relationship -- both professional and personally -- with older brother Barry: "I feel more -- every day as I go on -- fortunate to be born into a family where Barry is my brother, because I get to work with him! And he's one of the greatest writers of all time. I mean, out of all the millions of families that are born in the world, I got to born in the family with him. How good can it get?"

BATTLE WITH CANCER

According to reports, the singer was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago. The cancer spread to his liver last year. In January of 2012, Robin completed an eight-week regimen of chemotherapy in his battle against cancer. Although he had originally hoped to lick the disease through homeopathic remedies, Gibb remained committed to battling the cancer by any means necessary.

After missing a charity event on January 18th, Gibb's spokesperson, Mick Garbutt, told The Daily Mail, "He would have absolutely loved to be here in person, but unfortunately that simply hasn't been possible with his health. It is true to say he is very unwell, but he's an incredible man and enjoys lots of support from his close circle of friends and family, and particularly from his wife Dwina. While he can still use his profile to raise awareness for issues close to his heart he will always do so."

During a BBC Radio interview in February of this year Gibb explained his medical situation: "I was diagnosed with a growth in my colon. It was removed. And I've been treated for that by a brilliant doctor, and in their own words, 'The results have been spectacular' -- and they said, 'What are you doing that we don't know about?,' and I said, 'I'm not doing anything and in fact I haven't taken a single tablet.' I feel better than I did 10 years ago. I'm active, my appetite's fantastic, the plumbing is all in perfect working order. If I had a choice about how I'd like to feel for the rest of my life, this would be it. If I wanted to tick all the right boxes about sense of well-being, it would be now. This is the way I'd like to feel. I don't know how I could feel any better." He said, "The prognosis is that it's almost gone and I feel fantastic and really from now on it's just what they could describe as a 'mopping-up' operation. I am very active and my sense of well-being is good."

Gibb was hospitalized again in March. The singer's management issued the following statement: "On Sunday, March 25th, Robin Gibb underwent further intestinal surgery. He is currently recovering in hospital and therefore, for the time-being, all existing commitments prior to The Titanic Requiem concert, have had to be canceled."

In April the singer fell into a coma but regained consciousness a week later, while surrounded by his family. Gibb's spokesperson, Doug Wright, told the BBC that the singer, who has been battling both liver and colon cancer, fell into the coma following a bout of pneumonia. He explained that Gibb "has been able to communicate with his family, including nodding." Gibb's first words after regaining consciousness were to his son, Robin John, saying: "Hello, RJ."

Due to his illness, Robin missed the April 10th premiere of his and Robin John's The Titanic Requiem at London's Westminster Central Hall. The piece was co-written by the pair in memoriam of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15th, 1912.

CELEBRITIES REACT ON TWITTER

Peter Frampton: "So sorry to hear Robin Gibb has lost his battle with cancer. My heart goes out to the entire Gibb family at this very sad time. RIP"

Justin Timberlake: "We have lost a truly brilliant musician today. One of my idols. My heart goes out to the Gibb family in this time of sorrow . . . RIP Robin."Duran Duran: "Sorry to hear about the passing of Robin Gibb of the BeeGees. Our condolences to his friends and family"

Rosario Dawson: "Thank you for all the dance memories to your music! RIP Robin Gibb."

Bruno Mars: "R.I.P Robin Gibb"

The Script: "R.I.P. Robin Gibb. We met Robin+Barry in NY. Such a lovely guy. Prayers 2 his family. 2 many Legends being taken from us 2 early"

Bryan Adams: "Robin Gibb RIP. Very sad to hear about yet another great singer dying too young."

Michelle Branch: "R.I.P. Robin Gibb :("

Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child: "RIP Robin Gibb!! #EMOTIONSTAKINGMEOVER (I'm so glad DC3 got the chance to remake that song)"

Lance Armstrong: "RIP Robin Gibb. Continues to sadden me to see cancer take our loved ones. Gotta put a stop to it"

Kris Jenner: "Rest In Peace Robin Gibb...you brought us so much joy what an amazing talent!!"

Victoria Justice: "So sad 2 hear Robin Gibb (1 of the BeeGees) has passed. "How Deep Is Your Love" will always b 1 of my favorite songs."

Jeffrey Ross: "Bee Gee Robin Gibb passed away last night from Saturday Night Fever. #roastinpeace"

Carson Daly: "Sad to hear about Robin Gibb. Cancer is robbing us of our loved ones way to often. We gotta beat this thing."

Lance Armstrong: "RIP Robin Gibb. Continues to sadden me to see cancer take our loved ones. Gotta put a stop to it."

Taboo: "Another #disco legend has passed. RIP Robin Gibb. The Bee Gees' will always be #StayinAlive in our hearts."

Patton Oswalt: "We're forming a League of Extraordinary Disco. Now let's go find Sylvester." -- Dona Summer to Robin Gibb, in heaven right now"

Mario Lopez: "R.I.P Robin Gibb..Big Bee Gees fan! Wrote so many great songs too..Our Disco stars are off to perform in the big club upstairs!"

THE WHO TO RELEASE DELUXE 'QUADROPHENIA' DVD IN AUGUST

Coming to DVD and Blue-ray on August 28th is the Who's 1979 mod coming of age drama, Quadrophenia. TheWho.com reported that "the new, high-def restoration. . . includes new interviews, commentary and behind-the-scenes footage." The disc will feature a new audio commentary from director Frank Roddam and director of photography Brian Tufano, along with interviews with the Who's long time sound man, Bobby Pridden, who supervised the new 5.1 mix and manager Bill Curbishley.

The disc will also include on-set and archival footage, behind-the-scenes photographs, along with a booklet "featuring an essay by critic Nick James, a reprinted personal history by original mod Irish Jack -- who inspired Pete Townshend's character "Jimmy" -- along with Townshend's original liner notes from the 1973 double-album.

Although the Who don't star in the film, one rocker who appeared in Quadrophenia -- starring as "Ace Face" -- was none other than Sting, in his first major movie role: "The movie came out just as the Police were having our first success, so there was a sort of double whammy of me (laughs) as a singer and then a figure in Quadrophenia -- which was quite a small part, but I seem to have made a big impact with a sort of iconic look. I'm not taking much credit for it, I didn't do very much in the film, but I thought it was a good film. I thought it was one of those films that summed up an era."

Pete Townshend explained why Quadrophenia remains his most multi-dimensional work: "Quadrophenia is music, it's angry music, it never lets up, it's full of energy. But it's also simply a story of a kid who has a bad day. It rains and he goes and sits on a rock. And he contemplates the future and the present, and he decides to do something that he's never done before -- he prays."