In 1969, Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsies, with Billy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums, made their debut at the Fillmore East in New York City.

In 1970, Paul McCartney filed suit in London seeking the legal dissolution of the Beatles’ partnership.

– From the Associated Press

Ray Davies tells the British press that he’s getting the original band together to record and tour in the new year. Apparently the original lineup hasn’t performed together since 1969. I always thought that the intro to “You Really Got Me” was some of the best rhythm guitar in rock and roll.

I’ve just learned of a new band from Suffolk, England that reeks of Floyd, early Genesis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor or Hawkwind. Mostly instrumental, they’re a cross between British folk, psychdelia or a bad dream featuring Syd Barrett. Good background music for a funeral or those contemplating suicide.

Their new album is called “The Fate of Old Mother Orvis” and can be found on Backwater Records.

Check them out on MySpace and give a listen to “The Mustard Men” here.

I went to see Across the Universe last night.

Not good. Long. Not good.

It’s all here in butt-ugly glory, Pitchfork’s Worst Album Covers of 2007.

Michael Stipe offers a comments on his band’s latest endeavor using language that I can’t reprint here and rumors of former drummer Bill Berry joining the tour are squelched. 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions will return to Cleveland in ‘09 after 10 years of being in New York. It’s only been held in Ohio once in the 12 years of the museum’s existence.

“Certainly, country is one of the last bastions of good songwriting — and of singing in tune. As long as we’re on the charts. Any chart will do. Country music is now akin to what my generation was listening to in the ’60s and ’70s.”

Don Henley in Rolling Stone on the Eagles shift in sound to country

Related breaking music news: The Eagles turn down an offer to play at next year’s Super Bowl (maybe they can get the Dixie Chicks to fill their slot).

Maybe.

“He was beautiful, an angel. People either don’t know it or don’t remember it, but he had the highest harmonies. He sang above Don Henley and J.D. Souther on those tracks. My favorite song of his [”Same Old Lang Syne”] was about running into an old lover in a supermarket on New Years – I shouldn’t admit it, but it made me cry. It encapsulated the passing of time and the revisiting of former hopes and dreams. He was a really emotional songwriter and a beautiful singer.”

Jackson Browne in an interview with rollilng Stone about the death yesterday of singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg