News Round-Up

The Police have reunited and temporarily relocated to Vancouver, where they’re practicing for their first gig in ages – the 2007 Grammy Awards. Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers have landed the opening slot at the awards show, and an 80-date tour is planned for later this year. Other artists performing at the Feb. 11th show are Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Dixie Chicks, Gnarls Barkley, John Legend, Ludacris, John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, the Chili Peppers, Justin Timberlake, and Carrie Underwood.

Superbowl XLI has added more performers to its roster of musical talent. In addition to Prince’s half-time show and Billy Joel’s national anthem, there’ll be some pre-show entertainment courtesy of Stevie Nicks. Bring on the tasteless jokes about unfortunate wardrobe malfunctions…

Forbes recently released their list of 2006’s top music-minded moneymakers, and the Rolling Stones lead the bunch. For the second time in a row, the aging rockers have made more money than their grandchild-aged peers. This year’s gross of $150.6 million should pad the band’s retirement fund quite nicely, even though Jagger and co. show no signs of slowing down…(Nickelback was also on that list, by the way. There is officially no God.)

Watch out, Steve Jobs! Bill Gates is back in town, and he’s planning to promote today’s release of the Windows Vista operating system with… Jefferson Starship? What an odd choice. Apple uses cutting edge indie rock to promote its products, and Microsoft chooses "We Built This City."

The well-informed folks at Rock Radio have more info:
"Microsoft has hired Jefferson Starship to help launch their new Vista operating system. The Starship will play on the back of a special Microsoft flatbed truck in four cities in the coming weeks -- Los Angeles on Tuesday (January 30th); San Francisco on February 7th; New Orleans on February 13th; and Austin, Texas, on March 14th.

All shows will be on the Microsoft/T-Mobile "Airship" Stage, and according to a message from the band's manager on the official Jefferson Starship website, "They are providing a revolutionary, dynamic portable stage that opens like a lotus from a flatbed. The truck itself is decorated with our name and the dates and can be seen cruising around the streets of the cities we are to perform in, several days in advance of the concerts." There's also a website for the Starship/Microsoft/T-Mobile project at skysurprise.com."