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Sotheby’s is auctioning off the handwritten lyrics to “A Day in the Life” written by John Lennon on June 18th. It’s not the final draft but it has Lennon’s sketch of what became the actual song. Sotheby’s doesn’t think it will surpass the $1 million mark the handwritten lyrics to “All You Need is Love” did back in 2005 but think it should be somewhere between $500,000 to $700,000.

Interpol are giving away the first single off their new album that they are still working on. The track is called “Lights” and if you go to their SITE you can give your email address for the free single. No word on when the album will be out though.

Finally The Roots are coming out with a new album.  I know they are a bit mainstream now but at least I can say that I have been seeing them live for many years and I still have a soft spot for them.  Well their next album “How I Got Over” was recorded during their days as the house band for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and will feature John Legend and Jim James from ‘My Morning Jacket’.

I hope they stick to their roots on this one!

DJ Shadow said that he is “half-way” done with the new album and it should be dropping later this year. That last album ‘The Outsider’ wasn’t the style I’m used to but I still can appreciate what this guy does. Shadow says “With this record, I really want to make music I’m at peace with. If I say it’s a slight return, I only mean in the sense that I had a thread going with some of the records I was doing, so lets get back to that and see where that thread would be. I do consider it a return to form, but I hope there is nothing on it that sounds like anything I’ve done before, it’s just an aesthetic that returns.”

On August 3rd, The Black Crowes will release their first double album of all acoustic material to celebrate their 20 year anniversary since their first album. The album is called ‘Croweology” and will be priced at the rate of a regular album. Their tour will begin on August 13th and go through to December 19th. After that, they are going on a long hiatus. Who knows if they will ever come back so see them while you can.

Ben & Jerry’s have put out a new ice cream flavor in honor of the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival which is happening from June 10 – 13. It has Light coffee & malt ice cream with whiskey caramel swirls & english toffee pieces. Here’s some pics of it:

Here’s a favorite of my from Gang Starr:

It is with deep sadness that I have to post this but the amazing Guru has passed on yesterday at the early age of 43 to cancer. Keith Elam (Guru) was one half of Gangstarr and released six amazing albums with DJ Premier then went on his solo career putting out the incredible Jazzmatazz albums with Solar. The first is Solars statement followed by the letter that Guru wrote to his fans before he passed.

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru. Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius. For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself. Guru prepared this letter (read below) while he was in the hospital for the fans. I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place.”

GURU LETTER:

I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.

I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.

I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.

Cee-Lo of Gnarles Barkley and Goodie Mob will be releasing another solo album to come out later this year. It’s coming out on Elektra Records and will be called ‘Lady Killer’. Producers for the album are Fraser T. Smith, Jack Splash and Salaam Remi. The first single called ‘Georgia’ will be released on May 11th.

Vince Neil of Motley Crue is releasing his new solo album called ‘Tattoos and Tequila’ in Europe on June 4th.  I know that doesn’t do us any good here in the States…..right.  Well here is the first single from the album called ‘Tattoos and Tequila’.  Waddya think?

Here is a great photo of Mick Jagger taken backstage at the Globe Theatre, Stockton on Tees, England October 8, 1965 by Ian Wright.

The amazing Nina Simone. I couldn’t find any photo credits or year on the pic but I thought it was a great photo of her.

Ok, I’m going to start sort of a new series of things here at MusicNewsTidBits.com. I post Music Fact TidBits and Music Quote TidBits and I thought this would be a good addition. I saw some old photos of musicians and I wanted to share with everyone. So starting today, I’ll be posting some classic pictures of musicians that have shaped our world. Stay tuned!

Game’s new album ‘R.E.D.’ was supposed to come out back in February but its finally releasing on June 15th. Dr. Dre is producing it along with Pharrell and Game had this to say:

“[Dr.] Dre is a Hip Hop legend and one of the reasons I’m making music. To be working so closely with him again…man, I don’t even have words to describe it…my two favorite producers are helping me with the direction of this album, I couldn’t be in a better position.”

Ok this actually ain’t bad. Check out Ice Cube’s son ‘OMG’. Lame name though.