Ok, from the "what the hell?" files a few days ago Dr. Pepper who spent much of the 1970's asking folks if they'd like to "be a pepper too" (hey, where is David Naughton anyway?) has decided that we've all been waiting to damn long for Guns N Roses 12 years in the making album "Chinese Democracy."
To wit, the following press release:

March 26, 2008 — TIRED of a world in which Americans idolize wannabe singers, and where musicals about high school students pass as rock 'n' roll, Dr Pepper is begging Axl Rose to finally release this year his 17-years-in-the-making album, "Chinese Democracy." The soft drink company's incentive to Axl, the frontman of Guns N' Roses? If he ships the album in 2008, everyone in America - except estranged guitarists Slash and Buckethead - will receive a free can of Dr Pepper. "It took a little patience for us to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, so we completely understand and empathize with Axl's question for the perfect album," said a company spokesperson. Dr Pepper is asking fans to lobby Axl to drop the album already.

OK, so that's cute and kind of funny and all but apparently someone in Axl's camp got it to him and here his response:

We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr. Pepper with our album Chinese Democracy as for us this came totally out of the blue. If there is any involvement with this promotion by our record company or others we are unaware of such at this time. And as some of Buckethead’s performances are on our album I’ll share my Dr. Pepper with him.

Axl Rose

Aww, ain't that nice, he's gonna share with Buckethead?
But screw Slash, eh?

weird…

The Texas based duo The Mars Volta will bring their 3 hour long set filled with their 7-11 minute maelstroms of chewy indie-prog rock goodness including tracks from their recently released fourth album Bedlam In Goliath
to the Agora Theatre on Saturday, May 14.

Tickets for the show go on sale 10 a.m., Saturday, March 29

OK,. actually it's only the guitarist but according to the Associated Press:

*Jay Jay French, the guitarist for 80s hair band Twisted Sister, has rerecorded the heavy metal band's anthem "I Wanna Rock" to say "I Want Barack."
French said the Democratic presidential candidate has energized a new generation of voters who previously felt left out of politics.
"He has excited so many people," French told the AP.
"He has given sincere hope to people who have been out of the arena for years." French said an accompanying video will soon be released on YouTube.

I'm really looking forward to the Video.

Good line.

"Congratulations John, you outlived the music business!"

Let's hear it for Billy Joel for pokin' fun at VH-1, Rock iconography and the entire television show/induction ceremony.

Best intro of the night.

Holy Crap!
They're everywhere!

Alright, that's a pretty good Iggy/Stooges singing Madonna's Burnin' Up and stumbling through "Ray of Light"…Yeah, it's heresy for some fans (of both artists), but a few minutes ago The Stooges were surrounded by dead-eyed waifs wearing Versace!

Madonna looks a little constipated.

That was fun…

Is one of Iggy's legs shorter than the other?

THE STOOGES ARE ON SOME FASHION ROCKS SHOW ON BRAVO!

They're performing Now I wanna Be Your Dog while models wiggle nearby in Versace dresses.

Wait, what the hell did I just type?!

In the old days, Iggy would have smashed a glass, rolled in the shards, smeared peanut butter on himself and dry humped one of those models until security hauled him away.

My, how times change.

Hey look! One of the models has her fingers in her ears and she looks upset by the scary old men. So, Iggy & The Stooges can still scare a few people.

Yikes! And Donatella Versace is quite scary to me!

Is Justin Timberlake still talking?

…A classic entrance..good speech (umm, that was Tower of Song obviously)..great voice.

Yeah, as Coen Covers go, "Hallelujah" still pretty much belongs to Jeff Buckley.

Rice was nice, but he ain't no Jeff Buckley.

Though he does gain a boost from still being alive.

I'm supposed to be making pertinent comments aren't I?

Sorry.

OOOH! THE ROLL CALL OF THE DEAD!

Papa Osmond…Holy Crap I forgot about Jeff Healy, I was just watching Road House the other day…Paul Raven died? I missed that one…Bobby Byrd..still trying to collect back royalties from James Brown in Heavan

Oh, Lou Reed is s why they scheduled the telecast for four hours

Seriously, I appreciate Reed's appreciation of Leonard's language (he's got the voice for it too), but how 'bout we let Leonard say a few words, eh?

The end of the first half hour and we've already gotten two of our inductees out of the way.

Look, I have no beef with Ben Harper.
Seems like a helluva guy who is a talented vocalist and player.
So why does he bore the hell out of me?

Also, he's apparently not to comfortable at a podium as his speech though (presumably) heartfelt, kinda sucks.

Damn, Little Walter doesn't have any surviving relatives who could have stepped forward to say thanks?
That's kind of sad.
Well, at least he's got a musical legacy if not a familial one.

Good choice of James Cotton rather than a flashier "hipper" harp player like say, John Popper or…uh…Ok, there aren't a lot of hip & happening harmonica players at the moment but you know what I mean.

Those Mosrites guitars/bass the Ventures are (have been) playing Walk Don't Run and Hawaii 5-0 on are awesome.

As is the bari sax guy.