I've said it before- I'll say it again: If a city loses it's pro franchise, no way should they get it back! The market's already proven once it's not financially stable enough to sustain the club so why would it now? Especially on the heels of one of the worst economic downturns in history?
Don't get me wrong- I'd love to see more Canadian teams in the NHL but I think committing so much money on provincial & federal levels- when there's not even a guarantee of winning a franchise back...or winning a potential Olympic bid- is careless. It's been 15 years & 2 Stanley Cups since the Nords left town to become the Avalanche...If you think a $400 million rink and the financial burden of an NHL team are just what Quebec City needs- then YOU are mile high.

New on store shelves today:

--"Audio Secrecy", Stone Sour
--"Bachman & Turner", Bachman & Turner (--The reunion of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's Randy Bachman and Fred Turner!!! This is their first album together in 20 years.)

TMZ is now saying that MOTLEY CRUE singer VINCE NEIL had a blood-alcohol level of "nearly three times the legal limit" when he was arrested for DUI back in June.
According to the police report, Vince was pulled over doing 60 in a 45 mile-per-hour zone. In addition to speeding, he was also, quote, "weaving between the lanes."
Vince failed three sobriety tests, before eventually giving up. He reportedly told the cops, quote, "I can't do this." He took two breathalyzer tests, which registered his blood alcohol level at .215 and .216. (--The legal limit is .08.)
Vince was charged with DUI and speeding. He'll be arraigned on September 27th.

 Bassist DUFF MCKAGAN has spent most of this year playing with JANE'S ADDICTION . . . but that's over now. The band says Duff decided to leave because he and the band were, quote, "headed in different directions [musically]."
Duff played some shows with Jane's Addiction, and was in the process of helping them write songs for a new album. (--Duff . . . who was also in GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER . . . was replacing former Jane's bassist ERIC AVERY, who'd quit the band back in March.)

Hey! Great news about that smoking baby in Indonesia...The got it to quit smoking...When reached for comment, the parents said they're taking things one day at a time & it's all about baby steps.

Wow.

Unbelievable time last night at Stefan Zehetner's place...It was the 5th and final Party of 5 Backyard Bash in Rodgerville...which is now just a stretch of road between Hensall & Exeter on Highway 4. How fantastic the setting was though...Beautiful house, beautiful property, great tunes (thanks again to 'May As Well' from hanover- those guys ROCKED) and great people.

Dan and his crew from Pineridge Barbecue & Catering Co. were truly at their best: they were serving it up & yukking it up with the other excited party goers and Dan even remembered the dill pickle spears & stuffed mushroom caps!!! By the way Dan- they don't do any harm to diets, I just jumped on the scale & still clocked in at 180!

The hosts were extremely gracious: Stefan was awesome...His parents, Eddie & Karen- were both courteous & hilarious and have done wonders to their house!

The coolers were full, the holy board was busy and there was even a heated game of testicle toss (thank goodness the weather held out)! The greatest part of the evening though was just seeing everyone together, young & old for one last party of the summer. To Half Bag, Chris, Jamie, Barb, Blake and everyone else that I had a chance to hang with throughout the course of the evening (that means you too, Jonboy) thanks so much for coming out and hope to connect with you all again real soon. But that's what a backyard barbecue is all about, isn't it? Rekindling friendships & making new ones!

So here's to a fantastic wrap-up to the Party of 5 Backyard Bash Series...We just have to get through a couple months of the white stuff & there'll be more good times before you know it.......Now someone, PLEASE pass me the Advil.

GUNS N' ROSES' European tour continues to be a fan-disappointing, gong show...
Earlier this week, they were at least a half-hour late to two shows and were forced to finish earlier than they wanted to because of curfews.
This time, chaos erupted at a show in Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday night. As usual, Guns was late, and the show started over 90 minutes behind schedule.
When they DID make it onstage, they couldn't even make it all the way through the first song, "Welcome to the Jungle", without an incident.
Some upset fans were throwing water bottles onstage . . . and AXL ROSE stopped the band to tell the crowd, quote, "Here's the deal: One more bottle, we go home. It's up to you."
Three songs later, more bottles were thrown, Axl stuck to his word, and the band walked off the stage.
About an hour later, Guns finally went out and finished their set. Supposedly because the promoters refused to let them leave unless they did. But by then, most of the crowd had already left.

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH'S next album will be a classic rock covers disc.
It'll be produced by RICK RUBIN & even though it's only about a third of the way done, we now know what some of the covers will include: The Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday", the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood", the Allman Brothers Band's "Midnight Rider", Bob Dylan's "Girl From the North Country" and "Uncle John's Band" by the Grateful Dead.
The band expects to finish recording the album sometime next year, however- there's no release date yet.

WAR . . . the '70s funk band known for the songs "Low Rider" & "Spill the Wine" is suing Pepsi for $10 MILLION.
The problem has to do with another one of War's hit songs, "Why Can't We Be Friends?".
Pepsi has been using that song in an ad campaign for my drink of choice: Pepsi Max, and they're not cool with that. In one commercial, "Why Can't We Be Friends" plays on the jukebox in the background but War claims Pepsi didn't clear it with the band first.
Obviously, there's probably some miscommunication somewhere, because it's hard to believe Pepsi would overtly use that song without permission.
Regardless, War wants it all sorted out . . . and a $10 million lawsuit will get some attention. For now though, there's no comment from Pepsi.

Time once again for a reminder why we love Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes...In an interview with Nylon Guys magazine, when asked about country starlet Taylor Swift this is what he had to say, "I find it embarrassing that adults are like, 'Taylor Swift is very talented.' She's not. She might be cute, but she's horrible."

It sounds like KID ROCK wants to be taken a little more seriously on his upcoming album, "Born Free", which he says is about the economic decline of his hometown.
He says, quote, " Watching everything go downhill over the past few years, the economy, the loss of jobs everywhere...I wanted to make a record that reflected the times but that still had soul."
A press release for the album insists that Kid will still be his edgy self, but that he's not doing the "rap-metal" thing on this disc. In fact, it even notes, quote: "There isn't even a parental warning sticker."
"Born Free" features collaborations with Bob Seger, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, among others & hits stores November 16th.

A lot of people are hoping that eventually Robert Plant'll eventually cave in and agree to do a Led Zeppelin reunion tour.
But after going to a THEM CROOKED VULTURES gig- a band that features Zeppelin bassist JOHN PAUL JONES- he said that afterwards his ears, quote, "bled for two days."
He added, quote, "I feel so far away from heavy rock now. For me, it's no longer to do with vanity, ego and visible success. It's just about getting down into the earth of music. I've gone from being in that huge band to picking up the pieces of my own gift."
By the way- Band of Joy, his new album with the band of the same name...hits stores September 14th.

Wow- the Detroit Lions sure look tough this season!!!!

When Lou Piniella retired this season...many baseball fans were sad to see him go...because who was going to launch tirades on all the MLB's unsuspecting umpires????

Well- look no further...this coach from the State College Spikes recently took crazy to a whole new level.

SLASH and his wife Perla are getting divorced after nine years of marriage. In his divorce papers, Slash cited "irreconcilable differences". He's seeking joint legal and physical custody of their two sons, who are 8 and 4.
A few sources are saying this divorce could get ugly. But Slash's rep says, quote, "From his perspective, the split is amicable."

Former Warrant vocalist Jani Lane will be stepping up to the mic as Great White front man briefly. Jani has agreed to perform in place of his long-time friend Jack Russell, while Jack is recovering from major surgery...Unfortunately- there are no dates in Canada.