Blues legend Koko Taylor’s backing band, the Blues Machine, was involved in a serious van accident in Wisconsin on Saturday. Taylor herself was not in the van, but guitarists Calvin Louden and Shunsuke Kikuta, bassist Ricky Nelson, drummer Brian Parker and keyboardist Stanley Banks all suffered broken bones and required surgery.

Driver Jesse Hutson and road manager Lee Threatt (who’s married to Taylor’s daughter) were treated and released from the hospital. None of the injuries are considered life threatening, and all involved are expected to make full recoveries. Cards can be sent to individual band members care of Alligator Records, PO Box 60234, Chicago, IL 60660. ―Russell Hall

Pioneering guitar maker Dean Zelinsky has announced the formation of a new company that will produce a new brand of guitars. Dubbed DBZ Guitars, the new line will purportedly “take guitar design to the next level” and will “do for guitars what custom bike builders have done for the motorcycle industry.”

Teaming with Diamond Amplification owner Jeff Diamant and Diamant’s Texas partner Terry Martin, Zelinsky says the company will offer U.S.A.-made custom and high-end guitars, as well as a full range of lower price point instruments (including electrics, acoustics and basses).

“We are bringing a radical approach to every aspect of DBZ Guitars; guitar design, marketing, advertising and distribution, while retaining traditional and elegant styling and feel,” Zelinsky said, in a press release. “The technology available today is being way under-utilized. This industry is stuck in the Dark Ages ― it needs another shot in the arm.”

The new line will premiere in January 2009. Artists who’ve embraced Zelinksy’s past designs include Billy Gibbons, Leslie West, Dave Mustaine and Rik Emmett.

For more information, please visit www.dbzguitars.com.  ―Russell Hall

Gibson lost an amazing friend when David Vinopal passed away on Sunday, Aug. 17 in Saranac Lake, New York. He was 65. The beloved author and musician ― whose lifelong motto was “only a Gibson is good enough” ― is best known for having co-written 1994’s Gibson’s Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars, one of the most definitive books in the musical instruments industry and one referenced daily in the Gibson editorial office.

David was also the editor of Guitarmaker magazine and taught technical writing and photography to students at Paul Smith’s College for 20 years. He left behind three sons – David, Jan and Edward Vinopal, partner Kameliia Petrova, sister Sarah Sturges, brother Robert Vinopal, and the family dog Dottie, who he doted on.

When Gibson Acoustic relocated to Bozeman, Montana in 1989, it was Vinopal who helped get the division onto its feet.

“When we first started in Montana, we called on the Gibson community to help us,” said Gibson Acoustic product specialist Bill Gonder. “David flew to Montana and took the time out of his busy career to give us advice and perspective on the guitar market and Gibson’s role in it. He saw a need to help and co-wrote Gibson’s Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars. This book and his reputation helped launch us into the market.

“David was a wonderful man, and his passing is truly a sad thing for the whole company,” said Gonder. “David will be missed and never forgotten in Montana.”

Find Vinopal's obituary, below:

Ozzy Osbourne’s son Jack told “Rolling Stone” that he’s hatched a plan to mend his father’s ‘senile, funny, bumbling’ reputation after it was ― in Jack’s opinion ― marred by four seasons of “The Osbournes,” the MTV reality show that starred the Osbourne family from 2002 - 2005.

Since January, Jack, 22, has gathered commentary from Black Sabbath members, members of Ozzy’s solo band, and friends and family for a documentary about his father that he’ll executive produce. An Ozzy autobiography is out of the question, Jack said, due to Ozzy’s dyslexia ― a condition that Jack reportedly shares with his father. The documentary, tentatively titled “John,” which is Ozzy’s birth name, will be “more like a talking book, a really thorough autobiography,” said Jack.

“The hard part is getting people to be honest and not have [the documentary] be a fluff piece, because that’s not what we’re trying to do,” said Jack. “I’m trying to paint a realistic picture of who my father is. I think ‘The Osbournes,’ to a degree, tarnished the public’s perception of my dad. I think [it] almost discredited who he is as an artist. My dad’s not an idiot ― he’s nothing short of genius, in my opinion. He does have huge flaws, and we’re trying to really paint an honest picture of that.”

Though there’s not a definite production schedule in place, Jack said he hopes to preview the doc at next year’s Ozzfest. ―Ellen Mallernee


 

Judas Priest Enjoys 2008, Readies First Late-Night Appearance—For heavy metal legends Judas Priest, who’ve been around since the early 1970s and have sold over 35 million albums worldwide, 2008 is proving to be one of the best years in the band’s nearly 40-year career. So far in 2008, the band’s Nostradamus—their first-ever concept album—is the highest-charting U.S. album of their career. On Sept. 2, the band will also make their late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where Priest will play a free 5-song mini-concert in Los Angeles, California. The band is giving away free tickets to the event on a first-come, first-serve basis at www.1iota.com, and anyone requesting tickets must be at least 16 years old with a valid ID. Good luck!

Little Feat’s Gets Help From Friends on New Album—The roster of musicians on the new Little Feat album Join the Band is a pretty good listing of who’s who in music. Helping to celebrate Little Feat’s 20th anniversary by lending their talents on the band’s first studio album since 2003’s Kickin’ It at the Barn are such notables as Jimmy Buffet, Vince Gill, Dave Matthews, Emmylou Harris, Bob Seger, Bela Fleck, Brooks and Dunn, Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes, Sonny Landreth, Sam Bush and Mike Gordon, formally of Fish. Formed in L.A. in late 1969, Little Feat has successfully blended rock with blues and jazz and other musical styles into a style all their own. Some of the band’s best known songs include ”Fat Man in the Bathtub,” “Oh Atlanta” and “Sailin’ Shoes.” “I’ve known them forever,” said Gill recently. “We’ve been friends and I’ve jammed with them plenty. Those guys were inspiring to me. I’ve loved Lowell George, the way played and sang and the funkiness of their records.” Gill sings the group’s renowned hit "Dixie Chicken" on the new disc, and plays guitar on another track titled "Spanish Moon." The new record hits retail outlets today.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Working With John 5 on New Album—Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will spend the last few months of 2008 putting the finishing touches on their first studio album since 2003’s Vicious Cycle, according to a report in Rolling Stone. But that’s not the news. The news is they’re working with guitarist John 5 of Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie fame. “We’ve been doing quite a bit of writing with John,” Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke told Rolling Stone. “While everybody thought, ‘My god, you are going to write with this guy? How is that ever going to work?’ But this guy came in and is really multi-talented in all genres.” Medlocke told Rolling Stone the band—still on the road with Kid Rock on the Rock and Rebels tour—is eyeing an early-2009 release date for the new album.—Gabriel J. Hernandez

Metal monoliths Lamb Of God just announced that they’ve finished recording the follow-up to their Grammy-nominated 2006 effort, “Sacrament.”

The album is slated for U.S. release on Epic Records in February 2009 and was produced by Josh Wilbur, best known for his Grammy-winning work with country troubadour Steve Earle.

“We are excited to change things up this time and work with Josh,” said drummer Chris Adler. “We’ve never stayed in one place too long, and the evolution continues. There is an aggressive shift in the material and our approach. The bar has been raised.”

Lamb Of God recently released the double DVD “Walk With Me In Hell,” and will cap off their world tour in December with a support slot for Metallica.

You can learn more about the band here. ―Jonah Bayer

On September 30, Matador Records will digitally release “Lou Reed’s Berlin: Original Film Soundtrack” (the physical release will be Oct. 7), set to coincide with the DVD release of Julian Schnabel’s film “Lou Reed’s Berlin.”

Reed’s polarizing 1973 album “Berlin” was met with mixed reviews and considered a commercial failure when it was initially released, but ― like 1975’s “Metal Machine Music” ― the sonically schizophrenic disc has, over the years, become a touchstone for inventive musicians everywhere.

Schnabel’s forthcoming film documents four historic performances at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York. There, Reed amazingly performed “Berlin” live for the first time in December of ’06. 

Schnabel — who also directed Basquiat and The Diving Bell And The Butterfly — captured Reed each night on film, and the soundtrack companion is perfect for both longtime fans of the album and those discovering it for the first time.

More information about the film can be found here. ―Jonah Bayer

Drummer Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin legend John Bonham, confirmed last week in a radio interview that he’s leaving his gig with Foreigner at the end of August. Bonham, who played with the reunited Zeppelin at their one-off show last December at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert at London’s O2 Arena, revealed that he’s traveled to England “a couple of times” in recent weeks to work with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on new material.

Can we expect more than just a couple of jam sessions? Album … tour, maybe? Possibly?

“I’ve been over [to England] a couple of times,” Jason said on the J.J. & Lynne morning show on Detroit, Michigan’s WCSX 94.7 this past Friday. “I’ve been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do just do some new material and some writing. I don’t know what it will be, but it will be something.”

Jason continued, “At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with two guys and start work on some material. When I get there, I never ask any questions. If I get a phone call to go and play, I enjoy every moment of it. Whatever it ends up as, to ever get a chance to jam with two people like that, it is a phenomenal thing for me; it’s my life, it’s what I’ve dreamed about doing.”

Patience is a virtue, isn’t it?—Gabriel J. Hernandez

Everybody knows Gibson guitars are played all around the world, but this weekend was extra special.

Legendary guitarist Jimmy Page teamed with British singing sensation Leona Lewis for an incredible version of the Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love” during the spectacular closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China last night. Page, of course, played his personal Gibson Custom Jimmy Page Custom Authentic model, which is a near-perfect recreation of his iconic No. 1 guitar.

Meanwhile, over in England, superstar Madonna kicked off her 51-date “Sticky and Sweet” tour in front of 40,000-plus screaming fans at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in Wales. The queen of pop delivered a blistering two-hour set that included the hits “Beat Goes On,” “Candy Shop” and “Into the Groove,” and played the black Les Paul Classic she’s been seen with for the last couple of years, and a new SG Custom with a vibrant pink finish.

Check out more pictures of Madonna’s opening night here.

Check out a video of Page and Lewis at last night’s closing ceremonies in Beijing here.

BONUS: Here’s a BBC interview with Page and Lewis, talking about their roles in the Beijing Olympics finale.—Gabriel J. Hernandez

The Drive-By Truckers and the Hold Steady recently announced a 23-date co-headlining tour aptly titled The Rock And Roll Means Well Tour.

The name of the tour is taken from a lyric of one of Drive-By Truckers guitarist/vocalist Mike Cooley’s songs, “Marry Me.” The line is apparently one of Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn’s favorites: “Rock and roll means well, but can’t help telling young boys lies.”

“We’re all really excited to tour with the Hold Steady,” said DBT’s Patterson Hood. “They’re one of the greatest bands out there now and their new album is amazing.”

This lovefest kicks off on October 30 in Louisville, Kentucky and wraps up in Los Angeles on November 25. The bands will alternate who headlines each show. You can visit this site for more information. —Jonah Bayer