Loose Ends: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees, Rock Star Supernova's New Bassist And New Pixies Album In Question

R.E.M., Van Halen, The Stooges, Patti Smith, the Dave Clark Five, Chic, Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five, Joe Tex and The Ronettes are on the initial 2007 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ballot. The induction ceremony for the highest vote-getters will take place on March 12 at New York City's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Rock Star Supernova has replaced injured bassist Jason Newsted with former Black Crowes member Johnny Colt for their North American tour that launches on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas. Colt, who's also performed with Train, will play with the television show-created band fronted by Toronto's Lukas Rossi at Montreal's Bell Centre on Jan. 23, Toronto's Massey Hall on Jan. 24 and Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Feb. 19.

Perhaps the talk of a new Pixies album was a bit premature. Frank Black, the band's singer/guitarist and main songwriter, told the Winnipeg Sun on Thursday that Britain's New Music Express misquoted him about the group recording their first studio album in 15 years. The British magazine's article was picked up by a number of media outlets, including ChartAttack. Black complained of being quoted out of context by NME's sister publication, Uncut, in an interview with ChartAttack earlier this year.

Mario Etheridge, the bouncer of Detroit's CCC Club who fatally shot D12 rapper Proof during an April 11 dispute, was set free on Oct. 26. The 28-year-old had been sentenced to time served and a $2,000 U.S. fine after being convicted on Sept. 20 of carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm in a dwelling or occupied structure. Etheridge had been in jail since the shooting and had faced a maximum penalty of nine years behind bars on the two separate counts.

Toronto concert announcements:

Nov. 3 Simon Finn, The Saffron Sect, Wyrd Visions and Castlemusic @ Tranzac Club
Nov. 3-4 Tiger Lillies @ Harbourfront Centre Theatre
Nov. 9 Rise For Order and My Darkest Days @ Republik
Nov. 17 The Sourkeys and Varge @ Sneaky Dee's
Nov. 23 Wintersleep @ Lee's Palace
Nov. 30 Me First And The Gimme Gimmes and Dead To Me @ Phoenix
Dec. 2 Tokyo Police Club and Spiral Beach @ Horseshoe Tavern
Dec. 5 Twisted Sister @ Massey Hall
Dec. 9 Meligrove Band, The Bicycles and Their Majesties @ Mod Club
Dec. 9 Protest The Hero, I Hate Sally, God Forbid and The Human Abstract @ Phoenix
Dec. 9 The Slip @ El Mocambo
Dec. 10 Spraoi, Bebop Cowboys, Galitcha, Russell De Carle and Melanie Doane @ Music Hall
Dec. 13 Sean Lennon @ Opera House
Dec. 21 Neverending White Lights @ The Drake
Dec. 22-23 Skydiggers and The Cash Brothers @ Horseshoe Tavern
Dec. 23 John McDermott, Ron Sexsmith, The Mistletones and Larry Gowan @ Royal Alexandra Theatre

Vancouver concert announcements:

Nov. 14 Pied Pumkin, Bill Henderson, Sean Hosein, Dane DeViller, Haydain Neale and Eddie Schwartz @ Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre
Nov. 17 Tokyo Police Club and Shukov @ Gallery Lounge
Nov. 18 Chris Frye & The Analog Ghosts @ St. James Hall
Nov. 23 Shaun Verrault and Wil @ Pit Pub