Well, none of them could play their respective instruments so contributions music-wise across the board were nil. That said, Sid wasn't really around long enough to contribute much of anything but in the short time he and the Sex Pistols were an active band they definitely made a huge impact.

You aren't missing anything by not tuning in to crap like Rock Star (which got canceled before it could complete it's run but was picked by VH1 for it's final weeks, I believe). In regard to "instrumental prowess", speaking just for myself, I don't think that's a necessary ingredient to draw me to an artist. Sure it's great when a band can boast someone with immense talent on guitar, keys, drums, what have you but I don't think it's absolutely necessary.

They are currently down to just one original member, Gary Rossington. The other original member, Billy Powell, is in the hospital. Rickey Medlocke was with them briefly during the making of their very first record (Skynyrd's First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album, not to be confused with Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd) but has never been considered a "founding" member since he was only in the band on a temporary basis. In addition to Rossington and Powell, original drummers Bob Burns and Artimus Pyle are still alive, as is original bassist Larry Junstrom (now in .38 Special) and guitarist Ed King. Agreed, that band has seen far more than their share of tragedy yet they keep on keepin' on.

When I attended a Duran Duran concert (not my doings) last week at one point in the concert Simon Le Bon asked everyone to hold up their cellphones for one song in particular. I flatout refused. I don't normally even have my cellphone with me at shows but I did at this one. Funny, one of the first times I saw a photo of fans holding up cellphones instead of lighters, it was from an Eagles concert. I figured it was fitting since they're the kind of band that appeals to Yuppies (the type that would bring cellphones into a concert anyway).

Balloon escapes as French sky-diver attempt free fall record (CNN) -- French skydiver Michel Fournier's bid for a record-breaking parachute jump from Earth's stratosphere was aborted Tuesday when the balloon that was to carry him to the edge of space slipped away from his flight crew. Michel Fournier tests his equipment a few days before his attempt to break four world records. The former paratrooper had hoped his "Big Jump" -- starting 40 kilometers (25 miles) above the Earth's surface -- would set new records for the highest jump, fastest and longest free fall and the highest altitude reached by a man in a balloon. But those hopes drifted away over the plains of Saskatchewan in Canada when the balloon escaped. Still clad in his bright yellow pressure suit, the visibly frustrated Fournier waved away cameras after his ride slipped away shortly after 5 a.m. (1100 GMT, 0700 ET). You can read the remainder of the article here.

Just a helpful hint to let you know you can edit your posts in the event of mistakes. There's a box on the bottom right hand corner of your post. If you click on that you can fix any mistakes you may have made. While you're in there you might wanna run spelchek on "grammer" while you're at it.

I would rather a biopic such as Walk the Line stick as close as possible to the true story of Cash's life rather than try to embellish it so it "tests" well with target audiences. As they say, "truth is stranger than fishin'". In this case, Cash was involved with the script right up until the time of his death so at least he had some say in it. Though it was lacking in spots, overall I enjoyed the movie. Hopefully they will make another one that picks up where Walk the Line left off. By the same token, even though it was a documentary, I'd love to see Scorsese tackle the rest of the Bob Dylan story in a follow up to No Direction Home.

I'm no fan of punk rock or the Sex Pistols but there's no denying they were one of the most influential bands of all time.

While this may be "old news" to some it's the first I've heard of it. Not to mention, it's the documentary that is "news" anyway, not the sightings.

When I saw Kiss on the Rock n' Roll Over Tour in '79 there were lots of folks in Kiss makeup. Someone not far from me was dressed as Gene Simmons. Unfortunately when he tried to breathe fire his face went up in flames. Thankfully someone put him out but you know that had to hurt.

They did that Rock Star show on TV which is just about as bad, if not worse.

From over 130,000ft, the ultimate parachute jumper will break the sound barrier while on his way down Caroline Davies For twenty years Michel Fournier has worked towards a dream that is literally out of this world. It is to fly to the very edge of the Earth's atmosphere, experience the weightlessness and deep blackness of space, gaze down upon the Earth - and then jump. Now the 64-year-old retired French army officer is set to fulfil it. Today, if the weather is favourable, he will attempt Le Grand Saut - The Great Leap - from almost 25 miles high up over the great plains of Saskatchewan in Canada. His plan is to climb into the pressurised gondola of a 650ft balloon, which resembles a giant jellyfish, and make a two-hour journey up to 130,000ft. Then he will step out of the capsule and, wearing only a special spacesuit, helmet and parachute, plunge back down. It will take 15 minutes, during which he will break through the sound barrier. To read the remainder of the article click here.

Henley isn't the only one. Depending on how it's done I have no problem with it but in Ted's case I believe his music and his life show suffer because of it. There's a delicate balance there that Ted has yet to achieve. He's always been a handful but I preferred his music before he became the Rush Limbaugh of rock.

Ted back in the day was a different animal than he is now. Yeah, he's always been the Motor City Madmouth but his concerts back then wouldn't be confused with the pro-war rallies they are today. I have no problem with mixing politics and music but somewhere along the line Ted's political side took precedence over the music. I understand his latest record (Love Grenade) garnered some good reviews but a few years ago when I saw him live his new music stood out like a sore thumb compared to his vintage material.

BY ANGELA DOLAND, Associated Press Writer CANNES, France - Most documentaries stick with interviews of living people. But since this one's about New York's Chelsea Hotel and its rock 'n' roll aura, it seems natural that the ghosts of Janis Joplin and Sid Vicious turn up. For "Chelsea on the Rocks," which premiered Friday at the Cannes Film Festival, director Abel Ferrara ("Bad Lieutenant") strung together archival footage and interviews of the artists, writers and actors who have lived there, in typical documentary fashion. He also hired actors to play Joplin and Vicious for trippy flashbacks. To read the remainder of the article click here.

BY BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES - Dick Martin, the zany half of the comedy team whose "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" took television by storm in the 1960s, making stars of Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin and creating such national catch-phrases as "Sock it to me!" has died. He was 86. Martin, who went on to become one of television's busiest directors after splitting with Dan Rowan in the late 1970s, died Saturday night of respiratory complications at a hospital in Santa Monica, family spokesman Barry Greenberg said. To read the rest of the obituary click here.

Nate Carlisle and Lindsay Whitehurst Folk singer and activist Bruce "Utah" Phillips, whose songs included tales of the state's working class and tragedies, died Friday of congestive heart failure. Phillips, 73, died in Nevada City, Calif., where he resided. While not among the biggest names in folk music, Phillips described himself as the "Golden Voice of the Great Southwest" and was an influence for artists such as Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez and Tom Waits, who have recorded his songs. An album Phillips recorded with Ani DiFranco received a Grammy nomination. "Many artists extract from working and poor people for authenticity," friend and environmental writer Jordan Fisher Smith said. "He also gave it back ... he extracted the meaning and gave it back to the people experiencing it." Phillips songs included "John D. Lee," a recounting of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Another song, "Scofield Mine Disaster" recalled the 1900 central Utah coal mine explosion that killed 200 people. "A miner's life is hard I know," Phillips wrote and sang. "His world is dark and far below/While he starves and goes in rags/He's cheaper than the coal he digs." Phillips son, Duncan Phillips, who lives in Salt Lake City, said his father was enthralled with Utah's working class, particularly Mormons and their folklore. You can read the rest of the obituary here.

I'll be seeing them (as well as The National) doing the opening honors for R.E.M. in Raleigh and Atlanta in a few short weeks.

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. -- A middle school student has been arrested and charged with biting or grabbing the buttocks of at least 10 women at a Lovejoy Wal-Mart. Clayton County authorities interviewed the 15-year-old suspect after an alleged victim saw him with relatives and confronted him. He has been charged with four counts of sexual battery and more charges are expected. Officials said they first received complaints of rear-end assaults in August. They received more complaints through May. Clayton County police said there could be more victims who have failed to report the assaults.

From Lynyrdskynyrd.com LYNYRD SKYNYRD’S BILLY POWELL UNDERGOES EMERGENCY SURGERY Nashville, TN – Billy Powell, one of the original members and keyboard player for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Lynyrd Skynyrd, has underwent an emergency partial revision hip replacement surgery in Jacksonville, Florida on Wednesday, May 21. “Billy's hip had continued to give him dislocation problems and it was determined that a revision was the only possible solution,” says Lynyrd Skynyrd manager Ross Schilling of Vector Management. Billy will be recovering over the next 3-6 weeks and will have to wear a hip brace for the next 3 months. It is expected that Billy will re-join Lynyrd Skynyrd on tour sometime in July. The band will tour with an interim keyboardist in the mean time, while Billy recovers.

Either way, they found their latest Perry clone through YouTube. Maybe I was thinking of another band that's held auditions via YouTube.

Most definitely but like Swede points out he's also referred to as a blues (or in this case a country blues) artist. This special aired on PBS years ago and is well worth seeking out: Vision Shared - A Tribute To Woody Guthrie And Leadbelly DVD Vision Shared - A Tribute To Woody Guthrie And Leadbelly Soundtrack

All I know is they found their newest lead singer (yet another Perry soundalike) by holding auditions on YouTube.