Arch MUSIC NEWS for 8/10/12

A number of very familiar music stars could be taking part in this weekend’s Closing Ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The Who is among the stars that have been previously mentioned for the event.  Singer Roger Daltrey has told reporters the group has recorded a new song that will make a “fabulous ending for the Olympics.” George Michael also recently tweeted that he’s been rehearsing for the gala, which would mark his return to the stage following a near-fatal bout of pneumonia last fall. Former Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Madness are some of the other stars rumored to be involved.  There’s speculation Paul McCartney will be reprising his Opening Ceremony role to help bring the Games to an end. Meanwhile, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, and Queen are other big names that have cropped up as possible surprises for the event. Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran recently said he’d be performing at the event with members of Pink Floyd, but reps for the group have denied the band’s participation. The Olympics wrap up in London this weekend. The Closing Ceremony will take place in London, and air on NBC on Sunday.

Madonna‘s support for a jailed Russian punk band isn’t endearing herself to officials in that country. ABC News says Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dimitry Rogozin lashed out against the pop superstar via Twitter on Thursday, referring to her as a former prostitute in a tweet that said she “seeks to lecture everyone on morality as she gets older. Especially during tours and gigs abroad.” He added that she should “either take off your cross, or put on your knickers.”

Rick Springfield is pleading no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge. The 62-year-old singer-actor was not in court when the plea was entered on his behalf at the Airport Branch Courthouse in Los Angeles Thursday. The charge stems from Springfield’s traffic stop arrest in Malibu last year. He was sentenced to three years probation and a three-month alcohol program. Two misdemeanor charges were also dismissed.

Legendary performer Neil Diamond will be honored with the two-thousandth-475th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez says Diamond’s star will be placed in front of the Capitol Records Building on Vine Street.  Fellow Walk of Famer Randy Newman is slated to speak on behalf of the Grammy Award winner during the 11:30 a.m. ceremony.

Thousands of Elvis Presley fans will be flocking to Memphis this weekend for the start of Elvis Week 2012, marking the 35th anniversary of his death. The nine days of activities begin Friday with several events, including an Elvis bobblehead giveaway at the Memphis Redbirds minor league baseball game and Round One of the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. Conferences, concerts, fan club meetings, autograph sessions, charity events, movie screenings, and other Elvis-related activities are scheduled throughout the week. Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley, Jose Feliciano, Wanda Jackson, Dickey Lee, the Oak Ridge Boys’ RIchard Sterban, and Presley’s different backing bands are among the special guests slated to participate in various events.

Journey‘s producer says the band’s label owes him a significant amount of royalties. CourthouseNews.com says Roy Thomas Baker has filed a lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment claiming the company likely owes him at least one-million-dollars in back pay for his work on Journey’s albums “Infinity,” “Evolution,” and “Departure.” According to the suit, an audit of Sony’s financial records shows the label under-reported his royalties by more than 475-thousand-dollars. Baker is also accusing the company of refusing to hand over other material that could prove he’s due at least another 500-thousand-dollars. The suit further claims Sony has admitted to some of the stated allegations. Baker is seeking a judgement of one-million-dollars plus 50-percent of the net earnings from the leasing of all his Journey songs.  Baker produced 21 songs for Journey, including “Lights,” “Wheel in the Sky,” and “Anytime.” A number of the tracks he recorded with the band also appear on several Journey best-of sets including 1988′s “Greatest Hits,” an international best-seller which has logged sales of more than 16-million in the U.S. Baker has also worked with a number of other artists, including Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Foreigner, Guns N’ Roses, and Queen.