Arch MUSIC NEWS for 8/24/12

Katy Perry and John Mayer have ended their short-lived fling. “People” is reporting that the two singers, who were rumored to be dating in recent months, are no longer together. A source tells the magazine the two were just having fun and that it was made into something more than it was. Perry and Mayer had been seen together in public several times this summer, which led to speculation about their romance.

The Smashing Pumpkins will hit the road in October in support of their latest album, Oceania. The band has already announced the full itinerary for the Canadian leg, which kicks off in Winnipeg on October 2 and runs through October 28 in Montreal. The U.S. leg will begin in Seattle on October 10, but only routed cities have been announced so far AND St. Louis IS one of those stops! Exact dates and venue information will be revealed shortly. The band’s website also explains that the tour “will showcase brand new projection technology featuring stunning video prepared by world renowned visual artist Sean Evans,” who recently worked with Roger Waters on The Wall tour.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Jimmie Vaughan are among the stars expected to take part in weekend events in conjunction with the Republican National Convention. Skynyrd is set to headline a special benefit in Tampa for Citizens Helping Heroes, an organization that assists military members and their families. The show is slated to take place on the outdoor Liberty Plaza stage in downtown Tampa on Sunday. Vaughan is on board to entertain at two events on Sunday for Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul. The blues guitarist is scheduled to be at Tampa’s USF Sun Dome for the “We Are the Future” rally, and then join Blues Traveler frontman John Popper for the “Ron Paul After Party: Liberty Rocks” event at Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg. “The Tampa Bay Times” says the afternoon rally is free but people still need a ticket to enter, and the after-party is also open to the public. However, the approaching Tropical Storm Isaac could force organizers to cancel or make last minute changes to the events.

Sebastian Bach just might put his life story in print. He claims to have a “a very nice offer” for his memoir and adds that he could write “a hell of a book.” He describes his past as “insanely insane,” and claims he could tell tales from his days with Skid Row that would make Motley Crue‘s “The Dirt” “look clean.”

Madonna is holding out an olive branch of sorts to Elton John. She dedicated her song “Masterpiece” to John at a recent performance in Nice, France. The two stars have been sniping at each other lately. John made headlines when he called Madonna a “fairground stripper” in an earlier interview. Madonna’s attempt at reconciliation might have had an edge to it and be more like a backhanded compliment – “Masterpiece” beat out one of John’s songs for a Golden Globe award this year. Madonna picked up the award after John stated that she didn’t have much of a chance of winning the honor.

When The Go-Go’s hit the stage in Lincoln, Rhode Island Friday night, bassist Kathy Valentine won’t be with them. She broke her wrist in an accident at her home in Austin, Texas, last weekend, which required surgery to repair. While the operation was a success, Valentine now needs a few weeks to recovery. Instead of cancelling upcoming shows, the group has tapped bassist Abby Travis to fill in — with Valentine’s blessing.

Aerosmith has unveiled another song from the group’s upcoming album. The track “Lover Alot” is streaming on their website and at Rollingstone.com.
“Lover Alot” is the second song Aerosmith has offered up in advance of the arrival of their new album. The band released the single “Legendary Child” back in May. Aerosmith’s “Music From Another Dimension” will be in stores on November 6th.

 It may be a while until Britney Spears can start making her own decisions again. TMZ is reporting that a “serious medical issue” is the reason why her conservatorship has lasted over four years, and will continue. The celebrity website says it has multiple sources with firsthand knowledge of Spears’ medical documents, which reportedly say the singer has a “disorder affecting her personality.” The sources say the records were marked highly sensitive and that Spears would be subject to “irreparable harm and immediate danger” if the contents of the document were revealed. While Spears is said to be doing “extremely well,” the personal conservatorship will reportedly continue to allow her father Jamie and fiancé Jason Trawick to make life decisions on her behalf. The business conservatorship, involving the management of the singer’s fortune, is still ongoing as well.

Taylor Swift may have forgotten her manners last weekend. On Thursday’s “Today” show, co-host Kathie Lee Gifford confirmed reports that the singer had crashed Kyle Kennedy’s wedding with her new beau Conor Kennedy. Gifford is the stepmother of the bride’s mother, Victoria Gifford Kennedy. Victoria earlier told the “Boston Herald” Swift ignored requests for her to leave the wedding. She told the paper the 22-year-old singer “seemed to look right past” her when she made the request. Gifford said on “Today” that her stepdaughter’s account of what happened was accurate and that Swift and Conor refused to leave after being asked twice.

Alanis Morissette is throwing her hat into the ring for a place at the judges’ table on “American Idol.” The singer tells “Rolling Stone” she’s open to the idea of joining the Fox singing competition, saying she loves being a mentor. With both Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler out of the picture and Randy Jackson’s role still uncertain, several other big names are being thrown around as possible additions. Nicki Minaj has yet to be officially confirmed to join Mariah Carey on the panel for the next season of the show, though reports this week suggested she was close to inking a deal. Names like Nick Jonas and Kanye West have also been mentioned as possible replacements.