Arch MUSIC NEWS for 1/9/13

Arch MUSIC NEWS is compiled by Jay Philpott -

U2’s The Edge is bringing his Music Rising initiative up north to help music programs hit by Hurricane Sandy last fall. He co-founded the campaign back in 2005 to help replace musical instruments lost or destroyed by hurricanes along the Gulf coast, but now Music Rising is expanding nationwide. On Tuesday, the Edge announced the new National Relief Fund, and Music Rising got things started with a 250-thousand-dollar donation. The money is slated to go toward rebuilding school music programs in the tri-state area that were affected by Sandy. More information about the new fund can be found at MusicRising.org.

Rush is showing some support for one of their fictional fellow countrymen.  Geddy Lee is one of many Canadian stars slated to make an appearance on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” in an episode marking the return of Robin Sparkles — the former teen pop star persona of actress Colbie Smulders’ character, Robin. CBS hasn’t revealed any details about the episode, but a promotional video simply lists a variety of celebrities who are on board for the show. Paul Shaffer, Alan Thicke, Jason Priestley, and Alex Trebek are also among those slated for cameos. The star-packed episode of “How I Met Your Mother” is scheduled to air on CBS on February 4th.

David Bowie decided to switch things up this year and give a birthday present rather than receive one. He turned 66 yesterday, and surprised fans with a brand new single and the promise of his first new album in ten years. The track, titled “Where Are We Now?,” is currently available on iTunes, where it shot straight to number one in Bowie’s native U.K. As for the album, dubbed “The Next Day,” fans can pre-order it now ahead of its scheduled March 12th release date. The record will be Bowie’s first since “Reality” hit stores in 2003. His time away from live performances hasn’t been quite as long — he last took the stage in 2006 — but representatives say he has no plans to tour or do any press as of yet.

The man behind the quintessential ’70s hit “Chevy Van” his died. “The Charlotte Observer” says songwriter Sammy Johns passed away at the age of 66 at Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, North Carolina on Friday. His only success as a performer came with “Chevy Van.” The single, which “Rolling Stone” dubbed “The Song of the Seventies,” peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Several other artists, including country stars Waylon Jennings, Sammy Kershaw, and Eric Church, have covered the song over the years.

Apparently Rihanna actually does read the comments that fans post on her Instagram. Reports are coming out of the “Diamonds” singer cursing at a fan who made a comment that may have crossed the line. The photo in question was of the star smoking what appeared to be a joint and was posted two weeks ago. The caption read “Friday night getting a lil fuzzy.” One Instagram user reportedly later posted a comment on the photo saying that Rihanna is “going to end up like Whitney Houston if she keeps doings drugs.” Rihanna supposedly didn’t take the comparison well, mocking the user with foul language for implying that it was possible to overdose on a joint. Her angry response was later deleted, but the screen shots were captured by other users.