MASSIVE Music News Roundup: 10/19

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BILLY JOEL has signed a $2.25 million contract with publisher HarperCollins to write his autobiography.  He’s already been working on the book for over a year, so the wait might not be that long, although no release date has been announced.

Here’s the perfect gift for the LedHead in your life:  “LED ZEPPELIN: Shadows Taller Than Our Souls” is a new book on the band written by Charles R. Cross.  Each of the nine chapters is named after a different LZ album, and the book features removable reproductions of ticket stubs, setlists, posters, magazine covers and backstage passes.

Police drummer STEWART COPELAND has written the story of his time with The Police – it’s called “Strange Things That Happen:  A Life with The Police, Polo and Pygmies.

“The Big Man”, CLARENCE CLEMONS, who has played saxophone in Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street band since it was formed, will be releasing his life story.  “Big Man: real Life and Tall Tales” will be released Tueday (October 21^st) and includes a forward by “The Boss” himself.

BEYONCE may have another little brother or sister on the way.  TMZ.com reports that a paternity suit has been filed against her father Matthew Knowles by Alexsandra Wright, a Los Angeles marketing executive.  Knowles has been married to his wife Tina since 1980.

OZZY OSBOURNE’s autobiography “I Am Ozzy” has been released in the UK, but a US release is not yet set.

U2 has already decided on the name of their next album – it will be called “Songs of Ascent’.

Former Talking Heads frontman DAVID BYRNE has been collaborating dance music mixer FATBOY SLIM on a concept album and musical based on the life of Imelda Marcos, former first Lady of the Phillippines.

AEROSMITH  guitarist JOE PERRY  has released his fifth solo album – it’s called “Have Guitar Will Travel”.

SEAN LENNON, son of the late former Beatle John Lennon, will soon have his name on the credits of a new motion picture.  Lennon is the composer for the film “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead”, which stars Jake Hoffman and Ralph Macchio.

ROD STEWART will be releasing his latest collection of cover songs, this time recording some of his favorite songs from 60’s and 70’s soul singers.  “Soulbook” will be released on October 27^th.

“Backtracks” is the name of the new AC/DC retrospective set that covers their amazing 36 year career with studio and live recordings and never-before-seen concert and studio footage.  It comes in two versions – the standard set is two CD’s and a DVD, and the Deluxe version is 3CD’s and 2 DVD’s.  It comes out November 10^th.

The BEE GEES may very well be the first contemporary music act to release a 50^th Anniversary package.  “The Ultimate Bee Gees” is a double CD/DVD set that will trace their career, and is set for release on November 3^rd.  A second commemorative release will occur in March of next year when they release “Mythology: The 50^th Anniversary Collection”, which will feature 4 CD’s, each featuring a different brother, including Andy Gibb, who was not part of the original group.