LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joni Mitchell’s friend is now in charge of her medical decisions and Mitchell may be released from a hospital soon. Attorney Alan Watenmaker told a judge in Los Angeles yesterday that Mitchell’s longtime friend, Leslie Morris, needed emergency conservator powers because of Mitchell’s possible release. Mitchell has no family members who can care for her. An attorney appointed to represent Mitchell’s interests agreed that Mitchell should be placed under a temporary conservatorship. Morris does not have control of Mitchell’s finances. Mitchell has been in a hospital since March 31 for undisclosed reasons.
B.B. King Continues with Hospice
LAS VEGAS (AP) — B.B. King is still at home in Las Vegas and still in hospice care. King’s longtime business manager, Laverne Toney, says King is resting. King is 89 and had been hospitalized last week.
Survivor’s Jim Peterik Discusses his Songwriting Successes
BROOKFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Jim Peterik (PEE’-ter-ihk) of Survivor fame jokes that his second-biggest franchise is .38 Special. Peterik co-wrote the .38 Special hits “Rockin’ Into The Night,” ”Hold On Loosely,” ”Caught Up In You” and “Wild-Eyed Southern Boys.” Peterik also co-wrote “Heavy Metal” with Sammy Hagar. The one song he still has trouble convincing people he wrote is “Vehicle,” the hit for his other band, The Ides of March, because a lot of people think it’s a Blood, Sweat and Tears song. Peterik says he found an ally in former “American Idol” finalist Bo Bice, who had a hit with that song while on the show. Bice is now the singer for Blood, Sweat and Tears and sings that song in concert. Peterik says Bice always gives credit to The Ides of March.
Bono Has Slow Recovery
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Bono will start the U2 tour without the full use of his hands. Bono was in a bike accident in November that fractured his eye socket, shoulder, elbow and left hand. The New York Times quotes Bono as saying while his shoulder and face are better, he feels like he has someone else’s hand. He can’t bend two of his fingers, and he has numbness in his forearm. He says he can’t play guitar but he adds with a grin his bandmates “don’t seem to mind.” The tour starts in Vancouver on May 14.
Mick Jagger Gets Into “Empire”
NEW YORK (AP) — Mick Jagger is a big fan of “Empire.” Jagger says it’s great that a TV show about music can be successful. He met series creator Lee Daniels in February and they hung out. Given that the show is big on cameos by real musicians, might Jagger have a role on the show? Jagger says thinks Daniels would have asked him already, but “stranger things have happened. ” Jagger is working on his own TV show, a series about the 1970s music scene in New York that will run on HBO. He says shooting begins in May. Then there’s the Rolling Stones. They will open their Zip Code tour in May in San Diego.
Miley Cyrus Will Induct Joan Jett Into Rock Hall
CLEVELAND (AP) — Joan Jett will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by another wild woman: Miley Cyrus. The Rock Hall has announced more presenters and performers for the induction ceremony on April 18. Zac Brown and Tom Morello will perform in tribute to the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. John Mayer and Gary Clark Junior will perform for Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Beck, Karen O of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Nate Ruess (ROOS) of fun. perform for Lou Reed. John Legend will perform for Bill Withers
B.B. King Out of Hospital
LAS VEGAS (AP) — B.B. King says he’s feeling better and was released from the hospital yesterday. He had been hospitalized in Los Angeles over the weekend. His daughter, Claudette, tells The Los Angeles Times her father, who is 89, was dehydrated as a result of his diabetes. King was forced to cancel his tour last fall after falling ill in Chicago.
Don McLean’s “American Pie” Manuscript is Sold
NEW YORK (AP) — Don McLean’s original manuscript and notes for the song “American Pie” have sold at auction for $1.2 million. Christie’s auction house in New York did not reveal the name of the buyer. The 16 pages included the original working manuscript and typed drafts for the song. “American Pie” was a number-one hit in 1972.
Brian Wilson Releases “No Pier Pressure”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brian Wilson didn’t need to meet his guest musicians before creating songs for them. He just flipped on the radio. Kacey Musgraves, fun.’s Nate Ruess (ROOS), Zooey Deschanel (ZOH’-ee day-shah-NEL’) and M. Ward, and Capital Cities’ Sebu Simonian (SEB’-oo sih-MOH’-nee-ihn) are among the artists who perform on Wilson’s “No Pier Pressure” album. Wilson says he heard their voices on the radio and wrote songs accordingly. Wilson calls the album “a labor of love” and says he wanted a sound that was both modern and reminiscent of the 1960s. “No Pier Pressure” is out today.
Joni Mitchell Improvng
UNDATED (AP) — Joni Mitchell is still hospitalized but getting better. Mitchell’s website reports she remains under observation in a hospital and she continues to improve every day. Mitchell was found unconscious in her home on Tuesday.
