Eric R. Danton | Sound Check

Scorsese shines a light on the Rolling Stones

It would have been easy for Martin Scorsese to have avoided the cat-and-mouse subterfuge over the set list that opens "Shine a Light," his new Rolling Stones concert film.

Scorsese spends the first few minutes of the movie obsessing over the set, which the band clues him in on about 10 seconds before the lights go up. All that Sturm und Drang was for naught, however: The Stones' list is always written, in what looks like chalk, on the amplifier stacks on either side of Charlie Watts' drum kit (or, in stadium settings, on the plexiglass barrier next to his drums). All Scorsese had to do was train one of his high-powered movie cameras on it and he would have known what song the band was opening with ("Jumpin' Jack Flash"), what it was closing with ("Satisfaction"), and everything in between.

Aside from that bit of manufactured spontaneity however, "Shine a Light" is a riveting close-up, nitty gritty look at the one of the greatest bands ever formed. The movie captures the Stones' two-night stand a few years ago at the Beacon Theatre in New York. It's an intimate place anyway, especially compared to, say, Rentschler Field, but Scorsese gets you so close to the band you'll have chills.

Billy Joel adds 10th Mohegan show

Here it is, Billy Joel fans: The Piano Man has added a 10th (and final) show to his run at Mohegan Sun. This one happens July 5; tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $98.50 and $49.50.

Not only is Joel's string of shows a Connecticut record, it is said to set a new New England record for the most consecutive sold-out indoor shows (assuming the 10th show sells out, and why wouldn't it?). The band Boston held the previous mark with nine straight sold-out shows at the Worcester Centrum in 1987.

Literally everyone but Slash saw Zeppelin

Turns out Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash missed Led Zeppelin's reunion gig in London last December.

In this piece reported by NME.com, Slash says rumors that Velvet Revolver would open for Zeppelin on a tour were "taken out of context" (eh?). He also laments that Velvet Revolver was touring in Australia at the time of Zeppelin's London show.

"I heard like literally everyone was there except me," Slash says.

Literally everyone? I literally don't think that's possible.

In other Velvet Revolver news, Slash says here the band will carry on even if singer Scott Weiland bails. Weiland and drummer Matt Sorum apparently had a falling out after a recent show in Scotland.

Van Halen reschedules

Lingering health problems forced Eddie Van Halen to cancel 17 shows on his band's spring tour, but true to his word, Van Halen has rescheduled them all, including a Mohegan Sun date now slated for May 20.

Tickets for the previously scheduled show will be honored. If the new date doesn't fit your schedule, refunds are also available at point of purchase.

Van Halen cancels 17 performances

The future of Van Halen's reunion tour looks questionable after the band today cancelled 17 shows through April 15, including a performance planned for March 26 at Mohegan Sun, so guitarist Eddie Van Halen can undergo medical tests for an unspecified ailment.

Eddie is "under doctor's care," a publicist says, though fans should hang onto their tickets as Van Halen plans to reschedule the missed dates. Any shows the band is unable to fit in will result in refunds at point of purchase.

Billy Joel adds 8th Mohegan show

As expected, tickets for Billy Joel's seventh Mohegan Sun concert sold out in mere nanoseconds this morning, prompting the addition of an eighth show June 28. Tickets are (or were) on sale for $98.50 and $49.50.

Mohegan Sun officials tout their string of sold-out dates as a record for the "most indoor consecutive sold-out shows in Connecticut," though "consecutive" would seem to be a term of art here: Joel's eight shows are spread out over more than a month. Either way, it's impressive.

Clapton returns to Mohegan

Guitar legend Eric Clapton returns to Mohegan Sun June 2, with opening act Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Clapton last played Mohegan Sun Arena in October 2006. Tickets for his upcoming show go on sale March 15 at 10 a.m. for $195, $175 and $125.

Billy Joel adds seventh Mohegan show

Surprise, surprise: After selling out six concerts at Mohegan Sun in roughly 37 total seconds, Billy Joel has added a seventh show June 26.

At this rate, Joel will set a record for most performances by one artist at Mohegan Sun Arena with his schedule there this summer alone.

Tickets for the seventh show go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $98.50 and $49.50. They will probably all be gone by 10:02 a.m., so don't dawdle.

Billy Joel adds sixth Mohegan show

After selling out his fifth show at Mohegan Sun in 3 minutes this morning, Billy Joel has added a sixth performance June 15. Tickets are available now (but probably not for long) for $98.50 and $49.50.

Clapton invited to North Korea

After hosting the New York Philharmonic this week, North Korean officials are apparently keen to taste a different side of Western musical culture: They've invited Eric Clapton to perform in Pyongyang, The Associated Press reports.

It's the first such invitation the secretive, desperately poor nation has extended to a Western rock star. Clapton is said to have agreed in principle to play North Korea in 2009 (update, 2/27/08: A spokesperson for Clapton denies this). Given dictator Kim Jong-Il's proclivity for kidnapping auteurs whose work he admires, one hopes Dear Leader hasn't taken up guitar ...