Billy's News: Dec 2000

Latest News: Rhino Records has acquired the rights to Slash records catalog 
for reissues. Everyone hopes this could lead to the reissuing of the 
Blasters' albums. Unfortunately, some sources say that the Blasters' rights 
are possibly held by another company and complicated legal actions would be 
needed to free them. The Knitters' CD was reissued in October and more Slash 
issues will follow in 2001. - The Blasters are scheduled to record some live 
material performed at the Musicians institute in Los Angeles in late 
November. The Blasters haven't commented on whether or not the recordings 
will see a release. --WYEP-FM in Pittsburgh has a two-disc live on-air CD set 
with two Dave Alvin songs, and it's only $20 plus shipping by mail order. 
www.wyep.org  --  September. Dave played on Bierson L.A.'s new album 
sessions. The thrill of it was that Dave played rhythm while surf guitar 
legend Dick Dale played lead on three songs. -- September. Dave sang lead 
vocals on Los Straightjackets' new album. The album will have various 
vocalists. Dave sang CALIFORNIA SUN and I THOUGHT IT OVER.  -- Dave had a 
great time playing at the Muddy Waters tribute at the Rock & Roll Hall of 
Fame. He played NEW HIGHWAY, DON'T LET YOUR DEAL GO DOWN, TWO TRAINS RUNNING, 
and CLOSE TO YOU. Charlie Musselwhite played in Dave's set; then Dave was 
invited to play with Vernon Reid in his set. -- WMNF radio of Tampa Florida 
has released a compilation of artists including Dave and the Guilty Men, 
Richard Thompson, Iris Dement, and Robert Earl Keen. Dave does a great 
version of $30 Room. - Sometime in 2001 Virgin records will issue a 
compilation called Interstate 10 Chronicles Vol. 2 for which Dave recorded a 
Merle Haggard song called LONESOME FUGITIVE. --  The Blasters plan for a new 
album may include a song that will feature all of the guitar players from 
Blaster history. Unofficially, all the guitar players have showed interest in 
participating. Hollywood Fats (deceased) will be represented with a sample 
from an old recording. -- Dave and the Guilty Men will play a festival in 
Holland in March with Gaffney and Robbie Fulks. They will follow with ten 
days in Italy and other possible European dates. - Dale Hawkins has a new 
album issued in Finland called Fool's Paradise. He covers the Blasters' song 
complete with the original Blasters arrangement with saxophones and that Bill 
Bateman beat. Legendary guitar player James Burton plays on the disc. --   
Dave Alvin is featured in the December issue of Guitar Player magazine. The 
article features a great color picture of Dave. The title: 'Dave Alvin - A 
"blues guy with country influences" transforms early American folk songs' --  
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men have contributed one track, MOBILE BLUE  to 
Frisco Mabel Joy Revisited: To Mickey Newbury. The album was released in 
Germany on Glitterhouse Records. On October 10, 2000 Appleseed Records 
released it here. Visit the web site for secure on line ordering.  
www.appleseedrec.com/mickeynewbury  -- October 3, 2000   Dave recorded a duet 
with Peter Case on MONDAY MORNING BLUES for a Mississippi John Hurt tribute 
album. - Dave Alvin has been contracted to do music for a PBS Documentary 
based on the history of a small town near San Diego and the border. The story 
centers around a racially motivated killing of a Mexican by some kids. Sound 
recording will begin in December and January. -- WWW.DAVEALVIN.COM Dave says, 
"Stop by the web site and check out the new pictures I've added. You'll see 
me and Phil as teenagers. Phil looks like he's 33, he aged young. I look like 
I haven't even had my first pimple yet (laughs)." - Dave Alvin will be taking 
a lot of time off in December and January to relax and write some new songs. 
- Kelly Joe Phelps will spend November and December writing and recording his 
new album scheduled for a 2001 release.  - Keith Wyatt has been writing an 
informative series of profiles for Guitar World magazine. Most recent have 
been on Scotty Moore, James Burton, Chet Atkins, and Lonnie Mack. Warner Bros 
has released a book/CD version of Keith's instructional video: Jump Jive and 
Swing. Keith has working on a new guitar instructional web site called 
truefire.com. It will have down-loadable lessons. - When not touring with 
Dave Alvin, Joe Terry and Bobby Lloyd Hicks have been keeping busy. Both of 
them and the rest of the Skeletons backed up Dallas Wayne on his very fine 
HighTone album Big Thinkin. The Morells have anew album in the works and will 
be touring this winter. Joe Terry just finished a three-day session for the 
new Robbie Fulks album.