Rock Daypop Archives

Legendary guitarist Dickey Betts canceled a series of three shows that were expected to begin on Tuesday in Syracuse. Betts cited “health concerns” as the cause for cancellation of the Syracuse date and stops that were scheduled for the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut on August 30 and at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire on August 31. The founding Allman Brothers Band guitarist’s website explains that Dickey recently experienced what doctors called a “mild stroke.” Betts spoke with his doctors on Friday about certain symptoms he has been feeling in the wake of the stroke and he was advised to rest. The note mentions Betts’ doctors feel he will be 100 percent recovered after three to five weeks. Betts is hoping to reschedule his dates in Wallingford and Hampton Beach, and hopes to return to the road on November 1 in Augusta, Georgia.

According to a social media post on Saturday, August 25, Kyle Pavone — the singer for rock band We Came as Romans — has died, . He was 28. “Today music lost another great with the passing of Kyle Pavone of We Came as Romans,” the band captioned a photo of the singer. “Kyle’™s tragic loss came too early in his life and those of his bandmates. All are devastated by his passing. We will miss his smiles, his sincerity, his concern for others, and his impressive musical talent.” Pavone’s cause of death has not yet been revealed. In lieu of flowers, We Came as Romans will be providing information about charity donations in the coming week.

Founding member of The Kinks, Dave Davies, has announced the upcoming release of Decade, a new collection of unreleased songs recorded in the 1970’s. Davies has also shared the lead track from the record, “Cradle To The Grave,” which was recorded in 1973. Decade contains unreleased works spanning 1971 to 1979. Davies writes, “I am so pleased that after all this time these tracks are being released to see the light of day. These songs have been silently nagging at me to be recognised all these years. At last I can proudly present this album Decade to the world. I do hope you all enjoy the music.” Decade will be released on October 12th and is currently available for pre-order. Davies will also be on tour in early 2019.  

Ed King, a former member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died at age 68. His family confirmed the guitarist’s passing on Thursday (Aug. 23), writing in a Facebook post, “It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. We thank his many friend and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.” The cause of King’s death was not announced at press time. King joined Skynyrd in 1972, replacing bassist Leon Wilkeson and played on the group’s first three albums. King also co-wrote the band’s iconic hit ‘Sweet Home Alabama.” He moved over to guitar when Wilkeson re-joined the band and then took his first leave in 1976, replaced by Steve Gaines. King was forced to leave the band in 1996 due to complications from congestive heart failure, for which he underwent a successful heart transplant in 2011. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other pre-plane crash members in 2011.

Sammy Hagar makes an appearance in Fontana Police Department’s lip-sync video. The four-minute clip shows scenes of officers going after speeders and also of them rocking out to Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55” song. Hagar — a Fontana native — agreed to be part of the lip-sync challenge after Officer Tim Frydendall reached out to the rocker for use of his 1984 song. “A Sammy Hagar song is a natural fit for Fontana, but I didn’t think we would ever end up with an appearance from Sammy Hagar,” Frydendall said. The video, which was filmed and edited by the Southern California video-production company Attain Media, features more than a dozen officers and staffers participating in the lip-sync challenge.