Rock News: Music's high and low notes

NUGENT CATCHES FOOT WITH MOUTH

Superpatroit Ted Nugent has gone too far, Colorado DJs and music fans are complaining, with his latest diatribe, according to an article in the Rocky Mountain News. The outspoken hunter and National Rifle Association advocate used racial slurs to describe Asians and blacks Monday on a Colorado radio talk show. Nugent made his remarks on the "Lewis & Floorwax" morning show on 103.5-FM. Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax immediately challenged his statements on the air.

"I don't think he's a racist, but he'll come on the show occasionally and drop a bomb like that and then step back to see the reaction it gets," Lewis told the Rocky Mountain News. "He loves that reputation of a shoot-from-the-hip kind of guy."

JOEY RAMONE B'DAY BASH

The Third Annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash has been scheduled for Friday, May 16, and will feature headline performances by The Misfits, Rocket From The Crypt, and a collection of some of the best up and coming rock bands. MTV's Matt Pinfield will serve as the evening's host. Continuing the tradition of celebrating the life of the late, great rock icon Joey Ramone, his mother Charlotte Lesher and brother Mickey Leigh are once again presenting "Life's A Gas -- Joey Ramone's Birthday Bash." Two years after his untimely death from lymphoma and in recognition of what would have been his 52nd birthday, friends, fans and family of Ramone will honor his memory with a special birthday tribute at Webster Hall, transformed for the occasion into "The Ritz" in recollection of the venue's original name when Ramone performed on its stage throughout his years with The Ramones and as a solo artist hosting his regular concert presentations.

"It's going to be a special night, with all the great artists performing, and the atmosphere created out of love and admiration for Joey," Leigh said. "The spirit of Joey Ramone lives on and on."

BOSS JOINS SOOZIE

The tables were turned at the legendary Stone Pony nightclub in Asbury Park, N.J., last Friday night. Soozie Tyrell -- who has been keeping busy of late playing violin with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band on "The Rising" world tour -- took center stage for a show celebrating the release of her debut album "White Lines" (Treasure Records/Valley Entertainment). It was Springsteen and his wife, E Street Band member Patti Scialfa, who supported Tyrell this time out. They jumped onstage for two songs -- Tyrell's own "Ste. Genevieve" and an encore performance of the Bobby Womack tune "It's All Over Now," which featured a rocking guitar solo by Springsteen. Tyrell first recorded with Springsteen on 1992's "Lucky Town," and has contributed to all of his subsequent studio albums. Her history with Scialfa stretches back even further -- the two were bandmates in an early '80s New York City rock group Trickster. Friday marked the first time Springsteen and Scialfa supported their long-time friend for one of her own headlining shows. They both contributed to the recording of "White Lines" in 2002 as well. Springsteen, Scialfa and Tyrell are now off to Europe where Bruce's tour picked up with a concert in Rotterdam on Tuesday.

RESPONSE, RELEASE, REACTION

Jazzfest is over but Radiators bassist Reggie Scanlan's photography show, "Response, Release, Reaction" will continue to be displayed at the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery in New Orleans through May 15. As a founding member of the Radiators, Reggie Scanlan has traveled for more than 20 years with his fellow bandmates, sharing his musical talents throughout the world. Besides his history with one of New Orleans' most famous rock bands of the last quarter century, Scanlan has played with such musical legends as Professor Longhair, Earl King, James Booker and Eddie Bo. As a photographer, Scanlan has been actively recording his travels here and abroad since 1984. His exhibition concentrates on the poignancy and poetry of lives present and past. Photographs of graveyards, religious statuary and iconography dominate.

RACHEL ROCKS

New York-based singer-songwriter Rachael Sage will perform in New York City at The Cutting Room May 28, an event sponsored by Women Who Rock Magazine. Sage will continue to tour this summer while working on the follow-up to last year's "Illusion's Carnival." The new CD, "Public Record," is due out Aug. 5 on her own independent label, MPress Records. Sage's sound is dark, strong and sensual folk-noir that fuses components of classical music with contemporary folk and rock influences. "Public Record" will be the fifth release for Sage, who has won several songwriting awards, including Grand Prize at the 2001 John Lennon Songwriting Contest and First Place at the 2001 Great American Song Contest. Sage collaborated with musicians Jack Petruzelli, electric guitar (Joan Osborne), Doug Yowell, drums (Suzanne Vega, Duncan Sheik), and Stephanie Winters, cello (Paula Cole, Dar Williams) who also perform on 2002's "Illusions Carnival."