The White House celebrated blues music in the East Room with another in its In Performance series, this one called Red, White and Blues. Among those performing for the President, First Lady and invited guests were Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks and his wife Susan Tedeschi, Warren Haynes, Keb Mo, Booker T. Jones and others. The two-hour show featured a cross-section of blues including B.B. King and "The Thrill Is Gone," Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy doing Willie Dixon's "Let Me Love You Baby," Mick Jagger dancing it up like he was on stage in a stadium doing Otis Redding's "I Can't Turn You Loose," Jagger with Beck on Howlin' Wolf's "Commit a Crime," and the all-star finale of "Sweet Home Chicago," which, at the urging of Buddy Guy, featured President Obama joining in at the end. Buddy told the president, "I heard you singing Al Green [a couple of weeks ago]. You started something you got to keep it up now." The show can be seen on PBS starting Monday night at 9 p.m. ET. 

In celebration of the Blues and Black History Month Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy will perform at the White House Tuesday night. It will be streamed via the White House by clicking HERE

....and more on the story by clicking HERE

The first show of Van Halen's 2012 tour in Louisville. A sold-out crowd with both old and new songs from VH. The band was top notch. Eddie Van Halen proves to be the best of the best in guitar players. David Lee Roth had some bumps in the rock road with some slip up on lyrics. I like to remember that nobody is perfect. I think DLR is flashy in his delivery but that is what I would expect. Everyone has their own opinion. My opinion is this: Van Halen is one of the best rock bands in studio and out. They come to the road loaded with a heavy artillery of amazing songs. I saw smiles on faces of fans during these songs, jaws dropping (including mine) when Eddie Van Halen effortlessly made his guitar sing as if it had vocal chords. The Van Halen family of Eddie, Alex and young Wolfgang had smiles on their faces too and THAT is what music is all about. Oh and making the beautiful girls happy:) Rock on, Laura Steele.

Stay strong Tony.

TOUR UPDATE: BAND’S SOLE EUROPEAN PERFORMANCE THIS SUMMER SET FOR U.K.’S DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL. OZZY & FRIENDS TO PERFORM MAJORITY OF OTHER SCHEDULED SHOWS

BLACK SABBATH --who late last year confirmed the recording of their first new album in more than 33 years and a worldwide headlining tour--have had to put some plans on hold due to Tony Iommi's battle with lymphoma. At this time, BLACK SABBATH will perform only one show of this summer’s previously scheduled European tour. It will take place Sunday, June 10 at the U.K.’s Download Festival.

So as not to let the promoters and fans down, Ozzy Osbourne will now perform the majority of the previously scheduled BLACK SABBATH dates (both festival performances and the headlining shows) billed as OZZY & FRIENDS. These “first ever” OZZY & FRIENDS shows will feature appearances by “special guest” musicians including Official Geezer Butler(who will join Ozzy for a special BLACK SABBATH set as a show of respect and support to their friend, Tony Iommi) and longtime former OZZY band member Zakk Wylde. In addition, OZZY will be accompanied by longtime collaborator and friend Slash at select shows, with other “special guests” set to join the tour at various stops along the way.

Tony Iommi continues to make excellent progress and is looking forward to getting back out on the road. Meanwhile, BLACK SABBATH continue to write and record music in the U.K. for their upcoming album. More information about these dates and BLACK SABBATH’s recording and touring plans is forthcoming.

I am making my way to Louisville for the opening show and will report back to you AND with photos and VIDEO too!!!! Yippeee.

Van Halen starts their first tour in five years Saturday night when they hit the road in Louisville, Kentucky in support of their new album, A Different Kind of Truth. Unlike the 2007 reunion tour with David Lee Roth, this will be their first tour in support of a new album since 1998 when they went out with Gary Cherone following the release of Van Halen 3. As for what you can expect, it will be a combination of the 17 songs they previewed at three warm-up shows in New York and Los Angeles, plus probably a few more.

Drummer Alex Van Halen tells us that the first month of touring can "sometimes be the greatest gigs because there is that unknown." And Eddie adds that along the way they will "purposely change it to keep it fun" for themselves. The tour is scheduled through June 26th in New Orleans.

If you're going to one of the shows, David Lee Roth says it's "totally okay" for you to take photos or shoot videos. But don't expect to enter the arena with professional gear -- Roth means you can use small cameras or phone cameras. And though the band is okay with this, venue security might not be, so be forewarned