C103 Rock Report Thursday March 6, 2008

• Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry has cancelled an April 5th performance at a Casino to undergo knee surgery. Perry has been on tour with Tab the Band, a combo that includes his two sons.

• Scott Weiland’s lawyer issued a plea of not guilty for the STP singer on charges of driving under the influence last November. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 4th.

• The current issue of Rolling Stone magazine features an interview with the Black Crowes, whose first album in seven years came out Tuesday. Though Warpaint is the band’s best, most focused work in years, the tension between brothers and bandleaders Chris and Rich Robinson still runs high. Guitarist Rich Robinson told Rolling Stone, “Outside of music, we probably would never speak to each other. That’s just the way it is.”

• Despite recently joining forces with iTunes, Facebook is reportedly reaching out to the major record labels about possibly starting its own music download service. MySpace is also in talks with the majors to set up a rival service. In further bad news for iTunes, Warner Music Group has struck a deal with 7digital to allow the digital music service to offer DRM-free files.

• According to a source at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Joan Jett will be performing at the ceremony in a tribute to inductees the Dave Clark Five. Jett joins Iggy Pop, Damien Rice, Patti LaBelle, John Mellencamp and others as performers at this Monday’s event. The Dave Clark Five, who will be inducted by fan Tom Hanks, recently suffered the tragic death of singer Mike Smith, who passed away while preparing to come to New York for the show.