The Doors have lost another lead singer. Ian Astbury, who has toured with the remaining remembers of the Doors for the past fours years, has officially parted ways with the group. Astbury made his name as The Cult's lead singer and partnered with keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robby Krieger to form the Doors of the 21st Century.

After a few years of legal issues the group changed its name to Riders On The Storm and recently completed a sold-out 13-date tour of Europe. Now Astbury has decided to focus on The Cult once again and has reformed the group with guitarist Billy Duffy.  "I have decided to move on and focus on my own music and legacy," Astbury says. "I have enjoyed performing and sharing the stage with Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger immensely. I have learned a great deal from the both of them, and it certainly has expanded my abilities as a performer. This has been a difficult decision to make but I feel I would be holding  them back as well as myself if I did not depart at this time. Great love and respect to all the fans. Thank you for everything you have shared with me...."

While there is no word as of press time on his possible replacement, Riders On The Storm manager Tom Vitorino stated that the band will continue to perform and is currently considering a very short list of vocalists.

In other news:  

My Morning Jacket to Play the Prom

Michael Brecker Memorial Held in NYC Tonight

Brothers Past, The Brew and the Gratefully Deadicated Sound System to Appear Late Night at Snoe.down

Winter Jamfest “Voices”

A Shanti Slice of Hot Buttered Rum

The Slip, Spearhead and Ozomatli Join the Beastie Boys, Bjork and the Arcade Fire at Sasquatch!

Another “Onamae Wa” for the Disco Biscuits

Artistic director Philip Glass has once again locked in another unique collection of artists to celebrate the Tibetan New Year. The Tibet House’s 17th Annual Carnegie Hall Benefit will take place on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 7:30PM. A number of Glass’s longtime friends, associates and  Tibet House Benefit alumni will grace the bill once again, including: Laurie Anderson, Deborah Harry, Ray Davies, Lou Reed, Patti Smith and Michael Stipe. Meanwhile, Ben Harper, and Sigur Rós will be newcomers to the event.

The evening not only serves as celebration of the Tibetan New Year but also functions as a charitable endeavor with this year’s proceeds directed to the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey, Farm Aid and the Karin Berg Fund for the Myositis Support Group. In addition to the concert  proper, a buffet dinner party will follow with a number of the artists. Tickets for the music and after-party dinner are available through the Tibet House site,  http://www.tibethouse.org.

Yesterday in a press conference at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, former Vice President Al Gore introduced an ambitious concert event will take place this summer. The goal of “Save Our Selves -- the Campaign for a Climate in Crisis" is to alert the world to the global climate crisis. Gore revealed his plans for “seven concerts on seven continents on July Seventh” which will aim to attract 2 billion viewers, though via television, radio and the Web. 

Live Earth will feature more than 100 musicians who will appear on all of the world’s continents, including Antarctica. The host cities will be Sydney, Australia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Shanghai, China; London, England; Kyoto, Japan and Johannesburg, South Africa. In addition, one of the Live Earth events will take place on U.S. soil but the locale has yet to be determined. 

Pharrell, who appeared at the pres conference along with Gore, actress, Cameron Diaz and the event’s producer, Kevin Wall, will be one of the Live Earth participants. Other confirmed artists include: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Snoop Dogg, Lenny Kravitz, John Mayer, Damien Rice, Ray LaMontagne, Sheryl Crow, Bon Jovi, Paolo Nutini, AFI, Melissa Etheridge, Corrine Bailey Rae, Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, John Legend, Black Eyed Peas, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, Mana, Keane, Kelly Clarkson, Korn, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Robin Thicke, and Kenna. 

Additional details about the concerts as well as suggestions for individual actions that can ease global warming are available at the Live Earth website- http://liveearth.msn.com/. 

Jack Johnson has once again assembled an eclectic mix of musicians for his annual Earth Day celebration, the Kokua Festival. The multi-band gathering will take place April 21 and 22 at Honolulu, HI's Waikiki Shell featuring Johnson, Eddie Vedder and Boom Gaspar, and Matt Costa, as well as local favorites Ernie Cruz Jr., and the Girlas. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Jack and Kim Johnson to support environmental education programs in Hawaii. The funds raised from the Kokua Festival will be used to further support school recycling on Oahu, sponsor field trips and curriculum, and develop the new farm-to-school program 'AINA in Schools. Vedder and Johnson first bonded over their shared love of surfing and both appear on the soundtrack to the surfing documentary A Brokedown Melody.

The Kokua Festival aspires to reduce its environmental impact by offsetting the festival's emissions, running generators and festival vehicles on bio-diesel, recycling, using biodegradable concession ware, and offering eco-friendly merchandise including reusable totes, bottles, and organic cotton clothing.  In addition to the festival's live music, the Kokua Festival's Kokua Village lets fans experience eco-friendly clothing from Patagonia, sustainable shoes from Simple Shoes, and organic yogurt from Stonyfield Farm. Many other local food and beverages, products and services from green companies, alternative energy demonstrations, interactive games and crafts for the kids, and information from environmentally active groups from around the islands will also be featured. Fans are also encouraged to make an "Earth Day Resolution" to reduce their environmental impact leading up to the festival and throughout the year.