Quick quips: Janet Jackson, Bret Michaels, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Thin Lizzy, Bela Fleck

Janet Jackson has announced that she will not be attending the Michael Jackson tribute concert on October 8 in Cardiff, Wales. She said in a statement to the AP, "Because of the trial, the timing of this tribute to our brother would be too difficult for me."
yesterday would have been Michael's 53rd birthday.


Bret Michaels has told Billboard that his next album, Get Your Rock On, will include appearances from Def Leppard's Joe Elliott and Phil Cullen, Stevie Nicks and maybe members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pop Evil and My Darkest Days. He also said he may include a live version of Margaritaville that he did last year with Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band.


One time Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin has said that he doesn't see a reunion of his edition of the group (1987 to 1995) ever happening. He told Metal Shock Finland that "Sabbath haven't talked to me in 15 years. All of the albums that I was on was removed from sale completely by them and it would take unbelievable changes to get it all back together."
The Americana Music Awards will be shown live around Tennessee on October 13 via Nashville Public Television. An edited version will be shown nationally on Austin City Limits at a later date.


Lindsey Buckingham recently told Classic Rock magazine that there is certainly nothing going on with Fleetwood Mac, even though there could be in the future. "We've nothing like that going on at all. Stevie has been busy touring and I'm just about to release my new solo album and have plans to tour on the back of that. So, right now nothing's booked for the band; however, I would be very surprised if we don't make a new album at some point. Currently, I have eight or nine new song ideas, some of which might fit in with Fleetwood Mac."


Thin Lizzy has announced that Damon Johnson, who has toured with Alice Cooper, will be the guitarist for their upcoming tour. Their regular guitarist, Richard Fortus, is out on the road with Judas Priest.


Bela Fleck is going classical, at least for a few nights. He will premier his Concerto for Banjo with the Nashville Symphony on September 22 to 24 at the city's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The piece is dedicated to Earl Scruggs.

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